The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-07-27

'hAouS3A al AhJ ebiSn NVOiOA CiOthiHSJ
and when ] had got COOL L was sore as if
had been beaten all over with club.
When the battle commences, the feel
ings undergo change. Reader, did
you ever see your house on fire If So.
it was then you rushed into great dan
ger it was then you went ovgr places,
climbed over walls, lifted heavy loads,
| which you never could have done liz
your cooler moments you have then
experienced some of the excitement of u
soldier in battle. I always knew my
danger-that at any moment was La
BILE to be killed; yet-such; was my cx-
citemcnt that never fully realized it.
All men are not alike; some arc cool );
some are perfectly wild or crazy others
are so Frustrated with fear that they
are completely unhcrved-an awful
sinking and relaxation of all their encr-
gies takes place, awful to behold they
trenble like an aspen, stink into bitches
and covert places, cry like children, and
are totally insensible to shame-dead to
every emotion but the overwhelming fear
of instant death. We had few, and
but few of such in orr army.
AS the two armies were facing each
other, it was remarkable 80 see the
GOODNESS of our men there they stood,
chewing bits of biscuit, and talking
about the Mexicans-somc wondering II
they would fight; others allowing that
they would, and like demons, etc. |
Kept my eyes on the artillery of the
enemy, and happened to be looking to-
ward their right wing, when suddenly u
white curl of smoke up rose from one of
their guns, and then l saw the dust fly
some distance in front, where the ball
struck. Instantly another, and thcn
another rich curl of smoke arose, Sue
ceedcd by booming sound, and the
shot came crushed toward us. Tho
enemy fired very rapidly, and their balls
knocked the dust about US in all dircc-
LONESOME went over our heads, others
struck the ground in front and bounded
away.
Our batteries now went to work, and
poured in upon them perfect storm Of
iron; Lieut.. Churchill aud his men
began with their eighteen Founders, and,
when the first shot was fired, it made such
Il loud report that our men gave a spon-
taneons shout, which seemed to inspire
It's with renewed confidence. c0nld
hear every word the Lieutenant said to-
his men. When the first shot was fired
he waehcd the ball, saying :-"Too
high, men; try another -" too low,
men; try again, the third time is the
charm!" The third shot was fired, and
| saw with my own eyes the dreadful
effect of that and the following Shots
"That's it, my boys" shouted Church
i'll, jumping up about two feet "you
have them now keep at that )" and SO
they did, and every shot tore complete
lanes through the encmy's lines but
they stood it manPully. The full chorus
of battle now ragged twcnty-thrce
pieces of artillery bclched forth their
iron hail
We we're ordered to lie down IN the
grass to avoid the shot; this puzzled
the enemy, and they coald not bring
their guns 20 bear upon us, making our
loss very small. Many were the mar
row escapes; one ball came within six
inches of a,y left side. The force of the
shot was tremendous horses body
was no obstacle at all mans leg was
a mere pipe-stem. l watched the shot
as it struck the roots of the grass, and
it was astonishing how the dust few
In about an hour the grass caught on
fire, and the clouds OF smoke shut out
the opposing armies from view. We
had not as yet lost man from our rcgi-
ment. In the obscurity, the enemy
changed their lines, and the eighteen.
Founders, supported by our regiment,
took new position on little rise os
ground. AS We moved on to the spot,
a six-pound shot carried away the lower
jaw of Capt. Page, and then took off
mans head on the right, as clean az
with knife. The Blood Of POOR Page
was the first blood l saw he was
knocked down in the grass, and, as he
endeavored to raise himself, he pre-
scented such CHASTITY spectitlej that .
sickly, fainting sensation came over me,
and the memory Of that night shall
carry with me to my dying day. A lit
tie later, Major Ringgold was mortally
wounded at his battery; saw him Just
after it.. The shot had torn away a por-
ton of the flesh Of his thighs: its force
was tremendous, cutting off both his pis-
tolls at the locks, and also the withers
of his horsc-a splendid steed, which
was killed to relieve him Of his misery.
The enemy tried hard; but without
avail, to hit our eighteen-poundcrs.-
The battle continued until night put ~
end to the scene. We biyouavl,od
where we were, and laid on our arms
we slept, however, but 1t lie, tbiahing
we might be attcked in our sleep.
The enemy had Been very severely
handled, owing to the superiority of our
artillery. The gunhers went into it
more like butchers than military men
each stripped off his coat, rolled up his
sleeves, and tied Ills suspenders round
his waist; they all wore red flannel
shirt, and, therefore were in uniform
To see them limbering and Numbering,
firing few shots, then dashing through
the smoke, and then to fire again with
lightning-likc rapidity, partly hid from
view by dense clouds of smoke and dust,
with their dark-red shirts and naked
+ arms, yelling at every shot they made,