Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/168

 162 Southern Historical Society Papers.

It was, however, done in time to prevent any greater calamity. Private J. T. Barrineau, of the Wee Nees (Company C), distin- guishing himself in his fearless and successful efforts to put out the fire. He was the first to reach the ruins and go to work in this hell of fire. Others, inspired by his example, went to his assistance.

The other gun, which Gilmore and Dahlgren seemed determined should stand no longer, was on the sea face, south of the bomb proof headquarters. The fleet and land batteries were crossing their fire over it and doing their best to strike it. One of the stands for sharp- shooters was very near it. This stand had been occupied by Private W. A. Dotterer, of Company A, and Private M. Williams, of Com- pany H. I regarded their destruction as so certain, that I did not think the injury they were doing the enemy with their rifles was suf- ficient to compensate for the loss of two such men, and allowed them to leave the post and take shelter from the terrible storm in one of the uncovered passages leading from one bomb-proof to another. They were by no means safe there, but the danger was not so great as on the parapet. It was not long before Major Bryan, the Assistant Adjutant-General, called my attention to the abandonment of the post. I told him that I had authorized it, as I did not think the damage done the enemy was worth the sacrifice of the men. The Major said that Colonel Keitt's orders were that the post should be filled. Dotterer and Williams were present and heard the conversation. I turned to them and said, " You have heard the orders." Said Dotterer, " Well, colonel, we will go, but our chance of returning is not worth ten cents." They both went immediately back without the tremor of a muscle, or the least appearance of fear. They kept up a steady fire through the day, and managed to live by leaving the post after firing, and returning when they had reloaded their guns. There was no want of promptness on their part, nor loss of time in driving down their cartridges when in a place not quite so much exposed as the stand from which they delivered their fire. With every precaution which they could possibly take, I deemed their escape little less than a miracle. [When we left the fort and returned to our camp, I con- sidered it my duty to recommend both of these men for promotion. Captain Hammond made Williams a sergeant, and some months afterwards Dotterer was killed in Virginia while acting as a lieutenant. There was no vacancy, and consequently he was never commis- sioned.]

A portion of our Signal Corps had been specially detailed to ob- serve the signals of the enemy. Every dispatch signaled between