The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-04-01
How Gen. Conner Got His Clutches.

1t was near midday and the conflict
had been incessant since day began.
Both armies had surged furiously to and
fro and each had been driven back by
the other. At this moment the rebels
were at bay all along the line. The Fed
eral column had for the second or third
time nearly reached the enemy's works
and had paused for moment as if to
take breath and gather strength for
final attempt to penetrate them. The
pause was fatal to victory. The enemy,
quick to take advantage of a weakness,
suddenly in column struck our lett flank
in front and poured into our column
solid sheet of fire. The Federal column
started for the rear or to gain the Brock
Road, and whole rebel division came
pell-mell after them. Back we ran as
useless as a flock of sheep toward the
Brock Road and the open air; back
toward the breastworks; back toward
the batteries; toward anything or any
where to get out of danger. The rebels
were pressing the helpless mob as relent-
lessly as ever; a maddened foe pressing
it's victim. On, on they came, shouting
and sure Of victory. 1t was indeed
dark moment for the Stars and Stripes.
What could save the day? Surely it must
be something providential. Col. Connor's
regiment, the 18th, was replenishing it
self in ammunition at the moment the
reverse began. Suddenly Col. Connor
wheeled his command parallel to the
Plank Road and poured volley after vol
lev into the flank Of the rebel division.
Never did a section of a line OF battle
change front more opportunity and sell
dom if ever was a volley delivered with
more telling effect. The enemy falter-
ed. half dismayed at the ambush into
which they supposed they had been led.
Their officers could hardly keep them
from fleeing. They felt the enemy had
been playing a trick by retiring so steadl-
" before them, and they would not aG-
vance any farther.
The check was complete. At least
fifteen minutes elapsed before they re-
covered from the shock, and during that
time our troops gained the Brock Road
and formed their lines to receive the
enemy Never was a point Of time more
precious to the Union cause. The enemy
for nearly three hours did not venture
beyond where the volley was poured into
their flank. Never were few moments
of time more valuable to the Union
forces: yet handful of men, less than
three hundred, were instrumental IN OBJ
tanning it. What seemed like defeat was
warded off bv the resolute standing of a
small body of troops under the lead OF an
intelligent. brave and beloved officer.
And it was not without cost. AS soon
as thew began to recover from their sur
prise the rebels proceeded to change
front and opened fire upon their assall-
ants Col Conner sprang forward INTO
the road to lead a charge. Almost in
stantly he was struck by bullet and
fell helpless to the ground. His fall was
taken by the troops as signal to retire
and they fell back to the Brock Road and
their wounded leader was borne from
the field, cripple for life and narrowly
escaping capture.
Thus the 18th Maine under the orders
and lead of Gen Conner saved our army
from defeat If we had known at the
time what great service we had render
ed we should have felt better. But as
it was there was but handful of US left
with the colors. The loss in the regi-
ment had been fearful Nearly half had
been killed or wounded, and with such
loss, and without knowing what damage
we had done, we felt very sad. After dark
we drank some coffee and laid down to
sleep. Troops were marching by US all
night, asking for the hundredth time what
regiment, and we would answer the 18th
Maine One of them asked how about that
frying PAM something that happened
in the 10Th in our early service. Then we
laughed; that made US feel better and we
went to sleep.
A MEMBER OF THE REGIMENT.