The National tribune., 1888-04-12

(Geddesl; then followed the First, Second and
Third Brgades of the First Division, and the
First and Second Brigades, Third Division. On
the left extending 10 the bay, were the two
divisions Of the Thirteenth Corps. The Second
Division Of the Sixteenth Corps took q central
position in the lines before Fort Blakely.
The story of the capture OF Mobile and its
defcnses has been told often and well from diff
ferent standpoints. To avod repetition 1 shall
therefore only attempt 10 sketch what took place
on the line occupied by McAlillan's Brigade.
The ground in our front and left was some
what level, but on the right depression began
that terminated In quite deep ravine on the
extreme right. At fair musket shot from the
fort a slight ridge occurred, upon which our
main line was established: to the rear of this
was a depression, in which was located the head
quarter tents and such troops rs could not
get room on the main line. Further to the
rear arose another ridge or ridges, upon which
the original pine yet stood.
Spades were now trumps, and the boys fell
TO digging la NicRsburg Considerable emu
lation was INDUCED in by the different bri-
g2des IN pushing their approaches 10 compile
ton. We pause here TO remark that our old
brigade wasn't left"
During the y days we lay before the fort
pleasant weather prevailed. The nights were
mostly very dark, ilumined by the flash Of the
picEcts rifle or the fiery arc Of the p0nderou5
she'll that would rise so Hnaiesticall Y and pause
then suddenly with the velocity Of a meteor
descend with a crash that would shake the
earth. responding cheer would go up from
all along the line 0ur picllets would then
begin to blackguaTd and the J0hunies blaze
away; then
Up WOULD co ANOTHER SHELL
and thus the night would wear away.
One unusually quiet night, after taps a
musician began playing patriotic airs on horn,
in which he was Joined by many singers rs
they lay at rest with the ground for 4 bed and
/ knapsaCk for a pillow. As he proceeded the
interest spread, until the entire command
Joined in Home Sweet Home" the C0nted-
crates echoing the sweet refrain. When the
siege began the Coufederates had things
I pretty much their own way. Having plenty
/ ofheavy ordnance, they could sweep the country
! clear Of everything within range
/ As our lines advanced, the videts thrown out
! after dark by both sides came pretty close to-
getler. Many amusing incidents were told by
/ the boys coming oil duty. One night an officer
/ undertook to supply his men with ammunition.
I Taking 2 box on his shoulder he started, but
I soon lost his bearings, and was halted with the
I usual challenge. STOPPING TO give the word
and the cartridges, he was startled to find has
man a Confederate; SO he exclaimed as he sud
+ denly pitched the entire box to the reb,
/ Here's your - ammunition" then ran for
/ our lines.
] =
/ to the brigade argel y made up Of recruits. They
reported fer duty TO Col. Eaton, of the I'D Ohio,
/ then in charge Of the pickets on the night Of
/ the 9th.
After dark the Colonel went out and stationed
1 his men behind stumps, logs, or any favorable
cover that presented itself giving explicit
/ orders to fire al anything moving in their front
/ the object being TO annoy the enemy's work
ing parties.
asa shot would sometimes elicit half dozen
I or more answering shots. the fire Of our men
4 slacbened, and finally stopped whercupou the
gallant little Colonel started out in the dark
ness on the risky business Of finding and stir
ring up his yidets. Eow he succeeded let him
tell.
Although it was profoundly dark, could
tell pretty near where I left them,' said he,
d" so / went along jabbiug into everything with
my sw0rd-with You, wake up where
are you,' and about all the response ! could get
was an occasional shot from the Johnnies.
They were the scaredest lot I ever saw. l
pricked one though, and he yelled out, Oh
Lord got 500 to come down here but Id
give s. 400 10 get back
They were relieved on the 18th by the 95th
and 12l Ohio, who discovered that the Johnnies
had anchored a chevaux-de-frise, or Is the boys
T called il shccprack in our front, at which
great indignation was felt throughout the bri-
gaae, and volunteers were called for TO remove
the obstruction. As it was close up to the fort
il was considered almost
CERTAIN DEATH TO UNDERTAKE IT,
but there were those found in each regiment
willing to lay down their lives for the common
good aud the honor of the old brigade.
Cyrus Wing, Of Co. J. and J. StanbRry, Of Co.
g Of the ia and Daniel Wadron, Of Co. g OF
the 95th Ohio quietly stepped out of the
trenches, and succeeded in tying rope to the
gheeprack. The word was then given to the
hrr- Iva ne IA Il ipn &C
done with a viii. The Johnnies opened FIRE at
the same instant, Staubury falling with Wing
across him. The dying cry Of poor Wing
NY GOD, NY POOR wIFE!"
was heard by his comrades above the roar oil
the fusiade. They were pulled into the trench
/ ,-here Wing soon expired. Stanbury eventually
recovered from his wounds, and Daniel Wal
dr0n. Of the 95thr got back safe.
A battery Of siege guns on the slight rise TO
our rear was supplied with very poor ammuni
ton, and their shells often exploded in oul
midst. Having no protection from their fire
it made things at times quite lively for Us
! One day as the boys of duty were engaged in
writing 10 friends at home, comfortably shell.
| tered from the missiles Of the enemy, those
battery chaps couldn't resist the temptation
I 70 open mp. 4 piece Of shell suddenly inter
rupted Lieut.. 4. G. Flanders's cogitatiOns BIZ
! cutting the visor of his cap, tumbling him owe
: and breaking the arm and crushing IN The
side Of poor Serg't Keeting, Of Co. II, (fron
! which he died then buried Itself in the GROUND
between the legs Of Bandmaster Todd. At til,
: same time Gen. Macarthur came near being
! . struck Patience ~ times ceases TO be viz
, tgc, and the Colonel Of tie 10th Nina scndiHj
up word that if that fire was not stopped h
: would charge ca them, finally put q stop 10 thi
annoyance
! Arrangements were now abont ready for tn
bombardmeut The armament Of the moui
T tors and guuboats sunk in the bay had beer
! removed and placed in position, together viii
other heavy guns, in solid eariEworks on tn
a.. ridge behind the timber that had screenet
I these operations from the enemy.
q When al was ready, details from every regi
8 meut sailed forth after dark and pitched int
: those old, hard pines with the army ak TIL
: Government issued axes, but no gTindstoucs
naturally they got a little dull toward the clos
: Of the war. but thousands Of willing hand
. kept steadily pecking away. Surely such
Babel 81 sounds was never heard. Above tn
4 blows and s0nor0us echoes Of those army axes
rose mingled calls laughter, yclls, songs ant
= perhaps profanity. Suddenly tie tune change
: and the fulI chorus sang ont: "Here she comes
: look out there, there she goes." and the III
: taus Of the forest came down with prolonged
4 mighty crash.
= il the morning what 2 Transformation ha
i taken place. The space Of a good-sized farl