Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-08-24

knowing that the hrst head raised from
the grass would be a fair marx for some
Rebel sharpshooter; so We lay until dark
when we moved back to the rife pits for
the night. The enemy were expected 20
make an assault during the night and
the skirmishers in front of US wire CON.
tinuslly pecking away, while the fire.
quent zip of bullets over our heads came
like a warning from The "Johnnies" to
keep awake, add to this the continual
roar of forty pieces of artillery. and you
have someidea of our opportunity for rest,
nevertheless We were so worn out that
we placed lookouts along the front of
the pit and each man lay back with gun
in hand aud was soon fast asleep: I slept
first rate and in the morning felt much
refreshed. Daring the night we were
routed once by the Rebs making a dash
but they were promptly and calamity re-
pulsed by the 164th o. n. 6.
After breakfast we were moved out on
the skirmish line for a "a hour trick. All
day long we played with johnny" each
man fighting as he chose, either laying
in the grass waiting for a shot, or. as
some did. lodging ahead from tree to tree
in search of a little more excitement; at
night a heavy rain set in which put a stop
to the fighting, but did not put q stop TO
our laying out in the weather, 60 that at
| tan npolnoE fha nAzf 1a- nha. 1a aa~a
in We were a sorry looking set l assure
you. During the rain the enemy
moved off and we lay quiet until one
O'clock that night, When we were arous
ed from sweet sleep and moved out
towards Frederick city; after marching
about six miles the column halted, and
every man dropped asleep in his tracks;
when | swoke in the morning l found l
had lain on the R. R. track among the
cinders and might have been mistaken
for a darkey. We then moved a few
miles where we lay a few days.
Early on the morning of the fifteenth
we were called up and after making my
breakfast with one cracker ten is a days
%ration) we took up the march, crossed
the Potomac at Berlin. wading nearly
neck deep and holding our guns and am-
muntien over our heads to keep them
dry, and then in the hottest sun I ever
saw, marched twenty miles, going into
camp at Hillsboro after dark, very tired,
and very hungry, with the very pleasing
prospect of II crackers for my supper,
and nothing at all for my breakfast; but
that could not be helped, so 1 ate my
cracker, which was only an aggravation,
and vent to sleep about As hungry a
chick as ever lay out doors.
. When morning came l felt a little
desperate and concluded to have some
thing to eat if the country would afford
it. About q mile from camp 1 found a
large splendid looking house, aud con-
cluded they owed me some breakfast
I passed through the gate and was met
in the yard by a pretty specimen of the
high born danes of this section with the
extremely kind and ladylike question of
Well what do you want now you Yam
kee son of q b."
This took some of my respect for the
sex out Of me and left me rather hard
hearted; 81 want something to eat" said
L; "welP' said she, 'you can't get it here"
1 said nothing more but passing her,
went into the house, and steppin g up to
8 centre table in a nicely furnished room.
took a very pretty silver vase in my hand
and started off. MY Lady" changed
her tune very much then and began to
cry and beg like a good fellow. saying it
was a present from her lear dead father;
and when 1 thought she had worried
long enough, l proposed to trade the
vase for s omethilg to eat. The result
was, in less thsn an hour l was trudging
back TO camp with a good belly full of
warm breakfast and a twenty pound
ham on my shoulder.
On the 18th we vent to Smokers Gap
o and at noon, two brigades were thrown
Y across the Shenandoah to feel the strength
{ of the enemy, and a sorry feel it was for
2 us too. We crossed at Smokers Fore and
2 moved about q quarter of q mile down
{ stream. where we formed q line of battle
with the deep swift river not a rod he
hind US. Skirmishing began imme lately
an | the storm increased until 1t tec,me
a continual roar. soon made more terrible
a by the screeching shells as they tore
through our ranks; men fell thick and
l fast, and the groans and cries of the
wounded were added to the terrible din.
About this time l was ordered with TWEEN
ty men to support our right, which was
giving way. We were soon tn ere and in
the heart of the fray, but it was of no ass,
q whole rebel division came down upon
US and the order was given to fall back.
, But Whersf Into the deep rolling waters
of the Shenandoah our men plunged like
a flock of sheepe and the enemy poured in
a relentless shower of shot and shell;many
were shot in the water, many who could
not swim were drowned, and some poor
fellows were shot while dragging them
selves up the opposite bank. As for me.
when the order came to fall back, 1 start
ed for the river. but just as I reached the
bank. found myself looking down an ugly
hole in a bit of iron in the hands of a
gentleman wearing very dirty gray
clothes, who invited me to stop, so there
was nothing for me to do but to hand