Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-02-20

| DoWell were most strict in that re
spect, but no attention was paid them
The three months men had a libert,
the three years men had not. Disc
bedience Of orders became punishable
in the course Of time, and the rule
and regulations enforced.
Little of interest occurred on ths
line of march from TT. Washington
to Fairfax Court House At Center
vile small village on the road side
same as Fairfax the troops concentrat
ed. The country to the left is some
what elevated and sometimes spoken
of as the heights of Centeryille, near
" as elevated as Mr.. Rolf's house
is from the level of the town of Great
Falls. On the right some timber
grows-here at Centerville I saw the
first and last fogging in the army
Two stragglers lowering around the
encampment were brought in, report
stated they were spies. They were
strong, dogged looking and resolute
men. All day long they packed a log
up an down the hillside accompanied
by sentinel About few hours be-
fore sundown the troops were formed
in a hollow square-the two men
brought IN and received SO lashes each.
They never f;nched and were defiant
to the last. After the dogging they
were put outside of the lines and
warned that If again caught in the vi
cinity harder punishment awaited
them. About two o'clock a. m. on
Sunday morning the troops were in
motion and marching at rapid rate,
in direction OF the battle field. There
were few places along the road
where some sand bags were placed, as
if contemplating line of defense.
Whatever obstacles were in the way
were removed by Col. Corcoran's regt.
who were in advance. The Goth New
York Grish) on Friday preceding the
general engagement, Corcoran had
been feeling the position of the enemy
and had a brush with him incurring
heavy loss. This famous regiment
was camped near the battlefield on
one Of those streams called 'runs,"
in the vicinity such as
Bulls run, Cub run, Deep run, Mine
run, etc. About 6 a. m. the Union
troops were moving to the field, com
ing by the way of the stone bridge
and part by road made through
belt of timber by the engineer corps.
[ never saw finer spectacle than the
Union troops presented coming to the
held marching in regimental line. On,
On they came one regiment after
another like SO many incoming waves
The uniforms were fresh if not new,
;he eqlipme ents bright and clean, bay
onets fixed and glistening in the sun
shine. Never before having seen SO
many men in battle array, to my mex
oerienced mind this force seemed ca
oable of going right on to Richmond,
or any place it wanted to go to.
Emerging from thecover afforded by
he timber and coming on to the farm
house, the bullets commenced to whiz
here every blanket, knapsack and
laversack were piled, and at this
ooint Of the line it was easy enough |
o understand the enemy was near,
he firing became more general. At |
he end of the fence Grifin's battery
ame in with a rush and was soon in
position. They commenced firing at
irst slow, finding the range, and then
,ealing out fash following upon flash,
eport crowding on report, it was
[eafening for a time. As Grifin's
,attery came On the field the 69th
New York swept in on the run and to
he left of the battery and in few
noments they disappeared in direct
on of the enemy. More to the left the
round was occupied by a battalion
f marines, commanded by their own
'ffcers one of whom was tall, white
earded man, straight as could be and
be most military looking man as
hought on the field. Further on in
dvance was the small band Of regu-
ars, they were very close to the enc
ny loading their pieces lying down,
nd freing by file, keeping up a con-
inuous fusilade. About s o'clock the
rtillery fire of the enemy became
aost severe and well directed, caus-
ng heavy gaps in our ranks but we
7ere advancing slowly, that was all
re knew and that was an indication
re were gaining ground. About 10
clock, or perhaps 11,judging from the
he SUI, there was a general rush for
nd cheering along our lines. About
Don the troops were tired out and
aided from the great beat, and long
,arch and want of water-ten min
tes in a canteen, in such sun render
d it undrinkable-but we were glad
nd hoped we would capture the juno