The National tribune., 1892-10-27

Some of us filled our cauteens at a well, re-
! formed the line in the breastworks, and waited
| for the rebels.
We didn't have to wait long, for they massed
in the woods 200 yards distance, made two
| charges from ii, but were quickly and easily
| repulsed Our batteries in the breastwork had
chance to "get in their work." and after.
| ward sbeled the woods as discourager
of intimacy.
After that we had peaceful time for more
than month. We encamped right there by
the breastwoTks. and stood at arms every morn
ing before daylight to prevent surprises at that
critical hour Two or three days after the
fighting some of our men found two wounded
rebs in the woods, who were brought into camp
and kindly cared for. One was shot through
the body and arm, and yet had survived. He
conversed calmly with the boys when 1T seemed
as though he should have been crazed or dead
from his wounds and privations. The only
attention they had received for their wounds
was from the welcome rain, which, as usual,
came down after a battle.
Al signs fail in dry weather" except can.
nonading and we found it so. How we had
watched The skies aud the rolling clouds for
some promise of a change, but none was given
till the cannou's deadly voice resounded over
the parched hills and valleys: then the heavens
relenTed, and how appropriate! When men
are arrayed to slay their brothers, the angels
might weep well as the symnathizing clouds
We pcketed by turns in the heavy woods In
'front.' where the brazen face of war was be-
guiled by sylvan charms, and III its shady
depths we escaped from the "monotony OF
camp life" On the picket-line we listened to
the voices of the innocent quail. always talk
ing of - Bob White, Bob White,' rs il we knew
him, and sometimes heard the music OF the
rebel bands, and wondered what We would do
il attacked IN the night. for the woods were
tangled and the path back to camp long and
circuitous. We had no good Falying point, al
Though there was picket support where we
could rot fud ii ourselves.
But in CAMP the heat Of Summer was rag
ing-a southern sky. looked down upon the
Union army as if in league with the hayward
States 10 make US miserable aud during the
blsteriBg month of July We saw he green fade
from our sight and the Ian Escape turn TO the
barren waste which camp always made.
Now, however, the kind minstrations of the
Sanitary and Christian Commissions were very
valuable, for they supplied US with some vcge-
tables. and even stugkrart, which supple
mented The dry rations OF the troops to some
purpose.
Yet now it strikes me that my subject
should be the Adventures of an Army Corps"
for our movements the rest of the season
helped 10 make history and we were led from
one campaign to ano her.
In The last week OF July we broke camp and
tried to breaI. into Richmond. Our corps
passed along the rear Of the array TO the right
and. marching all night, crossed the Apponat.
tox at midnight and the james River il the
morning on pontoon bridges.
We had heea WONDERING all night where We
were going and what we were matching for,
hut rs we ncared the James we found out. The
heavy looming of eur gunbeats reminded US
that it was a time OF war, and 4 we entertained
an idea that We were only Gn reconnaissance.
that idea soon parted cots pauy with US. for ere
we c oss the bridge cur were saluted with
the FuHbing sound o: musketry on the other
side
BY this time our column had begun to stray
gle, IS is olten the case ga forced march, for
some cannot keep up, and so the coffee cool
ers" appeared by he wayside, who cheered US
BY saying, An. bcvs, the 5ohnuies are wait
ing for you" g Don't hurry" Plenty of
work for as out there" etc. Now, coffee
cooler" was one who stopped to COOK a cup
Of coffee by the way when there WAS 10 regu-
lar time to halt for ;iat purpose, and in the
course Of the morning Eiauy did, iueiudiHg
myself The trouble WIS it gave those who
wanted 10 shirk a chance to do So However,
our regiment. stragslcIs and ALL got together in
good shape, aud were Oh the fed IN time for
the duty asst gned US aud bowed To the iron
compliments Of the r-bel artillery. advancing
! over a field wherein We're scattered the massive
/ fragments o. the shells our guMboats had
/ thrown.
The First Brigade Of onrdirision had already
captured by stoTma rebel battery of iron pieces
! in a small earihwork in the edge CT q woods,
aud had driven the enemy from the position,
i and now as VIC advanced another battery was
! Smelling rs from an Open field, hut was soon
/ driven of by own batteries which had un-
! linbered ia the grassy plain as we went on.
That was all the fighting done this occa-
| sion. We remained two or three days in the
lOcalty-Deep Bottom-and then Tecrossed the
river at dark aud made another night march
back
We now saw the hand OF Grant Our move
ment had been demonstration against Rich
/ mond TO alarm the foe on that side, while the
] grand attack was made in the center for rs we
neared Petersburg at daylight we heard heavy
cannonading and found out that The burnside
mine had been exploded, and had blown up
rebel fort with its guns and garrison, besides
spreading dismay in their lines.
But here Grants strategy was defeated by an
| aggrsvating blunder of some one else The
troops detailed to lead the assault bad
been changed at the last moment. Conse-
aueutly the division which did attack was hall
an hour late. and By that time the enemy had
reformed their lines and repulsed every adj
vance with much slaughter.
What disappointment il must have been to
| the silent General What preparations bad
been made 10 ligbt the final battle of the war
1 HOW Tue BdLAeijbS uau DScn cOBttitEdteu IL
bear on the position. with mortar guns planted
aud masked, and line after line OF the infantry
were massed in rear of the point OF attack
ready 10 rush through and drive the rebel
army TO destruction.
1t was one of those Southern days of battle
and while the sun Was pouring down all his
| beams of rosy light, yet the air was niurky
| with the sulphurous smoke of powder. Our
corps also WAS arrayed in front of the mine
! ha AYGe lyi oh nd
hour after hour passed with only the skirnlish.
ers engaged, or few random guns which the
foe were sulenly firing" till the afternoon
and then, as the idea of the day seemed to be
| given up, we were put in motion aud taken to
q new camping place.
Here we remained for a few weeks occupied
in the peaceful pursuits of drawing rations
drilling, aud doing fatigue duty. occasion re
quired, such as leveling "A redoubt, which took
a large force with picks and shovels nearly al
night, and other duties, till about the 18th o.
August, when we were suddenly marched Il
Deep Bottom again, where our Reserve y
Corps fought heavy battle This movement
was campaign by itself. and it seemed a:
though We were about TO strike for Richmond
when instead we recrossed the river and struck
for the other end OF the army and the Weldon
Railroad on the flank OF the rebel right. Thi!
made hard marching, and when we got there
we were thoroughly jaded. bat proceeded 10 de
story the road, which brought on the battle o
Ream's Station where We lost over LOCO o
our men rs prisoners and II guns, having noscl
! Loaf a hal from aur iii ptxi