The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-10-03

at the works was waxing warm. :SAu we
could do was to look camly on, and hope
for the best. We could not reach the works
to render any aid. The Federals on the
one hand, and the marsh already spoken
of protecting the right flank of the works
on the other hand, made it imposs.b BILE for
rs to give any assistance, both of these OBJ
stacleS being between us and tie works.
After short while our attention was called
in the direction of this house by the FEEDER
ais bringing two pieces of artillery in the
ward. and quickly whirling them in posi-
! fion commenced a rapid crossfre upon
our works. They of course had no knowl-
edge of our presence, for had they been
aware of our nearness to them they would
certainly have opened fire upon US. After
this firing from these guns had been going
ON q short time, we discovered two officers
who came riding from the yard in the di-
rection where we were Col. Stephens dis
covered them at the same time, and said to
ms: .Bovs. there are two officers coming
this way, but don't shoot till they come
within ffty yards of US: then riddle them. ;"
We prepared to shoot them, but for some
reason unknown to US, they turned and
rode back to the yard. We did not fire 7p-
on them. they not coming as near as we
wanted them to come Had they come 9
little closer. it certainly would have been
the last of those two Yanks. Their rank
we could not determine, but they were
field officers of coulse. AS soon as the 9TH
GERS returned to the yard we lost sight OF
them, but we were not long in seeing full
regiment of infantry of Blue Jackets march
into the yard They halted but few mo-
ments. This regiment was detached from
the main body and sent round this side
for the purpose as we believed, to attack
and turn the right flank of the works at
Secessionvile, leaving the main body, four
thousand strong. to attack its front. Our
reason for so believing was because they
seemed to take very little notice OF things
near them. Their main aim seemed to be
centered on the works at Sacessionvlle.
This regiment numbered eight hundred or
thousand men atleast when they emerged
from the yard in fours, right shoulder SHIFT
arms, at double-quick down road that
was nothing more than a plantation road,
leading as they must have supposed TO-
wards the works. This road was about SIX
ty yards from our position. running very
nearly straight across our front.
When the centre of the column reached
our front we were ordered to fire, and to
their surprise forty-nine muskets were
emptied into their ranks. Though sur
prised they promptly from fours formed by
twos. and with yells and curses made for
us. we loading and firing as fast as we
could, knowing in the rapidity Of our fire
in a large measure depended o1r safety
The Federals charged up to within twenty
feet of US, and poured tremendous ire IN
to US, as they thought, but their shower OF
bullets passed just above our heads. Had
| we not been so we'll protected by the ditch
and fence, we would certainly have been
killed or wounded. They stood for some
time loading and firing into the s:4icket,
seeming to be afraid to charge where we
were. Our fire being so rapid and IT In
dian style, caused them to falter and TALL
back. By this time the smoke mad covered
our entire front, and it was difficult to see
man even short distance The two pieces
of artillery in the yard continuing their IRE
upon the works created more smoke, and 1t
having a tendency to settle made our sur
roundings pretty smoky. The tederals re-
covering from their discontinue reformed
their line, fully with the intention TINS time
of carrying our position; and so rapid was
their onslaught, it caused our troops to
crowd upon each othe- in groups. A good
many of them cleared the fence, and got
into the ditch and thicket among us, how
many have forgotten, remember seven
being killed in the thickct, and several
prisoners taken.
About the time the enemy had reach our
position this time, the Eutaw Battalion,
who had been apprised by the same courier
that we had been, OF the advance OF the en-
emy, reached US, coming up at doub!equlck'
and formed their line ID our rear, at the
edge of this thicket, the thicket now being
between the battalion and US. \ little to
the right of the Eutaw Battalion, and
>.3out one hundred and fifty yards back, was
a piece Of Prestons Battery, If l mistake
not. The Eutawville Battalion and piece
Of artillery being now in position, we were
ordered to lie close The next moment
three hundred muslzets poured whitening
fire over US upon the enemy. The piece OF
artillery having opened at the same time
began to hurl grapeshot and canister over
us among the foe. This unexpected show
er of iron and lead was a little more thar
the Yanks had bargained for. The EutaW
Vile Battalion and the piece OF artillery
fred several rounds, shooting over US al
the time. Their timely arrival and assist
ance hooped the piggin at this point. Inc
Federals broke in every direction. Leaving
the field il squads of twos and threes ane
so on. We continued to fire upon them a.