The National tribune., 1894-07-12

saW YOUR line, anu Meu ISOoiiOo' Jou.
regiment, so conspicuous for Its uniform.
/ wish to say here that Col. McCrady
is mistaken as to the Regulars firing at
Orr's Rifles. 1t was the 10th and 9th
N. Y. The 18th and 18th Regulars
came down in time on our right to take
part with us in driving back the 1st and
18th S. c., supported by the 18th, and
then returned to their old position, as
they had all they could do there. Shortly
after the battalions of the 10th and 18th
Joined our right -four companies In 10th
and five companies in 17th).
81 entered into the war Dec. q, 1860,
and surrendered May 10, 1865, and was
still suffering from wounds. The aggre-
gate casualties, deaths in battle, disease,
and wounded, in this brigade of five
regiments during the war was 6,154, OF
which 1,290 were killed and 1929 died
of disease; total deaths, 2,419. The fore
going does not include those who were
discharged for physical disability"
Lieut. Caldwell goes on to give sad
account of how, when the remnant OF the
brigade was going into battle at Apo
mattox to be exterminated rather than
surrender, they were halted amid an
ominous silence and dread. And when
the rumor spread that Gen. Lee had
surrendered some of them wept and all
was gloom, and they felt that their cup
was full Any man with soul cannot
read his account and not feel for them.
Before | resume my narrative l should
like to insert history of the flag of the
1st S c., as per extract from Col. Nc
Crady's letter:
awe had a stand of very beautiful
but too-conspicuous colors-a large blue
silk flag with silver palmetto upon it.
The Army of Virginia was gathered
about this regiment and flag. 1t went
from Fort Sumter to Richmond, and it
is literally true that these eolors, now
before me, are stained with the best
blood of the State, their color-guard,
Pinkney, Holmes, and Gregg, with
two Rhetts, and others, having fallen
under and around it in the first battle
in which it was unfurled, Gaines's Mill.
Their blood-stains at this moment are
clearly visible. These colors are no
trophy, but to me sacred relic. x
They are soiled and torn and riddled
With balls. Our regiment was the first
rganized regiment in Virginia. They
eft Charleston April %, 1861. You
nay judge, therefore, how l value it.
1t was planted in the center of the town
of Gettysburg. In 1864 it was sent to
Richmond, and not again taken into
action"
But to continue. The shot and shell
now began to fly in rather dangerous
proximity, and the rushing sound they
made was anything but agreeable music.
The men were ordered to lie down,
which they did, in an effort to make
themselves as diminutiye as possible.
There was not a man in the line who
could complain of being too thin at this
particular time A section (two guns
of Edwards's Sd u. S. Art. of 10-pound
PARROTS moved UP close to the right of
the line and opened in return, but they
were
TOO MUCH EXPOSED,
and were Withdrawn to their original
position on the hill in the rear.
Col Warren ordered the men of z
company to try to pick off the enemy's
gunners As they were armed with
Sharp's rifles, their fire appeared to
have some effect The men placed their
knapsacks IN front, hoping they might
be some slight protection from the pieces
of flying she'll The solid shot, shell,
grape and canister plowed up the
ground around them, throwing the dirt
and sand into their faces, while shell,
bursting IN the marshy ditch in the rear,
threw tie mud 30 feet in the air. A
number Of the men were wounded, and
many had narrow escapes
Our field officers remained mounted,
and shot went under the belly of one
of the horses. A solid shot struck the
stock Of the rife of Serg't Chambers,
dashing it TO pieces, but doing him no
injury. About the same time Lieut.
Felix Agnus received severe wound,
permanently disabling his right arm,
from piece of shell, and he commenced
rolling over like barrel toward the Reg
ulars back in our rear. The men watched
him occasionally with much interest until
they saw him get into their lines. Gen.
Agnus enlisted in the 9th as a private,
AID Is nOw the proprietor Of the Balti-
more american. Cady, Of Co. K, who
once was a slave-owner, but turned to be
a Union man, and enlisted in Baltimore,
owned little dog, who amused himself
by Chasing after the solid shot. Finally
he was wounded on the stump of his
tail and made fast time off the field.
During this time Edwards's, Kings
bury's, Martins, and other batteries
opened on the enemy's guns and infantry,
some Of them firing very close over our
heads. The shrieks of she'll through the
air were continuous, but the meu kept
cool, for they knew there was no recourse
but to lie still and obey orders.
The enemy advanced at one time
toward our right, but we gave them
vigorous fire by companies, and then by