The National tribune., 1900-11-15

and came into our lines; but after the
armistice was ended the ball again opened
We were friends one moment, enemies the
next, and seeking to destroy each other.
Heavy cannonading lasted all night. A
number of the enemy's shells struck i'll the
hollow near us, wOunding several of our
regiment. One large shell struck in the
camp of the 30th ILL.,, killing and wound
ing number of men.
UP THE YAZoo.
| Early the morning of the 9th we were
taken out of the line investing Vicksburg-
one brigade from each division-and
marched out on the Ridge road toward
Yazoo City, for the purpose of holding and
engaging Gen. Johnston, it being reported
that he had assembled large torce to at
tack our rear. We marched about 40 miles
into the country; but Johnston's heavy
force developed into small body Of guer-
rilla cavalry, which hastily retired upon
our approach.
The evening Of the second day out we
arrived n the vicinity of the little village
of Mechanicsville, and went into bivouac
on the south side of a deep and wooded
ravine. Several of the boys crossed the
rayine. In our front were several build
ings belonging to some rich planter. While
we were engaged in discussing the project
of making the place visit there appeared
near the buildings a number of the enemy.
We now remained quiet and counted heads
before opening the battle, which, however.
was never inscribed on our regiments flag.
Joe Harpel ordered the boys in low tones
| to scatter out, and at given signal to
charge the rebels who were seemingly ig-
nOrant of our presence. We scattered, as
Joe ordered, and then waited his further
pleasure, which soon rang out, Battalion,
run, shoot and yell-March"' And away
we went after those Johnnies firing our
guns and yelling. The enemy must have
thought that the whole of Gen. Grants
army was after them, as they left that
vicinity too badly frightened to even think
of their guns. In the house we found q
table loaded with the necessaries of life,
which we placed in our haversacks. The
house was found to be occupied by some
old folks, who, of course, were Union peo-
Pile; but under feather bed was found
small arsenal of muskets, carbines, etc.
The writer captured n revolver and
Sharp's carbine. The carbine he soon after
sold to Serg't Spurgeon, then First Ser
geant of Co. A. We shortly afterwards
recrossed the swamp and joined ouf regi-
ment, with fat haversacks and q whole ar
senal Of firearms.
The morning of May 81 we took up our
line of march down the Yazoo River, de-
stroyiDg everything as we moved forward
that might be of use to the enemy, and
late in the afternoon went into camp near
Haines's Bluff, where June / found us.
One evening about this time Bunker,
dubbed by the boys Capt. Bunker" who
was engaged in the dangerous calling of
scout and spy, suddenly appeared before
the pickets of one of Our companion regi-
ments, and was taken prisoner, supposed
to be genuine rebel. The supposed rebel
demanded to be Immediately taken to the
Generals headquarters, which request
was granted. The guard, in passing to the
rear with Bunker in charge, passed close
TO 6Sth Ohio campfire, around which
group of officers were standing drying
their clothes, as heavy rain had fallen,
when some one called out: Hello, Bunk;
have they got yOu" The officer in charge
overhearing the remark called q halt, and
ordered the guard to About face-To your
posts-March." Bunker now went on his
way rejoicing, while the officers felt sold,
that he had captured Gen. Grants trusted
scout.
Bunker did some fine work for Gen.
Grant during the Vicksburg campaign, en-
tering Vicksburg several times and secur-
ing reliable information as to the enemy's
earthworks, number of men, etc. To
everyone who tried to quiz him as to where
he had been and what he had seen, he
would tell of his desperate encounters and
hair-breadth escapes, until his listeners
were tohNiuCeu lldl ne was the biggest
liar on earth, to everyone except his Gen
eral.
RETURN TO vICKsBURG.
We remained in camp near Haines's
Bluff until the morning of June 9, when
we were relieved by q division of troops
that had come to Gen. Grants assistance
from the North. Our command then start
ed for the trenches at Vicksburg The day
was blistering hot, but we moved forward
through clouds of dust until about noon,
when, reaching a beautiful stream of wa,
ger, halt was ordered to make coffee.
On the opposite side of the road from
our watering place was a body of troops
in camp, who had a guard on duty along
a rail fence. No sooner had we stacked
arms than the boys made a rush for some