Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-04-22
A CANNONEER's RIDE.
How Union soldier GaIlOped Down y
Line Of Fire At Manassas.

Ile uCi vi lCthNSo
courage ever saw displayed on any
battlefield during our great civil war
occurred at the second battle Of Manas-
sas oil the Both OF August, 1882. II was
performed by Federal artillerist in 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 incidents when re-
minded of the circumstances. Just a.
Hoods men charged down the hill near
the Henry House upon the first Federal
line, and became evident he would cap
ture the battery stationed there, Fed
eral artilleryman determined TO save
one of the cannon, II possible, and to do
so he bad to take 1t up the side Of the
ditch in front of the Conf.derates 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 his horses 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 sweeping gallop from the
cloud Of a stroke and Hoods men were
firing t him. AS soon as he escaped
from the volley he came in front of our
brigade and under range OF our muskets
Oh the left and as he swept on up the
line 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 getting
narrower each second, but the artillery
man 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 his 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 as they came laundering
along.
Three regiments Of our brigade had
already fired at him Is he rushed along
their front and he approached the left
OF another / 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 high 20
At this / saw q noted marksman In
Company T. drop upon one knee and
sight along the barrel Of his musket and
fire, but on came the man and the gal
lop of his team was unbroken. Ram
ming in another cartridge the marks
man was ready again in . minute and
just as the cannonier swept across bis
front within abundred yards he kneel-
ed down and taking deliberate aim al
the foremost horse fred again, but on
went the team unframed as before,
THUS be passed along the whole front
Of our regiment and then along another
on the right and escaped around the
head Of the ditch and across the field
and up the hill beyond. As far of q
We could see him his team was still
going In a gallop, but when out Of
range on the hill hey ond the ditch hS
turned in his saddle, and, taking Of hi
hat, waved 1t around his head severa
time and some Of the Confederate.
cheered him.
At least five hundred men fred q
that Yankee gunner, and I have offer
wondered II he escaped death In tn,
subsequent battles Of the war and live
TO tell OF the fearful gauntlet be raj
along the front Of q whole brigade I,
Confederates firing at him.