River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-01-10
SOME STIRRING INCIDENTS.
A Feat OF Unsurpassed Daring by
a Federal Cannonier at the Second


a Federal Cannonier at the Second
Manassas.
[By Confederate Captain In Phil. Times.l
The most conspicuous act of reckless
courage l ever saw displayed on any
battlefield during our great civil war oc'
Cured at the second battle OF Manassas
on the 30th Of August, 1862. 1t was per
formed by federal artillerist in the
presence of both armies and was wit
messed by at least Thousand men, many
of whom are still living ard can readily
recall the incident when reminded off the
circumstances. There had been great
battle on Friday between the federals
under General Pope and the corps OF
Stonewall Jackson, in which the fed
erals were repulsed. During this battle
Longstreet had come upon the field and
taken part in the fight just ut nightialI.
On Saturday morning, the Both of August
General Fope'S army occupied 20
sition stretching along the plateau about
the already famous lIeAry house, while
the confederate forces were concealed in
the woods and bottoms behind the Chin
house. The whole forenoon wore quiet
~ away except an occasional slight
skirmish along the advanced picket
lines of the two great armies, where any
movements of troops or change of posi-
ton would cause rattle OF musketry to
break out at times and spread along the
lines for five or ten minutes, but this
would gradually die away into profound
stiffness that would reign for an hour at
:. time
Thus the day passed on until about ?
o'clock, when General Lee suddenly put
his whole army in motion and advanced
rapidly to attack the federals. Moving
forward at double-quick across bottoms
and fields for mile or more. we passed
through body of woods and entered
the large open field around the Chin
louse. Here we came in sight of three
separate lines of federal troops drawn
up in line of battle along the bottom just
below the dwelling. There was ditch
about four feet wide aud three or four
feet deep, dug along this valley to drain
it for half 4 mile and the federal lines
were formed parable, with this ditch
two on the side next to the Henry house
and one line over across on the side
next the Chin house. There was bat
terry of artillery with the front line
which the federals had moved around
the head of the ditch half mile up the
bottom. The confederate lines on en-
tering the field were not pirellel with
that of the federals and the lett, under
Hood being advanced became engaged
just below the Chin house, while the
right of our line was still several hun
bred yards from the ditch, up the val
ley, but was swinging around rapidly to
take part in the action.
Hoods headlong charge had taken the
L, .frtxr
prise, and hearing the heavy volley of
musketry and fire ofartillery on our left,
our attention was drawn in that direc-
ton, and although moving at double
quick we couil plainly see across the
open field the bloc ~ work going on and
observe distinctly the rapid movements
and changes taking place there. Hoods
mon had come upon the field on run,
yelling and firing as they advanced, and
soon came to close quarters with the first
line of federals, which outnumnered
them greatly and extended beyond his
TANKS. Here, then, began fierce con-
flict that ragged for short time with un-
certain results and the state flag of Tex
as Ia large blue silk ground with single
star in the centrel was seen to 90 down
and up several times. But the federal
line fraIly gave way and fell back across
following ND this advantage, led his men
over the ditch and charging the other
two lines before they could recover
from the confusion caused by their first
line breaking Into them, he very soon
drove hack the whole federal force in
his front towards the Henry house.
But just as Hoods men charged down
the hill upon he first line, as already
stated, and it became evident he would
CAPTURE the battery stationed there, q
federal artillerist determined to save
one of the cannon, if possible, and tn
do so he had t. take il up the side ofthc
ditch in front of the confederaies for a
half mile. How he got his horses hitChed
or whether they Lad really ever been
taken from the piece never have known,
but the first / saw of him he was coming
up our front Pm d sweeping gallop from
the cloud of smoke and Hoods men
were firing at him. As soon as he es-
capped from that volley he came in front
of our brigade and under range of our
muskets on the left and as he swept on
up the line file fire was opened upon
him. Our line was approaching the ditch
rapidly at IL double-quick and the lane
between as and the ditch was getting
narrower each second, but the artillery
man seemed determined TO save his
gun from capture { nd 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 val
ley in splendid style. The man sat erect
and kept his team wen in hand while
his whip seemed to play upon upon the
TANKS of the leaders and all four horses
appeared to leap together in regular
time. The ground was very dry and n
cloud of dust rolled ont from under the
horses feet and from the wheels of the
cannon as they came laundering along.
Three regiments of our brigade hal al
ready fred at him as he rushed along
their front and as he approached the
left of another | ran down to the rear
rank shouting to the men. Shoot at
the horses, You are firing too high
At this saw q noted marksman in Com
pany f drop GDon one knee and sight
along the barrel of his musket and fire,
but on came the man and the gallop of
his team was unbrokeI Rammlng in
another cartridge the marksman was
ready again in minute and Just as the
cannonier swept across his front within
a hundred yards he kneeled down and
taking deliberate aim at the foremost
horse trefl again, but on went the team
unharmed as before. Thus he passed
along the whole front of our regiment
and then along another on orr 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 a galop. but when out
of range on the bill 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
oheeTed him. AT least five hundred
men fired al 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 Ghole brigade Of
confederates firing at him.
The infant son of the Duke and Ouch
ess Of Connaught recently was christened
in the presence of royalty Arthur Fred
erick Patrick Albert.
At the funeral of f. &. Stebbins, an ed
itor, of Cuba, n. ", by hIs request, there