Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-13

THE REBELS IL THE WOODS.
or course the air was filed with
smoke. The rear of The regiment had
moved very leisurely. The Johnnes
had come Through the gap. and we were
nil IN Xed up. A. we began To drag the
cannon of. the ] Ihnnies grabbed tho
p zee by the muZZle and tried TO hold IL.
Then muskels were dubbed and bayoneis
used. If all those engaged IN the fiaht
had been personal euem es for years the
cursing aud rcviling cou Il not have been
more bitter Tue wounded fell 10 the
ground with oalhs and imprecatons
upon their p'. and without n groan.
Enough of our men rallied TO ennble us
10 hold on 10 the gun. The Vermont
regiment in the woods on the left had
stood rirm. and the Johunes who had
swept through the gap were entladed.
After tie fight TO secure the gun was
over, We discovered that she WAS loaded.
thnt the LANYARD was hanging from her
breach and me- one had though; TO pun
II during the fight.
The REGIMENT rallied behind n brush
fence. George Drake Of the color-guard
Lprang over it aud planted the colors at
the side of the gun. He swore that Lees
men should have them if the regiment
did not project them.
Probably 80 men lined themselves on
the cOlorS in three minutes each nun in
his company. and each company in its
order. They moved forward at the com.
mand of the colonel, and restored the
main line. occupying the sam, ground
which they had left. By this time the
sun had gone down. and darkness was
sweeping over the PLAIN. 1t became in
tensely dark The regiment was lying
down in expectation of another assault.
1t was terribly trying time. The
monns OF the wounded filed the air. In
the distance the shells had set the woods
on fire. In the lurid light the lieutenant.
colonel came down The line. He saw me
standing in front OF two companies.
What companies are these he said,
"behind your
i told him.
Where are the commissioned on.
cersY"
Il don't know" was nv reply.
Where are the orderly sergeautsT
They're not here"
Hem" he muttered. We'll. SER
geant mnjpr. take command Of tho
division aud don't resign it until you are
relieved.
Que Of The captains appeared not long
aherward. told him | WAS in com
mand. with orders not To yield the
authority ill The lieutenant colonel re-
lieved me. Not long afterward the
lieutenant colonel DID relieve me aud
directed The captain To thank me for
Keeping is company intact. A moment
afterward the orderly OF the second com.
pany appeared and took command in
like manner.
FIVE minutes nf'erward The lieutenant.
colonel ordered me To- look after the
pickets. In the darkness / moved the
pickois toward the enemy. EICh man
took his intervals STOPPING close tn
the ground and looking up | could see
their forms outlined against the sky.
l could name each comrade by his 0ut.
line. The ground was covered with the
killed and wounded. Occasionally "A
wounded man tried TO crawl toward our
line Everything, even the stumps.
seemed To I've moving. The wounded
were packed around dead horses. They
crnwled there To escape the bullets. using
each carcass as shelter. While stoOp.
ing 10 the earth aud glaucing sItywsrd
saw form moving past our line. Boz
yond l could see the outline Of CDrporsl
Mason. member OF our regiment.
called him tn me. We accosled the
stranger. He was n confederate picket.
The lines were passing euch other IN lie
darkness When nsked what regiment
lie belonged To he repled:
The Thirteenth Mississippi"
We'll. OF with your traps" l said.
We're Jar,eymen."
Good Godr' he exclaimed, not in
terror, but ustonishment
Away went his cowskin knapsack.
He threw down his gun and shook of
! his Announcements.
! You'd better keep your haversack,"
said; you'll need that"
IL was made OF undressed cowskin. A
/ pair OF new shoes were tied 10 IL. He
expressed great anxiety concerning the
shoes. He was afraid that some Yank
would confscate them
AT this moment we were called In.
I lie was my prisoner. told him TO stick
close to me and would protect him.
/ He said that be lived in Pontiac, Miss,
and that he was printer. Being a
/ printer myself this warmed mo toward
him. When reached the line the regi.
ment was moving of In the darkness
\ 1t moved back mile or more till 10
reached the enrihworks near ID INKS
ford. He had fought with the Army of
Virginia In every battle slnce its fOrma-
ton. He was Snxious.y seeking promo.
ton.
II nm the unluokiest varmint IN the
world" he said to me. 81 never could
get shut of bud luck. Now. /. | hadn't
been caiched here tonight would have
been made a corporal tomorrow. The
: ~san'sis told me that the colonel was