Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/249

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were Lieutenants James Furman, a son of Dr. Furman; E. H. Gra- ham, Jr., S. S. Kirby (Citadel, 1860), and Anderson. (In United States War Records and other war publications Earle's Battery is not reported at Honey Hill a strange neglect and unexplained.)

The battery at Honey Hill had Lieutenant Kirby sick in the hos- pital, and Lieutenant Anderson absent on leave. Sergeant J. P. Scruggs, acting lieutenant, was in charge of a gun on the extreme left of the line, commanded by Major John Jenkins. The other guns, with those of the "Beaufort" and " Lafayettes, " were in battery at the head of the Grahamville road. Earle's Battery was in a number of engagements on the coast line during the war; did tours of duty at Fort Sumter and at Battery Wagner, and was with the army when it surrendered at Goldsboro, N. C.

In conclusion, I remark that Captain Stuart was fortunate in his command, having the entire confidence of the well-drilled veteran artillerists guarding the key of the battle line at Honey Hill. I doubt if any better light artillery battle service was ever directed or per- formed in any war! The best evidence of this may be to take the enemy's account of it.

In Captain Emilio's (U. S. A.) book we get an idea of the confu- sion and demoralization caused by Captain Stuart and his artillerists at the head of the road after three hours' service of his guns. I quote:

"The 35th United States colored troops, Colonel Barber, charged up the road; it went forward with a cheer, but receiving a terrible fire, after some loss, was forced to retire." * * * "Colonel Hartwell, with eight companies 55th Massachusetts, ordered a charge in double column. Twice forced to fall back by the enemy's fire, their brave colonel gave the command, 'Follow your colors!' and himself led a charge on horseback; the 55th turned the bend, rushed up the road, and in the face of a deadly fire advanced up to the creek. But it was fruitless; the pitiless shot and shell so decimated the ranks that the survivors retired, after losing over one hundred men in five minutes! Colonel Hartwell, wounded and pinned to the ground by his dead horse, was rescued and dragged to the woods." " The noise of the battle at this time was terrific; the artil- lery crashing away in the centre, while volley after volley of mus- ketry ran down both lines, and were reverberated from the surround- ing forests." * * * "As we approached, they took off their hats and shouted, ' Hurrah! Here's the 54th! Go in, boys; no loading in nine times there.' "