The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-21
A CANNoNEER's RIDE.
How a Union Soldier Galloped Down Line
of Fire at Manassas

How a Union Soldier Galloped Down Line
of Fire at Manassas.
Captain II. T. Owen in Philadelphia Weekly Timer.
The most conspicuous act of reckless cour-
age ever saw displayed on any battle field
during our great civil war occurred at the
second battle of Manassas on the Both of Au-
gust, 1862. 1t was performed by Federal
artillerist in the presence of both armies, and
was witnessed by at least a thousand men,
many of whom are still living and can read
lily recall the incident when reminded of
the circumstances Just as Hoods men
charged down the hill near the Henry house
upon the first Federal line, and it became evil
dent he would capture the battery stationed
there, a Federal artilleryman 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
mile The dirch 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 q sweeping gallon 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 of our
muskets on our lett, and as he swept on
up the line a file fire was opened
upon him. Our line was approaching
the ditch rapidly at a double-quiek, and the
lane between us and the ditch was getting
narrower each second, but the artilleryman
seemed determined to save his gun from
capture, and he few along his course at a ire
mendous 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 time.
The ground was very dry and a 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 be rushed along their front.
and as he approached the left of another
ran down the rear rank shouting: Shoot at
the horses Let the man alone and shoot at
the horses! You are firing too high" At
this | saw noted marksman in company F
drop upon one knee and sight along the bar
rel of his musket and fire, but on came the
man, and the gallop OF his team was un-
broken. Ramming in another cartridge, the
marksmau was ready again in a minute, and
just as the cannonier swept across his 'front.'
within hundred yards, he kneeled
down, and taking deliberate aim at
the foremost horse, fired again, but
on went the team unharmed as
before. Thus he passed along the whole
front of our regiment aud then along another
on our right and escaped around the head of
the ditch and across the field and up the hill
beyond As far off as we could see him his
team was still going in gallop, but when
out of range on the hill beyond the ditch he
turned in his saddle, and, taking off his hat,
waved it around his head several times, and
some of the Confederates cheered him.
At least 500 men fred at that Yankee gun
ner 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 brigade OF
Confederates firing at him.