In a clump of bushes the rebels had a piece of artillery with which they harassed our troops considerably. The attention of the officer in command was directed to this circumstance, upon which he ordered the battery to be silenced. A piece of heavy ordnance was immediately brought to bear upon the group of secesh who had gathered around their gun and stood there watching the effect of their firing upon our ranks.
Our gun was some improved affair, and was under the supervision of one of the most experienced artillerymen in the army. Giving the piece a great elevation, after sighting it, he discharged its contents toward the desired point. The deadly missile described a graceful curve through the air, and fell in the midst of the little circle of men, and immediately burst. It was a percussion-shell, and struck upon the breech of the rebel cannon. After the engagement was over, fourteen dead bodies were found near this gun, literally torn to pieces by the explosion of a single shell.
