Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-11-09
LoNesTREgT SERVING A CANNON.
An Interesting Episode of the Great Bat
lie of Antietan.

An Interesting Episode of the Great Bat
tie of Antietam.
Longstreet, born a soldier, gradu-
ated at West Point, experienced by
years of active duty III the Mexican
war and in other service as an officer
for the regular army, was an excel
lent artillerist, sighting cannon
with as much precision as pistol or
musket. At the battle of Antietam,
or Sharpsburg, Mcclellan sent
strong force against an unoccupied
portion of Longstreets line. The
latter was quick to notice this move
ment. Calling to General Sorrell
and Captain Latrobe to follow him,
Longstreet galloped to the gap in his
line toward which point the Fed
erals were advancing rapidly. Two
cannon had been left there, almost
the entire crew of both guns dead on
lying desperately wounded.
Longstreet instantly dismounted,
and with the aid of Sorrell and La
trobe wheeled the heavy pieces into
line. double shotted them and trained
them on the advancing Federal line.
Longstreet sighted both pieces and
lerked the lanyards with his own
hands. Tire effect was terrific. Both
shots went through, moving great
gaps in the Federal line The pieces
were loaded and trained rapidly, SO
that again and again the advancing
line of Federals was broken and mo-
mentarily halted, giving time to ac
complish what LongstIeet had in
view-the re-establishnfent of his
own line concentrating at that point
of attack.
Noticing a group of Union soldiers
watching the fight from a distant
hill, Longstreet elevated his two
pieces and fired at them The shells
went Just above the group, III which
was Mcclellan. scattering them i'm
mediately. Unknown to the Con
federate officers Mcclellan sent post
haste for one of his best batteries. a
few minutes later Lee and Long
street were conversing on high hill
to the east of Sharpsburg, near the
point from which Longstreet had
been firing. While these two were
talking General d. H. Hill rode up,
bringing a message to Lee. Long
street advised Hill to dismount, as
his conspicuous appearance on horse
back might draw the Federal fire.
For some reason the advice was not
followed
A few seconds later puff of smoke
drew their attention for the first
time to the Federal battery which
Mcclellan had just posted. The
shell aimed at Lee, Longstreet and
Hill was well directed. Lee was on
one side of Hill, his hand resting on
the bride of the latter's horse.
Longstreet was on the other side of
the horse, few feet away. The
shell struck Hills horse, cutting off
both legs just below the knees. The
Door brute fell to his knees and re-
mained in that position, with his
back at an awkward slant, while
Hill was making vigorous and very
ludicrous, because necessarily awk-
ward, efforts to dismount. He first
threw his leg, in the usual fashion,
over the cantle of the saddle, but in
his haste came near topping for
ward over his horses head.
Lee and Longstreet both laughed
heartily at Hills position and has
tened to help him dismount. Hill,
throwing one leg over the pommel of
his saddle, dismounted without help
and then joined in the laugh at his
expense. The same shell from Nc
Clellan's battery, narrowly missing
Lee and Longstreet and killing Hills
horse, went on its way Of destruc-
ton, exploding over a Confederate
regiment behind Hill, killing and
wounding a considerable number Of
men.-Atlanta Constitution.