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in such matters, was sent back to the caissons to relieve Lieutenant Doncaster, and
take charge of the men engaged in supplying ammunition to the guns, and instruct
them as to the distances for which the fuses should be cut. About this time the
enemy planted two more batteries, one on the right and the other on the left,
making a total of eighteen, whose fire was concentrated on the Maryland battery.
Their fire now became fearfully hot, and Captain Rowan, wishing to return it
with the greatest vigor, called on the drivers to assist the " fives '' and " sevens "
in bringing up ammunition. The nature of the ground was such that the horses
could not be effectually sheltered from the enemy's battery on the right, and they
were falling rapidly. The drivers were being wounded, and the trees cut down,
while the air was resonant with the howl of passing shells, and the lighter whistle of
the more searching minnies. Ritter, who for the reason given above, had charge of
the drivers, horses and ammunition, asked leave to take the horses to a safer place,
but it was not thought expedient to separate them as far from the guns as would
be necessary to secure their safety. A Parrott shell passed through the head of a
wheel horse near him and exploded, cutting the Lieutenant's sword in two and
killing his saddle horse. The men engaged in furnishing ammunition also suffered
severely. Major Johnston, now coming up, ordered the horses to be removed, and
those that remained were thus saved.

At half past twelve Captain Rowan was struck by a piece of shell, and
instantly killed.

At about 3 P. M. the Confederate line of battle gave way, and so rapidly did
the troops retreat, and so promptly did the enemy follow, that Lieutenant Ritter
saw at once that there would be no chance to bring off his guns. He determined
to remain with them and work them to the last.

After driving the Confederates from their works, the enemy poured in on
Stevenson's left, and forming a line perpendicular to his, swept along within the
defenses toward the Third Maryland. At the same time another line was moving
up in front, and both seemed to be aiming to form a junction at the battery to
overwhelm it. The men stood to their guns and continued to pour a heavy fire of
cannister into the heavy masses approaching in front, till they mounted the works.
They mounted first upon the left, planting the United States flag on the left gun
and capturing sixteen men.

As they showed their heads above the works. Lieutenants Ritter, Doncaster
and Sergeant Pendley — who were upon the right — started and ran down the
line fifty yards, and then left it and struck diagonally across the field for the pike.
The Federals cried " Halt ! " " Halt ! " to no purpose, and pursued them for
three-quarters of a mile, firing at them all the while.

They escaped unhurt, however, and continuing some four miles to the rear,
overtook the few horses that were left of the battery.