The National tribune., 1898-12-08

flank, explained one of the officers.
Our gunbo4ts have got possession cl the
lazoo for - miles up, and wen land
there and attack".
The first sight as they entered the
Hazoo, were the smoking ruins OF "A large
brick house, steam sugar refinery, cot
gins, sawmill, machine shop, and
long rows of negro quarters.
~ hats the plantation Of Albert Sidney
Johnston, who was killed at Shiloh, said
the officer; "one of the very finest in the
whole South. AS our gunboats started
up there yesterday the rebels ran out a
battery, and opened on the foremost boat
The guntoat knocked tout in short orGer,
and then sent ashore party OF marines,
who burnt everything. There are about
300 negroes on the place"
The melancholy sight was intensified
by the somber woods around, from which
hung long funereal wreaths OF Spanish
moss. Great tracts OF the woods had
been deadened years before. he bark
from the trees had peeled Off leaving
them standing in skeleton like wiliteness,
except where they were vailed by the pail
like moss.
Then the bright sky became over
cle1ded, and soon a gloomy rain began TO
1.-THE boat on which the File were at
length showed her rose against a steep
bank, the deck hands leaped ashore. and
Of willows, briars, thornS and entangling
vines, proceeded TO make fast her cables
to two large live oaks.
Devil OF place to land" grumbled the
men.
"It's the same as everybody else has"
said the Colonel, with shrug of his
shoulders. "Lcok ard see. Adiutant,
have the men take axes and shovels to
cut down the bank and make a read
through the weeds to a place where we
can 90 into camp.
Everybody went 10 work with will but
it was wearisome, agCravating ob, in
the chill rain, 10 struggle with tire error
nous trees ard the dense underbrush, all
matted together with vines and briars.
Everybody was worn out and thoroughly
cross when at nightfall the tents were
pitched in some semblaUce Of the lire
which the army was To occupy.
The next morning the whole army was
i'll motion through the entanglirg Jungle,
and across the moTasses and lagoonS
toward the fTowning bluffs. Just before
daylight an immense rocket had been
seen TO go high in The air from the bluffs
far to the enemy's left and rear This
had been interpreted as a signal from
Gen. Grant that be was al hand with lis
army, and the spirit Of the men rose 10
enthusiasm, IN spite Of the discourage
ments that afforded their advance Tie
boom from the gunboats hoated steadily
down from the left, and the equally steady
replies Of the rebel batteries at HayncS's
Bluff. There was encouragement in that
the rebel FIRE showed no abatement Tut
negative encouragement that ours main
tanned its force and volume.
Almost with the opening OF the dark
Winters day the rebel batteries along the
crest Of the b ulf opened terrific cannon
ade ON every point at which they thought
or knew there we're trCoIS The Irif AIDES
moved forward sometimes in line OFT al
e yvl t1 F2 the s.f
generally by the flank along the narrow
tortuCuS roads. that wound hither and
thither 10 avoid impossible clumDs of
Jungle, or Ia ird practicable crossings of
the mirey bayous. At times they would
march directly into "A storm OF infantry
and artillery fire. and then there would he
a sharp little battle until the rebels could
be forced 10 take flight 10 the shelter of
their works on the bluffs
After several encounters of this kind
the First Regiment mad come to the edge
Of deep bayou which extended across
its whole front. 1t halted to survey the
ground and discover crossing place.
Come along with me, boys, said Gen.
Morgan l.. Smith, the division com
mander, 10 the File, who had pressed on
think j see place where we can cross,
down there where that sandbar makes
out"
They eagerly followed him and his Chief
Of staff and Bronson and Walter probed
the water with long canes till they were
satisfied that the bottom was firm enough
TO rive footing. They reported this 10 the
Gqneral, who expressed his satisfaction
and approval, and turned his horse ID
ride back, when volley OF IS or 100 shots
came from the dense cane-brake beyond
Though the rebels had confidently cal
culated on shifting down the whole group.
but one of the shots took effect 1t
struck Gen. Smith in the, hip near the
backbone. Such was his superb self
control that he merely remarked to his
Adiutant-G General, Charley, I've got one
q them, and rode back quietly for half a
lie, til he fell from his horse, almost in
q faint, and was lifted up and taken back
10 oost The File ,aa back 10 theis