Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-09-18

ments, took It for granted that Grant
would hurry forward supports.
Prepares For Battle.
Orders were given. therefore. to de
fend the intrenchments. Gregg's cav
alrymen piled up a breastwork Of
fence rails on the east front. Werner's
First New Jersey battery moved up
into the center behind the railroad in
a position to act in any threatened
quarter. and one gun of Dauchy's
Twelfth Massachusetts battery was
pushed up TO the northwestern angle to
rake the railway bed In case the Con-
federates attempted to cross the track.
Meanwhile a fresh division of Con
federates marched to the field and
with them two batteries of Colonel Pc
grams famous artillery battalion The
enemy numbered at least 1900, the
very choicest troops of Lees army.
Between $3.50 and 8 o'clock they made
three separate dashes at the north
western angle near the track. and, fail
ing to break Miles line. Colonel Pc
gram opened a terrific fire upon 1t with
bis eight guns. The shots passed over
into Gibbons trenches. All of Han
cocks batteries replied to this fire and
also shelled the woods where the Con-
federates were forming for a charge.
At $40 the line. comprising five bri-
gades. made a dash across the open
space swept by Hancock's batteries.
Canister and shell tore through their
ranks, but at this crisis of the combat
a Federal provisional brigade lying be-
tween Sleeper's and Dauchy's guns
along the west parapet ran away and
allowed the enemy to leap the works.
A brigade belonging to- Gibbons divi-
sion, as reserve to the PROFESSIONALS, lay
behind the gap. but when Hancock or
dered it forward the men refused to
move. The exultant C~onfederates rush
ed up, demanding surrender. Both
Hancock and Miles rode to the front.
Heroic Cannoneers.
The C~onfederates saw their oppor-
tunity and moved up and down the
works into. the batteries. The can
noneers of S~leeper's battery fred the
right gun into the enemy along the
~parapets, the second piece was turned
to sweep the inside of the works and
the third followed suit.
The battery commander. many of the
gunners and nearly all of the horses
had been shot down during the fight,
and the survivors. unable to defend or
remove their guns. retreated behind
the railroad embankment. The enemy
then turned north toward Dauchy's
battery. The gun which had been
placed near the angle of the works
deluged them with grape until it was
surrounded.
The commander. Lieutenant Brewer.
and all the were killed de-
Tending their piece The remaining
pieces of this battery also fell into the
enemy's hands. but only for a mo-
ment. Stampede and cowardice had
only maddened the real heroes OF the
field. General Miles rode into the
ranks of his own regiment. the Sixty
first New York, lying east Of the
breach. ana ofderdu5 1t to form across
the breastworks at tight angles. Plac-
ing himself in front. he led the way
back toward Dauchy's guns. recaptur-
ing the breastworks and the three guns
east of the railroad. The C~onfederates
gave way.
Gathering new men as fast as his lit
tie band. originally not more than POO
strong. was depleted by bullets, Miles
crossed TO the outside of the breast
works. At this point Hancock Joined
him. accompanied by the corps flag.
which was a conspicuous target for the
enemy's fire. 1t was pierced by FIVE