The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-07-26

eighteen Founders, and when the first
was fired, il made such loud report
That our men gave spontaneous shout,
which seemed TO inspire us with renewed
confidence. could hear every word the
Lieutenant said TO his men. When the
first shot was fired, he watched the ball.
saying, "Too high men try a. other !
too low, men try again--lhe third time
is the charm !" The third shot was fred,
and | saw with my own eyes the dread.
ful effects Of that and the following shots.
"Thars it, my boys - shouted Churchill,
Jumping up about two feet "you have
them now ! keep her at that - and SO
they did; every shot tore complete lanes
through the cnemy's lines, but they stood
ii manfully. The full chorus Of battle
now ragged; twenty-three pieces OF ar.
tlliery belched forth their iron hail
We were ordered TO lie down in the
grass TO avoid the sho, this puzzled the
enemy, and they could not bring guns 10
bear upon US, making our loss very small
Many were the narrow escapes one ball
came within six inches Of my left side.
| The force Of tie shot was tremendous a
horses body was no obstacle at all !; n
mans leg was a mere pipestem. l
watched the shot as il struck the roots
Of the grass, and il was astonishing how
the dust flew. 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 regiment. In the obscuri,y
The ccemy changed their line, and the
eishteen Founders. supported by our
regiment. took new position on little
rise OF ground. AS we moved on TO the
spot. six-pound shot carried away the
lower Nv OF Capt. Page, aud ,hen took
off u mans head on the right as clean as
with knife. The blood of poor Page
| was the first blood | saw; he was knock ed
| down in the grass, and as he endeavored
TO raise himself, he presented such a
ghasily spectacle that a sickly, faiutug
sensation came over me, and the memory
OF that night shall carry with me to my
dying day.
A :iule later, Ringsoid was mortally
wounhed at his battery saw him Just
after it. The shot had torn away n por.
ton OF the flesh Of his thighs its force
was tremendous, cutting Off both his pistols
and also tie witlers OF his horse---a splen.
did s'eed which was killed to relieve him OF
his misery. The enemy tried hard but
wi,hou, avail to hit our eighteen Founders.
The battle continued until night put an
end TO the scene. We bivoucked where
we were, but land on our arms bu, slept,
however. but little, thinking we might be
attacked in our sleep.
The enemy had been very severely
handled. owing 10 the superiority Of our
artillery. The gunners went into it more
like butchers lhan military men each
dropped of his cont, rolled up his sleeves.
and tied his suspenGers around his waist /;
they all wore red flannel shirts, and there.
fore were in uniform. TO see them Inn.
bering and unimbering, firing few shots.
then dashing through the smoke, and
then TO fire again with lightning rapidliy,
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, reminded me of band
Of demons rather than of men.