The National tribune., 1895-11-07


three days rations, cook them, and be
ready to move at daylight"
Grumbling the while, yet promptly
obeying, we arose and begun the cook
ing of our meat-the only thing we
could cook for three days ahead-won-
dering what the order meant
At daylight we arose and found the
whole face of the country about us COW
cred with a dense fog, which hung like
funeral pail over all. The weather
had moderated during the night, and
we found it far more pleasant than when
we had retired. All was hustle through
out the camp. The campfire blazed
cheerily as the coffee simmered over 1T.
About sunrise the orders came to
fall in" The First Brigade, to which
the writer belonged, leading, filed down
hill onto the pike and marched outside
and
DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE ENEMY.
We were cautioned to make as little
noise as possible, as We hoped to surprise
our enemies in the dense fog.
After marching few hundred yards
skirmish-line was deployed, while the
brigade formed into line-of-battle and
moved right out. In less time than it
takes to tell it volley was fired into us
by the hidden foe. With a cheer the
skirmishers fired and charged them,
brushing the picket-post, which this
proved to be, out Of existence IN mo-
ment.
The battle of Nashville was on, and the
First Brigade, Sixteenth Corps, had the
honor of opening it up. Our lines de-
ployed to the left, joining Thomas,s
men, when we at once moved forward
A body of cavalry was moving on our
right. About this time the rebels
opened on us with a battery which was
posted on an eminence directly in front
of the First Brigade and did some
EXCELLENT SHOOTING.
We at once charged it, the cavalry
coming up on our right flank, and we
captured the entire battery and many
prisoners. First victory for the Six
teenth Corps
The enemy finding himself fanked
and his line broken. moved to his right
to enable him to mass his troops on his
center thus forcing us to cleft face .
and move on a parallel line with him
or be left with no enemy in our front.
Soon, however, he halted, again behind
earthworks, and defed us
We again moved forward, the cav
airy still moving on the flank, and we
again doubled him up like jack knife,
he rallying again on his center.
About noon it began to rain In tor
rents, and, with heavy charging through
the mud, more tired set of boys was
never seen. The enemy finally halted
again. This time heavy Notifications
were to be seen, four heavy forts brist-
ling with cannon and alive with gray
backs, and the boys exclaim, guess
we have found where they live this
time"
Our officers now realized that serious
work lay before them, and at once be-
gan to make preparations to grapple
IN DEATH STRUGGLE.
Batteries were planted in the most adj
vantageous positions. The infantry was
massed, protected by small hills as far
as possible. The enemy, now that he
was massed on his center behind heavy
Notifications, seemed determined to wipe
"we'uns out if possible, and if one-tenth
of the lead and iron had reached its in
tended mark not many Yankees would
have been left to tell the tale.
About 2 p. m. the orders came for the
First Brigade TO charge a 10-gun fort
which lay directly in our front, and
which had been spitefully shelling us
ever since we had come into range. The
Hath III. and 93d Ind. were first to
come into direct range, we having lain
behind slight elevation partially shell
tered from the direct fire of our foe.
When we came up on level with the
fort and formed line-ofbattle on the
double-quick, we were within 300 yards
Of the works, and it was then we we're
exposed to calling fire of grape, can
lister, and minie-balls But the Six
teenth Corps had been in many such
places before; they hesitated not one
moment, but speedily formed into line
and dropped to the earth to await tie
arrival of the remainder Of the brigade
which was to form on our rear Almost
Immediately the 72d and 95th Ohio
and 10th Mimi came in sight, with ban
ners flying, and on the double-quick
formed in our rear, and lay down. Pan
demonium seemed TO be breaking loos'
in our front, such a storm of balls a
did NOW the very ground, accompanied
by the hateful rebel YELL" They seemed
to think as we fell to the earth that w
were all killed, and thereat took ne,
courage and yelled themselves hoarse.
Soon the old First Division was forme,
in supporting distance, and the order ra
along the line: Attention, First Bri
gade Forward Guide centerl-
Charge!"
ITO be con,iaucd.)