The National tribune., 1883-05-24

| LlaU WAS part OF the frame Jnab supported one
| of the tanks, where he could see down the rail-
road for long distance, to watch and see if the
rebels left were re-cnforced. After getting the
men in place as best ! could for protection from
the fire of the enemy-which now began in
good earnest as daylight broke and revealed us
| to their living gaze-I found the ditch filed to
/ its utmost capacity, and no other alternative
offered me but TO sit down the side of the
| Hill in the rear of the men. Curtis reported
\ repeatedly that re-enforcements were arriving,
/ and that was also evident from the amount
| Of firing that was being done The other
| companies were no better screened than
we were, except that they were little out of
! the line of direct fire. The enemy were COM
| pletely hid from our view, and we were only
made aware of their position by the smoke
from their guns, while every movement that
our men made was sure to be seen by them and
draw their fire. The position occupied by your
humble correspondent was not very pleasant, to
say the least. Bullet. after bullet struck the
ground all around me-some so close as to be
quite annoying. Our fire was entirely at ran
dom, and ordered the men to lie still, hold
their fire, and save their ammunition until
they could do some execution with it.
SENT To THEIR DEATH.
An order now came countermanding that to
| destroy the bridge, and ordering our company
to be sent across the bridge and dislodge the
enemy, and company was selected to perform
this perilous duty. From my man Curtis I
learned that the force over there could not be
less than 500, and probably was largely in ex-
cess of that number. What had company B
ever done that they should be sent to their
death in such a manner? We were perfectly
willing to face the enemy where we had any
chance at all but here we could do nothing
but walk out on the ties of that cursed bridge
and be shot down like so many cattle. / felt
little like disobeying orders just then, but did
not dare TO let my men see or know how felt
/ called, Attention, company b." and every
man sprung into line quick as thought. They
had never faltered, never fiinched never lag
ged behind when duty called, and now they
were ready to obey this order. A more dare
devil movement than this could not well be
conceived. Forward, march !" and away we
went to the bridge. File left, march !" and
on TO the bridge company marched as steadily
as at grand review cleft, left, left !" every
foot came down in exact time as they stepped
from tie to tie. A fierce, set look of defiance
and determination was on each face, and with
lips firmly compressed, heads erect they pressed
on. There were five spans to that bridge, and
the middle span had been reached, when shout
was heard. Halt; countermarch take your
former position and hold the bridge at all haz-
ards!" came from mounted officer riding at
breakneck speed towards our position. The
order was given and back we went to our ditch,
but not as we left it. Five poor mangled bodies
went floating down the stream, and were pulled
ashore by the boys of the Sixty-sixth Indiana
The rebels now brought to the front two pieces
of artillery and began to shell us, which called
out our guns to answer them, and quite little
artillery battle was fought The shot and shell
fell IN among the enemy so thick that they
were glad to haul off their guns and cease
firing. Major Bowen and his little command
held that bridge until o'clock, subjected to
heavy fire of muskets, rifles, shot guns and
cannon. at which time they were relieved
by the Second brigade and six pieces of
artillery, which opened terrific fire of shell
and grape-shot, and continued it at short in
teryals until o'clock p M, when crossing
was effected. The entire infantry force was
then put across the bridge, line of battle was
formed, and strong line of skirmishers thrown
forward. General Sweeney moved his brigade
TO the extreme right, placed the Fifty second
Illinois in advance, the other regiments being
ON the main line. Company B was again
called on as skirmisherS, notwithstanding that
they had had hard work to perform since
o'clock in the morning. But this kind of duty
just suited those boys, and right cheerfully did
they respond TO the order.
a BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
Itwas beautiful sight to behold Language
fails me in attempting a description of that
scene. The sky was cloudless, and as the sun
was getting well to the west the heat was not
excessive. The ground on which our line was
formed was long stretch of open country run
ming along the east bank of the creek, stretch
ms back about two miles to timber. Of a
gently undulating character it gradually rose
as 1t left the stream and approached the woods.
The three brigades were all in line, with Skin
nishers well to the front, their reserves well
up aud ready to assist if necessity required
The enemy showed a bold 'front.' throwing
forward heavy line of skirmshers of cavalry
eli x.-l,v a%ra,% 4 Il
grand sight 10 the eye of soldier to look upon
that long line of blue all moving up in battle
array--the skirmishers, then their supports
then the whole command in one continuous
line OF battle nearly two miles long and all
visible to every eye. Back went the rebel
cavalry, and forward pressed the boys in blue,
eager for the fray. A good many shots were
exchanged, but at such long range that but
little execution was done. At last the timber
was reached, and our foe had disappeared en-
tIreIy from our gaze. Scouts were sent in vari-
Gus directions, but no enemy was to be found
Where had he gone, and why had he left our
front SO suddenly? If his whole force had
been in our front, why did he not give us
battle? The truth soon dawned upon our
minds. The willy Forrest was dipping u.s. He
was off after the force under Colonel Streight,
anu had succeeded IN capturing it at Rome. We
had done all we could, but our efforts had
proved Intellectual. The work assigned us was
accomplished, and it only remained for us to
retrace steps to Corinth. We had left there ON
the 18th with ten days rations, and thiswas the
fourteenth day out, and it takes but little figur-
ing 10 prove that our rations were about exhaust
ed and four days were yet to be provided for.
This country had been the home of Rhoddy's
cavalry and had furnished them subsistence
Our cavalry also had made repeated excursions
INTO IT. and consequently there was absolutely
nothing TO eat left on or near our line of march,
At o'clock a. m. on the 2Sth we commenced
our return march, and, as the excitement incl
dent TO the march was now gone, the pangs of
hunger began TO be felt, and the men who had
been so patient under so many trying circum-
stances now became clamorous for rations
THE RETURN.
May 1st we reached Burnville where we
were met by a train of provisions, which was
hailed with delight by the troops In the
morning the cavalry took leave OF us, going off
on scout and taking seven days rations with
them. The wounded, sick, and footsore soldiers
were put on board the train and sent to Cor
NTH, while those that were able walked in.
reaching home at o'clock p. IN. For the first
and only time in all my experience as soldier
rode in an ambulance. / ought to have gone
on the train, but there was no other commits
stoned officer with the company, so | attempted
to march; but during the last few miles l was
compelled to ride had taken but few steps
after the 18th of April that had not been ac-
companied with pain, and they were many
times marked with blood and in all our term
Of service we had not found so much danger
crowded into so few hours as at Old Town
hran d,rn 1..,. al l.