The National tribune., 1892-07-14

the very heart of rebeidom lkichnonu} {; ana
while according ali honor and glory 10 our
Western comrades for what they dared ana
DID / think fer hard knocks and constant
strain on the nervous system that The army m
yesting Petersburg and Richmond took the
prize.
well remember landing at City Point May
% 1864. with eight companies OF my regiment
and colered latfery-the 9Th U. ,. mink.
Buffers army lay across the month OF tie APP
pomattox River. at Bermuda Hundred Beaure-
gard confronting us from the Petersburg front,
and We on the constant lookout Tor a RAID from
his forces, which were continually bnshwhacklng
our piekets which were out about n Tiile on the
City Point and Petersburg road IN our front,
and if il had not been for orr gunboats In the
river we would have been gebbled up In short
order.
And for fear of this gobbling up we were one
fine morning ordered out with our Spencer
uarbine, disnousted, marched out from camp
beside the little lrick church. formed IN line,
and ordered TO lay our carbine down and given
q pick and shovel, and also given to under
stand that upon the faithful work OF this tcaY-
alryl weapon our salvation depended: and the
result was by working day and night, two
hours on and two eff. we soon had thrown up
the line OF works that run from the James TO
the Appemattox, and from that time on we feit
more secure from any sudden dash from Beau
regard.
At the same time every man was ordered TO
GO to sleep with his boots and spurs on; and
wee to the man that thought more OF has feet
than of the orders, for If caught with his spurs
and boots of, had the pleasure Of standing with
packed saddle OH a barrel for good share OF
the next day. And then in the stiffness OF The
night enc WIS Suddenly reused up by the busle
blast of boots and saddles, and every one
knows that meant git up and git
And SO il was until June Ia, when, at =
O'Clock in the morning, boots and saddles
sounded we were up aud mounted snd of IN
jify, te open CON Hunications with she tenth
and EighteentA Corps at Point OF Rocks.
shall never forget that ride in the stiffness
of the early morning. We rode that four
miles through the encrny's country, only
800 of us. lust at daybreak the two corps
crossed the APPROXIMATION, and threw out Skin
misbers for the first days work that Was to
tighten Grants grip en- Ice. which finally
strsngled him year later at Aproinattex, and
from that time on, for 10 long months, tins
hattie SCARED army gave and took, night and
day, covering 40 miles of front from right 10
left.
well remember those days of June, July,
and August under fire niglst and day: for the
siege Of Petersburg never let up from the time
of investment until tie day the lines were
broken April 2, 1860, with several hard battles
sandwiched htFRe My company went 10 The
front with le9 men IN May, and by the middle
of July was reduced lie 30, such WAS the duty
required OF US; on picket duty As hours at q
time on the hanks Of the Appernattox, on the
right of the Eighteenth Corps, and not daring
60 show our heads in the daytime, hut roasting
in the pits. with the rebs across the river
only 200 yards and the feas and sraybacks
adj around and over us; then, after Is hours
Of such life tis. relieved Al 8 O'Clock IT
night, TO march back to camp two miles and
So ix r.fE
on stable guard for "a hours; then one day IN
camp and Tie sumo thing over again. Those
were the days that a man lived 10 days IN one.
And this nas kept up By as until the latter
parf of August when we were ordered TO Deep
Bottom, where ge did vieet duty until the
9th of September, when we advanced on the
outer line Of the encmg's works, known as the
battle of Chapin's Blaf which were taken and
held. 1t Was behind these bluffs the Army Of
the James lazy during the Winter of 1868.
was stationed NJ First Division Headquarters,
Twenty-fftb Corps as mounted orderly, and
had an opportunity in those days while lying
in Winter quarters 10 observe a good share of
what was going around tSe different points
OF interest. Dutch Gap Canal WAS just to the
left of Fort Brady, and j remember that the
rebel gunboats tossed q shell one night and
dismonnteG one OF the two 1e0-pound Parrot
guns with which the fort was armed.
Dutch Gap WAS ever point OF interest TO MS;
for when we we're of duty we would take a
ride down to IT, and il the Hewlett House bat
terry was quiet we could look around but if
they were Ep TO their funny business our stay
would be short 4 shell once In a while from
the rebel ganbosis in the James was about
all that disturbed us until Grant started for
the last act, aud then all was confusion until
the morning Of April 3, when at about 2 o'clock
in the morning il was discovered that the
rebels had Withdrawn from Our front. Maj.
Stevens, of the 9Th Mass. Cav, Acting Provost
Marshal of tie Twenty-ffth Corps. gathered
together about 90 men of Cos L and IL and
started for Richmond, which we entered as the
rebs were crossing the river into Manchester.
In the meantime Grant bad broken Lees lines,
and this was The beginning of the eng.
And is il air. wonder that under such strain
as tine soldiers OF tbsse day OF 1864 went through
that their hair is white and their joints stiff aud
to-day the youngest OF them are old men
before their time by 10 years? But, comrades,
we can well afford TO forget our bardships in
the remembrance OF what was gained dor our
children and our country; but let rs remember
that we std owe 10 ourselves duty TO stand
shoulder 10 shoulder for our just rights, which
prosperous country can well afford TO give.
And If we stand together as of old and reraem-
Der this Fall VINO onr friends are and have been,
when the votes are counted the night man will
be there.
Hoping If ] am spared until Fail shall have
the pleasure OF seeing old comrades and renew
ing cid friendships and further hoping that
this will draw a word from some OF the Army
of the Potomac or James, will close.-J. A.
JossELYS, 10. L, sth Mass. Cav, Brook field,
Mass.