The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-02

descending them In the night. think
it was in the night we completed the
march over the mountains, and joined
our advance division (Gen. Negley's)
in the Valley, he having command Of
the forces then present; and, if / re-
member right, it was about As hours
before the Union army was united.
During this time Gen. Negley dis
played great ability in manuvering the
two divisions against Gen. Bragg's
army, advancing out from the noun
tain to engage the enemy, yet care,
fully falling back in good time. As I
remember, we were wakeful and busy,
both day and night, and then came
the all-night march Of the 18th, vieing
with Gen. Bragg's army which should
first reach Chattanooga. We remem.
Der kindly that rail fence. which
gave us light aud warmth as we moved
along, or, If halting, to warm from tine
| frosty air. We remember the diligence
required on the part Of Sergeants and
Corporals to keep the men awake and
| in ranks, many soldiers sleeping while
walking or riding on horseback.
| And so the long night went by,
bringing the morning of the 10th with
further hardship for all and death to
SO very many brave boys. We were
halted short time in the early morn
ing to partake of cold lunch. then
received orders to advance and engage
the enemy (although they were not
then in sight or hearing). Making
our advance eastward over and open
timberland We soon found the reb
skirmishers, they falling back without
great delay. Our brigade was then
| placed in battle line. After short
time we advanced farther, then halted
again for time, and again advanced,
forming our thiid battle-line Single
i line), with Col. Starkweather's Brigade
in support.
While remaining here all seemed
quiet on our front {even the skirmishers
remaining quiet) for perhaps 10 or Is
minutes, when Col. Scribner was in
formed of very considerable force
lying close on our right. The enemy
was fronting north, while our line
faced to the east. On learning this
fact Col. Scribner changed front with
the left half Of tie brigade. forming il
an the right fronting the enemy, the
infantry lying down and the artillery
two or three rods in the rear.
About this time a strong division
arose from where they had been lying
down, not more than 10 or 10 rods
away, their line appearing to extend
past ours on either flank about the
same distance, bringing our brigade
to their division center, just where they
could use us to the best advantage.
The enemy Immediately opened fire
along our front, while the wings cir
cled around us ON double quick, and
kept in very good line, too. Our men.
both infantry and artillery, returned
the fire rs best they could. Our in
fantry line being in front of the ar
tillery was a sad mistake, as it kept us
from using canister, as every artillery
man knows that shell at short range
are no good; but we kept sending them
along the best we coatd. In fact, we
paid such close attention to our own
piece that we saw nothing of the
trouble the Others were having, and
did not see our Capt. Vanpelt sho,
down, nor any others, except those at
our side, nor did we stop our work
until our line had disappeared from
our front and that of the enemy moved
up to take our gun, while the encir-
cling lines had completed their work
and firing had ceased; for the oppos-
ing lines were not now divided, all
being en- masse, with numbers in favor
of the Johnnies, three or four to one
land we beard much oF she usual greet
iugsused on these occasions.
Well, we found three men yet re-
manning with our gun, Corpl Sol Mann
lead rider Starr and myself. Leading
the wheel-team, we managed to Timber
up our piece, though our horses were
badly shot, and we moved out Of there
with the rebels at our elbows calling a
halt, Starr leading the lead-team,
myself leading the wheel-team and
encouraging the swing-team with my
! lead string. We succeeded in getting
away few rods,when the enemy began
firing on US, and many men were fall
ing. When about 80 or 40 rods away
our off wheeler caught a ball in the
A head, which laid him down across the
tongue. We at once looked about to
see how we might get loose from that
horse and go on. but discovered that
thsrebs. were again upon us. Lieu
tenant Bachmann then told us that we
would have to leave the gun and run.
Up to this time | for one had not
thought Of this, having been discip-
lined to stay by my gun, and but for
this kind advice perhaps we would
have stayed too late; but that gun was
not moved by the enemy, the Union
forces soon driving the enemy back.A
One other gun Of our battery was