The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1891-06-11

lslmeut upon Aut AAh toCe- n 'c~-.'N
before the regiment had been acting
like veterans Now they we're running
over him ike frightened deer. His
oaths we're terrific. He called the
frightened men all the names in the
catalogue Of defamation.
Would you leave my gunsg he
shouted: your only protectiong Would
you let them have my pets!
could hear the deep voice Of Capt
Peter H. Rogers Of company II re-
proachfully crying: "Oh. what a shame
Why was ever born a Jerseymeng Is
this footrace or fight? Come back
Come back" Then waving. his sword,
he again screamed at the top Of his
voice, Come back, come backV
There was J. Lacey Pierson. another
captain, and Maj. 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. Pierson, Rogers aud 9TH
ers grabbed the gun by the trunnions
and tried 10 drag her from the field.
OF course the air was thick with
smoke. The rear of the regiment had
moved very leisurely. The Johnnies
had come through the gap, aud 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. II all those engaged in
tine fight had deem personal enemies for
years the cursing and reyiling could not
have been more bitter. The wounded
fell to the ground with oaths and impre.
cations upon their lips, and without a
groan. Enough OF our men rallied to
enable us to hold on to the gun. The
Vermont regiment in the woods on the
left hand stood firm. and the Johnnies
who had swept through the gap were
entiladed. After the fight to secure the
gun was over we discovered that she
was loaded, that the landyard was hang
ing from her breech and no one had
thought to pull it during the fight
The regiment rallied behind brush
fence. George Drake of the color guard
sprung over it aud planted the colors at
the side of the gun. He swore that
Lees men should have them If the regl-
ment did not protect them.
Probably three hundred men lined
themselves on the colors in three min
utes, each man in his company, and each
company in its order. They moved for,
ward at the command 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.
Il became intensely dark. The regi-
ment was lying down in expectation oil
another assault. 1t twas terribly trying
time. The means of the wounded filled
the air. In the distance the shells had
set the woods on fire. In the lurid light
the Lieutenant. Colonel came down the
line He saw me standing in front OF
two companies.
What companies are these" be said,
behind your"
l told him.
"Where are the oflicers?" he asked.
Il don't know" was my reply.
"Where are the Orderly SerGeants? ?"
They're not here"
Hem" he muttered. well, Ser
geant- Major, take command of the divi-
SION, and don't resign it until you are
relieved"
One of the Captains appeared moi
long afterward. told him l was il
command, with orders not to yield the
authority. tillIthe Lieutenant Colonel re-
lieved me. Not long afterward the
Lieutenant Colonel did relieve me, and
directed the Captain to thank me for
keeping his company intact. A moment
afterward the orderly of the second
company appeared and took command
in like manner.
Five minutes afterward the Lieu
tenant Colonel ordered me to look after
the pickets. In the darkness | moved
the pickets toward the enemy. Each
man took his intervals. STOPPING close
to the ground aud looking up / could
see their forms outlined against the sky.
could name each comrade by his out
line. The ground was covered with the
killed and wounded. Occasionally q
wounded man tried TO crawl toward our
line. Everything, even the stumps,
seemed to be moving. The wounded
we're packed around dead horses. They
crawled there to escape the bullets,
using each carcass as shelter. While
stopping to the earth and glancing sky
ward l saw a form moving past our
line. Beyond could see the outline
OF Corporal Mason, member of our
regiment. l called him to me. We ac'
costed the stranger. He was a con-
federate picket. The lines were passing
each other in the darkness. When
asked what regiment he belonged to he
replied;