Alpena weekly argus., 1880-04-21

I tnht lnty udu StOppeu just TN
same, and they weren't retreatin,
worth a cent either, for we receiv
ed volley after volley of musketr,
from the woods on our flank and |
cornfeld on our right.
The rebels were well posted
their lines forming an L. In or
der to face them we were Obliged
to change front. To do this under
a heavy fire in daylight is a move
hard to make. 1t was now dark
In attempting it our lines were
broken the troops became mixed
and it was impossible to reform the
lines.
The colonel of my regiment
with two companies strayed off in-
to the woods and direct into the
rebel lines. Innocently riding up
10 rebel colonel, he asked him
what regiment he commanded.
"The Sixth South Carolina" was
the reply. Our colonel with his
two companies quietly marched
off in the woods, found the Run on
his right, took a silent leave of his
new found friends, followed along
down the stream and rejoined the
balance of his command at abont
10 o'clock amid great rejoicing, for
we had given up seeing them soon.
In this little affair the rebel com
mander had put up good thing
on Mcdowell. Our batteries had
been shelling the cornfield and
woods all the afternoon. Just be-
fore dark, the rebs came out, run
ming up the pike, scattering old
blankets and traps rs they ran as
though on a regular rout-a little
piece of strategy on their part
which fooled Mcdowell and cost
us many lives. All this, too, during
a day that witnesses on the late
review of the Porter case testified
that there was no fighting. Now |
am prepared to prove hy written
evidence, and parties have pre-
sented this evidence, that those
witnesses were, to draw it mild,
mistaken.
The morning of the 30th of
August came out bright and clear.
During the night, the rebels had
chosen their position in the woods
as usual. Early in the forenoon we
were ordered over to the right of
the pike about a mile below the
stone bridge, and very near the
old battle field of 1861. There
was sad hearts there that day, as
many in our division had seen
their comrades shot down on this
spot in the battle of 1861.
The 1st division was halted in
an open field behind a strip Of
woods. At about 1:30 p. NJ. an
aid rode up to the colonel of my
regiment, and gave him verbal or
ders to advance. All seemed to
realize the position. Our major
asked what it meant. The reply
from the colonel was, "annihila-
ton, ,"-reassuring truly. The or
der was given to advance. Through
the strip of woods went the old
30th n. Y, and on the double
quick, across an open field some
80 rods wide. through a perfect
storm Of bullets, shot and shell,
from front to flank, and until we
reached an elevation through which
was railroad cut, and into which
the rebels lay concealed, not ten
rods off, pouring death dealing
missiles into our ranks. We could
not see them nor anything to fire
at for some time except rebel flag
across the cut, but our ranks kept
growing thin. Some reinforce
ments came up, and standing and
fighting three or four lines deep,
we held the position we had gained
for about three hours, and until
ordered to retire.
On our front, to the left, was a
clump of bushes in which the
rebels had masked a battery that
was doing terrible execution. II
became evident that something
must be done to qniet it, or our
position must be abandoned. Re-
Enforcement was decided upon, but
could they reach usl Could they
cross that shot ploughed field.
through that fearful CALLING fire (!
Three regiments, one after anoth-
er, tried it, but before gaining
half the distance, they were forced
to fall back under cover in the tim
Der.
Finally, ont of the woods, in
line of battle, with slow and SOL
emn tread, emerged Massachu-
sets regiment. The battery opens
upon them. Eight or ten files are
torn out of the line. A gap is
thus made some twenty feet long.
Will they-can they stand itG
Aye! and quail not! But on they
come, closing up their broken
ranks as steadily and seemingly
as though on bat
talon drill.
The scene is several times re-
peated. These brave men shrink
not, and, amid the cheers of their
comrades, they reached us, and
form on our left, where they bold
the position until we are all order
ed to retire.