The National tribune., 1900-02-15

The Union forces continued 10 advance
until the entire rebel army had withdrawn
Our forces then halted and were placed in
position of security behind hills and in
ravineS-wherever place of shelter might
be utilized-while the artillery from both
sides engaged in a battle-royal for an hour
or more.
Late in the evening the artillery duel
ceased by mutual consent. The advanced
position Of our forces was maintained, and
as soon as it was dark a heavy detail was
made for guard duty and sent out. The
balance OF our army then sought repose for
the night.
INVESTING VICKSBURG.
May 20 was also busy day with our
army III arranging its various corps in
lines Of position. The three corps were
placed as follows: Thirteenth. McCiernand,
on the left wing; Seventeenth, Mcpherson,
III the center; Fifteenth, Sherman, on the
right wing. The lines as formed by Grant
at this time were about six miles in length,
extending from the Yazoo River above
Nicksburg TO the Mississippi below The
rebel forces kept well within their fortifica-
tons, and from their positions of security
kept up desultory fire upon our lines.
Our movements were cautiously made, and
We had 10 creep around from point to point
the entire day.
Grant was not yet ready for any further
expose his men TO the fire of the enemy
That night the Pioneer Corps was set to
work digging rifie-pits. The next day we
occupied the trenches, and our forces made
| things quite warm for the rebels The
writer, with one of the 18th Ohio, was sent
| to a certain point To locate some sharp
shooters who were picking off our artillery
| men. We soon located them, and took a
good position in an old ditch, and opened
fire. They quickly returned it. From the
close calls of their balls, we decided that
they understood their business very well.
We were distant from them about 200 yards.
This duel had lasted about two hours
when my partner became rather careless
and exposed himself unnecessarily by
standing up in the ditch after firing TO see if
his shot had been effective. / had eau
toned him several times, but he replied
that the rebels did not have the ball nodded
that would kill him" Ii was only a few
minutes after that when he paid the penalty
of his recklessness with his life. a ball pass
| ing through his brain.
/ reported the case TO some members of
| his company, who took his body to the rear,
and was relieved from duty at that point,
and assigned with others to do similar duty
elsewhere.
In the evening, after We had returned to
camp, orders We're issued to send a SQUAD
of 10 men from our company to headquar-
ters for special duty. The writer was one
of the men chosen. When we arrived we,
with others, were ordered to examine GER
tain ground between the two opposing
forces. and report by midnight. it was
Grants intention to order a charge along
the whole line the next day, and he desired
10 know what, if any. obstruction lay in the
way.
vENTURESoME WORK.
The night was very dark. and we had a
poor opportunity 10 properly observe the
face of the country. We reported at head
quarters at 10 o'clock p. m. We were sent
TO our quarters with orders 10 make another
observation at early dawn the following
morning, to carefully examine the situa-
| ton Of affairs and report by . o'clock a. M
! BY early dawn We were on the ground
We could now see everything clearly. We
| had TO creep around carefully, as the enemy
were watching, and now and then would
open fire upon us. Whenever it became
necessary to be exposed We moved rapidly,
| that we might not be harassed by bullets.
After We had examined the allotted
space the Captain commanding the squad
of 30 called 10 Corpl Mcintosh, of our com
pany of 10, and ordered him to take his
squad and cross to certain hill in close
proximity to the rebel fortification and
examine il. The Corporal politely asked
| the Captain if he would take his squad over
there. In reply the Captain wished to
know if he intended to disobey orders.
The Corporal quickly replied that he had
no such intentions; he would willingly go,
but did not desire his men to do so unless
they volunteered. Corp1 Mcintosh then
stepped forward about 10 feet and said:
"All who wish to go with me to the hill,
please step forward to me-" All the men
advanced.