The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-11-06

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t"o. and II fell upon the top Of our
WORKS. Immediately Federal soldier
sprung upon the works to set 1t up
again, but sc killed him have for
gotten how many we killed in the vain
effort to reset that flag Oh our fort be-
fore another desperate effort was made
to scale our fort. This, of course, put
an end to the flag contest.
We could hear the officers orders
over in the ditch: Forward, charge
This put US on the alert and we watch
ed for the tops Of the heads, all our
guns being loaded and in position.
Also at this critical time their sharp
shooters would stop shooting lest they
kill their own men. This gave us the
advantage, for We could kill their first
line before they could bring their guns
to bear on US, and the falling dead
would interfere with the progress of
others up the steps. This would give
us ample time to pick up another guE
and be really for the next heads. But
we could nc. Ill! them ell scme wcv!d
come across our works to be killed on
top or perchance to fall inside our
fort. After a hard almost hand to
hand struggle we repulscd the second
desperate attempt TO scale our fort and
forced those we did not kill back into
the ditch.
But in the meantime our own loss
was heavy. We now had hardly fifty
men left.
Almost Immediately third rushing
effort to scale was made. In vain was
our effort to force them back. They
rushed until they covered the top Of
our works at the south end. Our boys
fell back a little bit and continued
the figh. from behind the gun parapet,
but alas! We could do no more. We
threw up our hands and guns and sur
rendered. 1t was, indeed, very sad to
see so many Of our comrades lifeless
forms, lying PROSTATE upon the cold
ground, bloody and blackeued, often
beyond recognition. But such is
war!
An incident or two attending the
last assault will show somewhat the
desperate nature of this fight. The
first is that of Federal officer who
escaped our first volley and charged
over our breastworks, with sword ex-
tended toward US, his cap pulled over
his eyes and calling to his men to fol-
low him. He had nearly crossed the
top Of our works when Joseph Cofer,
of Wilkes County, one of my compa-
ny, shot him full in the breast and
he fell headlong inside the fort in
lifeless heap. We lodged him as he
fell.
And esain, the Federals crowded
over ths top of our fort until they
seemed to be literally packed like
sardines; they crowded over the en-
tire width Of the wall-2O feet-right
up to the muzzle of our three-inoh
guns Gust loaded with a treble charge
of canister end ready to fre) and be-
fore they saw their danger.
They called loudly. ''Don't flre that
gunI' but in obedience 70 an order
from the i, corporal to fire, q young
STRIPPING Of q boy: not over is gears
old, from Sumter County, named
Giles, pulled the lanyard, and great
was the havoc Of that shot. 1t open
ed gap, the whole width Of the wall
Of the fort, and must have killed at
least Two dozen Rederals at one FIRE.
This was one Of the last shots fred in
defense Of Fort Gregg. The corporal
was shot through and through dozen
times, and Giles was bayoneted
through the feshy part Of the arm and
slightly in the side.
1t would mako this article too long
to recount many personal acts Of he.
roism, besides I could not give names
as we we're strangers to one another.
Suffice it to say do not believe there
was single man in our little garrison
who failed to do his whole duty in this
fight.
The chagriu and deep modification
of the Federals when they gathered up
,NM /hkyaY easMr