The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-12
The Affair OF Yellow BARON.
% the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

10 the Editor NATIONAL
have been waiting in vain for some member of
our old brigade to write something about the Red
River campaign. Our brigade consisted of the One
Hundred and Nineteenth, Fifty eighth, and One
Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois, Twenty
first Missouri, Eighty-nnth Indiana and Ninth
Indiana battery, and was the First brigade, Third
division, Sixteenth Army Corps. commanded by
General Moore win endeavor TO give you short
sketch of the battle of Yellow Bayou May 49, 1864.
In the morning, about IL o'clock, our brigade
crossed Yellow Bayou on pontoons, and moving by
the flank marched up Bayou de Gaise under COM
mand of Colonel David Moore, of the Twenty-tirst
Missouri-old Peg Leg" as the boys used TO call
him. After going mile on doube-ouiclS we halted,
when the shells from the enemy's guns suddenly
appraised US that the ball had opened. The brigade
battle with the Ffty-eighth Illinois, Eighty ninth
Indiana, and Twenty-first Missouri the left and
the One Hundred and Nineteenth and One Hun
dred and Twenty-second Illinois on the right.
In that position lay in line of battle for some
time, while terrible artillery fire from the
emys batteries was brought to bear on the Ninth
Indiana battery, plowing up the earth about the
battery and strewing the ground with limbs cut by
cannon balls from the large oaks The mimic balls
also beginln2 TO come thiek ana last among our
ranks ut this time General Mower came up and
ordered us forward, whereupon the brigade sprang
to their feet and, with fixed bGonets. charged and
drove the enemy back, infiictlng severe punish
ment. Let me mention here that it in this
charge that Captain Clifford, of the Eighty ninth
Indiana, fell while leading his men on to victory.
Having fallen back out of the heavy oak timber
and taken position in the open field, the brigade
was reformed in line of battle. A thick cluster of
underDruSn IN 'front.' oDScured view OF the POSI-
ton of the enemy. In the meantime the artillery
FIRE was becoming incessant. The old oaks taking
fire from the explosion of shells and the limbs
tumbling down presented scene terrible beyond
description 1t was in this position that
ordered to double charge guns with canister to
keep the rebels back till our line formed with
fixed bayonets, when, in obedience to orders, the
brigade moved forward at the double-quick pass
ing through the underbrush by such paths could
be found. On arriving at the other side we found
the enemy in full force. Here both sides fought
desperately, and in many instances the fighting
was from hand to hand, bayonets being freely used.
After desperate struggle we took the rebel posi-
ton and drove them from the field with great
slaughter, capturing many prisoners, While we
We're in this position comrade with a load of am
munition drove up in rear. Just then cannon
ball came tearing along taking his wagon-cover
off, but leaving him still sitting in his position
without having received scratch. The wagon
was set fire. If he is still living, would like to
hear from him. VIII some one of our old brigade
tell us about one more of the many battles we
fought. and oblige an old eomrade.
g. w. MCKINsEY,
KoKoMo, IND. 9th Ind. Battery.