The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-03

Pontchartrain from New Orleans, and also up
the Jackson Railroad to Pontchatoula and
beyond. Augur's Division had been concen-
trated at Baton Rouge, and about the Goth OF
May moved upward to the Plains" about four
miles in the rear of Port Hudson. On the Dist
of May, before Shermans Division had ar
rived, the COnfederates made sortie in force,
attacking Augur with severity, but were finally
driven back into their works with a severe loss
on both sides. On the 22d and 23d of May
Sherman's Division all arrived and took posi-
tiOn on Augurs left some four miles from the
river. For two days afterward there seemed
to be an uncertainty of what was to be done,
which was caused by large Confederate force
THREATENING OUR REAR.
Several times we formed line facing the rear,
but finally our cavalry drove off the enemy, and
on the oath we slowly closed in around the
stronghold During the day Banks joined
Augur on the right closing the gap to ThOmp-
sons Creek and the river swamp.
Late in the day of the 25th the advance was
again ordered, but after forming column we
rested at ease until after dark. The 9th Mich.
was then deplOyed as a skirmish-lne for Sher-
mans Division, and the advance continued
with the utmost caution. All commands
were reported down the line in as
low a tone of voice as possible. The
strangest thing to us in our dvance was
that we met none of the enemy's pickets
When we thought we were getting near the
enemy's works we used still greater caution,
crawling on their hands and knees until we
could begin to hear the tread of the sentries on
the earthworks and see the outlines of their
forms as they paced to and fro between us and
the hazy starlight beyond. There seemed to be
no disposition toward alarm amongst them and
quletness reigned supreme, except the harsh
voices of the cicad9e. We lay some time
watching and listening, whispering our
thoughts to each other of what could be done
while the enemy lay quietly mapping, APP
parently uncOncerned as to our whereabouts
After lying half an hour or more in the ridges
of the old field ansorder was whispered down
the line to fall back to the timber. 1t was
a GREAT -pIsAPPoNT,IENT
to us, as from the condition of things we were
satisfied an easy entrance could be made and if
properly supported we could easily hold our
ground. Soon after we gained the edge of the
timber volley was fired by some of our own men
some distance to the left. We distinctly heard
the command to fire, and thought we recognized
the voice. The intense quiet of midnight was
Immediately broken by the beating of the long
roll in dozen different places and the hurried
cries of Fall in! Fall in! The Yankees are on
us The barking of dogs and ithe cOmmin-
Cling of voices of all kinds astOnished US by
the suddennCss OF the change from quiet to
full life and activity. Our opportunity was
lost never to lie regained. Over 40 days and
nights of ceaseiess vigilance fell to our lot,
without complete nights rest during the
time. We lay upon our arms the remainder of
the night, but at daylight retreated short dis
lance farther back to piece of woods of mag
nolia, beech and oak, that gave US better cover,
aud about three-fourths of a mile from the
enemy. Soon after daybreak the enemy COM
menced throwing shells into the woods in all
directions, but although pieces of iron were