The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-24

cross that swamp and we have been some
what amused at their eagerness to duck one
another: never. apparently. thinking that they
might ali vet be duCked by some bystaGdcr
they had not noticed. And we have wondered
If our comrades Of the First Division never
knew that the Fourth Division ,Iai.-Gen. Giles
a Smith commanding were across that swamp
before any of them. Such was the fact, asd the
real cause Of the weakening Of the Johnnies at
the bridge.
ON Feb. 3 the Fourth Division lay in camp
about two miles below Rivers Bridge, $50 we
understood, as we were not At the BRIDGE and
at / o'clock D. ID. orders came for every man 10
have go rounds Of ammunition. We then fell
in and marched down to the edge Of the swamp.
We were Informed there that we were expected
TO cross that swamp and were not to speak, and
were TO make lust as little noise rs possible.
We then started in, the SD III. IN advance.
We were told it was no use to try to keep dry.
Gems. Smith and B. +. Potts were at the head
Of our regiment. as was also our Colonel Nc
CANADIAN. For about two hours we kept on,
sometimes on soft, mucl,y soil above water, but
ofteucr in water from one foot to four deep,
aud oh : how we did want TO yell But we all
realized that just then il was best not TO in
dulge.
Just before we got to dry land our regiment
came into line and Co. X was detailed as Skin
mishers, and at them we went " e struck the
Johnny pickets in q lane running along the
edge Of the swamp, and ] distinctly remember
running over a cooking outfit, with half pre-
pared meal, but did not stop to sample II, as
there was better game just ahead, and that was
what VIC were lust then interested IN more
than coruhread and beef We don't want any
comrade TO think We have great story OF
charges and c0unter-chaTges to tell, for we have
not. Neither did we plant any flags on any
works except our own. What J0hnnIes there
were left as soon As they could docentiy
and IN ordcr-that IS to say, they kept at long
range and did not Interfere with the crossing
Of the rest Of the Fourth Division. Now 1t IS
not likely that as the head OF tins column
reached the J0hnnies' side Of the swamp by not
later than 800 p. m.. and the entire division
was over and fortified before shutdown, the
rebels at the bridge knew Of it, and that was
the real cause OF their giving way at dark?
We SO understood it at that time, but the
rebels never came and told Us that that was
why they left Gen. Smith did not furnish
each private with a copy Of his Special Order.
telling us how we had hauked the JOhnuies at
the bridge, and therefore We have no order on
the subject bat write from memory and notes
Ia diary, If you please made at the time.
That night il rained, and as all the field Off
GERS. from a Aajor-Geueral down tOthe OrdeTlles,
had to leave their horses aud cross as high
priYates, we had some fun out Of them
Tor all the shelter they could get and all
they bad to eat, they got from the rank and
file. and they were glad TO crawl into pup
tent FOR the night. But we viii say cur officers
never held themselves aloof from their men,
and were not above speaking 10 a private, and
IN return were respected aud loved 10y their
men. in this case il was not 20 10 boys, but
come on boys as Smith and Potts both
marched at the head Of the procession, and all
that kept the men from joking them was the
necessity 70 keep still. We viii say here that
while We were crossing our bands, stationed on
high ground hack Of our late camp, were max
ing all The noise they were capable OF making,
and that was not a little.
Nov, comrades 81 tie First Division, we
don't intend TO steal any of your glory nor flags.
Old Joe was a fighter from way back" and
all the honor YOU gained on the Sd Of February
y0n are entitled - !; but don't forget that the
Fourth Division crossed that swamp.
Gen. Sherman, ID his Memoirs. Vol 2, page
25l. says: The Seventeenth Corps did not
enter the city at al, )" speaking Of Columbia.
The consolidated sd and zlst It'd. did enter
and pass through Columbia. That much we
know Tor we were there and in the ranks. We
had been left at the pontoon bridge, above the
city, till il was taken up, aud suppose that is
the reason Tor our passing through the city
D. z. EE9sE, Co. Z, 4Ist IL, and Co. K, SD
III, Lay, Kan.