The National tribune., 1898-10-27


gone out at point where it was spliced;;
This information changed the plans, and
Lieut. Jacob Douty, with the Sergeant,
was ordered to relieht the fuse.
The morning was dawning. 1t was al
most $50. 4 dull, heavy rumbhng sound
was heard, followed by a CONFUSION OF the
earth huge black mass shot 200 feet
into the air: tongues of fire leaped from its
sides: flashes of light arose and re-
fected on the sky The scene was some
thing awful to behold. The mass of earth
and rock, military equipments, broken
timbers, and 256 human beings, who but
a moment before had been quietly sleep
ng, went high in the air.
THE CHARGE.
The men for the moment were almost
trausfixed but we were brought TO our
senses by the belching forth OF 200 pieces
of artillery, the kissing of solid shot, the
bursting of shells, and we were now
moving forward on the double-auick to the
Confederate fort. 1t was an easy charge,
as we met with no opposition. The entire
Confederate army seemed to be on the run,
and all we had TO do was to follow them
and the victory was ours full and COM
piete.
we had cut Gen Lees army in the
center and for the moment were masters
of the situation. But for some reason not
known to the rank and file at that time
our charge was not supported, and we
were ordered back to the Crater; back 10
the "slaughter-Pen.
When the Confederates found that they
were net being followed they rallied Just
outside of the range of our artillery and
waited for an advance. We who had re-
turned TO the Crater were also waiting Tor
an advance OF troops TO cur support, TO at
least occupy the line of works abandoned
by the Jchnnies. The grand old Fifth
CORPS were massed at the base of Cemetery
Hill and ! have been told that the rank
l.
let them go to the front. While waiting
for something 10 be done we had time TO
see the magnitude Of the explosion. The
opening on the surface was 110 feet long,
co feet wide and 20 feet deep
We heard the rebel yell and Gen.
Mahone's Brigade charged the fort and
works in the rear OF the Crater. Allow
me to say that they did not have TO make
charge. as all they had TO do was march
up in regular order and take possession.
Then the slaughter opened in all Of its
fury. First came The ping ard zip OF the
nlinie-balls; then the artillery got range of
us and we were the targets for every
death-dealing missile. How a man es-
capped / cannot tell. | saw my comrades
piled up eight deep.
We stood this butchery for over four
hours, and lost at the rate of eco men an
hour.
THE FAILURE.
About noon there was a lull in this
great one-sided battle. Was it possible
that part of US were to be saved We
looked to our rear. Yes, troops were ad-
yancin2. Gen. Eerfera's Division of
colored troops were forming. They crossed
the front line of works we had left in the
morning, marched up IN perfect order, and
formed line between the cheyeaux de
friSe and the Confederate works
Ii was grand sight and / counted the
stands OF colors floating 10 the breeze.
The order was given: - ForwaEd-Chargei"
They crossed the lire OF works, but had
not gone 20 steps when they met volley
of susEctry, grape and canister that ap-
peared to wipe them almost of the face OF
the earth, and the day was lost The
ConfedegateS followed up their advantage
and recaptured everything. These of us
who were still alive in the slaughter
pen" made a run for our line Of works
Many fell and some were taken prisoners
The Eext morning opened sad day for
the Roundheads. We had lost almost all
of the line officers, killed, wounded or
prisoners. Our battle flag torn in two and
the lower part captured. Our State banner
was riddled with bullets. There We were
campcd with less Than 100 men. Where
were cur comrades? LIT Dne answer can
be given. They had sacrificed their lives
on the altar OF liberty
The prisoners from the regiment were
taken TO DanVille, Va, where they sue
eeeded in oNeTpowering the guards and
making their escape, and after two
months OF starving and hiding IN the
swamps reached the Union lines in East
Tennessee.
During the day of July 81, DIR. a. Mas,
the Surgeon of the RSundheads, and
other officers of the brigade, were sent out
with tag of truce for an armisticc 10 re-
move the dead. Our flag of truce was met
In the field by a Confederate officer. who.
after a formal introduction, produced a
bottle from his pocket from which he
drank toast, To an early termination
OF the war; a sentiment in which all
most ferYently Ioined.
According 10 my recollection the armis-
tice was not granted until the afternoon oi
Aug. ,, and then for bat two hours Owing
60 the intensely hot weather and mutila-
tion OF the dead, twas almost impossible
10 identity comrades. Capt Dr. w c.
Oliver, Of Co. Is, had been killed carly in
the engagement, bat we only know al was
he by finding in the pockets OF his uni
form an order detailing him as officer oi
the day few days previous.
During the tinleof removing the dead the