Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-16
NUMBER III
ern herOism. Here are some specimens narrated
by partcipator in the conflict:

erh herolsm. Here are some specimens narrated
by pardeipatOr in the conflict:
They were first ordered to suDport Pendlettn'.
4 tHsiin@ Dattery which they did amid a f1rioas
stosLn u grape from the enemy's guns Inactive
~ .lsy were compelled to be under this fire, they
/ They were finally ordered n eba-r. sha--,.-s,
battery, TO DO TINS it was necessary tn cross an
1 intervening hollow, covered bv rhs sropovss a..
and establish themselves in a thicket aankinq tbe
enemy 0attery They charged in manner that
Gaining the thicket, they opened 1Don the s,a,,,,
The history Of warfare probably affords ne instase
Of more desperate fighting than took placs now =
From three sides fierce, concentrated murder',ps
unceasing volley poured in upon sthis devoted and
heroic 9six hundred" Georgizns. The ensmv
appeared upon the hill by the thousand. Re-
tween six and ten regiments were visible. It was
hell OF bullet>ran in that fatal grove. The ranks
were cut down as grain By sythe. Whole plstoous
melted awsy as if BY magic. Cool, unhinching and
stubborn, each man fought with gallanfry and A
stern determination to win or die. Not enc fatered
Col Bartows horse was shot under HIM Adjutant
Branch fell, inortaly wounded /; Lieutenant Colonel
Gardner dropped with shattered leg The officers
moved from rank to rank, from man to man, cheer
ing and encouraging the brave fellows. Some Of
them took the muskets Of the dead and began eOoly
firing at the enemy.
Il was an appalling hour The shot whistled and
tore through trees and bones. The ground became
literally paved with the fallen, yet the remnant
stood composed and unquailing, carefully loading,
steadily aiming, unerringy firing and then quietly
looking to see the effect Of their shots Mere boys
fought like Veterans-unexcitsd save with that
stern white heat, Aameess exhilaration that bat
tie gives TO brave spirits.
After eight or ten rounds the regiment appeared
aanihilated. The order was reluctantly given to
cease firing and retire. The stubborn fellows gave
no Iced. Il was repeated. Still no obedience The
battle spirit was up. Again it was given Three
yoieys had been fred after the first command At
length they retired, walking and fighting Owing
to the density Of the growth part Of the regiment
were separated from the cOl0rs. The othsl. part
formed IN an open field behind the thicket Tbo re-
treat continued over ground alternately wood and
held. at every open spot they would reform, and
pour volly INTO the pursuing enemy and agiin re-
tire.
From the accounts Of the enemy who stopped to
give water to the wounded and rifle the dead, il
seems that the Eighth cut to pieces the Sixth Mas
sachusetts, half demolished the Rhode islanders and
made deadly havoc among the regulars.
But q horrible mistake occurred ct this pOipt
Their own friends taking them for the enemy pOuF-
ed fatal fire upon their mutilated ranks.
At length they withdrew from the fight Their
hnal rally was with some sixty men Of the six hun
dred they took in. Bslaklaya tells no more heroic
tale than this "IntO the valley of death marched
the six hundred"
As they retired, they passed General Beauregard
He drew aside frOnted, raised his hat and said Il
salute the Eighth Georgia with my hat off,