Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-01-16
From the Capital.
BelIiwerent Ben.

From the Capital.
BeIIigerent Ben.
To one who went through the late civil
war and witnessed enough fighting to get
the character of it, few things are more lu-
dicrous than the pictures Of pen and pen
Gil given the world by imaginative artists.
The gallant charges in line and column OF
horse and foot, the fierce conflicts, where
men go down struggling face to face IN
deadly race. are about as near the actual
fact as any other creature of the magma
ton. The actual fighting done on both
sides was only bush-whacking on large
scale. An army of fifty thousand men COW
ers an immense space of country. This
country was generally heavily Wooded and
from the lack of discipline, and from the
badly organized stats, it was utterly I'M
possible for a general commanding to fetch
his entire force or half his force, into the
field at the same time. The battle would
be fought by regiments and brigades; and
it was no uncommon event to have bloody
encounter without either side getting more
than glimpse and sometimes not that, OF
the other.
One would ride on the field, or what at
forwards would be known as such, IN the
early morning, to the roar OF the artillery.
and see in the distance, some two mules OH,
white smoke rising in wreaths above the
trees, from guns not visible; and from time
to time shells would burst about one, while
artillery hurrying into position would open
in reply This artillery duel would con-
tinue half day. All the while generals
in command would be using some protan-
itv while sending off aids to hurry up
troops, never in any particular hurry on
such occasion. And when these troops
were brought up and formed in line they
would commence firing long before they
found anybody to fire at. This free use OF
ammunition is a peculiar feature with US.
A soldier loads and fires into space with
all the rapidity possible, and when his
ammunition is exhausted he falls back in
search of more.
Between the continuous roar of artillery
and the rattle of rifles the din is stunning,
and one not used to it would suppose that
death was being dealt out in the most
frightful manner. But ride to the front
would show lines moving forward or fall
ing back, or sheltered behind fences, or in
hollows, banging away at foe whose pres
ence was only known by whistling bullets
or killed and wounded men. The fierce
charges. the crossed bayonets and gallant
deeds generally are all works of the imagi-
nation. When one meets with anything
of this sort it is safe to conclude that the
picture is from the pen or pencil of an ar
fist who never witnessed the real work.
With this knowledge ofthe fact we quote
the following from General Buffers speech
made in the House upon last Wednesday,
9th instant.) He said
On the 29th of September, 1864, l was order
ed by the commanding general of the armies to
cross the James river at two points and attack
the enemy's line of works; one in the center OF
their line, Fort Harrison, the other strong
work guarding their left flank at New Market
heights; and there are men on this floor who
will remember that day, doubt not, as | do
myself. | gave the center of the line to the
white troops, the Eighteenth corps under Gen.
Ord, and they attacked one very strong work
and carried it gallantly. | went myself with
the colored troops to attack the enemy at New
Market heights, which was the key to che enc
my's flank on the north side Of James river
That work vas a Esda2Rt bniIt on the ten ten Of .
hill of some considerable elevation; then run
ming down into marsh; IN that marsh was
brook; then rising again to plain which gent
Iy rolled away toward the river. On that
plain. when the fash of dawn was breaking,
placed a column of three thousand colored
troops, in close column by division, right in
front, with guns at fright shoulder shift"
said: '.That work must be taken by the
weight of your column; no shot must be fred
and to prevent their firing had the caps taken
from the nipples of their guns. Then said,
HYour cry, when you charge, will be, remem-
Der Fort Pillow and as the sun rose up in the
heavens the order was given, Forward" and
they marched forward, steadily as if on parade
went down the hill, across the marsh, and as
they got into the brook they came within range
of the enemys fire, which vigorously opened
upon them They broke little as they torded
the brook, and the column wavered. o, 1t was
moment of intense anxiety, but they formed
again as they reached the firm ground, march
ing steadily on with closed ranks under the
enemy's fire, until the head of the column reach
ed the first line of abatis, some one hundred
and fifty yards from the enemy's work. Then
the axmen ran to the front to cut away the
heavy instructions of defense, while one thous-
and men of the enemy, with their artillery con-
centrated, from the redoubt poured heavy fire
upon the head of the column hardly wider than
the clerk desk The axmen went down under
that murderous fire; other strong hands grasp
ed the axes in their stead, and the abatis cut a
way. Again at double-quick, the column goes
forward to within fifty yards of the fort, TO mee
there another line of abatis. The column halts
And there very fire of hell is pouring upor
them. The aDatlS reSlStS ana nOiuS the Heitt
of the column seemed literally to melt away un
der the rain of shot and she'll, the flags of thu
leading regiments go down, but brave BLACK
hand seizes the colors they are up again anC
wave their starry light over the storm OF battle
again the axmen fall, but strong hands and will
ing hearts seize the heavy sharpened trees anC
drag them away, and the column forward, anc
with shout which now rings in my ear the,
went over that redoubt like a fash, and the en-
envy never stopped running for four miles.
(Applause on the floor and in the galleries.
1t became my painful duty; sir, to follow il
the track of that charging column, and there
in space not wider than the clerks desk an,
three hundred yards long, lay the dead bodie
of FIVE hundred and forty-three of my dolores
soldiers, slain in defense of their country, AM
who had laid down their lives to uphold its fla
and It's honor as a willing sacrifice; and
rode along among them, guiding my horse thi
way and that way lest he should profane wit
his hoofs what seemed to me the sacred dead
and as looked on their bronzed faces upturn
ed in the shining sun to heaven as If IN nut
appeal against the wrongs OF that country. TO
which they had given their lives, and who's
flag had only been to them flag of stripes
which no star Of glory had ever shown for ther
II Al