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

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marching column that / saw. Possibly it
was a column preceded by skirmish line.
They came rapidly, evidently expecting an
easy victory. They thought "thata spirited
chareen was all that was needed. I took po-
sition at little church that stood just at the
left of our line of battle, whence command
ed good view Of the whole front, and at the
same time, was enabled to communicate
with the outpOsts to the left.
In half an hour after we had the first view
of our opponents they began to move their
line of battle against us. This hurried for
ward with foolish enthusiasm. l thought
then, and shall always think, until have
good evidence to the contrary, that there
was good deal of whisky in this charge.
THE Widest YELL CONCEIVABLE.
Many gaps were made in their ranks at the
first fire; still on they came, giving shot for
shot and roaring at the top of their voices.
But the end was reached pretty soon. Our
fire killed and disabled numbers of them {;
they staggered, CROPPED and hesitated; our
cry rose higher and our balls flew faster /;
they paused and ceased shouting then they
broke and fled in utter confusion.
A considerable pause ensued Whoever
commanded their mOvements-Gen. Miles,
/ presume-seemed to think that it required
something more than "a spirited charge" to
carry the field. They arranged for some
what different direction of attack.
But this was not much wiser one than
the other. They formed line, with entirely
fresh troops no doubt, farther to the left from
us, and began an advance against our brig
ade, and probably the one next on our right.
They came up in more soldierly style this
time, they were coming to their senses at
| last, and saw that something more than a
great display was requisite for our defeat.
This assault was rapid, but it was with
quite we'll dressed lines. They raised the
huZza as soon as they came within fair open
view ofus, perhaps four hundred yards down
the slope. We lay silent as before. On
| they swept, moving faster as they advanced,
and cheering all the while. When they
reached about the distance at which the Con-
federates had opened on them before, we
answered their shouts with great yell and
poured our volleys into them.
THEY FOUGHT WE'LL.
They replied with fierce cheers, pressed OBJ
stinately forward, firing as fast as possible.
Our blood was thoroughly up. Louder and
louderrose ouryells, faster and deadlier rgreW
our fire. We shotth doWnat every point.
Their ranks were broken and scattered; but
for time they poured forward with such
steady determination that wondered if we
should not end with hand TO hand encoun-
ter. But this did not come. All their dis
cipline and enthusiasm was not equal to the
fearful task. They sWayed, surged, recoiled,
rallied, broke apartagain, and finally fled IN
utter rOut. But we were not content with
this. Our battalion of sharpshooters was
sent across the works in pursuit, and these
drove them with very whip of scorpions
to their reserves. I have rarely, if ever,
heard such peals of cheersas now rang along
our lines.
A SUICIDE AMIDST THE ROAR OF BATTLE.
I have been told of a very strange occur
renee as our skirmishers pursued this flying
enemy. 1t is this That as they passed over
the dead and crippled Federals, one of the
latter-WithOut any provocation, as l have
heard-cried out that he had sworn never to
be taken prisoner, and then took out his
knife and cut his throat. The story says he
was successful in his attempt at suicide, and
bled to death before anything could be done
for him. ..... ..,.,..
MCGOWAN GIVES ORDERS TO FIGHT EVERY
THING.
We now enjoyed respite of some length,
for an hour or more. Some of the enemy's
artillery shelled us, but while they made us
feel uncomfortable, they did little or no
harm. But 1 was satisfied that the move
ment against us was likely to be renewed
still farther. on our left. 1 therefore rode
out among the skirmishers there, and used
every effort to secure the most stubborn re-
sstance possible, against an attack from
that quarter. / had seen line OF battle
repulsed by determined skirmish, and
could not see why it should not be repeated
to-day. I sent out additional videttes to
the left, examined every point about us, and
reported the state Of affairs to Gen. McGoW-
an. He told me that we must fight every
thing that came against us, and as long as
we could hold out, and had the Rifle Regi-
ment wheeled to the left so as to face any
movement from that quarter.
SAD INCIDENT.
AS I rode back to examine the railroad
cut, lust in rear of our left, met two Fed
eraI soldiers who had evidently run in, in
the last charge, to surrender. No one was
with them. Prisoners were of no use to us
now, but fearing that they might get out of
our lines and give dangerous information,
I took charge of them and carried them to
the field hospital about three hundred yards
in rear of the line. remember that had
to cross high rail fence. AS my horse
could not Jump it had the men to let it
down. l saw nothing the matter with eth
er of them, except that one seemed to have
flesh wound in his left arm above the
elbow. He assisted his comrade to let down
the rails and without complaint When
delivered the men to the surgeons for safe
keeping l noticed that the wounded man
looked quite pale and Satdown hastily upon
the ground ] suggested to one Of the med
ical staff that he look after the mans wound.
An examination showed that his chest had
been entered by the ball that had wound
ed his arm. asked if he was badly hurt,
adding that / supposed he was not, as he
walked with apparent ease and let down
the fence. The assistant surgeon answered
that he would not live five minutes. And
such was the case. The man gave his COM
rade some message we did not hear, lay
down on the ground, and think was breath
ing his last when 1 rode away. need not
add that 1 was inexpressibly grieved to
| think that my inadvertgnce had possibly
cost him his ife-certainly had fastened
his death. aGga II. Gatta.
I returned to the front. The turning
movement had already begun. The enemy
was beat in our skirmish on the left and clear
between me and the line Of battle. A num-
ber of the outpost men and / had to make
considerable detour in order to etaround
them and back to the rest of the brigade.
The movement continued. They pressed
closer on the flank, and as they neared the
line of battle their comrades in front were
put in motion. AS l rode to the front
THE STORM BURST
in full fury. A line of battle precipitated
itself upon our left, while those in front
moved on us. The Rifles met their oppo-
nents, but the remainder of the line was en-
fladed. Col. Hunt, Of the Thirteenth Regi-
ment changed front so as to oppose the
force on the left, but he and the rest were
now assailed from the main front. To add
to the horror of the scene the only element
needed to render the situation desperate,