The National tribune., 1899-06-08

oIclS, tHpsllS tilO
ride when, about half way between camp and
picket line, there sounded sharp and tre
.mendous volley of muslletry at my right.
Upon looking toward the strip of timber in
front of our camp saw the rebel infantry
charging through the woods in all manner OF
shapes, in broken lines from four to six deep.
They had captured our picket line on that
side, thus preventing us from getting warning
OF the sudden attack.
Our brigade commander, Gen. S. G. Bur
bridge, Us fine appearing and daShlng an
officer as ever sat in saddle, was on his horse
in, an instant riding down the line command
ing his men to fall in. Our brigade, consisting
of the 23d Wis, 77th ILL., and 83d Ohio, num-
bering about 1900 men, with two pieces Of
artillery, grabbed their guns and rushed TO the
front in an instant to face an enemy of nearly
5000, in an almost hand to hand conflict.
Nearly every shot from Our guns made gap
in the rebel ranks. The commanding officer
of the enemy's force in front of our regiment
told our Colonel that the first volley fired by
our boys killed 81 of his men. On the follow
ing day we buried over 500 of their dead in one
grave.
will now relate my experience while on my
way TO the picket line on the left. Looking in
that direction | saw our entire picket force
CDilllIl1 Ill OU lllC Iul1 dilu l,DUp iCDti
cavalry circling around us, and as did moi
feel very hungry at that moment, nor think
the boys were thirsting for coffee, dropped
the pail, flew back to camp and slid off from
my pony to get my knapsack, cantecn, etc.
In the confusion of whistling bullets and
general roar of musietry my pony became
so excited | could not mount him without
assistance, as there was no saddle on him; SC
/ left him, picked up my things, and struck
out for the rear on foot
In the meantime, as luck would have it, ouI
Wagon Master happened to have team
hitched up ready to go out foraging. The
boys threw the PaymaSter and his chest O
greenbacks into that wagon in hurry and
the driver lashed those poor mules on one side
at every jump while the Wagon Master piled
his lash on the other side, riding his horse on
dead run. The team flew past me so quick
! could hardly see what il was; at all events
the rebels did not get the Paymaster nor his
greenbaclls that trip.
soon became exhausted, and could not gel
over the ground fast enough. AS soon as
saw we were surrounded by the cavalry
threw away my things They ordered Ben
Dickinson and myself to surrender, which we
readily did, and were marched off under guard.
did not relish the idea OF having to walk all
the way to Texas and remaining prisoner for
an indefinite length OF time, 50 watched for a
chance to escape, and in the meantime "plaved
'posSum."
During the excitement and confusion, while
they were capturing many more of our bows
threw up my hands and fell forward on nv
face in the grass as though had been shot.
After few moments raised my head and saw
many OF our boys among whom was Dicllin-
som being marched away remained quiet a
while longer, when our Second Brigade came
up on the double-quick 10 reinforce u.s. They
had been camped about two miles back of u.s.
A few volleyS from them held the cavalry in
check; however, they had time to raid our camp
burn our tents and make clean sweep moi
even our drums escaping, for they cut the
heads out slick and clean.
With our reinforcements we pressed them
back in the direction of Opelousas. We re
turned early in the evening, going into CAM
where the Second Brigade had camped tn,
night before.
The roll call showed up for our regimen
about sc, with about 300 killed, wounded ant
taken prisoners. Wewere a sorrowful looking
lot OF men, without food, shelter or blankets
We ssbSlSted for several days upon ANYTHING
we could lay hands on, not even corncrib,
escaping us. We tore down fences and any
thing else we came in contact with, TO bull,
fires few feet apart, and lay down between
them on the ground to keep warm.
Our Colonel, j. J. Guppy, was wounded ant
eprisoner; our Captain and three other officer