The National tribune., 1884-04-10
SOME ISTEEEsrrNa LETTERS.

81. IL. Cunningham, company B. 18th Wis
scribes the effect Of the attack upon that regi-
ment. Perhaps no regiment in the service can
better afford to laugh with the comrsde over
the first and only stampede that this we'll
1 known regiment ever INDUCED in.
The 18th regiment, Wisconsin volunteers,
| disembarzed at Pittsbnrg Landing the even
| ing of the 5th Of April just at dark We were
marched some four IA lies out from the landing
toward Hamburg, that night. and camped in
peach orchard. We got TO our camp about ten
o'clock at night; did not set up orr tents, but
spread them on the ground and slept on them.
Ia the morning, about O'Clock, number of
the boys got up and gathered up some wood
and started FIRE and made some coffee. ! was
sitting by the fire teasing piece of ham, when
we heard several guns fred 10 the right and
/ front of where we We're eamped. In few mo-
ments there was quite yolIey of musketry in
| the same direction. There was considerable
l speculation among the boys as TO what il meant.
| The general impression was that ii was the
plckets returning 10 camp and firing off their
| guns, for You must rccollcct that we were
green in such matters, and supposed that the
picket-gnard was only kept out during the
night Our major says I" am going TO see what
| that firing means" He threw the saddle ON his
horse and rode Off in the direction of the firing,
! which by this time had got 10 be 4 continuous
roar. IN about fifteen inmates the major came
galloping back aud called TO Col. AlbAn TO have
the regiment fall in, as there was going to be q
battle. He said: / rode ont 10 the light about
half mile, and the rebels began shooting at me
and shot my horse" The horse was wounded
ia the breast. The long-roll was beat and We
fell into line. There were only a few of US that
bad any cartridges, and We divided with those
that had none. On our way up the Tennessee
River there were twenty rounds issued to each
man, and we were told TO try cur guns. Most
OF the boys shot all of their cartridges away
before we got to Pittsburg landing. After
dividing up with some Of the boys near me- SO
they could load their guns, had three car.
tridges left. After loading our guns tho colo
mel marched us out into the woods about forty
{ rods, where we halted and stood for about
five or ten minutes. He then gave the order
70 about-face and marched us back to ouI
camp. when we aboHt-faced and came TO an
order arms. During this time the firing had
been increasing ia volume on the right of oui
position, and the cannon had begun TO boom
We could hear an occasional bullet whistle
over our heads After standing whore We
were for some time we saw line of men or
the hill in front OF us. 1t was still so dark
that we could not tell how they were dressed
j heard the colonel remark that they were oui
pickcts filling back. We watched them anti
they got in the hollow out of our sight JUS
taen man a white horse rode back MP K
0 the top Of the hill toward US. We were In
] line about five or six rods from the edge Of tho
: brush and timber. and the rebs marched up tx
the edge of the timber and fired vollcy into u
while we were standing at an order; we had N,
skirmishcrs out on picket or anything else t.
$ giye us any warning Of their approach. Thu
. first yolley killed and wounded cutie mum
{. Der. and immediately The order was given Il
, retreat; it WIS no retreat, but q stampede
everyone FOR himself. After running TO