The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-07-04

and around which hundreds Of the
wounded lay, and the head Of the col
utnh was turned TO the right, and we
ttiJtcd far enough down stream to tttlt
cover the crossing for the 9Th regi:
raent, We th en- fours left iftU line
wheeled, sfd the gallant old End was
in line of battle facing Ellsworth s
zouaves, Of New York, who we're just
above pine tbicket about one hum
dred and fifty yards distant, and from
the cover of which they kept up rat
tling fire against us. While waiting
for the 9th to cross and form on our
left, the End was ordered to lie down,
and thus somewhat protect themselves
from the CALLING fire Of the Zouavcs,
who had killed and wounded a good
many of the regiment.
DIscoMFoRTED MARYLANDERs.
While lying down the 7th Maryland
Battalion charged over us, crying,
Remember the 9th Of April on
on which day, J think, it was that
some Federal troops passing through
Baltimore fired upon some citizens,
killing and wounding many. When
within a short distance Of them the
Zouaves rose to their feet and deliver
ed a terrible volley square in their
faces; the battalion broke and fed
down the hill in confusion, and as
they passed US the regiment jeered
them derisively.
While the 8th was getting into posi-
tion it's heroic commander, Col. E:B.C.
Cash, mounted upon a splendid black
charger, dashed up to Col. Kershaw,
and pointing TO the woods from which
Ellsworth 8 command was still firing
upon us, he said "Coloncl, are those
the scoundrels in there p Upon be-
ing answered in the affirmative he
said: "Well, sir, will have them out
of there in FIVE minutes" and wheeled
his horse to return to his regiment.
Col. Kershaw said: ''You must await
orders, Colonel. I am going to charge
WIFI DOCu TeSkmtutS Ill llue'
CHARGING THE ZoUAvEs.
Col. Kershaw IT, IN took his position,
mounted, midway between the regi-
ments, and commanded in ringing
voice that vas heard at the extreme
flank of both regiments Attention,
battalion - Ever man sprang to his
feet. 'Fi1: bayonets. Two thou
sand bayonets flashed from their scab-
bards and the clash of steel was heard
as they were clasped to the muzzles
of the rifles. ''Carry arms; right
shoulder shift arms; advance in line;
battalion forward, guide centre,
march p And the splendid line Of
two thousand infantry swept up the
hill in magnificent style, not deigning
a reply to the fire of Zouaves, but re-
serving our volleys for bigger game.
When half way up the hill the Colo
nel's voice rang out with the thrilling
command 's.Battalion, forward, dou-
BILE quick; charge bayonets r. He
had for months drilled US that at this
command we should rush forward with
a great cheer so that with perfect
truth it can be said that the famous
Rebel yell originated with him, and
was raised by us that day in the first
great charge Of the war. With deaf
ening cheers and without firing gun
we passed over the Zouaves, and, rush
ing through a belt of loblolly pines,
we debouched upon the battlefield at
the foot of the hill on which the Hen
ry house was located and before which
Ricketts, battery had taken up COM
manding position just above two lines
of battle formed midway it's height.
These troops were placed to receive
us, and, having heard the Rebel yell,
they waited with eagerness our advent
from the woods. As we broke into
sight thousands of muskets blazed in
our faces in less than hundred yards
and our brave fellows went down by
the score, but there were two thousand
rifles in our ranks that were now for
the first time levelled upon the foe,
and q murderous volley poured into
their dense ranks, and, with tremen-
dous cheers, without waiting to reload,
we rushed upon them with bayonet.
They broke in wild confusion and fled
across ravine and formed upon a hill
to the right of their position and near
a column Of United States regulars
under Gen. Sykes.
CAPTURE OF RIcKETT's s BATTERY.
We were too fast for Capt. Ricketts,
and captured his entire battery with
his guns loaded. Several gentlemen
who fought with us as amateurs on
that day and were named to me as
Prof. Venable, of the South Carolina
College, Capt. Green, Of the Columbia
Artillery, Col. Sam. Dibble, Of Or
angeburg, and johnson Hagood, after
terwards General, seized upon these
guns and turned them upon the enc
my. We had routed and captured
everything in our immediate front by
an impetuous onset, and the regiments
we're wheeled to the left and thrown
into deep cut in a road that afforded
some protection, and placed US in easy
range of the infantry we had driven
and Of the regulars upon whom they
had formed. We engaged these troops
with great spirit and the roar Of mus
kerry was tremendous. We we're fight
ing three times our number Of the
volunteer troops, and body Of Sykes
regulars that was estimated at three
thousand. We were not charging or
driving these tremendous odds against
us by any means, but with what pro-
lection we had, only trying to hold
our position until reinforcements
should come to our relief. While in
this trying position the splendid con-
duct and courage of our officers reas-
sured and inspired our inexperienced
troops. Kershaw was everywhere
along the lines of both regiments,
cheering and congratulating the men
on their splendid charge and assuring
them that we would win a great vic
tory. In vain, though, did he look
for his supports that were necessary
to make this possible. Over the
ground strewn with our dead and over
which we had driven the enemy in ut
ter confusion, not command was sent