The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-11-27

artillery 10 the cQge OF marSny
swamp. Just hey ond the swamp and
about 100 yards in front Of US we're
the Federal fortified lines of infantry
and artillery playing upon us and we
could not charge them on account of
the miry swamp which lay between
the two opposing lines Of battle.
Under this disadvantage We fought
them behind their Notifications for
about three hours, when the darkness
OF night came upon us and we were
quietly withdrawn from that battle
field which was the first great battle
In which my regiment up to that time
Lad an opportunity to be engaged in.
me regiment lost many of our brave
men killed and wounded, among whom
vas our brave commander, Colonel
Davis, killed. General Joseph f.
Johnston at that time was commander
in chief of the army in Virginia and
was wounded in that battle and while
he was wounded General Robert +.
Lee was given command of the army
and was commander in chief of our
army till the war ended.
This battle of Seven Pines was
fought the 31st day of May, 1862.
After that time we remained in camp
in rear of our line of breastworks
along the southern Banks of the
Chickahominy River, which was
fronting General McClelland' fortifi-
cations along the northern bank of the
ChickahomiDy, till the evening Of
June 25th, when the Yankees gave US
q shower Of shells and a very close
call for squad of half dozen of the
boys OF my company, who we're play
ing cards at the foot of large pine
tree when the shelling began. The
shells came thick aud fast aud were
cutting off the limbs OF the trees.
just then the boys who were playing
cards became more interested in the
exploding shells aud quit playing and
left the deck of cards on the blanket
where they had played for hours. In
minute after they had quit playing
and had separated shell came along
and cut of the branch of q tree, then
buried itself about elk feet in the
ground, exactly under that blanket,
then exploded and blew up the blau-
ket and left hole in the ground
where the blanket had been lying.
The regiment and brigade were imme-
m sdiately ordered into line and
marched that evening and until night
q few miles up the Chickahominy, to
the left Of where we had been station
ed, and stopped in dense woodland
during that night and the next day,
which was the 26th of June, till IL or
o'clock. My regiment in General
Pender's brigade and with General A.
p. Hills division were quietly march
ed out of the woods into the. ROAD q
few hundred yards this side Of the
bridge over the Chickahominy River.
We drove the Yankee pickets away
from the bridge and crossed over the
river and marched up that road along
by the side of little branch till we
passed the spring and to the top of q
low hill in the middle Of field and in
plain view Of the enemy's line Of for
tifications, which were about four hun
dred yards in front Of us. Our bri-
gade was quickly formed into line Of
battle across that field under heavy
fire of musketry and artillery. We
charged across the field to within
about seventy-five yards OF the ene-
my's fortified lice, when again we
found little miry swamp lying be-
tween our line aud the Yankee line
which we could rot charge over.
When we could advance no further an
order passed along our lines to lie
down, which we did, and loaded and
fred at them till the darkness Of night
came upon us. There I had my 6rst
close call and hint to the wise. My
left hand comrede, who was an old
schoolmatc Of mine, would not lie
down. In an instant several of the
boys saw him alone, standing aud
Offering himself as target, and yelled
at him to ''lie down or you will be
killed" turned on my side and
looked up aud said to him: ellie
down OF you will be killed." At that
moment ball pierced him through
the heart. I was looking in his face
when the ball struck. him. For mo.
ment or two he stood erect as though
he was on balance and as il nothing
had happened to him, then suddenly
with beautiful natural smile on hie
face, he los; his balance aud fell or