The National tribune., 1882-03-04

corps. The General however, found that only
one section could be used, and that must advance
at close intervals up the plank road. My section
was selected. | may truthfully say that never
expected to come out of the engagement alive,
nor to bring any of my men out. The infantry
on my right and left were to great extent
| shielded by the Wilderness, while had to take
the open road, and those of us who were mounted
formed very good mark and were visible to the
enemy a mile off. The road was narrow-a
ditch on each side-with no chance to timber up
and retreat in case of accidents. | therefore had
| my caissons follow some distance in the rear and
put the guns in echelon, or in an oblique line in
order to enable me to open with both at once.
| I also took the precaution of having several
shells prepared, as | knew the attack would be
sudden Our skirmishers were only fifty yards
| in front of our first line of battle, in which we
were, the two remaining lines following at close
distance. We, of course could not see what was
in the woods, but several rebels leisurely paced
the road four hundred yards in our front, and
"by the pricking of our thumbs" we knew that
something wicked this way comes"
AS the minute hand of the watch pointed to
4.30 p. IN. an advance was made along the line
A few steps aroused the sleeping lion and the
silence soon changed to a deafening roar of mus
kerry. We advanced about two hundred yards
when the infantry began to waver and l deemed
it proper to perform my share in the tragedy.
The guns were speedily unlmbered and few
percussion shells sent into the enemy S ranks now
only few hundred yards beyond. Immediately
they placed in the road section Of Napoleon
12-pOunders, and ere we could bring our guns to
bear a couple of solid shot whizzed by our ears.
Here tangible enemy, and we all breathed
freer in seeing something definite to fire at. At
this time the whole line was engaged; hundreds
of wounded men and stragglers passed to the
rear; the line of battle advanced and receded,
and the demoniacal yells of either party rose
above the rattle of musketry and roar of artil-
lery. By a fortunate shot we exploded one of
the enemy'S limber-chests and soon had disabled
the most of their men and horses They then
threw among US rounds of double shotted canis-
ter which bounded like hailstones tearing up
splinters in the plank road, and here and there
knocking over men and horses. But our percus-
sion shell was superior and their artillery was
soon withdrawn For a moment there was a lull
and then the rebel line charged. Slowly they
pressed our men back, yelling at the same time
like demons incarnate. / at first threw solid
shot at the column as it advanced. until thew
neared the guns and commenced double quick
ing. At this time acquaintance from Dan
Vile an officer in the Ninety-third haliooed ::
Stick to it, Charlie I've got thirty days fur
lough;" showing me at the same time gaping
wound in his thigh. But the time had now ar
rived to use our canister. and well was il served
and terrible execution did it do along that mar
row plank road. They struggled bravely against
the stream Of fire. If the line broke they steadily
reformed it; if the colors fell they were at once
seized by another hand; the wounded crawled
into the bitches and the dead formed a barrier
TO the second line.
Our infantry was pressed behind the guns :
but General Hancock was now on the ground
and promptly sent in fresh troops to support us.
The enemy, however, soon learned that they
could not advance down a narrow road in the
face of section of artillery capable of throwing
into their midst peck of bullets minute
They soon left the road and adopted safer tactics
by loading their guns under cover, then Jump
ing into the road would fire and take to cover
again. But their haste made their aim inaccu-
rate. After being under fire over two hours. I
found, to my dismay, that only round of can
mister remained. Major Ricketts, then sent in
another section to relieve me, which formed in
battery some distance in nay rear l then fired
my last round and by means of prolongs pulled
my guns off to fill up with ammunition. The
enemy, supposing the line was falling back, made
another charge At this critical moment one of
the guns burst, carrying away foot and half
of the muzzle The other gun, unaded, could
not check the enemy, who drove our men back
and secured the gun. Our remaining section was
now ordered in, but Hancock countermanded the
order, saying it was madness to rush artillery
into such traps. By a gallant charge CAROLS
brigade recaptured the gun, and after dark we
secured it's timber. | have described only that
portion of the battle which / saw. On the right
and left it had been equally heavy, though no
artillery was used. At the close of the engage
ment that night we held our ground on the left
and centre but ON the right had lost two guns
some prisoners, and much ground Generals
Hays and Wadsworth had been killed, General
Seymour captured, and several other generals
wounded. Considering the entire engagement,
We got the worst of it.
On Friday, the 9Th, Hancock determined to
show Lee the mettle of the Second Corps. The
musketry was terrible, but for once we proved
that infantry could Outright theirs, even on
their chosen ground. Line after line of en-
trenchments were taken and the enemy's right
flank steadily driven over two miles Tb;C Ioft