Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-05-05

The most conspicuous act OF reckless
courage ever saw displayed on any bst-
tie field during eur great civil WAT oc-
CURED at the second battle Of Manassas
on the 3Oih of August, 1864. II was pei
formed by Federal srtillerist In the
presence of both armies and was Witnessed
by at least thousand men, many OF whom
are still living snd can readily recall the
incident when reminded Of the circum-
stances. Just ss Hoods men charged
down the hill nesr the Henry house upon
the first Federal line, aud IL became eVi'
dent he would capture the battery sts-
toned there, Federal artillerymau de-
termincd 10 save one Of the cannon, if
possible, and to do 50 he had 10 .ake IL up
the side of the ditch In front Of the Con-
federates for L half mile. The ditch WAS
four feet wide and MS many deep and
could not be crossed with the cannon.
How he got his horses hltched 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 sweeping gallop from the cloud Of
smoke and Hoods men were hring M
him. As soon AS he escaped from the
yolley he came in front of our brigade aud
under range of our muskets on the LETT,
aud AS he swept on up the line ME hre
was opened upon him. Our line was APP
preaching the ditch rapidly at double
quick and the laud between us and the
ditch was getting narrower each secoud,
but the artilleryman seemed determined
to save his gun from capture aud he dew
along his course at a tremendous rate Of
speed. He had four large gray or white
horses to the cannon, AND they came up
the valley in splendid style. The man rt
erect and kept his team we'll In hand,
while his whip seemed TO play upon the
nanks OF the leaders, and all four horses
appeared TO leap together In regular time.
The ground was very dry, and cloud Of
dust rolled out from under the horses feet
and from the wheels Of the cannon ms
they came laundering along.
Three regiments Of our brigade had al
ready fired at him Il. he rushed along their
front, aud as he approached the left Of
another | ran down the rear rank shout
ing to the men: "Shoot at the horsesl
Let the man alone and shoot at the
horses. You are firing too high" Al
this saw a noted marksman In Company
+ drop upon one knee and sight along the
barrel Of his musket aud fire, bnt OH came
the man, and the gallop Of his team WAS
unbroken. Ramming In another cartridge
the marksman WAS ready again Ia n min
ute, and just as the cannoncer swept
across his front within hundred yards
he kneeled down and taking deliberate
aim At the foremost horse fired again, but
Oh went the team unharmed rs before.
Thus he passed along the whole front OF
our regiment and then along Rrother on
our right and escaped around the head Of
the ditch and across the field and up tho
hill beyond. As FAR of ms we could ace
him his team was still going In gallop,
but when out OF range on the hill beyond
the ditch he turned In his saddle, and
taking of his hat, waved 1t around his
head several times, and some Of the Con-
federates cheered him.
At least five hundred men fired at that
Yankee gunner, and have often won
dered If he escaped death In tho subse-
quent battles OF the war and lives 10 tell
of the fearful gauntlet no ran along the
front Of whole brigade OF ConfederAtes
firing at him.-Captain II. 7. Orm IN tie
Philadelphia Weekly Times.