The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-07-27
FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
Continued from First Page.)

regiments of infantry a mile or NOR,
to the South, marching with CLOSED
ranks to the eastward until they pass
ed from sight. These troops wer,
Johnsons reinforcements that cam.
onto the field just in time to be
thrown against our division. Will,
desperate fighting was going on I'D tt
our right Gen. Howard fell in his
brigade with the Fifth Maine on the
right next the Fourth Maine, then Sec
ond Vermont and the Third Maine OF
the left.
When Gen. Howard ordered his
brigade forward up the slope in from
the right of the division was givinl
way before the onward move of the
Confederates. We had not advanced
far up the slope when the enemy op
ened fire from their compact lines
formed In the edge of a woods moi
| fifty rods away. In the meantime
shot and shell were enfilading us
| iAOii llt l1Sll. uS Dl1Sdu6 Mds
now in a critical position and in dan.
| ger of being flanked. AS brave and
determined as Gen. Howard was he
could not hold his brigade long in
such position. This was our first
baptism of fire and only veterans of
many battle fields would stand up
brayely and give and take in a red
hot place like this. On the right
hand and on the left men were fall
ing, the demoniac shrek of shells and
whistling of bullets cut the air in all
directions while officers and men
were leaving the battle line and join
ing the thousands who were making
their way to the rear. 1t was a sure
defeat for the Union arms, and from
the time the lines began to break at
four o'clock until darkness fell upon
all alike it was one wild, thrilling
scene of turmoil, destruction and
death. The retreat became a panic,
with the enemy's cavalry and flying
artillery close upon us, firing into our
fleeing columns and wagon trains
and capturing prisoners.
| saw teamsters cut their horses
from the wagons, jump upon one of
them, put them into the run leaving
the wagon and contents to the enemy.
Soldiers would pick up rifles, smash
them round a tree and throw the
prevent the enemy from using them.
On one of our light field pieces | saw
a man clnging, his arms and legs
encircling the gun and the horses
running at full speed. Whenever the
wheels struck a rock or knoll it
would shake him terribly yet he was
compelled to cling there with des
perate energy or be thrown off and
probably be crushed under the wheels.
Better ride on the top of a tornado
than on such place.
1t was sunset when | reached Cut
morning on our march to the battle
field. At glance 1 saw 1t was use
less to attempt to cross on the bridge.
Il was completely crowded with
horses and wagons and men all striv
ing to get over and caring but little
how A mans life at that bridge was
hu
one but himself l saw men crowd
ed off the bridge, falling into the wat
er on the rocks below. What become
of them | never knew. l only knew
it was no place for me and | turned
from the road and sought place to
cross further up stream. The enemy
was pushing us hard. l must get
over soon or go back prisoner. Com
ing to the water it had the appear
ance of being ten or fifteen inches
deep but on plunging in | found it to
be some four feet. Wading through
to the opposite bank I tried to climb
up but my foot gave way and | fell
back into the water. A tremendous
crisis was with me now. There must
be no turning back. | must get up
that bank. Throwing my rifle up in
advance ! prepared to do my level
best. That level best" resulted in
falling back again into the stream.
now took a glance up and down to see
il there were a better chance to
climb up. Evidently there was none
and besides | had no time to wade
through four feet of water in order to
find the chance | so earnestly need
ed Night was setting in, rebel ar
tillery was laundering close by. The
loud shouts of men, the noise of roll
ing wheels and horses feet came to
me from the direction Of. the bridge
where confusion reigned at its height.
With boyish characteristic | began to
think of home and how quiet every
thing was there on this Sabbath even
ing. Not quite three months from
the parental roof and | was in the
throes of terrible. devastating war
and experiencing it's awful realities.
But it would not do to stop there In
four feet of water and brood over