The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-18
d of the sar.hworks and near them at

some points.
In front of the angles apex the ground is
open. IL was precisely at this apex. which
was the very center of Lees lines, that Gen.
Grant determined to break through.
The Brown and Landron houses, located
on open ground Of the farms Of the same
names, and which were stratigecal points
whenoe the attack was initiated, and nearly
as they then were. The Brown field, open,
and 400 yards wide in Its nsrrowest part,
connects with the Landron field, IN the
corner Of which Ia the apex.
ASSAULT OF HANooCK's CORPS.
In the vicinity of the Brown house Gen.
Hancock's corps, which made the assault,
was massed at midnight, amid darkness
and rain, and formed about l, 200 yards
from the intrenchments that were TO be
carried. The direction by which the troops
we're to advance was ascertained by the
compass bearing from the Brown house to
the McCool house.
Owing TO heavy fog the hour Of attack.
originally set at O'Clock a. m, was post
poned until there was sufficient Light TO see
dimly, or about half an hour later, Wnen
the order to advance was given. Inc
troops marched quietly over the field. STOP,
ing upward TO their objective polnt, ana
when half way in the open Landron heia
burst into cheers, swarmsd rapidly forward
and captured il. along with 1000 prisoners,
generals, 20 cannon and 80 oolors.
But then and there the agony began: one
side became elated, the other alarmed over
the crisis reached. TIE angle was too vital
point to be given up without a struggle,
and both armies poured reintoroements into
as and fought for its possession during the
the rest of the day at close quarters.
The earthworks, especially the apex, re-
main even now self-svtdene proof OF close
fighting. They stand double, indicating
vvbfrh nailed the n
tors TO adopt the offensive aud defensive at
one and the same time by putting I'D hastily
countarworSs contiguous with those already
oansnred. Here the conflict Is seen TO have
been desperate, hand to hard; nothing but
piled up logs and mounds separated the
oombatauts. The fighting was so rapid and
fierce that the trenches had to he cleared of
the dead and horribly mangled In order to
get lighting room.
An oak tree, % inches in diameter, was
on down by musket balls and fell to crush
those under it. It stood within six feet Of
the earth work. The remaining trunk,
spintered aud Clipped around, was years
after dug up by the roots. photographed
and removed to museum as curious me-
mento.
The large hole in the ground which held
this tree is still pointed out to visitors bent
on inquiring for a full account of the relics
Near by one has only to stoop to pick up
bullets stuck in the red sides of the earth
work; theS pierced it so forcibly and copi-
ously beneath the surface az TO be merely
now laid bare by the wearing away Of the
Oversoil.
Other reIics--remnant of felt, leather.
metal. broken and rusted bits Of arms, ac-
couterments and equipments-are fire.
quently seen in walking over the carpet of
leaves and dead brush in the woods through
which the lines mostly pass.
STORIES INSTEAD OF BULLETS.
The farms are now cultivated by middle
aged men who as boys were present at the
battle and literally took possession OF the
ground as soon as evacuated. They retain
3 vivid recollection OF the fight, the one
great event in their lives, since so obscure
and undisturbed in the woods
The McCool house is a general rendezvous
for these farmers. A visiting squad from
Washington Is sure to draw them to the
yard to see the newcomers and furnish
them with pointers as due on the score Of
As many as fifty distinguished
guests have been accommodated at one
time TO luncheon on the owners back porch
Fifty yards from the porch in the center
Of the little ravine before mentioned, and
an equal distance from the line of earth-
works on the opposite slope, is an immense
spring of almost Ice cold water which
served to slake the thirst of the dying and
wounded. It 10 now used by the family as
q cool receptacle for the preservation Of
milk and butter. Our horses are fed under
the umbrageous trees in the yard while we
sit and enjoy the chatting Of the indigenous
loungers congregated on the benches In the
wide veranda. One OF them tells this anec-
dote on 'old Capt. W" who lives Just
below the court house.
ITS true" he says, because the old man
tells IL on himself"
AT the battle he saw his frst service as
captain Of a company he had raised. One
of his recruits, a sinple-minded but very
plucky fellow, was eager to know what he
would have to do while soldering.
Don't you bother said the captain
'all you've got TO do IN fight will be to
follow me- When the captain came under
fire at the battle he incontinently made a
break for the rear, seeing which the recruit
took TO his heels at the same gait. The
captain, in his scRmpering, tripped and fell
| sprawliuR, and no sooner was he down tina n
the recruit fell right fat upon him. Look
| ing up the captain recognized him an d
fairly screamed, -, what in - are you
| doingp
Captain was the reply, didn't you
tell me my duty in fight was to follow
| your
| Yes
| "'Well, TN doing TN