Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-07-26


field-while the other three companies
were made up of men quite expert with
their always reliable Epfields.
The result was that when Long
streets men had received our first vol
ley they always rushed forward with
a great accession of speed and conf
dence. thinking they would be on us
before we could reload. But they
would scarcely pass ten PAGES before
they would catch another volley. And
while they were turning this over in
their minds we would let them have a
third, This was felt TO be quite a pc
culiat circumstance, requiring delibera-
ton, better conducted, perhaps, back
in the rear and out of range-for it
generally happened that with the third
volley the Johnnies had come to a dead
halt and were beginning to take the
back track, which they no longer hesi-
tated about when they g0t the fourth,
and by the time we sent them the fifth
onr balls few after flying foes.
AS we had peculiar ammunition il
happened -it'had to happen, being one
of those things that always do happen
that along about noon somebody or
dered the wagon on which our cart
ridges were loaded to the rear We
found, however. that if we kept
the bayonet on the gun to prevent the
splitting of the muz1le we could use
the Enfield cartridge, even if the ball
was little bit larger than those made
especially for the Colts rifle.
And as fast as men using the revolt
vers were disabled or killed some one
would swap his Enfield for the better
piece, so that at last nearly every man
in our line was equal to five, SO far ut
least as his shooting was concerned.
Under the circumstances it was not re-
markable that late in the afternoon
we ran out of ammunition. / don't
know how any body found it out, or
who ii was that gave the order, but
about that time two regiments came
up the hill from the rear to relieve us.
We were sent down, just far enough to
be out Of range, and lying down to
rest, began to reckon up the sad havoc
in our ranks We had not been at it
very long, however, till word came to
us to gather up those of our men who
still had ammunition and take them to
the front to fight it out. had three
or four in my company and went with
them.
We had not been there long before
we became aware of the old, familiar
spectacle, the long line of confederates
coming up the hill TO the charge. Just
as they got to the right place, in good
range of our rifles, all at once a man
was seen to spring out of their ranks
and to come leaping upt the hill towards
us-swinging his hat over his head as
he came. When we got near enough
we could hear him shouting: Cease
firing" while the brigade followed him
with steady step, the men carrying
their pieces at a right shoulder shift.
At last q messenger reached our
lines and was taken to the command
ing officer who he was ] never learned
definitely. Here he explained his
errand. lie said taat the Johnnies
coming up the hill wanted TO sur
render, asked us to cease firing in
order that they might do so. The
colonel questioned him sharply, but at
last. satisfied that he was telling the
truth gave the order and insten.ly
everything became still, save for the
distant firing, which by this time had
become very irregular off on our left.
and the noise made by the marching
Johnnies as they waded through the
thick underbrush / remember that
the sound was like that Of the wind
playing through field Of ripe wheat.
Meantime the messenger came or
was brought. | don't know which near
to where Lieut. Lamb Of my regiment
and ! were with our men. lie was a
tall young fellow. clad in 'putternut"
and slim and 1.-THE as quick
and courteous in his movements and
gestures, handsome and q good pres
ence. lie lay down at the foot Of a
tree. having it. J observed, between
him and his advancing comrades. Ills
quick eyes darted about constantly,
taking in everything that was happen
ing and they glowed with an evident
enjoyment of the situation.
And still the Johnnies came steadily