Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

July 15 — Early this morning we were ordered to Charlestown, as the Yankees were pressing our cavalry there yesterday evening, which caused an urgent demand for artillery and our presence. When we arrived at Charlestown our cavalry was there waiting for us. We immediately proceeded about a mile below town, on the Harper’s Ferry pike, and put our guns into position ready for fight. We were not in position very long before the Yankees advanced on us with cavalry and dismounted sharpshooters. Their line of sharpshooters advanced first and opened fire on us with long-ranged rifles, and kept up a lively fire for about ten minutes directed at my gun,— which I had ready for action, but reserved my -fire for bigger and more important game,— for at the same time the Yankee cavalry, which was about a mile away in our front, was preparing for a charge on our position. After they had formed their column to charge and were ready to go into active business I opened fire on them with my piece, and the first shell I fired exploded in their ranks and played regular scatteration with the blue-coated column that was prepared and ready to charge us. My shell completely stopped and broke up the show, their line of sharpshooters also ceased firing and fell back, and when our cavalry advanced the enemy retreated toward Harper’s Ferry. We remained in battery until nearly night, then moved back about four miles south of Charlestown on the Berryville pike, and camped.