The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-28

WHO UluSb udN0 buuuShb Sot hoAoSs
much larger than they were, from the
sudden attack upon them, now advanced
again and drove us back from the bluff
A short time subsequent to this the
enemy had begun to make their appear,
ance on our right flank, when Col. Cogs-
well sent two companies, Z and X, under
Capt. Timothy O'Nleara, of the former
company, (the Captain of the latter
having been killed in the charge, ITO inter
cept them; and here occurred, perhaps,
one Of the strangest incidents of the war,
and one in which the presence of mind
of this gallant officer saved from
ENTIRE ANNIHILATIoN
the two companies under his command.
Capt. O'Meara, being on his way TO meet
the enemy, who were now extending
their line to the river bank on our right
flank. an officer of the enemy mounted
on a white horse made his appearance a
short distance ahead and motioned to us
with the point of his sword to come on.
As the officer in question wore the
same uniform as some of our officers
usually wore as fatigue uniform around
camp,-the regimental uniform, gray,
with black facings,-both Capt O'Meara,
as well as his men, took him to be one
of us who had crossed the river higher
up near Conrad's Ferry, and was now
coming TO our assistance with the other
six companies of the regiment. This
gave cur men additional courage, and
they quickened their pace. Just as we
were drawing close, it being almost dark,
and discovered our mistake, the Con-
federate officer (for such he was) turned
to his command, who lay concealed
among the deep underbrush along the
side of the bluff, and arose to give us
their fire. Capt O'Meara, however, TAX
ing in the situation at a glance, and see
ing the very same uniform on them as
our men wore, he raised the point of his
sword and called out in loud and stern
voice:
"My Godl you are firing on your own
men"
The Johnnies were little bewildered,
and at once lowered their rifles, and
before they could again aim O'Meara
called out to his men:
"Now, boys, give it to them !"
Thereupon the two companies fired,
and the enemy broke and retired some
distance, but again advanced, and our
men were
COMPELLED TO FALL BACK.
Capt. O'Meara finding himself unable
TO cope with the enemy at this point
ordered his men to fall back short dis
tance down the bluff
About this time we learned that the
enemy had made flank movement on
Col. Cogswell's left, and had taken him
and all the men he had with him prison
ers IL was after darkness had set in
that this news came, and there were no
men ia line except these two companies,
and perhaps mixed In with them some
few men of the other regiments who re-
solved to fight it out. When Capt.
0'Meara received this news it was per-
haps 8 o'clock, and be resolved to fall
back little to the left, where his men
would have better protection among the
high underbrush, and where he could
better protect the men trying to swim the
river from the base of the bluff to
the island. As our men moved they
were Joined by some few of the other
regiments. As Capt. O'Meara was de-
ploying his men as skirmishers in close
order along the declining slope of the
bluff, with the intention of keeping up
brisk fire upon the enemy on the sum-
init of it, by which means be hoped to
be able to keep them back until morn
ing, or such time as he could get assist
ance, the enemy opened heavy fire.
O'Meara ordered his men to lie down,
protect themselves as well as possible in
the underbrush, and return the fire Our
men guided their fire by the
FLASHES OF THE EsEmY's RIFLES.
At this time the fire of the enemy was so
heavy that even in the darkness of night
many Of our men were shot in the river
while endeavoring to swim across. Sew
eral times did Capt. O'Meara send down
TO the river bank TO have the men there
who still held their rifles come up and
join him. Later on in the war an APP
peal Of this kind would not have to be
made a second time-indeed, if at all
under like circumstances. However, at
this time the men Of the various regi-
ments were entire strangers to each other,
and it was no easy matter to get the
men Of regiment once broken TO join
another.
in this manner matters continued
until the thick, heavy clouds which had
up TO this time obscured the moon had
suddenly cleared away, and that orb
made It's appearance bright and clear
about IL O'Clock, thereby revealing our
position, and the condition in which we
were placed, to the enemy. The rebels
opened heavy and well-dipected fire
upon US, killing and wounding num-
Der of cur men. The fire was returned
es best We could under the circumstances.
A few moments later the enemy swung
themselves down the river-bank on both
our fanks, firing from three points.
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