The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-14
TyCAMP AND BATTLE
With the Washington Artillery, of
New Orleans.

New orleans.
Bv Ww MILLER OWEN, Lieutenant and
Adjutaut. oyo. With Maps and Engrav-
ing. $500. Tichnor & Co., Boston.
A stirring narrative Of events during
the late Civil War, from Bull Run 10
Sven Pines, Antietam, Fredericksburg.
CHaucellursville, Gettysburg, ChiekamaH-
"a, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appomatox,
aod Spanish Fort.
This book has attracted much favora BILE
mention 10 the Northern press, and 10
msof the best magazines in the country.
COL oven was the frat adiutant OF the
Washington Artillery, and afterwards its
-ec5ud field officer in rank He NAV fit
dngly say OF the admirable book he has
given us, that it il an account Of
the battles, sieges, fortunes,
That ! have passed"
rhe basis Of this book il an official dia-
~ which he kept during the war. The au-
thor has thus retained the vividness Of
contemporary account, while he has so
filled out his own memoranda from the OF
fetal reports and other sources, that it is
boy no means a simple narrative Of person
ed experiences aud adventures On the
contrary, Col. Oven has written book
not only exceedingly readable, but which
places on record many valuable official
documents lsome OF them not to be found
slsewhere) aud which contains we'll drawn
sketches Of many Of the most important
events 10 the various campaigns in which
he had a share.
The arrangement il good the style sim
ole, clear and attractive the tone that of
q manly soldier OF sound digestion, proud
Of his comrades and his cause, but without
q trace OF bitterness to his foes.
The Washington Artillery boys were
oily set Of young fellows, and, making the
beet Of all circumstances, they sang old
songs, played practical jokes, drank deep
whenever occasion offered, and believed
thoroughly in the justice OF "the cause"
70 say that the Battalion served with
credit and distinction, but family ex
presses the truth. The quality OF its ma
terial was such that it only required sea
soniug 10 the field to make the best sol
diers in the world
Ia many particulars Col. Owens minute
account OF operations which fell under his
personal notice is Of great value. For in
stance, the following extracts will interest
Mississippans Speaking OF Barksdale's
Brigade at fredericksburg, May, 1868, he
says:
"On the % of May orders were re-
ceived from General Pendleton, Chief Of
Artillery, to move the first, third and
fourth companies of Washington Artii.
lery. to the front, aud their guns are
placed in earth-works opposite Fal
mouth. Large bodies of Federal troops
can be seen on the right-some on the
South (our) side of the Rlppahannock
About noon corps d'armee of Federals
moved through Falmoutl an front of our
guns, going apparently TO help Hooker
at Charlottesville, leaving corps on
our right All very quiet IN front OF
Fredericksburg, but heavy hiring towards
Charlottesville.
IN the evening the enemy on the right
began pushing in our skirmishers and
advancing on the hills towards Hamil
toms Crossing, where Early's division is
posted.
We were ordered by General Pendle
ton TO leave our positions and take the
three batteries TO the telegraph road
lie then ordered Colonel Walton to fall
back to some safe place. We marched
about a mile, when we met General
Barksd les brigade, moving in the di
rection of fredericksburg. 1t was now
dusk. General Barksdale called out,
"What artillery is that?' Col. Walton
told him. He then said, "Col. Walton,
you are not going to desert me, are
you?" The Colonel replied, General, l
am the last man to desert you or anybody
else-T am acting under orders" !" Then
will YOU obey an order from me?' Yes r
was the reply. "Then reverse your col
umn and come back to Fredericksburg
with me. We must hold this point to
the last" We Immediately counter
marched and retraced our steps. 1t was
now quite dark, and, 20 deceive the enc,
my, innumerable camp fires were lighted
all along Lees Hill.
L "On the morning of the 3D. of May,
the troops defending Marye's Hill and the
line of heights back of the town OF
Fredericksburg, were AS follows
To the left of the plank road, the
Twenty first Mississippi Regiment, 35t
muskets. under command OF Colonel IL
G. Humphreys. Behind the stone wall
at the foot OF Marye's Hill, the Eigb
feenth Mississippi Regiment, Col. Grif
q, 3IS muskets. At the foot of Lees
Hin the Seventeenth Mississippi Regi
mani Col. Holder, $50 muskets, and the
Thirteeuth Mississippi Regiment, Major
Bradley; two l2-pounder Napoleon guns
Of the Third Company Washington Ar
tillerv, and two guns OF Parkers bat
terry under Lieutenant Brown, on Mary
Hill. General Early with his division
was at Hamilton's Crossing, where I
was thought the enelny would attack
and General Wilcox's Brigade was a
Banks Ford, few miles abofe th'
town.
Fairly in the morning the enemy made
,dyspce in very strong force agains
the hills and were gallantly repulsed b,
the Mississippians and Miller's anC
Browns guns on Mary's Hill.
At $50 A. NJ, flag of truce came ou
of the town, and was met about one hun
dred wards in front of the stone wall b,
Caotain Robert Brown, of the Brow
Rides. and Sergeant Major William
Blake. of Company X, 18th Misslssipp'
The enemy requested permission t
take off their killed and wounded; bu
Cal Griffin very properly refused thei
nntimelv request; but it was notice
hv Rake that the bearers OF the fla
neered intentIy at the foot OF the hil
where our infantry were, and our me
wonId lift their beads above the ston
wall, showing plainly how small thel
numbers were. That was just what th
enemy wanted to discover, and, beIn
satisfied. retired 10 their own lines.
At about 10 o'clock, emboidened Q
the discovery of our weakness unuer
Aac of truce, the enemy suddenly al
reared to spring out of the. ground
line of battle, from behind the rids
near the town. At the same time thlr'
60 forty guns opened upon our position
from Stafford Heights. 1t was a Deau'
ful sient but terrible one for US.
On the columns charged with rus
loud shouts aud yells. The Eighteenl
Ssiss;ssippi. behind the stone wall, al
he guns Of Miller and Squire on q
~ rr...,,tv- f,rst MisgissiDDl. WI