THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

shot. I soon got a chance, and I blazed away at a fellow
behind a big pine tree, with what result I don't know.
They had the best of us altogether, as they had earth works
and a pretty heavy piece of woods to shelter them whilst we
had nothing but the rail fence. During a lull in the
fighting, they kept shouting to us to come over and give
them a sight. We turned the same for an answer to them,
but neither party was
[38] willing. Besides, they had burned the bridge at our
approach. I remained on the
line until I fired all my own
ammunition and some that I
borrowed, and the firing was
very close and heavy all the
time. I then started to come
up for more, but I was so
benumbed by the cold that I
was unable to walk. After a
while I got and - whew - but
they shot savage and close
about a dozen rounds at me,
and if I didn't run, then I
never did, but luckily I got
off without a scratch. When I
got over the hill, I found
that the regiment had fallen
back about a half mile. Made
a fire, when I found them, but
- lo - I had nothing to cook,
so I parched some corn and
started to make some coffee.
Before I got through, orders
came for us to mount, as we
were likely to be wanted (the
rest of our troops being then
engaged with the enemy), as
during our skirmishing with
them the first division and
the rest of ours had found two
fords (one above and one below
the bridge), crossed over and
took them on both flanks and
were driving them handsomely.
Then orders came that we
would not be wanted, as our
men were running all sorts.
Whilst some of the boys went
over the hill to watch the
fight, I returned to my
mutton, or rather my corn and,
coffee, which I soon
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