The National tribune., 1899-08-24
THE I'D Ky. UNDER FIRE.
Dolnzs at vieksbrrg In Which comrsde Jacobs Il
Some Unenviabie Experiences.


Some Unenviabe Experiences.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1t was
during the siege OF Vicksburg, on May %,
1863, that We were drawn up to make a
general charge along the lines, as Grant
no doubt thought he could break through
with the forces at his disposal and carry
the Fieksburg works by storm. The
charge was to be made at 10 o'clock.
The 22d KY. stood at attention. 1 felt
very gloomy under existing circumstances.
In our front were strong forts bristling with
monster guns. looking through portfolios
connected by rifle-pits. In front of the rifle
pits were cut trees so thick that it seemed
to us we could not cross against such fear
full odds. To add to my bad feelings, our
Serg't-Maj. Harrington was walking to and
fro in our front, saying that he knew he
| would be killed in the charge that was
about to be made. He had on a broad.
brimmed hat, and, sure enough fell about
the time he started into the charge.
1 recollect my feelings as 10 O'Clock
drew near. Lines of blue stretched away
as far as the eye could trace, heavy columns
of infantry taking stations where appointed
stepped to the front about two PAGES, and
looked up and down the line to see if the
men looked as bad as l felt. They seemed
to have an ashy hue that made me feel
worse, so | stepped back, pulled my car
down, and when the order came for for
WarQ movement we SCtbI UeQ lQUO the assault
with odds against us.
Fort Beauregard belched forth stream
of iron hail. The rifie-pits added stream
of smoke and fire. We moved until we
came to the fallen timber. We had orders
to lie down and await developments. The
air over our heads seemed to be full of shot
and shell. The sun was hot. and lying on
the ground almost unbearable. AS the
brigade was massed to make the assault we
had to hug Mother Earth, as the shot would
come in close proximity to us, threatening
us with utter annihilation.
Matters were growing worse with me
every moment. The brigade was so close
that you could walk on men, and Fort
Beauregard seemed to throw her shot all
at me, SO 1 thought 1 would change my
tactics. thought if went forward, and
not backward, it would be all right, so at
once proceeded, spread out over the ground
much as an alligator, and grasped my
Springfield rifle in my hand; so you see my
travelling was SLOW. As most OF the bri-
where was going. Especially officers
and what regiment belonged to. would
answer, '22d KY" and they would say,
"22d Ky's behind; go back" 1 paid no
attention, only answered that I was "ad-
vancing to take the place myself, as you
fellows will not go ahead"
was soon ahead, and found three more
Of the 22d, who had preceded meal Hall,
of my company; an old Irishman by the
name of Ganery, member of Co. A. and
Allen Keeser, of Co. E. at once joined
this forlorn hope, as they had located
themselves in a hole caused by an up
turned tree. Here shot Allen Keeser's
rammer away. I was shooting both the
Springfield guns, while Keeser acted as
cannoneer. The shot fired containing the
rammer turned me to a right-face, as was
firing the gun kneeling: 1 reached the
gun TO Allen, and asked him what made his
gun kick so. He replied that it did not
Kick. When he resumed loading he saw
the trouble, and said to me: "No wonder;
you shot my sammez Away" He had left
1t in the gun by mistake. We held our
advanced position till night, let our skismish
pany and regimept-A. J. JACOBS, Co. D,
22d KY.