The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-07-12
BATTERY B., 1sT MARYLAND ARTILLERY.


Many particulars ms possible from Lieut. vannem,n who
was wounded in the battle Of Malvern Hills on tn.
James river on Tuesday July lst. This the scverrst
battle of that series Of holly contested conflicts extend
ing through seven days during which time Mcclellan,
army WAS shifting its ground from the swamls Of the
Chckalominy to the banks Of the James river. The fol.
lowing is list If the killed and wounded out Of about
hundred men belonging to the Battery:
| Killed JOSEPH, c. Ahrahams. Robert j. Rink
Noundcl--Lient. j. 4. Vnnncnan; Scrgt Theodore
Smith, wounded in foot and thighpanful hut not dan.
rerons: Corporal H. p. Taylor, shot in the neck pri-
s,eoGe BISHOP shot IN the legs Daniel NJ. Parker.
shot through both feet Elisha Brown shot in the thit,
severely wounded George Roberts, wounled in the
"t-n'iputnted Thomas puiiy, wounded in leg by ball
Tw"iken OIL III" h"ld;'W. Peacock. wounded in head
John Mclean wounded in hand; Chrnn. II. Alexander
| wounded in nrnn-anputatc,l: G. A. Buffer; Robert
craig by spent ball: Samuel VI. Britky, j. D. Holland
| and j.. ID. Lcary. all slightly wounded: W. Cl,vt.m
struck in the head by piece Of scllwound dt.scr.
Seventeen officers and men belonging to the Battery
w'r" wounded mostly slightly. and two killed Thu
men all fought herocy in the hottest Of the it show
| ing no symptom Of fear.
John u. Gilmore. of Port Dep sit fn,unat .ly a |
gone down to Sc" the boys, and the field at the
time Of the battle. The assistance he rendered to the
wounded is spoken Of in the highest terms If praise
his services are pronounced invaluable to tn" officer. and
men Of the Battery in the trying hours Of the aft eroon
and evening Of July LIST.
Battery ID. was not in the fight till Tuesday afternoon
when they reported To- General Griffin who not Ieaur.
Ing the services of the Battery. ors,cl it to General
Couch WHO ordered it to take position in an ont field
about 200 yards ~ his right, beyond woods As so,,,
rs the Battery got into position was opened on y
rebel battery, stationed about l5O0 yards distant The
rebel fire was Immediately returned By our bows and
after an action Of half hour the rebels skeaJcd AS
fast rs their horses could carry oil the pieces
As soon as this battery had got clear Of the fire Of the
Union guns. another rebel battery male its appearance
to the left and in front about yard. from Battery ri
onr men opened on them with two guns, picking of tw
"i their middle lead drivers 1T the first fire, which
the rebel battery I" scanrer without firing shot IT.
'arp-shootcrs Of the enemy, concealed in the woods
began to pick of our men, hut few round. Of cansr
caused these skulking rascas to seek safer uuurters
Lieut.. Nanncman'S section next ordered to surt
General C"i's division against the adv;ncn. ret,
who were making their appearance from the wood, 4 |
dense masses, directly in front of Couch The eneg
advanced with cheers, which wcre answered by IL
Union army with defiant cheers. men falling back
short distance in order to docoy the rebel. ont On Il
open field where they swept down like grass. !
the inressant fire of twelve guns using shot III
shell, which burst immediately the heads Of II
enemy driving them back into the woods and beyond
Here it was that Lieut.. Nanncnn,n was Wounded abnu
SO o'clock NJ while standing short distance from hi
guns. observing the rSp sion IS the shell To tain
whether the us"s were cn1 re proper length to exd
the s'e' at the spot desired. percussion she'll fell
immediately in front If the Lieutenant hurying into tho
ground, vixen it exploded the fragments woun,ilng him
slightly in the breast and severely in both legs below
| tho kneethongh thu wounds are not believed to be
dangerous The LieTtcnant's horse was struck in two
places by the same shell at proving fatal
to his gallant rider. Lieut.. Park erhad hi. nurse killed
under him hy she'll. The horses when struck by the
shot give sudden jump but other than this remain per-
| fectly q,tet.,
After Lieut.. vann-man wounded Adjt. Rigclow Of
the regiment, took command of his section of the Bat
| terry. but was soon after wounded
! All the acco'ts from the Peninsula speak in great
cornmeudation the Maryland artillery, Commanded by
Major Pethcrhrge and especially Of Battery b., which
was in the scrcre't Of the fight Our informant related
many anecdotes showing the Goodness and courage of the
men Of Battery b. One Of the men who struck in
the pit of the stomach by mu>ket ball was saved hy
purse Of silver which he happened have concealed
inside MS c"thng, the force Of the ball breaku. piece
OF the money, imctips other iary the man,
| ever. Than severe hruise, stunning him for few
mnD,elts. lie left his gun s.ying he was wounded
but on the officer ordering another man to take his
place. e said, Never mind. Lieutenant am not much
hurt and pmr back ~ his piece. The men being il,
doubt whether the rebels were advancing ON them %,
retiring. inquired of the officer saying they would fire
FASTER if necessary. From the rapid firing the gin-
| became heated. and in the midst Of the battle were
compelled to firing for fifteen minutes allowing
them to cool
The cnness and nonrllalancc of the men in the heat
of raging battle is remarkable. Our insrmant de-
scrihed the farmers working q6icty at their guns
as they would at their plnwS, amt the mechanics
unconcerncl as though they were using the plane o
saw on a building amid the peaceful of HON.
Amid the hottest Of the fight Capt. Snow the yer
REORGANIZATION If coolncss Officers and through
out the entire engagement, bore themselves most ga
lantly, challenging the admiration of the old arm
officers, by the percision Of their fire and the cxpo
management Of their pieces. All honor to the Gee
boys' who by their gallant bearing have shed mpe,
ishable lustre round their name Their county
proud such heroes. who are ready to pour %,
their blood for their cu,ntry, Let it DO the first cal
| of her citizens to that the sick aud wounded
her sons who in tho ranks have risked their lives f
the welfare Of those at home, receive every comfo
aud attention. Lieutenant ranneman, and prva,
Parker fortunate in procuring passage home an
arrived at Port Deposit Saturday last The rest
the wounded who belonged to Battery b., the wrtin
Of this article, have not been able to obtain an,
further account Of, but doubtless they being wei
cared for. The men when wounded apt to leave
the guns and walk to the rear, without notifying tbs
officers, which improper, they were thus liable
to lose their comrades The Battery not all brought
from the field till 10 o'clock at night
Lieut.. Vannenan bears evidence the high spirits of
the Shoto army, AMI their readiness 10y advance on the
enemy at any moment. During tire seven DAYS in
which the army WAS engaged in changing its base of
operations The enemy were repused in every assault
| tl,a and