The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-22

arms. Forward, double-quick, March ~ and
away we went, peli-mell, cheering and yell
ing like demons. The enemy opened on Us
with batteries from left front and right front.
and we could see the JOhnnies near the farther
edge of that cornneld, behind q low earth
breastwork, doing their best to stop US with
their small-arms
Just behind them was q forest, mostly
pines and underbrush; this was about 60 rods
across, east and west; beyond this was an oat-
held, headed out, extending down hill some
90 or 80 rods to another valley with another
brook flowing noItherly to the Appomattox
River
Just as we reached the breastworks, on
further edge of said cornfield, the staff
officer came down our front, moving northerly,
and commanded Us ALL "By the right flank,
March," and again the same command
which completely broke up our organization,
so far as l could see, and it caused us to 90
back across said corntield and into the valley
east OF it, where we spent the rest OF the day
and night, other troops having established
their line of earthworks just in front of us
in the cornfeld.
Comrade Smith is right when he says we
passed many dead and wounded as we return
ed, but their numbers were many times larger
ut the gray OF dawn next day; for as looked
across there then, it seemed as though our
biuecoatS lay there as thickly as sheaves of
grain on /; b0untiful harveSt-held Verify it
was a harvest of death.
Next morning before the sun was up or
coffee made we advanced over our breast
works, halted a few minutes, moved few
rods, halted again, and so on across that corn
field, then inlo that pine forest, hating fire.
quently all the way through We were fol-
lowing our skirmishers. Who they were | do
not know.
Then we emerged into that oat-field, and
then came another long halt, and at about
1Oa. M. order, came 8 Division, right-wheel, "
and Wien the let had swung out some dis
lance under the fire OF artillery from left
front, orders again came Right shoulder
shift arms Forward. double-quick, March :"
and again we went like wild men past two
farm houses, strai sht for Petersburg.
coon We t1mbled over a lowered telegraph
wire down into railroad-cut about Is feet
deep. Here we tyed under fire of sharp
shooters to our right, killing several of our
men, until about p. M, when, under orders,
we clambered up the steep and hard embank-
ment, and forward down through the oats,
only about % rods, to the edge OF said second
lying IN the oats, some dead some wounded,
and the darkened spots by them showing too
well of their sad fates.
Our men, at the command of Captain in
the line OF skirmishers, all dropped among
those OATS except your humble servant, who
seeing the great danger there, took an oblique
leit-front q short distance to Il small grove ON
the bank of the ravne. The rebels were
just ahead, on hillside, and poured terri
BILE fire upon us during this advance.
| give what the extreme right of our line
did the last part OF June Is, 1864 i'll this
last advance at p. M, starting from the
railroad-cut, as the line farther To the south
did not all advance with Us then, but during
the balance of the afternoon came forward,
crossed the valley and took position near it
that was held permanently. Fort Steadman
WIS afterwards built near one of those houses.
Now, If was not positive as to these dates
and corn and oat-tields and their location, /
would not have fixed them as l have.
The night of June Is other troops relieved
us, and We went back near Gen. Meade's
and took rest for few days,
and then advanced in the night to the front
line nearsthe ice-house in the valley, just a
little north of the Jerusalem plank road,