Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-11-24
A VETERAN
With A RECORD

Confederate fort at Petersburg. Va,
on July 80. 1864. during the OWL War,
is historical. In a general way every
well-read person knows that sol.
diers, mostly coal miners under Col.
onel Peasants, undermined.the Rebel
fort and placed beneath 1t eight tons
of gun powder, which at 4 :45 O'Clock
in the morning by the means of fuse
was exploded also that the execution
! was terrific, the entire fort with its
artillery and garrison of four hundred
men being lifted two hundred feet In
the air, leaving crater one hundred
aud fifty feet long, sixty feet wide and
twenty five feet deep. 1t ls not SO we'll
known. however, that among those who
charged the lines and with only .
handful of men earned fame by hold
ing 3 position in the dreadful crater
is one of Dauville's most esteemed
residents personally known to nearly
every man. woman and child.
The casual reader Of the History Of
the Second Pennsylvania Veteran
Heavy Artillery will find much to en-
chain his interest but nothing quite
so thrilling as the incidents attending
the attack on Petersburg, especially
those which relate to the Provisional
Second Pennsylvania Heavy ARTILLERY.
1t was this regiment which In obedi.
ence to orders from the Commander.
Lieutenant Colonel Barney. charged
directly into the crater after the ex-
plosion, entering the enemy's works
and even advancing one hundred yard
beyond. The advancing battalion 6nd
ing that i5 was not supported fell
back into the crater. The Confeder.
ates then rallied and poured a deadly
hail of shot. she'll, canister and musk
terry into the crater. The Provisional
Regiment f, Ii back. after which the
Ninth Corps colored troops were sent
for ward and advanced short distance
when they halted A body of Con.
federates charged ON them with q yell
when they broke aud came tumbling
back over the works with fixed bay
onets compelling many of thr Provis-
ioDal boys to fall back with them; but
10 man remained fighting de lerstely
amid fearful carnage until they were
compelled to surrender.
An eye witness of ths CO dict at
that point says: The fire of tho enemy
was more than terrific. How ANY men
escaped death in the crater j. "A mys-
cry to me. Cannon Oh the right and
left and musketry in front pouring in
their deadly hail of iron aud lead
seemed to cover every inch of the
ground.
History prints the roll of honor and
the second name on the list of those
who remained fighting desper stely in
the crater until overwhelmed by num-
bers. following that of Captain John
Norris, is David Ruokle, First Serge
ant.
Mr.. Ruckle was then only some
twenty years of age, but he already
had plenty of experience in war. for
he enlisted when only about nineteen
years of age, He saw service first as
niue months man in 1869. He next
enlisted in the Hath Regiment and
about two weeks later was transferred
to the Provisional Second Heavy Ar
tilleIy in which he saw service from
May, 1854. to July 80, when he was
taken prisoner at Petersburg. He Was
held by the enemy 8 months and 10
days. For over eight months along
with many others he was imprisoned
in tobacco sheds at Danville. Va. he
was thence transferred to the Libby
prison at Richmond. Va. but happily
was destined to remain there only
three days, when he was included IN .
number that were taken to parole
camp at Annapolis. Md.
Mr.. Ruckel was interviewed yester.
day concerning some Of the above in
cidents as touched on in the History
of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment.
His description of the awful carnage
attending the charge into the crater 81
Petersburg accords with accounts Civ.
en- in history. As the Rebels charged
into the crater he distinctly heard the
commander order his men to kill all
the officers and the negroes. r. J.
Millard, then Of Espy. but now living
in the West. was captain. While the
carnage ragged Mr.. Ruckei kept the
man prostrate between his knees and
was able to beat off repeated attempts
to kill him. Before the decisive mo-
ment was reached, Mr.. Ruokel says the
ground was more than strewu with
the slain Around himself the dead.
mostly negroes. lay waist deep.
Mr. Ruckel is not man to talk
much over the dreadful scenes through
which lie passed indeed. is is not ev-
cry person who knows that ne ever
was one of Uncle Sans fight rs A
brave soldier in his time, now that war
is over he is welded to the arts Of
peace and is an honored citiz. whose
integrity and patriotism are never
questioned.
Boy Who Stole Horse Arrested.
nboroIa, uapry ~ Milton h..