, 1882-04-21
"Hatcher's BuD.''

with TWO DIVISIONS OF tne Nlntn, leaving
the line of works at 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 27, 1864,
with four days rations in our haver-
sacks, we moved of rapidly by the left,
striking the enemys picket line about
ten o'clock.
"Pop! pop pop! Boom! boom!
boom We're in for it again, boys; so,
steady on the left there, and close up"
Away into the woods we plunge in line
of battle, through briers and tangled
undergrowth, beneath the great trees
dripping with rain. We lose the points
of the compass, and halt every now and
then 70 close up gap in the line by
bearing off to the right or left. Then
forward we go through the brush again,
steady on the left and guide right, until
I feel certain that officers, AS we'll as men,
are getting pretty we'll Into the woods"
us to the direction of our advance. 1t is
raining, and we have no sun to guide us,
and the moss is growing on the wrong
side of the trees. / see one Of our gen.
erals sitting on his horse, with his pocket
compass on the pommel of his saddle,
peering around into the interminable
tangle of brier and brush, with an ex-
preston of no little perplexity.
Yet still on, boys, while the pickets are
popping away and the rain is pouring
down. The evening falls early and cold
as we come to stand in line of battle,
and put up breastworks for the night,
We have halted on the slope of ra-
vine. Minie-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
Zip! zipr goes on among the tree tops
and sings us to sleep, at length as we lie
down shivering under our india rubber
blankets, to get what rest we may. How
long we had slept did not know. when
some one shook me, and in whisper the
the word passed around.
"Wake up, boy! Wake up, boys!
Don't make any noise, and take care that
your tin cups and canteen's don't rattle.
We've got to get out OF this on double
Jump"
We were in a 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 line! 1t needed only day.
light to let the enemy see his
game and sweep us off the boards. And
daylight was fast coming in the east.
Long after, Company A Boy, who
was on picket that night, told me that,
upon going to the rear somewhere about
three o'clock, to cook cup Of coffee at
half extinguished fire, a cavalry picket
ordered him back within the lines.
"The lines are not back there; my
regiment is out yonder in front, on
skirmish"
"No," said the cavalryman; "our cav
airy is the extreme picket-line, and our
orders are to send in all men be-
yond u.s."
"Then take me at once to General
Bragg's headquarters, said the Company
A Boy.
When General Bragg learned the true
state Of affairs. he at once ordered out an
escort of FIVE hundred men to bring in
our regiment. Meanwhile, we were try
ing to get back of our own accord.
"This way, men! said voice in q
whisper ahead.
"This way, men" 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 about
in the tangle, we had twice crossed the
same fallen tree, and 30 must have been
moving in circle.
And now, as the day is dawning in the
east, and the enemy's pickets see us try
ing to steal away,a large force is ordered
against us, and comes sweeping down
with yells and whistling bullets-juHt as
the escort of FIVE hundred, with re-assur-
ing cheers, comes up from the rear to
our support!
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 conflict RACES fierce, and high in
the dawning light and under the drip
ping 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 whistling lead,
and the deep bass of the cannon wakes
the echoes Of the forest But at last the
musketry-fre 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 fell