The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-05

De mhuo OUT, tof now tremendous Lnuu0or-
storm, which had been gathering all day,
burst on us, and torrent of almost binding |
rain came down, which obscured the view
even more than the smoke, while the crashing |
of the thunder and the glare of the lightning |
could be heard and seen even above the roar |
and flashing of the artillery. Once the mist
lifted, and ] saw for a minute an attack on
Box Hill, on the other side of the gap on our
left. 1t was like the scene at theatre-a
curtain of smoke all around and clear gap in
the centre, with sudden gIesm of evening
sunshine lighting it up. The steep smooth
slope of the hill was crowded with the dark
blue figures of the enemy, whom now saw
for the first time-an irregular outline in
'front.' but very solid in rear; the whole body
was moving forward by fits and starts, the
men firing and advancing, the officers waving
their swords, the columns closing up and gra-
dually making way. Our people were almost
concealed by the bushes at the top, whence the
smoke and their fire could be seen proceeding:
presently from these bushes on the crest
came out a red line, and dashed down the
brow of the hill, flame of fire belching out
from the front as it advanced. The enemy
hesitated, gave way, and finally ran back in a
confused crowd down the hill. Then the mist
covered the scene, but the glimpse of this
splendid charge was inspiriting, and hoped
we should show the same GOODNESS when it
came to our turn. 1t was about this time
that our skirmishers fell back, good many
wounded, some limping along by themselves
others helped. The main body retired in
very fair order, batting to turn round and
fire. we could see a mounted officer
of the Guards riding up and down
encouraging them to be steady. Now
came our turn. For a few minutes we saw
nothing, but rattle of bullets came through
the rain and mist, mostly, however, passing
| over the bank. We began to fire in reply,
stepping up against the bank to fire, and
stopping down to load; but our brigade
major rode up with an order, and the word
| was passed through the men to reserve our
fire. In very few moments il must have
been that, when ordered to stand, we could
see the helmet spikes and then the figures
of the skirmishers as they came on; a lot of
them there appeared to be, five or six deep,
should say but in loose order, each man
| stopping to aim and fire, and then coming
forward little. Just then the brigadier
clattered on horseback up the lane. ''Now,
then, gentlemen, give it them hot, he cried,
and fire away we did, as fast as ever We were
able. perfect storm of bullets seemed to
be flying about us, too, and / thought each
moment must be the last; escape seemed i'm
possible, but l saw no one fall, for was too
busy, and so were we all, to look to the right
| or left, but loaded and fired as fast as /
| could.
At every step was some friend and acquaipt-
ance killed or wounded, and few PAGES down
the lane found Travers, sitting with his
back against the bank A ball had gone
through his lungs, and blood was coming
from his mouth. I was lifting him, but the
cry of agony he gave stopped me. I then saw
that this was not his only wound-his thigh
was smashed by a bullet (Which must have hit
him when standing on the bank, and the
blood streaming down mixed in muddy
puddle, with the rain water under him. Still
he could not be left here, so. lifting him up
as well as I could, carried him through the
gate which led out of the lane at the back to
where our camp hospital was in the rear.
How long it went on l cannot now remem-
ber, but we could distinguish clearly the
thick line of skirmishers, about sixty PAGES
off, and mounted officers among them; and
we seemed to be keeping them we'll in check,
for they were quite exposed to our fire, while
we were protected nearly up to our shoulders
when-I know not howl became sensible
that something bad gone wrong. "We are
taken in fank" called out some one and
looking along the left, sure enough there
were dark figures jumping over the bank into
the lane and firing up along our line. The
volunteers in reserve, who had come down to
take the place of the Guards, must have given
way at this point; the enemy's skirmishers
had got through our line, and turned our left
| hank. how tue u0Xt move ChIuo dDOuI CduuOG
recolleot, or whether it was without orders, but
in short time we found ourselves out of the
lane and drawn up in struggling line about
thirty yards in rear of it. The whole army
was falling back At last we could discern
the adjutant riding up to us out of the dark.
The army was to retreat, and take up posi-
tion on Epson Downs he said we should
join in the march, and try and find our bri-
gade in the morning; and so we turned into
the throng again, and made our way on as
best we could.
Our general had expected to find supply
of food and ammunition, but nothing turned
up. Most of us had hardly cartridge left,
SO he ordered the regiment near to us, which
came from the north and had not been en-
gagged, to give us enough to make twenty
rounds to a man, and he sent off fatigue
party to Kingston to try and get provisions,
while detachment of our fellows was allowed
to go foraging among the villas in our rear,
and in about an hour they brought back some
bread and meat, which gave us slender meal
all round. They said most of the houses were
empty, and that many had been stripped OF
all eatables, and a good deal damaged
already.
The artillery fire, which had opened now
on our position, was from longish range;
and occupation for the rifemen had hardly
begun when there was a crash in the shed,
and l was knocked down by blow on the
head. / was almost stunned for time,
and could not make out what had happened.
shot or shell had hit the shed without quite
penetrating the wall, but the blow had upset
the steps resting against it, and the men
standing on them, bringing down cloud OF
plaster and brickbats, one of which had struck
me. felt now past being of use. could
| not use nv rifle, and could barely stand; and