USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 1 > Part 36
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While here, the officers formed an acquaintance with some of the residents of the vicinity. For the most part, the ac- quaintance was pleasant, but not always. This incident will illustrate the spirit sometimes encountered : One of the officers. while out on a scouting expedition with a small squad of men, balted near a fine old Virginia mansion, at a considerable distance outside of our lines, while he advanced and politely wcosted the lordly proprietor, as he sat puffing his cigar in the cool shade of his piazza. His lordship at once commenced furious tirade against Lincoln and his dirty minions. The Heutenant listened patiently, meanwhile observing one of the .olored women carrying a fine churning of butter into the house from a building near by, where it seemed to have been just made. At the first pause in the furious tirade, he said. in substance: "Well, sir, the war is a costly thing. It has made it necessary to tax almost everything, especially luxuries. Now as this sort of talk seems a luxury to you, it must be taxed. You will please send out to my men a few pounds of your new butter." Whether from generosity, or some other motive, the butter was furnished, but the spirit of the man was
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not at all improved. He went on to abuse the government and all who supported it, in terms more violent than before. It the next pause, his tormentor quietly remarked: "For this fresh indulgence you will please furnish us with half a dozen of your best hams and a sack of flour, and the sooner it is done. the better." The negro who executed the order, clearly indicated, by an exhibition of his fine white teeth and a mis- chievous twinkle of his eye, that he enjoyed the thing much better than massa did. The master. in the meantime, was foaming with rage, and venting his feelings in terms of the most intense bitterness. At length the imperturbable lieuten- ant interposed coolly: "Sir, your indulgence has gone far enough. You will square' the account by turning out the two beeves I see in yonder lot, and if I hear any more of this abuse of my government. I will take you along, too." With a polite good-by, he was left a sadder if not a wiser man. For some days after, the boys ate good, new, soft bread and butter, in- stead of hardtack, and fresh beef and ham, instead of salt pork.
The portion of the picket line held by the First District of Columbia, now numbering about four hundred effective men. was nearly five miles in length, extending along a road running nearly east and west, mostly through a wooded country. Maj. Baker, in immediate command of two battalions, held the right of the line, with the reserve at Sycamore church, while Capt. Howe, with one battalion, held the left, with the reserve at Cox's Mills, two miles east. Such was the position of this little devoted band of four hundred men on the outer picket line, five miles from any support, when at daybreak, on the sixteenth of September, they were suddenly attacked by the whole force of Hampton's cavalry, supported by three brigades of infantry. In some way, which has never been explained. one detachment of the enemy's force had passed through the picket line on the right. held by another regiment. Another had gone round the left flank, where there were no piekets. This must have been done hours before the assault, for (as it afterwards appeared) they had barricaded the roads three miles in the Union rear. If the reader inquires why the enemy threw so formidable a force against a point so remote, so weak, and
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apparently so unimportant, the answer is, that just in the rear was a herd of twenty-three hundred cattle, and the rebel army wanted meat. If the position, purpose, and strength of the assaulting party had been known, any attempt at resistance would have been madness.
Before daybreak the vidette in front of the picket post, near the church, gave the alarm that the enemy was approaching. and fell quickly back to the post, followed by a strong body of the enemy's cavalry. The men of this post, under command of Lieut. Spaulding, opened fire with their sixteen shooters with great effect, and quickly repulsed the enemy's attempted advance ; but their efforts were destined to be unavailing, for soon the enemy, re-enforced, again charged up the road, and overpowered them, killing and wounding several of the number, and making prisoners of most of the others ; but Lieut. Spauld- ing, with ready wit, being mounted, joined the enemy's ranks, and shouting "Forward ! " to them, moved ahead until a favor- able opportunity was offered him to escape in the darkness.
About this time, roused by the noise of the firing, Corp. W. F. Lunt, then in command of Co. I, encamped nearest to the point of the enemy's approach, gave the alarm, and ordered his men to fall in. The suddenness of the attack, the near approach of the enemy, and the darkness of the night, precluded any company formation. In company with Private Perry Chandler, Corp. Lunt started on the run up the road in the direction of the picket post, and was joined by Lieut. Mountfort, of Co. K. who, having been suddenly aroused, had turned out in his shirt sleeves, and they proceeded forward. They were met by one of the mounted pickets, coming in at a gallop to raise the camp, who hurriedly exclaimed: "Go out there; they need you!" A short distance from the camp'a large tree had been felled across the road, the trunk forming a partial barricade, and the limbs laying across an open space beside the road. which elsewhere was thickly fringed with low undergrowth and bushes, Lieut. Mountfort and his men had just passed beyond this barricade and reached a low cedar tree which grew close beside the road, when suddenly out of the misty darkness horsemen appeared. At once Lieut. Mountfort called out :
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"Shoot them. boys!" and with his revolver he opened fire apon them. The road was narrow, and the gray forms, as they appeared, were scarcely six feet distant from the muzzle of his revolver. As he fired at the leading files their horses wheeled into the bushes across the road, and the reeling forms of their riders disappeared in the darkness. Others quickly advanced in their places, to meet the same fate at the hands of Mountfort and his companions, with their sixteen shooters. The scene was like a picture painted in gray, lighted up by the flash of fire-arms.
The remainder of the enemy, deceived as to numbers by such a brisk fire, and dismayed by the warm reception given them. quickly wheeled about and retired at a quick trot, lying low upon their horses, and lighting up the scene by shooting into the wayside bushes at an imaginary foe. Lieut. Mountfort and his men followed after and reached the place where the picket post had been stationed, only to find that their comrades had disappeared. Just then, hearing the notes of a bugle sounding a charge, they quickly stationed themselves in the woods across the road and opposite a field through which the enemy seemed to be advancing, and awaited developments. Soon a dim line of men in gray could be perceived by the flashing of their car- bines as they moved across the field. The lieutenant and his men remained in their position, continually firing, until the enemy was close at hand, when he gave the command to fall back to the barricade. But the enemy, mounted and on foot. was now crowding up the road, and the lieutenant and his men were compelled to retire through the thick bushes at the side, so that when they came out at the place where they first encountered the advance the enemy had already preceded them and gained the camp.
At this moment the lieutenant perceived two of the enemy's mounted men making a prisoner of Maj. Baker, who had turned out of his quarters so hastily that he was dressed only in his underclothes. Quickly commanding his men to shoot. and while Corp. Lunt was taking aim at these men, the lieutenant started to clamber over the branches of the tree which Is across his path. At once a number of the enemy galloping w
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the road and close at hand cried, " Halt ! surrender, you Yan- kee !" and opened fire. Then, as the corporal turned to follow the lieutenant, he saw him in the act of jumping down on the other side of the barricade, and at that instant the corporal. wounded, fell among the limbs of the tree. The advancing enemy surrounded the brave lieutenant, who, while fighting desperately, fell dead, pierced by two bullets. After the en- gagement his comrades returned to the spot and found his body stripped of all its clothing except a shirt and one stocking.
Corp. Lunt was struck in the head and stunned, falling for- ward into the thick tree top, and dropping between the limbs. they closed over him, their thick foliage concealing him. When consciousness returned, the body of the gallant lieutenant lay within a few feet of him, dead, and the enemy was plundering the camp. Crawling cautiously out he succeeded in reaching the bushes, where, falling in with a small squad of men, who, like himself, had thus far escaped capture, he started with them for the next picket post. But as they were passing through a deep cut in the road, the corporal from exhaustion being some- what in the rear, as those in advance of him emerged from the cut they were met by a party of the enemy, and nearly all captured. The corporal escaped, in consequence of being in the rear. Who would have thought that the exhaustion which seemed to put him to such a disadvantage would have been the means of saving him from a horrible captivity ? Such are the ways of Providence. Of twenty-five men of Co. G who were captured on that fatal morning, only three are known to have survived the barbarities of their imprisonment.
The attack on Cox's Mills was made at nearly the same moment with that at Sycamore church. A little to the left of Capt. Howe's position, and at the foot of a very considerable descent, the road crossed a bridge over a small stream. To command this bridge a slight breastwork had been thrown up on the high ground on the Union side. At the first notice of the approach of the enemy the command rallied just in time to reach this breastwork, behind which they formed. A heavy force of mounted rebels had crossed the bridge, and with wild yells was charging up the hill, outnumbering Capt. Howe's
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men ten to one. On. on they came, expecting an easy victory. Coolly the men waited. Not a shot was fired till they were within easy range. Then a few volleys from the sixteen shoot- ers sent them back in confusion. A second time they charged, with the same result. This time they did not return. After waiting some time, in expectation of another attack, scouts were sent out to ascertain what they were about. They found a formidable force in front, and a strong force advancing on each flank.
No alternative now remained but to fall back to Sycamore church, as Capt. Howe had been ordered to do, in case a retreat became necessary. The enemy had been so severely punished that he was careful to keep at a safe distance, and the command fell back in good order, and without the loss of a man. At the church, however, a sad fate awaited them. Ignorant of what had occurred there, they expected to join Maj. Baker's reserve, and to make a stand. But in the meantime the enemy, having secured their prisoners and plundered the camp, had formed in a semicirele across the road, and dressed in the United States uniform, were mistaken for Union men. Successful resistance was now impossible, and having done all that brave men could do, like men they yielded to their fate.
Some men seem to bear a charmed life. Lieut. E. P. Merrill, of Co. M, commanded a squadron under Capt. Howe. During a few moments of suspense, anxious to know the position of the enemy, he sprang upon the first horse that came to hand, and plunging the spurs into his flanks, dashed forward to reconnoitre. The horse stumbled, and coming suddenly to the ground, threw his rider over his head, far down the hill. In- stantly he rose, made a hasty reconnoissance, and returned to the line in safety. During the subsequent melee, a rebel officer made his appearance in the edge of the woods, and taking deliberate aim at the lieutenant, fired three shots in quick succession, neither of which took effect.
Private Stephen Gray, of Co. K, thus tells the story of this day, so far as it came under his knowledge :-
At the time of the raid on Sycamore church. September 16, 1864, the regi- ment was in camp close to the road running to Prince George Court House.
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We were on dismounted picket, and there were four posts between the church and the pickets of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, who were on our right, between us and the court house. The first post, close to camp, was driven in first, and then the second and fourth posts fell back to the vamp. On the third post were William H. Hill, of Co. K. John Crawford of Co. F, and myself. and we waited for the officer of the picket to relieve us. We waited until the heavy firing was over. it seeming to us that the camp had been surprised. and either captured or the regiment driven away, when Hill and myself went to camp to see how matters were, while Crawford remained on the post to keep communication open for us. We found the rebels in full possession of the camp, and destroying what they could not take away with them. We hid in the bushes a short time, but the rebs came so near us we thought it would not be safe to remain longer, so we can- tiously rejoined Crawford, and started up the road towards the court house. We had not gone far when we heard the sound of cavalry coming down the road, which we supposed was from the Eleventh Pennsylvania regiment, but which proved to be a number of the enemy's cavalry. We were ordered to surrender, and Crawford and myself were inclined to do so; but when the officer stepped forward to take our arms, Hill. who was standing behind us, declared he never would surrender, and quickly brought his carbine to his shoulder and sent two shots into the body of the officer. Hill then turned and began firing into the ranks of the rebels. Crawford and myself following in quick succession. The enemy returned the fire. but we stepped behind some trees and kept up a brisk fire with our repeating rifles for a few moments, when, by Hill's advice. we ran into the woods some distance. and hid under the tops of some trees that had been recently felled. The enemy followed, but soon lost sight of us. We could hear them hunting for us in the woods, and could hear them talk about shooting us when they saw us, hanging us when they caught us. etc. Finally they concluded we had gone through the woods, and they returned to the road to take care of the officer. We judged from their conversation that others were killed or wounded. as well as he. We crawled through the woods to near the house of a Union planter. where Hill had been on duty as a safe guard. when a young lady came running from the house and told us to run, as the rebs were coming. I went to the front of the house, and saw them coming across the field in large numbers - seemingly thousands of them. We at once started, and the rebs tried to cut us off: but we reached a ravine, into which we made our way a short distance. where they could not follow. mounted, though they sent several shots after us, without effect. We re- mained in hiding some time, when I crept to the edge of the woods to see if they were still there. and found there were more there than before, and with artillery. We left our hiding place, moved up the ravine, and travelled a long distance in the woods, as we thought, when Crawford took a look out of the woods and saw the enemy, in battalions and regiments, moving back in the direction of the church. We kept on our way, and late in the afternoon met our regiment coming back, deployed as skirmishers. About dusk we reached the camp of the Sixteenth Massachusetts regiment, where we were treated kindly and fed. having had nothing to eat for twenty-four hours. The next day we passed the spot where the rebs came down upon
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us, where we saw three dead horses in the road. On reaching the camp we found the body of Lieut. Mountfort lying in the shed by the church, stripped of everything, and even a finger cut off to secure a ring.
Private Henry C. Whitney, of Co. A, who was taken pris- oner in this engagement, thus relates his prison experience : -
With a large number of others, I was taken prisoner at Sycamore church on the morning of September 16, 1864. We were that day marched to Stony Creek, and it was said we marched fifty miles that day and night, and I thought so. The next day we marched to Petersburg, having nothing to eat but two rebel hardbreads and a slice of bacon during a march of seventy miles. We went from Petersburg to Richmond in the cars, arriving about dark and being taken to Libby Prison, where we got nothing to eat until the next forenoon. After remaining there about a week we were taken to the prison at Danville, and put into a building in which were about six hundred prisoners - about two hundred on a floor. One night there was an attempt to break out. for the purpose of allowing us all to escape, but the attempt failed, after one of the guard and one of the prisoners had been killed, and another prisoner wounded. and the next night they sent us to Salisbury. evidently thinking Danville was not a safe place for us. We had learned that we should fare better in Salisbury, and were happy at the idea of a change; but on arriving there we found ourselves in a stockade, with no shelter but the heavens. Up to this time no prisoner from our regiment had died, but we were visited by a long, cold rain storm soon after arriving there. and the men began to die. It rained about three days and nights, and I did not lie down during that time, but would walk about until I became very tired, and then sit down on my feet, resting my back against a tree. When we first arrived there the prisoners were dying at the rate of one or two a day, and the dead were carried out singly, each one in a box: but we had not been there long before they were dying at the rate of thirty or forty a day, and then they came after the dead with a four mule team, into which they threw them helter-skelter, and carted them away.
We received one ration a day, consisting of cob meal bread. though some- times we were given the meal raw. when we had to cook it ourselves, with very poor facilities for fire -green pine. not split, and a long distance to carry it. We ate it raw many times, and called it good. While here the boys made a break, which it was thought might have been successful. if all had known of it in season. As it was it did no good, and the rebs brought up troops, who opened fire upon us with small arms and artillery, and continued firing until we lay down, by which time about fifty had been killed and wounded. Then they put us on half rations, when, God knows. full rations were not half enough. There was a slaughter-house near the prison pen, and sometimes the rebels would throw the offal over into the pen. to see the half starved men fight for it. The men would watch the top of the stockade, and when they saw a piece coming over they would all run for it. and each strive hard to secure it. as though it was the nicest piece of leef. I saw two men, one day, fight twenty minutes for a cow's nose, which
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both had caught hold of at once as it came over the stockade. All the way we could get water was by drawing it from wells that had been dug in the stockade, with the tin dishes some of the boys had been lucky enough to save, tearing up our clothing to make strings with which to draw it. The wells were drawn dry many times a day, and the water was muddy, some- times as thick as porridge, and must have been very unhealthy.
The men died very easily, most of them dying in the night. We did not know, as we lay down at night, which of us would be dead in the morning. When one died. if he had better clothes than the living, we would change with him. I changed my shirt and pants with a dead man - his were better than mine. We had to do it, but it makes me shudder now to think of it. I sometimes wonder why I did not die there.
The morning I was captured, my tent-mate, Frederick Allen, was shot through the head and captured. He went to the rebel hospital and got well, and sometime during the winter he came to Salisbury looking first-rate and in good spirits, but after arriving there the change in his surroundings and mode of living was so marked that he did not live long.
All the dead had to be carried to the dead-house in the prison, and from there the teams took them. There was a story there, the truth of which I do not know. that one of the prisoners went to the dead-house and lay down with the dead, in the hope of making his escape in this way. He was carried out as a dead man, and while the men and the team were gone after another load he escaped. This was discovered, and after this the rebels would kiek the dead men. to see if there were any live ones among them. saying: "The - Yankees will not play any more such tricks on us." The men that guarded us were an ignorant set of men and boys, who would sometimes shoot at the prisoners for amusement. No one who was not there can understand what we suffered. I shall never forget it, though I would like to, for I think of it every day.
The loss of this regiment in this engagement at Sycamore church, in killed and wounded, was small, but in prisoners large, numbering two or three hundred. They were among the bravest men Maine had sent to the war, and here their services in the First District of Columbia Cavalry ended. An order had been issued for the transfer of the eight companies from Maine to the First Maine Cavalry, some days previous to this disaster. A few days later the transfer was made.
Gen. Smith, in the oration at Pittsfield, 1880, thus speaks of the consolidation :-
In August, 1564, so much of the First District of Columbia Cavalry as had been raised in Maine -eight or nine companies in all -a regiment in itself - was transferred to the First Maine. They were our friends and neighbors at home. They had served with us in the same great army. in the same campaigns, and side by side with us in battle. Their coming was
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to the regiment a magnificent recruitment of veterans. The consolidation was effected with singular harmony and success, while the only impor- tant change made in the regiment by the transfer was, that it became thereby immensely more First Maine Cavalry than it was before, and in the record of its subsequent campaigns of battles and victories, from Boydton plank road to historical Appomattox, we see only one regiment and one history.
Lieut. Henry F. Blanchard, of Co. G, in his oration at the reunion at Augusta, in 1878, thus speaks of the First District of Columbia Cavalry : -
In the fall of 1864 the regiment received an accession of strength and of numbers, by the transfer of about eight hundred men from the First Dis- triet of Columbia Cavalry. In this the old First Maine was truly fortu- nate. They came to take the places of those men whose term of service had expired, and were shortly to be mustered out. How well they filled those depleted ranks their history alone can prove. From this time forth their history is the history of the First Maine Cavalry. It is a history that no man of either regiment need blush to read. No braver men. no better or more faithful soldiers, ever stood in a suit of blue. The kindliest feeling ever existed after the consolidation. No rivalries for place or preferment ever marred their intercourse or impaired their usefulness. Together, and in harmony. they moved on in the path of duty. Together they determined to maintain the honor of their regiment and their native state. Side by side they fought at Bellefield, Gravelly Run, Hatcher's, Dinwiddie, Farmville. Sailor's Creek, and Appomattox, and side by side they fell. On the same roll of honor. headed by the gallant Douty. are inscribed the names of Park- man. Sargent, Mountfort and Comins, Beneath the soil of Virginia are buried the rank and file of both regiments, and there they will rest until the resurrection morn. Their dead are our dead, and their glory is the glory of our common regiment.
Private Albion C. Drinkwater, of Co. A, in remarks at the reunion in Brunswick, 1882, thus speaks : -
Unexpectedly to me I have been called upon to speak, and the little I have to say will be in regard to the regiment known as the First District of Columbia Cavalry, that was incorporated into the First Maine Cavalry in the summer or early fall of 1864. And I will say right here that every mem- ber of the First District of Columbia feels honored that his regiment was united with the glorious First Maine. This First District of Columbia Cav- alry was raised in Maine. We were mounted in the spring of 1864. most of us only two or three days prior to the great Wilson's raid, and we were sent out in his division. in Cox's brigade, to cut the South Side Railroad. If ever a green regiment went into a hard trial, it was on that raid. The regi- ment was in continuous service from that time till after the capture of the
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Weldon Railroad. when they were sent to guard a large amount of cattle for Gen. Grant's army: and it was there that we were almost annihilated by Hampton's cavalry. They came up on the left of our great army and almost destroyed our regiment.
In that regiment was an officer raised in this town, enlisted from this town, and he was an honor to this town. I will relate an anecdote of him that happened at Reams' Station, that succeeded the capture of the Weldon Railroad, where we were in continuous action for many days. We were out of ammunition, and a large number of us boys were detailed to go down to City Point and bring ammunition to the ground for our regiment, which was armed with the sixteen-shooting Henry rifle. We had just returned at break of day, and the fires were just started to heat a cup of coffee, when there was a gun, and another, and our pickets came rushing in, and the rebs were coming upon us before we had time to gather up our arms or even mount our horses. Capt. Freese, Lieut. Mountfort and myself ran down across the field, and there was a rebel cavalry man with a seven-shooting rifle very near us. He would drop on his knee and fire, and up and run, and drop and fire again. We three were close together. Capt. Freese was a little excited, as I know I was myself, and he said: "Lieut. Mountfort. shoot that d -d scoundrel." He had a revolver in his own hand at the time, but had not thought to use it. But Lieut. Mountfort. as brave a soldier as ever went forth to battle, dropped on his knee, brought his revolver across his arm, and that reb did not trouble us any more. He always declared that he would never be taken prisoner. On the morning of September sixteenth, if my memory serves me right, when the regiment was surrounded while the men were asleep and had hardly time to get out of their tents before the rebs were upon them, Lieut. Mountfort rushed out and attempted to rally the men; but they were immediately surrounded, and a rebel officer rode up and demanded his surrender. Mountfort, with nothing but his sabre to defend himself with, surrounded by his men. declared he would never surrender, and he died, shot through the heart. on that early morning in September. He was loved by his company; he he was loved for his manhood, and for his soldierly qualities. I have since met the officer who was in command that morning. and I reminded him of the incident. and he remembered it, and spoke of him as a brave officer, and said it was a cruel shame for him to die. But such was war.
At that time orders had already been issued for the incorporation of our regiment into the First Maine, and that is why I particularly wanted to speak of the First District of Columbia, because Lieut. Mountfort did not live to serve with the First Maine. He was one that every officer and every soldier would have been glad to associate with. I think every soldier of the District of Columbia Cavalry feels as much honored in being recognized as a member of the First Maine Cavalry as the soldiers who went from Angusta in 1862 with the original First Maine.
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CHAPTER XV.
SECOND CAMPAIGN AROUND PETERSBURG.
THE NEW BRIGADE, GEN. SMITH COMMANDING. - LIEUT. COL. CILLEY COMMANDING THE REGIMENT. - DEPARTURE OF THE ORIGINAL MEN FOR HOME. - THE FIGHT ON THE BOYDTON PLANK ROAD, OR THE " BULL PEN." -DRILLING, PICKETING, AND RECONNOITRING. - VOTING FOR PRESIDENT. - IN WINTER QUARTERS ON THE JERUSALEM PLANK ROAD. - THE FIGHT AT STONY CREEK. - THE RAID TO BELLEFIELD. - THE CHAPEL. - THE RECONNAISSANCE TO HATCHER'S RUN. AND THE FIGHT. - A DECIDEDLY DISAGREEABLE NIGHT. - THE PROMPT ADVANCE OF GEN. GRANT'S RAILROAD. - SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS OF QUIET LIFE. - THE ATTACK ON FORT STEADMAN.
O N the twenty-sixth of September, Lieut. Col. Cilley, who had been promoted from major, to rank from July eleventh, and who had been absent, wounded, since the fight at St. Mary's church, June twenty-fourth, arrived and took command of the regiment, relieving Maj. Thaxter. who had been in command since June twenty-fourth, Gen. Smith still being in command of the brigade. This command Lieut. Col. Cilley held till the regiment was mustered out. Capt. Tucker, of Co. B, was promoted to major, to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Maj. Cilley, and was mustered to date from September third.
On the twenty-eighth orders were received to be ready to move at four the next morning, with two days' forage and three days' rations. At the time appointed the regiment was ready, and moved to the junction of Gen. Grant's railroad with the Weldon Railroad, two or three miles, and then struck off for the Vaughan road, and at the forks of the road, near Col. Wyatt's, went on picket on the right road. About three o'clock the regiment was sent out on this road a mile or two. when the enemy began a severe attack on the left road, and the regiment was ordered back, and formed in a field near the
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Wyatt House, in rear of the brigade, which was engaged with the enemy. It was now about sunset, and the regiment had scarcely dismounted when the enemy opened a heavy artillery tire on that part of the line in front which crossed the turn- pike where it emerged from the woods. The fire was so hot that the troops stationed there would not stand, and Gen. Smith sent to Col. Cilley for the First Maine to fill the gap. Capt. Hall, commanding Third battalion, was ordered with his bat- talion to report to Ger. Smith, who directed him to hasten up to the front and fill the gap across the pike, and to hold the position at all hazards. Capt. Hall moved forward to a little cover, dismounted, and pushed up to the front with two com- panies upon either side of the pike. The sun had just gone down and left a starless sky, and darkness was fast approach- ing. The fire of the enemy had slackened, and soon ceased. It was a moment of silence. The voices of the brazen dogs were still ; the sounds of bursting shells crushing the trees had ceased ; no voice of man or beast, or flutter of frightened bird broke the solemn stillness then. It was a moment of suspense. Had the enemy gone - fled under the cover of his own guns, and was all this rattle and crash a parting salute, or would he steal in on this little force under the mantle of night, and attempt to take it by storm and surprise? They were pre- pared for either. The boys had "wound up " their repeaters, and were waiting for an opportunity to touch the magic spring. After a moment's silence, Capt. Hall stepped down to the front alone, one or two hundred yards. to make some observations. Just then a wild vell, instantly supplemented by a roll of mus- ketry from the whole length of the long rebel line, broke the silence, and shadowy forms were plainly discernible through the lightning flashes of each discharge. moving toward the Union line, while the merry bullets went singing through the trees. whisking off the smaller twigs and thumping the trunks of the trees with heavy thuds. Altogether it was a wild and startling scene, full of awful grandeur, and passing portrayal. The cap- tain did not stop long to admire, for at the first discharge a bullet struck him on the shin. and glancing, lodged in the calf of the leg. He hobbled back to his command as quickly as
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convenient, at least. and found that William E. Foster, of Co. H, had been killed, and another wounded. Now the enemy had arrived within easy range, and the boys opened with their trusty pieces, and literally rained a leaden shower down the pike and through the woods in front, until no flash could be seen in reply. It would not do to pursue in the darkness. and they were content to hold their own. The repulse was most sudden and most effectual. The enemy was in strong force, as the captain discovered in his observations down to the front, and must have been surprised at the warmth of his reception. Capt. Hall soon found that he was too much dis- abled to remain longer on the field, and he retired, leaving the command in charge of Lieut. Andrews, who was next in rank. The firing on the left and centre continued, and judging from the sound, the advantage appeared to be on the side of the enemy. It was but a short time after Lieut. Andrews took command before his connection with the left was lost, and without orders he fell back a short distance, so that in case the enemy came in on his left he might not be surprised and captured. While he was waiting here in the darkness a body of troops passed along parallel to his front and some little distance from his line. It was impossible to tell whether they were friends or enemies, until a commotion was heard down to the right and front-two parties calling on each other to surrender. It seems that a portion of the right of the line had not been withdrawn, and it was those troops the enemy had captured. Lieut. Andrews divined the situation at once, and immediately charged his battalion, recapturing the captured. and capturing the captors. He dared not use his arms, for fear of injuring his own men, and the enemy knew it, and most of them escaped in the darkness ; but he rescued every captured man from rebel prison pens. It was a brilliant little deed, and bravely done, and reflected much credit upon the commander and all his men. The loss in this little engagement was Capt. Hall wounded, one man killed, two wounded, and three miss- ing.1
1 In this engagement Gien. Gregg allowed the brigade but one gun, and no caisson. The first shot from the enemy's artillery struck and blew up the limber and disabled the gun.
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