The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-20

cross road. We left the road to our
left and went right oblique down
across a pasture, keeping behind a
hill ont Of sight Of the enemy as they
were coming across the field to some
rail piles that had been made the day
before by our cavalry. We did not
know that the enemy were SO near.
As we went down in the pasture. |
noticed a washpot and guessing that
there was a spring there. Sergeant
Wilson and I asked permission to 60
after some water. and while we were
at the spring a cavalryman came
charging down the hill and told us to
run for the rail piles. if we didn't run
the enemy would beat us to them.
They called to us to come, we went IN
a run, and as soon as we got in line,
the whole line ran for the Ean piles.
Sergeant Wilson and I having run
from the spring, were nearly out of
breath, so the line soon left us and
when they got to the rail piles filled
up all the space and when we got
there we could find no room. The
land was little higher back from the
rail piles, and if we had sat back a
little we would have been exposed
from the front. so we went to the
right Of the regiment and got into an
old road, where if we would lie low,
we would be sheltered little. AS we
went in that morning the third batal-
lion took position on the left Of the
brigade, 3rd regiment next, 9TH next,
then End and 7th regiment, and it was
in this gap where we had taken our
position.
When we reached the rail piles, the
enemy were not more than $50 yards
off, coming charging, not firing a SIN
gle gun. We were ordered to hold our
fire. All the time the officers kept
saying hold your fire. A little to the
right and nearly in front the pines
had been cut with the tops towards
the enemy, the limbs had been cut and
tangled so that it would bother line
Of battle. T thought they were going
to hold us down too long and let them
get right up to US, I don't think they
knew that there was lire of battle
there. There was an officer riding IN
front Of the line leading the charge.
think the line was about IS yards
from us when the command to fire
was given, it seemed that You could
feel the earth culver the firing was
so heavy, and our lines were so close
together, no artillery could be used.
You could hear some one saying.
shoot that man on the horse. 1t
seemed strange to say, but that man
escaped until the lines almost closed.
Before he fell, his horse dashed right
up to our line like he would run over
us, and young man by the name Of
Anderson, in company D., shot and
killed him, he fell with his head al
most touching the rail piles. This
was little to the left Of where | was.
I was on the right Of the regiment,
in the gap between our regiment and
the 7th, and all along, both lines were
in a breast to breast fight. They just
poured into this gap. Capt. W. W.
Meals company f held the right of
the regiment against this gap. There
we're Capt. Neal and Young Bryant,
Of company F. Sergeant and |, of
company C, in the road in this gap.
The enemy ran over us and ran
through this gap looking for larger
game, and they must have found it,
for they were all captured. One
great big fellow saw US there and
drew down on us. I had my gun
loaded, but had no cap on. We were
all lying IN the road Dehlnd low
bank and you had to keep low for the
bank to protect you from the bullets
from the front. Sergeant Wilson had
called my attention to him and when
saw that he had seen US fixing to
shoot, I lay as low as I could, l
think I turned my head SO that my
nose would stick to one side, I felt
hike the back Of my head was expos
ed. He fired and killed Bryant. I lay
a little while and looked up to see
what had become Of the man, and
he was right at me with his gun
pointed right in my face, could see
in the muzzle Of his gun, he snapped