The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-07-02
A Critical Moment at Antfetam.

From General LOngstTeet' s account of
"The invasion Of Maryland in the
Ccnhury, we quote this anecd0te
''Thus the battle ebbed and flowod
with terrific slaughter On both sides.
The Federals fought with wonderful
bravery and the Confederatcs cIung to
their ground with heroic courage as
hour after hour they were mown down
like grass. The fresh troops of McCleI-
/ Ian literally tore into shreds the already
ragged army Of Lee, but the COufeder-
ates never gave back.
/ I remember at one time they were
/ surging up against Us with fearful num-
| bers. was occupying the left oyer by
| Hood, whose ammunition gave out. He
! retired to get fresh supply. Soon aft
/ er, the Federals moved up against US in
! great masses.
We were under the crest of a hill oc-
I cupying a position that ought 20 have
! been held by from four to six brigades
/ The only troops there were Cookies regi-
1 ment Of North Caroline infantry with
/ out cartridge. AS I rode along the
! line with my staff I saw two pieces of
/ the Washington artillery lMiIer's bat
/ tery) but there were not enough men to
/ man them. The gunners had been eth
/ er killed or wounded. This was a fear
/ fuI situation for the Confederate centre.
! 1 put my staff officers to the guns while
| l held their horses. 1t was easy to see
| that If the FederaIs 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. re-
| piled that he must hold his position as
long as he bad man left. He respond
! ed that be would show his cOloIs as long
as there was a man alive TO hold them
UP. We loaded up our little guns with
canister and sent rattle Of hail into the
| Federals as they came up over the crest
| of the hill.
There was moro business to the square
inch in that tle.batJeTy than in any ]
ever saw, and it shot harder and faster
and with a sort of human energy as il
seemed to realize that It was TO hold the
thousands of FederaIs at bay or the bat
| tie was lost So warm was the recep.
tion We gave them 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 placid
" and then would receive g shower OF
canister. We made it lively while il
lasted. In the meantime General Chill
ton, General Lees chief OF staff, made
his way to me and asked "TVhere art
the troops you are holding your linr
with ?'' I pointed to my two piece.
and to Cookies regiment and replied
There they are but that regiment
hasn't g cartridge"
ChiltOn's eyes popped as though they
would come out Of bis heat. he stIucl
/ spurs to his horse and away &c went &
/ General Lee. I Isuppose G5 made somt
remarkable report, although = did no
see General Lee again until night
After little shot came across the Fed.
eral front, blowing the ground iu d par
allel line. Another and another, eacl
] nearer and nearer their line. This wa!
from a battery on D. II. Hills line.
This enflsde GIe, SO distressing t,
soldiers, soon beat back the attacking
column.