Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-12
CHAPTER XIV.
THE FIGHT FOR THE GUNS.

or Heth'S division, we have said are
these at the front-fellows that never
yet have happened to sample" this
western Communicates division,
with the brigades of Archer and Davis
in the foremost line. The former has
started his Tennesseeans down the
slope, Alabama supporting, and is
feeling his way to the front, for that
wood looks ominous. Skirmishers say
CANDLES dismounted troopers, who
have held it two hours against their
best shooting, are strengthened now
by infantry, thrown forward by old
Cutters first line, which can be seen
stretching out over the pike, relieving
Devin's worn men, and letting them
scurry back to their waiting horses.
But Archer sees that in SO doing, Cut
Ter has thrust it's right flank Into the
air"--that Davis, with his Mississippi
battalions, is sweeping upon and
around it, and is already in turn far in
advance of his own fellows; SO. most
eagerly, Archer orders forward, for
ward, and the gray lines leap at the
word. Beautifully the battle opens for
the cause of the south. Cutters men,
in their eagerness to relieve Buford's
thinned and wearied defense, have
rushed full 800 yards out into the open,
and Davis catches them in flank with
his yelling southerners; wheels his
Mississippians to their right--Cutler
barely having time to slip his Skin
mishers out of the clutch-then on
ward come the Johnnies, full tilt for
the guns of Hall, unlimbered in place
of Calef, on the Cashtown pike. Then
two wonderful things happen and two
new feathers go to the cap of the Iron
Brigade.
1t is Fred Benton's luck this day of
days to be riding with Reynolds as the
corps commander spurs to the front
Reynolds has borrowed him as an aide,
and Benton, burning with joy and ex-
element. rides after him into the
grove, just in time to see Archer's
foremost line come CALAMITY sweeping
down the opposite slope. "Hang on,
men! Keep up your fire! Meredith's
right behind you!" shouts Reynolds,
as he darts swiftly in among the trees.
Hang on, men!" goes the word from
center to flank, but things look risky
out there to the right where Cutters
ranks are drifting back. Then, 1,400
strong, the charging ranks of the Iron
Brigade come on with a rush. The
east edge of the wood is reached by
the leaders on the right of the line,
just as the southern force bursts
through the battle smoke and into the
brook; but even as these latter reach
the wood, and Archer is cheering them
forward, he is amazed to see his wing
reeling back, and blue-capped, blue
bodied human wave curving round the
southwark end Of the struggling tim
Der. Before he can issue an order or
strengthen single battalion, Fair
child and the Black Hats have burst
through the sheltering grove in his
front, and sprung like tigers on his
halted and astonished line; while
Badger, Hoosier and Wolverine, swing
ing round him from the south, COM
plete the demolition of the brigade
He and half his force, 600 at least, are
prisoners OF war, while the rest are
chased to the rear by Meredith's men.
First facer for Heth as he glares from
the opposite woods. where Pettigrew
and Brockenbrough are aligned in
support. For him, however, there is
comfort to the north of the pike, for
there has Davis swept the field and is
bearing down on the union guns. Now
is the time to support him, but Wads-
worth is too quick Archer disposed
Of; the Iron Brigade halted and
reforming under Reynolds own eyes,
the general commanding turns to sue
cor the right. He has seen the trouble
in single glance; has seen, too, the
way out Of it; and in another minute
the Sixth Wisconsin is "double-quick-
ing" away over the fields to its right
in support of the men from the City Of
Churches. now in sore need. for those
lank Mississippians have swept for
ward into the long cut of the unfin-
1shed railway, and, fiat on their bellies
against the southwark slope, are pour
ing their fire into Fowler's men.
A fatally good place is a railway
cut to shelter line. when the foe
stands fast and contents himself SIM
ply with shooting. A fatally bad
place it is when the foe won't stand at
bay, but comes charging full tilt in
spite of the fire, and that, to the amaze
of Davis, is Just what these Infamous
Badgers are doing this day. With an
onward rush no mere muzzle leaders
can possibly check when firing
"oblique," the Sixth comes sprinting,
taking the Mississippians in turn
square in the flank and almost in
twinkling. doubling up and driving
together. huddled. helpless, sheep
like. one astonished battalion. Down
go the red battle flags. Down go the
rifles in answer to shouts of surrender.
Some dozen, perhaps, bending double
and ducking. manage to scurry off to
the west. But Gen. Joe Davis hes lost
two OF his colors and all but a few men
0ff rpo mi se1,sidaS