The National tribune., 1899-10-19
CHAPTER III.

On the night of Dee. 80 We slept behind
the guns with our muskets by our sides.
1t was very cold night. We could hardly
keep warm without a fire, which we were moi
permitted to have without going some dis
tance to the rear We We're called up early
so as not to be taken by surprise, should the
enemy attack us.
We had been to the front nearly "a hours,
and we wondered why We We're not relieved
by some of the idle troops campcd back of
lis. That was the usual way. We We're
told that we would be relieved, but no relief
came.
In the morning preparations were made
and Il flag of truce was again sent out, and
this time accepted, after our wounded had
lain there As hours. one night i'll a heavy
rain and the other freezing cold, and, too,
without food or drink. 1t was horrible.
We were so near We could see them dis
tinctly, and had heard their moans and cries.
and could not give them help. The mo-
ment our mon went toward the field 10 give
them any assistance, they were fired upon.
Blu. the flag of truce was accepted about
noon. and our men went over after the
wounded and dead. The rebels said they
had buried 27O of our dead others said only
20. About 100 Were brought from the
field by our men, only three alive. No
doubt the lives of many of them could have
been saved with care, but they died from
exposure and lack of help.
During the truce the Union and rebel
soldiers dropped their guns and met half
way and had a long talk together. We met
the 11th Tenn. and 42d Ga, the same regi-
ments We had confronted at Cumberland
Gap and Tazewcll. Tenn.
New Years morning found lis still in our
old position, with every appearance of main
tanning it. We We're set TO digging a rifle
pit along the line behind the artillery; We
had it about finished by night All day
long the cGcny's pickcts or sharpshootcrs
fired into our lines, but only once in a while
would they hit our men.
The officers by the aid of their field
glasses conatcl 50 cannon in position in
the cneny's works in front of this part of
the line, covering the ground over which
Blair's aud De- Courcey'S Brigades charged.
a 30-poIudcr Parros5 gun WAS brought up
and put in position.
ON THE WAY BACK.
Next morning found us on board the
steamer Dos Moircs in the Yazoo River.
How strange things occIr sometimes in the
army. About 8 O'Clock the night before.
after we had lain down, an officer came
along and told us to g.: up and pack for a
move. Teams were brought up and the
artillery moved out quietly from our front.
We Were ordered TO invert arms so that the
enemy could not discover by the reflected
light of the moon from our polished gun
barrels that we were moving. Then we
quietly followed the artillery back toward
the Yazoo River, and did not stop till We
went on board the Des Moincs.
With all our efforts to get out without the
enemy's knowing it, they discovered what
we were up to and followed us, and before
all the troops got away on steamers were
firing at us; but they were kept at proper
distance by the gunboats.
As soon as L boarded the steamer I got
permission to find my brother if could 1t
had been nearly five days since he was badly
wounded, and had not seen or heard a
word from him and knew not whether he |