The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-08-04
Incidents of 4,atietGnN.

Dungeon and the Escape" by A. d. Rich.
ardson:
My con trre and myself were within a
few yards of Hooker. 1t was very hot
place. We could not distinguish the
"ping" of the individual bullets, but
their combined and mingled hum was like
the din of great Lowell factory. Solid
shot and shell came shrieking through the
air, but over our heads, as we were on the
extreme front.
| Hooker commonplace before the
moment he heard the guns, loomed up into
gigantic stature. His eye cleaned with
the grand anger of battle. He seemed to
know exactly what to do, to feel that he
was master of the situation, and TO impress
every one else with the fact. Turning TO
one of his staff, and pointing to spot
near us. he said:
GO and tell Captain - TO bring his
battery and plant il there at once"
The lieutenant rode away. After Civ
ING one or two further orders with great
clearness, rapidity and precision, Hooker
eye turned again TO that mass of rebel In
fantry in the woods. and he said to anoth-
er officer, with great emphasis:
$50 and tell Captain - TO bring
his battery here instantly"
Sending more messages to the various
divisions and batteries. only single mem
Der of the staff remained. Once more
scanning the woods with his eager eye.
Hooker directed the aid:
$50 and tell Captain -- TO bring
that battery here without one seconds de-
lay Why. my God, how he can pour ii
into their infantry"
BY this time several of the body guard
had fallen from their saddles Our horses
| plunged wildly \ shell plowed the
ground under my rearing steed, and an
other exploded near MIR. Smalley, throw
inc great clouds OF dust over both OF uS.
Hooker leaped his white horse over low
fence into IN adjacent orchard, whittier
We gladly followed Though We did not
move more than thirty yards, it took us
comparatively ont of range,
The desired battery. stimulated by three
successive messages. came up with Smoh-
ing horses. ut Il full run. was unlimbered
in the twinkling of an eve. and began to
pour shots into the enemy. who were also
suffering severely from our infantry dis
charges. 1t was not many seconds before
they began TO wavcr. Through the ritiinS
smoke we could see their line SWAY to amt
fro: then it broke like thaw in 4 great
river. Hooker rose up in his saddle. and.
in voice of suppressed thunder, cxclaiul-
/ ed:
"There they co.-Forward,
! Our whole line moved on. Ii was now
nearly dark. Having shared the expert
ence of ''Fighting Joe Hooker" quit.
long enough. turned toward the rear
Fresh troops were pressing forward. and
stragglcrs were ranged in long lines behind
rocks and trees.
Riding slowly along grassy slope. as
| supposed quite out of range. nv medita-
tion> We're disturbed by Il cannon ball
whose rush of air famed my face. and
made my horse shrink and rear almost
upright. The next moment came another
behind me. and by the great blaze OF Il
fire OF rails. which the soldiers had built.
SAW it ricocha down the slope like a
foot ball, and passing right through a col
umn OF our troops in blue, who Were
marching steadily forward. The gap
which it made WIS Immediately closed up.
| Men with litterS Were grouping through
the darkness, bearing the wounded back
to the ambulanceS
AT nine o'clock | wandered to 4 farm
house, occupied by some of our pickets.
We dared not light candles. as it WAS with
in range of the enemy. The family had
left. | tied my horse to an apple tree.
and lay down upon the parlor floor, with
my saddle for Il pillow. At intervals dur
ing the night we heard the poppin. OF
musketry, and ut the first glimpse of dawn
the picket officer shook me by the arm.
"My friend, said he, lyon had bet
ter 60 away as soon As You can, this place
Is getting rather hot for civilians
rode around through the field, for shot
and shell were already screaming up the
narrow lane
Thus commenced the long. hotly-con-
tested battle of Antietam Our line was
three miles in length. with Hooker on the
right, Burnside on the left, and a great
gap In the middle, occupied only Ivy artil-
lery while Fitz John Porter with his
fine corps was held in reserve From
dawn until nearly dark. the two great ar
mics wrcstled like athletes. straining every
muscle, losing here, gaining there, and at
many points lighting the same ground over
and over again. 1t was fierce. sturdy.
indecisive conflict
Five thousand spectators viewed the
struggle from hill comparatively out of
range. Not more than three persons were
struck there during the day. Mcclellan
and his staff occupied another ridge half
mile in the rear.
by heaven! it was goodly sight to see
For one who had no friend or brother there.
No one who looked upon that wonder
full panorama can describe or forget it
Every hill and valley, every corn field,
grove and cluster OF trees WAS fercely-
fought for.
The artillery was unceasiag; we could
often count more than sixty guns to the
minute. 1t was like thunder; and the
musketry sounded like the patter of rain