The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-02-07

said, "Do you want to surrender?"
Several of us spoke at once and said
"No." He said, twill you let me get
back to my line?" We replied, eyes,
be quick" and kept my eyes on that
fellow with my gun ready to bring to
my shoulder the moment he reached
his line, and drew sight as quick
as flash and fired. The whole line
of us got the first fire and dropped
down on the ground fiat and loaded
and fired in that way for several
minutes, until the most of them sur
rendered. 1t was now nearly dark
and all firing had ceased.
Our loss was not near so much as
theirs. We killed fifty of their men
the first fire in front of our regiment.
After the first fire by US they fell
back shot distance, and we could
count the dead where their line was
when we fired. They gave me the
closest shave of my life that day. 1
was lying fiat on the ground loading
and firing under the smoke, with my
elbow as a rest. About the fourth
round ball passed through my hat,
grazed the top of my head and made
the hair fly, and in less than a min
ute another hit the brim of my hat
and cut long slit in it, completely
running it. did hate the loss of my
hat for had just bought it about
week before in Richmond and paid
5000 for it, but it was only about
four or five dollar hat, if I had paid
silver or gold. This was victory for
our army all along the line. jackson
was to our left gaining in every bat
tie. But I have set out to give you
short sketch of the parts or fights
l was in. All the regiments were
never engaged in battle at the same
time, but were often exposed to Sc
we're firing while being in reserve,
that is by being in line and in the
rear of the firing line to go for
ward if needed, or take up the rear
line in case of retreat.
Now after these fights with the
Yankees driven back to the James
river under the shelter of their gun
boats, Lee and Jackson went North
for the purpose of going Into Mary
land and fought the second battle of
Manassas, August 3Oth, 1862. 1
taken sick the night before this and
sent back to Warrenton, and not in
the Maryland campaign at all. Just
short while before this I was elect
ed lieutenant of our mpany in
place of Lieutenant Mccormick, who
was so badly wounded at the battle
of Seven Pines as to be unfit for
service any more. I renamed at the
Hospital while the army was cam
paigning in Maryland, until it came
back to Winchester, Va, about 80
or 80 miles from Warrenton. About
this time there was large scope of
Virginia between Lee and Richmond
almost at the mercy of the Yankee
cavalry, and those of us who were
able to travel were preparing to
leave warrenton and try to get to our
army. Levi Wise and myself be-
longed to the same company and left
together. With a gun and about
or four cartridges each, and we did
not leave any too soon, for the Yam
KEGS rode in that day and got our
wounded men ad paroled them. Levi
and myself had long lonesome
tramp, slipping about and watching,
fearing the Yankee cavalry would
get us. We kept off the main high
way as much as possible, and we
would camp in some out of the way
place so that we could have fire to
cook. We had no matches to make
fires so we would cut the pockets out
of our clothes and put small guam
tity of powder in the gun and ram
down the cloth and by firing it off
and blowing or tanning the cloth, we
could get up a blaze and soon be
ready for the Soldiers Joy"-cook-
ing roasting ears, my favorite diet
until now. I had one dollar in gold
on this trip and did not want to part
with it all at one time and could not
get it changed as the stuff was about
as scarce as hen teeth at that time.
We wanted a square meal once more,
or as near it as circumstances would
permit, so I agreed to try every
house in sight. will never forget
this. He was to try the left and me