Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-06-03

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not 70 waste time, not to allow the
Yankees time 70 cover themselves.
Hood refused 10 order the assault, say
Ing the troops were tired and hungry,
and needed food and rest, and he added,
contemptuousIy, -In ten minutes we
can drive the Yankees out of aay works
they can throw up In two hours. They
cannot hold that line.n Cleburne shook
his head negatively at this, but Hood
was firm. When I saw Cleburne, who
was ever keen for battle, shake his
head ! was discouraged. II Cleburne
breads this work, 1t must be hopeless
/ thought.
The men were ordered to cook break
fast and obeyed sullenly. The Yankee
earthworks steadily grew ss we looked
on. Two hours passed and they were
finished, and the Yankee infantry sank
out Of sight behind them. Then came
marching and counte marching on our
part. It was four o'clock before our
dispositions for the assault were made.
From the position was in could
plainly see the Yankee line. 1t seemed
to be deserted. Now and then the head
OF man would appear above the works,
or an artillery man would crouch be-
hind q gun and gaze IN our direction.
We were formed for the assault. The
plan was to launch several columns
against the line and endeavor to break
1t at different points, while the real at
tack would be made on the little hill
where the two bate lies stood. Our ar
tilIery men went in action. Some dis
mounted artillery men were formed be-
hind US. These Were 10 follow us
closely, and when we had captured the
Yankee guns they were to turn them
and pulverize the flying Yankees. 1t
was good idea, and the artillerymen
laughed gleefully at the picture they
conjured. 1t was well they had their
laugh first.
"All was ready, we arose and dashed
forward. Out Of the ground rose the
Yankee pickets and firing once they ran
for their eaYthw0rk. As we screamed
out the charging yell the Yankee troops
rose up from behind their works and
their riaes fell into q horizontal line,
the Federal artilierists spruag to their
guns, we inssinctively pulled our hat
brims down as though to protect our
faces, and dashed into ire open. In
stantly we were met by a storm of bull
lets and canister that caused us to stag
ger as our dead and wor 1ded comrades
fell against us. We wavered badly, then
gathered ourselves and pdshed on, fir
ing as we went.
mrhe powder sn1ok hang on the field.
Through riffs In IL we could see the
Federal gunnefs spring Dimbly to and
| fro from the NAPOLEON guns. The re-
sponsive fash Of the guns, as the lam
yards were pnlled world be followed
by the rip Of canister as 1t flew past and
through us, tearing great gaps IN our
ranks, cracking meas bones as pipe
stems, and Knocking brave Htau dead
with great holes in their bodies. The
zip, zip, zip offlying ride balls was a
mighty and steady br n, as though the
Iempty cyliaders 0f G0sis,iIass threshiae
machines we re Tevoly: ig at full speed
all around us.
| Steadily the veteran Yankee infan.
TRY, who to hold their line of eartl,-
works or take to the water, loaded anG
fired. Our men fell by h1ndfesis. WI
staggered on through this STORM of bull
/ lets and canister for five minutes. W.
had not reached the Union line. Tibet
we heard exultant shouts to OH eft ani
through the drifting smoke caught {
glimpse Of our battle flags plaoied OF
the Federal breastworss on The hill
and as we saw the men clad in gray
/ Chamber over the works and disappear
we redoubled our efforts 10 take til,
line in front Of US. Its fire did no
slacken particle. It's defenders paii
no attention to the disaster that haf
overtaken their center. As we drew
closer the parapet, Redeemed Ia tht
smoke and bhe fire, resembled the fury
of hell in its intensity. Then lout
above the battles roar sounded th,
charging cheer of the Yankee troops
and we knew that he Confederates whit
had broken the Federal center were be
i ing called upon to make good their sue
cess ny meeting the charge OF the Yam
/ kee reserves. Could they Withstand it
Promptly came the answer. There wa
Ia solid crash of musketry from tina
portion OF the line, and in an instan
| the remnants Of the victorious Confed
crates swarmed out of the captures
4 works and ran for cover. Instantl,
i the earthwork was manned by a doubl
4 line OF blue-coated infantry wi o sho
4 down the flying Confedetates by scores
i We PRESSED on. We were SO close {,
u the works that some of our men fel
Il into che ditch. And we could see th
/ eyes Of the Yankee infantry as the,
Il glanced over the sights. Their face
were pallid their jaws set, and thei eye
blazed with battle. light Jinever be
I fore saw such rapid handling of artill
cry. it seemed to me that / could hea
i No. i impatiently tap with sponge stai
on the blackened munzies of the bras
guns, as be called for canister, an,
more canister, and still more canister
! We wete sufficiently near to feel th
wind Of the guns. / looked back. w,
i had not advanced far. The dead lay Il
winrows. Wounded men were stag
gering over the field, and falling II
ones, twos and threes, as they came 10
j gether for aid, between the lines o
dead. The rnen hesitated. They real
lied that they could not carry the works
Their line officers tried 10 hold them
Il They staggered few feet nerarer th,
Federal line, firing wildly the while, I,
be scorched by the hot breath Of can
non and rifles. They wavered badly
4 tried to hold on, then broke and ran 70
cover. We were under fire for ahou
ten minutes, and one-third of our divi
sion, Reynolds, was killed dorwoundeti
Stunned bewildered and horribly dis
|appoilted, we gathesed in a protected
4 position and were speedy reformed
1 We we = allowed to rest for awhile.
.Of course the planned simultaneous
tattack by several columns had failed
OF course they did not get Off together
| They went in one after the other, and
they were all whipped. Again we wer,