St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-25
,spondence of the Globe. Copyright.
TOLD BY CAPT. BROWN.

1t is a difficult thing for a 4 an who
spent four years in active campaigning
TO tell. on the spur of the moment, what
he considers the braveSt deed that
came under his observation during that
time.
lhave no doubt but that if l gave the
time to it, for it requires time 10 recall
events after thirty years, that could
name a hundred men, connected with
so many daring incidents, aud it would
be difficult, if not impossible, to tell
which was the 6raveSt.
l think my memory OF Grants Tor was
1t Meade's) campaign from the Wilder
ness to the James is more vivid than
any other. for il was a useless struggle,
a battle for weeks. Other fights l recall
as Il single lurid picture, but this was
long panorama of blood.
The terrific and, to my mind, unneces-
Sary slaughter at Cold Harbor is
marked in that campaign by all Incl
dent that c0meS as wildly to my menu
DRY now as if the event were of yester-
day; and which must always flash up
when | recall the war, as the most gal
liant eXploit-the most dramatic and
thrilling contest ever witnessed.
] belonged al this time to the Twenty
fourth New York cavalry, and, as we
had not been able to secure mounts, we
fought as infantry down to Petersburg.
If there is any other contest III history
where more than 10000 men, friend and
foe, fell inside Of twenty minutes, it is
unknown 10 me. and if such there be, l
should like to see it contrasted with the
terrific assault and bloody repulse of
our troops at Cod Harbor.
1t was Immediately after our failure
to carry out the order of the general
commanding, though the failure, asour
losses prove. was not due to a want of
energy or courage, that the incident in
mind happened. The enemy, elated
by the repulSe of the Union assault,
Swarmed over their works. and it looked
for a time as if they were going to make
a counter charge. This belief was
strengthened when. with that ringing
yell thai distinguished the enemy when
making a charge, a battery of horse
artillery gallOped to the front of their
line about 200 Yards. numbered in fine
style and made ready for action.
l was hugging the ground with my
men about that time, for it seemed-it
always does seem So that we were
directly in line of the enemy's fire,
when heard a ringing clfeer, the crash
Of heavy wheels, the snorting and
pounding of artillery horses, urged to a
gallon and q hnun oil fEn boftnrr IporIar
sounding the advance.
A gap was made in our lines, and
through this Battery B, of the Second
regular artillery, fairly flew to the
front.
L could't understand it, for to me it
looked as if the battery was charging
into the enemy's lines unsupported;
but, when within less than three hun
dred yards of the Confederate guns, the
halt sounded: and, in a way that
thrilled our hearts and delighted our |
souls, the Union guns. formed for ac- |
ton and the horses moved to the rear. |
l have read and heard of things being
done quicker than the act could be de-
Bcribed." This was one of them.
Two minutes could not have elapsed
from the time Battery B plunged
through our lines till it had opened fire
OIL the Confederate guns.
And now followed the first and only
''artlllery duel" | had ever seen, though
soldiers hear and read a good deal about
such things; indeed, | doubt if the rec
Ords of the war furnish a parallel case. |
Before and after the assault the ar
tillery and musketry firing was cease
less. and l was going to add"appalling"
but no mere noise could appail men
Who had participated in that campaign
up TO this time.
There was still some desultory firing
away to tie right and left. but, as if by
mutual consent, the men in blue and
grey within sight of those two batteries
leaped to their feet, and forgot their
w rules in the magnificent struggle
OF those gallant and well matched con-
t%estants.
They were less than 800 yards apart.
and soon all we could see was the vivid
flashing of the fire through the rising
banks of silvery-white powder smoke.
But we could hear the crash of the shells
and the roar of the guns, and high above
all the shrill yell of the C~onfederates
and the hoarse cheer of the Yankee
gunners.
After six or eight minutes, that seemed
like so many hours, the fire sIackened.