The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-05-03
Sc Hatcher's Rum"

While we wereyet before Petersburg,
two divisions of our corps (the Fifth)
With two divisions Of the Ninth, leaving
the line of works ut the Weldon Rail-
road, were pushed out still farther TO
the left, with the intention of turning
the enemy,s right flank.
Starting out, therefore, early on the,
morning Of Thursday, October ~, 1854;
with four DAYS, rations In our haversAcks,
we moved off rapidly by the left, strik-
ing the enemy's picket-line about ten
o'clock. a 81
"Popl popl popi Boomi booml
boomi We're in for it.again, boys; 30,
steady on the left there, and close up"
Away into the woods we plunge in line
Of battle, through briers and tangled
underground, beneath the great trees
dripping with rain. We lose the points
of the compass, and halt every now and
then to close up gap in the line by
bearing to the rig or left. Then, for
ward we go through the brush again,
I feel certain tha officers as well as
men are getting p atty weIl "into the
woods" as to the direction OF cur adj
vance. It is raj ling and We have no
sun to guide us, al.I the moss Is growing
on the WRONG side of the trees. I see
one of our Generals sitting on his horse,
with his pocket-compass on hepommel
of his saddle, peeriag around into the
interminable tangle Of brier and brush,
with an expression of no httle per
plexity. -lT,s.-ssll 3 gs-T -.
Yet still, on. boys, while the picketa
are popping away and the rainsis pour
ing down. The evening falls early and
cold, as we come to a stand In line Of
battle and put up breastworks for the
night. s7inres sfri
We have halted on the slope of "a
vine. Mimic balls are singing over our
heads as we cook our coffee, while
sounds Of axes and falling trees are
heard on all sides; and still that merry
s'zipi zipi" goes ON among the tree
tops and sings US to sleep, at length, as
we lie down shiveripg under our India
rubber blankets, 10 get what rest we
may. How long we had slept I did not
know, when some one shook me, and in
q whisper the word passed around:
"Wake up, boysi Wake up, beysi
Don't make any noise, and take care
your tin cups and canteens dont rattle.
We've got to get out of this on double
jnmpI" 9-' slfsT
! We were in q pretty fix, indeed! In
placing the regiments in position, by
some blunder, quite excusable, no doubt,
In the darkness, and the tangled forest,
we had been unwittingly pushed beyond
the main line-were, IN fact, quite out
side the picket Iinei Il needed only
daylight to let the;enemy see his game,
and sweep US of the boards. And
daylight was fast coming in the east.
Long ALTERS Company A boy, who
was on picket that night, told me that,
upon going to the rear somewhere about
three O'Clock, 10 cook D cup of coffee at
hah-extinguished fire, o acavairy picket
ordered him back within the lines.
"The lines are not back there; my
regiments yonder In front, on skirm-
isht'' ~
5ssNo, "said the eavalryman; sour cavals
~ is the extreme picket-line, and our or
ders are to send In all men beyond us"
"Then take me st once TO General
Bragg's headquarters, said the Com
pany A boy.
: When General Bragg Learned the true
state of affairs, he at once ordered out
an escort of FIVE hundred men to bring
I in our regiment. Meanwhile, we were
trying to get back of our own accord. II:
"This way, meni" said q voice in q
whisper ahead. ~
"This way, menI" said another voice
in the rear. =
That we were wandering about vainly
in the darkness, and under no certain
leadership, was evident, for / noticed in
the dim light that, In our tramping
the same fallen tree, and 50 must have
been moving in 9 circle.
And now, rs the day Is dawning In
he oa 80 arH fha So ofs ooo nc
trying to steal away, Q large force Is
ordered against us, and comes sweeping
down with yells and whistling buIlets-
Just as the escort Of five hundred, with
reassuring cheers, comes up from the
rear TO our support q
Instantly we are in the cloud and
smoke of battle. A battery of artillery,
hastily dragged up into position, opens
on the charging line of gray with grape
and canister, while from bush and tree
pours back and forth the dreadful blaze
of musketry. For half an hour the con-
fiict RACES fierce and high in the dawn
ing light and under the dripping trees
the officers shouting, and the men
cheering and yelling and charging, often
fighting hand to hand and with bayonets
locked in deadly encounter, while the
air is cut by the wihstling lead, and the
deep bass Of the cannon wakes the echoes
of the forest. But at last the musketry-
fire gradually slackens, and we find
ourselves out of danger.
The enemy's prey has escaped him,
and, TO the wonder of all, we are brought
within the lines again, begrimed with
smoke and leaving many of our poor
fellows dead or wounded on the field.
Anxiouslv every man looked about for
his chum and messmates, lost sight of
during the whiriing storm Of battle in
the twilight woods. And I, too, looked
but where. was Andyp-Hdrry N.
Kiefer's "Recotiectioi,s Of DruDsn,er-
6oy," in Sc. Nicholas.
The Reno tCol.) Gazette is responsi-
A L.