Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/215

 214 Southern Historical Society Papers.

several days, recruiting our stock and resting our men. Here, also, we met with a disappointment. The enemy endeavored to flank us by crossing the Blue Ridge at Ashby's and other gaps. We went out to meet them as before, but our cavalry left nothing for us to do. On the 24th we left Millwood, passing through Winchester, Darks- ville and Martinsburg. We crossed the Potomac on the 25th, at Williamsport, thence proceeding on our route, we passed through Hagerstown, Greencastle and Chambersburg, and encamped near the latter place for several days, resting our men and horses, and living upon the fat of Pennsylvania. Heie, too, we obtained several fresh horses.

On the 3Oth of June we broke camp and started for Gettysburg. We arrived there about ten o'clock A. M., July 2d. After resting about one hour we took up the line of march for the left wing of the enemy. About four o'clock P. M. I was ordered into position within five hundred yards of the enemy's batteries, and to dislodge them, if possible, from a commanding position which they held. I opened upon the batteries with my four Napoleons, firing canister and spherical case, until our infantry, who were present, began their charge. I then ceased firing, limbered to the front, and advanced some eight hundred or one thousand yards, and took another position, which I held till after dark, though several attempts were made by the enemy, both with infantry and artillery, to drive me from it. I lost at the first position one of my best gunners, Corporal William P. Ray. He was killed whilst in the act of sighting his gun. He never spoke after receiving the shot, walked a few steps from his piece and fell dead. I had, also, whilst in this (my first position) the following men wounded : Vincent F. Burford, badly bruised on shoulder ; Silas C. Gentry, cut on the wrist; Joseph Moody, cut in the face and bruised on the back ; Byrd McCormick, shot through the calf of the leg by a bullet from a spherical case; Edward J Sheppard, wounded badly in heel, and several others slightly wounded. I had killed in the lane while going to my second position another excellent gunner, Corporal Joseph Lantz. He had both legs broken above the knees; lived but a little while. His only words were: " You can do me no good; I am killed. Follow your piece ! ' '

Whilst in my second position I had two men wounded. Hill Carter Eubank, shot through the leg. Eubank was a very promising youth, about eighteen years of age; left the Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia, to join the army; was brave and attentive to his duties. The other, Claiborne T. Atkinson, struck on the leg by