Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

ton and returned the fire until the 9TH
Maine and the 121st New York of our
brigade came to our support. while the
!i6th Pennsylvania went in on our right;
thus reinforced, we redoubled our exer
tons.
The smoke. which was dense at first.
was intensified by each discharge of
artillery to such an extent that the ac-
curacy of our aim became very uncer-
tain, but nevertheless We kept up the
fire in the supposed direction of the enc
my. Meanwhile they were crawling for
ward under cover of the smoke, until,
reaching a certain point and raising their
usual yell, they charged CALAMITY up to
the very muzzles of our pieces and re-
occupied the angle.
Upon reaching the breastworks the
Confederates for a few moments had the
advantage OF us, and made good use of
their rifles. Our meh went down by the
score: all the artillery horses were down;
the gallant Upton was the only mount
ed officer in sight Hat in hand. he
bravely cheered his men, and begged
them to hold this poirt." All of his
staff had been either killed, wounded or
dismounted
At this moment and while the open
ground in rear of the Confederate works
was choked with troops a section of
Battery G. 9Th United States Artillery,
under Lieut. Richard Metcaif was
brought into action and increased the
carnage by opening at short range with
double charges of canister. This stag
gered the apparently eXultant enemy In
the maze Of the moment these guns were
run up by hand close to the famous
angle and fired again and again. and
they were only abandoned when all the
drivers and cannoneers had fallen
This is, l believe, the only instance in
1t of
charging on breastworks. 1t was COM
rnanded by Lieut.. James Gilliss, and was
attached to the Second Corps Sergt. VIII
liam l.. Lines one of the only two sur
vivors Of the section that Went in on that
day, and who commanded the right gun.
has give.t the writer the following facts
relative t>sthe matter:
After the capture of the Confederate
works we We're put in position just I'M
der the Hill near the small pine trees 50
much spoken OF. We fired few rounds
OF solid shot. OF course, We could not
see the Confederate line, but We elevat-
ed our guns 50 as to clear our own in
fantry. While we were waiting. staff
officer with 9th Corps badge rode up
to Lieut.. Gillss, and | could see they had
some argument or dispute. for the officer
soon went away. Directly another officer
rode up to Giliiss. and the same sort of
colloquy took place. the officer evidently
wanting Giiliss TO do something that the
latter would not do. This officer rode
away.
I'm very short time Cen Wright, who
then commanded the 9th Corps, rode up
TO Giliiss and had d moments converse
ton with him. Lieut. Metcalf then came
over 10 the first section and gave the
command: Timber the guns. Drivers
mount, Cannoners mount, 'caiSsons
rear and away we went up the HILL pa 81
our infantry and into pos ton. The STAN
officer who led us was shot before we
i, was owing TO that fact that We got so
close to the enemy'S works
we were a considerable distance in
front Of our infantry, and, of course ar
tillery could not live long under such fire
as the enemy was putting through there.
Our men went down in short order The
left gun fred nine rounds / fired four
teen with mine. and was assisted in the
last four rounds by an officer Of a Yer
mont regiment and by another from the
95th Pennsylvania. both Of whom were
shot The effect of our canister upon the
Confederates was terrible they were evil
IDENTIFY trying TO strengthen their first
line from the second when we opened on
them, and you can imagine the eXecu-
ton at that distance.
when Lieut. Metcalf and myself could
no longer serve the guns we withdrew.
Our section went into action with twenty
three men and one officer-Lieut. Met
calf. The only ones who came out sound
were the lieutenant and myself. Every
horse was killed; seven OF the men were