The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-10

there inactive the greater the dread of the sig
nal that was TO call US into action. Every mo-
mont we lay here thus idle our hearts grew
Tor became) heavier and more heavy, until the
feeling Of dread is fast getting the best OF us,
when 10!
THE BUGLE SOUNDS,
and as IL by magic every man springs TO his
feet full OF life, aud tho soldier appears HIM
self again, ready 90 do, and if need be. 20 die IN
line OF duty, of we 20 for the Ridge, IN mad
race, rs IL were, each yieing with the other m
their efforts 10 annihilate that 800 yards OF
space
This was the eve Of Nov 25, two days after
we left our camp. Thus far we had only
been spectators, while Others had been ln
action. Now our turn had come aud we rushed
in with a mighty swoop On our way across
this valley / nearly stumbled over wounded
soldier lie appealed 20 me to help him, aud
j stopped 20 see what / could do for
him. lie was a Confederate badly wounded.
j helped him into as comfortable posi-
tion l could find, gave him drink, and
advised him TO watch ont for our Ambulance
1 Corps aud they would take him of the Held.
| This disposition Of all wounded found upon
battlefield was our inyarisbe rule, aud have
/ no doubt that this wounded Confederate was
/ duly cared for
/ As ] started on again 10 catch mp with the
! boys, my hat was blown of my head by the
AhlAA VI "a lihn6liE nlttill 30 l0dl AlA a. N''AiN
hitting me. BY throwing mp my hands
caught the hat aud following the direction OF
! the balls course with my eyes, saw ltstrke the
/ first file Sergeant and four mem Of regiment
on our right, marching by the right flank to-
/ ward the Ridge. u think ID was the 9th Ohiu)
] Up few their hands and guns, then down they
/ all went. For an instant there WAS great con-
fusion just at that spot. In a moment all was
as before, seemingly, for the line moved right
/ along as though nothing unusual had occurred.
About five steps In front Of this an officer
\ lsuppOsed commander Of the regiment) was
riding on his horse. Apparently he know
nothing Of this occurrence for lac did not stop
/ or even look around. ] have always supposed
\ that he was the target nc which this ball WAS
/ fired, aud they came pretty near getting him.
As we approached the Ridge we went through
a rebel camp. Rived boards was the principal
material used in building their shelter. ] re-
member one wooden tent, OF pretty fair size,
that attracted my special attention, because
4 there were dozen or more men crouching be-
! hind H. Among them was one OF my company.
i soon hustled them an away from there, by
telling them Of the danger they were in In
case
A SHOT FROM THE REBEL BATTERY
should happen 70 strike the house. Up aud or
I they all ran, in which race ] Joined. We had
just got fairly away from il when we heard
crash, aud, on looking back. we saw the cause
/ Of il. A cannon-ball had struck this very
house aud knocked il into smithereens" The
sight of those flying boards reminded me Of an
/ old Jim Crow song, and ran of singing
"OId Dan Tucker lac got drunk,
FELL in the fire and kicked up u chunk;
A red-hot cOal Got la his shoe,
And-mighty Moses, how the ashes few! "
Joined ia by all. There was not vestige Of
4 that house left so complete was its destruction.
A nice protection that from flying missiles
shot cut OF big gunl
Without further incident we reached the
foot Of the Ridge and our turn TO climb its
rocky, steep and difficult side had come. A
short est 10 get our breath, and we strike out
10 reach the top. The rebel battery can do us
no harm now, as we are out Of its range. Our
progress is SLOW because the way is rugged,
but we got there all the same-the very last
I difficulty 10 overcome being a rail fence, at
/ least five feet high, on the very top Of the
/ Ridge, with its slanting side down hill. Over
that and We have a three-gun battery In our
/ pOssessiOn-One Of those very batteries that
/ had been having so much fun al day shooting
at the Yanks. But where were the Johunies
when We got there? Not one 20 be seen. We
must hunt them.
Our line is soon formed, ana way we go in
/ line of-battle, in a left oblique rcction. The
ground is descending, aud our .us,rch is short
when we come 10 a halt. At that moment the
ping" OF bullet was heard, followed closely
by another, giving evidence Of q near enemy,
and one
THAT WAS READY TO FIGHT.
] gave the command % my company 10 lie
down, which they did in time 10 escape a vol
ley Of muskctry fired at US just at that instant.
Col Hays came mp 90 our rear just az this time,
and by his orders the whole regiment lay down.
Load and FIRE aE rapidly as possible was the
next command. The men would load while
down, then rise up aud FIRE. This manner Of
warfare continued until dark, when the enemy
ceased firing at uE, and the battle Of Missionary
Ridge was ended. We az no time saw the rebs.
We only knew Of their presence by the leaden
messengers they sent us. Two men Of our Tegi-
ment were killed upon the Ridge ] cannot
recall their names, but one was Of Go. &. lie
was just in front Of me, and as be rose up "a
shoot his gun fell out Of his hands he twisted
his head and body around, looked me in the
face his head leaned forward, his hat fcll oH
his head onto the ground before him, his face
dropped into bis hands, aud all fell into his
hat never TO be moved again except by other
power than his own. Never will forget the
pititul expression upon his face as he look Cd
into mine, nor the sight Of his hearts blood a,
il OOZed out Of his mouth. j have often thought
that be rose up 20 shoot Just IN time 20 saw,
my life; for my head was ia direct line with
/ the range OF that bullet and by rising up be
fore me be was struck in his heart Wha
might have been! That night we slept on toI
Of Missionary Ridge, near the death scene DC
scribcd.
Missionary Ridge battle was a peculiar one
Our forces climbed the Ridge by detail, begin
ming on The right, one regiment at a time Ihl
effect Of this was 10 sweep the enemy of 10
ward their right, as our advance was aPaius
? their left by our right Our own position wa
left OF the center. Regiment after regiment
] az tic right Of Us, tad climbed the hill, an,
: were on top and beyond when we reached tb
D top. And then where were the Johnnies
3 Well we found some Of them, and for a littl
: while they kept us busy.
e The next morning we took up our line q
q march for more Dixie. After marching ab0u
p l5 miles without special incident we re5tc
o until tho next morning Nov. 27), when on
j. march south was continued until We reache
q RiHggOld, Ga. During both of these days "
q met many Of our men
y EsCoRTING KEEEL PRISONERS
: toward Chattanooga. We were Tegaled wit
= fabulous tales aud rum0rs Of the doings OF III
y enemy, aud now badly we were going 10
. whipped II we continued our march in tia
direction. Al 10 no purpose however for "
I kept right along all the same.
, kuggOld is about % miles from Chattanooga
We reached there about the MIDDLE Of the da,
Il b located near gap Ia the mountains, sai
n gap about one mile IN length haA I'd upon GithC
D side by a steep, prccipitOus unciimRhlo hil
10 Through this gap runs a wagon road OF patl
D. aud railroad. There was a. that time a thic
1T growth q scrub oak, with foliage aud branch,
A. a NNt4Nr HE lBg fr