The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-26

show himself. Brave boys! They were almost
! cut to pieces; for then the rebels commenced
| throwing out their Shells not on the fort this
time, but over into the ditch, and In several
| places at the same time.
l can't describe the horror. Brave men !
Some killed outright, some with their legs
torn of, others with arms hanging limp from
| the shoulder, told what the awful shell had
done; while others had part of their faces shot
| away in such manner that you could not
| recognize them if they were your brothers.
| Among the latter was my brave companion
who was with me all day. He came to where
/ was. his face black with powder. didn't
| know him. He tried to speak to me. johnny,
| don't you know me?" His arm was hanging
| limp from the shoulder, with nothing but the
skin holding it. One side of his face was torn
| away. What sight Yes knew him; brave,
noble soul / hope that he is living and will
see this, so he can write to me, and then we
will make arrangements to meet at the Ma
tional Encampment at Washington, ID. c., next
Fall, when we can fight our battles over again
and drink out Of the same canteen, though it
be water
The 11th Mo. had to seek cover the best way
they could. Brave 11th! To you l viii doif
my cap in preference to any other regiment,
not even my own excepted, of whom there
| were none much braver.
HOW TO GET THE FLAGS BACK,
was the next thing but was soon settled. All
the men that were able were to get behind the
fence have spoken of already, except the two
color. bearers. They were to haul down their
flags, keep close under cover at the same time,
and if any Of the rebels showed themselves we
were ready to pour a voley into them. About
that time the boys would make it hot for them,
and they meant to fight TO finish The
Johnnies knew it, for they didn't even give us
o parting salute.
By this time it was dark and we marched
back to our camp unmolcsted, leaving eur brave
dead and wounded behind US; somothng we
hated to do. but couldn't help ourselves under
the circumstances.
I want to mention a brave act done by as
bravo man as ever lived. 1t was when the
1Ith Mo. WAS coming to our support. and were
close up, the rebels fired one shot from their
battery. 1t was the only shot fired. While
we were there during the day we watched them
closely. 1t broke off this flagstaff about foot
from the top, but was held by the field of blue
and stars. It about to fall into the ditch
when Jack Mckee, of the 4th Va grabbed it,
jumped up on the fort and planted it where it
was before. How he escaped death was almost
q miracle, for he target for the rebels to
shoot at He escaped without scratch, and
suppose his time had not come.
/ wish ! could mention the names of the
boys who were at the fort that day, for eyery
one OF tEem was true nero. onOnlu any OF
the boys see this article i wish they would
write to me. 1t may bc / have not done them
all justice If not, l would like them to correct
me through the columns of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, the soldiers beat friend. Wake up,
Sth Mo. What's the matter with tho "Old
Sons" as Morgan L. Smith used to call them,
when he drilled them by moonlight on the
levce at Paducah. KY, because they would not
sing gay and happy while they were marching
down Broadway. Tho boys wero hungry and
kept shooting supper; he wanted them to sing,
but there was no music in them at that time,
and instead of turning toward camp he marched
them down to the levee and put them through
the zouave drill and the lunge out guard.
8" Now will you sing?" he would call out but
he could drill them till doomsday and then
wouldn't get them to sing; it was grub they
wanted.
Boys, do you recollect it? OF course you do.
Let us all try to get TO the National Encaplp
ment this Fall, where we can fight our battles
over again, and can look up to WashinKton's
monument, that commentaries the deeds of
tbs greatest man the world ever produced,
which in itself would repay an old veteran for
the trip. Now, comrades, the busle calls a
halt. aud so ends the charge of the storming
party Oh the 22d Of May, 1868.