The National tribune., 1890-02-13

The IMh Coma. At KInston, \. c.


EDITOR NATIONAL Tribune: On Sunday
morning Dec, II, 1889. tho 10th Conn "stood
ut case ia the rear Of Fosters advance line nj
knstou, n. e. As a regiment 1t was siugu,
larry silent under command. Il never went
into action singing battle songs; seldom raised
the war cry whom closing with the enemy.
But Ia no body Of men was discipline higher
none whose ranks were better closed up on the
march none that responded more quickly and
cheerfully to a general order TO 4" 90 in none
ever elung more calamity to It's victory named
colofs. OF gave "a bcttor account Of itself The
rapid aHd continuous roll of its effective flo
fire told palmer than any ontcry its splendid
service.
And now with It's ranks depleted by the
losses OF Roanoke Island and New Bernie to-
gctbor with the waste wrought by an insid-
ons climate, IL numbered only 3GJ men-off-
GERS and privAtes Bat II was like an athlete
trained 20 lis lighting weight, waiting to enter
tho arcn1. Such was the regiment that then
carelcssly listened TO tho volIeys which, not
receding ia distance. spoke of no Union success
We had been held in reserve our reserve
duty was soon To come A tall staff officer
MAJ Stack polei-no joke intended bore this
stirring order from Gen. Foster Take your
regiment 20 over the men in front. engage the
enemy aud don't come out until you havo
given him enough" Lieut.. Col. Leggett re.
piled simply: . Depend upon II, we will do ali
we can At tho word Attention" thc liv-
ing machine, bristling with steel, sprung into
action, aud at the command Forward be-
gan movement rs gallant as any of the deeds
OF war resplcndent with glory aud CHASTITY
with dreadful sacrifices. In line of battle
quick aud steady, the 10th passed the three
lines that preferred distant conflict TO close
honor and entered swamp deep with mud
aud almost iinpenetrable with dense thorns.
Now, also, heavy Yolleys from Il masscd aud
covered enemy beat upon the slender force
struggling for position aud exerting It's noblest
discipline 10 keep its formation. Ii was "a ter
rible march, If unopposed but war added its
horrors TO those Of nature. But they pressed
bravcly on, cleared the 0bstncle and burst into
the open ground beyond 10 was an elevated
slope or knoll, commanded by fire whose
weight was AS five to three against them. Col
Mullett, 6lst y. e. had, by his report over 500
meb at the chufch.) They were protected by
Il thick tcnceand a wooden chapel, from behind
which they delivered flank as we'll as front
fire. Fifteen minutes of swift and deadly work
that seddened that hill with the blood OF 80 as
gallant men as ever wore uniform--a fierce
charge aud wild rush for tho bridge below
Two hundred and fifty prisoners were headed
OIL by soldiers too eager to take them TO the
rear, FOR the bridge was burning and hot fire
opened from the opposite bank But nothing
could check their martial ardor, now blazing
Hereby under complicated opposition. They
cxtlnguished the flames aud rushed over the
twce-conquered bridge, drove away the enemy
aud went into camp two miles in advance of "a
force Of over 10000.
They won Il name that nothing can take
away, aud glory that will never fade; but at
what bitter cost !-I6 moro of the best aud
bravcst going down ut tho fiery crossing.
Here fell the noble Coffin. the chiyalrous Per.
kins, pet and favorite of all. One hundred aud
six were missing tho roll was called that
night in those gloomy North Carolina pines,
many OF whom never would lift sword or carry
musket again
Perhaps this was part of the "picnc aud
loaing" set down To our volunteers after %
years OF IA reunited country--reunited by many
sacrifices like this. Bat my heart is heavy as
! think how many trueseomrades never will
grasp my hand again, but sleep in stranger
graves, with the star pf glory shining brightly
above whore they were mustered out" with
honor forever.
As several lost-and found articles are con.
stantly advertised, l would say l lost m arm
down IN North Carolina in '62. Any johnny
finding the same willplease return to owner
JAS NJ ROGERS, Corporal, Co. H. 10th Conn,
Norwich, Conn eE