The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-09

trimmed coats IN strong contrast WIN sut
dead leaves upon the ground.
There was gallant Major dead. still
graspng his saber and the other Major but q
few steps away dying. the crimson blood stain.
ing the gold lace of his coat. Here and there
about tho woods were my ideal soldiers. / had
seen dead men before. but these brave boys
seemed 10 be of my flesh. They had gone
down the pike smiling. cheering, and without
thought that the moment was TO he their
last.
/ wiped the tears off my face with a coat
sleeve none 10 clean. and, under my breath,
swore to ayenge these hoys. l did not know a
single NAME vet they were my heroes.
The rest of the day was blank to me. |
know not whence it went. That night my
regiment slept in the weeds under the frosty
sky. rolled in their blankets. No fires were
permitted. even to cook cup of coffee or broil
q slice of bacon.
The next morning the lines advanced in
battle array. my regiment out into an open
field. The skirmishers were pressed TO the
front over almost level gronDd. l could see
lnc after line slowly advancing TO my right
across the open fields. The skirmishing fire
in front became sharp. We were ordered TO
lie down, which we were very glad to do. L
raised up on my elbow TO see man coming
back from the front carrying
UPON HIS BACK ANOTHER CoMRADE,
the wounded mans face pale as death. his arms
elasped about the neck of his rascucr VINO sup
ported leg in either arm. How often have
carried my boyish paymates on my back in
the same way This couple had barely passed
when another came back the run, the blood
running off his hand in stream. ] called him
to my side. and, lying on the ground, | tied
up his arm as best | could with my only hand
kerchief.
Soon we moved to the right short distance,
and in front of a small knoll. Again we lay
upon our faces upon the ground ia an open
cottonfeld ] heard a rattiiRg in the rear, and
looking behiRd me saw our brigade battery
coming into position. They came down over
the field. every horse on the jump. They came
into position on the slight rise OF ground in our
rear. the gunners fairly flying to their places.
Just then a shell came shrieking over our
heads from the woods in our front; then
another. aud another. and our battery replied
equally as rapidly.
Here lay my regiment between two fires
between two batteries-the shells OF both pass
ing over lis. those from our own guns but three
or four feet high. So long bugged the
ground were perfectly safe-and not safe
either. for one of our own shells exploded over
the left company of the regiment and killed
two of the boys outright. Another exploded
too soon and wounded several Others saw
one of my own company spring 10 his feet in
this hurricane Of iron death and run like a
deer to the rear and directly in the face OF our
own guns. i turned my head TO watch him.
He had a strap run through the center of his
blanket and fastened about his neck. He pre-
sented such ridiculous appearance that j was
compelled TO smile. j watched him until he
ran into small log barn that stood in the
field. he had but fairly entered the door
when she'll from rebel gun struck the
ner of the building. The logs and shingles
few in every direction. Out of the ruins came
t,,,.x
and he fairly few away across the fields and
out of sight from his company. We heard
from him afterwards ss a nurse in one of the
Nashville hospitals. he never came back to
the regiment.
Shivering with cold. lying upon the cold,
wet ground in the cotton field, tried in some
way to keep my mind from the thought of
danger TO myself There was one gun of our
battery immediately behind me- Its shells
passed directly over me. BY raising ny head
q trise. i lay upon my stomach, / could
catch sight of the she'll aud follow ii as it
crossed the field. Suddenly there appeared
set of rebel coors in the edge of the woods
They ioated in the breeze but moment, when
THEY WERE TORN TO sHREDs BY SHELL
from my gun, as / claimed it in my mind. and
they did not reappear again in that place
1t WAS an artillery duel, an exhibition where
the baldheads did not claim the front seats
The enemy were in the woods aud we could
only occasionally get glimpse of them; and
SO the day went by. None OF our regiment
except the skirmishers. had fired shot. That
night again j was put on picket. Sergeant of
the Gnard, and my line the regiments
front. The regiment remained in the same
position. The darkness permitted the men to
move about aud walk out the cramps i'm their
legs. but no fires were allowed. Oar haver-
sacks were empty. i don't know how the men
fhsa rIrfRns
skirmlsh or pickef-line three men occupied
each post few feet apart; while one kept
watch the other two tried TO catch few
minutes sleep.
passed and repassed along the line, whis-
perinR words OF caution or good cheer or ad-
vice TO the men. The rebel line WIS in the
woods only few rods to front We could
hear them moving constantly. Time after
time | sent word 20 Colonel that heavy
bodies of troops were moving to our right
The wheels OF the artillery and wagons and
the curses OF the teamsters could be plainly
heard.
IL was after midnight intensely dark. when
one OF my men fired single shot at something
ln his front. The next minute score of flashes
came from the enemy in he woods few rods
away. One Of my men gave a cry of pain, as
If badly hurt, and ordered my men to return
the hIe- In moment the entire camp was
aroused, but in a short time it again became
quiet my wounded man going to the rear to
Ind hospital. We had not made an effort of
any kind 10 protect ourselves by breastworks
or ri6e-pits. ! knew that daylight would soon
be with us. and we at disadvantage in the
open held. the enemy protected by the woods
i was but man in the ranks; my musket
must boz my only protection. ] had no right TO
think of the morrow. Just before light was
ordered 10 retire the line. Going back TO nv
company ! found the men standing in line.
Rstion5 had been issued. My partner. the Or
derly Sergeant. came TO me with one share.
giving IL all 10 me. told him TO divide it. AS
We might get separated, and each would want
hIs own. He was much my senior and ALWAYS
called me my boy" My boy, you keen all
the raiioas today; ] shall never want any
more rations. This is the last day of the year
and am going out with it." j took the food
under protest, aud as there was but little more
than one days supply, it did not add much to
my load.
The men, as ! said, stood in line their guns
loaded and capped. i ate my bareback and
piece of raw bacon, sitting on the ground be.
hind the company. The woods in our front
WERE AS SILENT As DEATH
and the boys dattercd themselves with the
thought That the enemy had gone. The dark
ness Oi might changed 10 the gray of morning,
then fall daylight. To the right and left
through the open fields were regiment after
regiment in line. Suddenly away TO the right
there was commotion. Out of the woods in
long lines came thousands of men in gray, their
bright eoors waving defiance in the air And
k.frN. H.. F.a.-