Connecticut western news., 1883-11-14
FIELD, FORT AND FLEET.
THE MISSION OF FIELD ARTILLERY,
Some Striking Examples of "Grape and Canister.o
s.Brine up the gnns F,

Let the order be heard by regiment of infantry crowding to the rear in a panic and it will halt the men in their tracks and make fighters of them again. There is something in the companion ship of 8 field battery that makes foot soldier braver than when his regiment fights alone. The guns may be wasting ammunition as they roar and crash, but 1t seems to the regiments on flank or in rear that every discharge is driving great gaps through the enemy's lines. So long as the battery remains the SUD- ports will remain. Even when the order is given to double-shot the guns and the infantry can see that half the horses have been shot down he still carries the feeling that grape and canister will win the victory. Theloss of horses, wagons and small arms is lightly mentioned in official reports and the losers feel no degradation, but let brigade lose a single gun from one of it's batteries, and every soldierfeels the shame. It is next to losing the flag presented to regiment as it marched from home.
 AT MEcHANIcsvILLE.
 When Mcclellan, in his change of base, took position at Mechanicsville, his left rested near Ellison's mill. For three hundred yards in front the ground was open, part of it being plowed field. Two hundred feet in front of the Federal lines ran the mill-race, which then had perpendicular banks and con- tained four feet of water. Thirty feet back from the race the Federals had made an abattis of rails, tree tops, limbs and sharpened stakes. Then came more than thirty field-pieces in line, eud be- hind them on the slopes were infantry supports three lines deep.
 Tenders brigade, of D. H. Hills com mand, advanced alone to assault this position, intending it as flank move ment to turn the Federal left. They had no sooner moved out into the open ground than the artillery had full sweep at them. Grape, canister and short fused shell were hurled at them almost by the ton, and in five minutes the four regiments which had left cover in beautiful order were little better than mob. However, instead of retreating in panic, the men dropped to the ground, and began a sharp musketry fire. This was answered by volleys from beyond the mill-race, which liter ally plowed the ground.
 Fender hung until the assault became butchery, and then the order was given to retire. Tenders brigade numbered less than 5000 men, and yet in twenty five minutes its loss was nearly one-sixth of it's strength. Itwas an exception to find man who could not show bullet holes through his clothing, and some of the wounded were hit three and four times. Those who buried the dead said that of the 200 or more killed by the artillery fire at least 175 were so torn and muti- lated as to be little better than a bloody mass.
 As Fender was driven back he met Ripley's brigade, of the same command, coming to his support. Lee knew the position, but he must carry it to turn the Federal left. This second brigade had less than two thousand four hun. dred men, and, united with Fender, the total strength was not over five thou. sand. Four times that number could not have made an impression upon that position.
 When Fender had rallied his men, the two brigades advanced in column of as. sault, breaking cover with a cheer and on the double quick. The Federal guns were worked with terrible energy, but under cover of the smoke, and by crawl ing upon hands and knees, the Confed ates reached the millrace. Indeed several hundred of them crossed it. Then, for forty minutes, there was ter tizlc struggle. So fierce was the Fedora. iai&ntry fire over apd through th,
 FIT E x>s <edae1Iy xhistaed