The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-06-07

two hours.
All the officers acted coolly and gal
lantly, aud encouraged the soldiers by
word and example.
A lieutenant seized the colors of one
of the regiments, after the ensign had
been shot down, aud bore them for a
quarter of an hour in the thickest of the
tight.
A captain of one of the companies
received two balls through his hat and.
three through his coat without being
conscious of his narrow escapes until
after the battle.
Three or four of the officers had the
hair of their head and faces grazed By
musket balls and. iu two instances, the
skin was removed from the ear by the
leadcn messengers of the Rebels.
An orderly sergeant, seeing a Rebel
pointing a rife at the captain of his CON
pany, threw himself before bis beloved
officer, received the bullet through his
breast, aud fell dead 10 the arms Of the
man he had saved.
The sergeant, I. learned, had been
reared and very generously treated by the
father of.the captain. and had declared,
when he 6rst enlisted, that be would be
happy to die to save the life Of his bene.
factors son.
Most uobIy and gloriously did he re-
deem his promise.
The severeSt and the decisive contest
was on the left at the close of Saturday.
General C. T, Smith, with his division,
composed of Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois
regiments, marched up to the breastworks,
and engaged the enemy in the most spIr-
tied manner.
The Iowa Second was the first regiment
that scaled the breastworks, performing
the hazardous and brilliant movement IN
masterly style, after the manner of the
veterans who immortalized themselves IN
the wars Of Napoleon
They never hesltated, they never fal-
tered, but with 6rm step and flashing
eye. passed, without firing gun, into the
Rebel works
In a few seconds other regiments fol.
lowed, and terrible strife ensued be.
tween the contendiug parties. The Sc
cessonists seemed resolved to drive the
Unionists back, and the latter equally
determined not to surrender the advan-
tage they had obtained.
For at least two hours the rattllng Of
musketry was INCREASINGLY heard, and the
armed masses surged to and fro. Fortune
appeared to favor now one side, and now
another.
Ever and anon, loud cheer went up
for the UGion, aud that was caught up
at distance and echoed by our soldiers,
aud joyously re-echoed BY the surround,
lug hills.
NIauy brave warrior heard that glo-
rious shout. as his senses reeled in death,
aud his spirit went forth eubalmed with
the assuran ce that he had not fallen in
vain.
| A large Rebel gun every few seconds
would pour its iron hail against our strug
Cling heroes but generally, as the sequel
proved, the firing was too high. Of that
| fact we were not aware at the time, and
the booming gun caused much uneasiness
and alarm.
The correspondent of the St Louis
Republican aud myself were on the sum.
nit of bill near the hostile breastworks,
iuduIgiDg in little amateur pugnaci:y
with Birge's sharpshooters, who had very
kindly loaned us two of their Euields
They were trying in vain to pick off the
Rebel gunner, whom we could not see,
though we could determine, by the puff
of the smoke from the vent, about where
be stood.
"Are you a good shot ?" ioquired one
of Birge's men of me. eff you are, here
is as good rife as ever killed Rebel !;
aud if you II pepper that fellow over there
at that guu, I'll give you anything I've
got."
| made 10 promises, for | had very
little skill as marksman, but quietly
accepted the Eufeld, with the air of
Leather Stocking aud, waiting until the
gun went on again, l nreo at Tue very
moment the blue smoke pulled above
the earthworks.
For some reason OF other, the gun was
not fired for nearly Eve minutes.
The sharpsbooter looked at me with
wonder and admiration, and saying, 81
think you fixed him that tune" received
back the rife handed him as if there
would be no more use for it in the future.
81 shouldn't be surprised" | remarked
to my companion, and walked dignifedly
away while my laurels were green.
That sharpshooter will believe to his
last hour killed that Rebel gunner.
hope as be believed.
Soon after that incident, loud report
was heard, and the woods reverberated