Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-07-05

/ 49, 'ui ninS on MS back he would
feloao nls gun and continue his work of
Intervening. Near dinner time he
puiied some splinters of the rails, struck
match, poured some water out of his
canteen into his tin cup, put some ground
coffee out OF his haversack into the enn
MADE his coffee, ate his dinner, and had
so strengthened his Notifications at in
tervals that he had quite a respectable
barrier up before the final change was
made.
AT o'clock, the enemy being heay-
lily reinforced, began to make prepara.
tions for taking the offensive.
! The artillery firing that proceeded
the nnal charge damaged US more than
any that we were under. One shell
burst under No. gun, breaking Jim
Mills thigh, SCATTERING John Bazelev's
knee, and tearing ont John Durbin's
bowels. George Durbin, his brother.
was then No. on our gun, and as two
strong men carried John Durbin by.
writhing in the agonies of death, our
| gunner was sighting the piece and tap
| ping on the trail for George to move il
little to the left. The centre section
was cleaned out Of cannoneers and No.
men TO work 1t. / saw No. being
worked by the captain, mounted cor
porai and private. Only one man was
hurt on our Section-Wm. Thompson,
slightly In the arm. None hurt on the
left section, though one man on No. 5 had
TO go TO the rear because he was sick in
his stomach. "Pshaw," said Gorrell,
his sergeant, "We are all sick in our
stomachs."
There were some vines and trees near
our gun, which made it ugly for Nos.
and to carry ammunition. At Arch
Snider's suggestion, we were In the
habit of going down as close as possible
to the tree and vines, fix the ammuni-
tion and hand it through. We had not
been at this very long when Marsh
Henderson, our saddler, came walking
down the battery. Just as be reached
our timber he threw himself on the
ground. A she'll struck, tearing up the
ground and scattering dirt all over him.
Marsh jumped up, brushed the dirt off
of him, examined his pants, and laugh
ingly said, "a misSis as good as mile"
That shell passed up under our timber,
through Daring" Wallace's off horse
In the swing team, was turned and
struck, killing cooley" Gowell's saddle
horse in the lead team. II Arch and
had been at our posts we would have
each lost leg, and probably our lives.
Just as the enemy were preparing TO
charge one of Dupont aids came 10 our
position. He became terribly excited as
he saw the lines Of gray dashing up.
"Give them grape and canister, captain,
give them grape and canister!" he cried.
''My guns arc ri1ed," said the captain,
sand do not fire grape. As for canister,
our men are between us. l Will do all
can for them with shells. Just then the
first file had mounted the flyer, and the
second file stood behind. A shell from
No. struck that flyer about three rails
from the ground and opened several
panels for them so they could get
through with less trouble. l guess it
hurt some OF their men, but we laid
down the fence for them anyhow.
When this charge was repulsed we
were ordered to the rear. AS we were
pulling out saw a man sitting on log
in the rear with his legs crossed and his
arms folded. He had on an artillery
jacket. what battery do you belong
TOP" asked our Captain: Capt. Nc
Knights" Ky. battery replied the
man. Come here" said the captain.
The man got up. The captain led the
way and / followed to see what was to
be done. The captain took himin sight
| of Meningitis battery and II he did not
20 to it the captain would send him
under guard. Thus admoniShed the
man trotted in the direction of the bat
/ terry. Bother take a skulker anyhow.
After we had pulled out, and the bat
terry had halted on the line that had
| been occupied n few hours before that
| bv the Fifth West Virginia, BOOTS"
! Harris said, ''B)ys, l have just learned
/ that jim Mills has been left back under
| fire badly wounded. Who will volun-
teer to help carry him out?" A lot Of
us. principally our gun detachment,
started back, taking blanket off OF
"Coley" Gorrell's off horse to carry him
| I'm. was about the first to reach him.
He was propped up behind a large oak
tree with handkerchief tied around
his leg Just above the ugly wound. A
nleasant smile lightened up his face as
he saw us coming toward him. "Ah,
bows" said he, 81 knew you would not
| leave me. mo, Jlus SdIu SOiucOHC,
sswe will do all VS. can for you"
Aswe went out, and had passed the
battery, one of our detachment whe had
been sulking all day sided up and took
hold of the blanket, "Toppy" Arbuth-
not said to him, ''you had better go TO
the gun, don't you see readily all on de-
tachment are here" The poor fellow
turned away and moved reluctantly to-
ward the gun, whether he reached it
or not I do not remember. Don't think
be did though. We had not found it
all day and it was scarcely possible
that he would find it in the few remain
ing hours of daylight.
We carried Jim out from under fire,
brought a surgeon, and seeing L could
do no more for him, several OF US re-
turned to the gun. That was about six
! o'clock.
We soon took up our line OF retreat.
When we reached the old ruined Qua
ker Church some of us jumped over the
grave ward fence, and stopped before
new made grave. BY the fading light
Rad the following words penciled on
n rude board set up at the head OF the
grave: ,,,
| Private
JAMES O. MILLS,
Battery d, First w. Va Light Artillery.
Killed Before Lynchourg
June 18th, 1854.
Reouisscdt In Pace.