The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-16

cracks aud dug holes a few inches deep, into
which We g9t, and here We remained till our
ammunition WAS eXhausted-ab0ut dark This
was tie spot where the celebrated tunnel was
begun by Col Peasants a few weeks later
When we were relieved we aerg taken back
20 the beavy pine timber through which We
passed IN the morning. Our commanding Off
Ger, Col. kauistOn, was w0anded in the last
charge having the regiment ia command Of
LieUL-Col. Walter C. NeTJury.
Tae night Of tie 18th we were moved 10 the
right, where we occupied a line Of rudely-con-
Etructed works near the Hare house. where
Fort SUecmau was afteTEard built. There was
an abandoned Tace-track near here, grown over
with weeds; and letters which We found about
the house indicated that the owner was q sport
Ing man.
~ q few days we were relieved by the I42d
n. i. II think and placed IN the front line Of
works 10 the left Of the plank road. The line
was on a ridge overlooking the creek aud
TayiHe last mentioned. At cur right ia q
ciump Of trees. there was ga ic5-b0use filed
VITA ice packed ia forest leaves 1t was sim
ply hole 80 the ground. Whenever We would
20 for ice we had 70 make quick dash up the
sides OF the knoll, then Jump down into the
hole IS the enemy mad range On that particu-
lar spot.
Tie tine TIL JAY - was divided between
picket cuty and building breastgofIzs One
night there were q number Of Us sent % throw
up q Inc Of works 10 the right Of Fort Nor
t8H. We Lad a section 81 movable works made
Of thick plank nailed 10 uprighls and fixed 10
cr0sspieces, which lay on the ground This
was about CO feet long We would work I'm the
rear Of tins movable fort till we had our
works completed, then ali hands would Chamber
ever our freshly-c0nstrucbed works, sud by
main strength We would ide the wooden fort
is leEgtl, hen We would be protected from
q zf.T :. l..
and night
The ground to the front and also 70 the left
q Fort Motion descended toward the front
which made i very dangerous for anyone "a I'd
% and from the fort covered way was due
along the line Of Tie plank road down the
slope across the rsvine, ending in the rear oi
our front line Of works. This covered way wa
made By digging diteh about eight feet wild,
and from two TO four feet deep. 1t ran in .
zig-zag course down the slope going % the LEI
eight OF ten rods, then turning at an acut,
sngie 10 the right, and 50 on 10 the end ia,
earth being thrown toward the enemy.
Ia the rear Of our front line of works, q it'll,
20 the lef Of the mouth Cf the tunnel. ther,
was a depression Of something ike an acre
forming an2tura. protection from bullets. Her
troops could 10 nlzssed- also - other points q
and near the front. There was a general IN
Outstanding or ruluCr among the rank and fl
Of the Union army that there Ras a tunnel be
Ing dug to the enemy's front line, and tina
when il was exploded there would be bushes
enough on hand 10 last us few hours
One day after another passed ia the reguia
routineofl life the front till the eVentful Both
july arrived. The night Of tie 29th troops ha
been massed in and around the front, the GOV
cred way was filed with a solid mass Of expect
art humanity, and the pine woods back OF For
Norton was alive with troops.
Our regiment was at the entrance to the GOV