The National tribune., 1900-02-22

nized by newspaper correspondents a.
battles earlier in the war.
This has been a day. of rest for us. ant
We all feel in a strange mood, as we lay
here out of range of the enemy. Ou
thoughts turn to home. How | would lk'
to be there this evening TO see you all; ou
fiower-garden and the quiet street through
Kirkwood; to go TO church and hear church
musc-such thoughts as these are almos
too tender to dwell on:
Here we are away down here with the
thought of a terrible battle to cheer us
A powerful and determined army in oul
front resisting every foot of the way, anc
who feel that we are an invading foe, who
are coming TO invade and destroy thell
homes. Poor fellows. their homes will bt
destroyed; but evil must be done that good
may come.
Monday morning, June 27.-We are
notified at daylight to be ready to move
taking only hayersacks and canteens OF
water with 90 rounds of ammunition. We
all know what it means. and the day may
he a big one in the history of this army
The commanders of the different corps
were riding along the lines last night and
apparently laying out a battle. We can
not but pray to God for our success. ii
spared VIII NIIse 10 ' OiI tO-lllSill-
IN THE TEETH OF THE ENEMY.
BATTLEFIELD NEAR KENESAw, Mon
DAY EVENING, june 2I.
BY the will of Providence ] have been
spared to write TO you this after the terrible
battle our regiment took part in to-day.
Our beloved Col. Shane is no more, and p
or so of our boys are killed or wounded
three or four killed.
When we received orders yesterday to be
ready to move at moments notice we
knew fighting was to be done, or all signs
failed. We moved out about O'Clock.
and halted at the brow of hill, where the
lines of Stanley's Division We're posted.
After the rebel lines had been pretty
effectively shel,ed, McCook's Brigade with
ours went forward, massed IN columns OF
regiments, with Morgan'S Brigade IN sup
port. We went through Stanley's breast
works. and moved down the hill. We cross
ed over a second line in beautiful order:
Col. Pearce and the Ad Jutant on the left
OF our regiment and Col. Shane and myself
on the right of It.
Ii was a grand sight to see our brigade
sweep down al double-quick. Half way
down we met the whiZZing shells from the
enemy's batteries, but we never Needed
them.
There was now directlyin in front two level
fields, bordered by heavy woods: across
the fields ran the rebel lines, and they We're
sending their bullets Savagely. We dld
not move towards these fields, but facing
to the left little. the regiments of the three
brigades We're deployed IN three lines and
plunged into the woods and brush. One
could hardly see 10 feet or a man beside
YOU. We were now making for the top of
a hill, which we were told was in front. and
We're receiving the fire of the enemy III front
and from q battery on our right. which
swept the hollow. We crowded forward.
came to the stream or swamp and nearly
Swamped in crossing II. Our lines were
then only in tOerable order taS much OF
them as we could see).
Our division (Second Division. Four
teenth Corps) had been directed TO take n
commanding hill that the rebs occupied
and that contained a battery very destruc-
tive to our lines. Having crossed the
swamp we commenced the ascent OF the
wooded hill, with torrent OF bullets stream
ing through our ranks, Here our men
fell as fast as one could count l never
could describe such q scene. Our forces
could not keep in a compact line on account
of the swamp and bushes. Yet We strained
onward, now exposed TO q raking fire from
the rebel batteries OH our right hand.
The 9Sth with the other regiments press
ed on and came out of the woods in full
view of the rebel works, now only half
musket range distant. The lines were too
much broken TO complete the assault;
some companies did reach the Notifications.
but were coolly shot down by the rebel
rifiemen, who sat securely behind their
log works. If the whole force had come
UP together we might have made IL, but
unevenness Of the ground prevented some
from coming as fast as others.
One regiment of McCook'S Brigade got
into the rebel works, but our extreme right
was unable TO cooperate and our object
was not accomplished. We fell tack
about so yards from our advanced posi-
tion, and lay down on our faces. We
afterwards got intrenching tools and
Of rtf1. mite nd GtilI hpil
them, only pistol-shot from the enemy.
] am now back with Col. Shane's body.
and must return soon. Poor Colonel,
We have not felt the loss Of any one so
much since the death of Col. Webster.
His last words were: My poor wife" Ii
was bad generalship in somebody to send
us forward without knowing the ground
better.
IN THE RIFT.EPITS, TUESDAY. June IS.
i wrote few lines last night telling
OF the engagement and some Of its results.
We are still where we halted on the hill, and
are intrenched very short distance from
the enemy's works. 1t is the hottest place
we ever had to maintain yet as bullets are
skimming over constantly, rendering it
dangerous to show any portion of our
persons outside the works. Il was slightly
wounded to-day; a bullet striking my
thigh about three inches above the knee.
/ thought the ball went through at first
as IL stunned me a Uttle. | tTlStcd my
limb TO see if the bone was hurt, and was
gratified TO find it was not. II my leg had
been three inches higher I might have
had a 'furlough for 80 days.'O
When our regiment reached the edge
of the woods il was evident that the CON
necton could hardly be made McCook's
line did not have so for TO go. and was
about AT the breastworks while ours was
not quite so near. The 9Sth connected
with McCook's on the left and the rest Of
our brigade stretched to the right. Many
officers had fallen, and IL was not possible
III the bushes to command Il long line with
the voice. The line gradually stopped
and We fell Oh our faces
Dan McCOok was terribly wounded
about this time and many of his best Off
GERS were gone, so his line fell back even
with our brigade. Then came orders To
hold the line and fortify. The men went TO
work with bayonetS and tin cups. and each
one soon had hole big enough to hide in
] now took the opportunity to see to our
wounded, although the danger was almost
great ever from bursting shells
The first one ] came 10 was Harvey Nc
kirahan, of Co. &. He was nv oldest
Hopedale school friend, and was shot
through the body. No streschers were up
yet, but with AK and some poles and
blankets j made one, and got men to carry
poor Mckirahan back. ] learn he has
since died. He gave me his diary and re-
quested me 10 send il home 10 his father.
The wounded were gathered as fast as
possible, and sent back. In one short half
hour men uf alr two brinaIa., ,,.o.,