The weekly Butte record., 1862-12-06
& Soldiers First Battle.

ana l1eTe was 9 SlN-le uA>A. 81 ~ Fo.t ui
smoke, a heavy boom. and the signal Of deadly
strife had been given from the canou's mouth.
Then came the united roar OF more than twenty
batteries al! along the lines, to which cur bat
ieries gave the answering roar, and in an IL
stant the missiles Of death had passed from Toe
to foe and the battle had begun.
Five, ten, fifteen minutes past, with tie
ground fairly trembling under the roar Of can
Oh, and still there was nothing for me TO do
but TO sit on my horse. look down upon cloud
of smoke. listen to the sounds Of strife, and cal
cuate chances of being suddenly hurled into
eternity with every breath drew. At fssl
the balls went wide of the position l occupied.
and men fell at distance but gradually the
strife grew nearer, more near, till at length the
/ balls began TO sing around US, and the heavy
smoke rolled up to envelope US in its sulphur
ous folds. Now the roar of canon, the rattle
of muske:ry the shouts, shrieks and groans Of
the combatan,s, made norrld din in the ears
Of one who, with nothing to 90 wished himself
thousand miles from that perilous place
Why were we kept idle, to be shot at like SO
many dumb targets? OecaSioally, as the
smoke lifted, could see cavalry charging, aud
infantry advancing and firing. and I enyied
those who while doomed 10 face the danger.
had some action for the body as well as the
mind. If we must remain in that horrible 10
caliiy, (and must confess thought seriously
of the chances of running away) in the name
of Heaven let Us have action of some Kind
Well, Palmer. what do You think of this ?
l said, while turning to the man on my left.
His lips opened for reply, but none ever
came. A canon ball passed through his breast
and be fell over against me, his life blood stain
ing my garments. l uttered an involuntary
cry of horror, and clung to my saddle, with
everything swimming around me.
While thus l sat, sick, faint and dizzy, I
have dim recollection of seeing an officer
dash up TO the commander Of our troops, and
a consciousness that he said something in a
loud, hurried tone Then remember hearing
the words:
I'VE must take yonder battery, let every
man do his duty! Forward, charger'
The buge sounded, and somehow l found
my horse in motion, with my comrades riding
beside me. On we went, faster and faster,
through smoke and flame, amid a confused
roar of firearms and human voices, till down
went my horse, pitching me clean over his
head and into the arms of man, who crap
pied me by the throat, and springing back,
struck at NE with a sabre. lnstinctively |
parred the blow, and then somehow getting
the impression that il I did not kill HIN be
would me, | cut him down. Then there was
rush and whrl around me. that | did not un
derstand. and somebody else seemed trying to
take my life. Of course 1t was my duty to
defend myself as well as | could and remem-
Der striking out right and left. though with
what effect really DO not know.
However, in something like minute Or so,
found myself standing all alone, just in front
of large cannon, with several persons fighting
near me, some mounted and some on foot. One
of the mounted men looked Ike my captain
and with vague idea that l ought to assist
him, was moving toward him, when sud
den blow sent me reeling against the cannon.
and | fell down under it. Though partially
stunned, was hot deprived OF my sense, and l
might easily have got up and continued the
fight but it occurred to me that was safer
where | was-that had rather Providential
escape-aud so l concluded to lie there for
while, more especially as l believed l could
meet any malicious charge Of eowardice with
the bold assertion that my wound had for the
time deprived me Of my consciousness.
In minute or two the gun was surrounded
by nv comrades, and then nine hearty cheers
rent the air.
Bravely done, my gallant fellows said
the voice of our commander; " the battery is
ours but, alas with the loss Of some of the
noblest spirits that ever went into battle. Let
them be taken up and carried back-some Of
them may yet be saved Poor Brandon. |
shall never forget him. The first upon the en-
emy, he fought with yalOr seldom eqnalled.
With his horse shot from under him, be enga-
ged in hand to-hand encounter, and slew
three desperate fellows before he was overpow-
cred. All. my heart swels with pride at the
thought that I command such men let the
memory Of the dead be honored.'
Good heavens! was be in earnest or in jest?
auxiously listened for the laugh, but none
came. Could it be possible that be had mis-
taken me for hero? me who had blundered
through all had done, and got out Of the way
at the earliest possible moment. No, nO-al
ready was doubtless the butt of my captain
and comrades
"Ah, here he is here is Brandon .r' ex-
claimed two or three voices; and Immediately
q dozan hands assisted me from unier the can