The National tribune., 1899-10-05

daylight to get our breakfast and be ready
for an early start.
We did not move till about 10 o'clock
The 42d went ahead in column of platoons
with our platoon of Co. A advanced and de-
were going out for fight. When out
about a mile We saw man ride out from
some tall weeds towards the enemy's works,
and about the same time we discovered
some rebel skirmishers ahead and to our
right at long-range distance.
We were halted, and stood watching the
enemy short time, until they, upon hear
ing firing On their left, retired. We ad
vanced until the left of our skirmish line
rested on the levee of Chickasaw Bayou.
Here we stopped and remained until about
3 o'clock in the afternoon. Then we, the
skirmishers, rallied on the center, and
marched onto the levee in front of the regi-
ment and all moved down the bayou toward
the bluffs. We were told we were going
into action.
A CHALLENGE ANSWERED.
While going down the bayou an officer
from Smiths Division rode up to Capt. Olds
and told him they had some men down in
the woods somewhere; to be careful not to
fire ON them. After we had gone about a
mile and half farther we saw men passing
from tree to tree in the edge of the woods in
our front. Our platoon Immediately de-
ployed to the right into the field while
moving forward, the regiment following in
column of sections Oh the levee.
We were soon within speaking distance,
op1 Capf Olds coIIad ont. sINbo ara yo,,Su
They were Johnnies. They dropped on
their knees, took aim, and fired, then yelled:
That's who We arc!'
could feel the wind and hear the zip OF
bullets in close proximity TO my head, and
one cut the dirt near my feet. 1t seemed
as though 4 dozen men shot at me, and it is
wonder was not hit, because of my con.
spicuous position, being the left man in
the platoon and on the levee, three to five
feet higher than the rest of the skirmish
line.
will say here that it was from my posi-
ton in the first platoon, consequently at the
| front, where / could see what was before us
and hear the commands of the officers, tina
| wrote what did in my diary. occupied
the same relative position in the company
till after the charge the 29th.
| The skirmishers returned the cnemy'f
fire. and it became general between the two
lines. After the first volley of the enemy
l stepped on the water side Of the levec ant
fired across the bank. After we had free
four or five shots De Courcey brought for
ward the 1st Wis. battery of 20 pounds
PARROTS Capt. Foster's) behind the line
and ordered the skirmishers to lay low.
| just as the battery opened fire in from
there came a heavy voiley of musketr,
from the thicket across the bayou. 1t wa!
evidently an ambuscade, from which tn
enemy opened fire at close range into tn,
regiment, which stood in column OF sections
on the lcvee. The Union men dropped owe
to the land side and used the levee for pro
lection in firing at the enemy, and Foster
guns were quickly turned and opened fir
with grape and canister into the WOO,
across tho bayou. This caught me in
bad predicament, heing on the water sid
and the shots Of the artillery just clearin,
the top Of the levee. When l fully realize
my situation, to say was scared would nc
begin to express my feelings. To attemr
to cross the .levee was almost sure deaf
from our artillery, and TO remain where
was was sure death or capture if the enem
saw me.
1 slipped my knapsack off with the dc
termination of taking the chance of gettin
over the levee between the cannon-shots
but the whiz of missiles were so thick an
fast that my courage-if such it could b
called-failed me, and looked along tn
Bayou for place of safety.
, GETTING TO COVER
r A little back was tree, behind which
. got, but it was too small for much protet
ton. A little farther back was a bi
, tree blown over from the levee into I'll
/ Bayou, showing big roots loaded wit