The National tribune., 1892-10-27

and defeat; in fact. at the apex of the line,
held by the 57th N. Y. a little regiment. where
the attack seemed heaviest, the enemy was
held in check at the point of the bayonet, ana
some Of them had lain down in front, and
others had crossed the breastwork as prisoners,
when the break occurred OH the left. The
enemy came in like flood and the tables were
turned-it became a victory of the vanqulshed.
My two tent mates, Abe Cash and Henry
Petit, were taken prisoners here, but escaped
in the night by lodging past the guard ana
hiding in the bushes, regaining our lines AFTER
two days of adventure. Abe had been In LIBBY
Prison once, and said he would never 60 there
again so he kept his word.
As for myself at the moment of supposed
victory l was wounded and sent to the rear
just in time to escape capture. In crossing the
railroad cut in the rear of our line | noticed
great confusion up the track, and upon getting
up the bank on the other side was dismayed to
find our batteries there already deserted. the
rebel fire having driven our gnnners away.
No artillery can hold position where infantry
can sweep it. On the left saw Gen. Nelson
A. Miles bravely trying to rally some fugitives,
but he was too near the front; men can't stop
under fire. After this | was compelled to run
the gantlet of bullets over open field hut
was stopped in my mad career by wounded
officer of the Irish Brigade. who implored me
10 help MIN TO tue WOOGS. the pOai VI Safety iok
which | was making and | did.
Further Oil we met line of reinforcemets,
the Third Division (AIott's) advancing and
checking the retreat. We were in hopes they
could save our batteries but darkness came
OIL and ended the couiieted on the 18th of
August.
Our troops fell back during the night to a
point near the main army. Some OF rs halted
for while and lay down to sleep i'll barn by
nISi,l l.nt |, 81 led MT a
report that tho enemy were advancing.
In the morning the red tre!oil standards of
the division and its brigades were set up i'll
large field and as tho struggling, weary SOL
diers arrived they grouped themselves around
their colors. as soon as | found the nucleus of
my regiment-now a group of 90 was sent
by ambulance to City Poiut Hospital; and such
had been the strain OF the campaign that when
at last we were put in our little cots we slept
for Yearly 10 hours, only waking few moments
TO cat.
Being only slightly wounded on the head.
was soon able to return to duty. and in a few
weeks rej0iaed my regiment Ich was en-
camped nearly mile from the picket-line;
but somehow or other we were within range,
aud almost every night someone was wounded
around the campfires by spent bullets from the
enemy.
Events followed each other in such stream
in those days hat the interest o.: one day was
eelipsed by that of the next. The regiments
term of service was nearly up. and we were sent
to Garrison Fort Stca,,man. where we had some
moro experience. aud were under fire till the
last day OF our three years Then the joyful
hour OF release came, aud we lett 10 See our
homes once more, each one going with a happy
heart an;l All ouorabie discharge.
Gen. Hancock said Of the return march from
Deep Bottom that it WAS the nlnst difficult
one Of the CAMPAIGN. And / see from Gen.
l. a Ill,
ing his ola regiment the Gist y. Y, who re-
captured Mchnighl's battery, leaving only nine
guns in the enemy's hands at Rcans Station
The losses sustained g the corps during the
Summer after le#ying the front OF Petersburg,
were as follows, according 10 fhe Virginia
Campaign of 1SGf Co.:
June - Weldon Railroad, missing, 100
July q, Deep Bottom, killed and wounded,
coo. Aug ii To Is. Deep Bottom, total casual
ties, 2.7c6. This includes the loss OF Gregg's
cavalry. which were comparatively slight.
Aug. p, Eeaii's Station killed and wounded
6l0: missing, LOG; which makes total of
over 1000.
During this period the gallant Fifth Corps
lNaTren'sI lost . 900 men at the capture Of the
Weldon Railroad. Globe Tavern, and
the Ninth Corps lost i,0G0 at the mine explo-
sion.
The evil effect of c0rscriptj and bountied
men in an army is seen by their conduct in
this campaign. During the battle of Ream's
Station the General sent ior> volunteers To go
OH the SIX irmish-liuc. as two lines had been lost
i'm the wnoiis, and only the veterans responded,
while the new men were crouciing down be-
hind the breast works. Gen. Humphreys says
they completely changed the character Of
whole divisions rs we'll as brigades aud regi.
ments. | have seen them, at the least excuse
for skulkiny hrdaie behind trees and barns
instead of keeping with their company, and so
| they fell easily into the enemy's hands. This
accounts partly for the heavy loss IN prisoners.
! But don't blame them. No canse has tie
right to force TO fight for ii, and the fright
full losses of the army tG4, 900 after it entered
| the Wilderness and up to Aug. 20) had an APP
palling effect on everyone. Nearly all our pre-
vious nlpaigns were over in few days but
| this one was a succession of slaugbtcrs before
| all intreaciied fee, day after day and month
after month, till it made the whole heart sick
and the head faint.
A quarter Of century has passed since those
| sad events. Peace reigns, and hath her VIC
tories 10 less removed than war" To-day the
! boys in blue and the men in gray intermingie
aud sit at one table brothers reunited! The
handsome pictures Of Robert e. Lee and Stone
| wall Jackson adorn our childrcns school
books alongside Of our Union Generals, and
new generations treasure their mutual suffer
ings and death.defying valor. This is as il
should be. for it proves that one, and
GEORGE w. KELLY, 18th n. Y, Meriden
| Conn.
IN 2 Il Al