The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-28

that a stray chicken got in my way and
found It's way into the frying pan in a
very short time. Up TO that time, so far
a. know. no orders had been issued to
those FIVE batteries, we were left there
with about 10 infantry. under General
Roger A. Pryor, as q a OF support
FOR tho guns. Just about sunrise General
Longstrcet rode up and ordered me 90
take two guns TO shell a point Of woods
on the other side OF the river where he
said the enemy were massing. Like the
poor innocent that / was, / took the guns
and loft the chicken, and when my duty
with the guns was over ! returned TO
aud both General Longstreet and my
chicken zone. He lett orders. however.
that we were TO remain on the blur as
long as possible, and when driven away
bv lareor and longer range guns to retire
as ou.cly as possible upon the rear Of the
army. with the exception Of the odOr OF
friei chicken and two peaches that 1
found on a tree near the battery, l had
nothing 20 cat an that day.
TO BURN THE EARN.
During the morning we had some little
frir- but were exceedingly annoyed by
the infantry lying in the bed OF the canal
and concealed in a house and barn oppo-
site our battery. Finding this picket hro
was COMING TO fast and close, 1 deter
mined TO burn the barn with %shrapnell,
II possibic. and 1 think that by one shot
during this Ere ] gave General Lee az
least four good hours In which to make
his wav back 10 Bunker Hill-the position
that be had selected TO meet Mcclellan.
if that general chose TO follow him. I
observed an officer and an orderly riding
down the hin towards the barn and house
alluded 20 above. and having cut the fuse
and being Just about 20 give the order TO
fire ! concluded TO try a shot at these
men instead OF ut the barn. So moving
tbe trail slightly 10 the left and giving
the cin q very slight elevation. I wa
dcuehted % see. upon the explosion of
the s|DraunelI. that both men had been
knocked from their horses 10 the ground.
one OF them was evidently killed. the
other badly wounded. but after about
half an hour he succeeded in getting on
his horse. with the assistance of the rail
fence. and rode 20 the rear.
From what occurred afterwards, I am
satisfied that these men came with orders
for the men hidden in the barn, house
and bed Of The canal TO charge across
the river 40 q given signal, because just
about that time a battery of 20-pound
PARROTS. which we had observed for an
hour or two on the extreme left of the
onemy's line. c0menced firing. and though
The distance was estimated 10 be about
two miles and a half. their shots fell
within "a few feet Of our guns, though
none of them exploded where they struck,
but ricochotted over our heads to whore
General Pry0r's Infantry was lying in
the woods. our uns being smooth bore,
could not. of course, fight a battery or
eO-pound PARROTS. so we Withdrew just
below the brow Of the Hill and awaited
further orders.
T-pon The Withdrawal Of. our guns the
firing Of this battery ceased, and, being
very tired. 20 say nothing about be.ng
sleepy and hungry. / stretched myself on
the ground and went TO sleep. How long
! slept have no idea, but was awakened
by a most tremendous fire Of artillery all
along the line Of the hill on the north
bank Of the river, and noticed particularly
that our friends Of the D-pOund PARROTS
had the range of the top of our hill I'm
a most uncomfortable manner. AS ! rose
TO my feet ] found the whole woods on
the other side ablaze with the fire of
heavy guns. ranging from 3-inch rifles
10 aA~NNAI4A 4ANNAN""t tA'"Nf ~
twenty-five guns altogether. How many
infantry We're in the bed Of the river and
crossing the canal Sc would be hard TO
tell. but. from my frightened condition,
[ thought there were q million Of them.
The river was full of men over half way
across. cheering and firing as they
came on.
HELTER-SKELTER RACE.
The men Of our battery, together with
chose belonging 20 other batteries on the
bluff. were mixed i'm he~lter-skclter race
for the road. the whole field and road be-
ing crowded with men. guns, horses linn
Der chests without the guns. calssons,
officers on horseback and ON foot, all IN a
confused mass and AN making the best
time possible 90 where they expected %
find the rear Of General Lees army. /
had been so sound asleep that ] was
somewhat daZed by the noise of The guns
and tine rafting of muskets. the bursting
of shells and the general confusion around
For the moment I did not notice That
the gun of which had charge was sim
standing unlimbored ON the edge of the
hin. but calling two men. one named
Solomon and the other named Manoni,
both OK whom promptly returned. We suc-
cecdcd in limherlus the gun. the men
mounted the horses. and We were quickly
following the procession. For probably
"a mile the Yakee guns commanded the
gorge mp which this road ran and every
step Of IL j took at a gait that would
have done credit to John GApin on his
famous ride.
it is no use denying the fact. ran as
fast as my horse could carry me. through
the crowded road or through fields. where
possible. and the men of my gun followed
AT the first turn. which was the
road running towards ShennarasfoW we
turned from the column, intending TO 80
there and find where the rear of tLe army
was. just after turning into this road /
came across my old comrades the Second
end Third Howitzers. with their horses
unhitched. guns parked. both men and
horses %endcavoring 60 get supper of some
utterly unconscious that the Yam
KEGS had crossed the river. They had cvi-
IDENTIFY been forgotten. It was only q few
before the battalion was hitched
uD and on their way also 90 the rear as
fast as possible.
How late that night we pushed onward.
or where we struck General Iil. have
not the slightest recollection. It seemed
90 me. however. that the n.eht was in-
tcrminablc and that We must hc many
miles beyond the river. At last. however,
we did strike General Iil. and our story
communicated 10 DIS headquarters.