The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-05-10
AN OLD LETTER
Continued from Page p

aV lle polnt OF the DayOnct. The
last time the enemy retired. leaving
us in full possession of the field.
The regiments engaged on our side
were the First Virginia, one Alaba-
ma one Louisiana regiment with
several scattering men from other
regiments of the line making in all
about three thousand (3OOO) men.
Our loss was 30 killed and some 40
or 30 wounded. The cnemy's force
engaged was between seven and ten
thousand. Their loss was one thous-
and men killed and fifteen hundred
wounded.
| should have stated in the outset
that our company received the first
fire. We were on picket duty at the
commencement of the battle or sent
forward in front of our line of bat
tie to watch the movements of the
enemy more than anything else.
After the enemy had planted its
battery and had fired two shots at
our right wing. They discovered
our position which was about mile
from our lines and three-fourths of
a mile from the enemy's battery.
They only fired twice at us. The,
first was a round shot, which cams
in about 10 feet of us. The second
shot was grape, which flew thick
around us but happily none Of us
were touched. We retired back to
our place in line, for it would have
been the height of folly in us to
have stood there; and have been cut
to pieces without being able to have
fired musket, for we We're out of
musket shot distance, while they
were in good grape shot range: and
could have shot us to pieces in II
little while. We were not in shoot
ing distance all the day; but had to
stand and endure fire of shot; and
shell from the enemy all the time
without the privilege of returning
the compliment-through the pro-
violence of the goal of battles none
OF us were touched to whom be
glory, and praise forever.
Towards night after the guns had
hushed their thunder; and the
drums in silence lay every man was
ordered to throw down his arms and
gather the entrenching tools and
proceeded at once to entrench our
selves for although the Yankees were
soundly thrashed, yet we were aware
that all their forces were not en-
gagged, and that they intended to
try us again. We worked all night
Npd till the middle of next day
worl I'VE had finished a strong breast
~ Hof solid earth. We remained
,.lc balance of the day (Which was
the day after the battle in our tren-
ches with guns in hands, but no
signs OF an attack we slept in the
trenches on our arms that night,
next day being Saturday nothing
new turned up today, the enemy is
evidently awaiting reinforcemcnts.
Beauregard Is aware of it. He shows
them that that is a game at which
two can play; and sends to Win
chester Immediately for Johnson
He arrived this evening with his
command; tonight again we sleep
III the trenches on our arms-ncxt
day heing Sunday, memorable day -
day to be remembered as the great
est day OF my life. This morning
the enemy commenced playing its
batteries on our right, center and
left wing as though they were going
to attack our whole line, the firing
commences at I O'Clock but gradu-
ally died away on our right while it
was kept up on our center furiously
Gall day and began to strengthen
and become more alarming ON our
left wing.
1T was soon asccrtained that the
enemy intended to outfiank us if it
was in their power, for which pur-
pose they directed their whole foree
to our left flank. Johnson's forces
were stationed on our rear as a
reserve but when it was found out
that we We're about to be outHanked =,
h" was sent immcdiatcy v to the left
to prevent it, and being the signoir
officer of the left was placed i'm COM
mand of the whole left wing; Beau
regard commanded the right wing;
and President Davis the center.
Thus was our order of battle when
the enemy poured forth his lcgions
on our gallant left wing like 50 many
thundcrbolts. As said before the
cannonading commenced at : o clock
and was kept up till 1890 O'Clock
doing great damage on both sides
(but il great deal more on the side
of the enemy rs our gunners seemed