Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-05-19
tender and dry. But it is barbarous
cookery-Ed,oard Greey.
A Cannoneer's Ride,

A CannOncer'S Ride.
Captain H. T. Owen, an ex-Confed
crate, writes: The most conspicuou
act of reckless courage ever saw dis
played on any battlefield during ou
| great civil war occurred at the secont
battle of Manassas, August 80. 1862
1t was performed by Federal artiller
list in the presence of both armies, ant
was witnessed by at least a thousan'
men, many of whom are still livinl
and can readily recall the incident whel
reminded of the circumstances. Jus
as Hoods men charged down the hill
near the Henry house upon the frs
Federal line, and it became eviden
that he would capture the battery sta
toned there, Federal artillerymal
determined to save one of the cannon
if possible, and to do so he had to TAX,
it up the ditch in front of the Confed
crates for half mile. The ditch wa:
four feet wide and as many deep, and
could not be crossed with the cannon.
How he got his horses hitched, OF
whether they had really ever been
taken from the piece, 1 never have
known. but the first l saw of him he
was coming up our front in a 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 a file
fire was opened upon him. Our line
was approaching the ditch rapidly at a
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 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 flanks of the leaders, and all four
horses appeared to leap together in
regular time. The ground was very
dry, andya 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 l ran down the
rear rank shouting-to the men:
Shoot at the horses Let the man
alone and shoot at the horses You
are firing too highp'
AT this l saw noted marksman in
Company F 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 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 a gallop;
but when out of range on the hill be-
yond the ditch he turned in his saddle
and, taking off his hat, waved it
over his head several times, and some
OF the Confederates cheered him.
At least five hundred men fred at
that Yankee gunner, and l have often
wondered if he escaped death in the
subsequent battles of the war, and
lives to tell of the fearful gauntlet he
run along the front of whole brigade
Of Confederates firing at him,