The National tribune., 1899-10-12


was deep, wide bayou partly filled with
water. The only way of crossing it by our
brigade was by a corduroy bridge. This
was in easy caseshot range of the enemy's
cannon to the right.
ie s=s A BAD PROSPECT.
On the bank of the bayou was the enc
my's first rile-pit. From there was a
cleared field sloping up to the enemy's
lower batteries and main line of riae-pits at
the foot of the hills. This field was shaped
like triangle, with one side against the
hills Just to the left of our front; or per-
haps more like a crescent, with the arc
against the hills and the widest place
across the field to our left Through the
center of the field was a depression which
served as rifle-pit, and at different places
along the hillsides were batteries planted,
not only to rake the field, but their main
line of works, if our troops captured them.
Thus the enemy, with rife-pit above
riie-pit, and battery above battery, had
complete control Of their front to our lines,
distance of perhaps mile. So that our
advancing column was exposed to raking
fire from the start, and by the time We
reached the main bayou, or old river-bed,
we were entering converging fire that
became more and more concentrated,
enfilading us as we approached the enc,
my's main works.
Noon was approaching, and with it the
hour of beginning the assault, the signal
for which was to be given by the stimuli
taneous discharge Of two batteries of artil
lery in our front. This was to be the
signal for the attack of all of Sherman's
army-about 10000 strong-to commence
But Blair's and De Courcey's Brigades
were to charge in column of divisions
close column at half distance, Blair's Bri
gade to the left of De Courcey's.
The two days before De Courcey's Bri
gade had advanced left in front. Conse
quently the AID Ohio had borne the brun
Of the fighting, fatigue, and guard duty
and were reduced in numbers, and for two
days and nights had little rest. And thi.
day De Courcey placed his regiment at tn,
head of column, and the other regiments il
their usual order. This brought our regi
ment the fourth in the charging column
About noon the signal was given. /
was also signal for the enemy to com
mence firing; which they did in lively
manner.
ACROSS THE BAYOU.
II took quite while for the four regi
ments TO get across the bayou into tn
fallen timber. Then came a struggle I,
accomplish that which we had heretofor
thought impossible under a destructiv
fire from an enemy's guns. We wer
clambering over trees, crawling unde
trees, forcing our way through tree-top
for half an hour, just under shriekin,
shells from our artillery firing over us a
the enemy's batteries, and facing the fir
of the enemy's artillery and musketry
amidst the crash and roar of 60 10 80 can
non, besides musketry, which was almos
deafening.
The boys cheered loudly as we started
De Courcey was ahead, walking on the logs
waving his sword, and urging his mel
forward. His presence checrcd us Oh
ward. Our men were getting mixed IL
and scattered. 1t was almost impossibl
for the officers 10 keep them together an,
entirely to keep any alignment. Thre
times We blocked up against those in from
and had to lie down while they were gettin
out of our way.
This was caused by the head of column
not being able TO cross the second bayo
except by marching by the left flank eight @
ten rods, then crossing a bridge, then moy
ing up the bank, forming division again i
the field. Each division, as it came to tn
bayou, had to cross in this manner until 1
divisions had passed before the head Of tn
42d- got 20 the bayou. This caused
great delay.
When we were about halfway throug
CD II,