The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-07

GNO-tnlf(iS OF lne coHfpallY 10 the
right and the other third-ours-
in the left, between the gate and
the river. Our captain was killed
before that; one lieutenant had
been shot down, SO that We, OH
that side of the gate, were in
charge of a non-commissioned Of
ficer. As Adams men were being
shot down one by one; our boys /
took the places of the dead and
disabled. Our non-cOmmissloned |
officer was killed, and four of our
force on the left of the gate, |
within very few minutes, sew
eral disabled. The two charges |
were repulsed. Immediately after
the first charge, and when a force
of the enemy had taken refuge un-
der bridge and embankment the
Parrot gun, right at the waters
edge, was turned loose, and that
bridge blown away, for some rea-
son or other, not remembered by
any of us, we couldn't get that gun
to work any more. We then kept
ourselves as a reserve for the Ma
poleon. The enemy in front see
ing that it was useless to enter
there, dashed around to our right,
and as they did, all our company
ON the right of the gate, together
with Braddy's, retreated around
and behind the parapet, as we sup
posed to fight from the top of the
parapet. We felt sure that We
could hold the gate, as our shots
had demoralized those in the
front. We couldn't fire the gun,
or rather did not, for the reason
that there was nothing in front to
fire at. Curtis brigade had gotten
out of range. We expected every
moment to see them flying back,
and were ready to rake them on
their retreat as soon as they came
within range of the gun. We
picked up our small arms in the
meantime to keep back small de.
| tachment who were watching 8
chance to run through the gate, as
we thought. All shooting into
= the gate at the moment ceased
: We laid down on our stomach'
within a few feet of the Napoleon
ready to jump to the Napoleon a
soon as Curtis brigade should be
gin their retreat. A half minut
1 did not elapse before on
d of our boys was killed by a sho
e coming from the rear. I locke
J. around and saw the stars an
), stripes floating from the top c
the parapet, with, what seemed t
o me, to be a thousand "blue coats
n around it-some shooting at us
} AS soon as I saw this, Ijumpe
il to the Napoleon to see if I coul
n spike it, when they dashed dow
lie on us and demand our surrende
p We had no officer there, and
held up both hands as a signal (
Of surrender, and our little crow
In was marched to the rear. sa
al they had us completely surroundt
k knew we would have to give I
ne the gun, and in that event th'
n would turn it ON our men in II
nd fort, hence my determination
ur spike it if possible. At that We
ge moment the guns in the fort, ba
ut terry Buchanan, l think, turn
er. loose on that end of the fort, a.
IRE we were rushed away from the
lis in hurry. The circumstanc
ar were such that you couldn't KIN
ng these facts. On my way hol
from prison in the latter part
Mt May, 1865, I was put off the bt
ON up at Meare's Bluff and wa1l
}, a the ties up to Lumberton. At
It'll end of the first days journey
Is stopped at the house of Colo
Joe. Green, a prominent citizen
Bladen county, to get someth
to eat. We, received excell
ror. treatment, as he knew some of
family connection, but he said
hod was very much mortified to k1
that we had acted so cowardly
h, to let the enemy come in at t
.nro gate unopposed. / protested t
!. we had all done all that we COT
r,,,, told how many men we had ki
,,od and wounded right there, etc.,
, rod He said General Bragg was an
,+o perienced fighter-saw the w
.;ou affair, and his statement W.
!, outweigh the statement of {
vino body else, but seeing our raI
! h and starved condition and XII
boro ing of our sufferings subseque
We he expressed a kindly sympa
90 and gave us food.
o. T / assured him he would |
e as the truth some day, and hope
who would be soon. I have never
until him since, but presume he
41~o Al