The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-04-21


While we were yet before Petersburg,
two divisions of our corps (the Filthy
with two divisions of the Ninth, 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, Oct 81, 1864,
with four days rations In our haver-
sacks, we moved off rapidly by the left,
striking the enemy's picket-line about
10 o'clock.
"Popl pop! popl Booml 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
underground, beneath the great trees
dripping with rain. We lose the points
of the compass, and halt every now and
then to close up a 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 well as men
are getting pretty well Unto the woods"
as 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 Generals sitting On his horse, with
his pocket-compass ons the pommel of
his saddle, peering around into the In
terminable tangle of brier and brush,
with an expression of no little perplexity.
Yet still ON, boys, while the pickets
are popping away and the rain is 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.
We have halted on the slope of
ravine. 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!
zip !" 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 sleep we may
How long we had slept I did not know,
when some one shook me, and in a
whisper the word passed around
"Wake up, boys! Wake up, boys |
Don't make any noise, and take care
your tin cups and canteens don't rattle.
We've got to get out of this on a double
jump"
We we're in 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 Iine-were, in fact, quite out
side the picket-line 1t needed only
daylight to let the enemy see his game,
and sweep us off the boards. And day
light was fast coming in the east.
Long after a Company A boy, who
was on picket that night, told me that,
upon going to the rear somewhere about
8 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 Skin
mish |"
"No," said the cavaIryma1; our
cavalry is the extreme picket line, and
our orders are TO send in all men beyond
us"
Bragg's headquarters, said the Compa-
ny A boy.
When Gen. Bragg learned the true
state of affairs he at once ordered out an
escort of 500 men to bring in our regi-
ment. Meanwhile we were trying to get
back OF our own accord.
"This way, men p said voice in
whisper ahead.
This way, meh !" 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 he'd twice crossed
the same fallen tree, and so must have
been moving in circle.
And now, as the day is dawning in the
east, and the enemy'1 pickets see us try
ing to steal away, large force is or
dered against us, and comes sweeping
down with yeIls and whistling bullets
just as the escort of 500, with reassuring
cheers, comes up from tE6 rear to our
support
Instantly we are in the cloud and
smoke OF Dattle. a battery OF afGlIIefy,
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-
fict RACES fierce and nigh in the dawning
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 whistling 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 ali, we are brought
within the lines again, begrimed with
smoke, and leaving many of our poor
fellows dead or wounded on the field.
Anxiously every man looked about for
his chum and messmates, lost sight of
during the whirling storm of battle in
the twilight woods. And I, too, looked
but where was Andy ?-"R ecolLections
of m DT7LO19loe on Inn, - an ~ N;cbOL1e