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

could @ Iir not realize Ii Ills W sdrroand M dines,
and reeling in his saddle he wheeled
his horse and attempted, to escape and
was beyond captuts when the Qrays
fred, riddling him with bullets. From
our position could now be plainly seen
heavy columns Of the enemy's ,infan;
try deploying into line Of battle and
forming on both sides Of the highway.
Their immense numbers, the steadi-
ness and precision with which they
rapidly took their positions in line
was thrilling to witness. just to their
rear and on an elevation was placed a
24-pounder, the largest gun ever pull
ed along as part of a field battery, and
which opened fire with laundering
discharge that sent a shell way above
our heads, beyond our breastworks on
Bull Run and exploded harmlessiy on
the hills above. This was answered
by a defiant Rebel yell that rolled like
great wave for miles along our lines.
This shelling was continuous while the
column was advancing to the attack.
GOOD WORK OF KEMpER's BATTERY.
When they had reached within two
hundred yards Of Kemper's guns he
opened terrific fire upon them with
grape and canister. Being to the right
| oblique Of their advancing line, and
screened by the hill, they were not
aware of his presence until his guns
tore great gaps in his lines and created
confusion in their ranks. No two
guns on earth we're ever worked with
more deadly effect or fired as many
shots in given time. In addition to
this demoraIizing fire our formidable
breastworks broke upon their view
Just at this point in their advance, and
| the columns of attack made left
wheel and marched obliquely across
the front of our works at Mitchell's
Ford and moved upon Blackburn's
Ford, just mile below, which was de-
Tended by Longstreet and his Virgini-
ans. Here the surging columns were
met from the opposite bank with such
volleys of musketry as no troops on
earth could withstand and effect the
passage of stream. 1t was an in
fantry fight from the opposite banks
in less than fifty yards, and the roar
of the musketry was incessant. The
Federals persisted in their attack for
couple of hours and slowly. with
drew. During the fig ght Beauregard
and his brilliant staff, among whom
we recognized United States Senator
Chestnut and Gov. Manning, rode up
to the rear Of the battery Of the Pal
metto Guard. The sun went down
with our lines unbroken and the enc
my repulsed at two points. Thus end
| ed the battle Of Bull Run proper.
CHANGE OF POSITION.
!. During the night our brigade was
| moved a mile higher up the stream to
point where, it was easily fordable
and where it was thought the enemy
would attempt to cross, having had
quite enough Of the fords at Mitchell's
| and Blackburn's. We got into our
new position after midnight, and be-
ing told that we would in all proba-
bility be attacked at daylight, we dug
up the soil with our bayonets and
shoveled it up in front Of us with our
tin plates in most lively manner, and
by sunrise had very respectable
breastwork. Here we remained the
18th, 18th and goth ; and all of the
night of the Goth we could plainly
hear. the enemy on the turnpike just
half mile in our front as their artille-
ry would rumble over the stones Of
| the roadbed passing around to our left
| in the direction of the Stone Bridge.
THE FIRST MANASSAS BEGUN.
We were not surprised, therefore,
the next morning when just at sunrise
rapid firing was heard away up to our
left, where they had crossed the val
ley of. Bull Run above the Stone
Bridge and turned our left flank. They
were met, though, by such heroes as
Stonewall Jackson, Bee and Barlow
and the chivalrous Hampton with his
splendid legion. The roar Of muske-
try was continuous and the boom of
the artillery could be heard above its
din. We we're kept in line ready to
move at moments notice and every
moment expecting that notice. While
in this position our chaplain, the Rev.
Mr.. Meynardie, passed down the line,
holding short service of prayer for
each company. About midday cou-
rier dashed up to our position and ask
ed for Col. Kershaw. 1t was an order
that he should take his regiment and
the 9th and move promptly in the di-
rection of the firing, followed by Kem-
per's battery. We moved immediate.
ly out of the trenches by columns Of
| fours, and headed for the battlefield,
followed by the 9th regiment and the
artillery. We moved on through old
fields sparsely covered with second
growth pines and with no sign of a
road, but guided alone by the increas-
ing sound of the firing as we approach
ed the field. 1t was at least three
miles from the point where we left our
trenches to the spot where we came
under the shells from Pickett's bate
ry located at the Henry House. We
were not yet in sight of them, being a
half mile distant, with many Eavines
and skirts of short growth pine be-
tween us; but body Of cavalry pass
ing our left flank at rapid gait raised
clouds of dust, at which the battery
opened brisk fire, rightly surmising
it was from troops coming into action.
The shells cut great limbs from huge
trees, through grove of which we were
passing in descending hill, and sew
eral members of the Palmetto Guard
were wounded and stunned by them.
DISTINGUISHED VOLUNTEERS.
The most honornd and distinguished
member of the palmetto Guard was
the Hon. Edmund Rufin, of Virginia,
gentleman who declared he could
not breathe the air of Virginia after
South Carolina had seeded, and she
remained still in the Union; so he
came to Charleston and Joined the
Palmetto Guard on James Island, and
went with us to Virpinia. He was