The National tribune., 1900-08-09

Immediately commenced rendering their
compliments to the Confederates, heavily
posted in the timber but 200 yards away.
Anxious to get under cover, and know
ing that the regiment was ordered out to
relieve the volunteers, the two men and
myself in front of one of the pits COM
municated our wish to its occupants, i'll
forming them that they were expected to
eyacuate and move to the rear, but being
somewhat trnid as to the Johnnies resum-
ing fire while they would be going back,
they felt reluctant to move.
The man TO my right (StahD was shot
through the heart before he could get un-
der cover, having but four months of his
five years to serve. After dark that
evening we took from his inside breast
pocket a wallet, containing considerable
money, and turned it over TO the company
commander, who forwarded it to the WaY
Department, which turned it over to the
German Minister for transmittal to the
mans relatives in the old country. But
the skirmishers of the I'd did finally at.
tain the ritie-pits.
The evening of May found the entire
Fifth Corps floundering along to Spotr-
sylvania Court House, half way to knees
in mud, distance to Court House only
eight miles, bun it took all night to make
it, arriving at destination at gray dawn
the I'd set to work to provide coffee, hard
bread and cooked pork, being already at
hand in the mems haycrsacks. The rebel
line of pickets were but about $50 yards
in front. Having a Rochester newspaper
some days old, we signaled to the boys
In gray for an exchange. Yes, they
would exchange. Accordingly 4 truce was
agreed on, and a man from each side
moved out, papers in hand, to meet half
way. The exchange was performed and
both men faced about for their respective
lines. Discovering Immediately that the
Rochester paper was old, and that they
had given the Yanks a Richmond paper
OF the day previous, the Johnnics imme.
diately opened fire because of the decep-
ton. The rebel paper was thoroughly
appreciated, and its contents devoured by
the men by groups, one reading and the
others attentiyely listening.
About noon of the day q commissary
officer Of volunteers, up from his wagon
train four miles back, hearing of the pa,
per, came to us with the final proposition
that if we would let him have the paper
to take back with him we could have
S2.5o and canteen of the ardent. The
proposal was not alluring. We politely
Informed him that he could sit down then
and there, read the paper, and take the
news back TO his men of the train; but
he wouldn't do it, and went without the
paper.
That evening Just at dusk the regi-
ment, with others, charged the enemy S
batteries to the left and rear and cap-
tured them. The North Anna was crossed
on May %, and from there to Cold Uar.
Dor occupied week
The country around was familiar, but
many changes had taken place since the
army was there two years before under
Little Mac. The hard fought battle of
June 2 left the I'd u. S. with less than
100 men, rank and file. in an organization
OF six companies. The one or two com.
mlssloned officers present, and the non
commissioned, We're ordered to Newport
Ky, to recruit the regiment, leaving the
writer as the only First Sergeant in the
neid, with the six companies merged into
one as detachment.
new line of duty Immediately com
menced, that of provost guard at Gen
Ayers's headquarters. Cold Harbor, be
Ing the last general engagement which
the regiment was in, now, with sc men anC
no commissioned officer, it was certainl,
entitled to rest on its laurels, having VI
to this time been engaged in more than 9
score of battles. No regiment excelled il
While in camp at Petersburg. Cant
OBrien, of Gen. Ayers's staff, sent us
forward one day to the intrenchments
with dispatches to the brigade command
ers. Got there all right, but in return
( Ing, and particularly while in an open, 9
tree-top sharpshOoter tried several timer
to wing us, but by taking zig-zag courses
We threw him and his globe sight out of
line and escaped his fire. Gen. Meade,