The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-01
ON THE HATCHIE.
Experience of a Comrade in the Latter Part
of the Engagement.

Experience of Comrade in the Latter Part
of the Engagement.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: AS Com
rade J. r. 2. has given in the issue of Nov.
% sketch of the first part of the battle of
the Hatchie, the writer will give some of his
experience of the latter part of that engage
ment.
On the morning of Oct. 5, 1862, the battle
of the Hatchie commenced. The 32d Ill.
held a position on the right Of the road lead
ing down TO Hatchie River Bridge, about
half mile distant; this was the last line
formed in the morning of which our COM
rade speaks.
On the right and left of this road were our
batteries. In front of the bridge, in The
heavy timber, was posted the enemy's guns,
supported on either side by their infantry.
The space that interviewed was an open field.
The road leading from our position 10 the
bridge was a direct line with dilapidated
fence on either side.
These were the positions of the opposing
forces when our charge was made. Our
batteries having uncovered the position of
the enemy, we were ordered forward double
quick down that lane, the Confederate artil-
lery raking our lines at every step.
We soon gained and took possession of the
position Of the enemy on The west side of The
river, together with the most of his artillery
and about 500 prisoners.
The enemy soon formed their lines on the
high bluffs on the east side of the river, and
trained their guns upon the bridge. Across
this bridge we went at dOuble-quick, al
though it was raked at every discharge of
the enemy's guns from the bluffs above. We
were sOon in a tangled mass on the right and
left. suffering severely from the eneniy's fire.
One poor fellow of our. company had his
right leg torn and mangled into shreds by a
shell, and fell trembling aud bleeding at the
feet OF Capt. McCenDan, who reached down
and shook the dying soldier by the hand
and ordered Lieut.. Smith and Serg't Patter-
son to carry him across The bridge. Placing
the dying soldier a>tride his musket they
bore him across that bridge, which was still
being raked by the enemy's guns on The
bluffs. But they reached the west side of
the bridge in safety, and after placing their
comrade In charge Of the Surgeons FASTENED
to JOIN their command.
The enemy now appeared to put forth
their last effort to hold their position, and
the shot and shell fell thick and fast. the
writer has in his possession some of the
=
over his head and fell at his feet as they
were crossing the bridge for The third time J
About this time Gen. Ord was wounded,
and the command fell upon Gen. Hurlbut,
who, understanding the situation of the
ground, soon deployed our forces and moved
upon the enemy's last position east of the
Hatchie
After crossing the bridge the writer and his
companion assisted one of our batteries in
placing some of their guns in position on the
high ground on the east side of the river.
Here, for the first time, was Sam, the col
ored man, in active service, large, muscu-
lar fellow; with his shoulder to the wheel of
one of the gun-carriages, with The writer and
his companion at The other, the artillery
man IN front, we soon placed the gun in
position on the nights of the Hatche
We left our c0loied friend and the battery,
and joined our command, on the left, formed
line, and moved upon the enemy's last posi-
ton. After making slight resistance the
enemy fell back without any loss. Our
lines were halted for the first time since
early morning.
a detail was called for, and Co. D, with
Lieut.. Smith in command, volunteered, and
formed a skirmisb-line for the 32d H., and
was soon pressing the enemy's rear-guard.
4 few stragglers fell into our hands. and a
number of stray shots informed US that The
enemy was in full retreat, with a strong
force guarding well their rear. After we
had advanced about a mile in the heavy
timber, we were ordered 10 halt and form a
picket-line for the night. After placing our
pickets on their outp0sis, detail was made
10 go to the rear and bring up the boys
haversacks, as we had had nothing to eat
since early morning. Upon The return OF
| this detail we learned for the first time the
loss in killed and wounded of our command.
From our position during the early part OF
the night we could see above the Tree tops
the signal-rockets Of the enemy as they
moved away to our right. We were relieved
next morning, and Joined our regiment, To
| find that some of our boys were killed on
the field, and that others were MORALLY
wounded and many slightly injured.
But our companion whom we had helped
TO the rear never rallied the terrible shock,
and died in the Surgeons hands. So ends
our experience on the Hatchie.-T. A
| SMITH, White Hall, III.