The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-03-20
Long Bridges) with our division.

L. m. ana CafnpeO 3 miles DeyOnQ.
On the 18th inst. marcher 8 miles to-
wards James River and Richmond and
encamped on New Market Road at u
Meeting House.
May goth picketted miles from
Camp on N. M. Road; End company
"H" was posted at "Deep Bottoms"
seeing one of the formidable Yankee
gunboats, which approached within
1-2 miles of us and shelled calvary
company on a neighboring plantation.
Evening returned to camp. May 25th
Thomas George of Company "H" was
discharged on surgeons certificate of
disability. Same day we changed
camp, moving about one mile. May
9th we moved to a point on the
8 mile road, 2 miles N. E. of Rich
mond, encamping with our division.
May 29th Sharpshooters received
flag from Gen. Longstreet inscribed
Williamsburg"
Battle of Seven Pines.
May 31st, 1862, we were ordered to
move at daylight and shortly after
took the Williamsburg road. A thun-
der storm of great violence had pre-
vailed during the afternoon and night
previous, and the ground was
drenched with rain. We halted at a
point on the road for several hours
until one or two of Huger's division
had passed us, when we resumed our
march. Marching slowly on at about
l o'clock we reached a point about
miles from the enemy's line and our
signal gun was fired. This little
record claims only to give the place
h1,
pany in the picture and preserve the
OH this or similar occasions. We came
the enemy had been driven from his
first formidable line of entrench-
ments after desperately fighting. We
took the place of the N. C. Vols,
who had been forced to retire some
what, and found ourselves in an open
field to the left of the Williamsburg
road. On our left were the Paul
La Battalion, Col. Brattons Regi-
ment and Maj Mattison Battalion.
We moved to thick wood in front
in line of battle and had hardly time
dress our line on hating when the fir
ing began, most heavily to the left
and opposite Paul's Battalion. After
firing few rounds, we were ordered
g charge and did so handsomely, the
enemy running before us. We passed
thus through 2 encampments, the en-
emy attempting stand at each and
each time being driven like sheep be-
fore us, and thus reached an abbatis
of fallen pines, commanding the rear
of a redoubt held by them. A furious
fire was here opened upon us, while
making our way through the thick
timber. Our Col. J. r. R. Giles was
killed, shot through the heart; our
Major was wounded and our ranks
thinned. But moving resolutely for
ward, we reached the end of the
abbatis and returning the furious fire
of our foes at close quarters soon
drove them pell nell from their
wtTks, while we Immediately occu-
pied. Our loss here was very Sc
we're. Lieut.. McKissick fell shot
through the head, also Jno. Reeves
and Jas. Gallman; most of our wound
ed also received their hurts here.
We occupied these redoubts for
sometime; our Regiment was too
much scattered to charge the Yam
KEGS posted in wood in front of us;
our three right companies did not
charge the redoubt, not hearing the
order, and did not rejoin us for some
time after. Our Col. Jackson did not
think it prudent to abandon these
works. lest they should be occupied
by the enemy, and this we remained
for sometime exposed to the fire of
our own battery, which opened by
mistake upon us, and also to mus
kerry from the wood in our front.
Night was now coming on apace, and
no orders arriving, we were with
drawn towards the road Williams
burg) which we had f1anked and sud-
denly were again engage at close
quarters with a force, which had at
tackled Col. Jenkins Regiment and
the --- Georgia in front and
flank. These were quickly routed,
| however, after severe fight, in
which our company lost VIM. Mayes
killed and Ike Gregory wounded. The
enemy being thoroughly whipped and
It being well nigh dark, we withdrew
from the swamp and slept in the
camps of the enemy. The booty was
very rich land every man loaded him
self with such an assortment as best
| suited his wants or fancy. Besides
clothing of every description, blann-
cts, rubber and oil cloth, knapsacks,
and the other appurtenances of the
soldier, we brought away fine Enfield
| and Austrian guns, and would have
equipped our companies, had there
been ammunition with the abandoned
guns.
We obtained also the first coffee
which many of us had tasted in
months. and found liberal supply in
suffers tent, besides hams, wnis-
key and all kinds of commissary
stores in profusion. This victory was
dear bought one to us, however, we
lost four killed upon the field, and
could not stay to bury them, as we
were relieved at daylight next morn
ing. Our wounded were Serp. Lind