The National tribune., 1889-11-07
STORY OF A CANNONEER.
Continued from 1st pageJ

the east had come to our ears This the old
fellows said was probably the rebel cavalry
munition and other trains, and Pleasonton was
repeliing them. In this case, as it afterwsrd
turned out, the veterans were correct
But by noon everything on our extreme right
was quiet, and We began to look anxiously to
Seminary Ridge again to sec what
THE MAssING OF ARTILLERY AND INFANTRY
there would bring forth. We could see over
across tho valley line of rebel guns reaching
from near the Seminary on tho north clear
down TO point nearly opposite to tho Peach
Orchard on the south. lining that ridge for
over = mile in length with what was almost
one unbroken battery, over 100 guns strong
| venture to say that no man now living in
this country will ever see another artillery
line like it-at least not on our own soil.
Looking to the southwark along Cemetery
Ridge on our own side, so far as we could sec,
what appeared to be the whole artillery of the
Army of the Potomac was in similar formation,
though we could not see it all from our posi-
tion.
1t was now past noon, very hot, and the air,
surcharged with the smoke and vapor of two
days OF battle, held . sort of murky haze which
was almost sedative in its effect on the senses.
What little breeze there was blew from the
south, but it wass not much. No sounds were
heard except tho clank of harness, the sharp
tones of orders here and there and the stamp of
the impatient horses' hooEs as OrderIies and
staff officers flew up and down the line. / no.
ticcd that | could distinctly hear the hum of
the honey-bees working. That sound took mo
back to the little garden behind our old farm
homestead away up North where tho beehives
stood In rows on long panks, and where l had
often gono in the hot Summer days past to lie
down in the shade of the pear trees and read o
book to the music of the humming bees! But
as this thought grew in my mind recolIected
that was soldier now, facing the enemy, q
veteran to all intents and purposes and that
all such maudlin sentiment rs that was wholly
Incompatible with my dignity. Therefore
braeed mp showed the thumbstalI further up on
my thumb, brought my eyes front and seowled
at the enemy over across.
Returning to the events Of the day, we were
as | said, waiting for tho enemy TO lead off.
During this time Gen. Hunt came along our
iine inspecting the guns and inquiring of tho
officers about their ammunition etc When he
came TO US and saw that we had but four guns
and had lost three caissOns with hardly half
enough horses even for what we had left, and
that our force present for duty was less than 80
men, drivers and all. he stopped and said eff
had known that you were in this condition
would have relieved you this morning with
battery from tho Reserve. / had no idea you
were so much cut up
We HAVE SUFFERED SOME, SIR,
replied orderIy-sorg't Mitchell, who was for
the moment in command; but we do not want
to bo put out of action!" Whereat we all
cheered. The General smiled nodded his head
aud rode OF.
He had not been gone a great while when a
puff OF white smoke came from a gun about
tho center OF the rebel line aud then, almost
before the sound of tho report had time to
reach us. they opened fire on their extreme
right, about opposite the Peach Orchard. This
opening fire ran swiftly along their line, gun
after gun and battery after battery taking it up
in succession. 1t reminded me of tho " powder
snakes we boys used to touch Off on the 4th
of July, where you lay a long. snuous train of
powder on the ground or sidewalk aud ignite
1t mt one end. But 1t was on thousand times
Rrander scalo. aud though within one day of
the 4th. it was not being done for fun. The
explosion OF their shells showed Us instantly
that they were concentrating their FIRE on our
center. some distance from us so mono OF their
projectiles came our way. Besides we were so
far around 10 our own right that the range was
too long for our light twelyes. except as to the
enemy's guns nearest tho Seminary and that
itself was very long range. With solid shot the
maximum range of light l2-poundor, at i've
or six degrees elevation. is about 700 Yards
or mlle in round terms; whereas the nearest
OF the enemy's guns was moro than a mile from
us SO we stood TO our posts for tho time being
aud watched tho performance Meantime eight
guns that they had posted on the elevation
north of the town. commanding tho Carlisle
and Mummasburg reads, fred few rounds at
US, but as the shells all fell short or exploded
la the air before they reached us, these guns
soou ceased We did not reply TO them. / no.
ticed that the enemy served his guns very
slowly, and also Judging from the frequent ex-
plosious of the caissons of our batteries to tho
If 4. u.
first tIme envied the batteries that had the
rIfied piecos--Parrotts or the 3.inch ordnance.
If ours had been riiied guns we could have
Joined in" However, our lack of employ
ment afforded ns all the better opportunity to
witness the scene. did not appreciate this
then rs much as do now. But in tho light of
these times 10 ia 4 great thing 10 have witnessed
the battle OF the third day. and the great duel
between the concentrated artillery OF Meades g
aud Lees armiesl
Our shells did not appear 10 blow upas many
OF the encmy's eaissons IA his did of ours. This
was because his cslissous wero mostly under
cover of the woods in the rear of his guns or
were out of sight behind the crest; while ours
were in the open fields east of the Taneytown
road ia plain sight aud with no cover of any
kind. i think that. If casualties to men,
horses aud material are to be the test Of tho
eieetiveness of artillery practice, we must all
THE REBELS HAD MUCH THE REST OF THAT
WONDERFUL CANNON DUEL.
Our battery formed pretty picture while this
was going on. An oil painting OF it that would
embody recognizable portraits Of the men, II
ono were possible, could entice a good many
shekels from my pocket at this time. The
Lieutenant stood on foot most OF the time near
tho right gun, with QUO arm thrown over the
neck OF his horse and a field glass in the other
hand. sweeping tho scene from end 10 end. He
made me think of an expert watching q COM
petitive drill. of which he might be one of the
judges. The men stood at ease at their guns,
some leaning against the wheels, others stand
ing up on the checks" or axles, all eyes bent
on the stupendous drama before them, the
like of which no ono ever saw before, aud in
all probability no one will ever see again /;
commenting To one another on tho incidents of
the practice; comparing and critieising the
performances of tho respective rebol batteries,
aud ali the tima regretting that the range was
too great for our own little brass twclves
"Oh. we'll, boys be patient" the old Orderly
would say. "Ali thisis to hammer our folks down
to the left aud pave the way for their infantry.
There's going to bs n HI of a charge pretty
soon. along the whole line, aud then we'll come
in for our share. Keep your shirts on, boys"