The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-20
CIIICkASAW BLUFFS.
Continued frnrn FIST M ce


forces, but shall confine myself almost en-
tirely 10 the part taken by the 114th Ohio.
To return to our bivOuac Shortly after
/ midnight the whole encampment was lighted
up by the burning of the Clubhouse. 1t was
said at the time, and doubtless it was true,
that some daring SOutherner had slipped
! through our lines and fired the building so
that by the light of its burning the numbers
and positions Of our troops might be noted
/ from the rebel signal
The next day, Dec 2S, the battle opened
early and with more spirit: the fire of the
musketry from scattering shots and occa-
sional volleys became at times 4 continuous
roll, while from a single shot at intervals
from single and different pieces of artillery
the discharges of the heavy guns would
sound in vOlleys. Ambuances loaded with
wounded men were making their way back
with their suffering and CHASTITY freight 10
the river, where hospital boats and waiting
Surgeons and attendants were ready TO re-
ceive the unfortunat,s. Mounted officers,
Aids, and Orderlies galloped from one point
10 another, and
GRIMVIsAGED WAR HELD HIGH CARNIVAL.
As yet we, as regiment, have taken no
active part in the conflict and have rot been
under fire; but now has come the order for
our advance, an order carrying with it the
death warrant for some, for within the hour
some of our comrades are to cross the dark
river. The regiment is ordered into line,
guns are taken from the stacks and loaded.
We then right-face and march down by
the old farmhouse owned, l think, by Mr..
Young now used by our Surgeons for field
hospital. On down the farm road along the
levee, and close 10 an old brick-kiln, as we
advance, we hear the zip! zip! of the mimic
balls, not in great numbers it is true, but
still plenty enough to satisfy most of Us,
while an occasional shot or shell goes howl
ing and shrieking over our heads and into
the space beyond. We are thankful that
their flight is high; closer contact with such
demons of the air is not desirable.
1t is understood that we are TO support a
battery, just which one we do not know, for
there are several OF our batteries well adj
vanced in the narrow approach toward the
enemy's lines. However we lind battery
Of brass pieces near the brick kiln hotly en-
gagged with an equal number of rebel field
pieces in the open ground quarter OF
mile in front, and our officers, no doubt,
supposing these artilIerists needed some
support, and uncertain just how to render
it, formed the regiment in column 10y COM
pany right in front, and in this manner
marched us directly in front Of our battery
and between the two fires.
While marching into this position our
artillersts had to suspend firing, very much
TO their Disgust. After getting well in front
of the guns of the battery we were ordered
TO lie down. a command which was readily
and quickly Obeyed, AID here for perhaps
an hour, but which 10 most of us seemed
an age, cannon in front Of Us, cannon right
over US and cannon behind us yClleye ed aud
tbundered 1t was fearful situation; the
rear companies Of the regiment were lying
so nearly in front Of our guns that the shock
from each gun when discharged was plainly
felt by the men as they Rugged the ground
III the situation,
DEPRESSED THEIR PIECES
and aimed at the infantry so unfortunately
exposed and lying helplessiy before them
the deadly missiles which they had short
time before been dealing ont lavishly to our
artillery. The effect OF their Gring was soon
felt disastrously; several OF the men in Cos
A and F. then in front of the regiment,
being struck, some of them killed and others
wounded. One man in Co. 4 had his
knapsack removed from his shoulders by
cannon-ball. without doing him serious
injury.
1t may seem strange that men should be
taken into battle encountered by knapsacks |
but that was then our condition, and in this !
particular as well as in placing us In front
of our own batteries, it would seem that
some one blundered." Luckily for us the
commander Of our brigade, Col. Lindsay,
came up, and seeing our position, his order
was given to Get those men out of there,
and get them out quick, tool" This message
was sent TO the head companies. and they
were not slow in obeying the order, and |
must say that ] saw no disposition on The
part of any of the companies to daily in their
movements to the rear.
Some accounts which / have read of troops
thus retiring in the face Of the enemy de- |
scribe the withdrawal as being made slowly |
and sullenly, and with all the precision Of
soldiers on dress parade. We did not retire
in that way, but obeyed the order very much
as it was given. We got out Of there. and
got out quick, too" Although our move
ments were rapid we did not retire to any
great distance, only going back and 10 the
right about 200 yards, where we reformed
our line in field Of cookie ours. When |
reformed we moved up and some distance to
the right Of the warm position recently &C
cupied, passing behind Fosters LIST Wis bat
terry, which was here in position in the open
timber near the edge of the cleared land
and distant from one-fourth to one-third Of
a mile from the enemys works. We were
ordered 10 lie down near the right of the |
battery, and here we had an opportunity
TO OBSERVE ARTILLERY FIRING,
which was kept up slowly and deliberately
between Fosters six 20-pounder Parrots and
q fferent pieces OF heavy and light artillery on