Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-05-09

A CannOnceTs Ride.

crate, writes. The most conspicuous
act of reckless courage | ever saw dis
played on any battlefield during oul
great civil war occurred at the second
battle Of Manassas, August 80 1862,
1t was performed by Federal artiller,
lst in the presence of both armies, and
was witnessed by at least a thousand
men, many of whom are still living
and can readily recall the incident when
reminded of the circumstances. Just
as Hoods men charged down the hill
near the Henry house upon the first
Federal line, and it became evident
that he would capture the battery sta
toned there, Federal artilleryman
ldetermined to save one of the cannon,
if possible, and to do so he had to take
it up the ditch in front of the Confed.
crates for half mile. The ditch was
four feet wide and as many deep, and
could not be crossed with the cannon.
How he got his horses hitched, or
whether they had really ever been
taken from the piece, | never have
known, but the first | saw of him he
was coming up our front in sweep
ing gallop from the cloud of smoke,
and Hoods men were firing at him,
As soon as he escaped from that vol
ley he came in front of our brigade
and under range of our muskets on
the left, and as he swept by file
fire was opened upon him. Our line
was approaching the ditch rapidly at
double quick, and the line between us
and the ditch was getting narrower
each second, but the artilleryman
seemed determined to save his gun
from capture, and he flew along his
course at a tremendous rate of speed.
lie had four large gray or white horses
to the cannon, and they came up the
valley in splendid style. The man sat
erect and kept his team well in hand
while his whip seemed to play upon
the hanks of the leaders, and all four
horses appeared to leap together in
regular time. The ground was very
dry, and a cloud of dust rolled out
from under the horses feet and from
the wheels of the cannon as they came
laundering along.
Three regiments of our brigade had
already fired at him as he rushed
along their front, and as he approach
ed the left Of another | ran down the
rear rank shouting to the men:
"Shoot at the horses Let the man
alone and shoot at the horses. Yol
are firing too high.'
At this | saw noted marksman in
Company T drop on one knee and
sight along the barrel of his musket
and fire; but on came the man, and
the gallop of his team was unbroken.
Ramming in another cartridge the
marksman was ready again in a min
ute, and just as the cannoneer swept
across he front, within a hundred
yards, he kneeled down, and taking de.
liberate aim at the foremost horse
fired again but on went the team un-
harmed as before. Thus he passed
along the whole front of our regi.
ment and then along on our right, and
escaped around the head of the ditch
and across the field and up the hill be.
yond. AS far off as we could see him
his team was still going at u gallop
but when out of range on the hill be-
yond the ditch he turned in his saddle
and, taking off his hat, waved il
over his head several times, and some
Of the Confederates cheered him.
AT least five hundred men fired al
that Yankee gunner, and l have otter
wondered if he escaped death in the
subsequent battles of the war, anC
lives to tell of the fearful gauntlet hc
run along the front of whole brigade
of Confederates firing at him,