The National tribune., 1897-12-23

| ing the day. shells and solid shot RAISING
through the stone fence behind which v g
| were sheltered, scattering S;oneS IN every
direction and managing men in a shocking
manner.
To lie still under destructive artillery
| fire produces q feeling of dread that can
not be described and is more de!coraliz-
! ing than 10 be actively engaged in latte =;
! but we had to endure it for six long hot rs
without even skirn,ish to divert cur I; t.
! tcntion.
Our artillery replied only occasionally
! outstanding their ammunition which NaS
scarce, for the final contest that all know
must come ere long. About O'Clock y. m.
| the enemy made an attack On oar left
gradually driving our boys hack until the
| lighting seemed to he almost i'll our rear.
! Then "hurrah, hurrah, burrah," YVES
heard in or front and we knew the "tIg
OF war was coming.
All dread vanished and excitement took
its place. On they came, two lines of blue,
through the open field, in Il double quick.
Our old reliable POinte Coupee (our brieaCe
battery opened at once, first with shell
and as they approached nearer with grape
and canister. Then storm Of mjnie-balls
was let loose from behind the stone fence,
and the wells of Contederates and "hurrah"
OF Yankees were drowned by the roar Of
muSketry and artillery.
Men were falling on 10th sides, and it
seemed fer time that the Eayonet would
Ec inc means tI EIu!IG Ilst contest, Illt
few more rounds made it so hot that they
began retiring, though only for q short
distance. RallyiEg, they moved forward
again, and the battle ragged fiercer than
before.
Still confident that we could hold our
position, we defiantly called to them to
come on, but they seemed unwilling to
come 10 close quarters, yet determined
not 10 retreat.
During this time we could not know
what was taking place on other parts of
the line, and were feeling rather exultant,
when, on looking to the left. we saw thou
sands Of the blue coats pouring over the
hlll not 200 yards away, and sweeping
back our lines like chaff before the wind.
1t is said that our officers now, seeing
the day lost, ordered retreat If 50, we
did not get the order, and continued TO
maintain the unequal contest, under a
calling fIe from both front and flank,
until the two lines had almost enveloped
Us. when Col. Werdcn, Of Cur regiment
ordered all who could TO save themselves.
1t looked like escape was impossible,
and most OF the regiment stacked arms
and surrendered; but dreading q North
ern prison so much, ! determined TO make
the tempt, and struck cut obliqucly TO
the rear as fast as could run.
Tie ground had thawed during the day,
making il very muddy, and, encountered
by krapsaCl and Gccouterments, ] hadn t
run mere than 300 yards Before | WAS cen
pietely out Of breath and seeing not even
a stump to protect ne while | could blow
a few moments, lay fiat upon the ground,
v-th my head toward The enemy.
! had hardly rot fixed when q shell
struck luSt in front of me, Clancing over
ard nearly covering me with mud II it
had heen 70 inches HIGHER it would have
hit me squarely in the top Of the head,
and would have left scarcely a fragment
Of me.
! didn't like the idea of teing in range
Of such missiles and decided at cree 10
make a change Of base. On rising | dis
covered that was alone; rot retel was
to lie seen behind or on either s:Gc lUt
hundreds Of Yankees were coming on and
bullets flying thick as hail. ! ran aEcut
200 yards farther and trcke down The
second time, but fortunately near a gully
where a number Of stragg!crs had taEtn
shelter from the bullets.
| crawied in with them, about decided
that ! would have to give il up ard sur
render, hut after few Moments rest !
locked over tie hank ard seeing the field
blue with Yankees, changed my mind and
determined TO make one more effort
1t was about ECO yards to the foot OF
Hill covered with timber. I thought if / /
could reach that my chances would be |
much letter, so leaving the boys in the !
ditch lard ! think the last orc of them
there started again.
After hard pull through the mud got
10 The timber and was ccngratulating my
self my ESCAPE so far when bullet
tore an ugly hole through my coat tail. !
lust grazing my thigh, but doing no seri-
Gus damage.