The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-04

up an incessant fir. The Johnnies were
yelling at the top Of their voices, and at
least half of them were swelling the re-
frain with their muskets.
At this instant our Northumberland,
brother of General Martindale, who sat on
his horse in the rear of the regiment.
shouted, q" 'Ten-t-i-o-n."
In an instant the regiment was upon its
feet, in line under fire. The colonel again
screamed: Right about facen
The regiment obeyed the order like vet
Grams. Then came the most singular com
mand ever heard on battle field. The
ieutenant-colonel roared: Regiment left
half-wheel."
The left wing of the New York regiment
on the right had swung back, leaving a gap
Of about one hundred feet between its left
and our right. 1t had done this to take ad-
vantage of the natural depression of the
field. Our Northumberland, with queer
military prescience, saw that by left half
wheeling he could again cement the line.
But when the regiment made the attempt
the result was ludlcrous. Each man looked
at his neighbor in the smoke of the battle.
and then all made break from the line.
Helter-skelter they went. The brave men
among them stood firm fer a minute, and
then began to swear and coolly walk after
the fugitives. / can see the lieutenant of
the United States battery yet, standing as
straight as an arrow, with drawn sword.
His horses dashed away with several of
his guns. They went at full gallop.
never saw such an expression of astonish-
ment upon any mans face. A second be-
fore, the regiment had been acting like
veterans. Now they were running over
him like frightened deer. His oaths were
terrific. He called the frightened men all
the names in the catalogue of defamation
Would you leave my guns" he shouted,
''your only projections Would you let
them have my pets!n
could hear the deep voice of Captain
Peter H. Rogers, of Company H, reproach-
fully crying, sob, what shame Why
was ever born Jerseyman! Is this a
foot-race or fights Come back Come
backn' Then waving his sword he again
screamed at the top of his voice, "Come
back, come back
There was J. Lacey Pierson, another
captain. and Major William w. Morris, and
other officers, doing their best to stem the
current. The sharp ''ping' of the bullets
was heard every second. All the guns of
the battery were drawn off but one. Pier
son, Rogers and others grabbed the CUR by
the trunnions and tried to drag her from
the field.
OF course, the air was filled with smoke.
The rear of the regiment had moved very
leisurely. The Johnnies had come through
the gap, and we were all mixed up. AS we
began to drag the cannon off, the Johnnies
grabbed the piece by the muzzle and tried
TO hold it. Then muskets were dubbed and
bayonets used. If all those engaged in the
fight had been personal enemies for years,
the cursing and reviling could not have
been more bitter. The wounded fell to the
ground with oaths and imprecations upon
their lips, and without groan. Enough
of our men rallied to enable US to hold on
to the gun. The Vermont regiment in the
woods on the left had stood firm, and the
Johnnies who had swept through the gap
were enfiladed. After the fight to secure
the gun was over, we discovered that she
was loaded, that the lanyard was hanging
from her breech, and no one had thought to
pull it during the fight.
The regiment rallied behind a brush
fence. George Drake, of the color guard
sprang over it and planted the colors at the
side of the gun. He swore that Lees men
should have them if the regiment did not
protect them.
Probably three hundred men lined them
selves on the colors in three minutes, each
man in his company, and each company in
its order. They moved forward at the COM
mand of the colonel, and restored the 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. Teo regi-
ment was lying down in expectation of an
other assault. 1t was terribly trying time.