The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-16

the early DAYS of June, 1862, the 9th Mich
arrived at Baton Rouge, La after trlp up
the Father of Waters as far as Marrentoh,
Miss. having had some hard experience, and
yvere assigned quarters in the United States
barracks, which had been in existence Tor
number of years previous 10 the war. We were
grateful at the change from extremely active
service TO the much-needed rest and quiet
which We were soon enjoying, broken only oy
frequent picket duty and an occasional recon
noissauce. The weather however being de-
lightiui, these duties were source OF ENJOY
lnent to Us, as they afforded unlimited scope 10
our
ABILITIES AS FoRAGERs;
and what soldier ever repined under such cir
cumstances? The 4th Wis. shared with us the
duties Of the post.
Along about the 1st of July the remainder of
the troops composing Williams Brigade, who
had been mp at Eicksburg endeavOrIng TO cut
canal between two points on the river Tor the
purpose Of leaving Nicksburg without water
communication began TO arrive, one regiment
al a time, at Baton Rouge, and were gladly well
coined by us. as We all well knew that we had
been occupying a dangerous position, tar from
supports OF reinI0rcemcnts, IN case we were al
tackled by a superior force OF the enemy.
The force at Baton Rouge on the evening Of
Aug 4, 1852 was composed as follows; 9th
Conn. 30th Mass, l4th he, 9TH VT, 2lst Ind,
4fn M tS. ana DlN MICH. ECliA4bUhe u iDidAAAl
Nimss I'd and ManniBg's 4th Mass. batteries;
also. two guns which had been captured, aud
were manned by detachment from the 2lst
Ind, commanded by Lieut.. Brown.
On account Of the long sea voyage, with us
inertia and confinement, necessary for trans
portation to that department., and the hard-
ships Of the trip up the river, combined with
the facilitating effects of the climate OF the
far South from all the force before mentioned
,rsI-- l,or,r , EgO affagfTve men Could be
tered for duty aud many of these took their
places in line Of battle from the conyalescent
wards Of the different hospitals III the city. 50
much for the personnel of the force, all under
command Of BTg-Gen. Thomas ;. Williams
brave and efficient officer, although somewhat
unpopular with the Western men OF his com
msnd on account Of the rigorous discipline
which he undertook 10 enforce.
On the night Of the 4th we were Informed
that large force Of the enemy were
WITHIN Sticking DISTANCE,
and that fuss with them in the near future
was highly probable, aud we were ordered to
have one days cooked ratiOns in our haver-
sacks canteens filed and our fighting lmple-
ments in good condition for business, and
everything in good shape SO as 10 be ready at
the first tap of the long roll.
On account Of numerous previous rumors to
the same effect which had proved false, many OF
Tic BDNh lCEsNA "a AiiC " A4N'''s
10 Tations aud water, and realized their mis-
take very early the next day.
Oar regiment lthe 9th Mich.l was camped
without tents on the morning Of the 9th on a
road leading east from the city, at the Ball
Alley" in grove Of liye-oaks, one company
C. being on picket IN our front.
/ slept well, and when the first picket firing
commenced on the morning Of the 9th had
Just arisen and finished my simple toilet, being
an habitual early riser. ! Immediately dOnned
my accOuterments and ran 10 the quarters OF
Lieut. Dicl1ey commanding company, and
awakened him. and then took my place with
the company, which by this time was rapidly
forming, in consequence Of which action our
company was ready for business before the
alarm was beaten.
In obedience to orders from headquarters
three companies a. B and F. were, with the
section Of artillery, left at the Ball Alley, under
the command Of Capt. Gordon, Of the 9th Mich;
the remaining six companies of the regiment
then in camp were dOubie-qHieked TO posi-
ton partly covering the Magnolia Cemetery.
When we arrived al our position IN line oil
battle, which was a good one, we found foul
guns Of the 9Th Mass battery in position; but
from some uBaccOuntable reason, TO the best Of
my recol election, they did not fire a shot IN
moving cut 10 our position We had to file right
and move toward the front for some distance
in four ranks, marching endways; and right
here the Erst shell passed over our heads,
should judge about 20 feet above the ground
Being q SHOT from a rifed gun, its motion wa
what the boys used TO call quick and devil
ish" It being unexpected, We were somewha
Eurprised-to put il mildly-and every man, q
far as / could sec ahead
coURTEsEYED TO THE GROUND
without waiting for orders. After taking posi-
ton we were ordered TO liedOwn. Quite sharl
firing had 10y this time begun on the left, and tn
morning being f0sgy, and what little air Their
WAS stirring bringing the smoke Of the frinj
al to Onr trout, We were consequently unabl
TO see 10 rods ia our front; but we could hear
and knew that we should soon have a hand in
IS we lay on the ground we could see unde
the fog 70 about the hight Of q mans knees, ant
] could plainly see the legs Of the Johnnie
long before we could distinguish their form
through the dense obscurity. Capt. Clark, com
malding the detachment, ordered US 10 il
close and preserve silence until ordered {
commence firing. and ! distinctly remembe
how terribly anxious ] was 10 begin bushes
loag before be got ready. The rebs came o
IN Gne style, with nicely-dressed line, anti
they were within about 50 PAGES OF Us, whe
Capt. Clark gave US the command to
LIT TEEE HAVE 1T; AND AIM FOWL"
As We fred il seemed to me as IL more tina
one half OF then went TO the ground; we bein
50 near and lying down, about every shot too
effect.
The terrible effect Of our Ere seemed TO d.
moralize those unhurt and they turned an
ran back some 30 rods 70 piece Of timber Q
the farther side Of the cemetery, where the
officers succeeded IN forming new line, an
they being strongly reinforced, after sho
time again advanced. OF course, they ha
given ug the benefit Of their best efforts in Il
shooting line, aud up 10 this time our losses hs
been quite heavy.
The fog and smoke had now lifted and clears
away and when they again advanced we had
good view Of them from the start. We reserve
cur FIRE until they were again about half-wa
u Us, when we commenced 10 fire at viii. The
immed iately raised theory Of " Don't shoot: W
are firing on your own men," Lieut.. Ralph,
Co ], Acting Adjuiant, says, " will find out
and rode promptly down 10 the front betwe,
tie two lines until he ascertained that 10 was
hoax, calculated 70 deceive US into inactivit
when be gal0ped back amid shower Of bal
but came of unframed; as brave q feat
anything ] saw in my nearly four years
service. At about the same time i discover
that the force advancing wore fFinged hnnti
shirts and lcggings az a uniform, and called I
attention Of Lieut. Dickey, commanding Co.
lwhO was lying close to me-, 10 the fact al
he Immediately ordered our company 10 ri
them under the short-ribs. The who
detachment then began giving them
LIBERAL DOSES OF COLD LEAD,
and the destruction in their ranks was fearfI
ssh fhasy cfao1 f1xy "A gc-~ragl--