The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-28

from the rebel Notifications Blackburn
was shot by a bullet coming in this direc-
ton | heard the thud of the bullet as IL
struck him. Shortly afterwards discovered
he was bleeding to- death. He talked
about and prayed Tor his wife and chill
dren, as | thought though the voice was
very weak His blood saturated my cloth
ing from my neck to my boots There was no
opportunity to shift my position. and each
voiiey OF the enemy's bullets seemed to cut
the hazel brush closer to our backs
Besides Blackburn Smith and Hess. /
do not think anyone was killed or seri-
ouSly wounded during the afternoon s
fighting.
The second charge and attempt of the
JohnnieS to capture the cannon was some
where about o'clock and the last charge
they made was after dark Shortly after
this last charge they vacated their breast
works, leaving only light skirmish- or
plcket-hne In our front. An hour or more
after dark we heard the music of a band in
our rear. | copy now from the letter writ
ten by me to the Sabbath school, in which
| say
About a mile in our rear. soft and sweet
music was borne to us upon the evening
breeze and steadily drawing nearer, gath
enng strength and increasing in volume.
until 1t was evident to us it was approach
Ing. IL was our relief. You cannot imagine
our feelings; We had lain there so many
hDtio III tOuDlt IlD one Oh knew WDetneT
there was help within reach, IL needed:
but now all was secure. We knew also
there had been hard fighting on our right
ana LETT; but none knew the result All
became quiet, the firing for a time had
ceased, and amid the stiffness came the
music again. 1t was our Star Spangled
Hammer and Yankee Doodle and with
these strains 50 welcome to the ear came
a shout Of such volume that it seemed as
II our entire army was there. There was
no longer doubt, all was well and safe;
victory was ours
The shout seemed to exasperate the
enemy, and from the forts and rifle-pits
they sent such showers of ieaden hal
that we were compelled to keep very close
to the ground. / turned over on my back,
Tor was tired lying so long in one posi-
ton, and seeing the stars shining brightly
down thought | never saw the heavens
ok more beautiful. I thought of the
song we have so often sung together
Beautiful Star / thought of the Sabbath
school, OF friends at home, of friends in
Heaven, and of all the blessings God had
bestowed on US
Just before me and close around the
colors OF our regiment lay five or six brave
men, dead, and Just by my side so close that
my foot lay across his, lay man whom /
nad seen Ole. Somewhere about
10 O'Clock an officer purpOrting to belong
10 pennsylvania regiment came to me-
and said they were there to relieve u.s. |
got up what men were there with me and
the colors that were in our possession, be-
longing to nearly all the regiments of the
brigade, and started to the rear. There
never was time from half past one O'Clock,
or shortly thereafter, when the brigade re-
tired, to the time that we were relieved, at
near 10 o'clock, that there Were any troops
OF our side in sight of where lay. We re
manned there and held those guns be-
cause Col. Case said that was the object
of the charge"
believe that at the time the comrades
say they took those guns outof the lunette,
pulled them out with ropes" that there
was no enemy in front of them, except
here and there picket, and that for more
than half an hour before they arrived there
the enemy had taken their departure, and
l told the officer who relieved me that was
satisfied there was no enemy in 'front.'
Joseph F. Culver, Captain, Co. A, 10th ILL.,,
EmpOria, Kan.