The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-28

cutting OF others, and thus it happened, from
the very begi nniDg. that we fred into tho adyau.
cling columns Of the enemy without guessing st
distance or shooting at random We cut them
down like grass. soldier who had q com.
manding view from tho woods said, "I never
saw such splendid shooting. Each fire seemed
to lit tho Federals off the ground
The firing was so accurate and deadly that no
courage could stand it. We saw that the enemy
were weakening. The forward move was grad
ualiy getting slower and slower. Then they
came to halt; now they Maver and break in
some confusion. Again they rally aud reform
and again the deadly FIRE splits them asunder.
Once more, with fearless courage, the Federals
are formed, but the inevitable was against them
and shattered once more by the we'll aimed
shots and shell. they beat retreat As we
were taking our position, saw q Confederate
battery going into position on our left and
about midway between us and Jacksons line.
II there was third battery rs Gen. Longstreet
States then it was out of my sight. It may
have been behind the woods from us. and not
far from Jackson extreme right front. When
the enemy began to retreat one section of the
battery already alluded TO, moved up and took
position on our left next to Lieutenant Porter's
section. When the Federal soldiers passed be-
yond the range of our pieces, Lieut.. Porter saw
that four gun Federal battery was knocking
the section that had taken position on his left
to pieces, wheeled his guns around and for a
few minutes we had spirited artillery combat
four and four on each side. Tho Federal battery
a0on nod in fha - a..
fautry. Of the twelve guns that broke the
furious onslaugh Of the Federal charge half of
them, six-belongcd to the Macbeth Light
Artillery, which leaves Longstreets statement
to be explained. Had he said two batteries
twelve guns could understand it. The Mac
beth was the only battery that Was directly on
the Federafs flank, and that had . direct in
flade fire. The other gnns were little to the
front Of the enemy. So it is beyond all aues-
ton, that the Macbeth inflicted onc-half of the
damage to the Federals claimed by Gen. Long
street, to have been done by the twelve guns
from his little hill.
While Jackson and Longstreet will Justly
figure in history, as the great heroes of second
Manassas, and while the immortal Lee will
overshadow them both in the luster of marshal
glory, the three batteries that turned what
threatened to be disaster into a glorious vic
tory, and thus changed what might have been
the history Of that battle, will neither be known
in - srx nor to the re mote poe,erity of the
meA~azao stsfsO mIch toasra sI1VsnIng lEat
victory from the jaws of defeat.
As We were going into action saw no Con-
federate infantry nearer than Jnckson's men,
quarter Of o mile to our left. Some time dur
ing the fight Gen. Laws brigade was sent to
our support, and was never lying on the ground
under the cover Of tho hill, just in our rear.
boy In his teens seeing that we were needing
man to aid In manning one of our guns,
spraug forward and fought like hero until his
brigade advanced. It would be pleasure to
know his name and what became of him.
Commencing At the stone house and running
ont in our front almost at right angles to- the
pike, as hill that commanded our position.
While the Federal infantry was being cut to
pieces BY our guns battery charged up and
tried time and again to take position on that
hill. But We were already in position and had
the drop on them. We fired quick and rapidly
and with effect, and it beat a ha.ty retreat.
Had Pope known Gen. Lee as we'll as Mcclellan
did, the Second Manassas would not have been
precipitated as it was.
Pope was following up what he believed was
q retreat and had not anticipated the .6ght Just
where Il took place. Hence he neglected to
line the hill in our front with batteries. Had
Pope postsd few guns on that hill the Mac
beth could never have occupied the position or
got the tnflade FIRE it did. They did not occupy
it when they could we refused to let them when
they tried. Towards the close of the battle
saw under the hill, in our rear, near the pike
Gen. Lee and Longstreet. Lee looked animated
and sitting bis horse as erect as a youth. Long
street seemed to be carelessly picking his teeth
ss though nothing Of au exciting character was
progressing In his front.
/ When the enemy passed out of our range, Capt.
Boyco stopped mp to Longstrest and said, .Gen-
srsf theyars out Of range. "Can't you get in
range 'swss Eongstr~ets laconic reply. Blu. lit
was new nearly. dark and the infantry had
sprnng tcs the charge and with q deafeninp
febsi yell werc pushing the enemy rapidly to-
swat DC Washington. We were ordered to pass
10 4e right of the pike and bivouac for tho
sight. As we were going into camp shot or
or shell nom some long range gun of the enemy
passed down uucomfortably near ny head and
barying itself in the ground in few inches
Of Sergeant J.. X. Young, and threw the sand
over hiG with stinging force. Forum ately
there swas 40 explosion. During the battle
Lisut. Pottsrss fne mare was killed by q solid
ball. G)x Of our men were wounded-Jos oseph
Garner and John Hays severely. When men,
tion the rSses Of Alexander Sims, the company
will sall lltofmind an unobtrusivc, quiet, gentle
manly little sootchman, who cheerfully dis
chargsd ~ duty, whether standing guard in
camp q 6ehtinr tho enemy. on the battle field