The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-08-09
WAR STORIES.
Recaptr1re Of the Crater A gain.
Atlanta Journal.

I the prisoners came pouring down the
hill from the breastuorks, and some
one shouted q never knew who) to
carry out the prisoners,'' and most
OF Company X, the one to which I
belonged, started out, when General
Malone, who commanded the division,
called to Captain Pritchett. | ran
and told him General Malone was
calling him and as he turned and ran
up General Malone ordered him TO
take the regiment up to support his
brigade. Captain Psitchett rushed
off, but ran little too far to the right
and jumped into the ditch, which
was full Of Yankees, and was cap.
tured, as was Lieutenant Morn, of
Company G.
was close behind them, but seeing
the danger in time dropped down be-
hind little traverse about 3 feet
high. Glancing around I met sight
that was enough to appal the stoutest
heart. The ground just in my rear
seemed to be swept clean by the storm
OF shot and she'll across it from every
direction, and did not stop to think,
but began to fire and load as rapidly
as 1 possibly could, when just as
raised up on my knees for q fourth
shot over the traverse in my front
bullet cut the hair just back of my
right ear, coming 50 close that It
burned the skin without breaking it.
OF course I ducked my head and
felt for blood, and was relieved to find
none. Soon there was shout from
the Virginia boys just few feet to
my left: "Look at those id negroes
over there!' and looking hastily up I
saw the barrels Of several guns. Just
overhead, aimed at the Virginians,
who greeted the holders of the guns
With quick volley. I found that
place leetle too warm for comfort,
and by quick somersault threw my
self into partly sheltered nook in the
ditch below me on my left, but soon
found that was the target Of nome
Yankees about twenty or thirty feet
down the ditch, so with q plunge was
across in the ranks Of the Virginians
in comparative safety. Here I had
leisure 10 look =rouud, and beheld the
death oe many a brave man and officer
who rushed, as it was, into the very
jaws Of death.
Here Captain Craven, Company A,
Captain Buren, Company I, from Co.
lumbus, Georgia, with lieutenant
Captain Boer, also of Com pany I, were
shot down and their bodies literally
riddled With bullets; while Captain
Joe Mckee, Clark Rifles, Third Geor.
gia regiment, and Sergeant Ben Lid
don, Home Guards, from Morgan
County, were instantly killed with
hundreds of other brave boys, whose
lives were sacrificed; but not in vain,
for the works were held stubbornly
by our men and for nearly two hours
constant fire was kept up on both
sides, and loaded guns were cooked
and with bayouets fixed, were thrown
over the embankments, and every
thing to make the place dangerous %
we'll as unpleasant to hold. Later in
the day about ! O'Clock, the lack of
water became apparent; for with the
stencil of battle in our nostrils and
the scent of blood all around US, (for
the bitches were full of dead negroes
and Iankees) and hot sun over
head, our thirst grew almost intoler-
able.
A great many, myself among the
number, crawled back to the rayine
Tor water, but the springs were 50
crowded that the water was mudded
80 as not to be fit to drink, while the
branch was filed with dead and
wounded, and there was nothing to
do but wait and take chances to fill
canteens.
There being lull in the firing, we
lay down and waited. While waiting
Saunders $ brigade came marching up
the ravine, and took position further
to the right, and just in the rear of
where the works had not been recap.
tured, and about 4 O'Clock orders were
given for every man Of the Virginia
and Georgia brigades to go up to the
works, and when two mortar guns,
which we're being carried up the hill,
were placed just on the right of the
recaptured works, should FIRE two
rounds each, and when Saunders men
were seen coming in sight up tie hill
on our right we were to yell with all
our might, and FIRE our guns as rapidly
40 possible, whether We saw anyone to