The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-09-12
RED RIVER CAMPAIGN.
First Experience of an Iowa Boy Under Fire.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / wish to say,
through the columns of your valuable paper,
n few words in relation TO my first impression
of battle But before beginning, let me say
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has the right ring 10
it. 1t is the best paper the veterans have, and
] wish to dof my hat and say, May it pros
per, and | wish every old veteran would be-
come a subscriber" Boys, stand up for THE
NATIONAL tribune; it is your friend. We
have about 200 soldiers in this County, and rs
the boys fall in and go to the postOflice to got
glad news from the Capital, and walk out read
ing The NATIONAL TRIBUNE, it makes the
soldier-hateTs angry, and wish in their hearts
they could stamp out this soldier business. But
to my story.
About o'clock at night on March 10. 1864,
A. J. Smiths Guerrilss (the Sixteenth Corps
were ordered to fall in ut the mouth of Red River
La. We marched all that night, stopping but
a short time for a banquet in the morning,
when we took up the line of march again. We
crossed the bayou in flatboats and shellcd tho
woods rs we went along, and as we came in
sight of Marksville our regiment was detailed
as guard in the town. The rest of the boys
passed on down to Fort De Russy, which was
occupied by the rebs, about 1000 strong. and
Immediately the ball opened. The Johnnios
threw shell from n 6.pounder pivot they had
stationed down Mt the river, about a mile from
the town, aud as 1t came singing through the
air II had the appearance OF a fly hit by Baby
Arson, of Chicago. 1t struck about 200 yards
from where we were guarding the town, and
then seven siege guns opened on the boys as
they were forming around the fort. Then
began the rattle of muslSetry and the booming
of cannon and the hurried flying of tue amhu-
lauccs as they passed to the rear with blood
dripping from the box rs they bore someone's
dear boy with his flesh torn by the deadly
missiles Of treason; couriers riding on the gall
Then came the order To fall in, and away we
went on the double.quck, each one vieing with
the other to see who would join the conflict
first.
We marched down the road amid the burst
ing of shells over our heads, tearing the tops of
trees to pieces, the limbs and leaves falling
around us; the zip OF the mimic ball as IL passed
our cars; the falling OF a comrade pierced by a
ball; his groan, his wild stare rs he lay on the
ground, his life blood ebbing away, hearing
him say, Tell mother | die with my face to
the foe"
We see the parapets of the fort half mile
away; see its walls of clay, % feet high, with
ditch 20 feet deep at its base. The order is
given, g by the left fank-halt" but in the con-
fusion aud excitement the boys mistOok the
order for left fank-march. and at once we
left fanked, raised the cheer and away we went
across the clearing towards the fort The rest
of the line took this MS the signal, and the
charge became general. We ran TO the ditch,
which we found with about two feet of mud and
water in it. but we went in pellmell and up the
parapet, scrambling up the best we could.
being but 10 years old, could not climb out of
the mud. / will say right here that had no
difficulty in jumping into il, and many of us
had the appearance of being stuck in the
mud" Capt. Shelburne reached his sword TO
me and pulled me up. As we mounted to the
parapet the Johnnies were stripping of their
cartridge boxes and bnyonois, and each one
seemed 10 have a white flag. aud the boys at
once began TO sing Rally Round the Flag"
The troops in the fort were all from Louisiana,
and the commander was so angry he stuck his
sword in the ground and broke 10 of.
Tongue eau hardly describe the feelings that
this battle had on me, and dare say many
felt as did. felt something like the Irish
man in his first battle. lie saw rabbit run
ing to the rear like mad, and exclaimed: Go
it, me darlint: If / had no more character than
yes have would run too"
But must close. The 9th and 32d Iowa,
Sd Iowa Cav, oath Mo. and 10th Kan. did val
liant work that day, and 30 did all the Six
teenth Corps. but il has always been n matter
Of some doubt what regiment was first upon
the rebel works We of course claim that
honor, but ] believe some Indiana regiment
claimed the same, and understand Gen. Smith
gave ii 10 the boys of the Sixteenth Corps. Let
us heard. ID. McCALLuM, Co. i, 9th and
18th Iowa, sibey, Iowa