The National tribune., 1907-10-24

opponents should reap no advantage
even if our lines yielded to attack, ant
therefore posted batteries, as al
Gaines's Mill, to secure against the dis
aster of break in our lines should
such misfortune be ours. For this pur-
ipose ] sent Weed, Carlisle and Smead
with their batteries. to the gorge of the
roads on Crews Hill, from which the
enemy must emerge in pursuit il he
should break our lines, instructing them
to join in the fight il necessary, but not
to permit the advance of the foe, even
II 1t must be arrested at the risk of fir
ing upon friends. To these Col Hunt
added three batteries of horse artillery.
Tho they were all thus posted and their
guns loaded with double. canister, they
were, as Capt Smead reported, very
happy to find their services not needed
/ on that OCCASION 1t was at this time
in answer to my call for aid, that sum
ner sent me Meagher and Heintzelman
sent Sickles both of whom reached me
| in the hight of battle, when, if ever,
fresh troops would renew our confidence
and insure our success. While riding
rapidly forward to meet Meagher who
was approached at 'double-quick'
step. my horse fell, throwing me over
his head, much to my discomfort both
of mind and body. On rising and re-
mounting 1 was greeted with hearty
cheers, which alleviated my chagrin.
IhiS incident gave rise to the report
spread thru the country, that l was
wounded. Fearing that / might fall
INTO the hands of the enemy. and if so
that my diary and dispatch book of the
campaign, then on my person, would
meet with the same fate and reveal in
formation to the injury of our cause, I
tore IT up, scattering the pieces to the
winds as l rode rapidly forward, lead
ing Meagher into action. l have al
ways regretted my act as destroying in
teresting and valuable memoranda of
our campaign.
End Of the Fight.
advancing with Meagher's Brigade |
accompanied by the staff / soon found |
that our forces had successfully driven
back their aSSailants Determined if
possible, satisfactorily to finish the con-
test. regardless of the risk of being fired
upon by our artillery in case of defeat,
pushed on beyond our lines into the
woods held by the enemy About so
yards in front of us a large force of the
enemy suddenly rose and opened with
learful Volieys upon our advancing line
turned to the brigade, which thus far
mad Kept pace with my horse, and found
II standing like a stone wall, and re-
turning fire more destructive than il
received, and from which the enemy
He'd. The brigade was planted. NY
was no longer needed. and T
sought Gen. Sickles. whom I found Civ
ng aid to Couch. had the satisfaction {
'f learning that night that a Confed- /
srate detachment, undertaking to turn J
y deagher's left, was met by u portion of ]
he 69th n. Y, which. advancing, re- $
'eiied the attack and captured many ]
prisoners. e
After seeing that Gen. Sickles was $
proper position, returned to nv n
,wh corps, where 1 was joined by Col U
iunt with some 32-pounder howitzers u
'aking those howitzers. we rode forward n
eyond our lines, and, in parting saluta b
ion to our opponents, Col. Hunt sent a a
ew smells as a warning as to what
'ouid be ready to welcome them on the
borrow II they undertook to disturb h
s." !, y
Ihe field of the glorious victory of "
Hill was only no miles from W
l'ehnond' anu the exultant army felt "