Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson, and Twenty Great BattlesMcElroy, John
History
Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson, and Twenty Great Battles
McElroy, John
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
observing the battle with a view of taking advantage at the proper time
of any mishap that might occur in our lines. Col. Anderson seeing this,
and feeling that his command was now in great peril, conceived the idea
of a bayonet charge on the line to his front, and so ordered it.
[Illustration: Col. Anderson Wounded 059]
“His line moved forward, in a double-quick, and with a shout drove the
enemy, who was stampeded by the impetuous assault. The Colonel, being
on foot, led his men right up to the works, the enemy having been driven
inside. As he leaped forward to them, with sword in hand, calling to
his men, 'Come on, my boys,' he fell, as they then thought, mortally
wounded. The enemy seeing this made a fresh assault, and drove our
force back. Col. Anderson was left on the field supposed to be dead. The
battle raged all along the line. Our right was driven and forced under
the brow of a hill. While under this partial shelter a portion of the
enemy made their escape through this unoccupied part of the field.
At this time our left made a successful assault upon the works of the
enemy, capturing their outer line and forcing them into their more
contracted lines but more strongly fortified. The centre had made
several ineffectual assaults and had lost in killed and wounded very
heavily. Re-enforcements came to the right, and a renewal of the assault
all along the line was ordered. To the work of blood and death the men
again came forward with a heroic will, and for about an hour the battle
was like the long roll on a thousand drums. The air was filled with
shells; the heavens were lighted up as if meteors were flying in all
directions; the rumbling of artillery was heard as batteries changed
position, and the loud commands of excited officers. On and on moved
the serried masses. As the lines opened by the dropping of the dead and
wounded, 'close up, boys,' could be heard. It was now about dusk. One
grand charge all along the line, one grand shout, 'up with the flag,
boys!'--all was over, the fortress was ours, and the Stars and Stripes
floated over Dolinsburg. That night, however, was a night of gloom and
sorrow in our army. Gen. McGovern was killed in the last assault. Gen.
Smote was badly wounded and died a few days later. Gen. Waterberry,
a brave and gallant officer, fell a few weeks later at the battle of
Pittskuk.”
“I remember when Waterberry fell, poor fellow,” said Col. Bush.
“Yes, many a poor fellow lost his life in those two battles. We captured
a great number of prisoners. Gen. Bertram surrendered. Many of his
leading officers were killed and wounded, and some made their escape
through the opening in our line on the right, where Col. Anderson fell
wounded.”
Dr. Adams asked: “Uncle Daniel, did you ever hear of him? Was his body
found?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account