The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-05-09
A CANNONEER's RIDE.
How q Union Soldier Galloped Down q
Line Of Fire at Manassas.

The most conspicuous act Of reckless
courage I ever saw displayed on any bat
stle-feId during our great civil war, oc-
cured at the second battle OF Manassas,
ON the 3Oth of August, 1862. It was per-
formed bvsa Federal artilleTist i'll the
presence of both armies, and was wit
messed by at least 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 he would capture the
battery stationed there, q Federal artll-
Ierynlan determined to save one OF the
cannon, II possible, and to do SO he had
to take it up the side of theditch in front
of the confederatea for a half mile. The
ditch was four feet wide and as many
deep, and could not be crossed with the
cannon. How he got bis horses hltched
or whether they had really ever been Ia
ken from the piece / never have known,
but the first / saw Of him he was coming
up our front in a swinging galiop from
| the cloud Of smoke, and HOODS men
were firing at him. AS soon as ne es-
capped from that yolley he came IN front
| of our brigade and under range OF our
1 ~
IN the line a file fire was opened upon
him. Our line was approaching the
4 ditch rapidly at a double-quick and the
/ 1aOse between us and the ditch was get
tino, narrower. each second, but the az
| tilleryllan seemed determined TO save
his gun from capture, and he flew along
| his course at a tremendous rate OF speed.
/ He had four large grey or white horses
| to the cannon and they came up the
| valley ia splendid style. The man sat
erect and kept his team well IL hand,
| while his whip seemed to play upon the
fanks Of the leaders, and all four horses
| seemed to leap together in regular time.
The ground was very dry and q cloud
of dust rolled out from under the horses
feet and from the wheels OF the cannon
at they came numbering along.
Three regiments Of our brigade hac
; already fired at him Us he rushed along
their front, and as he approached the
left of another [ ran down the rear rank
shouting to the men: "Shoot at th(
horses. you are firing too high.' Al
this / saw noted marksman IL Compa
nv drop upon one knee and sign
: along the barrel OF his musket and IRE
but Oh came the man, and the gaHop Q
his team was unbrolzen- Ramming il
au6tnGI GiltIitSpf liz LIlsti aAN2iiittAA
ready again in a minute, and just as tn
cannoneer swept across his front within
a hundred yards, he kneeled down, ane
taking deliberate aim at the foremos
horse fired again, but on went the team
unharmed as before. Thus he passes
J along the whole front Of our regimen
! and then along another on our right an.
escaped around the head OF the ditto
and across the field and UP the hill be
: yond AS far as we could see him al
team was still going at a gallop, bu
! when out Of range on the hill beyond b
: turned in his saddle, and taking OFT hl
: hat waved it around his head severs
times, and some Of the Confederate
: cheered him.
! At least five hundred men fired at tia
: Yankee gunner, and [ have often VOL
; dered if he escaped death in the subst
!; quent battles Of the war, and lives
: tell Of the fearful gauntlet he ran alon
the front Of a whole brigade OF Confet
. crates firing at him.
y