The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-19

III udu Deeu LOT our cseTFoNcISui TUHi Vic
very onset. driven from one position to another,
yet disputing inch by inch the ground they
were obliged to yield with bravery excelled by
no army of which the world has any record
Driven, but not discouraged, they occupied
new lines just as readily as the first and waited
quietly for the appearance of the foe. But
why, oh, why were we not provided with a
line of breastworks between the creeks on
which our TANKS rested? Had this been done,
our line could not have been dislodged from its
first position. Never again were we caught
out over night without Notifications of some
sort. As i look back to that terrible day,
wonder that as many survived as did. At
night we were back at the landing, six miles
from the ground our advance occupied in the
morning, weary and hungry, for as our hayer-
sacks were in the way we had abandoned them.
At nightfall the sky became overcast with
clouds, and soon the rain began to fall as though
nature itself mourned and wept for the days
disaster. A few of us had secured blankets and
wrapping them around us we laid down on the
wet ground, under the dripping trees, with our
gun-Iocks between our knees to keep them dry,
and tried to get some sleep We felt sure that the
following day would witness a renewal of the
battle, and we should need all the rest we could
possibly obtain. 1t was with difficulty, how
ever, that we wooed the spirit of Sleep and our
minds were busy with the scenes of the day
and filled with anxiety for our missing COM
and seven enlisted men together where l was.
BUELL. ARRIVES.
As my own brother was among the missing
felt very sad, indeed. But we all slept soundly
at last, rocking little of the morrow or the
scenes of the day. During the night / was
awakened by brass band somewhere in the
distance. / supposed it was some rebel band
that feeling somewhat elated over their sue
cess, were regaling themselves with little
music, but soon distinguished the last strains
of the Star Spangled Banner" / sprang to
my feet. seized the captain by his arm and
dragged him to his feet, telling him that Buell.
was coming, for / had heard one of his bands
over the river. The excitement ran high, and
as the troops landed and marched up the hill,
filed through our lines and took position in
front, cheer after cheer burst forth from our
throats 1t was like seeing the old flag after
months of Imprisonment. The night wore on
apace, and morning at last dawned upon US.
THE SECOND DAY
The rain had ceased and the clouds
were breaking away, betokening fair weather
Captain Bowen began collecting his scattered
company just as soon as it was light enough to
see. The orderly sergeant and the writer gave
him all the assistance possible, and we soon had
respectable squad together. As / passed
| down the line looking up the boys, my heart
/ bounded with joy at the sight of my brother,
sound and well. On going out to battle the
/ day before, we numbered over 600 men; the
| second morning we could not muster over 300
! fit for duty. With these we Joined the brigade,
and marched out TO battle. Colonel S. ID. Bald
win, of the 57th Illinois was in command of
/ the brigade. and Brigadier-General Lauman
commanded the division in place of General
/ w. III. L. Wallace, who had been killed on
/ Sunday. Our brigade was ordered out TO the
extreme right flank. If / mistake not the
] ,dax hold
ing the right, and were very heavily pressed
| by the enemy, who seemed TO be trying to turn
| his flank and get in the rear of our forces The
| arrival of our brigade was most opportune, as
/ the troops were on the point of falling back,
! but, seeing re-enforcements coming, renewed
! the unequal contest with vigor. The brigade
! was halted on ridge in rear of the battle line,
! and the SD Illinois was detached and sent
out to the extreme right flank, taking position
| at right angles to the force engaged. The
| rebels had battery on hill to the left of our
position that played havoc with us, and it be-
came necessary to take it or hunt up new
position. A general advance was accordingly
! ordered but we were then forced to retire be-
! fore their murderous fire; each time, however,
our line rallied and returned to the assault
with increasing vigor determined to carry the
hill or die in the attempt. The fourth charge
was made with such ferocty that the rebels
were scared out of their boots and retreated
pell-mell, leaving the guns behind as a trophy
for the vietors. What desperation possessed
the rcbelsl They fought like fends incarnate,
stnbbornly holding the ground, while their
ranks were being decimated at a fearful rate.
But then valor and grit could not long avail
in the face of our charging columns, and about
3 o'clock p. IN. they beat retreat for Corintb,
a far wiser and sadder army than the one
which had left there a few days before for
Shiloh. The battle was over, and now came
the hardest task of all-gathering up the
wounded and burying the dead. OF our own
brave boys 160 had gone to that bourne from
which there is no return, and with chastened
3 hearts We laid them away to rest. wrapped in
their overcoats and blankets. OF the rebel
regiment that fought US on Sunday we buried
over 300, all in one grave.