Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1906-06-07


tion Of the valor Of - Maryland
Line At the Battle of Ling Island,
suggested 70 my mind that an &C.
count Of some Of the mere recent
exploits OF Maryland t<oops might
prove interesting or a. Ipast not un-
acceptable to the citf<sns OF our
State.
Hence, / venture 90 pser n MARIA
tive Of one Of che cont sicuoas acts
OF yalor such as charactsrized, with
out exception, so far % 4 am aware,
their conduct in the late fratricidal
strife. my humble services In which
was at q post of hoaor in . private
station in what was known, and
| hope l may be pardoned for beliey-
ing it to have been well and favora-i
bly, known as Andrew'sFirs Mary
land Battery. it having been organ
lied by Captain, afterwards General
Il. Snowden Andrews. and command
ell by him until he was promoted for
distinguished gallantry, the equally
gallant William +. Dement, succeed
ing him.
In this article, l shall indulge in
some digressions in the way of CON-
ment, reflections and the recital of
incidents not strictly relevant to the
particular incident OF gallsntry
which il has in view.
In May 1864, General Breckin.
ridge having defeated Sigel.in the
Valley, reported with hissaanmand
to Gen. Lee at Hanover. Hihction,
and it was my privilege. accompa-
MED by comrade. Hal Bowie, a
gallant soul, who soon thereafter
found soldiers rest Ia . soldiers
grave, to witness the meeting scene
OF these two famous men.
General Lees affable cordiality
and General Disadvantages uncov-
cred reverential greeting so impress
ed 8 that poor Bowie enthusiast
ealiy and loud enough to be heard
BY them exclaimed: There s o spec.
tacle for the gods"
cavalry infantsss as sx-ssiifcry uhuer
OF the knightly Bradley
T. Johnson, TO the delight Of all. was
Immediately assigned TO Brecken-
ridges Division.
General Grant having failed to
carry our lines by assault had just
then commenced what he terms his
'on TO Richmond, but what was in
reality manoeuvre by flank to OBJ
tain possession OF Meadow and Nc
Clellan's bridges across the Chicka-
hominy River, success in which
would give him the inside track and
comparatively plain sailing TO bis
Mecca. General Lee, appreciating
this, moved on a parallel, or proper
ly speaking a converging line. the
result of which, after a series of
skirmishes and minor engagements,
was meeting on the afternoon of
June End, OF the advance of the two
armies on the banks Of the river.
An engagement, participated In by
our battery and the noble old Ches-
apeake, the latter composed princi-
pally of Eastern Shoreman, immedi-
ately ensued, in which we succeed
ed in driving the enemy and plac-
ing our troops between them and
the coveted bridges Congraulat-
ing ourselves upon the result, and
enjoying what We thought was the
prospect Of q respite from fighting
for she present, our hopes were.
rudely dashed by the sudden ap-
pearance on the scene Of staff off,
Ger, who informed Capt. Dement,
that General breckenridge wished
the battery to advance with skirm-
ishers TO force the enemy back from
a bend in bis lines in order 10 more
satisfactorily adjust our own.
| say our hopes were dashed, for
il the reader irnagines that soldier
fights for pastime, for any fun there
may be in it, let him inquire Of any
veteran in either army and his illu-
sions will be speedily dispelled.
We were promptly ordered into
column and TO form battery ut
charge difficult manoeuvre-that
was happily executed with mathe-
matical exactness. amid plaudits OF
observing troops.
Charging at gallop over the hill
into the very teeth Of the enemy,
we so completely surprised them
that they broke and fed precipitate-
ly. firing q few random or fugitive
shots which did Us no harm.
Night now closed In and then CON-
meneed work for life, every man be-
ing impressed with the belief that
the morrow would inaugu-ate ter
rible and sanguinary conflict. The
order was TO dig, and dig We did In
dead earnest. even utilizing shingles
taken from an abandoned dwelling
10 shovel earth with. Atearly dawn
On the next rnorninc yra swawa made