Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-23

the best position. We could see the 8mok
of their guns then we would dodge Will
the little minnies would come along
biz-e E-z zip as they struck the stone wa
on the other side or passed on beyond U
kicking up the dirt. Sometimes the firiu
would slack almost taltogether-then wOul
waken up again to perfect roar. The su
was very warm. We would shoot until W
got tired, then go tosleep amid the firing {
both cannon and musketry.
4 Lying there some three or four hours vi
weres ordered back=-the rebs. coming i
on our flank We left a line Of skirmish
ers along the wall and fell back to the sup
port of two guns from Carlin's Battery
which were trying TO shell the rebs ou
of the bushes on our flank. We were no
long coming from the stone wall, but tn
minnies whistled aHd ,duZzed around Wors
than humble bees. Clark and PembertoI
were wounded in the retreat. We Wert
drawn up in line TO support the skirmish
ers, two companies, if they should be driV.
en- back; still the balls whistled around
After lying there for some time the righ
wing was thrown out to support two gum
of the Baltimore Light Artillery. The
rebel sharp-shooters still kept firing at u.s.
1t was fine amusement though to see the
rebs. light out from behind the stone fence
when our boys would plant II she'll into the
wall, making a gap now and then. Where
ever the gunners saw cloud of smoke
rise there they would plant shell. We
lay fiat on the grass, epjoing II finely,
picking up stray balls as they fell around +,
but often lodging to aviod them. Pres
emily one came " biz z-s-zing" along; /
lodged with the balance; it just passed my
head, and with "ShRd' struck Lieutenant
Ben Cough, of Co. F, who waslying asleep.
"Oh Capt, Fm shotl" was his first ex-
clamation, and turning over with a moan
he lay apparently dead. Putting cold wa
ter to his temples he revived, and lived
about two hours. He was formerly Editor
of the Fairmont National.
We soon sought cover, as the balls came
thicker and faster. In the morning the
General told US if we would hold the stone
wall uRtil 2 P. M. he would have reinforce
ments. 1t was now near two. The rattle
of the musketry began to get heavier. The
plot was evidently beginning so thickeu.-
We made another charge for the stone
fence. The skirmishers were were ordered
over aud over; they went right into the
euemy's fire. was 10th to see them go.
We scattered along the walk, the Colonel
thought it not healthy to charge oVer-a
full brigade lay masked on the other side.
They would just have moved US down If
we had gone over. The most OF the skir-
mishers got back though safely.
We lay along the fence for some hours
From the time the Fkirmishing first COM
menced on Fridsy we could not divine
their purpose. Most of US thought they
were just skirmishing with US while the
main body made raid into Pennsylvania.
We found out though Sunday evening that
they merely wished to get their guns. IN
position. About 8 O'Clock come fifteen or
twenty guns began to thunder upon the
Fort from the West. Boom crack crash
as the shot, she'll and railroad iron began
to ohur-r--r-r-tle thro' the air. The two little
guns which had been shelling the Rebs in
front of US began to toddle off in the di-
rection of the Fort. All eyes began to be
turned in the direction of the cannouad-
ing. "Look to the stone wall, boys! Look
to the wall Never. mind the restW COM
manded the Colonel The rebs, we could
discern, were advancing upon US. The
regiments upon our flank were retreating.
Some one called out, "Fall back" We did,
though not without giving them parting
Volley, the smoke of which covered our
retreat. The stealthy cusses we could
see them advancing in solid columns as we
retreated. They had planted battery
WlLulu u ItH 10 0AA SOH4
menced hurling their shot on our beads
We gave them such volley as we started
that they did not probably FIRE on us as
heavily as they otherwise would have done
but many ball whistled around our heads.
You may know did not take "dead aim"
that time as I raised over the stone wall
to fire. By the time 1 had fred found
myself rather behind, and by the time some
of us got down to the fat, the regiment
was on its way to the tort.
We fingered on the way in grove, IN
which was a large mansion, once the pride
of some f. F. V. The smoke Of battle
hung over us; its thunder had broken upon
US in all its awful subIimity. My head
ached with the thought of the situation.
1t was grand, and l had seen how awful
as my fellow soldiers fell around me l
could now fully realize how terrible a
thing war was. The soldiers were some
lying around completely worn down with
the heat, Juror and fatigue of battle, others
running here and there, others gulPing
the cool water from a spring stream gurg-
ling noiselessly past, some leaning on
their guns watching, as il were, the noise
of the hurr- r-r-r-ing shells as they hustled
past and the minnies as the ripped the
leaves off the trees around. During the
contest felt good deal like the sailor
who was wrecked amid terrible storm
near a rocky shore, and AS he was dashed
by the waves among the rocks he had al-
most given up Naen the thought OF SO
many praying for him and thinking of him
at home he exclaimed, 81 cannot be los" 7"
and calmly losing his fear of danger strug-
gled on and soon reached shore. But II
was not healthy to remain there, and as
we walked leisurely up to the fort the shot
and shell fell around US in all directions
had the curiosity to pick up one which
fell near me with a blur-r-r and blurt as
it fell in the mud; twas the size of quart
tin cup. 1t had not bursted, aud did not
examine it long as it was still warm.
Those of us who were behind followed
the regiment up towards the fort leisurely
dodglng the heavy shot they fell around
| We were out of preseutfange OF the cussec