I started out, and made my way along under cover of the ridge on which we lay, until I came to one of the spurs mentioned, that approached much nearer to the enemy's works than did the ridge occupied by the regiment. From that I succeeded in getting a good view of the guns that were shelling us. In front of me was a dry oak log, and underneath it I dug out a hole that enabled me to shoot under it, and the log prevented the enemy from seeing me.
As soon as I had become fixed in my position, I commenced to pick off the gunners. I succeeded so well that only two shells were fired after I took my position. Several ineffectual attempts were made to load the guns, but the moment a gunner stepped up to fill the place of his fallen comrade, I picked him off, and, finally, the guns were abandoned, and the bodies of those that had fallen left where they fell.
My success seemed incredible. To put it beyond a doubt, I concluded to go back and get some officer to come and see what execution I had done. I went back to the regiment, where I found Colonel Force. I said to him, "Colonel, I have silenced those two guns that were shelling us."
"I see they haven't fired much since you left."
"How many did they fire after I went away?"
"Well, now, Colonel, for my credit, please to go over with me where I have been at work, and see what I have been doing."
"Really, I don't know as I ought to leave here a moment, but I want to learn the lay of the ground, and I don't care if I go."
He followed along behind me to where I had been at work, and then commenced looking with his glasses.
"See there! see--see--see that man leading that horse yonder!" "Do you see him?" said he.
"Don't get me excited, Colonel, but watch the man."
"I declare!" said the Colonel, "that's--that's a valuable piece! Excuse me, I must go back."
Rifle-trenches were immediately dug on the ridges of ground nearest the enemy's works, and in them were stationed sharp-shooters, who kept up a constant fire, night and day, which answered as a cover for our fatigue parties engaged in digging approaches to his works, and also prevented him from doing much execution with his artillery. Our artillery was not idle but kept up a fire from some part of the line at all hours of the day and night.