The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-21


but the overwhelming fear of instant death.
We had few, and but a few, of such in.
our army.
As the two armies were facing each other,
it was remarkable to see the GOODNESS of our
men; there they stood, chewing bits of bis
cult, and talking about the Mexicans-som
wondering if they would fight; others allow
ing that they would, and like demons, etc.
] kept my eye on the artillery of the enemy,
and happened to be looking toward their
right wing when suddenly white curl Of
smoke sprang up there from one of their
guns, and then saw the dost fly some dis
. lance in front where the ball struck. In
stantly another, and then another rich curl
OF smoke arose, succeeded by booming
sound, and the shot came crashing toward
us. The enemy fred very rapidly, and their
balls Knocked the dust about us 10 all de.
rections- some 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 and his men began
with their eighteen Founders, and when the
first was fired, it made such loud report
that our men gave spontaneous shout,
which seemed to inspire us with renewed
confidence. I could hear every word the
Lieutenant said to his men. When the
first shot was fired, be watched the ball,
saying, Too high, men; try another !"-
too low, men; try again-the third time
is the charmv' The third shot was fred,
and / saw with my own eyes the dreadful
effect OF that and the following shots
"That's it, my boysw shouted Churchill,
jumping up about two feet you have them
now! keep her at that; and so they did,
and every shot tore complete lanes through
the enemys lines; but they stood it man
fully. The full chorus of battle now ragged;
twenty-three pieces of artillery belched
forth their iron hail.
We were ordered to lie down in the grass
to avoid the shot this puzzled the enemy,
and they could not bring their guns to 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 the shot was tremendous horses
body was no obstacle at all mans leg
was mere pipe stem. 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 regiment. In the obscurity
the enemy changed their line, and the eigh-
teen 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 jaw of Captain
Page, and then took off mans head on the
right as clean as with knife.
The blood of poor Page was the first
blood, saw he was knocked down in tie
grass, and as he endeavored to rise himself,
he presented such ghastly spectacle that
a sickly, fainting sensation came over me,
and the memory Of that night shall carry
with me to my dying day. A little later,
Major Ringgold was MORALLY wounded at
his battery; saw him just after it. The
shot had torn away portion of the flesh of
his thighs; its force was tremendous, cut
ting off both his pistols at the locks, and
also the withers Of his horse splendid
steed, which was killed to relieve him of his
misery. The enemy tried hard, but without
s''~AiS w NV Jul CiSueCCu~ HOuuOCIos i uC
battle continued until night put an end to
the scene. We bivouacked where we were,
and laid on our arms we slept, however,
but little, thinking we might be attacked in
our sleep.
The enemy had been very severely ham
died, owing to the superiority of our ar
tillery. The gunners went into it more like
hutchorc than v,nil;fo -, ,,,o,,. ~ rt-:,,,nl
off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and tied
his suspenders around his waist; they all
wore red flannel shirts, and therefore were
in uniform. To see them limbering and
unlimbering, firing few shots, then dash
ing through the smoke and then to fire
again with lightning like rapidity, partly
hid from view by dense clouds of smoke
and dust, yelling at every shot they made,
reminded me Of band Of demons rather
than of men.