The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-08-08

fe = feet TO our left, behind small clod of
weeds or brush and is again handling his
rifle with his usual skill and activity. 4
shell explodes overhead. Ny after Uion is
attracted in his direction by the heavy Dutt
| striking the ground, and view the inangled
remains of poor Jack, his head and breast
/ being entirely torn away by the teTrib BILE
! chunk of cast-iron as il plunged i1to the
! ground.
Now comes reinforcement from the rear
/ Co. q, with Capt. Charles Z. King in com
mand. The men Immediately take cover
and commence firing, but the Captain has
! been imbibing something stronger than
water TO cOunteract the dilatory effects of
/ too much Of that all-pervading element, and
accordingly not realizing I hat we are already
in sufficiently warm proximity to the enemy,
he Immediately gives the command, For
wardi TO has men. Joining them the whole
sklrmish-line advances right TO he margin
of the bayou.
Here, being now within 20 yards of the
enemy, behind has parapet along the opposite
bank, the Captain appears TO take in the
situation, and drops fiat into dead furrow
little back of the skirmish-line The men,
now unprotected by any shelter whatever
from the terrible fire at such short range,
find ii necessary to work, if possible, livelier
than ever to make il hot for the .Iohnnes,
and at the same time make dense smoke
TO screen themselves and escape total ami
hilatioD.
1t now appears 10 the Captain that not a
man can live minute in our present entirely
exposed position, and he calls out in a very
dole'ul voice. " Fall back, men! fall back"
His command made the writer feel "shaky"
in his muddy boots for a moment, as to
slacl1en fire and turn backs 20 the enemy for
single instant would be certain anuif1ila-
ton; not man would have lived to get 10
rods with his back 10 the unrestrained fire
of the enemy.
But my anxiety was promptly relieved by
the exclamation from a brave comrade a
little 10 the right, " I'll be - if / fall
back!" and not man in the line pauses an
instant ia the lively work in hand.
We're In desperate situation, and lively
work our one sa walton.
constantly hear the calls to right aud
left announcing the names of comrades hit |
stating whether killed, or in what manner |
wounded, so that those who survive may be |
able TO account for those missing
Doubtless our advance to such close |
quarters on the open field is considered by |
the enemy very bold tactics, and our Lively |
operations are telling upon them, as there is |
soon indications of a saclzening of their artil-
lery fire and an attempt to Withdraw their !
batteries. But our fire is too destructive |
for them to bring up their horses, and they /
are obliged to haul their guns off to the |
ravine in their rear by hand before they can |
Timber up" in regular style.
Our ammunition is again running low,
and we will be in bad situation if we are |
unable to keep up the screen Of smoke,
which is the only shelter we nave from the
so thoroughly protected and much-superior
force Of the enemy. But our officers and
comrades IN the rear are not forgetful Of our
welfare, and an Orderly comes dashing up
through the smoke of battle With a case
Of cartridges, he scatte rs tie packages
among us as he dashes along the rear of our
line.
1T has been long sharp and lively contest
1t IS getting well along toward night when
We notice a gradual slackening of the
enemy's fire, and are encouraged by the
thought that they must either be running