The National tribune., 1883-09-27
A Rattling Account OF the Fight at the
Rridoe


A Rattling Account OF the Fight at the
Bridge.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Let the old banner wave and the drums beat
while we march regiment after regiment once
more through the siege of Morris Island S. G.
l like to see the old comrades awakening and
Zeaously watching along the picket line, lest
some stray shot should tarnish their regimental
record. Comrade Knox, Of Co. G, SeyeBty-sixth
Pennsylvania volunteers, we accord your regi-
ment the honor of making the assault on the
rebel works on the evening of July 11th, and /
would here say that in my opinion no better
regiment than the Seventy Pennsylvania
volunteers ever trod Southern soil. You think
it mistake about the Third New Hampshire
participating In the reconnaissance. We do
not claim to have been actively engaged dur
ing that particular action but we We're III line
as active support awaiting orders and stopping
rebel bullets, as cur casualty roll will attest.
However, it matters not; We all had our full
shore of hard work, and each regiment and
battery were essential TO the success of the rest
in any undertaking. So let each regiment or
battery write and tell us what it did.
My recolections, Comrade Knox, of the bat
tie of Pocotaligo s. c., are these: General
Mitchell from the Army of the West. having
acquired the reputation Of fighting the rebles
with frebrands, burning bridges and prop
erty, &c, was ordered 10 succeed General Hun
ter in command of the Department of the
South, and no sooner was he fairly in command
than he conceived the idea of organizing force
under General Brannan to destroy railroad
communication between Charleston and Savan-
nah by burning the railroad bridge at Pocotal-
igo The few troops stationed at Hilton Head
and Beaufort were accordingly put in fighting
trim, and each man was supplied with three
days rations and q small bundle of pitch-wood
to throw on the bridge to aid the conlagration.
We went aboard the steamers in the evening
and at daybreak next morning we Were dIsem-
barlred at some point up Broad River. We then
took up the line of march aud trudged along
until nearly noon before we came up with any
considerable force of the enemy. At last, just
as we were emerging from the timber into
deserted cornfield, few stray mimic balls caused
us to duck our heads and prepare for & fight.
/ think the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania vol
unteers were deployed skirmish line, and
sent forward TO Teconnoiter, while one section
of Hamilton's battery took the left of the road,
supported by the Third New Hampshire, and
another section of the same battery the right
of the road, with the Fifty-hfth Pennsylvania
volunteers in support. In line of battle we
moved quickly across the field to where the
slsirmish line were having lively fusillade,
and were greeted with roar of artillery from
the rebel cannon, whose Ere luckily passed too
high to harm our line though the musketry
played havoc along it, and many poor comrades
fell before we could dislodge the rebels from
the timber, where they lay concealed from our
view. But our battery made their hiding
place pretty warm, and the splendid charge of
the entire line routed them from their position
and from behind trees and fences. 1t was
contest for every inch of ground butwe gained
till night, when the enemy crossed q small
creek near the bridge, and we had quite de-
cisive battle to see who should hold the bridge
for the night. endorsements continued to ar
rive in large numbers for the enemy, and
General Brannan deemed it advisable TO with
draw from the field, which we did quietly,
under cover of night. in good order. The
enemy did not follow, but simply wished to be
let alone.
The Forty eighth New York volunteers fred
into a trainlead of the enemy's re-enforce-
ments, which created quite commotion
among the Johnnies. A certain battery poured
grape and canister into them also, which added
to their discontinue greatly. Our loss was
heavy on this expedition, and we did not burn
the bridge either! We returned TO our respect
i've camps the next day weary and sore. | was
detailed to assist the wounded on board the
steamer Boston, which took down 2l1 to the
general hospital at Hilton Head, while other
boats brought scores of wounded.
l was there, surely, and my regiment also.
Don't you believe itf Keep the ball rolling.
and should you charge Fort Fisher, N C., or
land at Bermuda Hundred, Va, aud move on
the defenses of Richmond and Petersburg, you
may hear from me again. J. G. GRAHAM,
COOP THUNDER, MINI. Sd N. II. Vols.