The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-04-26

The edge Of their breastworl to fire down on
the Fermont-rs in the creek. Thelr guns
necessarily weredischarged at an upward
angle, and their fire almost wholiy thrown u
way.
AS an evidence ofthc terrible accuracy Of
the fire or Ayers Battery, which siIcnced
cvtry Rebel gun. the effect offonriof his shots
is very significant. A Rebel Regiment was
moving at right angles to his position. lie
fired a concal bail at the file in which the
Hdg " as carried, cut down the whole h'c and
threw the flag 10 the earth. The other three
shots, equally elective. scattered the regiment
like smoke. The naval maxim is establishcd
that three guns in battery are equal to one
hundred ahoat. The proportion of power
between those in einbraSnrcs against those in
position in an open field is nearly rs great
When We consider that CAPTAIN Ayers, with
his fire of spherical case shot, and from Il
level corn-ticld, against large and exceed
ingly strong work, slesccd every gun in it.
we can appreciate the marvellous ski and
science with which this officers justly cclc-
DRAFTED tatteyy is worked. Every shot toyk
effect within the enibrasnrcs aud over the
enrmy's pieces. He literally swept and
cleared the Rebels away from the guns and
furnished new and most interesting fact in
the history Of artillery warfare the possible
superiority Of guns in plan over an equal
plumber protected by earthworks. The affair
is the subject of general and admriug com
ment To day among all the West Point
officers who have heard Of it.
Among the incidents Of the fight WAS the
recovery from fever of Scrgran; Fletcher.
of Company f, Third Vermont, ON the sick
list. and excused from duty, and the use he
made of his temporary health. He crossed
the stream aud went Though the fight then
his return, was among those who went back
and rescued the wounded. On his return To-
scamp, he went into the hospital and resumed
his fever. with aggravation
John Harrington, bcardlcss orphan boy
Of IL. unarnrd. went over AMI rescued out OF
the ile PIT Il disabled comradt.
Lieutenant Whttemore commanded Com
pany L, which is without Captain Tor some
reason. This officer, with his revolver,
covered Harrington in his hazardous expedi-
ton, and killed several Rebels who aimed
their pieces at the boy. His most intimate
FRIEND in the company, private Vance, had
been killed in the rifle pit Whittcmure
cnraged with sorrow, burst into tears, and
scizing the dead soldiers mnslsct, stood over
him and threatened death to any who stau Id
retreat and then STOPPING down, he took
cartridgr after cartridge from his friend $ box
and kiiled his men with every ilre-raging
with u divine fury the while.
All will recall the case Of private William
Scott, of the Third Vermont, sentenced by
Mcclellan last Fall to be shot for sleeping on
his post. while on the Potomac, and whom
Simon Cameron the Secretary OF War, saved
from his rigorous fate. Among the tOremos,
across the creek, and the first to be k He'd
yesterday, was this very man-as bravo
soldier as ever died on the field OF battle.
Among the phen,mena Of the fight was the
condition of the uniform Of Capt. Bennett. %
Company X, of the Third. 1t had eight bnl
let holes in it one through the collar Of hi.
coat. one through the right coat sleeve, one
through his pantaloons below the left knee
one through both pantaloons aud draws abov,
the right knee, and four through the skirts
of his coat. There Was not scratch upon
this man s skin.
The sharp shooting was marvellous. Tel
men, with the telescope rife rpt the Rebels
two hours away from their largest gun. -
Every man who came near it WAS killed. II
was utterly useless for that long time. The
Rebel commander had finally To drive mp al
entire regiment to the piece and man it by
superiority of nImbcrs-more gunners thar
could be killed. 1t was fired thus four times
when Il shot from kennedy's Battery dis
mounted it. J he value of sharpshpoters is
demonstrated fact of the greatest militar,
Importance.
WHAT WAS GAINED.
As the result of the affair Of the 18th. VT
have emphatically the encmy's works in
: tight place" They can neither man wha
guns they have. nor mount more. There j:
a sharpshootcr for every h ad. Our ait illery
men are continually IN the watch, night and
day and now and then a shell is planted at
will, as reminder that any movement. either
offensive or defensive. will be followed by {
deadly shower. What might, and probably
would, have cost days and weeks to accom-
plish by a less energetic and bold measure
la, been accomplished ina few hours, and
what is more important STILL at the cost o
fewer lives by far. We hug the enemy. anG
- iS tlL.sa L IL,