Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-15


enemy with artillery on half minutes
notice Our fort was within four hun
dred yards Of the enemys main line, and
twenty rods Of his entrenched picket line,
and deserters who almost daily came
in always had some story to tell Of prepa-
rations being made to mine us and
blow us up, which from our position,
could have been done. These rumors
keeps us on the gui rire. We sunk deep
wells in the ditch outside the fort, and
hourly noted the depth of the water there
in, knowing that if mines were being
sunk, the water was liable to be sudden
ly drawn off,.
The rebels fred on us from their picket
line every night, beginning at dark and
ending with day light. At all times of
night when awake, we could hear the
rattle Of musketry and the bullets sing
ing through the air above our heads. So
accustomed did we become to these
sounds, that cessation for few seconds
would awaken us at once. The reason
why they kept up their picket firing by
night, has been variously explained.
Some deserters said it was to prevent de-
sertions to our side, but if this was the
true reason, many took the risk, for de
sertion was of nightly occurrence. A
Battery of Ga FOUNDER mortars was stu
ated little to our right and they had
practiced on us so much that they had
our range completely. Almost every day
more or less OF these shells were dropped
into the Fort. These monsters could be
heard at some distance when approach
ing, and after the report Of the discharge
the boys would listen for the shell and
the moment they heard it they ran for
cover, unless they could see it and made
up their minds that it would not come
near them. If they burst few feet
above the ground. their fragments would
be thrown in every direction and woe to
the unlucky soldier who stood in their
way: bu, il they buried themselves in
the earth before exploding they generally
did but little damage except to throw
dirt. Several times during the winter,
my quarters were struck, and each shell
would throw out ton or more earth.
but none penetrated TO do any harm. 1t
was indeed bomb proof. Sometimes
these shells would explode among the
in our rear and | have known
terrible havoc to be made by a single
shell. One day was on the top Of our
quarters when shell passed over to the
rear and the next thing saw were frag-
men;s of bedding. furniture and cooking
utensils, coming up through the top Of
an officers quarters which the shell had
unceremoniously entered.
The rebels would occasionally open on
US with field artillery from their earth
works in our front, but our works were
so high and thick that they could do US but
little harm. As nothing could be gained
by THESE artillery duels and a waste of am
munition was about the only result, our
orders from the chief OF artillery were not
TO open on the enemy unless the enemy
first opened on us. and never TO fire gun
unless In our next mornings report we
could give good and sufficient reason for
so doing. The commander OF the infantry
that garrisoncd the Fort, IL being the same
officer who had charge OF excuvating the
famous Burnside mine the summer before,
few days after We got settled sent me
note requesting me to visit him at his quar-
tiers. At the interview which followed he
asked me why did not occasionally open
on the enemy's works in front? He said
he felt himself responsible for the safety OF
that part OF the line, and thought ought
20 practice some and get the range and
distance OF their main line, so as To be able
TO assist in defending the Fort II attacked.
told him that | received my orders direct
from the chief OF artillery at corps head
quarters, and gave him in detail my In
structions. This did not seem 10 satisfy
him and he insisted that as the ranking Of
fcer, the artillery in the Fort should be
subject 10 his orders. OF course did not
concede the point, but | told him II he
would give me a written order so that
could have something To fall back upon, l
would obey il. He said he would not give
IL 10 me that day, but would think IL over
and probably give me such an order as
would protect me on some other occasion
A few days afterwards the adjutant OF
the regiment waited on me with written
order from his Colonel, for me 10 open up
on the enemy's works with the eight guns
under my charge. Preparations were soon
made, and we opened with solid shot and
shell upon the astonished rebels. They
Immediately replied 10 our iire with gun
and mortar, and sharp duel continued
for several minutes The Colonel made
his appearance in the Fort, and the reason
for his singular order was apparent. He
was intoxicated and could hardly manage
TO keep upon his feet. As he came along
by the officers quarters, siIty-four
pounder mortar shell came down near him
and broke through the frozen earth with
which they were covered, and exploded.
Many fragments Of frozen earth were
thrown into the air, one OF which, weigh
ing several pounds, struck the tipsy
Colonel and felled him TO the earth like q
bullock Knocked down for slaughter. He
lay quivering for several seconds, when he
was taken up and carried to his quarters.
After coming to himself he sent word 10
me, suggesting that had done enough for
the present. The result was that three OF
four OF his men who had come in TO see the
sport, were killed, several wounded by an
explosion of mortar shells, and so far as
We ever knew, the enemy received nc
damage from our guns. A report was
made out in accordance with the facts and
with the Colonels order, and sent to head
quarters; and we were annoyed no more
during the winter by suggestions from In
fantry officers, that we "ought to open or
the enemy's works"
The Fort was well known all along the
army line, from the James river to Hatch
ers Run, and visitors TO the army did moi
lilo t1, ratnrr, ,rithnnt yisitinn this famQns