The Republican journal., 1882-05-11
Sketches Of Army Life.
SECOND SERIES. NUMBER SIX.
THE LAST CAMPAIGN.

slow. Our regiment was commanded by Col.
large portion of the country, broken here and
there by small clearings. There Were many
ridges of land, broken and ragged with rocks,
ana deep ravines, through which rushed and
roared deep streams of water.
Soon after we broke camp detail was made
for men to 90 out as tiankers, and was named
as one of them. We penetrated the thick forest.
and formed our line some eighty rods from the
column Of troops. and moved in Il parallel line
with them. We had not gone far before we
came i'll contact with the encmy's skirmish line
We received orders to drive them back upon
their line of battle 1t was an exciting and
somewhat dangerous task. We advanced on Il
double quick through the woods. across fields
and raYineS. Wild grape vines. thorn bushes
and thousand obstacles impeded our way. oar
clothes We're torn into ShredS and blood flow
ed freely from our laceratcd flesh. The enemy
would occasionally make stand and fight and
the mimic balls would fly back and forth in Il
lively manner \ number of men on both sides
Were killed and wounded
the edge Of large field. 1t wa now past noon.
Heavy firing was heard on our right, both mus
kerry and artillery. It was but 4 short distance
from us. and we knew that car division had
encountered the enemy. Foy an hour we list
ened with much anxiety, and then the order
came for us to advance. We crossed the field
and found the rebels in the woods on the other
side. The roar of battle on our right inspired
us, and we rushed upon them. They gave us a
heavy skirmish fire and then fell back for a half
mile, We following them very closely. Sudden
ly there was a sheet of flame in our front.
Whizz, crash, bang! went II dozen shells above
our heads We had reached the enemy's line
of battle. and heavy infantry fire was also
opened upon us. 1t was of course impossible
to advance further. 1t would BE- folly to re-
main where we We're; and we fell rapidly back.
Many Of our men Were wounded before we
got out of the range of the encmy's guns, One,
Il brave Young fellow from Massachusetts. fell.
shot through both legs. We would not leave
him in The hands of the rebels, and laid him
upon blanket to carry him back. He was
much excited, and was determined not to be
carried off the field. lie called u miserable
towards for falling back from the enemy, and
pleaded with us to put him down. and with our
little skirmi>h line charge upon the rebels line
of battle.
We We're soon relieved and returned to our
command. We found that our brigade had not
been engaged, but that General Chamberlain
with his brigade had fought / severe battle with
the enemy on the Boyd>ton Plank Road. He
had carried their position with heavy loss.
Gen. Chamberlain had gaIlantly lei his troops
in their charge. He had been slightly wounded
and had received nearly Il dozen bullets through
his clothes. our brigade was sent to relieve
his, and we advanced across the field Of battle.
Many dead were lying upon the ground The
rebels had evidently fallen back upon stronger
line of works. in rear Of tho,c carried by Cham
bcrlain We advanced cautiously alon- the
narrow road. Soon there was a fearful roar in
the woods lust in our front. and score of
shells came screaming through The air Just
above our heads. The enemy had an excellent
range of our position. WE halted while our
officers cndeayorrd to ascertain the strength of
ed was very strong, and could only br carried
with great loss of life. and after dark We were
withdrawn.
lrcmcmber one very sad event that occurred
while We We're living there under the enemy :
fire. \ cray haired soldier came down along
the road where our dead men were scattered
upon the ground. He was evidently III search
-
groan he sat down beside a dead body and wept
a. If his heart would break. II was It father
mourning for his SON. They We're both mem
ber> of Il Massachusetts regiment. and the son
had been killed in the brilliant charge they had
50 recently made
We marched short distance to the rear, and
then marched to 4 position upon the right Of the
fortiticationS from which we had lust fallen
back, and halted i'll an open field. Our rcgi-
ment tonntda part of the line beside some farm
buildings. Ii was now ten o'clock at night
Great masses Of black clouds ub>rurcd the sky
and the darkness was intense 'ThroW up for
titications" was the order given. ana quickly
obeyed. The huge barn and out-huildns>. built
of heWn logs. We're torn down ana piled up
and upon these We threw an enormous guam
tity of earth, and soon had a comparatiyrly
strong line of defence.
We wcr" all very tired. but had jolly time
Ill building these works. Near the barn there
was deep we'll partially filled with water. In
the darkness we had not noticed it. Two of lI>
were carrying great stick of timber upon om
shoulders. Ny chlm was carving the foremost
end. while | was staggering along in the rear.
Suddenly. without a word of warming the for
ward end of the timber came to the ground. 1t
was 50 dark that could not see my companion
| loudly called his name and to my surprise,
when his voice came back in reply. it came from
the depths of the earth. | quickly made my
way to the scene of disaster and found him i'll a
we'll twenty feet deep, and mp to his ears in Wa
ter An alarm was given. assistance quickly
out. At two O'Clock in the morning the line of
works was completed. TIL" rain WAS now pour
ing down in torrents. We spread our blankets
upon the dryest spots we could find. and laid
down to sleep. Daylight dawncd-cold, Wet.
and rhceress. Thick, heavy mi>ts cnvelopcd
us. As they gradually cleared away we saw
the rebels advanced line entrcnchcd upon the
field in our front, some eighty rods distant
Theirs were light defcnses and evidently cover
ed stronger ones in their rear
The rain continued to fall in great quantities.
There was no firing between the hostile lines
and we sat in the mud and looked at each
other until late in the afternoon. At four
o'clock We advanced and carried the encmv's
works by assault, they falling back to the woods
beyond. We then moved to the right flank fol-
Il short distance, and formed our line to charge
upon the rebel works. A >kirmiSh line was
thrown out in advance. The rebels opcncc
upon Us with artillery Shells fell all around
us. 1t was evident that the enemy was pre-
pared to receive us. The charge was not made
and we returned to the rebel carthWorks WE
had just captured, which we made as strong a,
possible. Before dark our skirmiShers were
driven i'll by the rebel line Of battle, which wa,
advancing to rccapture the line of works. A
battery was sent out to support our regiment
The guns were placed right in the line of bat
tie. and were heavily charged with grape an,