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

in line of battle but unmolested all
day and the next night. At daylight
on the I'd we were withdrawn with
the whole force to point some 81
miles in the rear, and we returned to
| camp, reaching it at about noon.
June 3rd this Regiment with the
others of Gen. Longstreet's division
| struck tents, and removed to a point
on Charles City Roads about two
miles from Richmond. The tents fur
nished us at this time were the first
afforded since our retreat from Cen
treville in March last. II inst. pick
eted on Williamsburg Road, near the
battle ground of Seven Pines, and
were relieved on 21st inst. ID inst.
M. H. Gallman was elected Brew. I'd
Lieut.. of this company to fill the va
cancy caused by the death of L. Nc
Kissick. On the goth Col. Moore's
End Regiment Palmetto Sharpshoot-
ers was attached to our Brigade, and
the Louisiana Sharpshooters was at
tached to our Brigade, and the Lo,I-
isiana Battalion, was differently bri-
gaded: Our Brigade consisted of
Col. Jenkins 1st p. Sharpshooters;
Col. Moore's I'd Dv., Col. Bratton's
6th S. C. w.; Col. Jackson's 9Th S. C.
"""iment, and Mattison's S. C. Bat
talon.
Obituary.
Lieut.. Ed. 1. McKissick was one
of the "old guard, having entered
service as a private in Gadberry's
Company, Greggs Reg. Jan. IL, '61.
t1e was in the company of Sharp
shooters detailed to among the gar
rison of Ft. Sumter during its bonn
bardment, and was conspicuous in this
company at Manassas, Williams
burg, Seven Pines, when he was
killed, June 21st. r. H. Anderson
was presented by his Brigade with a
superb horse and equipments as a
testimonial of their esteem and re-
spect. June goth by orders received
he previous evening and anticipated
for some days, we left camp at day.
ight with so rounds and marching to
Mechanicsville Road 9 1-2 miles from
he city, we halted. The road was
'live with hustling couriers and am
balances and everything betoken
warm work ahead; it was o'clock.
'owever, before the firing was heard
70 commence across the Chickahom-
my and it was then too far for us
to distinguish musketry plainly.
A very rapid and incessant artil-
lery fire was kept up until 8 o'clock
It night, the foe evidently retreatiny
down the Chickahominy before us, as
we could distinguish from the direc-
ton of the fire and it's changing. We
were now ordered forward and reached
the Bridge, crossing the river on the
Mechanicsville Pike about 10 o'clock
when we halted for the night. June
27 at sunup the music began close
| to us on the North bank of the Chick
ahominy, Gen. Pryor's Brigade being
attacked suddenly suffering some loss.
Gen. Longstreet's veteran divisiort
the Old Guard of the Army, crossed
and formed on the North bank and
ascending the high grounds moved
leisure!y down the stream toward
New Bridge, Gen. Anderson's Brigade
being upon the right of the. line and
nearest the river. The enemy having
heen beaten from or having deserted
their formidable works and positions
during the night we met with no op-
position, their pickets constantly re-
firing before our advance. Away off
our left, we could see the smoke
and hear the roar of artillery show
ing where gallant A. P. Hill and D.
II. Hill were driving the enemy before
them. In front too, and far away in
all directions could be seen dense COL
umns of smoke, where vast piles of
army stores of all kinds were burning
in the deserted camps. After fre-
quent halts, during the midday heats,
we reached at last, about O'Clock,
a point near Gaines Mill and halted
in line of battle. An incessant stream
of troops now pressed forward in
advance, comprising Brigades of the
divisions of the two Hills and of
Longstreet's Artillery opened in
front, and to the right and left, show
ing that we were now to open the bat
tie of Coal Harbor or Gaines Mill.
The ground upon which this spirit
ed and blody fight took place, undu-
lated in such manner as to secure
to him, who has the choice of posi-
ton, line of remarkable strength,
and we'll adapted to defence. The en-
emy had diligently improved the fa-
cilities afforded them by the nature
of the ground and had rendered it as
nearly impregnable as the science of
fortification could enable them to do
so.
Heavy forces commanded the flanks
or wings of his position; batteries
of great strength, mutually support
ing each other, bristled in front and
in rear of his centre, while the feav-
lily wooded sides of the numerous
high hills along his line, were so-ti-
fed with redoubts and rifle pits, so
as to form successive tiers, from
which troops could pour simultan-
eous and concentrated fire from three
or four lines, upon an advanced en-
emy. In this condition of affairs, the
strategy of our chief was admirable,
and explained the reason of the DELAY
in making this final onslaught to so