The National tribune., 1885-01-15

lowed Immediately by the ringing voice of
Capt. Elliott; and then, as the frightened
videt came down ont of the cedars there came
a crashing volley. accompanied with wild, fierce
wells, that instantly changed the peaceful
scenes of dreamland TO the stern and
BITTER REALITIES OF WAR.
The call 20 duty by Orderly Foster was his
last, for he fell as soldier would wish to fall,
facing the enemy, streng in his convictions of
duty and in his belief OF just and overruiing
Providence. The surprise was complete, and
the history of the battles OF Shiloh, Chanccl-
louisville and Winchester show that where
veteran soldiers were unexpectedly and vIgor-
onsly assaulted by even inferior numbers
soldiers and officers became bewildered and
proved of but little obstruction in the path OF
the assailants: but of this it was different. The
spirit of resistance was nowise disabled. Inc
boys sprang from their couches in their night
clothes, or only partially dressed, and rushed
to the little stone wall and poured shot alter
shot into the surging mass of tue Confederates
charging down upon us.
We were assaulted in our sleep, were awak-
ened by crashes of musketry, whistling bullets
and the savage yells of our assaiiants. The
first sight that met our eyes was dead and
bleeding comrade. We could not know their
numbers. The circumstances were calculated
to produce the most cruel fear, yet there was
something that carried every man TO his posi-
with grim determination to strike as long as
strength remained, and conquer if he could.
The unexpected resistance offered caused the
first onslaught to waver and fall back ;-thes sight
of the little stone wall was depressing; the
whistling of our balls and buckshot was I'M
pleasant. Yet they reformed up under the
cedars and came down again, and yet again to
meet the same sort Of welcome. A part OF
their force had been sent on up the railroad,
but were recalled They began TO creep around
TO our rear. and to enfilade our line. Their
shots came from all directions.
The sentinel down at the bridge = Tom
Royce-we had forgotten him-stood at his
post, looking up anxiously toward us. The
bullets were pattering around HIM. lie was
signaled 10 leave his post, but instead OF tax
ing 20 the brush, as he might have done, he
started up the stony path toward camp.
hundred shots were aimed at him, yet he came
on up as best he could until near the top; thrice
wounded he fell from exhaustion, but was gaJ-
lantly rescued by some the boys who were
watching his ascent
For over an hour we had stood the terrible
storm, and our cartridges were nearly eX-
hausted Elicit was wounded and five others
were more or less seriously hurt. There was
no longer chance for u.s. We could submit,
and we did The signal of surrender was
hoisted and the unshaven, unkept heard OF
Missouri backwoodsmen swarmed in upon us
with the most
HIDEoUs THREATS OF VENGEANCE,
and but for the prompt appearance of JEDI
Thompson and his staff 1t is but fair TO presume
that their threats would have been executed,
for more blooGthirsty looking set of cut
Threats were never marshaled under the BAN
ners of the Confederacy.
The upper bridge guard had running fight
for several miles, two of them being wounded,
but we believe all finally escaped. OF the
losses of the enemy we could learn but little,
although they admitted a severe punishment,
and we know that some of them then and there
ended their military career.
We were kindly paroled, and without arms or
equipments-s0me of us hardly with cloth
ing-we started down the track, crestfalen
and vanquished, toward ST. Louis. | say van
quishcd though only in name, for we had the
proud consciousness of knowing that under
the circumstances we did all that we could
and now, % years after, while some of us fol-
lowed the old flag clear through TO Appomat-
toX, first little battle at Big River, Mo-, is
impressed upon our minds indeIbly.-
"SEEDY," Co. L, sd Ill.