The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-26


muzzles. See the ramrods leap from their
sockets! How they ring Ms the bullets are
rammed home. Back to their places 90
the ramrods and caps are put upon the
nipples. This takes bat moment We
are ready to meet the rebel enemy on the
field of Chickamarga.
While we are losding Col. Hapeman and
Mai Wdmer ride up and down the line
utpring words Of encouragement ana
cheer They tell US that they know every
man will do hi duty, and that the flag OF
the lGitn Illinois will come out unstained
except by the blood, If need be, OF Its "e-
Tenders: and wa shout In response
Then we are called to Attention 6attal-
lon! Right dershiit-arms' For
ward, double-quick-march!" Col. liape>
man plunges his spurs into the TANKS OF
his horse and dashes ahead. We follow
on the run TO the front line, pushing
through the struggling teams smarting un
der the lash of yelling, half crazed drivers.
See the dem0ralzed stragglers from the
21st CORPS, who have become detached
from their regiments and are seeking per
sonal safety at the rear. Some are being
born from the field on stretchers, But We
have looked On such scenes before. we
gaze upon the pallid face and bleeding
forms of wars victims. Hurrying past us
90 many of the brave men with blood
streaming from their faces, or pierced
limbs and bodies, but yet able 10 make
their way 10 the rear In quest OF aid TO
stauDch their bleeding wounds. How ten
derry they help one another intheir hour OF
ing ana helpless, supporting with the other
ccmradc who hobbies with a shaft red leg.
There is another, limping painfully, but
leading carefully along one whom blood
and grim smoke have for tho time made
sightless. With what glad shouts OF wei
come these manned and bleeding heroes,
whose breasts are yet heaving with the
emotions of the conflict, greet US Ne
we push 20 the front.
"Hoa'sit going? % we asked one of them
"Its mighty hot in there" WAS the reply
"The boys are hanging on, but they
need help bad The woods are
full o. .Johnies, but we are going to
lick 'em." so says Pap Thomas
1--WE are going for them" shout all the
boys ave will give 'em the best we've
got in the shop" and we have reached the
Keeling line, and the smell of the smoke OF
battle. The rebels make a rush for us,
STEADY, men, steady" exclaims the OIL
Gers; but We have reached the awful storm,
and zee the bodies of the dead lying torn
and mangled upon tho ground. We turn
our eyes away from the awful sight.
The rebels are coming for us at double
quick; their caps pulled down over their
eyes 10 hide the sight before them. We
give them voley; the artillery opens fire; ;
a shell comes screaming through the air
and bursts over us, the fragments hurled
ON every side. The rattle of musketry
becomes more and more terrible. The
drowning bCI of the bullets Is heard on
both sides The charge Is over and we are
vet in line Of battle; some stiff In death /;
others grooming with painful wounds; no
one leaves the rank to care for the wound
ed. We are loading and firing al Will; We
must keep the rebels from forming II pos
sible, for our right is broken and hurled
from the field, and our line too is heavily
pressed by Longstreets corps, who have
arrived fresh from the East. The captain
Of Bridges Chicago battery suffered a
heavy loss In men and officers. The cap
tain came to ask for help from the men Of
the l04th Ills. We respond d. Hamil on
Campbpll, Frank l.. Pound, Philip A.
Hawk, Jacob II. Diehl and the writer vol
uneered to assist the brave captain and his
men, The rebels make another charge
and we are forced to 90 from our line to
the rear, as we are nearly outilanked on
our right. So back we go and for time
the battery seems to he lost "Cut the har
ness" Is the order; rope Is attached TO
the train of the guns and we pull them
from the field. One wheel Is made into
splinters by solid shot. spike the gun"
IL the command. The effort Is made and
Corporal Tracy is to do the work. He has
finished the task, but, poor fellow, he falls
beside the gln,--a brave man; he died for
his couutry's liberty, and is numbered with
the slain
The battery and our regiment are or.
dered to Horseshoe Ridge, where the l4th
army corps Is In possession. The rebels
are forming for another charge, They
come, but 10 go back; some new returned
Five times Longstreet, Hardy, Cheatam
and Pat Cliborn's corps came through that
cornfed, and as often they We're driven
back by the l4th army corps. Here is
where Gen. Thomas was called the rock of
Chckamauga. The llth army corps was
never driven from battle field. The near
est they came was Peach Tree Creek, on
Inlv oOth 1874. hut wa gained all the