The National tribune., 1900-03-08

Peninsular battlefields, and met q gallant
death at Antietam, Md.
From the constant discomforts of this
cantonment it was called. at least by our
! regiment, Camp Misery" though | be-
lieve, the official designation was Camp
Winfield Scott" ...
1t was about the middle of April we
moved up nearer the front, and had bet
ter camp.
AFALI. FOR SULLy.
There was much firing between the op-
posing forces. Day and night there was
an almost constant exchange of shots be-
tween the advanced positions of the two
armies. Sometimes these picket fights
rose almost to the dignity of battles, at
least. in smoke and noise, especially in the
night time. Then the batteries would
join in. and the scene would be radiant
with flashing guns and flaming fuses.
and resonant with booming cannon and
bursting shells. Seemingly great bat
tie was beginning and regiments were
or defense.
The object of these fiery outbursts were.
no doubt intended to drive out or hinder
our working parties, but they did not pre-
vent or greatly retard our work. Some
times these affairs were bloody as well us
noisy.
Outbreaks at the picket line had been the
order of the day-or night-for some time,
and the 1st MINI. was placed in reserve
ready to render any needed aid.
1t was an extremely dark night. The
heavy masses of vapor seemed to rest on the
pine-topS. The rain came down in streams
as if the clouds had been ripped open by
coming in contact with the tops of the trees
Each one tried to protect himself from the
storm the hest he could. Many of the bows
had provided temporary shelters with their
blankets and rubbcrs on or near the line
where we had halted and We're expected to
form. The officers were grouped among
the trees, little way to the rear, trying to
make the best of an unpleasant situation.
The night was wearing away with less
than the usual amount of firing, when
suddenly the shots began to come in "twos
and threeS." This was quickly followed
by heavy vollcys of musketry and the
batteries joined i'll to make night hide
ous."
With the first volley Col. Sully had
sprung 10 his feet, and with a sharp com
mand to fall in, men," had started to the
line. In his haste he ran into one of these
impromptu tents from which the occii-
pants had not yet made their exit. The
shelter was completely wrecked. and tho
Colonel fell on his face in the mud Just in
rear of the rapidly-fOrming line.
About this time there was q brief lull
after the first terrific outburst. One of the
boys in the tent having cXtricatcd him
Sell from the wet blankets, and not know
ing just what had happened, but being
much disturbed over it, sought to relieve
his excited feelings by liberal and viror-
Gus use of cxpletivcs. Meantime the Col
oncl regained his feet. spit the mud out Of
his mouth, shook the water ami mre from
him, and "let loose" Il volley of the choicest
"cuss words" he had been able to pick up
during his long service on the froiltief-.
By this time the soldier had recognized
his Colonel by his swearing. and vas
more anxious TO find his place in linc lh:.u
anything else just then, bat could not r.
frain from giving Il parting shot il ,br
form of 4 complaint about his wrecked
shelter
The Colonel, no doubt impressed by tha
righteousness of the Situation" made
matters easy by saying:
There, there; keep cool. tonug man.
did not see your shack" adding paryntiI=i-
ically, 1T was Il - little black thing
anyway"
TAKING; TIE WORKS.
We had worked up close 10 the
enemy's line, with many nlo5Ttars aud guns
in position and talk of an attack soon,
by the evening Of May 3. That night The
enemy left, and We We're at liberty 10 build
our earthworks in peace, if We chose to
complete them.
ITO be co,itimaa)