The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-10-08

Of The bridge and some Of Buffers
cavalry were waiting for US so they
could stick fire to it. When the regu-
lars were about halfway through the
bridge the enemy entered the bridge
in our rear and we fought through it,
while the cavalry fred it on both
sides as we went. 1t was certainly a
warm place and the boys were glad to
get out of it and enter large field on
the bank of the river with the woods
about one mile distant. After leaving
the bridge the road inclines down the
river and makes gradual turn to the
left. Colonel Wayne must have
thought he had fulfilled his orders to
the letter, as he galloped on to the
front, leaving the regiment to follow
at its leisure. When we were about
800 yards from the bridge General
Butler rode up at full speed and asked
Tor the officer in command. Captain
Tom Fort, of company l., and Ca aptaiu
Frank Myers, Of company L, have
both told me since the war that they
were In command and as both were
officers Of known courage and vcracity.
l will leave it for them to settle.
General Butler ordered the officer to
face the regiment in line and retake
the bridge, as the enemy we're putting
the fire out. The officer replied to
him by saying that the regiment had
run ct least four miles and had fought
portion of the way, and they were
physically unable to make the charge.
General Butler got his dander up and
told the officer the bridge must be re-
taken and burned and to vince! his
regiment in line and charge it.. The
regimen. was ordered to wheel to the
left in line and as we completed the
wheel battery of six guns unlimbered
on the bluff about 30 yards below the
bridge. Some one yelled look out,
and | saw a puff Of white smoke and
the next instant a she'll went crashing
through the li,e to my right, cutting
off the leg of Sergeant Charley Bruce,
OF company l, who was one of the best
and bravest men in the regiment. The
regiment was in line below the bridge
and opposite the battery.
We were then ordered to charge.
and instead Of charging the bridge we
charged square down on the battery.
General Butler ordered the men to
bear to the right and get the bridge
between them and the battery, but by
that time all six guns were raining
shell In our ranks, and the men had
but one object in view, and that was
the trees along the river bank. Be-
lieving General Buffers order, Bear
to the right, men, and get the bridge
between you and the battery" was the
correct thing to do, l left the right
of my company and made for the right
and the bridge at the same time.
Several others left the line at the
same time, but I can recollect the
name OF only one Of them, and why
recollect him we both escaped death,
as it we're, by the skin of our teeth at
the same time. 1t was First Sergeant
Alex. Clemency, Of Co. &, and
braver or better soldier did not belong
to the regulars. After we we're some
little distance to the right of tae regi-
ment Sergeant Clemenoy and myself
were near together, both running our
best for the bridge, with Clemency
about six feet in The lead. A she'll
struck the ground between US and ex.
ploded, covering us completely with
dirt and smoke. The shock staggered
Inc for moment, when I again moved
forward through the smoke, and as
emerged from it stumbled over Glen.
ency, who was lying ON his face
stretched out his full length, dead, as
| supposed. l could but envy him his
condition, and expressed my, feelings
by saying, ALEX, poor boy, you have
received your last furlough. bat you
are better off than am.'' Desperate
did not express my feelings. would
not have lodged shell as large as
barrel had l seen one coming az me.
tried TO run, but it seemed to me
terrapin could have made better time.