The National tribune., 1900-11-15

morning of May 10 we were again in mo-
ton. The laundering of heavy guns in
our front seemed to infuse new life into
our bodies as we FASTENED to the support
of our comrades. Upon reaching the front
we We're ordered in line on the reserve,
where we remained through the day and
succeeding night.
Being anxious to learn more of our sur
roundings, a number of US assembled a
slight elevation in our front, when behold!
There before US stretched away long line
of rebel works. We had been there but
a short time when rebel battery threw
several solid shot in our vicinity. We
hastily retired behind the hill
The following day we remained in re-
serve, but were ordered to hold ourselves
in readiness to move at a moments no.
tice Heavy cannonading occurred at in
tervals throughout the day, but no infan-
try firing save by the sharpshooters Of
friend and foe.
Early May u our regiment moved for
ward along the jackson road and went
into position in a bushy ravine directly in
front of the enemy's heavy works. At
short distance away was Fort Hill. De-
golyer's boys were on hand and hurled a
terrific storm of iron over our heads and
into the enemy's works, which we imag-
ined caused the unfriendly heads watch
ing us to turn back-sOmersaults into their
works and grant us 4 little more respect.
The enemy's batteries responded, and
we were treated to the grandest display
of iron hail we had ever witnessed. I'm
fortunately one of Degolyer's guns threat
ened to do US injury, as some of the shells
had an unpleasant habit of exploding just
as they left the muzzle, and there was no
way of telling just where the pieces would
strike. X. Is. Scott sent back word to
Capt. Degolyer Ito give that soldering
gun rest"
We think we are safe in saying that up
to this time our position on the Jackson
road was nearer 10 the enemy's works
than was that of any other regiment in
Logan's Division. Late in the day orders
were issued by Gen. Grant for a simulta-
neous assault by the three corps investing
the enemy's lines, TO take place at 10
o'clock the following morning. The day
closed with heavy cannonading all along
the lines of the blue and the gray.
ASSAULT OF MAY 90.
Heavy firing continued throughout the
night, and at daylight, May %, grew more
rapid and furious; then the artillery ceased
and all remained quiet except the incessant
firing of the pickets.
Promptly at the appointed hour the sig
nal gun was fired and the assault COM
menced. The assaulting columns moved
forward under a furious fire from the
enemy's artillery and infantry, which was
responded to by nearly 100 guns along Nc
Pherson's front. The three points of at
tack were the enemy's works in our front,
the city by the mortaTs opposite, and the
river batteries by the gunboats.
Heavy cannOnading and steady roll of
musketry, mingled with the bowling of
shot and shell and whistling of musket
balls, made the day one long TO be remem-
bered. At the designated hour our regi-
ment made a rapid forward movement and
i IL.
fort, just north of the jackson road, and
gained new position, about 200 yards in
front of the enemys heavy works, where
we remained till Dightfall, when We re-
turned to our first position.
In history of the Seventeenth Corps,
Army Of the Tennessee, find the follow
ing: 1.-The 6Sth Ohio was the only regi-
ment of the Second Brigade, Third Diyi-
sion, that participated in the assault on
May %" The same work gives our regi-
ment's loss during the day as eight
wounded"
The assault on the enemy's lines was
extremely gallant on the part of the men
engaged. But in vain did they try to
breast a storm of shot and shell that
rained in one ceaseless, raging torrent upon
them. At last the bugles sounded a recall,
and the bleeding columns fell sullenly back,
beaten for the first time since crossing the
Mississippi. The enemy's works were too
strong 20 be taken that way, though some
regiments succeeded in planting their flags
close up under the enemy's works. They
were not able to maintain their position,
therefore very reluctantly retired from a
too close proximity to a line of powerful
earthwOrks, which Yomited forth death
and destruction.
May % we began to settle down to a
new life. The assault on the previous day
had been a failure, and we now entered
upon a regular and determined siege,
which progressed satisfactorily for 40 long
days and nights, and ended ON the glorious
day OF our Nations birth.
We started the construction of roads
around the hills OF over them to the Yazoo
River, in the rear of our army, and soon