The National tribune., 1886-09-09
DESERTED HOUSE.
Desperate ARTILLERY Duel in the Night.

A Desperate Artillery Duel In the Night.
To THE EDITOR: or all the numerous en-
gagements in which the 18th Ind. took part
none, perhaps, for the number Of troops en-
gagged, will compare with the fight at the De-
serted House, or, as it was sometimes called,
Kely's Store, near Suffolk, Va, for heavy artil-
lery firing at short range and destructive effect.
About III o'clock on the night of Jan. %, 1868,
we were quietly ordered to prepare for march
with three days ratious. In short time we
were ready 10 move, and when the command
fall in was given we were promptly IN line,
and moved out of camp on the Carsville road
and were soon Joined by other troops-the nth
Pa. Cav. in the lead, followed by the 9th Mass,
18th Ind, l3Oth N Y, and some other regi-
ments Battery ID, 4th u. S., Capt. Folett, aud
the 9TH Mass. battery, Capt. Davis. Then
came Corc0ran's New York Irish Legion and
several regiments of Pennsylvania militia,
numbering SIX or seven thousand men, all
under command of Gen. Michael Corcoran, who
was relieved by Gen. T. S. Foster on the after
noon OF the 30th for some reason unknown to
the writer
The night was beautiful, the moon bright
and clear, the stars seeming to vie with each
other TO see which could shine the brightest.
The roads were not in good condition for COM
Portable marching, as between the sand, mud,
and water aud the prospect of getting into a
light before breakfast, made us feel as though
We had lost a friend or robbed hen-roost.
After marching about ten miles from Suffolk,
the cavalry advance. consisting of three
companies OF the 18th Pa, under command OF
Lieut.-Col. SietZel, came upon the cavalry out
post of the rebel forces of Gen. Roger A. Pryor,
consisting of three brigades of infantry, some
cavalry and Colts South Carolina battery, con-
sistlBg of SIX guns.
Our advance made a charge on the pickets
n IL H. aNaan
were in full retreat; but instead of this being
the case, they took shelter in the timber on
either side of the road expecting no doubt, to
capture some of our men. The boys OF the 18th,
with their accustomed promptness, soon found
out their mistake and that they were between
two forces of rebels, and a change OF front was
necessary. They made dash back past the
rebels, who were expecting their return, and
were prepared 10 give them yolley, which they
did, but fortunately no one was hurt. Alter
their return the 18th was deplOyed on the right
aud left Of the road as skirmishers, aud moved
forward through "A swamp, which was from one
10 two feet deep, until We came up TO the main
line Of rebel pickets. Our line of battle was
then formed with the 18th on the right, l3Oth
n. Y. next, supporting Follett's battery; the
ll2th n. Y. and 9th Mass on the left, support
ing Davis battery; the other troops were formed
in the timber in the rear When our line OF
battle was formed we could plainly see the
enemy on the opposite side of the held, and so
quietly were our troops got into position that
when our artillery opened on them We could
sec them run in every direction. Some were
trying TO put out their camphres, some one
thing, aud some another. We could plainly see
their officers trying TO form their men IN line,
which was no easy matter, as our gunners had
got the exact range. Our shells were doing good
work; solid shot, grape and canister were doing
their part. Soon, however, their gunners got
good range on us, aud for nearly or quite three
hours commencing about 2:3O on the morning
of the 30th, we wero under one OF the most
terrific and destructive cannonades that fell TO
our lot during our four years and hye months
service. The moon had gone down, and the
timber where lay was of heavy growth which
Of course made the night seem darker. The
cannonading, crashing OF solid shot, the burst
ing Of shells. the falling of trees, the groans OF
the wounded, the pitiiul neigbing Of the horses,
along with the fact that our clothing. being wet
from wading through the swamps, had in some
cases frozen 10 the ground where We lay, made
this one of the most disagreeable fights OF the
war. Ia the early part OF the engagement one
of Folletts limbers was blown up by q rebel
shell. Davis lost heavily in horses and men
Three OF his guns were disabled and sentto the
rear. Our whole loss was about 100 In killed
and wounded. Pryor's loss was much heavier
/ in killed, wounded and prisoners, IL being
about 300. Col Page (of the 9th Va, think.
was among the killed.
The rebels withdrew from our front about
daylight and we started after them. All along the
road we could see evidence of hRsty retreat
abandoned wagons, ampequipage, etc. We fol
lowed them about four miles, when we came tC
q swamp through which corduroy road wa:
made and in passing over this road we could
not march over six or eight abreast. As we
had been having night of it aud the boy:
were tired and sleepy, we did not keep oul
places in ranks very well. Lieut.. Dave New
son, of Co. X, ordered his men TO close up oil
they would not get "a SMELL" Just at this time
we received a volley from about 500 csrbines in
the hands Of the rebel rear-guard. aud Lieut.
Newson received a smell from a rebel gun AND
has the marks of il now in his face Severa
others were also wounded here. We did no
follow Pryor much beyond the swamp, as W.
found We could not overtake him. We re
turned 10 camp at Suffolk, where we remained
through the siege by Longstreet, and in Jun,
and early part of July We were sent up 4
Hanover Junction via the White House Land
ing. We made an effort TO destroy the Junction
but Lee had been driven from Pennsylvania
and as he had sent troops by rail TO drive u
back we did not succeed. After a short rest a
Bowers's Hill we were sent to Folly Island
s. C., TO take part in the siege Of Charleston
GEORGE Z. LOWRY, 18th Ind, Indianapolis
Ind.