ight of the Johnnies filing into their works in
front of us. As we moved down the hill and across a narrow valley with a
small stream winding through it, other troops appeared on the little hill
we had just passed over. The Johnnies opened fire on them, we moved up to
the brow of the next rise of ground and opened fire. Thus the battle in
that part of the line began.

A thing happened as we were making our way across the little stream just
mentioned that afforded the boys some amusement. The stream was too wide
to ford but there were places where one could jump across. Picking their
way across in that way, to be sure, broke the line up pretty badly. It was
just at that time the Johnnies opened fire on the troops in our immediate
rear on the little hill. The Johnnies' opening fire was vigorous. There
was a terrific roar of musketry and the way the balls tore through the
treetops over our heads sounded peculiar enough, but we were protected,
being so low down. One of the officers of our company had been a member of
a country band at home, furnishing music for balls and dancing parties
about the country. He had been the prompter, had called off the different
dances. As we were getting across that stream in the midst of the roar
from the Confederate musketry the officer referred to, became very much
excited and danced around furiously ordering the company to keep in line,
etc. None of the boys were particularly disturbed, but the officer
referred to was very much excited. The boys noticed this, and directly
some one piped up "All promenade." Instantly another sang out, "Ladies,
grand change." That had the most remarkable effect on that officer. He saw
at once that was banter aimed at him. He quieted down and behaved himself
like a little man through the rest of the fight.

We lay there and fired away until about eleven o'clock, when General Reno
saw a favorable opportunity to make an advance. With the right wing of the
21st a charge was made breaking the enemy's lines and capturing a
battery; our right wing was forced back somewhat but the Johnnies were not
able to recover their line entirely, nor get the guns of the battery away.
Our boys shot down the horses and we all advanced. Directly, the
Confederates saw their line was broken and they began to retreat all along
the line. During the fight I had visible evidence of three close calls. I
was lying with Brig. Barnes behind a little log that partly protected us,
firing awa