Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-05-06

we looked upon as exclusively the priv.
ileee of the infantry as building breast.
works and doing sundry oiher very COM
forting duiies, while "e were studying,
"The Theory of Projectiles," and we
began TO fel serious. Surely Marse
Bob is leveliing all distinctions and
soon nobody will De different from
ev.ry body else; and this WIS but the
h. ginning. for soon afcerwards-the
l. I'd forgive him-he lad the cavalry
oil their horses. fighting like common
folks Ola Euly had said (now
he j. dead We can make him say what
we plesst): &c nj. Lee shouli no. put
those fellows on horses 10 show my
people how they run races
When the signal gun fced and we
knuckled down to business, our shells
flew straight to the mark and burst
beautifully. The 81 gun wss a lit
tie slow at the beginning and will tell
YOU how it was: Corporal Joe Pearson
had b.en on lark and in an artistic
whip practice had his right eye crack
ed out. When on duty this day for the
first time siuce. he put his right eye to
the pendulum hausse, Sergeant Dan
cried out: "You are shooting wild old
fellow" Sergeant Jag: "How can I
help it when the gunner is aiming by
one eye and looking out of the other" I"
Dan: Turn him over and he will be
just right" Work went bravely on.
Every now and then we would see one
OF their cassions shoot up in the air, and
each gunner would shout II did it, !"
but every body knew it would be
reported at headquarters that the
Washington artillery did it. Macla
mara, of the Fayette artillery, after
each discharge of his gun, would jump
upon it, and with his back to the
enemy, go through certain manual
demonstrations upon it, by which
schoolboys were wont to express con-
tempt. Our hearts grew bold and still
bolder. Our Major Dearing, the hand
soonest and most dashing man in the
army, rode back and forth among Us,
with poor Oiandof following behind
waving the battalion flag Wherever
Olandof went, the cry came up go
away from here" Fortunately she'll
soon tumbled his horse over, and the
regular rebel yell went up, as Olandoh,
with dropping flag and saddle and
bride on his back, made haste to the
rear.
After a few of their cannons had
been blown up and we saw the smoke
of their guns and did not sec or hear
anything from their shells. We knew
they were down on their kness, their
faces turned heavenwards, with that
tired feeling of "Rock me to sleep
mother, rock me to sleep" creeping over
them, and we felt that we were to
be the ministering angels to bear them
away on our wings.
What's the matter? Is old Pete
asleep? Achilles is not sulking in his
tent Is General Lees artillery day
about to be dwarfed into a grand
pyrotechnic display? The god Of ma
tions defend US But so it was. Soon
we had not single shot in the locker
our hearts weighed like lead. Our
battle flag carried the rear. Nick, per-
haps, in some far away cherry tree, dis
coursing about his wonderful bugle,
and we are left to stand and wait. The
man that wrote about ITO labor and to
wait" knew nothing about battles. To
clean out the Augean stables and to
perform all Of Hercules's severe labors
is a happy recreation to the soldier,
who, perhaps, has to stand and take it,
At last they came-Alas it was too
late. Goodbye, Lewis; "SomervilIe,
God bless you, old fellow" were the
words Of parting, as they marched Oh
through the celestial gates. and left IL
behind to mourn.
Old Pete, in these latter days, writes
about "their superior metal" when
every body knows the Richmond ma .e
light - Founders were the best guns
in the world-guns that were recasls OF
church and dinner bells-church and
home. They spoke from the heart
Could their contract-made guns shoot
like them ? and could their hirelings
aim like us, when mother, wife or
sweetheart we're aiming them over our
shoulders? Old Pete. recall thy youth
In these piping times OF peace, when
the fad is to make the war history in
stead of writing it, l ask to be ex
cused for obtrudng these "reminiscences
of battle, of which pars parva fui.
FAUQUIER ARTILLERY.