Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-05-24

MOVING US DOWN LIKE GRASS.
quiet day, the sun peering out occasion
ally through the clouds; the humidity
of the atmosphere was extremely OPP
pressive and enervating. Not breath
of air was stirring. When muslSet
was discharged the smoke would re
main almost stationary and then grad
ually lower close to the ground, OBJ
securing and making indistinct our
view. II seemsas II nature had DELHI
erately and carefully prepared the ter
ritory surrounding Nicksbnrg for the
enemy TO fortify and resist the adj
vance of Grants conquering ARM. But
little labor was required, to make the
place absolutely impregnable against
assault. The country was rough
and uneven. with abrupt hills and
deep ravines concealed by trees and
heavy underbrush, which led in al
most every direction, and for this
reason it was difficult to find a po-
sition where our tanks were not more
or less exposed. The mouth of each
ravine was covered by cannon of heavy
caliber, securely hid behind ramparts,
where they covered the ground over
which we must pass in advancing,
ready To open fire upon us as soon as we
came within their deadly range. And,
in addition. the confcdcrates had COW
cred each possible approach with abatis
and chcval-de-frise. SO that 1t seemed
impossible for a man to crawl under or
climb over the natural and artificial oh
stacles | remember as distinctly as If
ii were but yesterday when the colonel
Of our regiment mounted his horse,
drew his sword. and in clear, ringing
voice commanded: Attention. battal-
ion. shoulder arms. BY compa.
mics right wheel. Halt, and then
directed every man to take ct his
lSnapsaciI and strip for the fray. The
men of each company were ordered to
pile their surplus baggage on the ground
and that it be left in charge of the sick
and disabled. / can see now in my
minds eye the blanched faces, tremb-
ling lips aud nervous apprehension of
the men in my company as they earnest
" scanned each others faces their sub
dued voices, anxious nloolxs and their
effort to gulp down that lump of some
thing that gathers in the throat, and
then their eager, searching gaze at their
young captain, with that look of won
dering inquiry whether or not he would
be faithful and prove worthy of leader
ship in that trying time, in wars
bloody battle strife. And yet | could
see underneath all their apparent timid-
ity that quiet determination to do their
whole duty or die in the fierce conflict.
Il remember, as we moved forward
under that terrible fire of shot and
shell. the confusion and dazed condition
of all. 1t seemed like a dream; and
how mechanically we obeyed orders.
scarcely realizing their import. | re-
member watching the regiment in our
immediate front approaching the brow
of the fortified hill. and seeing the men
climbing. tunbling and falling. till it
seemed that none could escape, and
then the remaining few falling ex-
hausted upon the ground at the very
edge of the confederate works which
we were attempting to capture, and
how in a vague sort of way conceived
it to be my duty to fill their depleted
ranks with my men and accomplish
what they had failed to do, and as we
attempted to move into their places
how the confederates rose above their
breastworlxs, delivering fearful volley
of muszetry. moving us down like
grass before the reaper.
"A count of my company just before
the charge showed that we had, rank
and file. forty-two men, twenty-one of
whom just one-half) fell before that
fire of bullets. And then
how we lay there. mid the dead and
dying, listening to their agonizing
groans and piteous appeals for help and
for water. and for some one to come
and help bind up their gaping wounds
and stay the fast ebbing life-tide: and
then how the sun shone out in all its
splendor, pouring down its intense heat
upon us as we lay there for hours,
sweating and writhing in our woe, en-
during agony impossible to describe.
Il also remember seeing a section Of
artillery galloping up one side of a
steep hill in our rear. their horses on
the dead run. bounding over logs and
obstacles with apparent ease. the sol
diers excitedE whipping their horses
and yelling like madmen and then
their swinging and wheeling into POI
sition. could see horses stumbling
and men tumbling over each other. and
soon the men were at the guns loading
and firing with great rapidity; the sound
Of canister screeching in close prox-
unity to our heads. Occasionally
would hear a dull thud and groan
from some of our men. killed by shot