The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-20
all night, small reserve being kept in the

/ Sssh beius oC 1hdSfuCu. ITO lOSiihVhe AoA a.
advance of any other troops, half mile from
| any support whatever, threatened by
A sTEALTHY ENEMY,
| without the slightest information as to the re-
| suit of the two great battles of the day, lgno'
| rant of the probabilities or the hopes OF the
| morrow-we were too nervous to sleep ana
| stood to our arms the night through, watching
for the enemy and waiting for the morning.
From careful watch kept up in front 1T be-
came evident that our position was being care
| fully accommodated, and we could but fear an
attack either by night or in the early morning
AS the day dawned all the men were under
arms. Capt. Lewis, who commanded the Skin
mish line reported evidence of a strong force
| in the meadow below. Almost instantly the
shock came. Apparently two or three hun
| dred men, but few hundred feet distant, rose
out of the grass and fired on the skirmish-line
and rushed forward; but at this instant Col
! Sawyer came over the ridge with the rest OF
| the regiment Oh a run, and rushing through
! the skirmish-line delivered such volley as to
| make the rebels take to their heels and run
skulking down the fence lines.
| A good many prisoners were taken, and when
| they saw how small was our party their cha
| grin was plainly manifest. Four of our men
were killed and ii wounded. Col. Sawyer re-
| ceived a severe confused wound on his head.
| from ball which pierced the corps badge on
| his hat, tearing out the hair and glanclng
across the top of his head. The conclusion
| knocked him down, but he was soon on his
| feet again. During the forenoon, except from
! the occasional shot of sharpshooter, we were
not seriously troubled.
| The battle at Culp's Hill was resumed about
the time of our little melee and we were again
visited with occasional shot and shell from
that quarter; one of our men being killed.
Capt. Grey, of Carrolrs staff, visited us dur
| ing the forenoon and we learned from him
| xl,nN 10. lrtxy
| in front of Slocum and Howard, and that Sick
! less battle, though accompanied by fearful
| losses had not resulted in serious damage to
| our lines or plan of battle and that the army
| was ready for any emergency.
| Between ~ and / o'clock a terrific cannon
| ade opened from the cuemy's guns posted along
Seminary Ridge, since known to have been 145
| in number, which were promptly replied to by
Gen. Hunt, Chief of Artillery, with so guns
posted along Cemetery Ridge-all that could
be made effective in the restricted space suit
able for artillery.
Nothing more terrific can be imagined than
THIS ARTILLERY DUEL
laundering from ridge to ridge for nearly two
hours. The roar of the guns was deafening.
Missiles from both sides passed over us. Shell
exploded above; solid shot whizzed through
our lines and ricochetted around us. Two of our
men were killed by, solid shot and several
wounded by pieces of exploded shell.
Finally the sound of our guns died away one
by one, and the fire of the enemy's guns soon
ceased also. Our anxiety was now extreme.
We could not perceive from our position
whether our battle front was intact or whether
it was annihilated; yet we well knew this
fearful cannonade would be followed by a strug-
gle for our lines-a fight to the knife and the
knife to the hilt In few moments a long
line of infantry emerged from the woods that
skirted Seminary Ridge. These troops were
soon formed and moved forward in
MOST SPLENDID ARRAY.
At first it appeared that the left of their line
would sweep our position, and COL Sawyer
watched from a fence to get their direction, and
finally said, Boys, they will pass to our left by
20 or so rods" We were then wheeled by the
left flank and moved forward to the fence,
which brought our front to face the left flank
of the advancing line, which was formed in
column by battalons. As soon as our move
ment was perceived we were fired into by a
small body of troops three or four hundred yards
in our new front that we had not observed
before, having been under cover of fence.
Lieut. Hayden, Co. FL, and six of the men were
killed in this changing of fronts and several
wounded. Sharpshooters were also watching
us. and their fire was spirited. The fence in
our front was board fence, furnishing some
cover and regulating our alignment. Col. Saw
yer ordered us to reserve our fire until tho
enemy were attacked in front, and then fire at
will.
The rebel line as it crossed the plain was as
fine a spectacle as was ever witnessed on bat
tlefed or parade When near the middle of
the interval, a battery on Cemetery Ridge be-
gan to play on the advancing column, but the fire
had no apparent effect upon the steady advance
of the imposing line which pressed on, appar-
emily covering about two division fronts of the
left Of Hancock Corps. Petigrew commanded
a rninfnn rs q
preached Hancock's front it was about all that
we could see of the line.
These troops were allowed to get apparently
WITHIN PISTOL SHOT
before gun was fired, when suddenly the d.
visions of Hayes and Gibbons poured in such q
whitening sheet of fire as to almost instantly
transform the splendid divisions of Petigrew
into a cone of dust, smoke and the debris of
battle Limbs, arms, blankets and clothing
seemed thrown and tost out into the air; a
moan went up from the field distinctly to be
heard above the storm of battle. Suddenly the
column gave way. Indeed, it appeared to us
as if the whole line had gone down. wither
ing fire still swept them, and they were pros
trated, torn and tossed they ran bewildered
from the field, flying from death in every pos
sible direction.
The 9th was ordered to advance, the discom-
flied rebels rushing frantically into our ranks.
We cut out and captured three regiments or
parts of regiments, and took their cOlOrs which
were those of the 34th N. c., 3Sth Va, and one
which was taken from the captor (Serg't Miller,
Co. g. by some staff officer, the regiment not
being remembered.
The battle was now over. The field was COW
cred with the dead the dying and the wounded.
Everywhere were to be seen the evidences of
the most terrible destruction of life. OF the 9Th,
during the two days, one officer and Is men had
been killed, and IL officers and ~ men wounded.
We remained in our position for short time,
receiving volunteer accessions to our long list of
prisoners, but were soon relieved with orders to
fall in and join our brigade. With the remnant
of 107 officers and men, our own colors, the
three captured flags flying, and between three
and four hundred prisoners, we took up our
line of march.
Col. Carroll catching glimpse Of us as we
came in, pointed out to the officers about him,
and shouted with delight, "There comes my
grand old regiment with the balance of the
rebel army!" Col. Cavins, in command of the
14th Ind, complimented us by marching out,
saluting us with present arms, and escort
ing us to our quarters-wcary, but proud of
our achievements.-F.
The Youngest Soldier.
Julius r. Ellis, Cassville, Mo-, was born Nov
Is, 184S, and enlisted in Co. III, 18th Kan, in
August, 1862.
The Endemic n Crime