The National tribune., 1897-11-11
By DR.. J. P. CANNON, Co. G, 9th Ala.


continued to-day. Got picks and spades
and went to work in earnest, digging dltches
TO protect us more elfectualiy. SklrmlShlne
has been brisk all day, and cannonadine
part of the time, but no engagement worthy
of being called a battle. Hoods Corps is
massed on the right, ours (Poik 81 in the
center. and Hardee on the left.
June 11-Rain rain, rain! rain! II has
rained so much the last few days that
operations of both armies are retarded,
though nothing. il seems, can stop the
everlasting sharpshCeting and skirmishlng.
June Fit is a gloomy Sunday; clouds
dark and rain still pouring down. We have
not leen dry for thIee days, ara com
PEELED 10 stay in the freshly dug bitches,
where the water collects in puGdleS.
Muddy from head 10 foot. we present a
pitia BILE spectacle. Have not had wash
day since we left north Alabama-six
weeks ago.
june 14.-Old Sol came out bright,
and we greeted him with cheers. At :
%. m we moved to the right and relieved
Hoods CORPS, taking possession of their
bitches, which we were glad TO DO, as IL
saves us considerable hard work, the first
thing these times being TO get a hole I'm the
ground as speedily as possible. we are
stretched out in one rank, 10 cover as
much ground possible, so as 10 give
Hood an opportunity OF meeting the hank
movement OF Sherman on our rlght
When our grub wagon came in today, as
usual, we made d rush for 1T, and IN add
ton 10 the customary hard corn dodgers
and bacon we found a small sack, the con
tents of which were entirely new 10 us. All
agreed that il resembicd something we had
seen before the war, and quite lively
discussion ensued.
One said il was Yankee peas, another
"Bos.c.7 beans" and sarious opinions were
expire ed causing Q good deal of merit
ment. until Joe ClantCn twho talks through
his nose) saws: Bows. ain { you all got a
darned bit of sense? I'm ashamed of YOU.
That's gin-u-wine Lincoln coffee. mat
settled The matter, and we proceeded 10
divide it: but how 10 divide so small
quantity among whole regiment was
puzzling.
However, we surniounted the difficulty
by making 10 little Parcels lone Tor each
company, then subdividing TO the messes,
which reduced it to so small quantity
that we had to count the grains, resulting
in the magnificent sum of 80 grains to each
man.
Our fun over the coffee was soon changed
TO mourning. Our corps commander me
Christian soldier. Gen. Polk. was Struck IN
the breast by a cannon ball and instantly
killed Il was great shock to the army
of the Mississippi, which he organized ara
had commanded since the fall OF NIcks-
burg We all loved him, and had great
confidence in him as commander; but
great as the calamity is, If is the fortunes
of war, and we must submit.
Kenesaw Mountain, Ga, June ID
Moved To the foot Of KeneSaw. Cur brI-
gade was placed on a hill and ordered to
hold ii at all hazards. Here We have
splendid view of both armies. On the right
and left can be seen the C0niederates,
clad in many coIors, butternut Jeans pre-
dominating, all more or less bespattered
with the red Georgia mud from the fresh
bitches.
in front a long line of blue extending for
miles in either direction, the!r bright arms
glisiening in the sunlight, presenting
grand spectacle.
The contrast in appearance OF the con
tending forces, the arms and munitions OF
war, is indeed very great; but II we can
ever meet them with equal numbers we
feel that we can overcome the disparity
in other respects and retrieve the mistor-
tunes of the past in glorious victory.
We have had heavy diminishing most all
day, and our brigade has lost as many
men as we sometimes lose in a pitched
battle Between skirmiShes we put in the
time throwing dirt" with a vim, in order
to be prepared for any emergency which
might arise.
Gen. Loring has taken Gen. Folks place,
and now commands the Army Of the Missis-
sippi.
June 16.-Our men worked by details all
night and this morning found US with fair
breastwoTIlS and an impTegnable position
one that can stand he assaults OF oher-
mans hosts indefinitely, and his only
chance TO dislOdge as is by another flank
movement, which / have no doubt he VIII
be able TO accomplish with the superior
force he has al hard.
Musl1etTy and canponading was kent up
all night and continued to-day, which,
with the shaTpsboct ng, has annoyed US a
great deal The enemy charged Cleburne S
Division, but were repuiSed with heavy
loss.
June 17-Nothing worth recording,
more than the regular picket fighting,
sbarpshOoting, and an occasional artil-
lery duel.
Saturday, June 18.-Our regiment went
on picket early last night and stood
all night in a drenchng rain. Just before
day our company was moved forward about
300 yards in front 81 the regiment, deployed
10 PAGES apart, and ordered 10 keep q close
watch, as the enemy vas near by; and, in
deed, We soon found that such was the
case. As soon a. IL got light enough we
could see their picket line less than 100
yards from US, and saluting each other
good morning" both sides took such cover
as was al hand, behind trees. logs stumps
etc. We had hide and seek" game all
the morning, firing every time we could
get glimpse OF each other, and several of
our boys got wounded, one very seriously.
About 2 p. m. q squad Of IS or 20 Yankees
cra~ied down a raVine and got possession
OF Il log house half way between the lines
This exposed those Of US who were on the
right Of the house, TO a croSs-fire, and our
trees were not large enough TO cover US in
front and flank at the same time. When
we lodged from one We were exposed TO the
other, and vice versa.
IL was the worst scTape ever got into
and ] had rather take my chances in a
regular battle than another such. They
made il so hot that something had 10 be
done, and that very quickly, or, like the
paTson at Resaca, we couldn't stay
there" so We sent courier back and re
ported the situation to Col jackson, who
very promptly brought up detachment
from the regiment, charged the house and
drove the Yankees hack TO their picket
line To our great relief and delight; but it
cost US several casualties
Col. jackson had his arm shattered above
the elbow, so il Viii have TO be amputated
the Colonel was SHOT through the chest
al first Manassas, when a private i'm the
was discharged. and afterwards assisted
IN RAISING the 9th Ala, with which he has
been connected since December. 1861
After dislodging the Ianks from the
house we felt comparatively safe behind
our trees, but took good care not to ex-
pose ourselves any more than necessary,
and spent the Tema .ndeT of the evening
shooting at each other at every oppor-
tunity.
June 19-We were relieved from videt
at a m, and found that we had been all
might without any support the command
having left early i'm the night. We fol
lowed and OVpFtangy the division he