The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-06-25

that Of tho charge on Fort Gregg, ne,
Petersburg, Va, on tho end Of Apr
1906. you run the risk OF drawing ii
fire Of all the survivors Of that vlciou
charge and more vicious defense. | III
vicious in no offensive sense, but rs
strong term 10 express how both side
went into the fight, Drawing death O
that bright Sunday.
Two days previous We had been march
Ing and fighting, skirmishing md shoe,
Ing at times until our guna would be
como so hot TINT we could not hol
them, around on the left near Fiv
Forks. On the night Of the lst, Il diss
greeable, dark, damp, drizlly night, W.
were massed very quickly, and told l.
throw away everything that would rat
tie, knives, tin cups, plates, etc. W,
did not throw them away. We wer,
caught on an order Of that kind In GU
first charge ut Winchester, when W,
piled up knapsacks, blankets, etc. liter
ally stripped for tho fight, but the "Rebs'
outllanked US and We did not 70 bacl
the way We came.
We were then marched in the larl
for several hours, 1t seemed to us, until
placed In line, or Ell masse, rather, be.
fore the rebel works, 80 close that We
could hear them talk. We were or,lereC
to lie down and be ready for charge
Some Of the boys had seen tho rebe
front covered with breastwotks, rifle
pits, abbatis, bitches, logs, brush, shart
sticks, and I'LL the protection that dcs.
perate dcfending enemy could devise,
and We wondered how We could rel
through there in broad daylight, with nc
one to oppose. But we would have to
try il ordered.
l lay down on the damp sand In the
mistiug rain. The prospect for to.lnor.
rows breakfast was not ilattering, /
shall not attempt to put my thoughts on
paper. God, home and country, all de
manded this. The chill and the dread.
iul suspense were worse than the fight.
Ing which came afterward. When the
war WAS over. aud we marched home,
some OF us getting off the train at Valley
Grove, twelve miles out from " heelinp,
and going up McGraw's run to our
homes, the old neighbors who had not
been to the war were repairing the road,
and one who had grown rich during the
war, and who now enjoys his wealth,
while with some OF the soldier boys 1t
has been struggle to support the fami.
lies that have grown up around them
since the war, remarked after VIZ passed,
"Those boys never saw much lighting"
when we had been in places, that had
he been there, he would have given up
all he was worth, or ever expected to be
worth, to have been out Of that.
Eut this is a depression that coulI
not well avoid. About i o'clock on the
Of the Cd, the distant
sound Of canuonading was heard OH the
right. II came nearer, and nearer. Then
The roar OF musketry, which grew
sharper as it came nearer, We were up
ready for the charge, surprising that as
soon as it got along the line as tar Us our
position We would be thrown forward.
But when within gunshot distance we
were ordered to move to the right.
You mny presume this relieved us. The
line had been broken around Richmond
It several points, and We were marched
Until We came around in front of Fort
Gregg. The charge had begun and the
irst division Of Gibbons Corps were
,eing repulsed, and what seemed to be
eft OF them were moving stubbornly
WAY.
Then another charge was made. We
rad fine view from our position on the
ill just facing the fort. The slaughter
eemed awful, men were cut down like
.rass before scythe, Of which it put me
n mind. When the rebels threw
'harge OF grape; ora yolley OF musketry
INTO our ranks, flag after flag would 20
lown to be picked up again. I noticed
group Of New Workers gathered around
heir colors and trying to keep them up.
finally it got tangled up under one OF
hem and the survivors could not get it
tut from under the mass Of dead and dy.
ny men and they marched away. That
:hurge ended in repulse.
Then came our turn. We were or.
Tered to take the fort, and I suppose
.yery man felt as did, that the fort must
u taken. 1t was. We marched down
he hill, and up the slope on the other
tide, allin plain view OF the "Johnnies."
There were no trees, stumps or rocks to
hide behind, and the grape shot and
shell seemed to fill the air along my
oath. / do not know how it was ut
,,her places. The whistle OF the mis-
;iles almost drowned the roar OF the
shooting. How l could wade through
that aud come out alive did not know,
but everybody else seemed to be going
up, except those that the rebel missiles
laid low, and they were many. There
lay Caldwell, Of Short Creek, and Bill
Ross, with my mess knife beside him,
which had fallen out Of his pocketas he
fell, with my name, company and regi-
ment carved on the handle, and. ii those
who buried him had no other way OF
Identifying him, there is likely to be
headboard around there somewhere re.
cording my demise. .F @
But up the hill we went, crossed the
ditch, climbed on each others should
crs, to get over the breast works. Lieu
tenant Caldwell OF Company A, OF
Marshall county was killed attempting
to plant the colors on top OF the works
as brave man as ever lived. This
seemed 10 madden the boys, and with
determined effort, they scaled the works
and went into the fort. l was not the
first one in, but the fighting was not quite
over when rot in. A tall Mississippian
drew his gun on me, l cooked my empty
bsyonetted rifle and asked him to surren-
der. Hethrew down his gun, and pull.
ing or his canteen, said LET US take a
drink" and to show that it was not
poison, took drink first. Joined him,
as the boys know. Then we sat down
and talked Of taking the fort. II lie is
alive he will remember me. And !
would meet him as al own brother. ia
l think it was Colonel Curtis who was
riding grey horse. After We had taken
the fort the officers We're grouped to.
ge,her nearby, when q shot came from
some Of the forts not yet taken, and
striking in front bounded clear owe,
the grey horse and rider and exploded
beyond. l have a piece Of. that shell
and recently met man who WIS in til,
fort from which the shell was throw