The National tribune., 1899-11-30
See page II for particulars oi
our $500 Guessing Contest
THE SIEGE OF BLAKELY.
Comrade stoneburn. .r Write3 Of His Expert
encss With the Hath Ohio.

enc3s With the 114Jh ONO.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On
| March ;, 1865, the Union troops, under
Gen. f.. r. S. Candy and his subordi-
mates, among them the 114th Ohio. at Nor
ganZia. La, with munitions of war and
baggage, loaded on transports, on the
| Lower Mississippi River, steamed down the
Father of Waters on their way to attack
and capture that stronghold, the city OF
| Mobile
We arrived at New Orleans about s
o'clock p. m. Here heavy detail was
made to unload the baggage and transfer
| it to the train in waiting. The baggage
consisted of mules, wagons, cannon, mu-
| nitions, etc By II o'clock p. m. we had
all transferred from the steamboats, to the
train of fiat cars.
At 1 o'clock a. IN. that old familiar
call was heard-"All aboard" In a short
space of time we were whirling across the
peninsula to the head Of Lake Ponchar-
train. Here another transfer of baggage
was made-this time from the cars 10 a
lake steamer.
On the morning of March the good
old steamboat moved from the wharf az the
west end of this beautiful lake. Then,
after running aground, and lying there for
nearly five hours, We We're lifted by the
rising tide and carried safely onward with
out any other mishap till We landed safely
at the old town of BarrancaS, in Florida.
We landed and went into camp near
Pensacola, an old, dilapidated town, then
almost deserted of its inhabitants. Here
we remained for three weeks. During this
time we were kept busy with company drill,
regimental drill, and brigade drill. At
this place We feasted on the Succulent
oyster, fresh from the salt waters of the
Gulf. Here also were held some of the
livelieSt religious meetings We ever knew.
The Chapains of the different regiments
united their efforts and thousands of the
soldiers were converted, and many were
baptized in the beautiful waters of Florida.
After 21 days We started overland for
Blakely and Mobile, cavalry in front, fol-
lowed by the light artillery, which was
followed by the heavy artillery and wagon
train of supplies.
On this march the roads were through
a very sandy country; and after so many
feet had trodden over the same road the
ground became cut up. so that the heavy
artillery and wagons had to be helped
through; for this purpose heavy ropes
from 100 feet to $50 feet long were fastened
to the wagons and 40 to so men took hold
of these ropes and pulled teams and wagons
through the soft places; the wagons and
artillery wagons sank to the axletrees in
the soft, deep, sandy soil.
Several battles occurred on the way in
which the JohnnieS were compelled to
''skedaddle'; not all, however. for we capt
ured many of them in these wayside skir-
HllSiltS. tie anu
ing assistance furnished the teams We
would be on an allowance of one of Uncle
Sans biscuits per day, unless We could
forage; but this Florida country was no
good to us as foraging country.
On the morning of March 2S we came
to place where the cavalry had fed their
horses some corn. Here was a picnic
for the hungry boys. The horses had
been fed on the ground, and the shelleG
corn that was left by them was eagerly
picked up by our soldiers, washed, parched,
and eaten.
On the morning of April 2, about o clock,
while j. Rutter, John Lutz, and | were on
picket post, we concluded to make each of
us cup of coffee. Rutter built small
fire in the rear of the picket post behind
tree, and placed our tin cups, filled with
water, on the fire. In about 20 minutes
/ went to the fire to put the coffee into the |
cups. Just as stopped to drop the coffee |
fire, and over went the tin cups. We |
jumped for our guns, but this was the only |
shot fired. We restarted our fire, and soon
had our coffee made.
AT daybreak We were relieved, and fell |
in our proper places and marched forward |
until about 10 o'clock. when We had the
town of Blakely invested. During the
night the 114th Ohio was moved to the left
Jf the line for some purpose. The night
was dark, and before we knew it We were
almost against the rebs $50 near them
hat our officers gave their commands in
whispers, which were repeated by the
men in whispers to each other. In short
ime we had moved back and to the left;
here we went to work throwing up breast
works, and by daylight We had very good
protection.
We now settled down to regular siege.
Each day we made some improvements to
,ur breastworks, and at night We advanced
learer the enemy until we were within
so rods of their works. On the night of
April Z, the enemy feeling that we We're too
close 0or our mllskets kept
heir heads below their breastworks) they
made sally to break through our lines and II
scape; they came out of their works i'm
orce. Then there was hurrying to and
ro." We charged them in the darkness of
he night, and in less time than it takes to
write of this event we had them on the "fy"
or their Notifications. Here we held
hem until Sunday evening. April 8, when
We were moved forward on the double
uick and charged them.
The Mobile there makes a bend almost
II the form of horseshoe. The Confeder-
ties had formed line of nine forts reach
ng from one end of the imaginary horse ,
hoe to the other. Near the river i'm this
,end, or at the toe Of the shoe, was situated
he small city of Blakely. Our line was
ituated about half mile north of the line
f forts, which were built of earth and
imber.
AT 4:30 p. m. on April we were moved
o the front of the line We were occupying
nd formed into charging column. All
he booming of the cannon fired by the
we charged forword, first over a
mooth stretch of land till we came to the
nemy's advanced line, which was pro-
ected by rifiepits.
Forcing them out of these pits at the
oint of the bayonet, we drove them ahead
us toward the forts. After leaving the
mooth ground we came to a line of tree
ops, which had been cut from the trees,
nd hauled in row, forming a brush
ence not easily passed over.
When we came to this in our assault
re had axmen to cut away some of the most
limbs. We then passed through
nd reformed our charging line. About =
D yards from this we came to the torpedo
ne, but on we went till We reached a row
stakes driven into the ground six inches,
lanting toward us.
We soon passed these as we did the
rush fence. A few more rods brought us
, the mOat around the fort Luckily
Dr us this moat contained no water, for it
as located in sandy Soil, and the rain
baked away as fast as it fell, although
he rain had been falling for several days
! succession.
However, we scaled the walls of the fort
18th ease, and after clubbing the Confed-
rates with our muskets a short space of
me, they ran up the white rag" in token
surrender. Fighting ceased at once,
nd guard was placed around the pris-
ners. Three thousand prisoners, with