Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-12

them up like SCTCll Oh CIlelT TlSlll-CeHtIe
Hoods advance was
LIKE A WHIRLWIND,
sweeping everything before him, capturing
a number of prisoners and several pieces OF
artillery, with horses and drivers, which
were Immediately sent under escort to the
rear. The Butler Guards, while advancing,
opened ranks right and left to permit the
captured pieces with their blue-cOated dri-
; vers to pass through our line. The drivers
; made great haste, and had the appearance
of being demoralized and very badly fright
ened. Horror was depicted upon their
CHASTITY faces, and their eyes looked as ii
they were starting from their socketsas they
frantically urged their jaded horses to great
er speed to escape the cannon-balls which
came shrieking through the trees. The
sight encouraged Kershaw's boys, and they
gave vent to their excited feelings in loud
wounded early in the engagement, and was
attended by DR.. w. L. West, a private of
the Butler Guards, who was the first sur
geon to see him after he fell. On emerging
from the woodsand entering large cleared
field the Federals were seen in line about
half q mile to our right. Kershaw's clear
blue eyes taking in the situation at a glance,
and being equal to the emergency, immedi-
ately, in stentorIn tones, gave the COM
mand, "Change front, forward on - com.
pany of the e-regiment!" company and
regiment not now recollected:) Then com,
menced a movemcnt of the brigade drill not
often seen and seldom heard of in battle,
particularly while the enemy was in strik-
ing distance The evolution was per-
formed with precision-no mistakes, no ex-
citement-scattering minnie balls ricOchet-
ing along the dusty ground, while the
change of front was being executed, occa-
sionally disabling some of our men. After
the new line had been formed the brigade
advanced, driving the blue-coats pell-mell,
helter-skelter, from the ridge they occupied
| in the field, across the road and up a steep
and rugged hill until we almost reached the
top, where we were metb by terrific
TEMPEST OF SHOT AND SHELL
and leaden bullets. A halt was ordered,
from what cause private solder was hard
| ly expected to know, in fact, his opinions
were never asked, his wishes consulted or
his suggestions entertained; he was simply
part of a huge machine and his business was
| to obey orders and not ask the why's and
wherefores. Suffice it to say we did not
reach the top of the hill, whether from the
want of proper support or whether we had
struck the Federal main line and found it
too strong to pierce with our brigade, or
| from some other cause, is not for me to tell.
After fighting at this point for short
time and apparently making no impression
on the enemy, we sullenly returned to the
road at the base of the hill and were order
ed to lie down quiet. A number OF our
men were killed or wounded while lying
fiat upon the ground. Private Bob Bryce,
of Columbia, than whom a more gallant
soldier and a Drawer man never lived, was
killed by my side. More than nineteen
years have passed since that eventful day,
vet 1 seem to hear the death-rattle in his
throat now as heard it then, while he was
struggling for life. The murderous fire con-
tinued with 50 much fury that Lieut.. eagle,
of the Butler Guards, wentto Gen. KershaW
and asked permission for his men to protect
themselves behind the trees and stumps
standing near. His request was granted,
but it seemed the enemy used crooked guns,
for many were wounded while closely hug
ging the trees. Young Hawkins, of my
whnn ho was shot IN rthe Head. 1 did not
examine to see whether the ball passed
through the stump or was fired from crook
ed gun. We returned the fire and charged
up the hill forcing the Federals to their
original position. We again halted, but
soon returned to- the road, the enemy slow
ly following. Again and again we ''march-
ed up the hill and marched down again -
\
Confederates had the advantage, then the
Federals would rally and force us to retire.
There was nothing to boast of from either
side at our point of the line except some
hard, stubborn fighting.
While standing behind tree near the
road so often mentioned, Private Peter
Sudduth, of my company, was slightly
wounded in the foot. His brother-in-law
seeing he was hurt fastened to him with Of
fers of assistance and attempted to carry
him to the rear, but Peter being demOral-
lied, badly frightened, and the prospect Of
furlough in the near future, made
THE FASTEST TINE ON RECORD
of any man shot in the foot with the eXcep-
ton of my adjutant at Gettysburg. Peter
left his comrade behind, but had not gone
far before he came to some horses hitched
| to caisson, which we had captured in the
early part of the day. Borrowing one while
the owner was absent, he mounted and rode
in triumph from the field never to return.
The much coveted furlough was obtained
without difficulty. When he arrived at
home, he had big, unsightly shoe made
for his crippled foot, which he wore until
the 1st of May, 1865, when he discarded it
for one Of usual size. If the war had con-
tinued till now Peter would, in all prOba-
blity, still be wearing that big shoe. Staff
along our line with reckless bravery. The
| infantry fought as only Confederates could.
| AS before stated, our cause was on the Wane
and we had little hope of ultimate success,
vet every man fought with desperation and
as though the fate of the Contederacy de-
pended upon his individual fighting.
Just as the sun had disappeared behind
Lookout Mountain and twilight began to
fall, was slightly wounded in the shoulder.
| while fighting at close range near the top of
the hill. My captain seeing | was hurt ad-
vised me to retire from the field. | did not
wait for second invitation, but leaned my
Enfield rifle against a crooked post oak
tree, think could find that tree now If not
cut DOWN selected a route down the hill,
| turned my back to the foe, and made, per-
haps, the quickest time, for the distance, ev-
er known to Confederate orFederal soldiers,
the adutant, at Gettysburg, and Peter, at
Chickamauga, not excepted. Next day |
was at Ringgold and discussed the war with
several Federal prisoners. Their first i'll
quiry, after finding that had served in the
Army of Virginia was, can the soldiers OF
the Potomac fight as we'll as the Western
bows. There seemed to bea rivalry between
the troops of the two armies.
Jenkins splendid Brigade did not arrive
on the field in time to take part in the en-
gagement. Soon after night had cast a pail
over the dead heroes scattered beneath the
branches of the forest trees, the Federal
Army became panic stricken and fled with
precipitation and in great confusion, leav-
ing their dead and dying to the tender mer-
cies of the COnfederates.
Just here / will say that the gallant and
kind-hearted KershaW was on foot in the
thickest of the fray. 1tseemed that he bore
4 Il L. l~1 81