The National tribune., 1890-05-22

battle, puff of smoke on a hill to our 'front.'
and distant about half a mile, followed in u
few seconds by the striking of shell between
our regiment aud the Sd Tenn, on our right
gave us our cue. Away we went, without
orders, for that HILL Through mud shoe-top
deep over fences, across ditches all organiza-
ton lost before we reached the foot of the hill.
As l passed a log house charge OF canister
raised the shakes on its roof and the hair on my
roof at the same time. 1t won't lay straight yet.
Hallway up the hill u storm of bullets swept
IL from the left. Looking around / saw they
came from a stone wall on a hill to the left.
i dropped into a wasbout and gave them
couple OF compliments that ] carried in my
carifidge-boN. Another brigade from our di-
vision came on and charged that hill, and the
Johnnies skipped from the wall When /
reached the top of the hill about dozen men
were there. Most of them were wiudcd by tho
long charge IN the mud, but they came up rap
idiy, Several men were killed on the hill.
One gun was on bench halfway down the
hill; another was at the foot. Four horses
attached 10 a caisson were charging around at
their own sweet will. Shell aud canister were
left IN stacks at the top. Some officer called
for help 10 turn the first gan. 1t WAS swung
around, fuse cut, the she'll Iammcd home
lone man being shot in the act), primer in
serted, and the Lanyard yanked by the officer.
a laugh went round rs the shell was heard TO
explode about four miles in the rear OF the rebel
lines. As we crossed the valley we saw lots of
JohuuyctkoS baking on stones and boards and
pots of beef boiling. We stopped at the next
low hill, as it WAS getting dark. We moved a
short distance after night. and the next morn
ing We wero facing n hill. We were behind
light works. The hill in front afterwards be-
came known as Shy's Hill. from Major Shy, of
the both Tenn. (rebel who was killed there
that day. There was no infantry firing along
our immediate front until about four o'clock in
the a!ternQsA The 10th Ind battery was on
our right ~TSfired case and she'll at intervals
OF 10 minutes all day. The range was about GOO
yards. aud the rebel works OH the brow of the
hill were considerably higher than the battery
have seen IL stated that Smith engaged in the
Smelling Of Shy's Hill. Such is not the case
The 10th Ind. alone did the firing. No other
battery was ia position To do il. This hill
formed the -alicut of Bates lines McAIilien's
Brigade joined our left and Cox was not in front
OF sings I'LL, but faced lower hills to the right
OF our division. The smuggling of rebel works
by the battery was very terrific so far as results
were concerned. We expected 10 climb that
hill ourselves, or at least try TO. group of
officers came along about half past three O'Clock,
or Immediately alter the noise of the Fourth
Corps assault on Overtons Hill had sub.
sided. After short consultation one of them
rode away and came back at the head of
two small regiments They filed across our
works through our company, descended the
hill, and dcploycd in the hollow between the
hills, aud started forward. The artillery be-
gan 10 hurl its shot in a mad roar. the men
working like devils. The rebel works seemed
TO be dying in spluters. Eagerly we grasped
our guns. every eye fixed, every muscle rigid
in sympathy with the little band, ready at a
moments notice to rush To their aid. They
halted few moments. and when they moved
forward We saw some on the ground who had
fought their last fight This was from a flank
IRE on another hill to the left Little firing
was done from Shy's Hill until later, and when
the men were nearer TO the top. Slowly they
toiled ~. The rebel bullets sang in the air.
The battery ceased firing and the men were
within 20 feet of the rebel works Their line
bad changed 10 AN inverted V. They stopped for
a moment ard fired a volley, aud then rushed
over the work Just AS the rebels were seen
running away. Instantly we started and went
over the exact line of the charge. We heard a
great cheer beyond the hill, and knew that
Coxs lines are charging, for that WAS no rebel
yell. The rebels retreat was cut off aud they
came back and surrendered to the men who
drove them from Sby's Hill, 200 Of them
Fourteen pieces of artillery were at the foot of
the hill. We pulled out as fast as We could, |
but the cavalry are too rapid for us aud ali the
rebels we catch mp with are prisoners The |
rebel breastworks presented a sickening sight |
We S5oaoca AT the POINT WhSFc the artillery IRE
was concentrated. Six rebels were held in the |
trench by one stout hcadlog-heads. arms, legs. |
entrsiis, all mixed in promiseuous mass. Fully |
one-thITd OF the men must have been killed |
that occupied the works. The reg ments that |
made this charge were two Iowa regiments, |
think, and belonged 10 McMillens Brigade. |
Smiths Division, OF the Fifteenth Corps They |
did their work like brave men. Ia half an |
hour from the time these mon fled through /
1ur works, the rebel lines from being a conf
lent fighting army (havinR just repealed an
assault by the Fourth CoTns) were turned into
4 flying, disorgaDized, pauic.strcken mob aud /
Hoods wild dreams OF glory were turned into
. nightmare Of deleat.-WM. TAYLOR, Co. ID,
seth Ohio, Finday, o.