The National tribune., 1896-01-30
UNDER OLD GLORY.
A sih n. Y. III. A. Man Gives Some Expert
ences.

Il
like to detail some experiences during my
service in the eth n. Y. II. A. Going out
with the regiment as First Sergeant of Bat
terry j, after 13 months service at Fort DE
Russy ] Joined Batterv c as Second Lieu
tenant at Fort Reno and at Battery Smead,
taking the place of Second Lieutenant John
b. Read, who was promoted. In April, 1864,
after seven months with that command, /
was sent TO Battery i, lately organized, and
was again promoted.
Our first important experience was when,
as part of Tylsr's Artillery Division of the
Second Corps, we lay down and supported a
light battery at Spottsylvania and saw them
exchange shells with the enemy, who were
out of sight beyond the woods. Serious
work was OF hand, and many men looked
triae paler. If memory serves, it was two
days later that we were sent into hr
thicket and were told not TO fire, because
several lines of our own men were ahead OF
US, and the bullets were singing in way
that told that they were busy and had no
time to stop, and the enemy appeared as if
out of the ground and gave us a volley in
our faces. That fresh troops shoUld break
under such circumstances was natural, and
we did. Broken as our lines were by the
low-branching evergreens, the companies be-
came mixed, but Col. Morris and Lieut.-Col.
Hastings rallied officers and men as we
emerged into the clearing, saying, Men,
don't let the news of this break go back to
Albany" and we reformed. Col. Morris
told us TO go in again, and we did. We were
cooler now. We had been under fire, and
most Of us had lived through it, We went
forward as steadily as the wild forest would
permit, passing obstacles like the well-drilled
men that we were and this baptism of fire
was all that was needed 10 make us soldiers.
We went in and drove the enemy back, but
with loss OF Is men killed and SO wounded,
while three Captains were lost-Capts Morris
and McCulloch killed outright, and Capt.
Bell to die month later; a most appalling
initiation into the mysteries of war!
On Saturday May 81, we had an amusing
experience at Milford Station, although it
was not particularly amusing to private
-, who was killed but as we were cook
ing and eating our dinner in peace and
quietness, with no thought of an enemy
within many miles and in true soldier
fashion, for we were soldiers now enjoying
the freedom from march or battle, little
scouting party with light field-piece gave
MS a shot from the Hill across the swamp.
The command to fall in was given and a
good dinner of bareback, sow-belly and
coffee was temporarily abandoned fer who
knew that this was not the adyance-guard
Of an enemy in more or less force. A Skin
mish-line was thrown out,-Battery 3,
think,-but no enemy was found. The next
morning was Sunday, May %, and as we
started toward the North Anna River, Capt
Kennedy chaffed me great deal about being
careful not TO run into the enemy's picket
line, and il afforded all of US amusement for
the day.
As we neared the river the sounds of
battle became louder. A reb deserter making
his way to our rear, encouraged us by
saying: Go on; you've got 'em on the run
now;" and we went on. Lieut.. William L.
Orr passed our battery just az / was loudly
singing Just in time for Lanigan's ball."
saying, Look out that you don't get Lani-
gan's bali" Poor fellow, he got it three
days later and died on June g There was
a clearing skirted by dense woods which
ran 10 the river, and we went along the edge
OF these woods, marching by the right flank,
at dOuble-quIck, and were formed into line to
the lett and, with muskets at right shoulder.
marched across that open PLAIN under fire
as II we were on parade.
The enemy were across the river. which
was only about 60 feet wide at that place. as I
memory recalls it, and In our front was a
little redOubt which bad been taken from
the enemy and held by what was left of the
gallant AID n. Y. They had not felt GER
tain Of holding it until they saw our bat
talions coming to their support. and how
they mounted the parspets and cheered
when they saw US coming TO their sup
port in such soldierly shape! They sup
posed it to be a brigade, by the size
and we soon hid the pleasure of shak- |
fsser A 4.
43d which had reached the redoubt only
q few hours before US. Here we lay for sew
eral days on the high bank Of the river, the
opposite one being low, with the Chester
field bridge beneath us, while we were sup
porting a light battery of brass Napoleon
guns which harassed a battery Of the
enemys on the other bank which disputed
the passage Of our troops.
neenemy's battery hammered away al the 1
bridge. but did not knock il down. Our light
battery made il so hot for the gunners across
the river that heir aim was uncertain. and
one Of our shells struck an ammunition chest !
and, exploding, il filed the air with hubs,
spolles legs arms and other debris in a most
elegant manner, aud we gave the fellows in
the air cheer before they settled down To 4
light no more. IL was grand! 1t was all
grand except the terrible marches over the /
hot, dusty roads if you didn't get bit your
self, and even the marches have lost the feel
ing Of fatigue and dirt at this distance Of
time, and have become merely an incidental
accompaniment to a part Of life that J. for
one, would like to live over again always
barring the prison part.
During the next four days we were on or
about TolOpotomy Creek "a name often mis-
spelled "Totopotomoy) )" and most discour-
aging place il was We were there from Fri 1
day, May "a, TO Tuesday, the 3lst, and in
the meantime had been transferred TO the
Fourth Brigade (BrooBs's), First Division
(BHlow's) Of the Second Corps (Hancock's) !
We had been in the corps all the time. but
IN Tyler's Artillery Division. The constant
marching, often all night and half the day
had consumed all our superduous flesh, and
we were IN the highest physical condition,
but always tired. About this time the boys
constructed this formula Of operations for
each "a hours: March 20, fight two and
rest TWO, and while we are resting we throw |
mp Iifle-pts." At every halt the order was
TO throw up breastwork, and how the bows |
hated 10 do the work Said one: "Im |
tired out, and I'd Just as soon be killed as |
die for want of sleep!n With only one spade |
10 battalion, they would scoop up the |
sandy soil with tin cups, and trench two |
feet deep was soon dug by two men, who had |
only TO dig about Is inches in length which, |
with the material thrown out made .ifle- |
pit four feet deep; but rest was what they |
wanted, and it was a task for the officers 10 |
keep them at it. As an instance of weary |