Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[436] company D, on the left foot, inflicting a severe wound; slightly bruised John Reddy, a drummer-boy, and then hopped into the air and came down without exploding. Musser subsequently died of his injuries. He lived in Jefferson County, Pa., and was a single man.

Gen, Morell and staff and Gen. Martindale and staff were in the foremost places of danger with their regiments. The Berdan sharpshooters made fearful havoc among the enemy's gunners, picking them off by the dozen. Col. Berdan says they killed at least fifty of the rebels and wounded a hundred. Toward night the enemy commenced shelling them by running a gun out from behind the left end of the fort, discharging it and then dragging it in to load again, the only way they were enabled to work the gun. They tried the plan of covering the working of guns by running a plank upon the parapet, and turning it upon the edge; but they did not seem to like to trust it. The attempt at shelling was not long continued. As soon as a gunner showed himself the aim of the unerring rifle would enforce on him the propriety of retirement. At first the rebel sharpshooters attempted to shoot our men from rifle-pits; but they found even these places too hazardous, and were not long in withdrawing to safer positions behind the intrenchments. During the afternoon a small mounted party, led by an officer wearing a white shirt, the bosom of which was distinctly visible, ventured outside the fort. A member of the sharpshooters, who goes by the soubriquet of “California Joe,” observed that “he was best at a white mark.” He quickly drew up his telescopic rifle, took aim, fired, and the man reeled in his saddle and fell to the ground, apparently dead.

At one time during the day a squad of rebel cavalry came out, apparently to charge upon our sharpshooters. Suddenly a shell from one of our guns fell in their midst, scattering them like chaff before the wind. They scampered off into their intrenchments, and no more cavalry was seen during the day, except an occasional mounted man.

At half-past 4 P. M. the enemy opened heavy firing from earthworks on the left of where the above shooting occurred. They made Gen. Martindale's brigade their target. Our people were ready for them. The Third Massachusetts battery took a position, and returned the fire with splendid and, as is believed, most telling effect. The rebel gunners showed more skill in sighting their pieces here than was shown from the other portion of the intrenchment. The sun was shining on our pieces, which gave the enemy a great advantage. At one of our guns two men were killed, and all the others disabled but four. Lieut. Dunn's horse was shot under him, as also the horses of Sergeants Strode and Foster. Our men did not shrink. They were plucky as steel, and had the last shot. Before the firing ceased Gen. Hamilton's division arrived on the ground. Capt. Randolf's Sixth Rhode Island battery relieved, during the last of the firing, the Third Massachusetts battery. Captain Randolf lost five or six horses. It was thought at one time a regular engagement would be brought on. Our boys were ready for it. Gens. Heintzelman and Porter were present at frequent intervals, giving the necessary orders and watching the course of events. A shell passed only a few yards over the head of Gen. Jameson, striking within a few feet of one of his sentinels. SeVeral solid shot came into the camp, but without injuring any one.

Soon after the arrival of the division, Professor Lowe got his inflating apparatus to work, and in a few hours had his war-balloon at a goodly altitude in the upper air. The afternoon had now far advanced, and it was almost too late for successful aeronautic observations. Several shots struck near the spot where the balloon was located. It was nearly sundown, when the last gun was fired. The rebels had fine range of the best locations for our artillery, and the grounds on which we were encamped; but the casualties were very slight indeed compared. with the injuries which our sharpshooters inflicted upon them. Whenever they made a good shot, they would utter unearthly yells. Their bands were playing “Dixie,” and other airs, which were distinctly heard in our camp-ground. The accompanying diagram will give an accurate idea of the rebel works, and the positions of our artillery and men. The principal portion of our troops, which had arrived, were located in the large fields on either side of the road, nearly surrounded by woods. In front, where our pieces were planted, there is an extensive field, and then a lower ground, a large plain, in front of the rebel works. The Yorktown turnpike runs through to the centre of the fortifications, which have dense woods behind them.

The following is a complete list of the killed and wounded.

killed.

Charles L. Lord, private, battery C, Massachusetts artillery.

Edwin W. Lewis, private, battery C, Massachusetts artillery.

I. Ide, Co. E, Berdan's sharpshooters.

John Reynolds, private, leg amputated, Weeden's battery.

Adam Musser, private, Co. I, Sixty--second Pennsylvania volunteers.

David Phelps, private, Co. H, Berdan's sharpshooters.

wounded.

M. C. Barrett, Co. B, Twenty-second Massachusetts, slightly.

G. P. Field, private, Co. B, Twenty second Massachusetts, slightly.

A. O. Emerson, corporal, Co. B, Twenty second Massachusetts, slightly.

S. W. Bailey, private, Co. B, Twenty-second Massachusetts, slightly.

C. H. James, private, Co. B, Twenty-second Massachusetts, slightly.

Lieut. W. D. Morris, Co. B, Twenty-second Massachusetts, slightly.