The National tribune., 1899-11-30

Arriving on the opposite or east side
of the river about o'clock, when we got
in sight Of the Landing we observed that
there We're several hundred, and maybe
thousands, of Union soldiers on the bluff
near the Landing, and naturally con-
cluded that our services would not be
needed. There was boat ready 10 take
us across.
Tho right wing Of our regiment, in com
mand of Lieut.-Col. o. H. p. Carey, was the
advance of Nelson's Fourth) Division,
the advance of Buell's army. By the
time the balance of the regiment, of which
our company was the advance, Col. Carey
and the companies that had formed the
advance-guard, were on the boat, We
Immediately followed, and were trans
ported to the other side of the river. AS
we were leaving the boat on plank that
had to be guarded to keep those on the
bank from coming on the boat, that they
might get across the river out of danger,
I.heard some one say, you will catch -
A Lieutenant of our regiment advised
some OF the officers among the panic-strick-
en- hosts who lined the bluff for a considera-
| bic distance in all directions down to the
waters edge, to jump in the river and
drown themselves, and get out of their
misery. We were marched to the top of
the bluff about quarter of mile from the
river, and halted at right angles to the
trend of the line Of battle.
About this time an officer and Aid on
the staff Of some General came riding
Immediately In front Of our army. When
about five steps from where / stood in line
I l.,ll L. 4
the head, knocking it entirely off his shoul-
ders, the body falling within 10 feet of
where 1 stood. This was the first man
l had ever seen killed, and being quite
young l was badly shaken by the incl
dent. The shot went on, passing through
the ranks Of Co. G, killing one man and
wounding another.
We We're at once moved about 200 yards
to the left and front TO the brow of a hill and
ordered TO lie down until ordered to fire
In front OF us 300 yards was a deep gorge,
on the far side Of which We're very thick
woods. We We're on a bluff or ridge, so that
when the rebels came out of the thicket
We were in the woods, but they were ex-
posed down in the ravineS.
We had been there but a few moments
when the rebels came out Of the brush
as thick as Kansas grasShoppers. We
made 1t so hot for them that they soon
retired out Of sight. They were not gone
long before We saw them come out OF the
brush as before, and made ii so not that they
again retired. 1t was some time before
they came out again, but it looked then
IKE lney would come up TO where we were
IN spite OF all our efforts. Finally we made
them go back, not, however, without leay-
ing many on the ground dead or wounded
Darkness put an end TO this bloody con-
test. Strange 10 say, We did not lose a
man. either killed nor wounded, in the
fight, that must have lasted about one
hour.
We lay on our arms all night getting
what sleep we could, for it rained very
hard, and for "A considerable time during
the night. Troops We're constantly ar
rlving ana taking their places in the line
preparatory To the conflict that we all
believed must come with the dawn of new
day. Soon after day two gunboats that
We're III the river began 10 fire over our
heads, making more fuss than damage
1t has been said that but for the gunboats
the rebels would have gone TO the river.
now assert without fear of successful con-
tradiction that but for the 36th Ind. coming
IN as they did at the time on the left of
Grants army on April q, the rebels who
had been ordered TO the river would have
got there; they would have killed or capt
ured the bulk Of Grants army, crossed the
tennessee River, met Buell's army, and
defeated IT, and at least taken all the coun-
Try from there to and including Nashville
would not be understood as implying that
Grants army had not done all that men
could do under the circumstances. But
the fact remains that when we came into
the breach there was nothing between
the victorious rebels but a large number
of panic-stricken soldiers under the river
bluffs, many OF whom had we not gotten
the rebel army in check would have at |
tempted to swim the river for more
security. There Were a few doing all
they could to hold the rebels in check. |
which they could not have done much
longer.
The next morning, as soon as it was
llght enough to see, four companies of our
leglment We're thrown out as skirmishers