The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-08-20
An Incident orsumter.

For four hours we had been
pounding away at Stevens battery,
and making no impression upon it.
This was very annoying to the men,
and doubtless equally Sc to the Off
GERS. The non-commissioned ofii-
GERS believe they could de,nolish the
battery with the 10-inch gun. The
l0-inch gun referred to was mount
ed m 5GrJeite on third tier. and the
Major had ordered that no guns on
that tier should be manned. Orders
were sacred in the opinion of Tom
Kernan. but the demolition of Ste
vens' battery was duty. In this
case duty and orders seemed to con-
flict, and Tom was troubled. Tom
was an old Sergeant, veteran of the
Mexican war. Ia his dilemma he
consulted with the Ordnance Ser
geant, another Mexican war veteran,
and they agreed that if it could be
done on the sly, under the circum-
stances, the Majors order might be
disregarded. They would not how
ever, take anybody with them. The
blame, if any attached to the act,
should rest entirely OH their shoul-
ders. Consequently they watched
their chance, and when the Major
was out Of the way, slipped up stairs
to the bqrdte battery. The gun
was already loaded and aimed at
the very battery that they desired to
strike. For weeks before the bonn
bardment began all the guns were
kept loaded. They had nothing to
do, therefore, but slip in a friction
primer in the vent and pull the
LANYARD. This was the work OF
moment. The gun was fired and
the two Sergeants and those below
who were in the secret, watched the
fight of the shot with almost pain
full interest. 1t missed-missed,
seemingly, by hairs breadth-just
grazing the top OF the battery. Great
was the disappointment. So much
risked, so little won. But the two
Sergeants would not give it up so.
They might as well be hanged for a
sheep as a lamb. They were deter
mined TO have another shot. The
gun was reloaded, which was quite
q feat Tor two men, as the shot weigh
ed lbs pounds, but when they tried
to run the gun ''in battery" they
failed. 1t required six men to throw
the carriage in gear and the two
Sergeants could not accomplish it.
Although the discharge of the 10
inch gun had escaped the observa-
ton of our own officers, it had been
noticed by the rebels. They knew
all about the position and power of
this particular gun, and had no
doubt wondered at its silence. Now
that it had opened, it was of the ut
most importance that it be silenced
at once so every rebel gun thst
could be brought to bear was turned
on it, and a shower of shot and shell
came kissing and hurling about the
ears Of the two Sergeants, who were
still struggling III vain at the hand
spikes. Matters had now reached a
crisis. BY Gemini," said Sergeant
Tom, ''let us fire her as she is" 1t
was the only thing they could do.
So the elevating screw was given
half turn, the primer was inserted
and the Ordnance Sergeant ran down
TO see if coasts were clear. Mean
time, Tom, who was left holding the
lanyarn, found himself in a tight
place. Shot and shell were coming
thicker than ever. The rebel gun
ners were Just getting the range.
Tom was lying down, because, as he
said. there was no room for him to
stand up, What could be keeping
his friend so long? Traverse circles
were being torn up by the enemy's
shots and great blocks of granite
were slashed about the terreplein.
He could stand in no longer; the
lanyard was pulled and the shot
struck the bottery and seemed to do
considerable damage, but the gun,
being fred out of battery, recoiled
over the counterhurters and turned
a somersault backward. As the Or
dance Sergeant reached the top of
the stairs he met the 10-inch gun
going in the opposite direction, and
looking around for his friend, dis
covered him hugging mother earth,
half dead with fright-not at the
enemy's shot but at having dis
mounted the boss gun of the outfit.
Both compatriots came down. There
were now additional reasons for
keeping mum about the 10-inch
gun, and the Major never learned
how it was dismounted.-Ne United
Serrice