The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-19


GEH. J. F. REYNOLDS.
and 18th S. c., supported by the 18th
the 1st on their right, the 18th on
their left. The 18th and 18th U. S
came down to our assistance about this
time. When they came to about 300
wards of us they advanced at a right
shoulder shift, by the double-quick, the
18th on cur right.
The whole regiment was actively en-
gagged, firing very rapidly and aiming
low. The fire from the enemy was also
incessant and well sustained, and the
battle ragged fercely; but the men OF
the 9th obstinately held their own and
fought desperately. At this time the
roar of musketry and artillery all along
the line to the extreme left of Morell's
Division was tremendous, as the sound
reverberated through the forest. At
times we were forced back and obliged
to give ground, but it would be only tenn
porary, as we Immediately reformed and
CHARGED FORWARD AGAIN
and recovered our former position at the
point of the bayonet, which tended to
demoralize our opponents and saved loss
to ourselves. This fighting back and
forth is in accordance with the expert
ence of the writer at the time, and cor
roborated by the official reports of the
commanders Of the respective regiments
on both sides, too long to be placed on
record here; but still there are doubling
Thomases who were not there, and con-
sequently know, Of course, more about it
than those who were participants in the
"picnic."
Flesh and blood could not stand such
q fire much longer without one side or
the other giving way. The writer OBJ
served member of his company (who
for years has been member of the bar
in New York, and who some years ago
argued all the cases before the Court of
Appeals for the prominent law firm
with which he was eonnected) actually,
through the force of habit, going through
all the motions of loading and firing, ap-
parently so absorbed in his work as to
be totally oblivious to anything else.
saw the lock of his rifle fall out, the
stock being split by a bullet He said
Humphl" and picked up gun on the
ground and continued his work. His
name is VIM. +. Shepard, and he was left
disabled on the field Of second Bull Run
from three wounds. / will state only
three other incidents of many, and hope
my comrades will pardon this depression.
Walter S. Colby, a native of New
Hampshire, a man of iron will, who,
although wasted away to a mere skele-
ton, never was known to drop out on
march, even when strong men Jagged
10 The rear. He was hit by ball that
shattered leg; he rose as we'll as he
could on the other, took off his fez cap,
and gave three cheera Two or three of
the men went to his assistance; but he
declined it, saying that they needn't
bother with him, as he couldn't live
any way in bis poor health, and to look
out for themselves He asked them to
set him up with his back against tree,
so that he could see US give it to the
rebels, and to tell his folks he died
game He was left on the field and
never after heard from.
Another man, of medium size and
swarthy complexion, was so earnest in
bis work that Sergeant slapped him
on the back and said
"a, you are doing we'll"
A. gave him a dangerous look
henever forgot; his dark eyes
wsr5 SEEMED TO FLASH FIRE
with suppressed excitement as be replied !:
Sergeant, don't disturb me; have
business TO attend to"
In the first charge, the first man killed
was Snifien, of Co. b, one of the comical
characters of the regiment. He went
skipping along, saying,
Johnny on the green -" Here
comes a ball from Coney Island -
Here comes one from Hoboken.'
But one came from Confederate, as
if in mockery, and Sniffen fell dead.
We beheld with dismay the long line
of our killed and wounded, and our
rapidly-decreasing numbers, while there
was seemingly no slackening of the
heavy fire from the pines in front of us,
which seemed 10 increase instead of di-
mlnlsh, and there were no other signs of
direct relief coming. Reports show that
the 9Th and 2Sth n. C.. were mt IN ON
our side Of the road, and also Georgia
regiment was in. Also, regiment of
Pa. Reserves and the 9th Regulars were
put In on our side there; the latter
placed by our Col. Warren. The 18th
and 18th were called back TO their old
position, where they were heavily en-
gagged, and the battalions of the 10th