American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-08-08
From the Columbus Daily Tines.
CEN. SEMMES, BRIGADE.

rnond we are indebted Tor Tie IolloWlng
interesting narrative;
OrAR TINES Having been placed in
the last days fight Tuesday, LIST July,
g Tho hattie of Richmond. it was in nv
nouer 20 observe to advantage the close
IF that bloody drama. and watch with
comparative accuracy the incidents Of
tbo, cbivalric vet dreadful battle-that
borrid night charge. | write you part
afwbat | saw. To tell Of all who acted
well is not practicable.
We were moving by the right flank,
70 gain distance, preparatory for begin
rin9 the charge II was just before sun
I'm Semmes' Bri ade being the last
ordared TO the charge, our line was at
tLe distance Of some 1900 yards or
mile from the enemy's batteries, when
ri A Cumming. of Augusta. in COM
4nand of the 10Th Ga. part of Gen. SIS
Rricade. was struck down by spent
hall and was borne helpless from the field.
A brave and gallant officer had fallen
and our regiment felt the shock and in
sunctivelv halted as the cry went down
The line that the Colonel was killed. |
allowed down and assured them he was
not dead. and the regiment moved on
with alacritv under the command of
Cant Holt Cf Chattahoochee county.
After passing the woods and deep rav>
inc. and having cotton TO the crest OF the
last hill, called Melvin's hill which shell
tered Us from the enemy's raking fire,
and from which we must make our
charre, the sun was down Here. e my
eve took in the dusky vision 20 the front,
10 the right and left. | could discern dark
lines OF our friends running up to attack
the right and then retiring before the in
cessant and deadly discharges of the en-
emv's well served guns. It was with
feelings of exhiIaration and pride when
Gen. Semmes' command. forward !"
was repeated along the line, that beheld
the steady and rapid advance of the 10th
Georgia Regiment. now commanded by
Capt Holt, the 10Th Louisiana. com
msnded by 1t Colonel Waggaman. and
part of the 53l Ga Regiment. command
ed BY Lieut. Colonel [. S!can. This
much Of the Brigade was then only in
sight.
Scattered portions Of other Brigades
which had previously been repulsed be-
fore the same guns. in the same field,
seeing our unbroken ranks. volunteered
TO join The fresh charge and asked place
in ine-North Carolinians. Mississippi
ans. and company of Georgia Regulars,
commanded by young Benning and rs
these brave men swelled the charging
column. their leaders enquired. :" What
General is in command % and | forgot
for once | was walking the path Of death
a. shouted the name of General Paul
] S-mmes. and pointed TO him r. be lit.
orally led his men, calling 10 them to fol
low This example of the General as he
moved in front Of them, inspired The
Brigade with a sort Of forgetfuness OF
danger. and though seven hundred yards
Of level. open ground lay between them
and the enemy's thirty-siI guns. whose
fiery mouths were pouring forth deadly
and incezSant volleys of shell and canis
ter. and though the field was made ghast-
" with The mangled forms of the dead
and wounded of four other Briga1es. who
IN the blaze of day tried in vain to do
that which they now, in the darkening
shadows of the evening. we're ordered to
do and were hoping to accompliSh-yet
onward the mistaken column moved.
until on the right of the 10th Louisiana.
had engaged the enemy about and be
hind his guns. IT was now too dark to
distinguish friend from foe. and the 10Th
Louisiana was driven back by overwhel-
ming reinforcements. which the enemy
continued pouring in TO keep us from his
batteries. The path OF the 10Th Lou
isiana was evident the next day by the
Louisiana and Yankee dead and wound
ed in front and behind the guns Up to
this time the Brigade had lost about one
eighth OF those engaged. yet the front was
'unbroken and the veterans closed up the
gap as their comrades fell.
Inspired by the GOODNESS and intrepid
pity OF their gallant Genera. none wished
\ 10 falter, none 10 retire from this Acel
DANA. while his long white beard was
seen to toss in the evening wind or his
ralsed sword reflected thu. faint rays of