The National tribune., 1892-06-16


| vision, Scrbner's Brigade. Of our march over
the three mountains l shall not write much, as
l have to depend entirely on memory, and cam
not name dates with any certainty. The COM
! rades will remember we had a varied expert
| ence of climbing mountains in the daytime
| and descending them in the night. ] think 1T
was in tho night we completed the march over
the mountains, and Joined our advance divis-
| ion (Gen. Negley's) in the Valley, he having
| command of the forces then present; and, if l
remember right, it was about 4S hours before
| the Union army was united.
During this time Gen. Negley displayed
| great ability i'll manuvering the two divisions
| against Gen. Brasgs army, advancing out from
| the mountain to engage the enemy, yet care
| fully falling back in good time. As | remem-
Der. we were wakeful and busy, both day and
| night, and then came the all-night march of
the 18th, veng with Gen. Bragg's army
which should first reach Chattanooga. We re-
member kindly that rail fence, which gave US
| light and warmth as we moved along or, if
| hating, to warm from the frosty air. We re-
member the diligence required on the part of
| Sergeants and Corporals to keep the mon awake
| and in ranks many soldiers sleeping while
walking or riding on horseback.
And so the long night went by, bringing the
| morning of the 10Th with further hardship for
all and death to so very many brave boys We
| were halted a short time in the early morning
\
| to advance and engage the enemy (although
| they were not then in sight or hearing). Max
| ing our advance eastward over an open timber
| land we soon found tho reb skirmishers, they
| falling back without great delay. Our brigade
| was then placed in battle-line. After q short
| time we advanced farther, then halted again
| for time. and again advanced. forming our
third battle-line Single line), with Col. Stark
weathers Brigade in support.
While remaining here all seemed quiet on
| our front (even tho skirmishers remaining
| quiet for perhaps 10 or ID minutes, when Col.
| Scribner was informed of very considerable
| force lying close on our right. The enemy was
fronting north, while our line faced to the east.
| On learning this fact Col. Seribner changed
| front with the left half of the brigade, form
ing it on the right fronting the enemy, the in
fantry lying down and the artillery two or
| three rods in the rear
About this time strong division arose from
where they had been lying down, not more
| than 10 or - rods away, their line appearing to
| extend past ours on either flank about the same
distance, bringing our brigade to their division
center Just where they could use US to the best
| advantage. The enemy Immediately opened
| fire along our front, while the wings cireled
around us on double quick, and kept in very
| good line, too. Our men, both infantry and
artillery, returned the fire rs best they could.
Our infantry line being in front of the artillery
4
canister, as every artilleryman knows that
| she'll at short range are no good but we kept
! sending them along the best we could. In fact,
| we paid such close attention 10 our own piece
| that we saw nothing of the trouble the others
were having, and did not see our Capt. Van
| pelt shot down, nor any Others except those at
! our side, nor did we stop our work until our
| line had disappeared from our front sud that
of the enemy moved up 10 take our gun, while
| the encrcling lines had completed their work
and firing had ceased; for the opposing lines
were not now divided, all being en- mssse, with
numbers In favor OF the Johnnies three or four
to one, and we heard much Of the usual greet
| ings used or these occasions.
| Well, we found three men yet remaining with
our gun. Corp'l Sol Mann lead rider Starr,
and myself. Leading the wheol-tearn. we man
/ aged to timber up our piece, though our horses
were badly shot, and we moved out OF there
! with the rebels at our elbows calling a halt,
Starr leading the lead team. myself leading the
wheel. team and encouraging tho swing team
with my lead-strap. We succeeded in get
! ting away few rods, when the enemy
| began firing on us, and many men were falling.
| When about 90 or 10 rods away our Off wheeler
| caught ball in the head, which laid him down
across the tongue. We at once looked about to
see how we might get loose from that horse
| and go on, but discovered the rebs were again
upon US Lieut.. Bachmann then told us that
| We Nohiu nave W oiSate VAC gun "1' Aou. UP
! to This time for one had not thought Of this,
| having been disciplined to stay by my gun,
/ and but for this kind advice perhaps we would
have stayed too late; but that gun was not
moved by the enemy, the Union forces soon
| driving the enemy back.
One other gun Of our battery was saved, the
other four being captured. After leaving the
piece We had to run quite distance and many
| Of the comrades were shot. After Col. Scrib-
ner placed his brigade in the last battle-line,
and the enemy had shown up. he did no more
| for US, making no effort to save his brigade, as
did Col. Starkweather his. Yet when the
army was reorganized he was promoted. Men
in the ranks supposed it was because they
found hiro safe commander
would be glad to hear from other comrades
| of the battery and from those of the Sd Ohio
j. G. VoRHEs Rochester, Mich.
vNE,c prIIEE