Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/138

 132 Southern Historical Society Papers.

for its guns, and they all simultaneously were run up to the top in full view of the enemy's battery, which was on a hill north of east from us, and less than a mile distant. All our guns, except the Tredegar iron gun on our extreme left, which had been disabled as \ve we were crossing the meadow, commenced firing at 2 o'clock P. M., and continued till about half-past 6 o'clock. The greater part of the time we carried on a duel with the artillery of the enemy, whilst our infantry was engaged with the enemy's infantry to the left of us and out of our sight by reason of an intervening piece of wood- land, and of the formation of the ground. During the battle the first section, under Lieutenant Poage, was withdrawn from its position on the extreme right to a point on the same ridge northward, perhaps half a mile, and was there engaged half an hour, or more. It was then brought back to its first position (near the straw-stacks), and resumed its firing with the rest of the guns at the artillery of the enemy.

About 6 o'clock, when it was getting near sunset, we saw that our infantry was retreating along the hill in rear of us, and soon we saw the enemy's infantry advancing on the hill on which we were. Our guns, beginning at our left, were turned to the left one at a time, discharged and withdraw from the field. This continued till No. 3, the Howitzer, was withdrawn, when the first section was wheeled to the left and ordered to hold the position as long as possible against the enemy, who had got by that time within a hundred yards of us. It was then nearly dark, and these guns were withdrawn together. In going down through the woods, the same route which we had taken in going to the field, one of the wheel-horses which had been wounded before leaving the field fell across the pole. The men were trying to substitute another horse for him, and to bring off the gun, when the Federal line of battle appeared in the woods, and opened on them a hot fire. The men were ordered to save themselves and the horses and to leave the gun, which orders they very reluctantly obeyed.

Sergeant Paxton lost his leg just before the gun was abandoned. Besides losing that gun, a brass six-pounder, a caisson was also lost. As the caisson of No. 3 was retreating down the steep hill in the woods, one of the horses, struck by a spent-ball, became unmanaga- ble, and the caisson was run over a big stump and upset. The enemy were pressing so closely that we had not time to set up the caisson, but the horses were detached and taken off safely.

At the foot of the hill, and again in the meadow, we were safe