Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-19
Battle of "Mine Mile Road''

Because OF the paucity Of numbers en-
gagged in this battle IL might not interest
many. 1 only wish to show how the tat
tered and footsore legions Of Lee and
Jackson could fight against the odds they
had to contend with.
This particular engakement was fought
with not exceeding one hundred men,
against a brigade OF negro troops on the
Nine Mile road. General Grant was put
ting forth his best efforts to capture the
much coveted capital OF the confederacy
and was rushing strong columns Of troops
along the Charles City. Williamsburg and
Nine Mile road. We had been lighting
along our front and every man had his
hands full. A courier came dashing up
for a section OF our battery to report at
once to this road to repel en- attack from
that quarter. The order was given to
timber up and cannoneers mounted, and
we dashed with all possible speed. drivers
applying lash and spur. cannoneers swing
ing to guard rods, wheels rebounding.
Speed was very necessary at this mo-
ment to check this advance. We, how
ever. soon found q position and also plen-
ty to shoot at. have seen men fight by
squads. regiments. brigades and army
corps, but this handful OF men had work
to do.
General Gary In the meantime had come
up to our aid with about sixty men of
his men between our guns, with his char
acteristic. sharp. decisive command. to
stand by those guns. These cavalrymen
nut up one OF the best fights Of the war
right here. and stayed with us till We had
repulsed three distinct charges OF the
enemy.
viii here state Sergeant Hill had
planted a parrot gun in a temporary
earthwork just to the right Of the road.
| The Napoleon gun was placed TO the left
OF the road, so as to give an oblique fire
down the lines. To the right was pine
thicket and the enemy could come within
/ about 900 yards under cover of this woods,
/ but we never let up firing. and sent many
damaging shots whiZzing through this
timber.
But late in the evening the enemy came
again with renewed spirits. Barleycorn,
deploying their column so as TO flank US
i by tapping around our left. drove US from
position.
In shooting down the lines this Napo-
/ leon gun was charged with double can
ister and when the gun was fred I put
| II mildly TO say. some one was hurt"
! This gun in the reeoil would jump back
about four corn rows. They came over
! the works and captured our guns. but
only for about 50 minutes. being with
the gun on the left. ordered the drivers to
retire with the horses and leave the gun
we were pressed SO uBuIyt anu II
proved the proper thing to do In this
emergency so as not to use our own
guns on us. Now sergeantHin being far
Their to the right ordered his gun out and
had Il limbereo up when the enemy caught
him before getting away, and dubbed
Daniel Holiday of the rear horses. No,
Dan was a six footer and not to be trihed
with. He arose with all his might grab
bed the gun. wrenched II from the SOL
dier's hand and dealt a blow that left one
soldier less to fight; then he broke and
ran and strange to say. although sur
rounded by the enemy, he made his es-
cape.
The strange part to me has always been
that the only casualties with our two
pieces was the capture OF two men, Coop
er and Betz Sergeant Hill had his horse
tied to a sappling and they never had time
70 take him of In their hurried retreat.
Gallant and dashing young officer Tom
Logan, came up full tilt with the Hamp-
ton legion and drove the enemy from the
works, recaptured our guns and opened
deadly fire at about 20 PAGES. They cap
tured two Of the legion, so says a for
ner comrade who was in charge. and bay