The National tribune., 1900-01-25
.LEI'IF-RC
from MeF1EID
Accounts of Events in the History of the 9Sh Ohio

its in the History of the 9Sth Ohio.
changed into volleys, and our men were
lagain hotly engaged. The fire of the
musketry was most terrible, and none but
those who have ever listened to it can
imagine ones feelings when you are not
engaged.
! A CHARGE.
After half hour the fire slackened some
what, and our men seemed to have ad-
vanced steadily. Batteries of artillery were
now taken forward and preparations made
for a charge. Thus far our brigade had
lost but seven wounded, although in range
of bullets all the time. Soon the charge
commenced; volleys of musketry accom-
panied with rousing cheers from brave
boys. Every one hastened to interpret tn"
result. Soon battery of rebel guns was
heard to break forth, and their shells came
whiZZing, but less faint than ours; at last
it slackened. and we heard the demoniacal
yells of the rebs. They had repulsed our
lines. Ambulances and men with stretch
ers We're hurried forth to bring back the
wounded. Another charge was made,
with the same terrible result. The wound
the same story-"Our regiment all cut to
pieces" One fellow said: 1--WE charged a
rebel fort, and lost all our company but 10
men,"
1t was now our time to go to the front.
the front line having been broken and
formed the front, and McCook's kept in
rear to support us. Our brigade was
formed in two lines of three regiments
each, the 9Sth being the right of the front
| line.
We advanced up the hill through thick
bushes, and passed through the broken
line of the Twenty-third Corps men. who
were busy piling up logs and breastworks.
Gaining the top of the hill, we saw what
| was before lis. We stood right on the
| bluff of a creek bank, at the foot of which
was quite a deep stream; across this were
several pieces of cleared ground, and on
| the slope at about the hight we were, were
| the rebel forts.
There were three of them, and at the
| time they Were fringed with border OF
smoke, their firing being directed al some
regiments on our left. Besides these
forts there were long lines of rife-pits and
| a combination of earthwork defenses
that any General with half an eye could
see it was useless to charge.
Well, we did not stop on the hill long,
for the rebs were hurling shells and grape
at lis fearfully. We We're ordered down to
| the front of the hill, where there was
fence, and from there opened fire on the
| forts. We jumped, sid, and tIImbled to
the bottom in tolerable good order. and
you may imagine with what feelings,
wien every moment we G$pccteO 10 De
mashed with a shell.
| At such times it is that weak hearts fail
and scary ones feel a great desire to re-
| main behind, and can say there were but
Few or any of our regiment that struggled
| to the rear. When we got to the bottom
of the hill we found it would be certain
| destruction to stay there, and we had to
either go back or forward. We chose
| the latter, and broke across the creek, and
| forward to little rise in the ground, and
! fell on our faces, and We're tolerably secure
from the missiles. We lost Jesse Wood, of
Co. K, killed by shell and two others of
the regiment wounded. Wood was n
noble boy, and one who will be much missed
by the boys.
We lay here a short time, the enemy
having changed their fire to the left OF us.
WATCHING OTHERS.
Meantime the batteries ragged furiously
elsewhere. Where our regiment lay none
of the enemy could be seen above-nothing
but their eight pieces of artillery We're
visible. On the left our troops Were storm
ing a fort again, and this time they made it.
] saw gallant color-bearer plant the flag
on the enemy's breastworks. 1t was a
thrilling sight to look upon, our men ad-
vancing, many falling never to rise again.
The 9Sth was in such a position that they
could not advance, as the moment a head
was shown the rebs would open out with
a shower of grape.
Invent back to the top of the HILL and with
glass watched the rebels in their breast
works, but they seldom showed themselves.
Icould see, however, that they were present
in plentiful numbers. At one place, in an
angie OF their works, they were plenty,
and ready for any move from our front.
In a short time a battery was brought
forward to the hill and guns of different
kinds were established, and we soon had
the enjoyment of lying under the fire of
our own guns. The first shot was from
the old 12-pound gun from Capt. Harris's
10Th Ind. battery, which was with us at
Perryville, KY. This first shot was aimed
at the angle of the rebel lines before de-
Scribed; the next thing was 12-pound
shell raising cloud of dust there, and it
was inspiring for us to see the rebs scatter
out
The rebs did not fire much at us at this
time, as their attention was kept Oh troops
to our left. Sherman came up on the hill
where the battery was, taking look at
| things, and talked to the boys like an
ordinary man. and was full Of praise for the
work done, and said everything was
moving as well as he expected.
Just before the advance in the forenoon
a dispatch was re2i to every regiment
announcing that after three days fighting
Grant had defeated Lee in Virginia, and
was advancing. The 98th continued in
their position all the afternoon. the noise
of our batteries firing overhead deafening
our ears. 1t was equal to q terrible thUn-
der-storm. At dark we were relieved bv
other troops, and went to the rear. drew
three days rations, and lay down to sleep.
The general result of this first davis
fight is of little Importance We have
developed the rebel position, but have lost
many men. This is Sunday morning.
but from the terrible cannonading going
on, and the sad scenes around us, / can
form but a faint idea Of what it is at home.
May the Lord preserve us to meet some
time, when such SUNDAYS as this will he
talked of as the glorious past, and may
victory crown our arms to-day
CTo be continued.)
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