The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-17
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.


To TIE EDITOR: After reading the article
IN your issue of June I9. by Comrade w Z.
Webster OF Cowan's battery, il occurred TO me
that was there, too. 1t brought TO mind many
events and scenes that occurred in the very
short space of time Immediately following
Sedgwick's repnlse, lif you choose to call it
SUCH. Our brigade Hancock Sd came in on the
double-quick as Sedgwick's division was falling
back. We were composed Of the 9th Me-, 5th
Wis. 43d n Y, and s9th Pa. IL was a fearfully
hot Gay, and we had been running all the morn
ing to get on the field, and as we came ND upon
the dOnble-quick through piece of timber TO
the east Of the cornfed, by the right flank, we
saw abundant evidence of the rout or disaster
OF Sedgwick's division. The woods and fields
were full OF stragglers and wounded men. Cam
non shot and shell were flying in ali directions.
IT seemed as though the air was alive with
missiles OF destruction. Gen. Sumner came
riding up, bare headed, his long, white hair
streaming IN the wind, his tail form erect. and
gave some orders in clear, distinct voice Our
brigade formed quickly into line and advanced
to the edge OF the coTniield and laid down,
where the ground fell of considerably, SO that
we were partially covered, expecting every
moment to be ordered to charge. AS we came
out Of the field we passed battery on our i'm
mediate right in position. and " believing like
mad III was, i am quite sure. Capt. Franks
n. Y. battery; ] think they we're 5-inch Ma
poleon guns. The cannoneers. many of them.
were working with their sleeves rolled up and
some of them bare 20 the skin 10 their waist.
Snd were black and grim with powder aud
smoke The guns were vomiting forth grape
and canister, double shott5d at every discharge.
and fairly ieaped from their position at every
shot. They were making q perfect he'll of
every inch of ground in fTcnt and on either
flank. j never witnessed such rapid firing or
saw guns worked as they were. Capt Frank
was riding back and forth calling for supports
for his battery, for, as we came up. his battery
was wholly unsupported. In our immea late
front the ground WAS literally covered with dead
and dying. The gray coats Of the Confederates
were thickiy mingled with the blue of the
Union dead. The green coats Of the u. S. sharp
shooters aud the red trousers and embroidered
jackets Of The l4th Brooklyn lay Tricky among
the corn hills, and along By the rail fence were
whole wiBr0ws OF dead OF both blue and gray
The sunken road was filled with dead and dying.
Way over by the edge OF the field nearest
the Union lines, by the east wood, lay the body
Of n rebel Colonel shot ali 10 pieces. The rebel
sharpsho0ters we're posted in the tree-tops in
the west woods, and were picking of our men
one by one. Little Charlie King-a bright
eyed, dsrk-haired drummer boy Of the z96h
Pa, about II years of age, and the favorite of
his regiment-was standing behind me, when
8 mimic ball pierced his breast and he fell into
my arms calling the name OF his mother The
wound did not cause death al the time go We
took him 10 the rear and gave him in charge of
hesurgeon. But we could not wait and. leaving
him In gentle hands, We hurried back TO the
front As the wound was bad one he must
have died. but l have often thought I would
like to know whether he died ornOt Can any
member of the 49th tell meG AS regards the
ether battery cannot now recall the name
it was further to the right OF Franks aud was
probably Cowans.-H- ID. BowLEs, Co. C, 9Th
he, CheIryfeld NE.