Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-02

works, and in bringing up troops for the
operations of the 22d.
The Confederates were also working
like beavers" strengthening the lines in
view of the coming ordeal, and in build
ing works on parts of the line which had
been neglected by the original builders.
The 22d of May opened clear and
warm not a cloud to he seen, and all
nature in repose, the silence only broken
by the whizzip of the minnies, and at
intervals the mellow boom of Parrot
gun, the shrek of the shell, and its sharp
report ASH burst an sent its fragments
far and wide, startling the birds but doing
no damage But at noon all was changed.
Far from the left, opposite " Fort Hill, =
came the report of Federal thirty y-pound
Parrott, then another, third, and fourth;
then down the line came the roar, gun
after gun opening, until the very earth
trembled the atmosphere grew grey
with smoke and the air seemed filled with
shrieking. screaming, hurtling shell f;
crossing, glancing, bursting, and some
times coming into collision in mid air
The senses seemed parayzed by the din
and iar-the overwhelming uproar Thus
for two Tong hours, when it ceased more
suddenly than it commenced. Then
came the cry along the line, they are
coming and every man prepared his
trusty gun, ready to fight 10 the bitter
end
Soon the Federal line was formed and
from every cover it came impetuously
forward meeting with severe fire from
muskets. but little or none from artillery,
as nearly every Confederate gun had
been disabled by the tremendous fire of
the enemy.
From the extreme left, to the " Hall s
Ferry Road on the right centre, the
attack was made simultaneously y. AS
your correspondent was busily engaged
Just Mt this time, he will not undertake
to describe the fight as it ragged else
where, but will merely delineate as best
he can, the occurrences which fell under
his immediate observation.
The 2lst Louisiana regiment, of "Sny-
der's Mill fame, was attached to Heb
ert's brigade, and stationed on the right
front of the Jackson road, Immediately in
of where the "Grant-Pemberton Monu-
ment" now stands. 1t was attacked by
Stevenson brigade of Logan's division,
which formed in hollow not more than
fifty yards distant, and from which it
advanced in four lines Of battle, the 9TH
Missouri in the lead, bearing aloft the
green flag of Ireland with its shamrock
and harp.
For few moments it came mp gal
lantly, but was forced to give way, leaving
the next three lines 10 come up and be
broken in turn, for such was the fate of
each of the attacking regiments, until
they gave up the attempt in despair,
leaving a Lieut.. Colonel, several line
officers, many men. ten scaling ladders
and one hundred and thiriy-eight rifles,
in the narrow open space IN front OF a
regiment numbering scarcely two hun
dred men The loss of the 2lst La, Ito
which was attached one company of the
23d) was four killed and twenty-nine
wounded.
The same result was obtained along
the entire line, except in one redoubt on
Gen. S. d. Lees line, which the enemy
captured. From this they were driven
by Lieut.. Colonel afterwards Brgadier
GeneraD L. W. Peius with twenty picked
men from the 10th and 46th Alabama
aud Waurs Texas Legion After being
driven from the redoubl, they took refuge
in the outer ditch or moat, whereupon
Gen. Lee procured some 8-inch shells,
and by rolling few Of them in their
midst caused their surrender
After this we had no more charges,
but stillcd down for long, dreary siege,
Of which the principal events were the
springing of a mine under the 3D. Louisi-
ana on one occasion, and "A repetition ot
the same achievement under the com
bined forces of the Sd Louisiana and 9th
Missouri at n later day.
Nor will descant at length upon our
delightful peabread, made of equal parts
of pea meal aud corn meal, aud equal to
India rubber in its ductility.
Not sharing in the general prejudice
against mule meat, | enjoyed several ex'
celcnt steaks cut from that ignoble AMI.
NAL Yours truly,
TooDLEs.