Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-04-01

aud falling tree. They then moved
further up, some two miles, and were
cannonliiDg there for 4 long while. We
knew there must be rats nest there, or
they would not b. at it 80 long The
launches with the h0wi'zcr movei off first
to the Picket, near to shore. The Pau
tuxeut and ether boats, took the troops,
the gun-boats belchiDg over their heads
where they were landing. Then the piles
across the mouth Of Sloc1m's Creek were
Knocked out, aud the Alice Price ran up
the creek and landed the troops. Col.
Haytranft with three Companies landed
first. We landed under Lieut. Col Bell,
aud reached an open fa!d, where FIVE out
Of each Company were detailed TO assis,
Capt Beuuet Here were barracks for cav.
airy, tut they had evidently left il haste.
We had come one mile aloog the sandy
shore, which was very trying; We were well
blown before we reached the feli. But
i, was nothing to what was to come. We
passed little field With cabin, and we're
greeted with the sight Of peach tree in
full bloom. Mex: for fse mii,s We went
through marshy wood 1t began TO rain.
Six heavy howi'zers, and Capt Benue;'s
Wizard. WheN, what time. Once We
came 10 E rayiue The howi'zeIs were
locked and dragged down. Along came
Capt Bennett. Some one suggested lock
ing. Stroud, captain of the gun, former
boatswsn, shouted to Wilson to 'Iet her
rip" Some one said she would overse,
At can't GO over, We cao 60 under says
Stroud, and away they went. A half doz-
en- c5u,rabauis had hold. The mud hoi-
at the bottom was nearly waist deep.
Asay they went, the mud few, the men
yelled, "s0use' into il, buried up to the
axle, two of the c3a;rablpds disippeared-
but, after the piec. had passed, came root
ing out like a..igat0rs-we nearly split
with laughter. Stroud With his red cap ana
sLir; looked ike \ devil They go. her
through, and We pushed On. Half the
time We were knee deep in the black mud.
We thought it tough, ba; tougher was to
come YET. After FIVE miles Of such work,
We got on to the main road which was SOL
il, and We though: times would be easier
Capt, Benhet, plouEliug through the mud,
would say to our boys, whenever they
were in tough place, Boys, if you want
my hear. to break, leave he." His heart
wasn't brokeu-!hey stuck to him.
We were met By 40 aid, who told Us the
Rebels had abapioned the frs. in,reach.
ment. Here's where the gun boats we're
prinkiug SO long. We camcup With tie
marine hOwi,zsr battery, and also with or
ders FOR our Regiment to pull the guns,
Oae had yoke yoke Of oxen to them
The rest were dragged by men. These
poor oxen wi! be famous as long as the
battle Of "WoOds' briekyari" lives in his
tory, Ii their story Is tod. | will try and
tel! it. We came along to the Rebe. ia-
ueucbnent. We were amazsd a. its ex-
tent and formidable character. At the
road was for;ifcation for guns-but they
had not been mounted or were taken away
For nearly three miles, an embankmen, 4.
leas; fsa fee; high, and ditch as deep, eK-
tended. We had never seen anything like
il. We thought, if they abandoned that,
where would they stand? Bat we had
not yet kuown how much labor had been
expended. Here the hoHiizar battery had
to be mauuei by new relief, aud Compa-
ny Il. took hold. l have only to say ,ha,
the labor was beyond description. Sixty
rounds of ammunition, (iorty in the box
and twenty in our rockets)-guns slung
on the bsck-blaukets soaked with rain,
hayersacks fu.i-roads Of stiff heavy
clay, that pulled cur shoes of, (uore than
Z half dozen Of our men went into battle
the next morning in their stocking feet,
and fought i; through until Rebel stores
supplied them.) We came to where the
Railroad crossed the wagon road, when we
met Lieut.. Beaver with orders for the rest !
Of our Regimen, to follow up the Railroad.
But We would not leave the caunou.
Many Of the men had picked up chickens
and turkies, but, as they became weary,
hey threw them away in disgust. Capt.
Benne. appropriated the OK team, (and
lept them until they laid down to die af-
er the battle, all riddled and stripped with
3ullets) About niue o'clock, that night,
Fe stopped at cross roads, built fires,
made coffee, and lay down in the rain and
mud and slep, until /,
Two o'clock, Friday, when we started
gain, Capt. Bsnnot came 10 with his OK
cam, and stopped awhile, and that was
be last We saw Of him or the cannon, until
7e saw it across the Rebel en,renchmen, i
few days after the battle. II roads we're !
ad before, We had come over the best Of
hem. The clay was sitter, mire deeper, s
u, We ploidei Oh until abou, FIVE in the ,