The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-10-21

From General Longstreet's account of
"The Invasion of Maryland" in the
Century, we quote this anecdotes
"Thus the battle ebbed and flowed with
terrific slaughter on both sides.
1.-The Federals fought with wonderful
bravery and the Confederates clung to
their ground with heroic courage rs
hour after hour they were mown down
like grass. The fresh troops of Nc
Clellan literally tore into shreds the al
ready ragged army of Lee, but the Con-
tederates never gave back.
Il remember ut one time they were
surging up against us with fearful num-
beers. | was occupying the left over by
Hood, whose ammunition gave out. He
retired to get fresh supply. Soon
after, the Federals moved up against us
in great masses.
1--WE were under the crest of hill
occupying Il position that ought to have
been held by from four TO six brigades.
The only troops there were Cookies
regiment of North Carolina infantry
without 4 cartridge. AS | rode along
the line with my staff | saw two pieces
of the Washington artillery (Miller's
battery, but there were not enough
men to man them. The gunners had
been either killed or wounded. This
was fearful situation for the Confeder-
ate center. | put my stafl-oilcers TO the
guns while held their horses 1t was
easy to see that if the Federals broke
through our line, the Confederate army
would be cut in two and probably de-
stroyed, for we were already badly
whipped and were only holding our
ground by sheer force of desp ration.
Cooke sent me word that his ammuni-
ton was out. | replied that he must
hold his position as long as he had
man left. He responded that he would
show his colors rs long as there was
man alive to hold them up. We loaded
up our little guns with canister and sent
n rattle of hail into the Federals as they
came up over the crest of the hill.
There was more business to the
square inch in that little battery than
in any ever saw, and it shot harder
and faster and with n sort of human
energy rs it seemed to realize that it
was to hold the thousands of Federals
at bay or the battle was lost. So warm
was the reception we gave them that
they lodged back behind the crest or
the hill. We sought to make them be-
lieve we had many batteries before them
instead of only two little guns. As the
Federals would come up they would see
the colors of the North Carolina regi-
ment waving placidly and then would
receive a shower of canister. We made
it lively while it lasted. In the mean
time General Chiffon, General 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 replied. There they are; but that
regiment hasn't Il 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
General Lee. suppose he made some
remarkable report, although l did not
see General Lee again until night.
After little shot came across the
Federal front blowing the ground in
parallel line. Another and another,
each nearer and nearer their line. This
was from a battery on ID. II. Hills line
This entilade fire, so distressing to
soldiers, soon beat back the attacking
column.