The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-03-20

and brunt of the battle during this
day.. so fraught with triumph to the
Confederate arms.
The morning of the 21st June be-
gan clear and tranquil; and promised
as peaceful Sabbath day as ever
rose to remind resting man of the
goodness of his Maker. During the
previous night, however, there were
sounds in the air, the crashing of the
artillery wheels as they were dragged
into position, and the tramp of armed
hosts marching up to their allotted
posts, which convinced us that this
calm was treacherous and that the
day was to witness stormy scenes
Breakfast had harly been dispatched
accordingly, when the sudden opening
OF the enemy's cannon, the hurtling of
round shot, and the whirr and burst
ing of shells announced the opening
of the engagement. AS this fire was
higher up the Run than our position
the nearest battery being posted some
700 rods above US, we were at the
same convinced that we were not the
object of the attack, and that our
art was again to be that of specta
tors, unless we became in turn the
aggressor. 1t being the opinion of
Gen. Jones that the enemy might
advance a column down the road from
Centreville to Union Mill Cor more
possible, such movement being made
by them as feint) our Brigade was
thrown forward across the Run, 9
miles upon this Road, to support a
masked Battery of six Founders of
the Washington, (La.) Artillery. For
this purpose, the 9Th Reg. was de
ployed in the underwood on either
side of the road, and to the Pea
Ridge Volunteers was more espec-
tally allotted the task of defendin.
one of the guns-being posted at it,
for this purpose. After remaining
concealed in this position for an hour,
it was announced by out scouts thai
the column had changed its direction.
and we accordingly returned to- our
entertainments.
We continued to listen to the dE.
tant roar of the battle on our left,
the only demonstration of the enemy
near US being the incessant play OF
two batteries, posted about a mile
from our position upon an eminence
commanding the Run from Mitcheirs
Ford to McLane's. Suddenly at about
twel I've o'clock M. we were ordered
again to move across the Run, and
taking circuitous route we cautious
ly and silently marched in column of
Battalion, with trailed arms, bent
bodies, towards the saucy batteries,
which were booming above us. It
soon was whispered from officer to
officer, and then from man to man,
that the object of this movement was
to storm these batteries in the face of
a large infantry force, estimated by
our best scouts as at least 5000, and
some 500 cavalry; it was understood
also that the attack was to be a COM
bined one. Gen. Longstreet attack
ing them upon the front, and Gen.
Ewell and Gen. Jones respectively on
the right and left fianks. The num-
Der of guns was said to be eight, and
the position very strong one, upon
the summit of high, but gently slop-
ing hill, surrounded in all directions
eXcept upon the rear, by open fields
to the distance of 1000 yards. At
about p. M. we reached the point
at which we were to form in line of
battle, being the side of a hill, shut
out from sight of the enemy by it's
summit. about 1-2 mile distant from
them and seoarted from the higher
hill upon which they were posted by
fence, dense thicket of ivy and
laurel with which the further slope
of this first hill was clad, and a
rocky and difficult ravine beyond. The
18th Mississippi was formed upon our
left, and the 18th was being formed
unon our right, when the 18th were
fixed upon by a comnany of skir-
n,lshers on the slope of an adjacent
hill, and believing that they had en-
ra@ed the enemy, (of whose real pos
ltion our officers unfortunately knew
nothing) Col. Jenkins gave us the
order to charge and away we went
over the crest of the first hill over
the fence. pell-mell down the preci-
nice, and through the wood. over the
raVine, and uD the slope of the hill
upon which the Yankees were posted,
stopping just below the point where
further advance would have brought
us in full view of them and face to
race with their batteries. This gall
liant and impetous charge over 500
"ds. of most difficult ground was not
however ACCOMPLISHED without dis
tresslng circumstances and serious
,oss. Immediately as one charge had
brought us in range of their guns,
thew had opened upon us with Crane,
canister, and shell from their rifles
and common; while just as we emerg-
ed from the wood, a we'll directed
volley of musketry from the opposite
MIL. laid MANY a gallant fellow low.
At the fence, Thos. w. Fowler of this
company fell, shot through the body
by round ball and died in an hour
after. Azariah Spears also. struck
by fragment of shell in the roao,
was wounded in the head This was
our only loss in killed and wounded
while other Companies of our Reg.
the Mississippi Regiments lost much
larger number while we charged