The National tribune., 1899-03-30
A HOT SKIRNISH.
An Unexpected Lively Time in Front of
Vicksburg.

An Unexpected Lively Time in Front Ol
| Vicksburg.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I enlisted
in '6l. in Co. B, 10Th Wis. / was made q
Sergeant. We We're il the siege of Vicks.
burg for 81 days before it fell
One night during the siege Cos B and G
were ordered to make an advance on ouf
picket-line on the "Down River Road" After
making the advance, Co. G was ordered to
make breas, WORK across the road Co. Z
joined them on the right and formed an l.
on the side of the road. By the lime we
had completed our work it was near sundown.
Our Captain, Giles Stevens ordered me to
put ont two videts on the road that led tO
Vicksburg, one on each side, with instruc-
tions to halt any man who should come on the
left side of the road. If he wouli not halt,
we were to shoot. On the right hand side
placed the other one with instructions that
| our picket-line extended to where our conf
! pany was on the right-hand side, but to halt
| anyone who should come down the road.
1t happened on that night it was full moon.
| | staid there short time The picket on the
right hand beckoned me to come where ne
was He told me he had seen two men
crawling up the bank. He supposed they were
our pickets, and didn't challenge them. We
found out afterwards they were two rebels.
The picket-line, wesupposed, joined with our
company; but 90 rods lacked pickets. The
| rebs went around to our rear and finding
there no distractions, went back the same
way and reported to the rebel Colonel that
the road was all clear, and he formed his
regiment, and his calculation was to come in
from the rear, the way the men did, and take
US prisoners.
IN fl,o ,to;, III oiu
of our company to go rs far as they could
toward the city and find how far their picket
line was from ours. AS they passed me l
halted them and told them that they must be
very cautious, because had heard men talk
ing. and believed they were rebels
The moon was coming up. and cast shade
on the right side, and our men kept in the
shade. They got so near the rebels they could
hear them talking. They climbed up bank
in the shadow of live-oak tree, then went
back to the company and reported. Our Cap
tain and a Second Lieutenant Of Co. G came
to where l was standing and ordered me back
to camp to get eight men with picks and
shovels and follow them.
/ got the men and we followed them toward
Vicksburg. They hadn't gone far before they
were challenged by rebel picket. The an
swer was, "a friend" they supposing it
was our boys, and he asked again: What
friends?" "Oh,'' tl,cy said, eve are all
right" The picket asked the rebel Colonel,
"Colonel, shall / shoot?" and the Colonel
answered: Yes, if they don't tell who they
are"
Our Captain found out then to whom he
was talking. Turning on their heels they ran
for our bre; stworks. Our boys were so scared
they threw away their picks and shovels, so
they could run faster.
1t was well for US that there was bend in
the road, as the rebels opened fire. There
was none hit but the, Second Lieutenant
The rebels, following nus, received such a
volley, that they halted! Then they formed
line, with their regiment on the west side
of the road, and opened fire again.
Onr Colonel (of The l2th), George Bryant,
of Madison. was little way in the rear. He
caused the long-roll to be beaten for the sol
diers to form in line, ready to come to our
aid if called. sb ~
Wereplied to the rebel fire by shooting at
the flashes of their guns, and when we emptied
our guns we would step down behind our
works and load. That fight lasted about
two hours. We fired away so rounds of
ammunition. and were obliged to send to camp
for more. In that time the rebels opened their
battery on us from the fort; then our battery
opened on them. After awhile the rebels
slackened their fire, and the artillery ceased ;
SO did we. We heard the ambulance of the
rebels that night carrying off the dead and
wounded, and we learned after the surrender
of Vicksburg, from prisoners, that II were
killed and wounded.-F. J. GROAT, 18th
Wis, Ironton, Wis.