The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-10
A WAR REMlNISCENCE.
Ned Buntline Tells OF q Famous Dash for q
Rocket Battery.


Rocket Battery.
In the winter of 1868 an infantry
brigade. with Howard's Battery l.,
Third Artillery, and two battalions of
cavalry, Eleventh Pennsylvania and
First New York Mounted Rifles, all
under Gen. Vessels, made a reconnois-
sance out from Suffolk, Va, on the
Franklin road.
The mud was hub-deep to the gun
carriages, and they had to double
teams to get the guns along at all.
The infantry spreading through the
fields off the roads got along little
better-but it was hard marching and
GROWERS were in the majority. About
ten or twelve miles out the cavalry
drove in a rebel picket ahead of us,
and soon after we were checked by
heavy battle line of the men in gray.
The brigade was at once deployed
and skirmishers were thrown out to
feel the enemy while we waited for
the guns to come up. They were far
in the rear and there was no telling
when they could be got to the front.
Suddenly from little knoll in front
of the rebel position rocket battery,
a recent importation on an English
blockade-runner, opened sharp upon
us. The huge rockets tearing and
Kissing through the trees and under
brush scared the cavalry horses fear
fully and the men were scared about
as badly. Not one in hundred of
them had ever seen rocket, except
such as are used in fireworks, and the
horrible missiles appeared worse than
they really were.
The writer had seen Congreve rock
cts used to repel Seminole attack on
Fort Dallas, near Key Biscayno, in
1889, and probably he was about the
only one in command who knew what
such battery could do. Gen. Vessels
was furious. We could only reply to
the rockets with musketry. A deep
stream and muddy fat ahead of us
made cavalry charge next to impos-
sible and the internal rockets were
literally demoralizing the men.
Suddenly an old sergeant, who sat
in his saddle at the head of twenty
mounted scouts, road up to Gen. Wes-
sells, saluted, and said:
General, if you let me try it l
think can get in on the flank of that
rocket battery under cover cf these
woods and take it, if you'll keep up a
fire front till | charge, and then sup
port me by forward movement!'
"Try it, Sergeant, try it!'' said the
General earnestly.
In minute the mounted scouts filed
off to the rear, lead by the Sergeant,
and were soon out of sight. The whole
line now opened heavy fire, and the
men in the rocket battery had a show
er of lead sent in among them at long
range, to which they answered as fast
as they could work their rockets.
Twenty minutes passed by, and then,
through his glass, Gen. Vessels
saw the scouts in the edge of the woods,
not 800 wards from the rear of the
battery, ready to charge, every man
with his rifle at present.
The next instant, swift as flight of
arrows, they were seen plunging for
ward over dry ground upon the rocket
men, and at the same instant, ceasing
to fire. Vessels ordered his whole |
line forward with the bayonet.
The surprise was so sudden and
complete that the battery and the men
who worked it were in the hands of
the scouts in less than a minute, and
with a cheer our whole line crossed
the creek and held dry ground on the
other side with the captured battery
in their midst. The Confederates were
driven back nearly half mile before
they rallied and made it so hot for us
that we had to slow up and skirmish
while our guns were coming forward.
We had the rocket battery now, but
none of our men or officers knew how
% work it to advantage, so we could
lot use it on the enemy. So we had
% keep peppering away with rifles and
nuskets till near night and then our
runs were up. The Confederates then
ell back to their fortified lines near
ano we drew off and returned
o Suffolk, pretty well worn out with
7irglnia mud.
And that is the brief history of the
nly rocket battery ever fell in with
rom 81 to '65. 1t was rough but not
alf so. dangerous rs It seemed, for
! could not be handled like shot and
hell ard sent where it could do the