Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-01
SP0NGE-SrAFF In HAND.
EXPERIENCE OF A YOUNG ARTiu
LERYMAN AT COLD HARBOR.

Beginning the Eighth n Great Bundle
bees Nest-A Cannon Turns . Summer
set in the Air-Death and Destruction
Dealt Out on Every Side.
We arrived there Gold Harbor) in the
night, and at once went into position. Wrap
ping a blanket around me lay down under
my gun and went to Sleep Before daybreak
on June 3, 1854, the infantry massed around
US YES arorsods officers hastened to and fro:
STAFF officers rode rapidly through the dark
ness n; 2ni down the lines. giving final
orders. We artillerymen were reused up.
Eating cur scanty breakfast, we took our re-
sI.ective positions at the Napoleon guns.
was 10. ] on the No. gun OF the right sec
ton Of the battery. stood leaning against
the cool brass piece with my sponge-staf in
hand l gazed intentiy to where supposed
the rebel earthworks were, and wondered il
my luck would take me through this fight IN
hurt, as it had through past battles. I noticed
that my water bucket for the sponge was
empty. Leaning my staff against the gun,
unlocked it, and, explaining the need to the
gunner, walked of to a swamp and filed the
bucket Returning to my piece placed the
bucket on the ground under the muzzle Of
the gun, and then resting against the cannon
l resumed the business Of waiting The
heavy columns Of infantry began to move BY
Men recognizing the battery spoke to u a.
they marched past in the dim gray light Of
breaking dawn was asked the questions:
What's ahead of usf Are the works
strong,- is Longstreets corps in front Of
usf" And I boy Of II years old, answered
as the within took me.
Just before sunrise the troops were in posi-
ton and our captain gave the command,
"CorImonce firing l dampen my sponge,
ram ;ae first cartridge home and step back.
: loud report, a cloud Of smoke and the bat
tie of Cold Harbor kas began rapidly
sponge out, turn of the wrist, q whining Of
the sponge staff in the air, No. 9 puts the
cartridge in the gun, ram it home and spring
hack clear of the wheel l give hurried
glance toward the rebel line, and catch sight
Of the smoke of cannon, and realize that their
guns have just been manned I fairly jump
to and from my gun The smoke grows
thicker am at last thoroughly warmed up
TO the hattie
IN A GREAT BUMBLKBEE's NEST
A whistling Of bullets among US sounding
as though we were in a great bumblebee's
nest, the shrek Of solid shot and she'll as they
tear through the battery, the dull -shud- Of
bullets instantly followed by ordinations OF
pain, the falling Of artillerymen-an pans I'M
cared for. | simply sponge and ram and
look ahead No. ? just opposite me, standing
with a cartridge in his hand, suddenly
pitches forward dead. As l jerk the sponge
out OF the gun lean over toward him and
PICK up the cartridge and place It m the gun.
AS step osck 1 see the man VINO Is 70 take
No rs place jerk the dead BODY impaf,enfly
by the legs to get 1t out OF the way stepping
back, iooS over TO No. gun, and involun-
taIliy smile to sse the great piece rapidly
turn surnmerset IN the air. Bits OF wood
ard iron fly of to the rear, and the gun comes
down with great thud on the ground. /