The National tribune., 1884-01-03

the bushes to the top of the Hill, we came to
the road where orr line of battle had been
formed. Here we met sight thai fairly took
our breath. We could hear heavy muskesry
firing short distance to our right as we were
now facing by the rear flank, and the whole
top of that road was apparently being lifted up
bodily by the bailets. We took refuge behind
large tree and, cautiously pOking out our
heads, saw a large body of gray coats, evil
IDENTIFY the column whose movement across the
eottoG-ield we had watched with so much IN
terest, not two hundred yards away, halted,
and firing in volleys down that blessed road.
It did not look to ne IS if a man conld cross
that road without being bored as full Of holes
as a coander.
Looking back we could see that gray lire
nearly across the cotton-feld,
COMING VOW AT DoURLE-QUIcK,
and we knew chat tile road must be crossed,
and at once. Said the deacon: have the
longest legs; I'll go first and you follow:
good bye old fellow, if / never see you again.
and away he went. i took one long breath
and then jumped as I never jumped before or
since. The road was cleared, perhaps, two
rods wide vet think touched only once till
/ was in the brush on the other side. Yet it
seemed an hour that it took me TO cross. /
could distinctly feel not less than dozen bull
lets meandering around in my body.-Egh
can almost feel them now,-but in reality got
not q scratch. The deacon got a bail through
one leg of his pantalcons, passing so close to his
skin that we had to draw them pretty tight to
make the holes meet, yet never breaking the
skin, and only raising slight welt.
We found the regiment in line little in
front of Battery Robbinett, and glad we were
to find them. 1t was now about o'clock in the
afternoon. and if the rebels had pushed right
on in my opinion, Corinth would have been
theirs that night. Everything, so far as
I could see was III eOfsusion The flank FIRE
had cut up our command, and it was reported
| that the guns In the earthworks were not in
position. 1t was not long, however, TIL order
was brought about and confidence established,
I and If at > o'clock the rebels had attempted it,
/ they would have had trouble. Leaving us
! alone till morning sealed their fate. Durin z
/ the night the heavy guns were got in position.
/ the lines established the light batteries posted,
/ and
/ DAYLIGHT FOUND Us READY
at all points. The first brigade Of orr division
/ lay just in front of Battery Robbiuett with the
/ 18th Missouri, OF our brigade, Is reserve. The
rest of our brigade, the ID, lay in front Of Bat
| terry Williams, with our right flank resting on
/ the railroad which ran between Robbinett and
Williams. We were IN plain view of the as
( sau.t of the Texan rangers, under Colonies
Rogers and Ross, aud a grander or more daring
movement il would be difficult to conceive
Ia front of the battery, for distance, /
| should say. Of nearly eighty rods, the heavy
I timber had been felled Gud the limbs sharpcned
/ and pointing onward made place difficult
for man singIy and alone to get through. The
read ran i'll zigzag way through this abatis
u few rods straight towards Battery Williams
then angling towards Robbinett each bead OF
the Rad swept by the guns Of these batteries
/ alternately. The whole abatis was under a
TnuTderous fire from Robbinett Williams, and
Phillips still farther to the left heavy siege
/ pieces, twenty and thirty pound PARROTS and
howitzers in each, while between them several
light batteries were working with all then
might. We were ordered to lie Eat, that the gun:
of Batteries Williams aud Phillips could play
over cur heads, but many Of US could not re
frain from watching the grand assault
As they approached the works they were
met by q whitening fire from our 1st brigade
but, without deigniDg reply. they swept righ
on, and, not giving the brigade time to load
again, swept them as IL by magic back to anl
over the battery. Oh, It was a sublime thiDs
TO see, but as the rebels climbed the paTape
the 1st brigade rallied and, re-enforced By tn,
18th Missouri, gave them enc volley, and wen
for them with the bayoGet In less time thar
it takes TO write it
THEY MELTED AWAY
and were gone what were left Of them, bael
through the abatis, while the gunners in Bat
terry RebbiRett opened on them again Will
canister, and Williams and Phillips witt
spherical case, fairly moving the surface Of th
ground.
The battle of Eorinth was over, and when
half hour later skirraishers were sent out. the.
encountered the rear-guard of the enem,
more than a mile away and in full retreat.
As soon as it was evident that the work wa
done | went over 20 Robbinett to have a vie5
of the work there. | have never seen any
thing half so horrible. From the abatis t
the ditch in front of the works was elea
space of about ffty-yards, and for a space OF
hundred yards or more IN length this clea
ground was covered so thickiy with mingle'
gray and blue-eoated men that one coul
scarcely step without stepping on them. TIL
ditch was filed literally full and the slope an,
parapet covered as thick as they could lie-il
places, two or three deep.
/ think, for res0lute daring and bravery, thi
charge has few, if any, superioTs. If the assault
OF Pickett's division at Gettysburg SURPRISES il
can only say it was something grand Afte
viewing the surroundings it occurred to me t
so out where we had piled our knapsaclSs ani
see if there was anything left. The zigza
road through the abatis was literally sErewl
with dead men, and about half way through
was q small brass cannon which they had al
tempted to bring with them, but shot froT
: one of the heavy guns had knocked both wheel
into flinders, and the gun lay harmless IN tn
road.
| found the remains of our knapsaelzs, bu
alas! only the remains The JohnEies la
confscated their contents. and. among othe
! things, a diary which / had been keeping sine
my first enlistment, with the rather dim antic
patton of some time writing a history of tn
. regiment if, in the meantime, did not act
Il
ward felt any inclination TO attempt it, az
: doubtless therein lay great loss to the iters
! tRre Of the country.
THE SOLDIERS REPLY.