The National tribune., 1893-04-06

GEN. THoMAs's BIVoUAC AF
moved out to the front as skirmishers.
They were the extreme right of the infantry
forces of the army. The balance of the
regiment were set to work building breast
works. The fences, outbuildings, stones,
logs, and everything movable were put in
the lines.
Here must tell you my own experience
for the balance of the day. The Colonel
told me to take some men and knock the
chinking out from between the logs Of the
Widow Glenn's house, so that 1t could be
used to fire from when the time came.
When this was done Gen. Sheridan ordered
me to take six men and follow him. I
called for six volunteers from my company.
Before this boxes of ammunition had been
brought up, and each man had 200 rounds
slowed away about his clothes, and other
boxes scattered along the breastworks.
With my six men was placed On the ex-
IRENE right. Away to the left there was a
continual roar of musketry, coming nearer,
like the roar of the wind, Soon the Skin
mish-line on my left, some 40 or so rods,
were at work. The rapid-f firing Colts
rifles of Co. B told where they were.
Gen. Sheridan gave me quick, brief
orders:
"Hold this position as long as you can,
then fall back to the Glenn House with
your regiment and stay there"
placed my men about five rods apart
behind a high rail fence. carried Colts
rifle myself, and had pocketful of ammu-
milton. 1t was 90 rods back to the brigade.
I was closely watching Co. B. on my left,
who were also protected by fence,
WHEN THE MAN ON MY LEFT FIRED.
There was a gap between my line and Co.
B, as I mentioned before. The enemy's
skirmishers had found this, and one, more
venturesome than his comrades, started to
climb the fence When on top, about to
go down, my man fired. The Confederate
either feigned death or was killed instantly.
With one leg on either side of the fence he
stopped where he was, his ragged gray coat
gently moving in the breeze. l selected
place few steps back from the fence, where
l could see in all directions. My own men
began to fire. l saw two men climbing the
fence to my left, near where the other fellow
had stopped, and fred two shots, when l
saw others by the dozen to the left, the right
and front Co. B had rallied on their re.
serve, and were coming in on the double
quick My own men had held their own
up to this but now their position was no
longer tenable. l ordered them to fall
back slowly, firing from behind trees as
they did 80. One Of my men was down,
killed; another one, disabled, was trying to
get off the field unaided. When reached
the Glenn House, to my surprise the brigade
was gone Along the tops of the light de-
lenses they had built were the packages Of
cartridges they had placed there for conve-
nience; but in their sudden departure to
the left they had no time TO gather them
up. But these cartridges were not lost.
Coming in from every angle of the front
were the skirmishers. We had but time to
get into position behind our works before
the enemy were upon US. In short time
Mt least 300 men were about the Glenn House,
and every man fighting on his own hook.
One section of our brigade battery was still
on the ground but in very short time the
gun-carriages were knocked into kindling-
wood. Before was aware of the full stu
alton we were completely surrounded. The
roar of battle to the left was deafening.
Sheridan's entire division had moved to the
left, and the skirmishers from the entire
division were cut off and surrounded.
There was nothing to do but fight or sur
render, and do not believe there was man
in the entire force that knew how to sur
render. remember very we'll being asked
by Gen. Sheridan, two days after, when sew
eral others as well as myself were promoted,
why I did not surrender. It was the first
time 1t occurred to me that / could have
done it, or that such thing was possible.
If anyone doubts the fighting done about
the Widow Glenn's house let him 60 there
to-day, 80 years after that day, and examine
the scars on the great oaks that still stand
upon the ground.
Coming up through girdling in what
was our front was regiment Of rebel In
fantry. ! gave these my personal attention,
and directed the fire of all the different COM
mands upon thom, and they were soon on
the run. cannot tell how