The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-26

i
were hurriedly harnessed into the am
munition wagons. caissons and forge
wagons. Three spans OF horses wcro
required to draw each cannon onto
the battle-ground. Within five minutes
the battery was ready for orders.
In front Of rude cabin stood two
men-the battery commander. limbo
den. aud General Bee. The latter was
In his shirt sleeves.
You had better take your battery
TO the left Hank" exclaimed General
lee. The Fedcrals will not attack
there. and 1t will serve as a guard
hSainst q flank movement"
But said lmbodcn. I'VE have been
twenty-four hours without food for
men or horses"
| You will have plenty OF time to
cook and eat TO the music of battle
In which we shall take little or no
part" replied Bee.
There was a clanking OF chains as
the horses tugged at the cannon and
The lash OF the artillery driver fell
upon them. II was picturesque spec
tacle. The men were clad In fre-red
blouses- The cannoncers were seat cd
uron the gun carriages and on the
. linibers and astridc of the off horse of
each span From their belts hune the
regulation short Roman sword. about
nineteen inches long. Behind the cam
non rumhled the ammunition wagons
the caissons and the field FORCES. On
foot marched the batterymen. In all
there were 40 men. the flower of tho
Virginia Valley. mostly college gradu-
ates and professional men. who had
LETT their studies to Join the army
1mboden, jogging along at the head
or the battery. was suddenly aroused
from HID revelrics. The cries of a
courier sounded In his ears:
The whole Federal army is march
ing northweaterly on the other side of
Bull Run"
AstrIde the Artillery Hornes on tho
Road to Battle.
From the crest of hill the officcr
Eaw the flashing bayonets of the Fed
erals stretching for miles along the
historic brook. AT that moment tho
gallant General Bee galloped up the
road. His keen eye sighted the beau
tifnl slope of the hill by the Henry
House.
Here is the battlefield, and We ara
IN Tor IL" he cried. Bring up your
guns" 'ou'
me artillerymen lurched on their
seats as the battery dashed from the
road into the farm lot, and at full gal
Top charged the rough hillside. the men
SiinginS to their perilous position. In
repression Just behind the crest the
guns halted the ammunItion. forge and
baggage wagons bringing UP the rear
out AT safe distance from where tho
guns stood
The painting horses were white with
roam as the cannoneers dismounted
and rushed to the rear of the gun car
rage. where they fastened the trail
OF the gun and sent the horses 70 the
rear with the Timber.
Imb oden.
There vas q dash from the ca,ssons
WIN the powder and shells The great
| mouths OF the cannon seemed literally
10 open as the charges of death were
raMtleo INTO their iron Threats. In an
instant all was silent Every man was
standing in his position behind his
gun. Fifteen hundred yards away, on
an opposite hill, Ricketts's Federal bat
terry came up at a sallop. The move
Inents of lmboden's battery were re-
peated by the foe with precision that
evoked praise from the veteran Con-
Tolerate.
gust of smoke pufed from a can
non mouth. a great roar Numbered
across the valley. The first shells
sereeched far over the heads Of the
Confederates. Imboden smiled.
Now IL was his moment. His own
dHS were oppressed. The gunner
sighted. The lanyard was pulled. 4
shell struck the ground midway be-
tween the hostile batteries, bounded
once, and then landed square, In the
midst of the Federal battery The ex-
ecution was terrific
Hour after hour the two batteries
hurled their bolts at each other and
each stood firm. Grifhn's battery came
TO the aid or Ricketts,. and the gallant
Stanton battery held It's own still,
until! the ammunition began to give
out. Then Tmboden loked around for
support He was alone on the battle
held. 4 large body OF Union infantry
was massing to charge and capture the
battery. Half of his horses lay dead
on the field.
Cannoneers Won First Battle OF the
Great War.
The remaining animals tugsed at the
| artillery as the wheels craaked in the
ruts of the turf AS he had come,
Inboden dashed away at gallon
across the rough fields to the rear. In
the roadway nc met n brigade in gray
1t was 'Stonewall" Jack son.
Il have been abandoned on the bat
tiehelj." he cried.
I'll support your battery" replied
Jackson. "Unlimber right here"
Il have only three rounds OF am
muntion for a single gun left" said
Imboden, ana ne suggested that the
caissons be sent back for a new sun
ply.
NO, not now-wait till other guns
get here" remarked Jackson. Then
you can withdraw your battery, as It
has been so torn to pieces. and let your
men rest"
The cannoneers threw themselves to
the ground. They were begrimed with
powder, smoke and stains: their red
hot hrIl
their faces were pale with hunger.
simultaneously with the advance of
the Federal infantry. four batteries of
Confederate artillery galloped up, and
1mboden was permitted to retire The
stanton battery had for half an hour
been tho sole barrier against the en-
tire Federal army. and by their heroic
stand mad SAVED fine frgt battle