Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-08-19
Incidents at Antietam.

few yards Of Hooker. 1t was a very
no, 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.
Hook ooker-commonplac before--the mo-
ment he heard the guns, loomed up into
gigantic stature. His eye cleaned with
the grand anger Of battle. He seemed TO
know exactly what 10 do, TO feel that he
was master of the situation, and TO i'm.
press every one else with the fact. Turn
ing TO one Of his staff, and pointing 10 a
spot near US, he said
Go and tell Captain - TO bring his
battery and plant it there at once
The lieutenant rode away. After Civ
ing one or two further orders with grea!
clearness, rapidly and decision, Hooker's
eye turned again 10 tha, mass of rebel in
fsnry in the woods, and he said 10 anolh.
er officer, with great emphasis
60 and tell Captain - TO bring his
battery here instantly
Sending more messages TO the various
divisions and batteries, only single
member of the staff remained. Once
more scanning the woods with his eager
eye, Hooker directed the aid {:
60 tell Captain - TO bring that bat
terry here without one seconds delay.
Why, my God, how he can pour it into
their infantry !
By this time several Of the body guard
had fallen from their saddles. Our horses
plunged wildly. A shell plowed the
ground under my rearing steed, and an
other exploded near Mr.. Smalley, throw
ing great clouds of dust over both Of US.
locker leaped his white horse over
low fence into an adjacent orchard. with
er we gladly followed. Though we did
not go more than thirty yards, it took US
comparatively out Of range.
The desired battery, stimulated by
three successive messages, came up with
smoking horses, at full run, was unlim-
bered in the twinkling of an eye; and be-
gan 10 pour shots into the enemy, who
were also suffering severely from our in
fanry discharges. 1t was not many Sec
onds before they began TO waver. Thro'
the rflng smoke we could see their line
sway TO and fro; then il broke like ihaw
in great river. Hooker rose up in his
saddle, and in voice of suppressed thun-
Jer, exclaimed
There they go-Forward =
Our whole line moved on. 1t vas
now nearly dark. Having shared the ex-
perience Of "Fighting Joe Hooker" quite
long enough, turned toward the rear.
Fresh troops were pressing forward, and
stragglers were ranged in long lines be-
hind rocks and trees.
Riding slowly along grassy slope, as
| supposed quite out of range, my medI'
lanons were disturbed by cannon ball,
whose rush Of air famed my face, and
made my horse shrink and rear almost
upright. The next moment came anoth-
er behind me, and by the great blaze of
fire of rails, which the soldiers had built,
| saw il ricochet down the slope like
foo. ball. and pass right through column
of our troops IN blue who were marching
steadily forward. The gap which it made
was Immediately closed up.
Men with lilters were cropping through
the darkness, bearing the wounded back
TO the ambulances.
At nine o'clock / wandered TO farm
house. occupied by some OF our pickles.
We dared no. light candles. as it was
within range of the enemy. The family
had left. lied my horse 10 an apple
Mee, and lay down upon the Psrlor hoor'
with my saddle for pillow. Al inter-
walls during the nigh' We beard The pop
ping of muskeGy, and a. the first glimpse
of dawn the pickle! officer shook me by
The arm.
sMy friend said he. you had better 60
away as soon as you can; the place Is get-
ling rather ho, for civilians.
Irode around through the field, for shot
and shell were already screaming up the
narrow lane.
Thus commencing the long, holly con-
tested battle of Anletam. Our line was
three miles in length. with Hooker on The
right, Burnside on the left, and great
Jan in the middle, occupied only by ar
illerv; while Frz John Porter with his
fine corps was held in reserve. From
dawn until dark, the two great armies
wres,led like athletes. slEalnIng every
muscle, losing here, gaining there and al
many points fighting the same gLouh1
over and over again. II was hfrce'