The National tribune., 1900-11-01

HER SIDE OF BIG BLACK HAD A LIVE
launched into Lake Providence. and made
her trial trip of about four miles. A de-
tail from our regiment assisted in moving
the boat from the river to the lake, u.s.
ing 4 system of rollers for that purpose.
When not on guard or fatigue duty we
lounged along the levee, and engaged in
watching, boy like, the transports that
passed us loaded with human freight
and thus day after day came and went,
until, on or about March y, the levee
at Providence was severed in an effort to
turn the waters of the river into another
channel.
Sunday morning following the cutting
of the levee we discovered that the waters
of the Mississippi would not stop in the
river, but insisted upon spreading over
our camp ground. Bugles were sounded
and orders were issued us to strike tents
and hasten to the levee to escape the
were in motion, nor did we stop until
safely above high water on board the
steamer Louisiana.
CAMP LOGAN.
We remained on the Louisiana at Prov
idence enveloped in a dense fog until the
following Tuesday, when our boat backed
out into the river and started up stream,
and near the close of the day we disem-
barked about four miles above Providence,
where we again took up the usual rou-
tine of the camp, which remained un-
broken until March %, when we received
orders to be prepared to march at mo-
ment's notice. The day passed slowly,
and just as the shadows of night began
to fall we embarked on the Louisiana.
Early the following morning we reached a
point about 16 miles above Vicksburg
and landed on the east Shore but shortly
afterward returned to the boat, where We
remained during the night and succeeding
day. During the day a terrific storm of
rain, accompanied by violent wind,
burst upon us. The smokestacks of the
Louisiana were torn from their fasten-
ings and hurled across the deck, causing
no little excitement and injuring two com
rades.
EAGLE BEND.
The morning of March % we were set
in motion, the object being a united at
tack upon the enemy'S stronghold at
Haines Bluff. After a march Of about
three miles we came to a halt on the
banks of Steels Bayou, there to hold our
selves in readiness to reinforce Gen. Sher-
man. However, the gunboats, under Ad-
mirai Porter, being unable to cooperate
with the land forces, the attack was aban-
doned and we were ordered to retrace our
steps. We went on board the boats and
returned to our camp.
The day following our return to camp
large cotton-gin took fire and burned to
the ground.
Sunday, March %, another terrific
storm of wind and rain burst upon us
with its widest fury, tearing and blowing
some of our tents away.
April ! Lieut.. l.. w. Richardson, II. ]
| Hunter and others, who had been absent
on recruiting service since the previous
December, Joined us, accompanied by q
| number of new recruits.
During the intervening time to April 1f
we remained quietly in camp, storing up
our strength for the coming campaign, the
| object of which was the reduction of the
| rebel Gibraltar of the Mississippi Vicks,
| burg.
April we were honored by the pres,
ence of Adj't-Gen. Thomas, U. S. A, who
made us a speech on the subject Of or.
ganizing colored troops. The General
came among us robed with full power tC
| commission anyone, officer or private, who
| desired to take up that branch of the
| United States service. After having con
cluded his remarks, l.. ]. Hissong and h
| +. Perrin, Co. |, and J. Bruner, Co. +
/ offered their services. and were commits
stoned to enter upon the work of organic
ing regiment of colored troops which OF
June following made n noble fight n
the battle OF Nilliken's Bend, in which
b. +. Perrin and ]. Bruner were killed.
GEN. LOGAN.
Gen. Thomas was fcisywed by Mai.
Gen. James B. Mcpherson, who gave u,
short talk. But the speech of the day
was by the silver-tongued orator, Mai.
Gen. John A. Logan. We well remembe
the avalanche of words that flowed likt
a torrent, Logan's counteDance lighting VI
with the widest enthusiasm, which spreat
like contagion to everyone with whom b,
came in contact, as he engaged in gran,
panegyric of his command on forme
fields.
At length Gen. Logan came to his con
clusion, and in a manner about as fol
lows said: Comrades and representa-
tives of the Third Division: Our Presi
dent down at Washington has heard from
you, and when the portfolios of Vicksbur
are opened he will hear from you again
Then joyful words may reach you. Brav
boys, representatives of the Third Diyi
sion, come to the arms of Father Abra
ham"
These words contained two meanings
Logan knew too well that the frownin
bluffs of Vicksburg meant shadoy
across the threshold of many, many North
ern homes.
While in camp Logan mingled with hi
men, talking with them, and shnkin,
hands. He was the idol Of his soldiers
But when the boom of artillery and roa