“Set Up a Yell”

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Private William A. McClendon of the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment wrote this detailed account of his combat experience during the Battle of Gaines' Mill on June 27, 1862.

When we reached the top of the hill we halted, and my company, with the balance of the left wing of the Fifteenth Alabama, opened fire upon the enemy, who were down the slope on their knees about fifty yards away. We sent a shower of buck and ball at them through the bushes and smoke that it left many of them hors de combat, and at the same time we received a shower of Minie-balls from them that caused several of my company to fall, while others staggered and reeled and went to the rear wounded. Those of us that were not hurt set up a yell, fell upon our knees, and loaded and fired in that position as fast as we could. Our company officers were diligent in their duties, encouraging the men by their example and ordering us to aim low that we might not over-shoot and waste our ammunition. There was so much smoke that it was only occasionally that we that we could see the enemy, but we knew he was there by the hissing of his bullets and the wounding or killing of a man occasionally. We could very distinctly tell when the Yankees would receive reenforcements by the increase of their bullets and their cheers, but the storm of lead that we were pouring at them prevented them from advancing any neraer than their front lines. The yelling of the Confederates and the roar of small arms and artillery was so great that I could only tell when I had fired my gun by the hard punch (kick) of the breech against my shoulder or a jar by the stock against my right cheek bone. I loaded and fired so fast that the barrel of my gun became os hot that I thought it dangerous at one time to pour powder in it, and laid it down, picked up another that had been dropped by a wounded man, and used it until mine became cooler. While I was loading, firing, and hollering, "Hurrah, boys, give it to'em!" I would look to the right occasionally, and through the smoke would catch a glimpse of our colors fluttering in the breeze, when I would feel cheerful seeing them maintaining their position.