The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-18

lot anu HyScll Jumped up, placed our
iagstafis in their rests at the belt.
1t was u still, hot June afternoon.
and not sufficient breeze to float the
flags
We leaned them forward 70 shake
out the folds. Looking to the right,
and the front was one unbrokcn line
OF blue. To the left appeared the red
pants Of the XpuaycS, some half dozen
flags, at intervals along the line, indi
eating the number Of regiments we
were facing, their line oycrlappcd the
line Of our twp regiments on both
ilanks. The enemy halted at about
two hundred yards. the proper range
for their Springfield rifles. We were
armed with smooth bore muskcts, buck
+, and ball cartridges, that could do but
little execution at that distance.
They poured several deadly vollrys
from behind the crest Of the ridge.
The centre Of the First regiment
was in more open ground than the
rest Of the line. The two flags r. tnc
centre could be seen above the thick,
low bushes when t'.c men themselves
along the lirr. were partly concealed.
This naturally drew the fire to that
part. of our line where our flags were
seen. Both regiments advanced few
steps to the edge Of the open field
The battle ragged with fury, perhaps,
not often cxccllcd by the same mum
bcrs engaged at any period Of the war,
bat the contest was far from equal.
The enemy had the advantage in po-
sition, in numbers and in the range Of
their guns. For time our men stood
against these odds with doggcd tcnac-
ity. Pinckncy was tic second guard
| saw struck. lie fell forward, face
to the foe, several feet from the front
rank, where he was struck, and APP
pearcd to die without struggle In
stantly "a MIME ball passed through
my left foot handed Shubric Haync
my flag, took his gun and with his aid
commenced to hobblc to the rear in
search Of the inirmary corps to assist
me from the field. IIayno, immedi-
atcly on taking the flag, was mortally
wounded, through the bowels. Tay-
lor, at the same time, was shot
through the heart, his lifc's blood
squirting on the flag he loved so we'll
and bore so proudly. To-day those
stains arc visible on its tattcred folds.
One after another caught Up the flags
and themselves went down, until not
one of the thirteen was left, and Col.
Hamilton himself bore them for q time
until Dominic Spellman, of Co. X, the
Irish Volunteers, relieved him, and
worthi!y won tho honor Of bearing the
flag to the end of the battle.
AS I vas leaning heavily on Hayna's
I gun making my way as fast as 1 could
to the rear, I met Gen. Gregg going to
the front. Hewas mounted and alone,
only very short distance from our
line, making his way through the
dense thicket. He said, "My brave
color bearer, am sorry to see you so
badly wounded. How is the battle
going" | replied, "Our boys are
standing bravely, but they cannot hold |
the position long, the enemy have the
advantage, in numbers and position
and guns" He then hurried in the |
Thirteenth, the reserve regiment, all |
the force he had st his commsnd. |
Later the Fourteenth Regiment, which !
had been on picket duty. came up;
afterwards Thomas Georgia brigade
was sent in, and the enemy were final
ly driven back with heavy losses on
both sides. This is my recollection
Of the battle of Gaines Mill, June
9th, 1862.
Now let US turn to our absent color
bearer, Sergt. Gregg. When the day
of battle dawned, he left his sick bed
at the hospital and went in search of
MS command. tie failed to lind 1t, for
we were on the extreme left of the line,
and he had como out from Richmond
on our extreme right, many miles away.
Picture to yourself this South Carroll
ma boy. That 9th of June was his
eighteenth birthday. Trembling from
weakness, his checks flushed with !
fever that would have kept most SOL
diers safe in bed, he passed along the
lines inquiring for Gregg's brigade.
He struggled on, hoping to find his
regiment, regain his flag, go into ao-
tion with his own color guard, under
the two fags we all were so proud to
have float above US. It was not to be !
so. Eis hour had CONT. The battle |