The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-09-04

sheet OF f1ame belched forth and the
sharp reports of the rifles seemed to
say: Johnnie, you have had your
way long enough, we will now have
ours" When I looked in front ] saw,
about 60 yards distant, solid line of
blue, and every man working his gun
for all it was worth. Directly in front
Of me l saw che stars and stripes wsv-
ing to the breeze. How defiant itap.
peared as it slowly unfolded, and
dropped back again around the staff!
/ thought to myself it would be honor
enough for one day if l could cause
them to strike the ground. Placing
my rife tc lny shoulder / took delib-
crate aim at the color r-bearer's breast
and pulled the trigger. My gun
snapped and felt smaller than a
pound Of soap after u hard days wash
ing. had to pick the tube, put pow
der in and cap. And when I looked
up the line was little in advance Of
me.
saw Lieutenant &. B. Lamar in
front Of the line waving his sword and
calling on the men to follow him.
thought that ny being IL tho rear
would cause the lieutenant to think
that | was showing some white feath-
crs in my cap, and under the impulse
of the moment l ran through the line
to the front. Casting my eyes to the
left saw Captain r. A. Wayne and
one or two more officers holding up
the almost lifclcss form Of Captain
Montgomery, who had been shot in
the head. | had but moment to take
in the situation: as an order rang along
the line: "Charge, boys, and give them
the bayonet."
With that wild rebel yell ringing in
my ears and wall of bayonets behind
me | had to move, and move in a hur-
ry. No doubt in that wild charge
many thoughts passed through my
mind, but the one thought uppermost
was: Should the Federals stand the
charge what would become of me? l
felt small enough to have been packed
in sardine box with room to spare.
When within 30 yards of the Federal
line it wavered, then broke and dash
cd to the rear. The yell that went up
from my throat went from the bottom
Of my heart. Where the line stood
the ground was covered in blue. I
believe l could have walked on
them without putting my feet on the
ground.
General Anderson remarked after-
wards that he believed every man in
his command killed Federal the first
shes. Ths Federals took to the trees
and the Georgians followed suit, and
right then 1 c:w some Of the prettiest
fighting done I saw during the war
tree to tree fight. Isaw numbers Of
them throw down their guns and
hold up their hands, and the boys
would tell them to run through the
line.
saw but two men I knew after the
charge. The first was Sergeant B. b
Smith of Company B, who was MAX
ing the air blue, cursing some fellow
for burning his face with powder.
The next was Colonel Munger Of the
Ninth Georgis. He nsd bal! hcle in
his shoulder, but paid no attention to
it. was told that afterwards, when
he got the third ahot, he said he
guessed they would give him fur.
Tough, and left the field. He was dead
game. I saw him at Manassas walk
ing the line with the blood sire sming
over his face from 3 scalp wound.
The boys rushed the fight from start
to finish, driving the Federals out OF
the woods between 30S and 400 yards.
a staff officer on horseback came dash
ing along in front Of our line ordering
it to fall back, az the Federals in Ker-
shaw's front were holding their own
and we were liable to be cut off.
There was one point in that fight I have
never been able to decide: Who made
the fastest time, the Georgians over
the front fence or the Federals over the
back one?
did not fall back @ith the line,
but kept on until the Federals disap-
peared over the ridge in the field. The
last shot I fired was at squad Of
three. So you may know they were
pretty badly routed. 1t seemed like
run through the woods, but I fred
45 cartridges during the fight. Ny
next move wac to replenish my car
fridge boz, which soon accomplished
from cartridge hoyes thrown awav