The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-13

were oil mixed up. AS we began to
drag thc cannon off, tho Jolrnnies
grabbed the piece by the muzzle and
tried to hold it. Then muslsets were
clubbcd and bayoncts used. If all
those engaged in the fight had been
personal enemies for years, the cursing
and rcviling could not have been more
bitter. The wounded fell to the ground
with oaths and imprccations upon their
lips, md without groan. Enough of
our mon rallied to enable us to hold on
to the gun. The Vermont regiment in
the woods on the left had stood firm,
and the Johnnics who had swept
through the gap were cnfiladcd. After
the fight to secure the gun was over,
we discovered that she was loaded. that
the lanyard was hanging from her
brooch, and no one had thought to pull
it during the fight.
The regiment rallied behind brush
fence. George Drake, of the color
guard. sprang over it and planted the
colorS ut tho side of the gun. He sworc
that Lees mon should have them if the
regiment did not protect them.
Probably three hundred mon lined
themselves on the colors in three min
utcs. each man in his company, and each
company in its order. They moved
forward ut the command Of the Colonel,
and restored tho main line. occupying
the Same ground which they had left.
BY this time the sun had gone down,
and darkness was sweeping over the
plain. 1t became intensely dark. The
regiment was lying down in cxpecta-
ton OF another assault. 1t was terri
bly, trying time. Tho means of the
wounded fllcd the air. In the distance
the shells had set the woods on fire In
tho lurid light the Licutcnant-Coloncl
come down the line. lie saw me stand
ing in front of two companies.
What companies are these" he said,
''bchind your"
told him.
"Whcrc arc the commissioned off,
ccrs?" he asked.
II don't know" was my reply.
"Whcrc are the orderly scrgcants?"
''Thcyrc not here"
''lIcm," he muttcred. s'Wcll. SER
geant-major, take command of the
division and don't resign it until you
arc relieved"
One Of the Captains appeared not long
afterwards. | told him 7 was in com
mand, with orders not to yield the au-
thority till the Licutcnant-Colonclr re-
licvcd me. Not long afterwards the
Licutcnant-Colonci did relieve me. and
directed the Captain to thank me for
keeping his company intact A mo-
mont nftcrward The orderly OF the sec
OIld y MI
mand in like manner.
Five minutes aftcrvard the Licutcn-
ant-Coloncl ordered me to look after
the picllcts. In the darkness I moved
the picllcts towards the enemy Each
man took his intervals. STOPPING close
to tho ground and looking up could
sec their forms outlined against the
Sky. could name each comradc by his
outline. The ground was covered with
the killed and wounded. Occasionally
n wounded man tried to crawl toward
our line. Every thing, even the stumps,
seemed to DC moving. The wounded
were packed around dead horses. They
crawlcd there to escape the bullets,
using each carcass ns n shelter. While
STOPPING TO The earth and glancing sky
ward l saw form moving past our
line. Beyond / could sec tho outline
Of Corporal Mason, member of our
regiment. called him to me. We
accostcd the stranger. He was Con-
fcdcratc picket. The lines were pass
ing each other in the darkness. When
asked what regiment he belonged to he
replied:
"Thc Thirteenth Mississippi"
"Wcll, off with your traps" I said.
"Wc'rc Jcrseymcn."
"Good God." he exclaimed, not in ter
ror, but astonishmcnt
Away went his cow-skin knapsacl<.
lie threw down his gun and shook OFF
his accoutrcmcnts.
You'd better keep yonr havcrsacls,"
I said, "yonll want that"
1t WAS made of undrcsscd cow-sllin..
/ pair of new shoes were tied 10 it. lie
expressed great anxiety concerning the
shoes. lie was afraid some Yanls would
coniiscatc them.
At this moment we wore called in. Tic
was my prisoner. told him to sticl,
close to INC and would protect him.
That night VIC lay in the trenches for
three hours. The Johnnics had asccr-
tanned what was going on, and were
shclling the pontoons and the earth
works. They were using mortars, for
VIC could see the fuses of the shells
making parabolas in tho mir ami drop
7 ping near us. 1t WAC three o'clock in
tho morning when we descended the