The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-14

could not discern; for it was constructed in an
ticipation Of an attack from towards Washing
ton. 1t could not have been thrown up in an
ticipation of Jackson's move to the rear of the
enemy. That would be to accredit Gen. Pope
with more prophetic ken than he ever possess
ed, as Jackson said, demonstrated in m ore
ways than one. Pope would not have throw n
it up for the protection of Confederate soldiers
1t did protect our infantry that Rugged the
ground while we were there as closely as if
they had grown there. Perhaps it was thrown
up by Gen. Joe Johnson's troops, when he re-
treated from Manassas and went to tho
Peuensula below Richmond. This is the only
reasonable explanation that suggests itself to
my mind. The works on the west side of the
hill as VIC approached it, was on higher ground
than that which our guns would have occupied
had we halted there. And the enemies position
was on still lower ground. 1t would have been
necessary to. have fired our guns at an elevate on
Of forty-five degrees in order to have cleared
the summit of the hill, aud any depression suf-
fcieut to have trained them on the enemy,
would have been obstructed by tho brcastworks
Capt. Boyce, who was little in advance of the
company, took in the situation at glance.
He saw that the battery must occupy the space
between the two lines in order to engage the
enemy. Leaping the brestworks ho ordered
the pieces to pass in through an opening to-
wards the north.
The first section, under Lieut.. b. A. Jeter
passed in and took position on the right, tho
second crowded in on the first, and then came
the third under Lieut.. S. W. Porter, aud thore
was complete jam. Here were six guns and as
many caissons trying to occupy space not
more than sufficient for the successful manning
of two guns. And in addition to our battery,
large number of ofinfantry lying on the ground,
and very mnch in our way. They seemed to
prefer being trampled to death by our excited
horses and crushed by the wheels of our pieces,
rather than expose themselves for moment to
the deadly IRE of the enemy. The men of the
first section unlimbered, but were not able to
man their guns for the want Of room.
The enemy saw the trap into which our reck-
lessness and inexperience were impelling us
and reserved their fire, in joyful anticipation of
our destruction. They opened ON us from two,
some said four, batteries rapid and murderous
fire, and with remarkable accuracy of practice.
Two minutes would cover every moment we
were there. And in that breath of time, Lieut..
William Munro was severely wounded, being
shot through both hands and both thies, five Of
the meu slightly, aud three mortally wounded
seven hcrses killed right out and Ten or fiftean
slighty, our guns and caisson c,F ,FrN. r4 carried
from the hill numerous evidences Of the severity
of the enemy's fire. Seeing that We were under
q murderous fro and in no condition to return
it, Capt. Boyce ordered the battery to retire;
and leaping the breast works he went out MS he
had gone in.
l am quite sure that the Macbeth made
quite as good time in getting away from grave
yard hill-for such was its name-as they did
in going there. The only deficiency in the
enemy's practice resulted from the cutting of
their fuse; an error they would have correc ed
If VIC had given them time Had their fuse
been one.half of o second shorter, the damage
great as it was to the battery, would have been
much more disastrous. Owing to tho sma II
area we had to occupy, my section was thrown
on the left and next to the battery that did the
execution. sat on my horse to the left of my
left gun and there was not as much as q bush
zling rays Of the sun as it was reflected from
their FURNISHED guns. The shells passed over
my head and exploded just to my right above.
but so close to the heads Of the men that ,
noticed them cringe at each explosion, as 4;
they were affected by the concussion. NJ an,
Of the balls from the spherical case N all
passed into the ground beyond the ,,rsr,
right Of the battery. Had the fuse ,.sn =,
one half of a second shorter, the sL, H.. wan,
have exploded to my left and the IL ,,;, So
them would have been poured i'--' ,hs ,,,;a., 80
crowded mass Of horses AZ , w;,,..
McNeace was the lead drir 90 ,.o -,
When the enemy opened b. II. ,.uu,h,. eu
McNeace sprang to the ,,a , h.,,;.
himself as best he could ,,..,
ground, looked up and oos..ob;nr cold ,u;,
tenant, jump down OF 90, Iii =. L;uol
1t was SO quick over ,,.tI,oa .;,o -
danger, and therefore re
I fear until was safe
) guns. / did not hear
and do not know how None
wv .nson managed to get out of 8,
80. 4 ~ so we'll, so quick and in peri
w horse was always fool about
Of an engine and the booming
but on that occasion he.was quiet,
no.s" usually are under fire. but when
.ry began to move he became unmanai
Wv dismounted and led him across On o
/ cid for half mile. before passed out of
range of the Federal guns.
passed Lieut.. Munro's horse ut the bot
of tho hill. He followed the battery &C
an the little branch and fell as he started up
eth second hill A little further on passed Ja
ion Jolly's saddle horse. The noble animal a
ad- in getting the gun almost out Of danger be
be fell Here mounted my horse, and