The National tribune., 1898-10-27

would JOIN the reserve picket
NIGHT OF HARDSHIP.
As we moved along the picket-line W
could plainly hear the talking of the enemy
and occasionally the neighing of horse. A
a few minutes before midnight we started t
reioin our brigade. led by guide, but i
proved to be the blind led by the blind
0ur guide lost his way Many of our mel
who could have led ms right had no chance
but trusted to cur guide, so that instead o
joining our brigade in a few hours, W,
floundeTed through the woods and s!oughs
and did not join it until just before sunrise
tired hungry, footsorc, and out of humor.
We Joined our respective organizations
and found that the men of our brigade had
been aroused early and had made themselve,
cup of coffee and enjoyed their har1tack
and pork We had only started to make 4
cup of coffee when, looking across the river
TO the westward, We saw our picketS being
pushed back by large force of the enemy.
Orders came quickly TO fall in. The break
fast, so much needed. was not eaten, but in
stead we hurried into line moved to the rail
road track, across Bush Creek, and on to the
fat between this creek and Candles Mill
Upon reaching this point the regiment was
formed facing west. Col. Hall commanding
the 14th " J., caused to be erected Il large
fly tent, under which n number OF officers
were resting, screened from the hot July sum-
The quiet was soon broken by the report OF a
gun and the shrek OF 4 shell thrown from n
rebel battery located west of the Washington
road This shell struck in one of the COM
panies of the 151st \. Y, lying just west of
the tent-ly. My recollection is now that it
killed one man and wounded two.
In a few seconds another shell from the
same battery came swiSh swishi swishingl on
its way 1t struck directly in front of the
tent-fy. plowing its way into the dirt, dig
ginc deep hole as it lifted itself from its
bed 1t passed over the fly and cut n limb
from small locust tree just over the back of
Col Halls horse. tied to this tree and To-
Gated just in rear of the fly. and then went
on its way, singing rs it went.
All under the fly were covered with dirt
some laughing and all happy TO think that
the rebel artilleTiSt who placed the fuse in
that shell made it long enough to carry it by
US before it exploded.
To THE FRAY.
We shook the dirt from our clothes and
gathered outside The call 10 arms sounded.
and soon the brigade novel to the left, pass
ing the old stone mill and on to the road
leading from Frederick 10 Washington. The
south of Keefer Thomas's barn, while my
own regiment Gled off the road and Up the
lawn of the Thomas mansion behind haw-
thorn hedge facing toward the northwest.
After the firing of the two shells spoken Of
there was a lull, during which the gallant
Mai. Frcaenbureh, OF our reg ginient. hut then
on staff duty, placed our troep' the bet taat
could be done unGer the severe fire OF the
rebel pickets, who were stationed behind q
stake-and-rail fence on rising ground north
Of the hedge 1t was ordered 10 drive out or
capture the enemy's piclets on our immediate
front. The pioneers cut two or three oPen-
ings in the hedge, t1e command was given to
charge, and we went for them on the double-
quick We lost a number in this charge;
among them tie brave tapt Conover OF
Co ID, shot through the groin
While passing up this slope was disabled
by shot that struck me in the left groin; it
passed through the trousers and into IA cid
pocket-book resting in my left pocket. For
tunately, this book was well filled with slips
cut from newspapers and worth reading the
second time; the slips were folded TO fit the
pecket-hook on thc underside was a small
steel case in which / carried leads for my pen
Gil. The ball struck just as | stepped for
ward with the right foot; this throwing the
Win tIiS uOoA I1dpcis
and lastly the steel case. no doubt saved my
life. ! turned completely round before fall
ing ] saw the rebel shoot from the angle OF
the fence and fired in return
Ny left leg was quite numb for short
time. also the hips, but in a few inmates,
hmping slightly, / Joined the victorious
boys en the hill They had captsred most
of the enemy's skiTmishers and driven the
rest Ny boys" we're gladly surprised TO
see ne. supposing that | had been mortaliy
wounded
Again there came that ominous lull often
spoken of just before The storm. At about
p. III. the enemY's batteries opened-three
batteries on our immcG late front. How we
did wish for cur own Meningitis battery.
No artillery had come with us. Perhaps
those who directed things thought it best to
sacrifice US and save the batteries; at any rate,
so We discussed it.
Now our attention was called from the fire
of the eEemy's battery TO the piece Of wooded
hill southwest from Us. From these woods
came the enemy in two heavy Hnes-of-battle,
preceded by a skirHish-l line well advanced.
They made fine appearance As they pressed
forward toward the front of our brigade,
seeming TO make the right of our line their
objective point
We ilttlt Lljlt 70 slftCuldbe 10 low
well they looked. The bail had opened. We
returned their fire the best we knew how
One thing helped us-fhe men OF the rebel
batteries seemed to think that the woods he
hind Us contained more mel of the Sixth
Corps than We're in the front, OF exposed line,
for nearly one-half the shot and shells went
crushing into the woods; but We had no re-
serve-all were in the single hne-ofbattle.
When that was gone, we'll
Soon the dead and wounded began to show
all about us. Our commander, Lieut-CoI
Hall, had his arm broken by n minie-ball
As the enemy advanced we were forced back,
moving slowly, disputing every foot of
ground. The two lines-of-battle and skir-
mishers had merged into one line
We soon reached the Washington road, and
here made stand, holding our position for
long time. fighting across level field with
'otbing 10 screen my own regment-no
yeastwork, DO other protection.
In falling back over the field from our
1rst position TO the second Hne-ofbattle my
regiment suffered terribly. Capt Conine
was killed; Capt. Stultz also; Capt. Harris,
supposed mortaliy wounded; Capt JOS J.
Hawk, badly wounded; Capt Janeway,
wounded slightly; Adjt Buckeleer wound
ed; Lieut.. VIM. ii. Craig, badly wounded in
the groin; COlor-Serg't VIM. Il. CottrelI,
killed, and nearly all the color-guard killed
or wounded; Lieut. Green, of Co. |, was
wounded; t@o First Sergeants killed; a
number of privates killed, and many
III l.