National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-11

fire away as fast as we could load until |
the colonel sent word, stop firing until |
you see something to shoot at. Are you
trying to knock the bluff DOWN.
WASTING AMMUNITION.
All this time the federals a Maine or
Michigan brigade, forget which, were
overshooting us for tho most part, but
they managed TO get a small howitzer to
the edge Of the bluff, and by tying the
tail Of the piece to tree they managed
to depress the muzzle 30 as to bear on
the brigade, aud their canister did con-
siderable damage before Longstreet
ordered detachment TO charge across
the run and capture the piece, which was
accordingly done before it could be gotten
Of. BY this time the regiment was vir-
tually out of ammunition, and South
Carolina regiment was sent to relieve u.s.
Az we faced about In the woods to let
them come in from the open field, with
out orders they began file fire
plump into our line, which was
only stopped by their colonel gal
looping through the line Of fro shouting
"Stop firing, they are our own men," 1t
was well he did so, for we were within an
ace Of returning the compliment. Fortu-
natoly In their excitement they fired
wildly, and / would remark that the
Palmottoes wero the most excitablo
troops in the con Tolerate army. They
played the Same game number OF times
during the war
AN ARTILLERY DUEL.
Whom the infantry on both sides had
stopped firing, for the federals withdrew
just as Longstroet had given tho order
for the brigade to ford the run and
charge the heights, there occurred the
FIRST field artillery duel of the war, and
very gallant sight 10 was to the lockers
on who were out OF range. On our side
at that timo the Washington Artillery
battalion Of New Orleans was decidedly
the best equipped and drilled battery in
the army, and, indeed, they preserved
that reputation to the last. Before the
fight had been long In progress federal
battery (Ricketts, think) had taken
such position on tho heights above the
bend that they had q raking fre on q
part Of tho brigade line. The Wash
inRton artillery was brought down
by Gen. Beauregard to answer tho
FIRE, and taking position in the open field
the duel began. As fast as the federal
battery got the range the Louisianians
ran their guns up by hand hundred
yards or SO, and they consequently suf-
fered but little, except in horses. The
duel must have continued couple OF
hours when tho federal battery was with
drawn, and with spy-glass 1t could be
seen that two Of its guns had been dis
mounted. There was no more firing after
this on that day.
THE WAGER OF SINGLE COMBAT.
A funny incident happened carly in the
| fight An Alexandria company on picket
over the run captured some fifteen men
and sent them back under guard. Now
among the guards was burly man Of
middle age, who was very much on his
muscle. and when he got out of sight o.
his captain he said to one Of the prisoners
o. stalwart as himself, at the same time
throwing down his rifle, "Now, d-n you
you have come over to invade our soil
let's 6ght II out man to man." He and
the Yank then went at it in good ole
ough-and-tumble style and had pounded
each other severely before the guards
who were almost helpless from laughter
could separate them.
BEAuREGARD's LOST. LUNCH.
Gen. Beauregard lost something. too
during the fight. Ho had an excellen
lunch prepared at his headquarters, abou
a half mile in rear Of his line. and wa
just entering the room to cat it, when
shell crashed through the house an'
knocked table, crockery, and eatable
into smithereens.
The losses in this fight were not heav.
on either side, considering the numbe
engaged, but it had an important bearin
on the plans of the opposing generals, a
can be seen In their reports of the mai
battle. THOMAS j. MURRAY.