Year: 1868




pale, that sprang to my feet to save him from
falling, supposing that some chance bullet had
struck him. He recovered himself, however, and
was about to walk away, when called after him:


"Your name regiment and company!''


Without deigning to look towards me, he re-
piled: "Call me Eddie Williams am connected
with no particular regiment as yet. Am General
IS orderly" And away he went.


Our pickets were firing rapidly about the time !;
so, gathering up my canteens and hastily rejolnng
my comrades, We began our hazardous return to
the lines. The moment we arrived at the breast
works we were made aware of the fact that our
pickets were falling back. 1t was madness to at
tempt to reach our company, whose position was
several hundred yards down the line; so, dropping
our canteens where we stood-to the extreme left
and providing ourselves with an Enfield apiece, we
fell into line and got ready for the enemy. In
spite of the order to keep well under cover, many
of us peeped cautiously over the works to watch
the movements of the enemy.


For my part, it was utterly impossible to keep
my face half buried in the muddy clay, when e.
vents of such stirring interest were transpring out
! in the wheat-feld; so, getting upon my teet-a
sturdy old pine between me and the enemy-l OBJ
tanned an enlarged view of the diorama before me-
without subjecting my person to the danger OF
sharpshooter bullet. From my position, could
see our brave boys steadily falling back under a
heavy and destructive fire from the enemy's skir-
mish line, which had already advanced beyond our
rifle pits and were cautiously coming forward. L
was not little surprised that our boys should have
abandoneda picket line of so much importance to
US but moment after, the reason whywas mani
tested by heavy column of Yankees, issuing out
of the woods and coming forward at brisk double
quick. These had scarcely entered the wheat
field, when second column came in sight; while
the flashing bayonets, away back in the woods, re-
vealed the advance of third column. An abrupt
rise of ground, between our lines and those OF the
enemy, hid the advancing columns from our view
moment after; and, as our orders were to hold
our fire until the word of command was given, we
awaited the appearance of the enemy and the or
der to open fire, with breathless impatience. At
this juncture the enemy's batteries opened Wig
orous fire along our entire front, making some ad-
mirable shots but doing no material damage Our
batteries maintained profound and provoking 81
lence and shortly after, the Yankee batteries ceased
firing. Then came that oppressive and ominous
stiffness -thatsolemn andimpressive calm. lkneW
very well what it meant and instinctively brought
nv rifle to the 'ready," intenty scanning the rise
of ground about hundred yards from our lines,
and expecting every moment to see the advance
column of the enemy rushing over it. Why our
artillery allowed the enemy to advance under cover
of this eminence, and to mass their columns in the
little valley beyond, is to this day, quite inexpl-
cable to me. Between the edge Of the woods and
the bottom-land or valley, the entire force of the
enemy had been in sight and within easy range OF
our artillery. That space once over, the advance
was completely under cover and our arms andfield
pieces of no use whatever. Nothing but despe-
rate and overwhelming charge could have dislodged
them from their position, had they intended to re-
main there The silence was suddenly interrupted,
however, by the crash Of artillery and the roar and
rattle of musketry upon our right Every man OF
US arose to his feet and looked eagerly down the
lines where the battle was raging with an almost
unparalleled fury. Gradually the terriGcdin of bat
tie swayed from the extreme right to the centre OF
our line, and the stray bullets were beginning to
whistle over our heads even upon the extreme left.
Just then the command came laundering down
the line, for every man to keep low and be in In
slant readiness for On attack. Iventured to retain
my position behind the pine, thinking it no viola
ton of orders-as my person could not be seen by
the enemy-but, being ordered down, dropped
upon my knees among my comrades in the trench.
es, occasionally stealing glance over the trail and
low ridge Of dirt, which we had mostly scooped up
and piled before us with our tin-plates and iron
spoons.


The shoulder that pressed against my own,
trembled so violently, that I very naturally looked
down upon the Individual beside me. There, to
my surprise, kneeled the slight and agitated form
of my new acquaintance, Eddie Williams. His
face was as white as marble and his little hand,
which grasped rifle, shook like an aspen leaf in q
storm. With bloodless lips and chattering teeth,
he informed me-in reply to my question, how ne
came there that, like myself, his position was
considerably further down the ine but he had been
ordered to remain in his present position until the
battle was over.


ssWen Eddie" said, in an under tone, 'you
are in for it now, old fellow! Keep as near me- as
possible, and load while fire. Take care how
you insert your cartridge, however. Ball always
up-mind that Don't attempt to fire yourself;
but just keep one of the guns loaded for me-"


In moment he became as calm and self-posses-
sed, as any man could be under the circumstances
and, looking saucily up into my face, said, with
that peculiar curl of the lip, which always set me
wondering where else had seen it, Don't trouble
yourself about me: can take care of myself"


The battle had continued to rage with unabated
fury upon our right, centre, and portion OF our
left, to the right of u.s. and was now rolling down
so critically near u.s. that the brigade to the right
of us was keeping up a vigorous oblique fire upon
the flank of the enemy, now visible from our posi-
ton. An officer went down the line in our vicini-
ty, ordering every man to lie low and hold his fire
until he gave the word of command, then to rise
instantly to our feet and pour avoey into the enc
my's ranks I noticed, too, that the artillerists
near us were evidently preparing to open fire
Their pieces, which stood out little in advance OF
the regular line, like the letter A, were ranged for
raking flank fire, and the utmost activity began
to show itself in our portion of the line.


A few moments after, the enemy appeared upon
the little eminence before u.s. advanced in splendid
order to within eighty yards of our line; and, de-
ivering heavy, but harmless, voDey over our
heads, rushed towards us with deafening huzzas
and yels. Just then, the command thundered
down the lines "Up men and frel' and, we
sprang to our feet and poured CALLING and destruc-
=: c. ;4o +bo;r yorv midst which sent the en-