The National tribune., 1890-06-12

A Soldier uho Resolved 30 Take Few OF the
Devils with Him.

Soldier uhO Resolved 30 Take a Few or the
Devils with Him.
EpIToE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your Issue
OF Jan, =, ! gave tho substance of story told
me IN July, 1863, by rebel prisoner, who stated
that his regiment, with Others, charged n
battery at the second battle Of Manassas; that
| the battery, excepting one gun, limbered IN
quickly and reiterated, aud as the charging
forces got within 20 i-tt ui the sol tary gun,
lone gunner rose np pulled tho lanyard and
made Is or 20 rebels bite the dust md that the
Union gunner WAS then riddled with bullets
Since the article WAS written / have read a
statement made By the rebel Gen. Law, to tho
effect that Mt that battle his brigade or division
charged gun which was fired in their faces,
etc. Again, ia one OF the reports of the second
battle OF Manassas. made by another rebel Gen
eral. II Is stated that one piece Of artillery was
captured, but az 1t could not bo drawn oil the
field. the wheels were cut down. etc
IL is presumed that each Of tho statements
refer TO the same gun, aud as the uristocratic
branch Of service Is just now attracting much
attention by the aoul5trring story told by tho
Cannoneor, crttor-back man will be pardoncd
Tor suggesting that the lone gun and gunner Mt
Manassas should not be overlooked while Bat.
terry Il Is getting Ia It's work
Mr.. l.. II. King, editor Of the Port Byron IN
- Chronicle writes me under date Of Feb = /:
The lone gunner AZ Manassas Of whom the
rebel prisoner told you was Benton Wells, VINO
died from the effects Of his wounds soon after
the war and is buried in this his native place.
He enlisted IN 1861 Ia the Seth ~ Y, and was
in Piatt's Brigade At Manassas; he re.enlistea
In 1864, and served under Hancock. His rcgi-
mcnt was known ne the Stcuben Rangers. A
few weeks before no lied he related To rae this
account OF the affair at Manassas, 10 which you
refer in The NATIoNAL TRIBUNE, Jau 2:
While IN Washington we were drilled in
artillery practice, and nj the second Bull Run
"A portion OF my company WAS detailed to man
section OF n battery. Our support lay 80 far
IN the rear as to be Of no service in the fight.
Tho battery VAS charged upon by at least "A
brigade oil the enemy, and we gave them fits 80
long as We could / was wounded and fell in
my place beside tho gun just as orders were
given 10 retreat The horses and men were
Killed, 50 that my gun was left, loaded with
double charge / lay aud watched the rebs
come mp with their bats pulled down over their
iaccs and felt that would DO bay0neted as
tooh rs they reached ms, for our shot had in
Juied them terribly. As ! lay aud thought
land | thought OF "A life, time in "A minutel it
came to me that could take few of the devils
with me, and tried 10 reach the lanyard and
succeeded Just as they were closing in on the
gun, say, % feet away. | said God save meln
aud pulled. | saw a crowd of them 20 down
just rs was hit in two or three places and then
soon after heard "A cheer aud roar that came
from our support, which swept tho rebs back
and captured number Of them, aud l was
taken to the rear and to the hospital"
This plain statement from "A man evidently
cast IN IA heroic mold agrees substantially with
what tue rebsl prisoner told me; IL agrees also
with Gen. Laws report of tho gun that was
fired in their faces at short range; and If il
was the same gun Of which the wheels were
cut down, the counterchargo Benton Wells
referred to explains why the Johnnes did not
get away with the piece.
Perhaps the details Of the episode narrated
have already been given in one of tho many
volumes OF war stories, but even if history
repeats ITSELF" it would be interesting TO hear
from regimcntal comrades of Benton Wells. and
to learn more Of the gallant gunner who re,
solved " to take Gew,of the devils" with him.
II. G. WHITAKER, 90. NJ, ID N. Y. Cav.