The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-04-16

wondering why we did not smash
things up more on the other side.
But back in the edge of the woods
the excitement passed and the reac-
ton came on, and when Gen, Smith
came up and quietly suggested that
from a less exposed position under
the trees we might touch 'em again.
my feelings were anything but joyful.
| | began TO realize that we were in a
hot place, and that our immunity
from loss was chance only. The dIvi
sion had been getting up and taking
position behind US The pouring rain
and approaching night made a gloom
that had not affected me before. The
cOwardly instinct was taking posses
sion of my soul. | did not want to
fight any more Nothing but fear of
disgrace made me face my duty. But
the moment the guns began to speak
again all such depressing feelings van
ished with the returning excitement,
and self consequence and almost self
glOriticatlon succeeded them.
The firing began again and our good
luck did not desert us. The enemy
had our distance perfectly, and every
shot fell within or close to our posi-
ton. The close calls were many and
there were fatal casualties. but not an
artillerist was so much as scratched .
The only infantry under fire were the
skirmishers, who could cover them
selves and were the least exposed. The
first man killed was one Of those who
. I, 1 : l., nf hf
guns. 4 solid shot nearly cut him in
two. and although it was CHASTITY
sight it produced no visible effect on
the men serving the pieces. And,
with all our expenditure of ammnni-
ton, the only damage we did the enc
my that could be seen was cutting
down his flagstaff. whereat our men
did cheer vociferou5ly But the stars
and bars" were promptly rehOisted on
an extemporized staff
With nightfall we stopped firing.
but the other side did not All night
long the enemy kept up a measured
disturbance by pitching a shot into
our position of a bed of wet boughs
and a steady downpour Of rain was
added the regular smashing of these
chunks of iron among the trees that
formed our only shelter, 1t was Il
wretched lodging. The weather was
50 thick that the flash of their guns
could not be distinguished, and the
only warming of this cadenced danger
the shrieking shell itself brought with
! it.
One incident of the night made a
great impression on me, as 1t did on
hundreds Of others. There had been
considerable picket firing at our left,
where Il densely wooded ravinc separ
ated the two foes. Occasionally dur
ing the night there were shots; al
though the darkness could almost be
felt About midnight, should guess
there was the report of musket, fol
lowed by a wall of fear or agony such
as [ never thought could come from
mortal throat.
ltwas superhumon-blood curdling.
My heart fairly stopped beating. Prob
ably ten thousand men lay within
hearing Of that awfnl sound. For sec
onds there was silence deep as death,
as the wailing died away, and then,
suddenly. there rose along the line a
roar OF laughter Gargantuan-apa
ling and catching the infection, |
also laughed, although a moment be
fore OH the edge of the opposite
emotion. The reyulsion of feeling
was more hysterical than inhuman.
We were n0w-the bad night hav
ing worn away-to experience the
me st dreaded Of all accidents-a lin
ber chest explosion Hancock's brig
ade having been sent on recon
noissance to the right, we were, early
IN the morning. TO open again on the
rebel works as soon as the brigade
should be in position or the firing
should indicate that he had become
engaged. We opened promptly, as
ordered, and quite rs promptly re
ceived the attentions Of our friends
Oh the other side, whose practice on
, our position seemed to give them in
, creased perniciousness of aim, and,
| presently, disaster overlook Us.
: The wonder of it all was that 1t had
not happened before. 4 ten-pounder
/ percussion shell from a gun a little tc
the left barely missed Sergeant
Smith pieces. Corporal Gunner
Allison-a tall youth bending
: over the rear sight or his head would
have been taken off The shell pass
ed through the left corner of the Inn
, Der chest. which had just been brought
up and was full, and burst in its pas
, sage The force of the explosion was
- toward the end of the chest. The
4 cover sailed skyward. the left whee
was blown off, and twenty five OF ON
cartridges and three shells thirty
pounds of powder at least exploded
> There was big racket. and the All
, was thick with chunks OF iron. The
right half Of the chest was intact, but
the tow covering the cartridges was il
, flames, and just now a fraction OF q
: second meant lifetime Sergeant
: Smith and Artificer Wilcox We're the
; heroes of the occasion. They dashed
, on water from the rubber buckets KEEP
I filled in action. and pulled off tn,
, burning tow with bare hands. Theil
peril was appalling. but they did no
t finch, and the right half OF the chest
. Win tWeiI F-lINt ToJtld9 oI HAep dhl
p munition. was saved.
: | long kept some of the catridg,
| bags. the ends of which were burned
t completely through As the smoke
t of the explosion rose above the tree:
= itself in tree like form-we hearl
| the first rebel yell. 1t was loud
very loud and triumphant, and mil,
@ long at least and our fellows re
sponded with shout of defiance.
l. stood ten yards from the untoucheC
| end of the chest By my side wa
1 Gen. Smith. who WAS watching th
firing and several OF the statfwere near
7 The general never moved. but ther,
d was skedaddling on the part of th,
$ staff into the bushes. When all wd
+ over, and not a man injured-ou lucl