The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-04-11

IL "cs our idea in seeking this shell
Ter 10 remalh there until pight had
set i"' aud then slip back to Wag-
ner under cover of darkness, but it
was not so ordered. After lying in |
the position described. under the pit
iless rays of o scorching July sun TO. /
some little time the enemy's fire
greatly slackeued, and I stealthily
peeped over the sand Dune to take an
observation, when, to my horror, I
saw a full company OF Yankee in.
fantry, which had silently moved out
OF 'teir works, rapidly approaching
us, the, sunlight flashing from their
bright bayouets as they marched.
Turning TO my companions l said.
"Boy's, look yonder, it's all up with
us now"
Certain death, or capture indeed
seemed inevitable, and we each. real
lied it, The inyinciblo Tut, now
ever, swore that he would not be
taken alive, and seemed inexorable in
this determination, although We as
sured him that any resistance We
might then make would be unavailipg
against such body Of men, number
ing at least sixty rifles, and would
end in our butohery by an exasperated
foe. Tut persisted, however, and,
indignantly soorning the idea Of sur.
render, without further parley, dis
charged his rifle full at the approach
ing enemy. This, Of course, settled
the question, as nothing was then
left to US but to stand by our reckless
and intrepid oomrade, which we did
for ell We were worth. With elbow
touching elbow, and our heads alone
visible above the sand bank, we kept
up steady FIRE upon the line Of blue
rapidly nearing US. At the frat vol:
ley they halted, returning the Ere,
and then with huzzas came for US on
the full run-the situation was .ap.
palling, but We continued to pour our
fire into them.
What was it then that shook the
island from center to circumference 2
Turning our heads in the direction of
the sound, we witnessed sight which
sent the blood t;ugling in our veins.
The entire face of Wagner was epvel-
oped in rolling clouds of smoke, lit
| up with crimson fame from bastion to
bastion by the guns of the fort. The
heaviest batteries Of siege guns on
this entire face of Wagner we're sud.
denly opened upon the approachieg
federal infantry. Charlie Olmatead, my
old sohoolmate, who Was commanding
in the absence Of Gecera, Taliaferro,
bad come to the reso,le. The artillery
fire, conducted by that accomplished
and gallsnt soldier, Lieutenant Col,
ouel J.. O.. simpkins, of South Caro-,
lima, and chief Of artillery, was >di;
rected With wonderful precision; ]; and
the shells passing over cur heads nnd
bursting beyond as uncomfortable
close 10 the. very face OF the enemy
scattered, them like Hshaff before th,
wind. But somehow, we Z had no,
counted on what followed. ~ ,!::.. >.:: =: - !.
The Yankee fort immediately open
cd their batteries Of heavy guns upo,.
Wagner, and one. Of The most terrifi,
artillery duels I ever Witnessed durin,
the war vas thsis preeipitatedS betwsei
the. respective forts, and all atirred ul
BY our: little band, The scene wa
grand and aHe-inspiring, both sidei
Smelling furiously over our heads 81
each other. OF ooursBe, 8 all th,je, Il,
fsnsry on both 4 sides were driver
from inc parepetB J. by; s;tlniie terri1i
artillery FIRE. il was pisin that hi.
demonstration on the part: or Colonia
Olmstead :was made solely eo| I oovei
onr retreat, and We;rapidIy raced }foj
ous works through The 4 heavyE sand
under the rays ! of cha hottest aun "a !, ! q
eyer felt = arrived sat 8, Z ;ocomplets.
! a.ly vinded and :exh hauated; onsa in tori
sEa SEPARATED, ], and silsntl y sfspt to tt,i1l ttou,
respective quarters. olonel 81 Dlm,
atsad soons made hfs Il aissSs and
Iplaesd l1e nnd 81 are st.st ne 3 HAD,
without 4 ): II grave VI rs, ;
tsponsib ibilisy instt prompt and gallan,