Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-01-16
AROUND THE LAST GUN.

II is 10 o'clock in the forenoon of tho
first day at Chickamauga. There is no
intention TO fight a battle this day, for
neither side Is ready. The lines are
nearly formed. but brigades aud regi-
ments are moving TO positions. In do
ing tlis n Federal brigade runs up
against Confederate cavalry near
Reeds bridge, and fifteen minutes
later a division of infantry on either
side Is engaged. Our battery has a
splendid ~position-the crest of a ridge
which overiooks the confederate posi-
ton, and we have been working the
guns half an hour before n man or a
horse is hit. Three different times 10
half an hour guns open on US from
across the creek, but each time our
fire is concentrated aud becomes so
terrible that nothing can stand beforeit.
Cease iiring!'
The Confederates have been pushed
back until they are out Of range. while
the Federal infantry cheers and pur-
sues. We cannot tell how large a por-
ton OF the army is engaged. but we
are the victors and we cheer and cheer
again rs the hot guns have a little time
TO cool of. OF a sudden the firing in
front grows heavier. The Federals
have been checked. 1t increases ia
volume and wild cheering reaches us.
There is ten minutes OF uncertainty,
and then crowds begin to rush past us
with white faces and trembling limbs.
They tell us that the C~onfederales have
been reinforced and are gaining their
lost ground.
Now up the Fourteenth, Six
teeuth and Eighteenth regulars. aud as
they pass US on the double quick. 90
ing straight down 10 where the firing
is hottest. we gave them three cheers
and a tiger. For the next ten minutes
we fret and fume because we are COM
PEELED TO stand idle. Our own men
are in front of the guns. Almost with
out a seconds warning the lines i'm
front of us begin TO break back through
tho smoke, aud it is hardly "a moment
before we catch sight of the cnomy's
flags. 1t is still n struggling and con-
fused mass OF friend and foe. and we
cannot lire. The regulars ought to
check that advance, but they do not
cannot. They are firing fierce volleys
into the faces Of the foe. when they are
dashed to the right aud left-walkcd
over--almost ground into the earth.
More than live hundred of them are
sent eros the creek rs prisoners.
Our battery has no support, aud
only the two guns on the right can
open fire. The Confederates pick up
gun after gun rs they roll down upon
MS. aud they are full Of e%xultatiou.
Here is the last gun OF the battery.
There is neither captain nor lieutenant
TO encourage aud direct, but the GRIM
faced old Sergeant calls to us:
Load with canister! They can't
have this gun while a man of us lives!'
There were a dozen Of US a minute
ago; now there are only eigbiP Eight?
No! | can count but six. SIX? No!
There are only three of us standing up
to be jabbcd at with bayonets or club
bed with muskets. i suddenly fall and
all is darkness. but only three or four
minutes have passed when the roar of
battle comes back 10 my ears again aud
| struggle up or my elbow TO look
around. The C~onfcderates are cheer
ing as they haul away the gun-the
last Of our dear old battery. In front
-behind-to the right and left
are the men who fought to save it.
Wounded? No! Every man dead!
Neutrality-suspicious. whole battery
wiped out in five minutes!-M. Quad.