The National tribune., 1890-10-16
WHAT BATTLE WAS TIP
A Good Chance for Comrndes 10 Show that They
IS We're Thpreo

|
partially account for this To test the matter
| send you an account of the part our brigade
took in a battle fought in 1863 or 1864 just as
| | saw 1T. i have Invested the statement as far
as possible of all personalities, or even par
ticulars, by which it can be surely identified
and / ask tho comrades "who were there" to
send to The NATIONAL TRIBUNE the name of
the battle and the brigade whose movements
are INSTALLATIONS JONES, Corporal.
On this eventful day even the sllrmish-lne
was unusually quiet Soldiers strolled care
lessly around or wrote letters home, or did
their washing or mending, just IA if war was
the furthest thing from their thoughts. From
our part of the line little could be seen but old
wornout fields showing patches of red or white
| soil in the numerous washes" and on the
| points of the knobs where the coarse grass had
worn away, with here and there great masses
of dark woods, thick with underbrush. To
| the rear OF our position ON rising ground,
stood a battery with horses harnes5ed and
ready for the next movement. Well to the
'front.' in the low, damp woods our picket-line
| was posted
Suddenly through the silence comes the sharp
"pung" of single rfeshot, followed in a
moment by scattering volley, while the
| zip" or swish of passing balls showed it
was not all aimed the other way. Instantly all
are on their feet. The drums roll and bugles
sound. The drivers Of brigade and regimcntal
wagons are hurredly htching up, all the while
casting anxious glances in the direction of the
firing. General and field officers mounting
| IN hot haste, while Orderlies and staff officers
ride quickly in the direction Of the picket
line. Our brigade moves u short distance to a
| moro favorable position, and formed as usual in
| two lines stands ready either for an advance
| or to meet an attack. Soon the pickets are seen
coming in. and the wagons, camp. followers.
etc, start rapidly for the rear. A moment
-. Al
| long line OF dirty gray or butternut Our
battery opens on them. they waver little,
! but still come on. Then our infantry opens
| fire, and here and there one falls, while the
wounded struggle painfully TO the rear. Still,
onward they come without a halt. Just now
| our FIRST line quickly rises, down comes the
line of cleaning rifles, and q sheet of flame
| bursts forth.
| The enemy stops fires and commences to re-
| load. With a loud hurrah our line dashes for
ward. The enemy fire wildly again, and the
| two lines meet and struggle together for q brief
moment. Then back towards our position
| comes thin scattering line Of the blue, min
gled with rebel prisoners, brcathless. and mostly
| hatcss. But our main line does not como back.
| 1t moves onward in pursuit into the dark
| woods, from which soon comes the crash Of an
| swcFing volleys. All this time the reserve limo
stands quietly alert, awaiting orders.
What Is it an attack a reconnaissance
| We soon know. Out from the woods around
the flank Of that charging line of blue comes
! the rebel columns. their colors floating braveIy
| To the breeze, steadily pushing on, constantly
swinging toward our rear. II not stopped at
| once they will come between our advanced
| troops and the reserve. They even threaten
| TO outiiank tho reserve itself
A sharp command two, and that line is in
motion. AT doublc-quIck it changes front
! into It's new position sqnarely on tho flank of
tho marching FubGl column
| Ready Aim ,-FireW and tho long line
| OF rifles flash out ut last swelling soon into
| laundering roar.
Cease firing" sounds the bugle
Slowly the smoke rises. Where now are the
Haunting rebel colors aud the long line with its
dHshing field aud general officers who SO gal
| lantly cheored IL onward
| Back ia the dark woods, leaving the ground
| covered with dying and dead, while still in
| sight are the wounded. some iimping painfully
| back, others haif carried by helping comrades
Those deadly thanking yoleys did the work
| There is no question now as TO tho nature of
the attack. Far TO the right and loft can be
heard tho awful roar Of infantry firing. mingled
| with the outsweIing boom OF artillery. Our
hard pressed front line is temporarily relieved,
aud quickly reforms, facing the now point of
attack. For few moments all Ia still. except
ing the occasional spiteful crack OF Il skirmish-
ers rifle.
Then out Of the timber once more comes that
long double line of gray, determined this time
10 sweep away all opposition To its triumphant
advance. Can our thin line hold fast? If it
| gives way no ono can tell what disasters may
| not result Again our troops spring 10 their
feot, aud with ono deadly yolloy aud loud,
ringing cheers make rush for the advancing
rebels
Back they 90 TO their lair in tho dark forest
| and for moment IL looks AS If tho day Was
ours. But suddenly, out Of the woods, where a
portion OF our line lies comes "A sound of heavy
firing, aud the wild, triumphant rebel veil Z"
We have learned 10 know so well. Our troops
hold their ground, but the odds are too heavy
| aud their line far Over-rcached. In "A moment
more, out OF the thicket comes "A retreating line
| Of bluecOats, partly mingled with the yelling
| rebels IN swift pursuit, all making for our rear
| Safety depends now on promptness. The re-
| eeTye-line Is on It's feet. Again they move "by
| tho right. flank and by file right" until tho
| coi0rs are just at tho turn. The enemy Is dan.
gerously near. Scarcely 100 yards now sepa-
rate the two lines. and his onward rush will
| carry the enemy 10 the rear Of our position Ia IA
moment more. lie must be checked now or
never. There is no time TO complete the move
meDt begun, which would have placed our line
| nearly ia his front
The commander Of the reserve line rides
quickly 10 the front aud orders q" Halt Front
Left wing right into line heel-Double.
| quick March !" aud the refused line comes up
with a rush on tho rebel flank. IL is "A far
better position than IL the original movement
had been carried out. The firing that has
been going slowly increases to roar But our
retreating troops from the flank are not vet
entirely out of the way, and our commander
again rides 10 the front of his line, aud with
considerable difficulty stops tho firing for a
moment until the bluecoats drift 10 the rear
without further hndrance from their pursuers
For the rebel line has quickly halted at this
unex pected attack. and while their front line
waivers the second closes up on it, aud in solid
masses they mount the fence in their front
Just then tho deadly rifles ring out again aud
the sheet Of lead rakes them from end To end
while tho repeating rifles Of the skirmishers
tbcing few feet down the hill) allow no break
in the volleys No troops could stand that fire.
not even these tried on many bloody battle.
field before aud after, and under leader whose
name recalls desperate courage and Il reck less
galantry that knew no fear. Down they 90 off
tho fence aud back To tho rear in wild disorder
Rderless horses rush frantically here aud there
dark spots on tho sod show where brave men
have fallen aud over all panopiy of smoke
like dark pail quickly falls. Gradually tho
firing ceases, the smoke blows away; the enemy
has gone aud only the dead aud dying remain
The enemy still keep mp spiteful skirmsh.
fire from the friendly shelter of the wood, but
make no farther advance. Far in the distance
the mu1led Of cannon gives notice that
the fight IL still going on with what results
| WA hau IN Jxa lie afi