The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-03-26
THE WORK OF SLAUGHTER.

to conrition.
THE WORK OF SLAUGHTER.
The maps published by the government
make the line of Caldwell's division moving
mistake. ! believe it was nearly o'clock
before We started. The division moved off
by the left flank and marched rapidly. We
had hardly got under way when the ene-
my's batteries opened and shells began fall
ing all around us. The ground on which
this division faced the enemy the afternoon
of the 81 had already been fought over
again and again, and the fields and the woods
were strewn with killed and wounded. An
derson and McLaws had driven our troops
from the peach orchard, and the line on
which Sickles had placed the Third corps
had been in Il great part abandoned. A.
we ar rived on the rising ground to the left
Of the peach orchard, the brigade Of DeTro.
BRAND had been pushed back out of the
woods and across the wheat field, after
most gallant fight As our division advanced
many of the shattered regiments of the Third
corps passed to the rear through the inter
yals in our line. They retired in good order,
with cplors flying. To the left of the wheat
field Cross deployed his brigade, Kelley
passed to the right aud Brook to the left
The brigades were still in column of regi-
meuts when they appeared in front OF the
enemy, and the columns deployed on the
double quick and forming line advanced to
ind the Confederates. We had not far to
look. As we approached the crest of the
rugged hill, from behind the huge boulders
that were everywhere scattered around the
men of Longstreets's corps rose up and then
made a most destructive fire. The sudden
meeting astonished us, the lines being not
more than thirty feet apart wheh the firing
opened. cannot imagine why the rebs al
lowed us to get so near before firing, unless
they thought we would give way under the
weight and impulse of the attack. If this
was their idea they were badly mistaken
Our men promptly returned the fire, and for
ten or fifteen minutes the work of death went
on. There was no cheering, no time lost in
unnecessary movements. Every man there
both Union and rebel, were veterans, and
knew Just what was wanted. They stood
there face to face, loading and firing, and so
close that every shot told. In short time
the brigades of Cross and Brook began fore
ing the enemy back, and after firing for
about ten minutes Colonel Kelly gave the
order to charge. The men rushing forward
with a cheer were among the Johnnies in
few moments.
SUCCESSFUL RUsE.
Here took place rather extraordinary
scene. In an instant our men and their OPP
ponents were mingled together. In charg
ing we had literally ran right in among
them. Firing instantly ceased and we found
there were as many of the enemy as of
ourselves. Officers and men looked for a
time utterly bewildered all the fighting
had stopped; yet the Graybscks still retain
ed their arms and showed no disposition to
surrender. At this moment Union officer
called out in loud voice: "The Conteder
ate troops will lay down their arms and go
to the rear" This ended scene that was
becoming embarrassing. The Confederates
promptly obeyed, and large number of
what think were some of Kershaw's brig
ade became our prisoners. In front of Ke l.
| ly's brigade we found that the enemy had
suffered much more than we had. When en-.
gagged our line was below theirs, AS they stood
on the crest Of the hill. They fired down
while our men fired upward, aud our fire
was more effective. On the line we found
many dead but few wounded-they were
nearly all hit in the head or the upper part
of the body. Behind one rock counted live
dead bodies. Tnis was some Of the most st
we're fighting our division had ever done, ,ana
50 close tnat the officers used their revov
ers. During the fight my regiment held th'
extreme right of the division, and from
where we stood could see the peach orch
ard, and none OF our troops were between
that point and us-a distance of more thar
Il quarter of mile. A. we were engaged
column Of troops passed though this inter
val, got into our rear and formed line q
|
this column moved in here is put down o
the government map as o'clock. | thin
this is incorrect; it should not have been :
late Aud now we fnl that while our diyi'
ion had been, in a manner, victorious i
f checking the impetuouS attack at this pou
and had taken many prisoners, we are ouT
selves in very serious trouble "a line Of ha
, tie in our rear and another in our front bot
q moving to attack US at once. As We .
p, ready to repel the attack Wotr ri's Georp
f troops strike Us in the rear The brigad
: of Cross and Brook are more fortunate in
q now than those of XJok and Kelly. n
Confederate lines in our rear did not cXtoI
: far enough to cover the two first, but Kei
a and Iook were completely Y surrounded, al
the only way out of the trap wa. to pa
l.. down between the two rebel lines, so t
two brigades started on double quick
r ing as they rsn-toward Little Round TC
,. the only opening through which we cou
10 escape,
is THROUGH AN ALLEY OF DEATH,
y Passing through this valley of deaf
er where the bullets came thick as hail, we
u away with large part If the division,
D. the loss was terrible. In the half hour Il
10 we were under fire fourteen. hundred II
''t were lost, OF the four brigade command
90 two were killed q neral ;. II. Xpok
49, Colonel f L, Cross. Cross fell almost
ne first fire and 4 Z,ok few minutes aftewa
IT On the mornng of that day, General Il
ed cock said to Colonel Gross "This is
"u last time you will fight as Colonel to-
IT. will make YOU B,igsdier General" c
'ee answered firmly aud sadly, a. though
yer felt sure of what. he said "No it is
ma late, General, | will never wear the
eht To-day shall be killed" Just after Z
at- | fell GOlOnel Richard u pohaYts uho