The National tribune., 1898-10-20
A GRASP OF L1NcoLN's HAND.

one morning we fIltTCiltu iHtO W NdSiilIip
ton City and halted at some point OF
i PENNSYLVANIA avenue and lay down To-
rest In few moments President LIN
coin came walking down among the boys
shaking hands with them and wishing
all success.
The order was given to fall in, and away
we went TO the front. We arrived at the
Wilderness the evening OF May 5, and the
next morning took position in the rear o
the Second Corps and commenced build
ing a line Of eafthworkS. About noon we
were advanced TO the front and the Round
| heads were put on the SklrmlSh-Hne &c
make an advance.
We had gone but a short distance when
the Johnnies gave US "a volley at short
range, Just to let us know that they were
waiting for US. After this we filed to the
right, crossed the Richmond road, and
here found the woods alive with boys in
oray and butternut They were in front
| and on our right and left fanks 1t is a
wonder that we were not all captured, but
we fell back in as good order as possible,
and took position in the second line Oi
works in the rear of the Second Corps.
Between and 4 o'clock p. m. the bat
tie opened in all of its fury. The roar OF
musketry was terrific. Charge after charge
was made; still the boys in the front line
| held their position; but finally the dry
! logs in the line Of works caught fire, and
the brave boys gave way Col. Lcasure,
| who was now a brigade commander, seeing
the situation, quickly passed along the
| line and said:
Now, boys, show them what the
anchor and cross mean" CThis was the
Ninth Corps badge.)
| The boys of the Third Brigade were
| ready, and almost without waiting for
orders made a counter-charge and re-
captured the line Of works, with lot of
prisoners and several battle flags.
We put out the fire and rebuilt the line
H-,IA rt,y Co.
Knox made this detail from the company
for picket: John r. Holibaugh, James
Loestutter and James Marquis. The
orders were to advance so PAGES in front
and establish line.
GREWsoME SCENES.
AS we advanced 70 our posts we stumbled
over the dead, and the wounded were
calling for water water. My pen fails me
to describe the horrors of that night, and
think every man who was on that line
will never forget the scenes and hearing
the calls for help. Some men were calling
for comrades to take>th off the field;
others, in deliriuhf, were calling for their
mothers, and crying Must l die here
alone?" %
This battle was the opening of the last
campaign of the warsin Virginia, and from
the Wilderness toiJ Petersburg was a
series of flank movements and battles.
! On May IL was the battle of SIOttsyl-
vania Hero the RoundheadS were
| thrown into line on the double-Quick
| early in the morning, and advanced to
the skirmish- line inj the timber in front of
what was known las the Bloody Angle. j"
This line proved to be regular slaughter
pen, as the Confederate sharpshootcrs got
us in range. The t.ping!" and "Zip!' OF
the mimic ball was taking the men off at a
rapid rate. The boys were hugging the
ground close, ut1oIfid not escape. When
Gen Leasure learned the condition we
were in, he said3S For Gods sake, let me
take my RoundheadSbu of that slaughter
pen, or give them a chance to fight; but
relief did not come until late in the after
| noon, when we charged for the line of
works, but could not reach them.
Gen. Leasure came TO the front to see
the effect of the charge, and was leaning
against a small tree, which was struck by
cannon ball and cut off Just above his
hand. This stunning him, he was carried
from the field to the hospital, and was
not again able to assume command. The
Roundhcads lost in this battle AZ killed
and about $50 wounded.
After this charge we commenced build
ing line of rifle-pits, and by morning
were in strong position, where we re-
manned for several days, doing picket
duty. Next we drew six days rati0ns
and supply of ammunition, and started
on the march and caught the Johnny
Rebs at North Anna River, where me