The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-07-29

| dawned, after the enemy had massed
a large number of troops in front of
our guns, the fuse which was to ignite
the mine was fired. The enemy wait
ed fully an hour, but there was no
explosion. There was but one expla-
nation, the fuse had gone out. A
brave Federal officer, whose name l
do not know, volunteered to enter
the tunnel and fire it again, which he
did.
A minute later there was report,
which was heard for miles, and the
earth trembled for miles around. A
crater, one hundred and thirty-fve
feet long, ninety-seven feetin breadth,
and thirty feet deep, was blown out.
Of the brave artillery company ~ Of
fcers and men were killed and wound
ed, most of them killed. Hundreds
of tons Of earth was thrown back on
the rear line, in which my command
was.
Here was the greatest loss suffered
by any command on either side in the
war. Myself, my only lieutenant, W.
Y. Lake, and thirty-four enlisted men
were all buried, and of that little band
thirty-one we're killed. Lieut.. Lake,
myself and three enlisted men were
taken out Of the ground two hours
after the explosion by some brave
New Workers. These men worked like
beavers great portion of the time
under heavy fire.
Col. Dave Fleming and his adjutant
Dick Quattlebaum, were also in the
rear line only few feet from my left,
and were buried thirty feet deep, their
bodies are there still. I do not know
how many Federal troops stormed the
works, but do know that the Con-
federatps captured from them nineteen
flags. The attacking columns were
com posed of white men and negroes;
sober men and men who we're drunk,
brave men and towards.
One of the latter was an officer high
in command. I have lost his name,
if I ever knew it. He asked me how
many lines of works we had between
the Crater and Petersburg, when I re-
piled, "Three." He asked me if they
were all manned. I said, eyes" He
then said, "Don't you know that |
know you are telling d-n lie." I
said to him, "Dont you know I am
not going to give you information that
will be of service to you?' He then
threatened to have me shot, and I be-
lieve but for the interference Of
brave Federal officer he would have
done so.
I had just seen several of our officers
and men killed with bayonets after
they had surrendered, when the ene-
my, who had gone through the Crater,
towards Petersburg, had been repulscd
and fell back to the Crater for protec-
tion. There was not room in the Cra-
ter for another man. It was death to
go forward or death to retreat to their
own lines. 1t is saidthere were three
thousand Yankees in and around the
Crater, besides those in portions of
our works adjacent thereto.
Then the Coehorn mortars Of the
brave Major Haskell and other COM
manders of batteries turned loose their
shells on the Crater. The firing was
rapid and accurate. Some of these
mortars were brought upas near as ff-
ty yards to the Crater. SUCH scene
has never been nor ever will be wit
messed again. The Yankees at the
same time were using one hundred
and forty pieces of cannon against
our works occupied by Confederate
troops.
Elliott's brigade in the days fight
lost 278 officers and men. Major Gen.
B. R. johnson s division, Elliotts bri-
gade included, lost in the day 922 Of.
icers and men. This was the most of
| The Confederate loss.
While the enemy acknowledged a
loss of from five thousand to six thou
sand men-and that I am sure is far
below their real loss-I make another
quotation from Major Gen. B. R.
Johnson's official report:
''It is believed for each buried COM
pauion they have taken tenfold ven
geance on the enemy, and have taught
them lesson that will be remember
ed as long as the history of our wrongs
and this great revolution endures. y
Virginians, Georgians, North Caro-
liniaus, South Carolinians, and others
who may have fought at the Crater,
none of you have the right to claim
deeds of more conspicuous daring over
your Confederate brethren engaged
that day. Every man acted we'll his
part.
What about the four cannon blown
up2 you ask. One piece fell about
half way between the lines of the op-
posing armies, another fell in trout of
our lines, not 80 near, however, to the
enemy, third was thrown from the
carriage, and was standing on end,
half buried in the ground inside the
Crater, the fourth was still attached
to the carriage, but turned bottom side
up, with the wheels in the air, and
turned against our own men when the
enemy captured-it. That day, hoHev
er, they all fell into the hands Of the
Confederates again, except the, one
thrown so near the enemy's works,
and in time we regained that also.
Before the fighting was over the
Yankee officer who could curse pris-
oner so gallantly ordered two soldiers
to take charge of and carry me to their
lines, no doubt believing that the Con-
federates would succeed in recapturing
the Crater. We had to cross plain
$40 feet wide that was being raked
with rife balls, cannon shot and shell,
grape and canister. 1t was not very
inviting place to 60, but still not
great deal worse than Haskell S mortar
shells, that were raining in the Crater.
In two seconds after leaving the Cra-
ter I had the pleasure of seeing one of
my guards die. The other conducted
me safely to Gen. Patrick headquar-
ters. Patrick was the Yankee provost
marshal.
When I was placed under guard
near his quarters he sent staff Of
fcer to the front to learn the result of
the battle.
After short absence he gallopcd
up to Gen. Patrick and yelled out:
eve have whipped them"
Patrick said "Iwant no foolishness,