The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-24
BEFORE ANTlETAM.
How "Baldy" Smiths Brigade Prevented
the Union Army from Being
Cut In Two.

How "Baldy" Smiths Brigade Prevented
the Union Army from Being
Cut I'm Two.
''My battery OF six guns" said the
Major. "had been increased to eight by
the addition OF section from vol
unteer battery taat had lost all its Off
GERS. We were posted in front of
Franklin's division. and to the left of
the bunker Church. and had come into
battle facing obliquely toward tine right.
Our position was on the edge of some
rather thick woods. that projected like
a peninsula from the front of our gen.
eral line, and we had been sheliing
Jackson's men on the principles OF the
Irish fight, Wherever We see head. hit
it, Right in front of us were undulat-
ing fields, thickly covered with corn,
which on the 18th of September was
tall and afforded excellent cover. We
were supported by single regiment of
zouaves, though the battle was raging
fierceiy TO our left. where Burnside had
forced the bridge and was fighting-hard
to maintain the position he had gained.
We were in a comparatively quiet spot.
and hardly realized the fact that one of
the most mOmentOuS engagements of
the war had reached its climax. In our
fancicd security we paid little or no at
tention 10 possible danger to ourselves
that might be lurking in the wooded
slopes beyond the corntield. SO it hap
pened that Confederate division was
formed and had actually started on the
run to capture us before we had anv
intimation that we were threatened.
came, and we saw the long gray lines
sweeping rapidly toward our left flank.
while our red-legged supports were de-
camping in the hottest of hot haste.
"A nice position it seemed! We
couldn't limber-up and gallop away.
because the woods were SO dense and
che ground so rough that only slow
retreat was possible. And how could
We beat back a division with eight guns?
But We could try to beat it back, and
assisted by few gallant fellows from
the zouaves. who stood their ground.
we changed front by hand. and opened
fire on the charging brigades. They
were so near us, however, that we used
SauiSeSi- "AASh - OaAAh III AOI tuc SuOtt-
est ranges. Our fire was rapid and
very effective, but though we could see
that it tore great gaps in their ranks.
still they came on gallantly, and it
seemed certain that we must lose our
guns, a bitter thought to an artiller;st.
We could distinguish the enemy's Off
GERS, and could see the men putting caps
on their rifles as they came on at the
double-quick, and though we pitched
the canister into them faster than ever.
that magnificent, rugged infantry of
Hills never faltered in their charge.
.'But in the meantime transforms
ton scene had been arranged, of which
We knew nothing. At the first glimpse
of the threatened attack staff officer,
who had been chatting with us, had
wheeled his horse and gallopcd rapidly
toward the rear through the woods.
Close at hand he found General Frank
lin, and in the fewest words informed
him that regular battery was in dam
ger of capture. and was unsupported.
Fortunately for us, q very prompt and
brilliant brigade commander was with
Franklin at the moment, and received