The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-20
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG.
An Aeoo1Et Of ihc Explosion Of the Kline.

N i
with pleasure the soul-stirring war article that
appeared ia the September (1S5S) number Of
the Century magazine on the battle Of the Nine
at Petersburg Va, July 30, 1864; and as one
who was there, aud active participant IN
that and many other battles, beg space in
your valuable paper TO add little TO that
event, hoping il may prove not undressing
reading 10 many Of your readers and many old
comrades.
] was a member Of Co. K Ian independent
company of sharpsh00ters, armed with Spencer
repeating rifles, 57th Mass, Second Brigade
First Division, Ninth Corps. The General who
commanded our brigade was w. 4. Bartlett
who was few months before our Colonel, and
was a full Brigadier at "a years of age; grad
uate Of Harvard; had lost his right leg at
Yorktown, and had his left arm at the elbow
disabled at Port Hudson.
AZ SHUTDOWN on the eve Of the 29th of July.
1864. we were quietly told to get ready; that
the Mine was to be exploded early next morning
at daylight. and we were TO lead the charge
Co. II consisted then of only 50, all told. We
commenced at about 2. M. and marched by
the left flank for about two miles, until we en-
tered some deep, covered rifie-pits, where we
halted. Then 90. i was ordered TO tue front,
and under the cover of darkness 10 gain with
out alarm as close position as possible to the
rebel fort 90 be blown up. We approached
within 80 yards, deployed, and lay down to
veterans who had seen much service, and were
ready for anything, and Gen. Bartlett knew
ii, for he had tried them. IL did not seem long
TO Us for it must have been o'clock a. NJ. at
least when we took position. A low, rumbling
sound reached our ears, then with trembie
not unlike an earthquake the upheaval took
place. This occurred at daylight 1t seemed
for moment or two as though Co. K would be
covered with dirt, fragments of gun-carriages,
tinlbers and distorted fragments of human
beings As soon as the dust and smoke settled
enough TO see our way we sprang forward, and
your humble servant, with one other, was the
first in the Crater. And what a sight met our
eyes! The earth, composed partially of clay,
had opened, and great assures or rents had
been made in the center Of this fort by the ex-
plosiOn of from 5000 to 10000 pounds of pow
der. in many of the rents lay half buried the
bodies Of rebel soldiers still alive which caused
us for while 10 help them out and give a
drink Of water to revive them, some of them
being only stunned and greatly surprised,
for they all thought that the Yankee Mine
was a failure. But q moments pause was
made by Co. Is, for the main charging
party had come up and was pouring in
and over the rebel breastWorks our orders
being to move rapidly forward and with
our repeating rifles keep their guns silent,
which were now posted upon q ridge and
close IN our immediate 'front.' Well, we did
keep them silent for over an hour; but by
this time Gen. Malone had massed his whole
division in cur front Then commenced the
greatest artillery fire that ever took place DUR
ing the war. While this duel was kept up,
Gen. Ferraro was trying to get his division,
composed wholly of colored men with white
commissioned officers, into position. On the
left OF the Crater was depression in the earth
that should have been taken advantage of, aud
when they were moving forward Gen. Bartlett
sent an Orderly 10 them, and shouted for them
70 keep farther 70 the left as they would be
better protected from the terrific fire of the
rebel batteries; but their right was crowding
hard their left, which soon overlapped us IN
the rear. a rapid and murderoHs fire was now
poured in upon she colored troops by the rebel
batteries Our ammunition had by this time
become exhausted, and we were anxiously
awaiting supplies, but they never came, for the
order then had reached ali troops in the rear
OF us 70 withdraw TO our original lines; but
Gems. Bartlett and Marshall (Of the 18th N. Y.
III. a heard it not, for under the heaviest can
nOnading that these or any other Generals ever
heard no such orders could reach them.
II was about this time that the scene occur
red mentioned by the editor OF the Celsturu
Gen. Bartlett was standing on mound Of earth
N one Of the deep rebel Tifle-pits. A shell
from rebel battery exploded 50 feet in front
the pieces flying forward and downward. l
lodged one piece, but another hit the Generals
artificial Leg and shattered it. Down he went
Ia tie dust and dirt Of the rife-pit. When we
raised him up he was in merry humOr, and
% inquiries he remarked, q have only one leg to
60 Oh now" in d few moments, however, one
Of our boys shouted Here they come" mean.
ing the rebels, under Gen. Malone They had
formed five lines deep in q rayine in our front
Gen. Bartlett asked Inc TO help him up the side
OF the pit. In doing SO, hardly had his head
reached high enough TO look over a railroad tie
when rebel bullet pierced MS cap and cut Z
cash about one-and-a-half inches long in his
scalp. This stunned him, and he fell back int
my arms; but he soon revived, aud while sup
porting aim Gen. Mahones rebel division
poured in and upon us. a few blows were
struck and a few Of the niggers," as they called
them, were bay0neted. But / heard a rebe
Captain shout TO his men, Hold on there: they
have surrendered" and further acts of thii
kind ceased.
I remained IN the rihe-pits until the terribl,
cannonading Jailed, aud with Gen. BARTLETT OF
NY back and the remnant of the artificial
leg ia my hand, made quick tracks for a ravine
where proceeded 10 wash some of the blood
from the General and myself While engaged
ia this way / Was approached by rebel Lieu
tenant who proved to be staff officer of Gen
Aahone's. Taking me a little TO one side b.
asked, Is that the General who COMMANDED
the niggers?" Said ], "No;" and explainet
70 him who he Gthe General) was He laughed
and remarked that the news had lust gone &
the Richmond Enquirer that the General VIII
commanded the niggers had been capture.
with only one leg, and Two days after it appeaFet
in the Richmend papers, and requested the Gen
eral or mis- staff officer 10 send the leg up an,
they would try and get carpenter to fix il
But IN the next issue they took it all back, an,
spoke well Of the brave young General TIL
night following the battle, and while prisone
Of war, Gen. Marshall who led the main charg
of the mem did not lose q leg, but did lose
pair OF very fine t0p-boots, with a spread eagl
worked In white silk, which were taken frou
under bis head while he was asleep and wer
u not for the kIndess OF the reb who no doubt
stole them, the General would have had {
walk IN his stockingfeet into Petersburg
distance OF over a mile. We all had grea
laugh at has expense. In Petersburg Gen
Malone paroled Gen. Bartlett and myself Z
take care OF him Tor three days At the end Z
this time Gems. Bartlett and Marshall were sen
TO Richmond and I 10 Columbia IS c. iai
After short stay there / was conveyed I
Florence prisOn-pen g. c., where my troubl.
misery and sickness commenced / was n
auced from l65 pounds to 80. / was sent wit
thousand other skeletons 20 Charleston. S. G
and there, on Dec. 10, 1864, was again returne
under the dear old flag.
To tell OF the horrors and unwarranted starvF
lion land / was in a way to know of thes
things) that were endured in that prison-pe
would oil big book. One night, in the mid
dleof November, 1864, lost out of my SQUAD b
death nine out Of So. Over so per cent. of til
inmates died during the months Of Novembt
and Deceu Der MANY of them suf f,aring fro,