The National tribune., 1890-07-24


avn. dozed ftfully, leaning against Ian,
end between times strained my eyes watching
or the break in the horizon which would
announce the coming of the day. At last,
fortnight, it seemed, since nightfall, it began
to come, slowly and lingeringly, as if reluctant
to usher in the day Of combat.
As soon as the darkness became gray, all
around US was activity and sound. The sOdden
drums beat the reveille in heavy, dull tones,
Sergeants called the rolls sharply, and were
| answered ringngly, officers shouted orders,
and straggers yelled inquiries as to the where
abouts of their regiments. The Aids to the
| Generals rushed back and forth on foot through
the mud-no horses having been brought ashore
| yet-inquiring for COlOnels and regiments and
| giving instructions for the day. Squads OF
men labored through the mire, carrying am
munition from the shore and distributing it to
| the company officers. who had the boxes split
| open, and the cartridges issued. Long lines Of
sailors -" ye ho-ing," after their custom -
/ tugged at ropes to draw howitzers through
the tenacious mud, the sullen boom Of great
| guns rolled over the water, telling that the
| ships and forts had begun their struggle anew.
Bands on the transports played patriotic airs
| to stimulate US.
"They say the rebels are in a strong fort
| only mile or a little over from here" said
| Job, returning from group which had gath
| cred around an Aid talking to a Colonel, "and
| there's anywhere from six to ten thousand Of
'em, and that they mean fight to the bitter
| end"
1.-THE nearer the better" remarked Quin,
sententiousIy. "The less o. trottin' through
this bastely bog Oi hev to do the better Oil
be PLACED. OF only wish, bad scran TO thin,
they'd come here to mate as, and 80 we
| wouldn't hev to go fut for thim."
"De more dere pc to fight us now, de less
derell pc to fight us some udder times, aindt
it2" inquired Herman.
YES" coiucfded Ian, g. and since it's got
| to be fought to the bitter end sometime, why
not nowf This is as good place and we're just
as ready as wen ever be-"
Look, the procession 3 startin'," said Job.
Lots join it."
Gen. Foster, accompanied by his staff, had
gone out the narrow road that entered the
dense woods in front Of us aud the 25th Mass.
was following him.
"There, let's fall in with the gun-squad, .
said Job. and we joined the sailors, who were
dragging their howtzers forward.
One after another the other regiments fol-
lowed. The slender rift of path through the
jungle-like forest became an artery throbbing
with the tide of war;
How little suggestion of dreadful war there
was in the green woods into the throat Of which
we were marching.
The evergreen foliage was as fresh and bright
as if Nature had dressed herself in new leaves
to welcome oar excursion. Sweet-voced birds,
ignorant of the mortal struggle. warbled their
delight at the cessation of the rain and the re-
appearance of the gladdening sun.
Don't be scared, Squirrelly," said job look
ing at a beautiful little fellow who scam pered
up pine and stared at the strange fnterrup-
ton. We're after much bigger game than
pretty little nut-crackers.
"Yes. an by the jumpin' Jehosophat, there
it is" he added, as a crash Of musketry, accom-
panied with long piercing yells burst cut at
the head of the column.
My heart seemed trying 10 leap out Of my
mouth.
An instanFs pause. rush Of feet, few SHARP
commands, and there was another crash, this
time from our advance. Then we all cheered
till the woods re-echoed. The Captains double
quicked their companies into line In a little
opening, the sailors rushed forward with their
howitzers, and as they cleared our front saw
we were at a swollen creek, on the opposite
side Of which had been stationed a smaA body Of
rebels to watch our advance. They were now
seurryng back TO their main line as fast a.
their legs could carry them, while our men
were urging them TO greater haste by blazing
away at their backs.
We rushed across the creek, which was
nearly hip-deep, and followed our skirmishers
The race continued for a mile, when the road
suddenly turned to the left and 3 clearing
opened ont.
oneI Two! ThreeI came the report of heavy
guns and shells burst in the woods
Schools took up," shouted job. Every.
body come in an tend to lessons"
The Lord give u5 all strength to do ouI
ddty." said Ian, earnestly, as be brought hi:
cartridge-box around to the front aud loosened
the flap.
"Holy Mary, Mother of God. have me in thy
kapin' this day" mnttered Quin kissing the
little medal at the end of his rosary.
GO ahet, poys. I'll stay NIT you" spoke ID
| Herman, resoluteiy.
All around US was excitement. We strained
our eyes To get q view of the situation.
The road upon which we had been coming
was now c0rduroyed passage through deer
swamp. For distance Of 700 yards in from
of US all the trees and brush had been eui
down. TO give n sweep for the fire Of the rebeI
artillery and musketry from a line of works
which they had constructed on the opposite
side of the swamp. Directly across the road
on little elevation, they had a strongly-buil
battery. with three gOod-sized guns in emhra
sures planted so as to rake tho approach Thes,
were now vomiting fire and torrents of hur-
tling balls directly at Us. Stretching out OF
either side of the battery to the edge of tn,
clearing was q line of breastworks covered
with evergreen brush, and behind it were
swarms of infantry firing away sc Us indus
triously.
What could be done?
We could not move up the corduroy road II
face of the belching cannons. regimen
would be destroyed before it got halfway Il
the battery.
We could not advance across the brush
covered morass in the face of the long line oi
riflemen manning the breastworks Incum
bered as we were, it would have been next L
impossible TO make our way across il had no on,
opposed us. We certainly could not do it. witt
men shooting Us down at their leisure as W,
struggled with the brush aud the quagmire
The Colonel of the regiment in the advances
hastily formed his men into line 10 the left o
the road, aud moved them forward to the edg,
of tho swamp, whore they opened fire on tht
rebels beyond.
The sailors came MP with their howitzers OF
a run, went into position on knoll few fee
high at the turn OF the road aud opened on tht
rebel battery. But it was seen at once they
were too light for the work. The bang.bani
of the little fellows was u feeble response to the
deafening crash of the heavy guns in the bat
terry.
Other regiments crowded mp to the edge O
the clearing and stood anxiously waiting dc
| veopments.
Colonel" said Gen. Foster to the com
mander of Massachusetts regiment whiel
stood next to us, take your regiment into tn,
woods there to the right, and try to work you
way around on the enemy's flank"
Forward, men. shouted the Colonel wavinJ