The National tribune., 1884-01-03

Over they 20, and we watch them with breath
less anxiety 20 almost TO the tree where
rebel has been shooting from. They get the
boxes on their shoulders and return safe,
though the targets of many shots. When these
boxes were emptied and used,
THE cARTRIDGE-BoxEs or THE DEAD
and wounded furnished the supply.
Late in the afternoon our working force be-
came small, so many now were non-combat-
ants. We passed over them at every step.
section of battery was captured ut our left by
the first rebel line, bat was not used until now,
and mast have been disabled. About 5 o'clock.
/ suppose, they commenced enflading us with
canister.
Colonel Miles, commander OF the 18th, de-
cided to move his regiment out by right flank
and form a new line. The 2Gth followed, ex-
cept those Immediately in contact with the
enemy, about thirty of whom remained and
kept UP spirited fire to let the regiments have
time to establish themselves. Finally, when
they withdrew, it was by dividing the force,
and one-half falling back a few rods, loading
and holding the ground, TO allow the squad IN
advance to fall back, keeping up brisk IRE TO
hold the enemy down from firing on the squad
retreating. Thus, hand over hand, they went
back to Bald Hill and entered the fort. do
not think that half Of the number who re-
manned to hold the enemy ever reached the
lDIA SosalS were btGtNsis SOtA.G AttftN~4s ssiiN%
some captured, as the enemy followed us
closely. Entering the fort through an e:lbIa-
sure we found ii full OF our men, and looking
out we saw the enemy coming up the hlll
toward the fort IN irregular order They were
dropping here and lhere-effect of the mus
kerry nom the fort; but CT they came
LIKE CATTLE FACING a STORM,
and in a few minutes they were masters of the
situation outside. We held the fort " inside
Many Of them tried 10 enter through the cmr
,lrasures but suddenly ended the career OF
their brave spirits. 4 shot from them iato the
fsnI was sure to hit, and many were falling
We soon organized TO defend the openings by
placing men TO watch them, each with a spe-
cial duty.
It was almost certain death TO expose the
head above the earshworlZs which were pr0ba-
BY eight feet high, perpendicular Oh the OUT
SIDE, and an inclined plane on the inside. Men
were loading. stepping ap and looking over 10
shoot and falling back with shot IN the
head. So they were cautioned TO only reach
over and shoot without looking, which, from
the number outside, v2s almost as certain Of
execution. Ia this way, with some ab9ve to
shoot while others below w5uld load and hand
up the gun, the work was systematizel and
less loss was sustained. When darkness came
the spirited firing began TO cease, and in many
cases tired nature could hold out no longer. Men
WENT TO SLEEP WHILE LOADING
their guns, and snoring was as prevalent as
shooting. About eleven o'clock two companies
came to relieve US would like to know who
they were. They viii remember in what con-
dition they found Us. though we were not ell
asleep. now went il search of the Goth, and
found them in line few rods northeast OF
Bald Hill. where they had formed and helped
TO hold back the men who followed US to that
position.
Ii this article is lengthy and tedious, ask
forbearance for the sake Of the facts Because
our own division commander reported the Goth
and 18th regifn ents rs being driven from their
works early in the day.
IT Is so RECORDED n. SEVERAL BOOKS
pretending TO note the history Of that engage
ment, and Chaplain Henry J. Walker, in your
issue Of October 1lth, says; " He swept down
the line of the 18th corps to the left Of Bald
1 Hill, taking ali before him, capturing battery
I after battery. which were at once turned On
/ our flying men, cSc And later, C0nrade j II
Bradford, Of 30th Illinois. says in your issue OF
18th inst. We were the last troops TO be
driven in, as we held cur position till AFTER
4 o'clock; everything on chr left had been driven
back as much as two hours before, &c. Ny
! impression is that the Both Illinois went bacb
1 10 rue fort with cur last squad, or Immediately
after, as ono of our squad was captured along
the 33th Illinois works, about half way froa
the woods TO the fort, and lives 10 tell the tale
would not detIaet from the glo-ieas record
Of the both and Both Illinois. OF any Of thoss
/ noble regiments which fought without the aic
Of system or general management, ti4ougl
taken By surprise on Haak rear. and front
and held almost their entire line against wlat
would be certain disaster according 10 all mill
tary calculations.