B00HSFFI1Q EBOK

by Unknown

  “Back to business, sergeant. We need to annoy these gunners and make them miss!”

  We scrambled to a point some hundred and thirty yards from the guns. If they took it into their heads then we could have been brushed aside like flies but the mile wide column of men which was advancing was a much better target and we would be an annoyance only.

  “Pick your targets and fire at will!”

  I aimed at a gun captain who appeared to be ready to fire. I hit him and he fell. As he did so he pulled the lanyard and the gun went off prematurely. There was a ripple of carbines and then our sound was drowned out by the wall of noise and concussion as seventy nine guns belched forth flame and lead. Fortunately for me I had taken a prone position but I saw some of our troopers knocked down the hill by the concussion.

  I saw that some of my men were staring up the hill, “Keep firing!”

  I shot again and hit the artilleryman with the rammer. Others hit the crew as well and one gun, at least was out of action until they could man it again. Someone had had enough already and a line of skirmishers appeared at the ridge line.

  Danny yelled, “Yankee infantry!”

  We switched targets. The skirmishers had the Enfield rifle which was more accurate than our weapons. Our only advantage was that we could fire from a prone position. I aimed at a sergeant who was urging his men forward. He fell clutching his arm. I heard cries from around me as men fell. I kept firing until I had emptied my gun. I drew my pistol. The range was too great but the skirmishers were closing with us. All the while the guns behind them could not fire. We were, at any rate, still helping our comrades who were now almost at the bottom of the valley.

  The colonel suddenly shouted, “Fall back!”

  To my horror I saw some of the men with him turn and begin to run down the hill. It was the wrong decision to make. Our pistols would be more effective the closer the Union skirmishers came. The fleeing men were thrown to the ground by the volley from behind.

  I turned to my men. “Face your enemy!”

  I slung my carbine and fired four shots from my Colt in the direction of the blue uniforms heading for me. I stepped back a few steps and fired my last two shots. I changed guns. I could see the bodies of our troopers lying to the left of me. The skirmishers had now dropped to their knees and the cannon fired again. Glancing over my shoulder I saw that there were huge gaps appearing in the mile wide column. The men of Pickett’s division were no cowards and they closed the gaps and relentlessly marched up towards the top of the ridge.

  “My company! To me!”

  I was on the extreme right and I did not want to become isolated. Sergeant Ritchie appeared with a handful of men. “Let’s hold them here.”

  The ten of us knelt and began to fire as fast as we could reload. When I looked up the slope I saw that the skirmishers were falling back. I wondered why. When I looked behind me I saw the column had crossed Plum Run. It was now just half a mile wide but they were still marching relentlessly up the slope. They were singing patriotic songs. I could see that they only carried single shot rifle muskets. When they charged it would be with a bayonet; they were courageous men indeed.

  I began to reload my carbine. I had a terrible thirst but I had no time to drink. “Right boys, let’s go back up and annoy them some more.”

  Just then Cecil appeared at my shoulder. “Do you mind if I join you sir?”

  “Shouldn’t you be with the colonel?”

  In answer he pointed to his left and there was the body of Colonel James Boswell bleeding his life away on Cemetery Ridge. His grand adventure had come to an end. “And the major?”

  “He’s been wounded too I had the lads carry him back to the farm.” He pointed to Harry and Dago who had a knot of troopers with them and were making their way back up Seminary Ridge. “That’s all that is left sir. The rest are dead or wounded.”

  I was as angry as I had ever been. What a waste of good men! “Right lads! We are going up that hill and we aren’t going to stop until we have that flag with a Shamrock on it!”

  They gave the rebel yell and we began to dodge and duck our way up the slope. The infantry column was now less than six hundred yards from the guns and the canister was sweeping all before them. Everyone in the Union lines was firing at Pickett’s men. They had forgotten about us. They would pay for that error.

  “Don’t fire until I give the order.” We got to within a hundred yards of our target. We were looking directly at the guns operated by Sergeant O’Callaghan and his men. “I want both of those gun crews killing! Fire!”

  There were eleven of us and we fired our carbines at the two crews. They stood no chance. We were aided by the fact that, even as they died they fired their guns and we rushed the last few yards through a wall of smoke which hid us from view.

  I found myself close to the limbers. A major rushed at me with his sabre. I fired my Colt at point blank range and his head disappeared. I saw blue everywhere and I fired until my gun was empty. I took my carbine and used it as a club. I had battle madness within me. Every face in a blue uniform was someone for me to kill. I was afraid of no-one. I felt my arm being tugged and heard Cecil say, “Sir. We have done enough. Let’s get back!”

  I nodded. I saw a charge lying on the floor next to me still in the gunner’s hand. I picked it and threw it towards the limber some forty yards away.

  “Irish, shoot the bag and then drop to the ground!”

  He laughed, “Sir, you are a mad bugger. Go on then!”

  I picked up a second one and hurled it after the first. I threw myself to the ground. Cecil followed its arc and fired. He dropped almost immediately. The explosion deafened me and a wall of air knocked other gunners from their feet. I groggily stood as quickly as I could. I helped Cecil to his feet. “Get the men back to safety. I’ll be right behind.”

  I was lying for I had one more job to do. I ran to the sergeant of artillery who was lying next to the flag with the Shamrock on it. He was barely alive when I reached him and was trying to push his guts back inside his body. He looked at me strangely

  I put my face close to his, “Are you Mick O’Callaghan?” He looked confused but nodded. “I am one of the Wildcats you have been hunting. I guess I will claim my reward now eh?”

  I reached inside his jacket but I found no wallet. Instead I found a bundle of paper. I took them anyway. “Rot in hell O’Callaghan!”I turned and ran. As I ran down the ridge I was forced to witness the slaughter of the men of Pickett’s division. They were enfiladed by muskets and cannon and their flanks were filled with their dead and dying. I saw that it was enough for one Virginia regiment which fled down the hill. I did not blame them.

  As I ran I passed familiar faces; they were the dead troopers we had led towards the guns. I felt balls and bullets buzzing around me but I led a charmed life and they all missed me. I almost fell in Plum Run but I managed to stumble across and up the other side. Suddenly there was a blinding light as a shell exploded above me. I found myself lying on the ground and looking up. Was this what death felt like?

  I briefly closed my eyes for some peace and, when I opened them, there was Sergeant Ritchie and Sergeant Major Mulrooney standing over me. “Come on sir. I think you have just about used up all of your luck.”

  They half dragged and half carried me back to the farm. There was David, our doctor, seeing to our wounded. I looked for the faces of my friends. There was Dago, having his head bandaged and Harry lying on a cot looking white. At least two of my friends had survived.

  I turned to look back at Cemetery Ridge; the survivors of the failed charge were flooding down the hill. Lee’s gamble had failed. We would now lose this war. Of that I was certain.

  “You had better lie down sir.”

  “It is alright Ritchie; I just had the wind knocked from out of me. Sergeant Major, see what the butcher’s bill is.”

  “Sir!”

  Ritchie handed me a canteen. “What were you doing at the end sir? With that sergeant?”<
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  “I was laying a ghost to rest. That was the man who put a price on our heads. He won’t be paying it any more.” I suddenly looked around the farmhouse. “Where is the major?”

  “He didn’t make it sir. We passed his body in the bottom of Plum Run.”

  I suppose he would have wanted it that way. He had followed Colonel Boswell loyally and he had followed him in death. It was the end of an era.

  The Sergeant Major’s face was grim when he returned. “There are thirty men outside who are unwounded and these fifteen wounded sir. We have less than fifty men.”

  I looked at Harry and realised that I was now the senior officer. David wiped his hands on his apron and came over to me. “I hear you were knocked down. How are you?”

  “I feel fine.”

  “Take off your jacket and let’s have a look.”

  I reluctantly did as I was told and David examined me. He shook his head. “You will be black and blue in the morning but you appear to have survived intact.”

  “How are Dago and Harry?”

  “Dago will be up and about by tomorrow. Harry? I am not sure. I took a ball out of his back but he has not regained consciousness yet.” He looked sad.

  I patted his arm, “I am sure you have done your best. Make sure you get some rest too.”

  “What now Jack? We are finished as a regiment.”

  “I know.” I began to wonder what I would do. “I will put any decision off until we are back in Virginia.”

  There was an air of severe depression along the whole of Confederate line. We had not lost but that was not enough we had had to win and in that we had failed. I took the remaining troopers down the hill to bring back our dead. We saw Union troops doing the same but it was not the time to fight. It was the time to bury. We laid the dead out in a line close to Codori Farm. Hopefully Dago would be able to help me make decisions the following day.

  Sergeant Major Mulrooney was a tower of strength. He organised food and tents and even managed to send Sergeants Jones and Ritchie to collect ammunition. As he said to me, “Well sir, it seems to me that the generals always seem to use you and this regiment to do its dirty work. We had best be prepared.”

  I must have dozed off for David woke me, “It’s Harry. He’s awake.”

  I went to Harry. He had been my oldest friend. We had been equals from the days of the Wildcats: both sergeants, both lieutenants and now both captains. He had been from England and I had come from Ireland but we had shared much in our lives. We had had an easy friendship with little need for words. It felt sad to see him laid so low.

  He gave me a brave smile. “Still Lucky Jack eh?” I nodded; too full for words. “You did well today. Your attack saved a lot of lives.” He tried to shake his head but failed. “The colonel made some bad decisions today and the boys paid with their lives. I should have stayed with you. Well he has paid the final price. It’s a shame about Danny. He should have been colonel. He knew how to look after men.”

  “You know he never would. He was the colonel’s man through and through. He lived for James Boswell. He couldn’t have lived in a world without him.”

  He coughed I noticed gobs of blood on his chest. David dabbed them off and gave me a sad look. “What will you do now Jack?”

  “What will we do more like? We will wait until you are fit to travel. I daresay the army will be moving south soon. We weren’t licked but we can’t stay here.”

  “You’ll be going back without me then.” He gestured to David. “I know the laddo here is a good doctor but he is no miracle worker. I’m dying; it’s just that there are bits of my body that don’t know it yet.” He closed his eyes briefly. “David says you got that Mick who was trying to kill us.”

  “Aye, well we got him. I knew which guns he was working and I found him when he was gut shot. He would have died slowly.”

  “Good. It’s bad enough fighting without someone trying to collect your head as a bounty.” He closed his eyes again and was quiet for quite a time. He opened them again. “I think I’ll sleep for a while. Give me your hand Lucky Jack.” I gave him my right hand. “You have been a good mate and I am proud to have had you for my friend. Don’t waste your life on a lost cause. Find that girl and get yourself a life.”

  “I will and you will come to the wedding.” He smiled and then closed his eyes.

  David and I stood and went outside. The air was marginally cooler than it had been but I needed air. “He’s dying. He knows it. That was goodbye.” I felt choked up and I found I could not speak. I nodded and fought for control. I was now the senior officer in the regiment and it would not do to break down. But I wanted to.

  A messenger arrived just before midnight. It was a sergeant and he looked at the handful of men before him. “Sir,” he said looking at me, “General Hill wishes Colonel Boswell to report to him at headquarters.”

  I said, flatly, “The colonel is dead. I am the senior officer.”

  The sergeant face looked crestfallen. “I am sorry sir. Would you…”

  “Of course sergeant.” I turned to David. “Until Dago is awake I am afraid you are in charge.”

  He smiled, “You really mean Sergeant Major Mulrooney; well we are in good hands then.”

  I went to pick Copper up from Sergeant James. Sergeant James had not been the same since his wounding. “I am sure glad the horses weren’t used today sir. It’s bad enough men died but at least they have a choice. These dumb animals are too brave for their own good.” His voice broke a little. “Ask the general if we can go home sir.”

  “I will do sergeant, I will do.”

  Copper and I endured a dispiriting ride through broken men. They appeared to shamble as though in a trance. I saw grown men crying on the side of the road. They were without wounds but inside their spirits had been broken. As I reined up outside the headquarters tent I heard three shuffling soldiers moaning. “If Tom Jackson had been here today it would have been the Yankees who would have been whupped!”

  The sergeant gave me a lopsided smile as he rode off on his next errand. “It’s what a lot of the boys are thinking sir. Good luck sir.”

  General Hill was sat at his table when I entered. He was alone and he looked ill. I had heard that he had not been well. He was a good general but perhaps his illness had prevented him from being able to influence the battle as he would have wished. He looked at me in some surprise.

  “Colonel Boswell?”

  “Dead sir, along with Major Murphy.”

  “Damn shame. They were fine officers.” He took a deep breath as though dreading the answer. “How many men do you have left who are fit for duty?”

  “Thirty sir and another fifteen or so who are wounded.”

  “Dear God! That must be hard to bear sir.”

  I nodded. “Sir, most of us joined Colonel Boswell when he was Captain Boswell and we fought as the Wildcats. We just sort of ended up as the 1st Virginia Scouts. The men are broken sir. They want to go home.”

  I expected a reprimand but he nodded. “I can see that. I’ll see General Lee but I will recommend that the 1st Virginia Scouts be disbanded and any men who wish to join another regiment can do so.”

  “Thank you general.”

  “There are many of us who would hope that you would do so Captain Hogan.”

  “It is too early to say sir but at the moment I am not inclined to fight any more.”

  “I see. Well I have another task for you.” He held up his hand. “It is not a hazardous task; at least I don’t think it is. I want you to go to Williamsport and ensure that we can cross the river. The army will be retreating soon.”

  Inside I sighed with relief. We could do that. “Yes sir. How long will it take to get the army across the Potomac?”

  “That depends upon the Yankees and what they do here but I reckon no more’n ten days.”

  “Very well sir and you will make our case to the General?”

  “Of course Captain Hogan. It is the least I can do. I will send the
wounded with General Imboden and they will go a longer route to avoid the enemy. We must get our wounded home and you have to hold the bridge.”

  I nodded, “You have my word sir. I will not leave the bridge until I am relieved.”

  “That’s all that I can ask.”

  I returned to the farm in higher spirits than I had left but soon I was plunged into despair. As soon as I dismounted I knew there was bad news. David and the Sergeant Major were waiting for me with grim expressions.

  “It’s Harry isn’t it?”

  “Yes Jack. He died half an hour ago. He just slipped away. I think he only waited to say goodbye to you.” Lieutenant David Dinsdale looked on the brink of tears himself. “I am so sorry.”

  I was unable to speak. My eyes fell upon Cecil who nodded. “Leave it to me sir. I’ll see to his body with the lieutenant here.” He took a bottle of whiskey from the table. “Here sir. It won’t be a true wake but have a drink to the captain. He was a lovely man.”

  I went outside and sat watching the battlefield and remembering my friends who had perished that day at Gettysburg.

  Chapter 16

  The Road from Gettysburg

  I gathered all the men the next day outside the farm. Two more men had died during the night. “We have been given one more task. We have to ensure that Williamsport remains in our hands until the wagons with the wounded cross over the Potomac. I believe that General Lee will then allow us to be disbanded. Any man who wishes to continue to fight will be able to join one of the other regiments. There are many vacancies to fill.” I looked at David. “I would like to take as many of the wounded who can ride.”

  He nodded, “There will be ten who can accompany you.” He paused. “I will join the medical department. I’d like to save lives.”

  I shook his hand, “And we all applaud that sentiment.”

  “All of you can leave with your heads held high. No one in the whole Confederate Army could have fought better or achieved more than you did.” I noticed that it had begun to rain. I looked up at the sky. “In Ireland we believe it is a good thing if it rains when you are burying those you have loved. It is God crying with you. This morning our last act will be to lay to rest all of our comrades and then we head south.”