The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-11-21
"reminiscences of the Civil War

C9 Vi the 1iyn War.
My experience on August Is. 1864
when l was eighteen years and two
months old:
remember the condition of the
weather very well on the occasion: II
was not and dry. We reached within
gun-shot Of Ream's station, about two
hours or sun, In the evening. We
were marching up TO the left side In
four ranks, and were suddenly order
ed TO wheel TO the left In line of bat
tie, and front to the right in double
quick time. The boys were hot and
jaded, but the turn In front was very
quickly made, and when we fronted
L looked ahead to see what the trou-
Bile was, and a hundred yards or 80
across the field / saw a dust rising
and thought the BILLY Yanks" were
coming. but in short time saw that
the dust was bearing the other way.
1t proved to be the Yankee calvary
charging our pickets broadside to us
as we were marching up in four
ranks, but when they saw our line of
battle they wheeled their horses and
went the other way. We remained
there for short while, and then
marched off into the woods a short
distance, and then we received orders
to halt and lie down from General
Cook, but the boys needed no orders
lig by like lightning.
Very soon after we were down two
of our men were wounded-James
Potter and Joseph Alridge, of La
Grange, N. c., and they were both
taken back to the rear
General Cook placed himself few
PAGES in the rear of the line of battle
and called the boys to attention, and
said: "The enemies are in front,
boys; and they have breastworks
thrown up, and it appears to fall to
our lot to charge them out. And as
we have never made a failure, don't
let it be one this time; and when the
word is given, go by the left flank
and dress to the right, and never stop
until you have moved them" We
moved off, keeping in very good line,
considering the rough woods, until
we came to the opening which, I
judge, was about eighty yards. We
could Sc ethe works thrown up and
the line of battle behind it with guns
glittering and flags waving; then we
were ordered to forward and double
quick charge; and the boys raised a
yell and started. We had gone about
ten steps when they opened fire on
us, and the boys commenced falling
right and left. Our fire leader fell
face-foremost, and I lodged by him
and made my way to the works;
and when we reached the works I
jumped in the dith on my knees, and
when l looked up to discharge my
gun l saw flag waving right over me
from the other side. That reminded
me of our flag, and l looked around
and saw it a few PAGES to the left.
The first guard had it stuck up as
high on the top of the works as he
could get it, with staff in one hand
and hat in the other, yelling to the
boys to rally to the flag, and he con-
tinued there until the line was brok-
en- and came out that night unhurt.
His name was S. Richards.
continued to load and shoot until
our brave old captain, Edward Woot-
en-, climbed the works and said:
Come on boys!" I jumped and fol-
lowed him, but saw no one running
off; we went about fifty yards and
came to the railroad, and there were
the BILLY Yanks"; they had thrown
down everything end surrendered.
On that occasion General Cooks
brigade captured twelve hundred
prisoners, sixteen pieces of artillery,
three flags, and a host of horses,
mules, wagons, etc.
The fight did not last very long,
but 1t was hot time when it was on; |
and I suppose that ali Of the companies
faired about in proportion. Our COM
pany went in with twenty-seven men
in ranks and came out that night |
with only eleven men able to report
for duty. There was only two Of our
men killed dead on the charge-John
Brown and Hillery Lovett-both of
Lenoir County, N. c. Our flag-bearer
was named Osley.
The next morning we marched to
our headquarters at Petersburg, Va, |
with more prisoners than there were
r