The National tribune., 1890-07-24

whistle more than 5000 had landed, and were
ready to fight for their foethold on the soil.
The Joy of all Mt the successful landing, and
at being once moro on firm ground, after
weeks Of tossing about on the stormy waters,
was unbounded aud the woods rang with
enthusiastic cheering.
IL becoming apparent that there was but
little prospect OF immediate attack by the
enemy. the regiments broke ranks, and soon
little campfires spangled the night for miles in
every direction.
We were anxious to be on shore with them
and finally got permission TO turn our laneh
over to one OF the transports and go on the
land. We made our way as far to the front as
possible, built little fire and gathered around
il. The combat between the feet and the
rebels had ceased rs darkness settled down, and
there was no disturbing noise except an occa-
sinal shot from nervous picket. who saw le-
gions OF the enemy approaching him through the
! sabecurtained woods. We talked hopefully of
tho result of the days fighting aud the prospects
of the morrow Ii did not seem that the
rebels could make any stand against such an
array rs confronted them, and we welcomed
tho trial.
For my own part, was exceedingly anxious
that the battle should come at once. | had
looked forward to tho great event so long-had
thought so much and intensely of all its possi-
biliteS that was in n fever To have the expe-
rience, with whatever 1t might bring, aud be-
over with it. felt more sauguine than had
expected to be on the dreadful eve of battle. In
spite of our dTenChing and the depressing
feeling of wet clothes clinging TO me. ] was
buoyant. The smoke of tho burning powder,
| the sight of thousands of men eager TO get into
| the fight and their cheers intoxicated me.
We did not talk so much among ourselves as
| | had supposed we would whom the battle was
| imminent. 1t seemed as if we had talked our
| selves out in the months that We had looked
| forward To this hour.
| Let ns keep as near that feller rs possible, ("
l said job indicating a fnc-looking, erect full
| bearded man, with Il flashing eye. aud sharp,
| Imperative way of speaking. He wore the
| single star of a Brigad ier General. and seemed
| to have the management of everything in the
1 neighborhOod.
| "That's Gen. John q. Foster, commanding
| the First Brigade" said man wearing 9th
| Mass Vols" on his hat. "To my idea, he's
| the boss soldier in this crowd, and better one
never wore shoulder straps He's strict and
| we used TO think him hard, but he attends to
| business all tho timo, and makes everybody
else do the same. whether he's officer private.
| You'll hear from him before this scrimmage is
| over"
"He's the man for my money" said job. Z" I
| like his looks, aud when Il mans looks suit me-
| he's sure To suit. | never make q mistake in
pickin' out man or a hoss.'
| We took up our place near where the First
| rigade-conssting of the ODD, 2ith 25th aud
| 9Th Mass. and the 10th Conn.--was sncamped
| In IA sweet potato field, which speedily became
| n lake of sticky mud. We managed to secure
"a few rails in the rush upon the fenees three or
four OF which were devoted to a fire and tho
| rest laid down to sit upon. Making little
| coffee. we ate "a frugal supper of crackers and
| boiled beef, talked awhile of the bombardment
| aud of the magnificent spectacle OF the dsem-
| barkment, and then reapsed into silence, start
| ing up occasionally at alarms given by the
pckets firing at imaginary rebels prowling
| through the dark woods
The clouds, which had been lowering for some
time, began to weep dreary. drenehing rain,
which continued the whole dismal night We
had brought neither blankets nor tents ashore
with us. They would have been of but little
use Ii we had, in the immense puddle which
the potato field had become. There was moth
ing to do but sit upon our rails, with what
patience we could muster, sheltering our mus
ket-locks and eartridge-boxes as we'll as we
| could under our oveTcoats.
IL seemed as If the drizzling clouds in the
east never would open to let tho morning