The National tribune., 1900-10-04

1 think l am safe in saying that with
the exception of a small body of cavalry
which had disembarked at the upper land
| ing and had engaged force of the en-
| emy that same afternoon, our regiment
| was among the first Union troops to set
foot upon the soil of Pittsburg Landing.
| The proof of this was n number of hogs
| we found quietly feeding in a field near
by, which did not take fright upon our
| approach. o.
| During the day, having been previously
| assigned to the command of Gen. Lew
| Wallace, we were ordered to return to the
| boats, after which we dropped down to a
place called Crump's Landing. Here our
boat forced its way through brush and
| saplings fringing. the shore until near
enough for the gang plank to reach land.
| During the landing of artillery and
! horses at this place horse fell over
| board, which after swimming round the
boat boldly struck out and crossed to the
east side of the river, apparently heartily
enjoying its bath. After landing we went
| into camp in beautiful grove a short
| distance from the river. Our camp at
CrumDs was great contrast to our camp
| at Dover A warm southern sun beaHcd
| upon lis, and balmy southwind, which
| had taken the place of the cold, chilly
| blasts from the frozen north, made US feel
happy and cOntented.
My memory often revertS to our first
| night at Crump'S, when it seemed by one
| consent the boys opened their hearts, and
| our great National anthem, 1.-The Red,
| White and Blue foated on the shores
of the Tennessee. One and all joined in
the grand chorus. Our merrymaking con-
| tinucd long into the night, when an ap-.
preaching storm of wind and rain, ac-
companied by vivid flashes of lightning
and crashing of Heavens artillery, burst
in its widest fury upon us.
Not an eye was closed in sleep that
long night, as a flood of water swept
down the hillside, forcing its way into our
sleeping room. As another day dawned
upon us the sun came out, and its warm,
cheerful rays soon made us forget our
trials of the preceding night.
AT CRUMp's LANDING. --
On Tuesday night, March IS, our regi-
ment was called out for picket duty. AT
ter hasty inspection we were marched
away and soon reached q position bor
dering heavily-wooded ravine, where
heavy picket guard was put out, the regi-
ment remaining posted in reserve.
1t had been reported during the day
that force of the enemy had been seen
on the road leading from Crump'S Land
ing to Purdy. This report kept the picket
line on the alert.
During the still hours Of the night the
noise of n man or beast moving about in
the shadows in front was distinctly heard,
and occasionally Il shadowy form could
be seen. The picket was wide awake.
One of Go. X watched with eagle eye the
movements of some shadowy form pic
tured in the darkness. At last, tired of
further suspense, and not wishing to be
captured by Johnny, he sent a whole
broadside into the bushes. The shot
aroused the whole camp, as well as the
reserve, who sprang to their feet, think
tha Uhnla rahnI of
hand. After while, all became quiet,
save for the squeal of hog, that had
attempted to pass the picket line without
giving the countersign.
The comrade had in his makeup the
vein of the humorous, so when the picket
officer censured him for disturbing the
quiet of the camp by wilfully shooting
at hog, he replied: That darn hog had
no business to be monkeying around, no.
how" This response from the comrade
wrung a smile from the picket officer, who
said no more.
The succeeding 10 days we engaged
in the daily routine of the camp. Our
first loss while here was l.. Ii. Near, Co.
X, who died March 1S.
We remained at Crump's Landing until
March 30, when we were ordered to
break camp. We marched out on the
Purdy road about four miles, where we
again pitched our tents, being then north |
Of Shiloh about five miles. The days
were pleasant and the air full of balmy
influences of Spring. Nature had begun |
to robe herself in garbs of green, pink |
and white. But there came change, as |
on April 4 a terrific storm of wind and |
rain burst upon us. 4 tree blew down, |
which fell on tent in Co. X, severely |
inJuriDg two comrades. |
On the ever memorable day of Sunday, |
April 6, we were in camp near Crumps |
plantation, and were busily engaged in |
preparing our breakfast, when the morn
ing breeze waited to our ears the heavy
boom Of cannon; then another, and an
other, until there seemed hardly n sec
ond between the sounds, accompanied by
the sullen roar Of volley upon yOIley of
We were ordered to "fall i'm large
force of the enemy was reported in our
front. Batteries went sweeping into po-
sitiOn, and all was excitement and every
thing in motion. But no enemy put in
an appearance.
That terrible roar of battle still con-
tinued with unabated fury, which mean
time appeared to be moving farther to our
left. What did it mean? was the allah
sorbing question.
TO be continued.)
Pueblo Legend.