The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-05
In a Tight Place.

Galveston, leSds, July oil was III
The movement preliminary to the second
hattie OF Manassas. late one afternoon
Jackson's corps crossed stream. perhaps
pohinson river, and went into bvouac
for the night. Pegram was ordered to
lake four of his rined guns, supported by
one regiment Of infantry, and go forward.
We proceeded along a wooded road in the
direction of Culpeper, jackson and A. P.
min riding with us The sun was near
setting when we came TO an open country.
The column halted while jackson and Hill
examined the country to the front. We
were then ordered 70 leave the ro3d and
20 through the fields in the direction OF n
distant wood, and if We saw any signs Of
the enemy to throw shells in the timoer
10 see II we could discover his position and
strength.
Going forward we took position and COM
menced to throw shells into the timber
and soon found ourselves in close contest
with our old friends, Banks command
Now each one of our rihed beauties bore
ON It's trail in white letters, Banks
Corps" for they were troE HES OF a ks s
valley campaign before he came to Rich
mond to help Mcclellan change his bls3,
and from the determined manner IN which
Banks men came at us one might have
thought they recognized and were de-
termned to get their own.
AS we were loading and firing our guns,
q gallant fellow in blue came out of the
woods mounted on a splendid bay charger
leading column of infantry and started
straight for the guns, Between US and
the enemy was a heavy growth of green
corn with open ground on each side. We
poured the shrapnel into them as long
as they we're in the open ground. When
they entered the corn we could see on y
the regimental flags floating above the
corn but they told us thlt the column
was still coming. Pegram, flag in hand,
went from gun to gun, encouraging the
men and ordering:
Shoot low, men, and aim at the hagsi'
cut your fuses shorter every charge"
"WheS they clear the corn give them
double charges of canister!"
They are now in the open ground and
We are giving them a perfect storm Of
canister They are so close we can dis
tictly see when one of our charges strikes
the gallant leader, but still he clings to
the saddle while his horse carries him
to the rear. The column falters and for
moment seeks the little shelter the earn
can give them from our terrible guns.
But they rally and advance again almost
at run.
Just then from an old hedge and fence
running obliquely across our right we got
a sharp volley in flank and discovered
mat column of infantry was working
around our right to cut us off from the
main body Our infantry supper, began
retreains in coni~.ion, firing as they
went, with about as much danger to friend
as TO foe.
On drill or in a mimic fight under such
supposed circumstances we would get or
oers', Cease fringN' Return equip
ment! Timber 10 the rear!" Cannon
GERS mount" "Retire." or perhaps the
more deliberate order: Elk prolongs to
nre retreating" etc
But here there was no time for details
ana the bugler sounded almost in one
olast Timber to the rear! Cannoneers,
mount! RETIRE." I was serving as NJ. /
sponging and loading the gun. This order
was was ooeyed so quickly that l did not get
INT 10 return equipments, and being
anouhoered with the rammer | failed to
ha oeuI 10 my place on the timber and the
naltery galloped away, leaving me almost
u the hands Of the enemy. With rammer
~ one hand and sponge bucket in the
o.ner IAN down tbs hill. Here stood
vne OF the caisons. The lead horses mad
seen taken to replace those killed IN the
san team and only the two wheelers were
iIeat-ohe dead. the other unhurt All that
oeuld now see of the battery was a cloud
sust rolling like cyclone across the
No LOOKING back up the hill and seeing
H. erehs IN sight, concluded to unhitch
sor uoIse' mount him and overtake my
smmand' Putting the horse between me
SUI me direction of the enemy was
Ssussilng TO unkey the tongue yoke.
,b nV1 was held tight by the weight OF
s,s, uead horse OH The other side when
,Lseniy a Hash came from the brow Of
nc nc hlli and something struck me between
sss knee and hip. / remembered thai the
oba was to retire and / proceeded to
Az az full speed, for the blue line was
yo,ie,iy coming down the hill and firing
ba,tar., vVer my head at the retreaiing
was * oGt telt sure every one of them
blo., Hootlng at me. As ! ran | felt the
ana ana eushing from the wound In my leg
tInnasJ IeW faint from the loss, but con-
Inc. 20 70 run and coming to an old fence,
on :, 'eil over It, As struck the ground
breatS o,her side and was trying to catch
hss.sn enough 10 say: 81 surrender" T
The tremendous rebel veil" and saw
ccmInv OF A. P Hills light division
ouicr out or the woods on a double
thew .orinlng line and opening fire as
n,r tsu' The pursuers now becamc the
iI.sued, and as Hills men swcnf tha bine
lowed9 aS s uhe battery wheeled and fol-
fotna mem examined my wound and
cpt,Ia ! had been struck with a MIME bali
the sti we clothing but not even breaking
joinsS 'n 20 or drawing a drop OF blood re.
aud sno oattery, secured my rammer
Ga nnpg,nge bucket and we returned 10 our
few nion IN time to give the enemy a
eoyos pAr ing shots before thew reached ths.
/, OF the timber
w,cos now dark and after giving the
reply q thorough shelling and getting no
gaBa We We're reinforced bv a full brl-
iron, aug proceeded still further TO The
| hatls as we advanced passed over the
1 snd sround. There were many dead
! and -. their hayersacks a companion
coffee ga nC ! good supply OF hardtark and
1 tie corr u some tobacco. passed through
10 ,bs fu, Here, with his face turned up
Ger sn,s.h, August moon was an off,
snd AMY dead. He wore a fine belt
nemen,o 81. would like to have Il aa a
fssterss q the occasion. Stooping I'M
fhs M the clasp put nv foot syatast
Go the HI, ana pulled He groaned let
he sros ra. and asked II he wanted water
hh lips ~. ssain' 7 put my canteen TO
him Ebs,s re could not swallow. | left
salan, ne lay. feeling sure he wa ire
thsi trisa ~ the attacking column
Going hard TO take our guns.
cane n luther to the front we again
70 open country. We took w positions tons