Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-03
Bravery That Won.

The most conspicuous act of reckless
courage ever saw displayed on any
battlefield during our great civil war
occurred ut the second battle of Manas-
sas on the Both of August, 1862. 1t was
performed by Federal artilleristin the
presence of both armies and was wit
messed by at least thousand men;
many of them are still living and can
readily recall the incident when re-
minded 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,
Federal artileryman determined to save
one of the cannon if possible, and to do
so he had to take it up the side of the
ditch in front of the Confederates for
half a mile.
The ditch was four feet wide and as
many deep, and could not be crossed
with the cannon How he got his hor-
ses hitched, 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 a sweep
ing gallop from the cloud of smoke and
Hoods men were firing at him. AS
soon as he escaped from that volley he
came in front of our brigade and under
range our muskets on the left and swept
up the line, a file fire was opened upon
him. Our line was approaching the
ditch rapidly at a double-quick and the
lane between us and the ditch was gett-
ing narrower each second, but the artil-
leryman seemed determined to save his
gun from capture and he flew along
his course at 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 sat
erect and kept his team well in hand,
while his whip seemed to play upon the
TANKS of the leaders and all four horses
appeared to leap together in regular
Tune. The ground was very dry and
cloud of dust rolled out from under the
horses feet and from the wheels of the
the cannon as they came laundering
along,
Three regiments of our brigade had
already fired ut him rs he rushed along
their front, and as he approached the
left OF another | ran down the rear rank
shouting to the men .'Shoot ut the
horses. Let the man alone and shoot
at the horses! You are firing too highn'
AT this sawanoted marksman in COM
pany ( drop upon 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 minute. and just as the
cannoner swept across his front within
a hundred yards he kneeled down and
taking deliberate aim at the foremost
horse again, but on went the team I'M
harmed as before. Thus he passed
along the whole front of our regiment
and then along another to our right and
escaped around the head of the ditch
and across the field and up the hin be-
yond. As far off as we could see him
his team was still going on a gallop but
when out of range on the hin beyond
the ditch he turned in his saddle, and.
taking off his hat, waived it around his
head several times and some of the
Confederates cheered him.
At least 800 men fired at that Yankee
gunner. and ! have often wondered If
he escaped death in the subsequent
battles of the war and lives to tell of the
fearful gauntlet he ran along the front
OF a whole brigage of Confederates fir
ing at him. - apt Otcen, ia Pailadel-
ptla Press.