Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-23

presented features which were abso-
lutely appalling. 1t was chiefly say
age hand-to-hand fight across the
breastworks. Rank after rank was rid
died by shot and shell and bayonet
thrusts, and finally sank a mass of torn
and mutilated corpss; then fresh
troops rushed madly forward to replace
the dead, and so the murderous work
went on. Guns were rum up close to
the pnrapet, and double charges OF can
lister played their part in the bloody
work. The fence rails and logs in the
breastworks were shattered into splin-
tiers and trees over foot and half in
diameter We're cut completely in two
by the incessant mllsletry fire. A sec
tion of the trunk Of a stout oak tree
thus severed was afterward sent to
Washington, where it is still on exhibi.
ton at the National museum. We had
not only shot down an army, but also
forest.
The opposing flags were in places
thrust against each other, and mus
kets were fred with muzzle against
muzzle. Skulls were crushed with
dubbed muskets and men stabbed to
death with swords and bayonets thrust
between the logs in the parnpet which
separated the combatants. Wild cheers,
savage yells and frantic shrleks rose
above the signing of the wind and the
pattering Of the rain and formed de-
moniacal accompaniment to the boom
ing of the guns as they hurled their mis-
siles of death into the cmtending ranks
Even the darkness of night and the pitt
less storm failed to stop the fierce con
test, and the deadly strife did not cease
till after midnight. Our troops had been
under fire for 20 hours, but they still
held the position which they had SO
dearly purchased. My duties carried
me again to the spot the next day, and
the appalling sight presented was hnr'
rowing in the extreme. Our own killed
were scattered over q large space near
the "anglc," while in front OF the cap
tured breastworks the enemy's dead
vastly more numerous than our own,
we're piled upon each other, in some
places four layers deep, exhibiting
every ghastly phase Of mutllaton. Be-
low the mass of fast-decaying corpses
the convusive twitching OF limbs and
the writhing OF bodies showed that
there were wounded men still alive ana
struggling to eXtrcate themselves
from their horrid entombment Every
relief possible was afforded, but in too
many cases it came too late. The place
was well named the "Bloody Angle
The results of the battle are best
summed up in the report which the gen.
eral in chief sent to Washington. AT
$3.50 p. m, May IL, he wrote to Halleck
as follows; "rhe eighth day OF battle
closes, leaving between 5000 and 1000
prisoners in our hands for the days
work, including two general officers
and over 80 pieces of artillery. The
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enemy are obstinate and seem to have
found the last ditch. We have lost no
organization, not even that OF com
pany, whilst we have destroyed and
captured one division (Johnson's), one
brigade (Doles) and one regiment en-
tire of the enemy" The confederatcs
had suffered greatly in general officers
Two had been killed, four severely
wounded and two captured. Our loss
In killed, wounded and missing wal
less than 1000; that Of the enemy 30
tween 1000 and 10000, as nearly a.
could be ascertained.-Gen. Horace Por
ter, in Century.