The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-07-07

IN tne Heaf OF the Enemy
Joseph Yard to him, who was a close
friend and had served under him in
the Mexican war. The general gave
orders to the captain to tell the men
not to make any noise In going over
the bridge. Our company was sta
toned at General Lees home. Mrs.
Lee was there at the time. At the end
Of the three months l reenlisted in
Company B, Fourth New Jersey, for
three years. The regiment was in
General Kearney's brigade. and was
in constant and active service. The
effective service Of our regiment was
largely due to General Kearney, who
constantly kept his men training, not
only as to army discipline, but in tar
get practise. 1t was the target prac-
tise that made the regiment so strong
IA battle, little ammunition being
wasted. 1t gave it the power to cope
with and defeat large numbers. At
the battle Of Gaines Mill it was Cor
poral Joseph Lawton that went in
front Of the Fourth New Jersey.
About three o'clock the regiment went
into most important position for the
protection of the brigade. 1t was in
front of General Longstreet's division.
The enemy charged, but was driven
back; then there was steady firing for
awhile, when the enemy charged
again, but was driven back with
heavy loss. Then the enemy stopped
firing. Major Birney asked me if l
would go out and see why the enemy
had stopped. l came back and told
the major that the enemy was getting
ready to march on our right and left
In large numbers. 1 had before gone
into the enemy's lines over the
Chickahominy river. Captain John
son of Company and four men of my
company and my brother are still liv-
ing as witnesses of this statement l
saw what the regiment had done. The
ground was covered with the dead and
wounded, some places two deep. 1t
was the target practise that made the
regiment so effective. The major went
after reinforcements. The Eleventh
Pennsylvania came and went in our
front. 1t was late In the day. The
enemy soon charged on the Eleventh
Pennsylvania, driving them back on
US; we again facing another charge.
1t was then discovered that we were
surrounded. We were compelled to
surrender. The suffering in Libby
prison and Belle island cannot be
told. When exchanged we marched
from Belle island to Harrison's
Landing. The captain and men
of the boats waiting to take us shed
tears to see 5000 half-starved prison
ers. 1t was like being in Heaven to
see friends and the old flag again.
An officer came aboard and read a pa
per, saying that there was going to
be another battle that would decide if
the government should stand. The
officer called for all who would try to
carry a gun, and said the government
will reward us, the wagons carry our
knapsacks. Nearly all the Fourth
New Jersey and many more of the 9TH
er regiments shouldered guns. After
marching for few days we got to
Champions Gap, September IA, 1862.
Gen. Slocum talked to us as we were
ready to Lead the charge. He said he
had seen the New Jersey when it was
nearly thousand strong, able men:
now it had only few hundred. He
told us to keep in good heart, that the
darkest hour was just before the
break of day. We got the order and
made the charge. We got to the
stone wall at the foot of the gap, dri.
wing the enemy away and up in to
the gap to the turn of the road: they
made stand there. I was with those
who got on top of the cut and we
drove the line back. In doing so we
got the fash of two cannon in our
faces with canister. It thinned our
line. The enemy fed. Going little
way l saw that I was in the rear of
the enemy, and looking down saw an
officer encouraging his men. saw
Alfred Hoffman and got him to fire
with me at the officer. The enemy
saw their officer fall, and that they
were getting q flank IRE. They ran,
but we got some Of them. l believe
that this was the turning point Of the
battle.