The National tribune., 1896-01-30

wounded, two officers and 50 men missing;
making total of 41S in all. 1t has been
said that our regiment was the only one
that broke the enemy's line that day; if 90,
we paid dearly for the honor.
Three days marching brought us across
the Chickshominy and James Rivers, the
latter being crossed by steamers at Charles
City Courthouse on the night of June 10 to
Wind Mill Point, and in the morning we
were in front of the works at Petersburg,
with our left resting on the Jerusalem plank
| road. We were about mile from the
enemy, with valley between us, and a
small stream, that man could jump, flow
ing in the bottom. Fieldglasses showed few
signs of life, and the fact that the works
were lightly manned was proved when it
was too late. We lay there all day. About
p. m. we heard the steam whistles in
Petersburg, and within half an hour we saw
the enemy file into the works on the double
quick, and then the men saw that serious
work was at hand About this time Mai.
Sprlngsteed sent for his four company COM
manders, and said to us: "There will be q
general charge all along our line at shutdown;
have your men in readiness" / met Lieut.
COL Hastings moment later, and said to
him: Colonel, it looks like another Cold
Harbor TO charge now; we could have
walked over an hour ago"
Our gunners in our rear began Smelling the
gunners of the enemy, who were out of sight
In rear of their front, in order to dsconcert
their aim on our advancing line, and the
Kissing. screeching shells went over us with
a most terrific racket; the musketry opened
on us as we crossed the rail fence in the
cornfield, and the combined noises almost
II nh M, L Innt
Morton Ravens hit by piece of shell which
took out one eye and a cheek-bone; Lieut.
Yearsley killed near the rail fence. Then
we the Irish Brigade repulsed from the
works in their front, which were at such an
angle that the gap between us was continu-
ally widened, and then, in the absence of Maj.
Springfield, our gallant Lieut.-Co Hast
lngs ordered our right 10 face to the right
oblique and charge in that direction. In the
meantime the enemy swarmed over their
works, and, following the Irish Brigade,
swung around IN our rear. | was busy get
ting the broken line in shape to obey the
order, when shots from the rear showed that
the right of our line was surrounded. fire
from the front and rear, and, worse yet, an
eniilading fire from the right, told the story
that we were captured. Ny two Lieutenants
were not in sight. Mai. Springfield came
running down the line and asked me where
Col. Hastings was, and dashed TO the left
and escaped. When it was plain that there
was no escape for us, stopped reforming
The men and rushed to the colors and helped
the Sergeant bury them in the sand, and then
tried to bury my sword. All this was in less
time than 1t lakes 10 write it. A voice
behind said: Yank, drop that and get over
the works." They could have touched me
with their bayonets. Most of the men had
gone over the works, and of the 81 men of
my command that day only three came out
of prison alive That is terrible story, and
some day j hope to tell it TO you.-FRED
MATHER, 9TH N. Y. II. A., Cold Spring
Harbor, n. Y.