Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-14
THICK WITH BULLETS

".
One OF our guns had been nnilod ont 80
the nreasiworks and was noint,nc SCn,n
iiue ilne OF now empty fortifcations 10 opr
,o,'i aua was pouring canister into the
annhs OF the advancing Yankees. with AZ
I5luch YIN as II we could have hoped 10
1--we them back and the other gun was
H. lig sheils with equal rapidity into the
fro,,, VI !, pattie which was closing in on us
rom the front. This was a strange.look
ing battle. Two guns fighting perhaps
~ thousand men. II was very much like
tue combat between David and Goliah
.ACepI that Gollah had so many lives this
Time that Dayid's smooth stones" made
WY httle impression. Our canister was
low gone and was sitting on pile fam
nulhltloh oehlnd the gun giving out shells
hhu case-shot in which no fuse had been
hHed because the enemy was now so close
on us that fuse could not be used TO any
advantage.
CRITICAL MOMENTS.
No. +" fell dead across me ard the pile
OF ammunition on which was sitting. /
unbuckled the box of friction-primers
rom, around him, fastened it around my
sell, and slipped in his place; and if nv
feconectlon serves me right only three men
were then left az the gun. We did not
have time to fire but a few more rounds
when we heard the voice Of our captain
gaming us 10 make an attempt TO pull one
OF the pieces of by hand We seized
prolong, which he had fixed on TO the trail
and pulled the gun down the hill perhaps
one hundred Yards, when the captain. see
ing the Yankees were 80 close on us that
we must have been killed or captured in q
minute or two more, ordered us 10 leave
the gun and save ourselves if we could.
II VIZ COULD.
The first glance at the situation seemed
hot
We We're surrounded. They were behind
us, on our right, and IN front. but we no.
uccd that the line of battle which was
now advancing rapidly on our left Gt had
been our 'front.' had not reached our de-
serted breastworks by one hundred and
nifty or two hundred yards. That gap af-
iOlded us the only chance TO escape.
There was nothing left for us but to sur
render nj once or run the gauntlet" We
chose the latter, so jumping over the
breastworks we commenced the race. If
we could make it before the gap closed
up there might be some chance for us.
Fortunately the firing had ceased because
OF the danger Of killing their own men.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
So the race was TO the swiftest that time.
II has been said that there are times in
war when soldiers legs are more valuable
than their guns and so 1t proved for us
where we got into the woods and felt our
selves safe tor the time But the adven-
lures of the day were not over. | have
vet TO relate an incident showing the con-
spicuOus bravery of the men composing
small remnant Of Louisiana brigade,
which had been formerly under the com
mand of General HAYES. There did not
seem to be over 100 men left in it at that
time. Ii had been our fortune to fight
side by side with these men in several
preceding battles Of the same year, and
had never seen them wayer or give an
inch.
SLOWLY AND soRRowFULLY.
Having become separated from the few
members Of my own command who had
been with me up TO that time, | overlook
these L0uislanans. who were retiring
slowly land If | should tell the exact truth
| would also say sOrrowfully) from the
field. As | overlook them | was surprised
and also much affected by seeing one of
them behind his comrades crying ike q
child, and with the tears running down his
face he called to those in front of him, 81
say. men, for Gods sake let us stop and
fight them right here, We are ruined for
eycr!' OF course they did not stop, for
il would have been madness for a hundred
men TO attempt 10 make a stand against
the whole Yankee army IN broad daylight
Isoon LETT them but was destined TO see
these brave men again that evening under
circumstances that made my heart warm
towards them and caused me 10 think if
our whole army had been composed of
such men then II might truly be SAID that
we might all be killed but never could be
conquered"
hurried on IN the direction of the turn
pike, where | hoped TO fall II WITH some of
our troops, who might have spirit enough
left to make some sort of stand against the
victorious enemy, and at least try 10 pre-
vent our demorali2ed army from beng en-
tlrely destroyed. Nor was disappointed.
As approached the pike the sun was set
ting. ! could see two pieces Of artillery
coming MP the road. These proved to be
of Captain Kirkpatrick S battery, from Am
berst county. | again met with TWO mem
bers of my own company at tnat point,
and we hurried on To get with the secuoh
of artillery which had halted and com
menced 10 unlimUef Just as we arrlyed.on
the ground. Five or SIX hundred yards
distant a heavy mass of the enemys caval-
~ was drawn up as If preparing 10 make a
charge. and If that charge had been made
a large portion of our army must nave
been made prisoners, scattered ana de-
moralzed as the men were.
TWO GUNS AGAIN.
The two pieces of artillery having been
unlimbered and pointed to the front, and
the two men spoken Of joined the can
nopeers and took our places at the guns
IL did seem to be the most extreme folly
for two pieces of artillery alone to attempt
to stop the advance of thousands OF men
flushed with victory; but circumstances
favored us and proved that the battle Is
NOT ALWAYS TO the strong" Darkness was
rapidlv approaching. We opened hre, ana
never we're the iron messengers OF death
hurled IN quicker succession from the
throats Of two guns.
THE SONG THAT SAVED THE ARMY.
Darkness was fast coming on and OBJ
iects M a distance were growing lndIstlnct.
0nr numbers were few, but our lung
mower was good and We made the hills ring
With the regular old hair-ralslng rebel
rell ~ which was answered with cheer
INST behind US. and my heart grew 10
Tnnble lis usual size when looked and
saw the glorious old Louislanlans coming
to onr support at a dOuble-qulck. Ihey
divided as they came up, and taking posi-
tion on each side of the guns they mace
tbeir muskets sing the sweetest little song
10 us1 that ever fell on mortal ears, being
y ~ accompaniment to the bass notes OF
o1r two twelve-pounder Napoleans. Inc
enemy made no charge that nlght ana our
little army was saved. JOHN H. LAM
Money at 2 Per Cent.