Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-08-02
A BLOODY BLUNDER.
The Charge OF the First Brigade at
jackson.
Bye. N. HoLFoRD.

ended. For six weeks the Army of the
Mississippi had been crouching closely
in their narrow pits along the broken
ridges in the rear of the city, sweltering
and painting for breath under the high,
hot sun through the long June days;
the short nights Illuminated by the glare
OF bursting shells and flashing siege
guns; the heavens filled with the fiery
ares of the mortar shells from the fleet
IN the river; every ear wearied by the
incessant musketry- sinking into
faint and ftful suffering and then
rising into a loud and rafting crash;
days when the deep throb of the siege
guns was faster than a fevered pulse
beat.
Pemberton and his 80, 900 rebels were
prisoners and their hundreds of hostile
cannon were harmlessly parked, guard
ed by blue-coated sentries. But Joe
Johnston's second army of rebels had
been hanging threatenirgly on the rear
of the Army of the Mississippi during
the whole siege. Without days rest
the wearied Union army, glad to ex-
change for time the narrow pits for
the free fields and woods, started in pur-
suit of Johnston's army. That army
fell back sullenly and slowly, making
every ridge and hilltop the vantage
ground for their artillery in the stub
born but always-failing efforts to beat
back the Union advance guard
1t was, think, the 18th of July,
toward evening, when the brigade COM
posed of the Thirtv-third Wisconsin,
Third Iowa and Forty-frst and Fifty
third Illinois regiments filed out of the
road by the right flank and formed in
line of battle. They knew they were
near Jackson and that line of battle
meant Il prospect of fight, but beyond
that knew nothing certain of the situa-
ton. They halted for short time and
an Indiana regiment (the 31st, think)
the Morton Rifles passed by with
the quick, springing, eager step with
which men 60 into battle. They evil
IDENTIFY had more positive orders than
the First Brigade, just mentioned, The
latter moved off obliquely to the front
and right, slowly and cautiously with
skirmishers in front, feeling their way
through the thick blackjack woods.
But no rebels were seen, and night
came down in a drizzling rain. The
day had been intensely hot, scores of
men falling from sunstroke, but the
slow rain at night chilled the men
through. Although the advance had
been very slow, the commissary had
failed to keep up with rations, and all
that day the men had had nothing to
eat except a few ears of green corn they
had snatched from the fields by the
roadside. They lay all night IN line of
battle, grasping their guns, without
Spreading blanket or kindling a fire
dreary, weary, hungry night it was,
and the not very cheerful prospect of
bloody work in the morning.
The night with its lowering clouds
passed away and the morning sun shone
out clear and hot. The brigade ad-
vanced slowly but did not encounter
the enemy. However, it came within
view of their works while crossing the
railroad track. There was long cut
stretching away toward jackson Per-
haps half a mile up that cut loomed up
bastion of rebel fort. A puff of
smoke rose from huge siege gun there
and she'll came screaming over the
Union line. TO one of the bows stand
ing in the middle of the track when
that cloud of smoke arose it seemed
that the narrow cut was sort of tube
which must conduct the shell straight
down to him. OF course, this was only
fancy, but it was an uncomfortable
one
A great part of the forenoon had
passed when the brigade found them
selves on the crest of a ridge about half
mile from the rebel works The ar
tillery belonging to the division was
brought up and opened rapid fire on
the enemy. 1t was evident that charge
was intended but it was delayed, and
our artillery fire was worse than use