The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-02-11

farm. around which all the fighting of our left
wing under Thomas was done. Approaching
Gen. Thomas, standing with Gen. Garfield and
staff on an elevation, we halted and faced to
our former front again. j asked Gen. Thomas
where those rebels werc2 He said, Right
hero in these woods" pointing TO the rear OF
my brigade. There was time to counter
march, so the brigade was faced about and
marched by the rear rank, and did not make
hundred steps when we saw the enemy swarm,
ing in the woods. We were close to them and
in the open field. They were in the woods, and
apparently did not expect to meet US so sud
denly What had we to do? Should we lire,
when they We're protected by trees and we were
marching through an open spaceE We rushed
on them with bayoncts chased them away oe-
yoBd cur extreme left, took over 300 prisoners
aud tgo pieces Of artillery, and toward dusk
safely ioined Dan NcCook's Brigade Of our re-
serve C0rps When q man is chased and feels
cod steel at his hack he is apt TO throw his gun
down and surrender.
In the battle Of Missionary Ridge the final
charge of four divisions Of the Army Of the
Cumberland in stormng the ridge swept the
eaerly from il with the bayOnet. We had to
Climb that steep ridge quickly We had neither
tiin1 nor convenience to fire on the move, ana
:: ;hc rebels fed it was simply for the reason
that cur bavonets scared them, even to panic
Il : Cnmi!itarv to talk slightingly of the
weapon that shines so gioriously through all
tire CamnaiCus and battles of modern wars.
The gigantic struggle around ScbastOpol, III
The Crimeau war. where during the whole of
the campaign 250,u90 men on each side were
kcit up for duty by rcinforcementS constantly
coming bv sea to the allied forces and by land
to the Russian army: when the whole fleets on
both sides were striped Of the heaviest cannon
70 mount the land batteries; when those huge
monsters, and 50 many of them made the bonn
bardment nevcrsurpassed on land in the worlds
history Of wars.--I say even that struggle was
destined 10 ha finished by stroke ofthe bayonet;
and :; was the bayonet charge that stopped that
carnage and gave peace to five European pow
crs-France England, Sardinia and Turkey on
one side and Russia on the other. Will eX-
plain:
Fort Malaloff was the tactical key Of the
Russian position. 1t was an irregular, elongated,
strong temporary forjification some 1850 feet
IA length and about 500 feet across in the
widest place. occupying over 20 acres of ground,
built on an elevation considerably advanced to.
wards the enemy and nearly opposite the MD
de cf the left wing OF the Russian continuous
lines Of forts aud trenches. 1t commanded the
position of the Russians to the right and left of
II 70 such an extent that could it be taken by
the allied forces the whole position OF their
antagonist would become untenahle. Hence,
particular attention was given by the Freneh
tc the approaches, parallels and batteries built
opposite MalalzOf: and when at last those bat
teTjes and trenches came up so close TO that
fort that the shortest space between them and
the fort was reduced TO p feet, then it was de-
eiied on the assault. This assault came Oh the
Stn of September, 1855 exactly at noon. And
why at noon? Because it was known that in
variably at that hour the Russians had their
dinner, hence il was good time to surprise
them.
Four days before the Sth the bombardment
commenced along the whole line of the
Allies continuing almost without interruption
day and night. Buildings i'll Sebastopol were
destroyed ships and docks set on fire, some
powder magazines blown up, many smaller
works RACED to the ground: but notwithstand-
ing that hollish fire, the Malakoif stood grim
and threatening. 1t appeared as if powerful
missiles CT the huge guns of It's enemies were
making only scratches upon IT. But the Russians
plastered up those scratches as soon as they
were made, and the fort looked as formidable as
ever. Bat il was doomed 10 be snatehed from
the hands of It's defenders by the bayonet- Dur
ing the night and early in the morning OF the
Sih four divisions Of the French and small d.
vision Of Sardinians, in all about 10000 troops,
packed the trenches and parallels nearest to
the Malakof; two divisions forming the assault
Ing columns and the balance designated for
their supports and reserves. 1t was agreed that
tbe success at Malakoff by the French must
he Immediately followed by the assault of the
English On the Redan, and by strong demon
STATIONS against several forts of the Russian
right.
At 1855 the French swarmed ont of their
trenches, scrambled up the bTeastworks Of the
halakof. poured into it through embrasuTes,
aud in few minutes the French tricolor was
waving on the ramparts Of the fort, its garrison
fay0nCted, the gorge closed, the guns turned |
or its former owners, now eagerly and deSper-
ate!y cTowding 20 the fort; but, n0twithstand-
ing the fierce and continuous assaults OF the
Russians during the whole afternoon, Malak0ff
remained IN possession Of the French. Al
though the assault of the English on the Redan
was repulsed, yet the Russians, losing the Nal
akof, had to abandon their entire position on
which for Is months they stubbornly and often
successfully fought their enemies. During the
night their army crossed the har6or and occu-
pied their fortified position the north side
of it. Winter came, and at the end of FebTu-
aEy, 1856, the armistce had been concluded
which led TO the conclusion Of peace. Thus
the immense expenses of the allied powers and
the gigantic work OF their armies around Se-
6GStOpol were going to be without avail, had |
not The bayOnet given the last stroke and the
cr0wning glory TO their superhuman efforts.
We could multiply indefinitely the exam
PIES of the achievements of the bayonet, but
those that are described are sufficient TO rebuke
those of our comrades who talk slightingly of
the best and most reliable friend of the infantry
soldier The present bayonet may be improved
aad replaced by better that will be more |
convenient; il may be arranged so that, being |
once affixed to the barrel, it may remain there |
permanently, thereby discarding the scabbard |
altogether; Il may be folded upon the barrel !
during the firing and sprung up by single |
jerk of the gun into its former position but for |
al that it VIII remain bayonet.
Ready 70 Wait for an Important Matter.