The National tribune., 1888-08-09

The middle Of June he was relieved from
command Of that corps, and Gen. Z. o. G.
Ord named as his successor, they were the
"mRddestn set Of men ] ever saw. Ihey
had no confidence in Ord, and their muir
nuns were loud and deep. He was certainly
not the man 10 command that corps 1t
was perhaps well that they were not called
on then for any particular service. 1t might
net have been well for the good name of the
men who went around Yieksburg with Grant;
Sherman, Mcpherson and AIcClerna.gS4s & ,
They never did respect Ord, and'ne csfne
70 regard him SIS they did the other corps
commanders Prior TO the time be took
sommand we had been in the habit OF get
ing our instructions verbally when on duty
As officers of the day. As il happened, /
Fas tie first officer of the day after Gen.
Ord came to us. When I reported for III
structions I was handed three sheets Of legal
esp written over with instructions, and told
that these were my instructions. As never
read the paper, had not then and have not
since had the remotest idea Of what it con-
tanned. We had four or five miles Of pickets
10 look after, and had all the work we could
DO without reading that amount Of some
body's composition.
performed the duties Of officer Of the
day, aud when relieved turned the precious
document over to my successor, and 1 don't
know whether it received better treatment
from him and his successors than 1 gave 1t
OF not. Ord might have been a good officer
and kind commander, and one who could
have commanded that corps with credit to
himself and the corps, but We did not think
90 az the tinle-We were mad.
The siege went On day and night At
night, especially 50 on z dark one, II was a
beautiful sight 70 watch the huge shells as
they assembled to . great hight aad seemed
90 stand still-t0 be suspended N the
heavens for 8 moment, aud then descend
with great velocity on the devoted city, and
when near the ground explode, scattering
death and destruction In their course or 80
down into the earth, explode, and heave
out great quantities of dirt and missiles OF
destruction. Ii was easy for Us and the
people IN the city 10 follow the course OF
these uonstrous messengers Of death, by the
light Of their burning fnses
II WAS FIREWORKs On A GRAND AND
GLOOMY SCALE
To The soldiers and citizens cooped up in
that doomed city It must have been espe-
ciEEly trying on their nerves. They could
not observe one Of these tremendous shells
enter their city without great fear, until It
had landed someWh here and the result Of the
Elmost-ineEiEable explosion that followed
was known
Besides the usual firing that took place
from day to DAY, 1t would occasionally be
doubled for half day or 8 day, 10 give
the rebels q foretsste Of what was Ia store
for them. On these occasions every gun
would be fred as rapidly as possible, and the
inl6ntry added lis mite TO the noise, danger
sna annoyance TO those inside. The scenes
then presented cannot be described on paper.
Il must be left 10 the imagination 10 picture
It Think OF 300 cannon and $4,000 to 3d.
900 infantry sending shot, shells and leaden
bullets without number into the city, and
on the heads Of its defenders, for hours al a
time and you can possibly form some slight
conception Of what il was.
4 few DAYS after we had taken our place
IN line Gen. Grant sent Gen. LaUman with
hls division 70 occupy the space between ouI
left and the river. Soon after this Gen
Heron with his division occupied the ground
between Lauman and the river, Gen. Lau-
man being on cur immediate left. These
divisions completed our investing lines, -
E5al tie city was completely hemmed Ia
Gen. Lauman had almost nightly enc0un.
ten with the enemy in bis front They
would come cut, capture his advance-liDes
81 them up as much as possible while Lau-
nan was getting ready, and then Lauman
would recapture. repair and hold them until
~he rrvT rrfrrhe hon the me eaars-g xver1
re-enacsed. Al irst these affairs were great
annoyance 70 Us. We were compelled to get
the men up and into line, prepared for an
stack. It became 50 frequent and monoto-
nous that We ceased giving it any attention,
and the men could he heard talking III their
hunks when one ol Laumans battles was
On Oh, that is Lauman's show again " ; or
LaBman is ct il again
These night actions resulted in DO good 10
either party Il was 3 positive harm 70 Lau-
mana Division, IS IL wore the men out. They
prevented the men from getting the rest they
90 much needed ..fter the hard days work ia
the trenches and on guard duty.
EoCIABLE ENEMIES
On our lines We had it quite different. Soon
after We got cur position and established our
line, we made an agreement with the rebels in
our front that there should be no firing on each
others p.ckets after il became dark. In &C
c0Fdsnce with that agreement our pickets were
PIT oHt after dark, and the National and Con.
federzte sOleiErE would stand within Is or %
feet Of each other and when 30 disposed could
talk toeerher-they were always disposed "a
talk. This agreement only included the lines
e TIE infantry.
Afurther condition Of the sgreement was hat
either party should have 10 minutes TO tsk in
their plckeLs II any movement wss contem.
plated by the other shat would endanger ths
pickets. By this arrangement We had Il quiet
On OuF line, so far as the infantry on either
aide was concerned, during the night. The
artillery bad frequent dueis; bat 70 this how
ever, We became - accustomed that we could
sleep souDdly while il was going on. One
night rebel officer q the guard gave us no
tice, simply saying Take in your pickets.'
This We quickly Oid-he st the same time tax.
ing Ia his Tine. At the same time We sent
word 70 regimeutal and division headguarters
and BY The tiIae the 10 minutes were up we
were IN perfect order 70 receive any couten.
Flsted movement of the enemy. This was the
only sine during The siege That tie notice was
given by either party. What the conteun
plated movement was, OF why il was sban.
dODed, have never learned After about one
hours delay, ! heard q rebel officer calm
%Oh, 4ank!" And answering his esli. be tol6
uE We could put out our pickets again, apd
asked II be c0ald put cut his / answered YES
Gud be az once appeared over the works will
his detail, and At the same time our detail