The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-11-30

MY w NiN ENlsolrriPHis
The regiment to which belonged
was one of the five that composed the
First Brigade, Second Division, Fif-
teenth Corps. Twill not mention the
march from Young's Point, La, to
Grand Gulf, which is at the mouth Of
the Big Black River, then around to
the rear of Vicksburg.
We arrived in sight of the city the
morning of the 10th of May, 1868,
where we could see the rebel forts and
the long lines of rihe.pits. We were
halted IN ravine, and there began to
rest our weary bones from the long
and protracted marches and hard
lighting.
About II o'clock a. M. while we
were resting, our brave Colonel called
US into line and made a short speech.
He told us that we would be called up.
on to charge on the fort, (pointing in
the direction Of a monster tort that we
could see by going up small bluff.
He also told us to get dinner and eat
heartily, and have our canteens filled
with water, saying that at o'clock p.
m. there would be siegegun fired,
which would be the signal for the
charge.
He told us that our regiment bore a
good name, and he wanted us to main
tain that name; that he asked no man
to go any farther than he did; which
was enough for us, for well we knew
he would go as far as the hrayCst.
We prepared dinner, which was a
short job, as it took but few minutes
to prepare coffee and hardtack, and it
seemed that the Coloncl's speech and
the sight of that big fort took our ap.
petites. The reader can imagine the
suspense that we were in during those
long three hours from If u. M. to 2. p.
M, for well did we know that ere the
sun went down many Of US would an.
swer the last roll-call.
will here state that one answered
/ the last roll call while sitting eating
his dinner, and where we thought ey.
| eryone was out Of danger. 1t must
have been 80 feet from where we were
, sitting to the top of the bluff that pro.
tected us from the view of the enemy,
but a stray mimic ball came whistling
through the tree tops far above us and
struck a limb, which glanced it down.
ward, and 1t struck poor cOmrade in
the head, knocking the brains out in
his cap. He gaspcd and was gone,
Well, 9 o'clock is here, the big gun is
fired. and the sound goes echoing
through the air. "Fall inl' is the
command from Col. james H.Dayton,
and each one of us falls into his place;
the line is formed, the command" ,"For.
ward, march, is given; onward we
move until we come in sight of the
Jobnnies; they begin to shoot. Then
comes the command to "Double quick
charge, ,"and away we go toward the
fort. What sights meet our eyes God
forbid that may ever behold such
again. The air was full of deadly
missiles, grape and canister, solid sho,
and shell, railroad iron, mimic balls,
buckshot, and J know not what else.
A portion of the ground that we
charged over was obstructed with
fallen trees, tops toward us, beside
caneb brakes. so the reader can imagine
what progress We lmade. But on we
went. could look in no direction
without seeing comrades falling, some
turning somcr.saults, with gun clutch
ed tight in their hand holding on with
the last death grip.
The fort that we were charging
stood on high bluff, some 80 or 90
yards from the edge of the bluff, with
rihe-pits on the right and left of it. To
this bluff we went and up it and on.
TO the outside of the fort. There we
ound deep ditch with cane-stalks 8
placed in the ground, sharpened and
pointing outward. The points would
take us about the bow els. There we
were compelled to stop. The reader
can just imagine how any of us escap-
cd, while close enough to the rebel
works to see each others eyes.
As soon as the officers in command
learned that we could 60 no farther
| We WcTc VIdcIeo W iHll ouCh uuuct
cover of this bluff to point so or 90
yards from the fort. We fell back but
left great number of the boys in blue
lying on this so or go yards of 81 Mound.
think that am safe in saying that
/ could have walked on dead bodies
from the edge of this bluff to the
ditch outside the fort. Our brave
Maj. Goodspeed lost his life, as did
10th Of our Color-Sergeants. The
flags vents down; were picked up;
again they went down; again they
went up, until all of the Color Bearers
were killed and all but one Of the
Color Guards, but those dear old flags
came out of that slaughter-pen In safe
ty, but covered with blood. and are
now at Charleston, the capitol Of this
State. Although tattered and torn,
/ l. u a. c-lv