." Our Company, the First, had been separated from
them at the beginning of the war, and they had never met, before now. A
little while after, at this spot, the three batteries, "First," "Second"
and "Third Richmond Howitzers" went into battle side by side, for the
first, and _only_ time, during the war. There was great interest felt by
the boys that we should go into one fight _together_; but before we went
in, the Battalion was broken up again, and scattered, to different parts
of the line.

When we got near this farmhouse, all was quiet! We had not seen, or
heard of any enemy for many hours, and we did not know where anybody
was; didn't even know "where we were _at_" _ourselves_. The farm road
ran past the house, round the barn and on toward that pine woods behind
the house.

We halted just by the house, and got some water, at the well, and stood
around and wondered what we were here for. There were some cherry trees,
with ripe cherries on them, and up them the boys swarmed, Leigh
Robinson gallantly leading the way, to enjoy the fruit.

We were thus engaged, when the deep quiet of this rural scene was
suddenly, and rudely broken! Over beyond that wood just by us, there
burst out a terrific roar of musketry! It was like a clap of thunder out
of a clear sky! We did not know any troops were near us, and had no idea
that the enemy was in ten miles of us.

But there right through those pines the musketry was rolling, and
cracking now! A few cannon shots joined in, and the Confederate "yell"
rose up out of the thunder of battle. And the bullets began to sing
around us. The cherry trees were quickly deserted by all, but Leigh
Robinson. He stayed up there with balls whizzing close to him, and
calmly picked and ate cherries,--as if these were humming birds sporting
about him,--until he had enough, or more likely, the cherries gave out.
Not knowing who was fighting beyond the woods, or what might come of it,
we got the guns into battery, facing the woods, to be ready for what
might be.

In a few minutes we saw Colonel Goggin, of Kershaw's staff, dash out of
the woods, and gallop toward us. He told us that it was Kershaw's
Division over there. They had been attacked by heavy lines of the enemy;
that our line was broken, and captured at one point, and that Kershaw
wanted some guns, just as quick as they could get to him. Our two
"Napoleons" were ordered in. Goggin said "for heaven's sake come at
double quick;" the need was