The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-09-30

just as he was in the act ofgrasping it, youn,
Riggin, its bearer, rode up and shot hin
through the body, and seizing the coors, HI
leveled his revolver again, but ere he cou
fire, he fell pierced with bullets, and soo
after expired.
The rebels were now in the very midst o
the battery, and in the darkness it was diff
cult to distinguish friend from foe. A strug
gle ensued for the guidon. 1t had fallen in
to the hands of rebel. Seeing this, Lieut.
Brockway seized stone and fellcd him tc
the ground, and the next instant the rebe
was shot with his own musket. A scene Of
the widest confusion cnsued. The men at
the batteries were outnumbered, and were
being overpowered by maddened and reck.
less foe. But still they clung to their guns
and with hand.spikes, hammers and stones
defended them with desperate valor, cheering
each other on, and shouting, "Death ON oul
own State soil rather than give the enemy our
guns. " AT this critical moment CARROLL
Brigade came gallantly to the rescue, and
the enemy retreated in confusion. The men
again flew to their guns and with loud cheers
gave him some parting salutes, in the form
OF double shotted canister Thus ended the
grand charge of Early's Division, headed by
the famous Louisiana Tigers, who boasted
that they had never before been repulscd in
a charge. They came forward seventeen
hundred strong, maddened with liquor, and
confident of crushing in our line, and hold.
ing this commanding position. They went
back barely six hundred, and the Tigers were
never afterwards known as an organization.
AT early dawn Of the Sd heavy cannon.
ade opened on the extreme right, where
Geary was engaged in desperate struggle,
which continued until eleven q. m. There
was then lull and perfect quiet reigned un-
til one p. M, when a single shot, fired near
the Seminary, was the signal for one hun
dred and ten guns, which the enemy had
sklllfuly posted, to open. The position of
Klcketts was most unfavorable. Occupying
the commanding ground at the angle in the
centre, and at the most advanced point of the
line, 1t was tearfully exposed From Benners
Hill and Seminary Ridge it was completely
entiladed. Turning four Of his guns upon the
former, he ordered the remaining two to be
posted behind the stone wall which skirted his
left flank, and replied to such guns on the
latter as proved most troublesome. Soon it
was ascertained that the ammunition was run
ming low and the fire was slackened, close
watch being kept in the direction Of the town
for the appearance of the rebel infantry.
But still the enemy kept up AN unremitting
lire which was continued for three hours in
one unccasing roar. Then came his grand
charge of infantry, and his signal repulse. In
the midst of it General Meade rode up into
the battery and said, "We have beaten them
back from the centre and taken over thou
sand prisoners; all depends upon your saving
ammunition" But the enemy had now had
enough of battle, and durieg the night began
his retreat The loss during the entire en-
gagement was nine killed, fourteen wounded
and three taken prisoners, about onehalf of
the number actually engaged. The loss in
horses was over forty.
During the engagement the flagstaff was
shot in two in Lieut.. Brockways hand.
The Battery was now transferred to the
Second Corps, with which it remained during
the balance of the war. With the Corps il
marched on to the Rapidan, constantly en-.
gaging the enemy. During Meade's retro
grade movement on Bull Run in October,
1863 the Second Corps formed the rear
guard 1t fought the battle of Bristoe Sta.
ton. Speaking of the battle, Bates History
says -
AT Brstoe Station, on the l4th of Octo-
Der, Warren's Corps, the rear guard of
Meado's rctrcating army. was heavily struck
upon the flank by the corps of A. p. Hill.
The railroad lay between the contending for.
ccs, and both parties were anxious to gain
the shelter of its embankments. Ricketts,
Battery was ordered into position at gallon
but was obliged to cross plain fourth of q
mile wide fully exposed to the enemy's fire.
lleath's Division of Hills Corps now hast.
ened forward in line of battle towards the
railroad, and General Hayes, to counteract
the movement, wheeling from column into
line, charged with his entire division and
seized the road before the enemy reached it.
Tickets, disregarding the fire of the rebel |
artillery, Immediately opened upon the enc
my's infantry upon the right with shrapnell |
and canister, and soon compelled him to mass
on his centre. The battery was now in A
critical p siton. Having galloped away from
its supports, it was in danger of being enyel
oped by the rebel left, which was rapidly
closing in. Its canister literally delivered,
alone saved it, Soon other batteries can c in |
to position, and under the fierce storm of |
shells and bullets the rebel limo gave way in |
confusion. Five guns and large number of |
prisoners were taken. The Second Corps
was complimented in orders for its gaantry,
and Ricketts, Battery, in acknowledgment of
the part taken in their capture, was directed
to take the guns to the headquarters of the
commanding general. The loss in killed and
was nine.
Winter quarters were taken up near Cul- |
pepper after the Mine Run Campaign, and
Capt. Ricketts, being temporarily absent,
Lieut. Brockway was in comm nd lie at
once re-enlisted for three years more and
succeeded in re-enlisting the entire Battery,
making it the first veteran organization in
the army of the Potomac. He took the en-. |
tire organization home on veteran fur
Iough, and such was its popularity
that over POO men enlisted for it, Most
of them were distributed in less popular com.
nands.
On the 4th of May 1864, Grants Virginia
opened. In the Wilderness fght
no artillery could well be used, except on the
plank road Brockway's section was selected
for tho perlous service of advancing down
his narrow way, and many of the officers
md men bid good bye, believing certain death
inevitable Bates, in his history, says
1T was found, on advancing, that only
single section could be used at time, and