The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-28

to before says 1t was twenty miles from Pleasant
Till To Sabine Crossroads. This made n march OF
forty Males. II we that our regirsefs went
into action at the roads: adding to this cur morn,
ing march Of eight miles. had marched forty
eight miles, and took part in a battle Ny own
We were in line Of battle all OF the forenoon
awaiting the Confedcrates. NJ 2 o'ciock D. M COM
panies and ID, OF the 30th, were ordered out "a
skirmishers into the woods IN front OF our fBene-
diets brigade. Captain Warren III BoyntSrs. with
company d. was ordered 60 deploy his company
and advance well into tile woods while Captain
Geo. W, Randall held company r. as reserve At
fifteen minutes before o'clock the Ccnsederates
advanced line of battle. though there hnfE feer,
picket firing for sonic hours besore C.t,taiSs
BoyEton came TO the reserve. SAYING that his conn
pany had been driven IN and scattered. with con-
siderable loss by alIne Of battle which then at-
Sancltg- The orteT had been gwen not 20 attempt
to hold the enemy. bat draw HIM Of the woods
netting upon this order Randall who commanded
TIE Whole skiEnissii-iine. marched company Z out
OF the woods under heavy fire. which, for the
most part, passed over our heads. though discon-
esrtea some members OF our company and gave
the officers some trouble 20 keep them in their
places. which, however, they succeeded in doing
and not left the company while crossing tic,
Held between the woods aud brigade. W hem
nearly out TO the line Of our Reneeiet y Brigade
Captain Hoffman. of General Enlorys stair rode
out to meet Us. and ordered RAINFALL 10 l,uf his
company into tieldeitch in front OF oar brigade
on the right of the I62d New York volunteers IN
front of battery eTaylorl- We were not long in
covering ourselves from their Ere and ia the ditch
watched the approach of the rebels who when
fairly out OF the woods halted for a minute or two
TO stralghten up their line. They threw M their
hats and yelled, and seemed eager to devotr rs
The rebels came on with a fun brigade and the
led New York began to fas back without deliver
ing half voiley, followed BY the l65th New York
and ls5d View York. note that Colonel FesseFl-
den says that the 10th New York were the first to
OH the field
As Randall was fighting his company under his
own eye, he did not give the order to rise Up and
ire until one two minutes after the New York
regiments referred to had left "a, and the enemy
We're within easy range then come the order as
above. and company OF afty men served notice
with muskets upon the oneonaing brigade and we
quickly got q direct response and such a severe
one that our boys began 20 fall al points. First
dead there. Seeing that it was useless to attempt
TO hold a whole brigade with one company Cap
tain Randall gave the order to retreat.
AS we began retreat up the slope CAPTAIN
Holman again made his appearance, and ordered
Randall, with his company, TO lie down and hold
Taylor battery, Just behind us This order was
obeyed, but men could not long stand this ordeal
and, as Captain Randall was shot through the
shoulder while executing the order. again re-
When the writer Of this passed beswixt the guns
of TayoFs battery left The field only two fsgses
battery. just behind the battery some rods we
came upon a new line Of battle. which proved to
be- upon inquiry. Shaw's brigade 9th Missouri
lnfantryl OF the 10th corps. The CcnfcdeTaes came
on and took the battery efayIorsl oHt only to pos
sess 1t for very brief period. the fire Of 5haws
brigade referred to- together with portions Of cur
general charge upon the enemy pushed them back
and, finally into the woods from whence they had
the 10th corps was in line of battle and we rallied
with them. charged the enemy and drove him hack
INTO the woods with terrible loss and many prison.
ers left IN our hands. They took battery but We
took il back again from them immediately
Here fix the fact Of the fierce contest for posses
sion OF battery for well remember the dead and
them back and one asked me to loosen his belt a
he was IN great distress
eI.n
the eolors OF the Both Maine nay left and rallied
a few men of my company about them I well re-
member the sound OF bail as it struck OF tbs
wound.
Following the charee which was general by this
time, made attempt 20 capture a prisoner "a
many had taken shelter from danger ia the field
bitches and behind the bushes rather than take the
chance Of running back to the woods before our
muskets, but some kind q conrade was aiwavsa
few feet IN advance OF me, and my desire WAS not
gratiied-
Advancing to the woods on the Ieft of the posi-
ton taken up at the outset OF the battle by bene-
diets brigade found the Seth Maine in order in
the woods, where they, with others had sriven the
Toe aud as the Fighting Was over gained pernis-
sion from the commanding officer to return to the
battlefield to look for Captain Randall. Before I
could cross the field il became quite dark and il
was useless 70 continue my search further went
into one OF the negro cabins the Geld with one
eomTade Of my company, where found q
wounded Confederate from Prices army whe had
been shot through the heel Sleep soon 0verDow-
cred rs ! had grave doubts OF Banks staying
dDillty- so NottG awake myself Gaen hour
ON the watch for the retreat which / expected
would take place. AT O'Clock heard the arlil-
lery wheels and aroused my companion. babe
goodbye to my newly-raade Confederate friend.
and struck smart pace II was soon light. and
became anxious to ind my command and by great
effort UP with them at 9 o'clock. I then
learned that company Z had lost twenty-seven-
teen killed and wounded and three prisoners
Nearly every member Of company Z was hit in
clothing equipments. lily diary says that the
loss of the regiment was I39 killed and wounded,
beside the prisoners. We eamped the night Of the
10th at Pine Ridge, and the next iay 81 arrived
at Grand Ec0re, Louisiana and the 18th went On
picket, and remained in the woods all night.
we'll remember officer horse IN front Of
the brigade which advanced upon while we
We're in the field ditch. he rode back and fortfs
regardless Of danger. John :. Frost a private OF
company z and the best shot IN the regimens OBJ
served him, UP n the ditch and fred at him.
He fell rom his saddle. This was observed by
several comrades. it was before Captain Randall
gave the order to fire. Was it General Walker the
Confederate, who wounded in that charger
Colonel Benedict killed. and Colonel Fsssen-
den, of the 35th Maine, obtained command Of the
brigade. and retained il.
The 3]fh Maine had not loEg been in the service,
and some fun was made of Us, Of course. when we
joined the older regiments, bat heard nothing
more OF that after the battle Of Pleasant Iii.