The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-10-07
CLEVER SHOOTING.
Result of Two Shots Learned After Twenty
Nine Years.


ting Fort Star and of practicng with the
solid shot. The whole day the war and
its memories were kept before the people
but it was not reawakering in which
the bloody shirt had any play, but more
of thoughtful retrospection, in which
the recalling of battles was not with
bitterness but with an impartial sadness.
Among the happenings of the day none
was more singular and noteworthy than
one which occurred to Col. Richardson,
the commander of the battalion.
1t was during the time when the batter
les were firing shell at the two targets,
which looked like tiny handkerchiefs on
the water. they were so far away. A
good shot was fired, aud the spectators
were applauding the excellent markham
ship, and the colonel stepped up to the
gun to commend the gunner when with
out cause or without knowing why the
memory of similar shot which had been
fired twenty nine years ago almost to the
NCl ctAJ 4lollSi ihIJ blo "hSh III
had stepped up to u gunner and compli-
mented him in much the same style.
1t was when he was at Fort Malone at
the siege of Petersburg, which was
known as Fort Examination, when the
shot twenty nine years before had been
fired, and the Fourth of July was almost
the anniversary of the very day. Instead
of white targets for mark it had been
the tops of two Sibley tents which peeped
over the ramparts of Fort HELL" just
opposite Fort ILLUMINATION. They were
the tents of the Federal officers, He
knew that from deserter who had
informed him, also that the officers of
the whole command held daily consult
alton there, aud that he could tell the
time from the fact that they hitched
their horses around the tents.
Colonel Richardson was then captain
in the Washington artillery, and he
conceived the idea of scoring point on
the Federals by firing on the tents just
selected The best gunner in his command
and told him what he wanted him to do,
aud that was to load ald prepare the
guns for special shot which be was
going to direct them to make the ensuing
day. The young captain was sure that
he had gunners he could depend upon
70 ~, lato ba
asked General Malone to be present
when the shots were to be fred.
It was noon the next day when the
horses of the Federal officers were seen
collected around the two tents. The
gunners were told to train their guns
upon them and to be certain to make
made the center of the interest OF those
in Fort ''Damnation" for that day, for
the word was passed around that the
destruction of the officers tents was to
be attempted.
After great deal of preliminary
arrangements the two shots were fired,
and the tops of the two Sibley tents
disappeared like cardhouses in a gale of
wind. The success of the shots was the
signal for cheering on the part of the
Confederates. General Malone compli
mented the accuracy of the artillerymen,
and it was then that the captain stepped
to the gunner and expressed his approba
ton in much the same marrer that he
used to the one that had made the shot
at Morgan City. But there had always
shot at the Federal tents, and that was
that he had never ascertained whether
any one had been hurt 10 the tents, and
for the twenty nine intervening years
that one thought had pervaded the whole
incident.
With these thoughts in his mind Col.
Richardson turned away from the gunner
at Morgan City, and at that moment one
of Morgan City's prominent citizens, Mr..
Gray, stepped to the colonel's side and
sad:
Isn't this Colonel Richardson?'
yes"
well, have been wanting to meet
you for many years, ever since heard
you mad been in Fort 'Damuation' at the
same time that was in Fort He'll"
Yes" said the colonel, "and when
were you in Fort He'll ?''
"In July, 1864. Il fact, just 80 years
ago today" answered Mr.. Gray.
The colonel instantly thought of those
two shots and wondered if his curiosity
was to be satisfied. "Do you remem Der
a day while you were opposite me in
Fort Hell" when the tents of the officers
were taken down By two snots which
were almost simultaneous"
The stranger did not reply for a full
minute. A shadow seemed to fall over
him, his eyes grew dark, and he stepped
back and surveyed the colonel from head
to foot. Then he broke out feelngly.
Oh you! shall never forget those
shots. They sgeps away the h)ger of
my corps. My first lieutenant was killed
aud the leg of my second lieutenant was
shot off, and five others were killed. And
did you fire that shot?"
The deep feeling of the man was evil
dent, but a moment later Ee sal !, well
colonel, you are nov teaching your young
soldiers to serve the flag for which my
officers laid down their lives New
n