Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-07-23

while Price attacked the Graveyard
hill breaStworks and redOubtS and Fa
gan the line on Hindman hill. These
positions were to be carried with 4
rush and their guns turned on Fort
Curtis in the rear. With the fall of the
fort Helena was at the mercy Of tie
Confederates.
Promptly at daylight on Independ'
ence day Marmaduke's 5000, Prices
5000 and Fagan's 1000, told off into
storming parties and reserves, dashed
for the batteries and intrenchments
that lay in their paths. Fagans Ar
kansans marched to the rifle pits and
the redoubt on Hindman hill with only
their muskets to aid them. The road
a mile back had been found impossible
for cannon, and they were without
guns to pit against artillery. The Off
GERS had been forced. to leave their
horses behind, and the men barely
made their way through the thickets
in time to respond to the signal for at
tack. However, they were first to open
the ball, and as soon as the struggling
line could pull itself together went for
ward in battle order.
On one side steep gorge held up the
march. and farther on q hillside loom
ed before them with a thicket alive
with sharpshooters. One by one the
rifle pits and breastworks gave in, and
at last the ArkansanS faced the guns
Of Battery d on Hindman hill. They
were also in range of Battery G on
Graveyard hill, and the guns there
raked the charging line lengthwise.
Graveyard hill had not fallen accord
ing to plan, for Prices division was
slow in getting to work. His troops
also found the roads blocked and were
compelled to leave their cannon. The
assault was met with storms Of grape
and canister from Battery c, and when
they struck the first line Of rife pits
the guns of Battery D on Hindman
hill raked their lines just as those Of
Battery G served Fagans.
Prices sharpshooters made their
way to the front and cut down the
Federal cannoneers, and by o'clock
the Confederate battle flag foated
above the Graveyard hill redoubt.
Price had placed some expert gunners
in the front rank Of his storming COL
umn, and they rushed to the captured
cannon to turn their fire upon Fort
Curtis. But the Federals had plugged
the bores with shot and carried of
the primers, leaving the pieces dis
abled for use.
All this time Fort Curtis and the
gunboat Tyler were not idle. They
tossed shells necessarily into the cap
tured redoubt. Price sent forward a
column to attack the rear Of the Hind
man hill battery, which held up Fa-
gan, and another to storm Fort Curtis.
These troops by mistake or in excess
of zeal passed on into the heart of the
town. Pagan, no longer exposed to
the fire from Graveyard hill, renewed
the assault upon Battery d. The day
was frightfully hot, and the men could
not find water to quench their burning
thirst. The Arkansans rushed for
ward gallantly, but the line was de-
stroyed, the survivors Of the shells be-
ing captured at the works. Fagan'S
sharpshooters fired Unfortunately at
the captors and captiyes, preferring to
shoot comrades rather than see them
made prisoners Of war.
General Marmaduke's column on
RICHTER hill was also checked in its
march by trees fallen across the roads.
The troopers abandoned their horses
and went forward on foot, dragging
cannon along by land. They assault
ed Battery \, but were driven back
and then ticrccly attacked hy coun-
terchar%c. Marlnaduke'S line included
Joe SLclby's brigade, famed on all tie
border for its fighting proves and
also for its battery of flying artillery.
commanded by Captain Collins. Wher-
ever horses could 90 Collins guns
would 20. even beyond the SkirmiSL
line. Tie battery was the pet Of the
brigade. because it was always at the
front. and if the battle went wrong
the defeated troopers could rally be-
hind the guns. Charge when |
charge was Shelby's favorite order
to Collins. And Collins was the sol
der TO obey.
When Shelby's troops got down from
their saddles to join in the attack on
Fighters hill they set to work to cut
road through the entanglements for
Collins guns. The battery was far to
the front when the Federals sprung
their countercharge. Everything went
to pieces. Shelby was wounded and
started back. The horses Of the guns
were shot down and many Of the can
noneers killed or captured. Word OF
the danger reached Shelby and the re-
treating troopers. A hundred men vol
Dnteered to return to the front and
save the guns. ''Fifty-only fifty"
said Shelby. Bring back the guns or
remain yourselvesw
Working under a fierce fire, the
troopers cut the dead horses loose and
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