Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-15

| little breeze during tne Qay-anu u SOlIle
peculiar condition Of the atmosphere un-
| favorable to the transmission of sound, such
| q condition as that Gen. Joseph E. JOhntsOn
speaks of in connection with the battle of
Seven Pines in 1862.
So we had nothing to disturb us during
the long,. clear April day, and l allowed
myself to hope, as
THE PEACEFUL TWILIGHT
fell around us, that should be suffered to
enjoy during the ensuing night the repose
that had been entirely denied me the night
before. 1 recall now the intense satisfac-
tion with which lay down upon the pine
straw, just in rear of the works, after we
had eaten late dinner and lighted my pipe
for long, quiet smoke, which 1ancieo
should be followed by as quiet slumber.
But it was not to be so. At dark we
learned that Gen. Heth was going to Peters
burg, and had directed that Gen. MCGOWAN
should take charge for the night of three
brigades from our corps which formed part
of this line-McGoWan's, McRae's and
Scales. The fire along the picket line in
front, which had almost entirely ceased du-
ring the day, became much more rapid as
night approached, and by the time it was
quite dark assumed very serious dimen-
sions. 1t was now plain that the enemy
were determined to press us, and we should
and annoyance.
Gen. McGowan gave Capt. Riddick and
me general instructions-tO remain on horse
back, to keep in constant motion along the
line, and to use his authority in moving
troops to any point that might bepeculiarly
threatened. AS the line was about mile
long and the night dark, it was not likely
that we should always have time to report
movements to him with sufficient dispatch
to enable him to. act. He rode as we did,
meeting one or the other of us frequently,
of course, but no two of us travelled tOgeth-
er, and we probably passed one another very
often without knowing it.
Soon after receiving this order moved to
the left of our line. AL the way found the
pickets pretty busily engaged and, when l
reached an elevation just west of Hatcher's
Run, I could hear firing beyond that stream
and far along towards Petersburg, andcould
discern
THE FLASH OF GUNS
for what seemed to me the distance of two
or three miles. AS the night deepened the
contest waxed more earnest. The artillery
nearer Petersburg opened, the scattering fire
of pickets was in places succeeded by heavy
volleys of musketry, and now and then the
yeIls of assailants and assailed told us of
charges and furious encounters. Sometimes,
volley roaring for miles, accompanied by the
cheers of thousands. And, when a partial
calm took place, it was even more painful
than the uproar, for then I apprehended a
simultaneous advance upon our thinned and
Wearied lines.
The troops conducted themselves with
wonderful steadinesS and intelligence. The
moment the increasing fire Of the pickets
disclosed an assault against them those in
the works would, at bare suggestion, close
towards the place Immediately fronting the
point of attack, evidently ready for any en-
counter.
Not great while after dark I found the
troops on the right of our brigade
'o MOVING OUT OF THE WORKS.
AS they were unable to tell me whittier or
why they were going, rode to Gen. Bush
rod Johnson's quarters, about four or i've
hundred yards in the rear, to inquire OF
him-these troops being part Of his division.
Whitner-my boyhood's friend and my for
mer roommate in college, but whom 1 had
not seen for nearly seven years-met me at
the door and showed me in. The General
told me that he was about to move still far
ther to the right and leave us. TO my queS-
ton, whether he had received any orders
that would apply to us, or could giveme any
idea what action we ought to take in regard
to the now open works on our right, he re-
piled that his orders were simply to move
out westward, and that we would have tod0
the best we could. Whitner walked out
with me as retired, and told me that Pick
ett's Division had been completely beaten
that day at some point between here and
was probably ordered up to save the right
flank of our army.
When / returned to the works l found
company of cavalry waiting at the crossing
of the White Oak road, and took them out
to prolong our picket line, now broken by
the removal of Johnson's command. AsWe
reached about the proper place for their de-
ployment discovered some infantry COM
ing to us from the right. Asw were now
nearly hundred yards in front of the breast
works, was at loss to imagine who these
were, and the prospect of volley from the
newcomers was anything but agreeable.
They proved to be a picket of the First Reg
iment-under the command of Capt w. l.
DELPHI, Ithink-who had been posted on the
right of even Johnson's picket, (pOsted the
night before, l presume) and who, upon the
removal of Johnson's pickets, were moving
up to connect with our picket line.
We now found that we were very near
THE ENEMY's PICKETs.
I had heard some talking just in front, but
took it for granted they were our own people
who were there. AS 1 proposed to the Off
Ger in command of the cavalry to ride up to
these troops, he Said he thought they were
the enemy, and it would be very dangerous.
I called his attention to the fires that were
burning along their line small ones certain
ly, but still enough to show us where they
were. He persisting in his former opinion,
Capt. DELPHI, Gf it was he who commanded
the infantry pickett and approached our
neighbors carefully. From my elevation on
horseback soon saw that these careless fel-
lows were Federals. They were making
themselves perfectly easy-Warming their
hands at the little fires, talking, laughing,
eating, and evidently dreaming ofnO enemy
near, While L sat in twenty yards OF them,
and i4eff Fl soldiers not
twenty yards behind me. The temptation
to charge them was very great. And it
would not have been dangerous to us, for we
should have stampeded them at the first shot
or yell. But fight at this point was not
what we desired, for charge of the line Of
battle, which undoubtedly lay behind these
men, would soon disclose the absence Of
troops on our right, and no doubt lead to the
capture of the unoccupied works there. So
I had the infantry deployed where they
stood, so as to make the connection on the
left, and was comforting with the cavalry as
to the best disposition Of them when the ell
emy discovered us They at once opened fire,
and the cavalry and I clattered inglorious-
ly into the breastworks, calling to ourpeople
there not to return the fire until we and our
horses could get in. Fora few seconds twas
no matter to laugh about, but 1 was soon able
to Join in the merriment our retreat excited
in the regiment stationed here.
This fire, or some other cause, appeared to