The National tribune., 1890-08-14

could not help sweeping US all into eternity.
The air was so full of screechng balls and fly
ing timber and bricks that | could hardly per-
suade myself that | had escaped being hit.
Fortunately every one of our mess escaped as /
did; except Herman, who was struck across the
back by flying rail, as he stood up to load,
and knocked into the ditch. Luckily, most of
us had our rifles loaded and on the instant we
answered with volley, which droPt number
of men and horses and disordered the surviV-
ors. who were reloading their pieces, so that
they stood for a moment stunned and confused.
Forward! Charge the battery!" shouted
Col. Clark, leading the way with waving sword.
About 200 of u.s. who were on that side, re-
sponded with yell, and rushed for the can
non. The gunners fled before the terrible
wave Of steel. the first gun was seized, Col.
Clark springing upon it, and shouting exult-
antly. Some Of his men turned it quickly and
tried TO fire it at the flying batterymen, while
the rest rushed for the other guns.
We were startled by fresh danger. Three
rebel regiments appeared at the edge of the
brickyard, in solid ranks, with leVeled mus
kets. They seemed to have risen out Of the
ground. They had really formed in the shelter
of the ravine and marched up its bank. But
few rods away, if they fired they would simply
destroy US. They hesitated moment, and
then came forward on a charge.
Back, all of you, for your lives!" shouted
Col. Clark. "Back into the ditch as quick as
you can"
Never was an order obeyed with more celer-
ity. Before the rebels reached where we had
been standing we had leaped over the embank-
ment and were behind its sheltering crest.
The disappointed rebels halted and poured a
savage volley, which only Scared the earth
and wounded the trees. We halted a moment
to fire back at and delay them while We ran
along the railroad IN fha other aida nf the
swamp. As Ian and / went over the bank we
pulled Herman with US. He shook himself
from our grasp when we reached the bottom Of
the slope:
Lied me alone now," he said. "Pm yoost
so good as dc rest Of you. Dat tamt rail
knocked do vindt out Of me- bud id has gone
back again, unit Pm all righd now. I'm kOing
pack up dere to ket my gun"
" Don't be fool, Herman" | said roughly.
" II you try to go over that bank you'll be
filled full of holes. Come on, aud let the gun
60 You can get another"
"Tm nod kong to led id ko," he answered
stubbornly. Oats do pest rife in de army.
Unit id COST de Kovernment feefteen tollars.
I'm not koing to led de reppels haf id, unit |
want id myself"
had by this time gotten so well acquainted
with Herman as to know that when he set his
mulish Dutch head upon doing anything that
it was useless to interfere.
He crawled up the bank TO the top leaped
over quickly into the ditch below, and in a
minute reappeared wet and muddy, but tri-
umphantly carrying not only his own rifle, but
another one, which he had picked up at the
same time. We scampered after the others,
back to where the regiment vas reforming on
the hill beyond the swamp
Intensely wrought-up. Col. Clark was angrily
demanding where Gen. Reno was, why rein
lorcemenls were not sent, and why his men
t,rrs1 Nr.f@ HI a 4 II
masses.
It'was pointed out to him that instead OF his
being on the flank of the enemy, the works ex-
tended for mile or farther and that the whole
brigade was now hOtly engaged with these,
leaving not man to spare to his assistance.
" But there are three or four regiments lying
there doing nothing" said Col. Clark, pointing
10 the 4th and 9th Z. /. and 5th Conn.
" They belong TO Gen. PaTke's Brigade held
in reserve" he was told.
where is Gen. Parke?" he asked.
:" Gen. Parke Is absent, at some other portion
Of the line. and cannot be found now"
Col. Clark was so sure that where he had
been was the vulnerable part of the line, and
that a renewal Of the attack there would bring
success, that he went over 10 Col. Rodman,
commanding the 4th r Ia splendid regi-
ment-and urged him to make an assault. The
Colonel and his men were eager 10 60 in
wherever they could be OF service and only
hesitated because their brigade commander
was not present and they feared TO disturb his
plans. But Col. Clark was confident aud
urgent and Col. Rodman needed little pressing.
lie sent one OF his Lieutenants to fad Gen.
Parke and report what he was about do. Then
his voice rang out:
Attention. Fourth Rhode Island %
Every one Of his eager men came into place
at once.
BY the right flank, forward march,
Forward by files into line.
Guide center! Quick time! Forward,
march I"
The regiment became sweeping billow O!
glistening steel, rolling resistlessy against the
rebel works.
That calls for the undersigned" shouted
Job. Come on, boys"
We ran up and took our places on the left of
the right wing Of the regiment.
The rebel cannon and musketry famed out
afrcsh, officers aud men went down, but there
was no stopping that swelling tide of armed
men. Looking over our shoulders we could
see the Sth Conn. and the 9Th T. /. fastening
after US.
In few breaths we were across the swamp
and swarming up the bank from which we had
just run. Then we were clubbing with our
rHe-barrels and shooting down the rebels, who
vainly tried to resist our pouring into the
works. / was in delirium of excitement. AT
the foot of the bank fred directly into u group
on the crest, and the next instant was among
them. with the rest OF the boys, striking at
thom with my gun. Then saw the flag OF the
4th K. |. tlutter above the bank and the whole
mass of rebels rush away in wild confusion,
throwing away muskets and forsaking cannon,
great and small.
Col. Rodman Instantly reformed the righ
wing of his regiment, and started on a charge
down the inside of the works toward the river.
ile had not gone far when the men of Fosters
Brigade, who had seen and compTehended the
movement started forward with q cheer, and
swept over the works in front of them. This
completed the rOut of the rebels between the
railroad and the river.
Gems. Burnside and Parke came riding up to
where we were. with their faces radiant
"What regiment took the battery9" in
qured Gen. Burnside.
The 4th T. l., General Little RhOdy has
the honor"
4" knew il" said he. slappiug his hat down
on his thigh. Thank God, the day is ours"
But the rebels held out yet. Those in the
redans beyond the railroad were still obsti-
natey resisting Gen. Reuo's Brigade, and hot
fire was coming our way from the works near
tho railroad.
The sth Conn. and the 9TH r. l., which
reached US too late to have share in the fight
ing, were given an opportunity by being sent
into the woods 10 turn the TANKS of the redans.
A heavy voley greeted them.
''Theres some darned fools over there who
haint got enough fighting yet" remarked Job,
Strengthening up and catching hold of his
| rifle.