, 1886-06-30
GEN. LoNesTREET AT ANTIETAM.

A Critical Movement for the Confederate
Forces-showers OF Canister.
Thus the battle ebbed and flowed with
terrific slaughter on both sides. The
Federals fought with wonderful bravery
and the Confederates chung to their
ground with heroic courage as, hour
after hour, they we.c .cown down like
grass. The fresh troops of Mcclellan
literally tore into shreds the already
ragged army of Lee, but the Confeder-
ates never gave back.
l remember at one time they were
surging up against us with fearful num-
bers. was occupying the left over by
Hood, whose ammunition gave out. He
retired to get a fresh supply. Soon after,
the Federals moved up against us in
great masses.
We were under the crest of a hill, oc-
cupying a position hat ought to have
been held by from four to six brigades.
The only troops there were Cookies regi-
ment of North Carolina infantry, without
a cartridge. As l rode along the line
with my staff, l saw two pieces of the
Washington artillery Nfiller's battery,
~ hatAt WIZ " 1AiOhkl iiltil u lIldll
them. The gunners had been either
killed or wounded. This was a fearful
situation for the Confederate center. l
put my staff-officers to the guns while |
held their horses. 1t was easy to see
that if the Federals broke through our
line there, the Confederate army would
be cut in two and probably destroyed,
for we were already badly whipped and
were only holding our ground by sheer
force of desperation. Cooke sent me
word that his ammunition was out. l
replied that he must hold his position as
long as he had a man left. He responded
that he would show his colors as long as
there was Il man alive to hold them up.
W. loaded up IL little guns with can-
lister and sent a rattle of hail into the
Federals as they came up over the crest
of the hill.
There was more business 10 the square
inch in that little battery than in any l
ever saw, and it shot harder and faster
and with a sort of human energy as it
seemed to realize that it was to hold the
thousands of Federals at bay or the battle
vas lost. SO warm was the reception we
gave them that they lodged back be-
hind the crest of the hill. We sought
to make them believe we had many bat
teries before them instead of only two
little guns. As the Federals would come
up they would see the colors of the North
Carolina regiment waving placidly, and
then would receive a shower Of canister.
We made it lively while it lasted. In the
meantime Gen. Chiffon, Gen. Lees chief
of staff, made his way to me and asked,
"Where are the troops you are holding
your line with?' l pointed to my two
pieces and to Cookies regiment, and re-
piled, There they are; but that regiment
hasn't a cartridge"
Chilton's eyes popped as though they
would come out of his head, he struck
spurs to his horse and away he went to
Gen. Lee. suppose he made some re-
markable report, although l did not see
Gen. Lee again until night. After Il
little n shot camea across the Federal front,
ploughing the ground in a parallel line.
Another and another, each nearer and
nearer their line. This was from a bat
terry on d. Ii. Hills line. This enflade
fire, so distressing to soldiers, soon beat
back the attacking column.-Gen. Long
street in The Century.