The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-16

three feet deep, six feet wide and about eight
rods long was dug, into which the dead were
placed and covered.
There was a piece Of disabled artillery out to
the left and frost of the Crater Our right,
which had been thrown there by the explosion.
saw group OF Confederate officers standing
near it; one with gray beard had one foot en-
the piece. l asked one OF the guard who he
was, and he informed me it was Gen. Robert
Z. Lee.
There was but little conversation INDUCED
In between the two armies. The work re-
quired. as nearly as l can remember, about
three hours, during which time firing ceased
along the line as far as we could see. Both
armies were sitting On their bTeastWorks, with
no fear Of being made a target of; a singular
spectacle, indeed When the task was finally
done both sides withdrew TO their respective
lines-both armies vanished from sight of the
other; and no sooner was the white flag out Of
sight than firing began which was kept mp
night and day.
few days after this we observed white
fag raised from the Crater, which was answer
ed by one from our side. IN an instant firing
ceased, and the two armies were facing each
other, while a couple Of officers advanced to
the front and center from either side. Expla-
nations we're exchanged. which demonstrated
the fact that one Of our boys had hung hand
kerchief 10 dry, and the wind had blown it
over the bresstworks, where il hung on a weed,
I or something that had held itup TO the view Of
the enemy. Soon both sides returned, every
I body disappeared, and the ieaden compliments
began 70 pass back and forth.
Oar regiment was stationed part Of the time
ar the front, our left on the plank road and our
! right in a depression where the front line of
works made a right angle toward the (our) left
/ Of the Crater, and part Of the time back
about a mile from the front, to the left and rear
q - " e. ~ > LIZ
! place one day, / sat on the ground in the shade
/ OF q persimmou tree, writing letter. There
/ WIS q Michigan regiment camped within few
/ feet Of Us. a shot from the enemy struck the
/ ground about 20 rods short Of US. 1t came
4 tearing along, struck shelter tent Of the
/ Michigan regiment {" dog tents" as we used
! 70 call them, bounded over piece Of fence
/ rail which was IN the tent; thence over the oc-
! cupant, who was asleep, demOiishIng the tent;
/ then on 70 the persimmon tree, where il gave a
| rebound and rolled back and came upsgainst my
foot and stopped, having spent its force. Several
| OF the boys shouthed, Chan, get away before il
| explcdes." Ny letter and writing material
were badly demoralized as ! scrambled up, bat
| as it did not explode ! picked it up and found
il to be a solid shot, still warm and black with
1 burnt powder. As near as ! can remember, il
was about four inches in diameter.
The man who was disturbed by the shot
striking his tent, came tearing ont from the
wreck, demanding 10 know who IN - had dc.
molished his tent. One Of bis comrades point
ed to the shot which had just picked up and
informed him that that was the fellow for him
10 quarrel win. When lie cOmprehended the
situation he sat down on a cracker-box, and
said: Boys, I'm tired" And I believe hi
told the trsth for it made me feel " consider
ably shook up" 10 have that message from Pc
tersbuFg delivered TO me IN person.
We were concealed from the view Of the enc
my by rise in the ground some 30 or 40 rods il
front Of Us. One evening while on dress parade
ashot struck the ground just in front Of the RICH
Of Co II, tearing up the ground, then glancinl
up, when il struck q Lieutenant aud FRS
Sergeant, the former losing his left hand an,