The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-08-30

troops were protected in part by low
stone wall. They held their fire short
time, but when they did open up the
brigade that was marching by the flank
began to melt rapidly.
THEY DID NOT STOP.
The other brigades to the left of this
one converged to the same point the
Second Corps battery. Our Colonel
(RandalD got excited and did little
thinking out loud, thusly: " Boys, they
are taking that battery! They are tax
ing that battery!" AT this time the
Second Corps troops near the battery
had swayed back, and the rebels were
pushing forward, and it did look as
though they would be in possession of
the battery.
The troops were all mixed up. We
could not shoot at the Confederates in
safety to our men. There was a mo-
ment of suspense-terrible suspense to
us-but it was only moment. Other
rushed into the breach, and the rebs
were vercome-killed, wounded, or
captured. None of that crowd got away.
At this time our Colonel gave the
order to our regiment to change front
forward on first company, which was exc
cuted under a CALLING fire from the rebel
batteries, which had been advanced.
We then advanced in the new direction,
sweeping the field in our front and in
front of the Second Corps troops on our
right.
The regiment captured in this move
ment nearly 200 prisoners, scattered in
the Wheatfeld. Some were wounded,
but the majority were tired. AS soon
as game began to get scarce the regiment
was ordered to halt and lie down, and
even in this position several were added
to our list of prisoners.
Very soon our Colonel ordered Maj.
Boynton, of our regiment, to take Cos.
[ and II and escort the prisoners to the
rear. We had a Colonel of the 7th
Tenn, several Captains and Lieutenants,
and something like 200, all told, mostly
Virginians.
When we arrived at the Provost Mar
shal's Headquarters and turned over the
prisoners, we were ordered to stay and
help guard them. l should judge that
there was 5000 prisoners there, full of
fight, at least with their tongues, and
RATHER INCLINED TO BE sAUCY.
The next morning we returned to the
regiment, which had moved back from
the advanced position, even back of our
ine-ofbattle the day before.
Our regiment had done no fighting
after we had left Longstreet's assault
had been broken, and the battle of Get
tysburg was over before we left the
field. 1t was the glorious Fourth of
July, and it rained in the forenoon. In
the afternoon it cleared of, and a detail
was made to bury the dead. While /
was not of the party, l took stroll over
the field and watched the modus one
randi. Where the dead were thickest a
trench was dug six or seven feet wide,
and the bodies were laid crossways Of
the trench. Where body was isolated
separate grave was dug.
The ground was strewn with the
wrecks of the conflict. Thousands of
guns were scattered over the field. In
one place in our front, not far from the
house from which the sharpshooters an
noyed us the day before, was an ahan-
doned Confederate cannon and four dead |
horses in harness, with their heads to the
front. Later in the day our regiment
gathered and piled up several cords of
abandoned muskets.
Sometime during the day we got the |
news of the capture of Vicksburg,
for which good fortune we gave
three rousing cheers We drew
rations, being down to bedrock. The |
next morning we started to follow up
Lees army. But l am through with my |
first and last battle, and will subside.