The National tribune., 1885-07-23


pected to find them still there, but on getting
over nobody was to be seen and everything was
quiet.
1t was now quite dark. While thinking over
the situation and wondering what it all meant,
some one spoke: what are you doing down
there? Come back here, or you will get shot
and on going back a little could see line,
which / soon found to be the Third Brigade OF
Williams's Division. They were formed In line
from the works back towards the road asked
about the First Brigade. but they did not know
anything about it, and on lnquirIng what was
the trouble, and why they had drawn back out
of the works into a new position, could get
no satisfactory answer. l then went along
their line towards the road. Here found
part of our brigade all mixed up, but did not
find one of my own regiment. They said that
on going back to our old position they had en-
countered the enemy and been fired upon, ana
most thought there was some mistake and they
had been fred on by some of our own men.
About this time one of Gen. knlpeS stan
came riding along asking for volunteer sklr-
mshers to 60 out and ascertain who, If any
body, occupied our works. l Immediately
offered to go. / was at this time only few
feet from the plank road, and from 10 to ~
rods from the edge of the field, and on the right
of the line. / kept along near the road until
knew that was nearly in rear of where our
regiment had been in position. Here were some
old tumble down buildings, and a small OPEN
| ing in the woods. Keeping to the left L soon
came into our works precisely where my COM
pany had been stationed. All was still; no
| one there. j stopped moment to think who
or what could have driven the brigade out,
when something little farther on attracted
my attention, and l challenged, but the only
answer i got was, "Who are your" l again
challenged, and received the same answer.
When building the works we had cut the tim
Der clean some distance back, except one good
sized OAK probably Is inches in diameter. L
had made up my mind who they were. but
thought would be sure, SO stepping behind
this tree was about to challenge again and say
that if they did not give me definite answer
/ should fire into them, but before l could do
so l heard persons coming from the other
direction. There were two walking in the
trench. They did not see me until spoke
to them. as 1 discovered they were some
of our men. ! told them that some one
was but a few rods ahead, and that l was
pretty well satisfied
THEY WE'RE CoNFEDERATEs,
or "rebs," as we then called them; but in
stead of needing my advice, on they went in
spite of all / dare say, for ! did not want to
talk loud enough for the Others to hear. OF
course, / then waited to hear the result, with
open ears and mouth, too, presume. Soon L
heard " haiti" in low voice. and little talk
that / could not understand, and then what
S0unQeu TO me al Unat Time l1ke 4UH auu otu
Ala, hut since have thought it was North Caro-
lima; but it was enough to satisfy me, and l
went back to our lines as fast as possible. l
there found them preparing to advance into
the works again. as the skirmishers had come
back and reported them unoccupied-and l
had almost come near doing the same myself;
but, as luck would have it, one of Gen.
Knipes staff came along again-a Lieutenant
of Co. K, 46th Pa.-and / told him what had
heard, for you we'll remember it was now very
dark in the woods and / could not report as
having seen much. Away he went to report
to Gen. Knipe who soon appeared in person,
saying the order to move was cOuntermanded,
as some one had just reported the works occu-
pied near where the right of the 46th Pa. had
lain, supposed to be the enemy, and that he
had called for volunteer skirmishers to go out
once more and ascertain more fully. Stepping
to the front / said: General, / made that re-
port and am very sure about it," "Well," he
replied, eve will send out again and be sure"
l replied, "All right, 1 will go again, and I
think you will be satisfied this time"
Up to this time / had not heard gun fired
since we had left the woods before spoken of,
where our advance were skirmishing, and
knew not a thing of what had been going on,
| although my own regiment had got into me-
lee in the works with somebody, the Major
MORALLY wounded, and how many Others never
knew; but / remember one of my company
oners, but knew not word about it then.
Again on the skirmish-line l had gone nearly
to where ! wished to leave the road. / kept
Just near enough so that / could see the open
ing through the woods and turn to the left
and enter the works just where was before,
when ] heard some one coming through the
brush in front of me, and also others on the
road with horses behind me- My first thought
was that Gen. Knipe had become impatient at
the delay and was coming on the road himself
to find how matters were, but there seemed to
be halt, and then the thought struck me that
it might be our men advancing gun or bat
terry and stopping to get in position; but l had
not much time to think, for l Immediately
challenged the one in front of me, and was
answered "a friend" l asked, "a friend to
whom?" and the reply was, Il am wounded
man and belong to New York regiment" l
then thought that / must be mistaken, after
all, about the enemy being in front of US, or at
least very close. and without stopping to think
farther replied: "All right; advance. We are
Union skirmishers." These words were hardly
out of my mouth when the bullets came-quite
vOlley-from the front, which was scarcely
over before they also began to come from the
rear.
Soon one of our guns on the flank opened,
and think also some of those stationed on the
brow of the bluff in the field, for know it was
| lively for a short time but plenty long enough
to suit me. After the first volley l do not
| think there were any, or at least only few,
shots from the front. The horses on the road
went past me towards the Cnnfederates. This
puzzled me- but as soon as the firing ceased I
hurried back to our line to see if any
further satisfaction was wanted as to
who was in our front. All was commO-
ton, and the line was being drawn back
just into the edge of the field, not very far
from the stream. After the line was again
formed as well as the mixed condition of things
would allow, and everything seeming to be
quiet, we were told that we could lie down,
but not take off our accouterments, and be
ready to be in line instantly. / had lain down
and just began to be little drowsy, when a
command directly in front Of us caused me to
get on my feet in hurry. 1t was Forward
| guide center" The command March was
| not given, and the officer who gave the COM
mand must have had a voice like trumpet, as
| they were some distance from us, but the words
| were as plain as though spoken by one of our
| own line officers. The firing first commenced
to our left and gradually extended towards the
| right, where we WERE could relate distinctly
all that l saw and what occurred as long as /
| remained on the field, but will only say as to
what the strength of our lines were between us
| and the Charlottesville House.
| / had fired but two shots when / received
one myself Fired, think, two more, when
| began to feel faint and went back to the creek.
| After getting some water felt better, but made
| up my mind ! could not be of much use, and
better get back while could. The batteries
massed on the brow of the hill above us were
sending out o continuous sheet of fame, and /