The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-05-01
"A CANNoNIER,s RIDE.
How q Union Soldier Galloped
Down a Line OF Fire at Manassas. :
Captain Fl. T. Owen in the Philadelphia Week.

ly Times.
The mast conspicuous act of reckless
courage ! ever saw displayed on any
battle field during cur great civil var
occurred at thersecond battle Of Manas-
sas on tie 30lh of August. 1862 1t
was performed by federal attillerist in
the presence Of both armies, and vas
witnessed by at least a thousand men,
many of whom are still living and can
readily recall the incident when remin
ded OF the circumstances just as
Hood s,men charged down the bill nesr
the Henry house upon the irst federal
line. and it became eviden. be lswould
capture oatterg htationed there, q
federal artilieryman determined to save
one of the cannon II possible, and to do
so be had to take it up the side of the
ditch in front of the confederates for
half mile The ditch was four feet wide
and as many deep, and could not he
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 a
sweeping gallop from the cloud ,oi
smoke, ard Hoods men were firing at
him. AS soon as he escaped from that
volley he came in front of our btigade
and under range of our .muskets on the
left. and as be swept on up the line a file
Gre was opened upon him. Our line
was approaching the ditch rapidly at q
double quick, and the lane between us
and the ditch was getting narrower each
second, but the attillerymsn seemed de-
termined TO save his gun from capture,
and he few along his course at a tremen.
dous rate of speed. He bad 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 SEEM
ed to play upon the tanks of the lead
els, and all four horses appeared to lean
together In regular time. The ground
was very dry, and cloud of dust roll.
ed out from under the horses feet and
from the wheels of the cannon, as they
came thundeiing along. '11se
Three regiments of our brigade had
already fred at him as he rushed along
their front, and as be approached the
left of another / ran down the rear rank
shouting to the men: "Shoot stthe hor.
ses ! You are firing too highp Al
this l saw a noted marksman In Com
pany F drop upon one knee and sight
along the barrel Of his musket and FIRE,
but on came the man and the gaIlop OF
his team was unbroken. Ramming in
another cartridge the marksman was
ready again in minute, and jus. as the
cannonier swept across his front within
hundred yards he kneeled down and
taking deliberate aim at the foremasl
horse fired again, but on went the team
unharmed as before. Thus he passed
along the whole front of our regiment,
and then along another 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 in gallop, hui
when out of range on the hill beyond
the ditch he turned in bis saddle, and
taking off his bat, waved it around his
head several times. and some OF the
confederales cheered him.
At least 500 men fred at that Yankee
gunner, and have often wondered IL he
escaped death in the subsequent battles
Of the war. and lives 10 tell of the fear
ful gantlet he ran along the front Of a
whole brigade of confederates firing at
him.