ROBERT KENDERDINE. 329 



1st and 11th Corps, which since morning had battled the greater 

 part of the rebel army on Seminary Ridge, were now lying 

 tired and bleeding on the hills south of the town, which was 

 full of the enemy and the prisoners they had captured in 

 the side streets of the town. It was now dark. The day's 

 battle was over and we were getting ready for the morrow. 

 Before daylight we were moved from the Ridge to a point near 

 the Emmettsburg road. [This movement forward of the 3d 

 Corps is what General Sickles is blamed for.] Here we lay, 

 face to the earth, until afternoon, supporting Randolph's bat- 

 tery, subjected to a fearful cannonade. At first the shells 

 went far beyond, but the gunners shortened the fuses and they 

 dropped in front and over us. Robert lay with us during this 

 terrible time, but was not hurt. We had several wounded here 

 from bursting shells. While we lay there Lieutenant Buck- 

 lyn, who commanded the battery, came among us. He asked 

 who had charge of that regiment ? As is often the case at 

 such times, there w^as no especial one ready to answer ; but 

 when he said, ' If you expect to save my guns, you must charge 

 now,' we were all ready. The pioneers were sent ahead to 

 cut down the fence along the Emmettsburg road, and they 

 went at it with a will, but before they accomplished their mis- 

 sion the enemy was upon them. James Priest was whacking 

 away at a post when a bullet struck it. He thought that 

 maybe the men could climb the fence that was yet up and 

 went back. A pioneer's lot is not a very happy one. It is 

 not so bad to be shot at when you can reply in the same lan- 

 guage, but to be a target for riflemen and nothing to defend 

 yourself with but a weapon as short-ranged as a common axe, 

 is not very exhilarating fun, neither is after-service in the 

 hospital. There seemed to be no order given, but we ad- 

 vanced with a cheer, and double-quicked to the Emmettsburg 

 road. Through the fence where down, and tumbling over it 

 anyhow where the pioneers had left their work unfinished, 

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