The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-21
BEFORE RICHMOND.
A Picket-LIne Episode of Drcp Bottom, Va, Al
gust, 1864,

airy, rs il was then called,) was ordered TO move
to Deep Bottom, Va, for the purpose of trying
to create the impression that they were going
right through TO Richmond.
What n row we kicked upl
All who did not know we were there merely
for the purpose of diverting the attention of
tho Confederate commander from his right,
that tho Fifth Corps might take the Weldon
Railroad, thought we would get there"
Did we2 Mol But we got the Weldon Road,
and some Of us had the closest calls we ever
had.
was then Second Lieutenant OF Co. g. 4th
n, Y. III. A. On the 18th of the above month
my company was on the reserve. 1t was about
o'clock in the afternoon. We were lying under
the brow of q small hill, and could hear the
bullets strike the leaves of tho trees at its foot
From the elevation or point on the trees whore
they were being so slashod we could easily
judge the artillery, which was stationed on tho
top of said hill, were having hot time of it,
Also now and then down would go a horse,
and again some poor fellow would sound his
last war Cry-that fearful scream some mon
utter when bullet strikes death-blow.
My Captain, w. d. Knower and were old,
old friends having lived in the same town on
the Hudson River" that town where they
sing twice"
We were smoking our pipes and mutually
congratuating ourselves ut not being called
upon, when up rode the Field Officer of the
Day and said
Captain, want an officer and eight men, and
will call for them III - minutes There is q
gap in the picket-ine directly in your front,
which must be closed up
] did not sag a word, for | knew what was
coming. The Captain came directly TO me and
said:
WILL l can't help it, but it is your turn to
GO"
Every we'll" said /, elf must; pick out the
men; ] will be ready in minute"
Tho men were brought to me. and on look
ing them over found all the old beats in the
company had been selected.
| looked at Captain Knowor, then at tho
men, never tutoring "A word, when the Captain
said
What is tho matter, Will ?"
"Why," said /, il | have to risk my life
this way, | would like men who l think
would stand by ne"
SO selected eight OF our very best men.
Whom the Field officer returned, he called
me and said
Take these men 10 tho top of the hill,
advance TO the woods, and when you fluid n
vacant post, station man there with proper
instructions Continue this till all vacancies
are filed. aud remain with your men till
relieved
wonder if that fellow has any heart, thought
/, and l shuddcred from head 10 foot, for |
knew what was TO be encountered.
Had not seen those leaves falling all day?
Was not tho wall of that first man killed still
fresh in my mind2 Did | not know IL was
almost impossible TO make my way up to that
luCf IL had been so dangerous for three or
four days all pickets had been relieved ut
night.
said good-by to my Captain, instructed my
men to crawl TO the top of the hill and lie
down. The firing was not continuous, but
spasmodic We lay low for "a few minutes,
when / gave the order to follow me- in double
time TO the front We must have gone about
80 yards, when / gave the order TO lie down
again. What a volley passed over us How
we Rugged mother earth!
We had advanced in this way about $50
yards, when we found ourselves in a small
potato field the burrows running Mt right
angles with our line Of advance. | called Tor
another halt We had no sooner taken cover
in the burrows, when TO my astouishmont
shell burst in our rear, the pieces flying nil
around US, and throwing the dirt all over as.
] gave orders to lie close till / reconuoitered,
when the samo thing occurred a second time.
This continued for some few minutes, when
| satisfied myself the shells wero from our
own battery.
called tho man nearest mo to 20 back as
fast as possible and notify the officer inf charge
the fuse on those shells were too short. 1t took
about 80 minutes for this poor fellow 10 20 aud
come, and then We made advances as fast al
possible, till we reached the limo was 10 re-.
inforce. found my men We're the 9Th lot sent
out that day, and not man so far had been
carried of the line. Poor lcllows some dead,
some dying, and others begging for water.
Hot! why 1909 in the shade was nowhere.
finally placed all my men aud kept my
fayorite-Iuthlll was his name, a brave boy
only 10 years old-with me. We both stood by
a large tree watching the enemy and wishing
for sundOwn, when over went poor Tuthil
shot right through tho head. lay down, and
reaching out, dragged him TO the tree Ii was
no use, he was gone
looked through hts pockets, and all could
find was letter from sister asking him to
beg his Captain TO give him furlough for "A
few days. they wanted so much to SEQ him ut
home.
] put the letter in my pocket, intending to
send IL TO his home and tell the family what u
noble boy he was and how well he had done his
| duty, and that had seen him buried But
how little knew what was 10 happen.
! was up and down tho line many times
| before dark, and twice we advanced. What
became Of Tuthill i never knew That night
| the Second Corps was ordered back to Peters
| burg to support the Filth. When all was
| quoted down and settled We were to hold the
road We were ordered 10 tear up the rails aud
! burn the ties.
This VIC did AS far az Rcam's Station. There
| nearly all my company, Capt Knowor and my
self, were taken prisoners. During six months
OF that awful life, poor Tnthills sisters letter
! was worn out In my pocket.
| If the friends OF my faithful comrade should
sec this, and never had the details given them
| Of his death, write the Editor of this paper.
and the address Of the author of this story
will DO forwarded them.-Capt w. A. FLINT.
| 4th N. Y. ii. A.
Headache, eostivenoss aud piles are thorough.