The National tribune., 1900-11-08
eve WON'T STOP TILL WE GET ORDERS SAID LOGAN

The country was broken and the soil a
| sticky clay that clung to the feet of the
men, making it hard marching. Still, we
pressed forward, and late in the day came
up in the rear of Gen. Hovey's Division
of the Thirteenth Corps, and went into
camp in the woods about three miles east
of what afterward became known in his
tory as Champion Hills.
A short distance from our camp was q
large farmhouse, which the writer, armed
with a camp-kettle, visited, for the pur-
pose of getting water to make coffee. Back
of the house was the well, where a num-
Der of my comrades were busily engaged
in drawing water. But being of an in
quisitiye turn, and anxious to learn more
of my surroundings, soon found my way
into the house, which to all appearances
had been abandoned upon the approach of
the Yankees. The rooms were bare save
lone covered wash-tub, which of course
must bear investigation, when my Curl
osity was rewarded by finding it nearly
fun of honey, a portion of which was hast
| lily conveyed to my camp-kettle. l then
started for camp, when my attention was
called to number of boys who were en-
gagged in sampling the contents of bar
rel containing an elixir that makes a fel-
low forget his trials and remember his
misery no more. My kettle, half full of
honey, l filed with the liquor, and hast
Sueu away " JUN uly COJuTd0eS, WUOH L
found IN much-disturbed state of mind
because of my being gone so long. After
the facts We're made known coffee was
dispensed with in our mess, as my prepa-
ration of aqua vitae" and honey an
swered all purposes. If my memory serves
me, we camped that night on Joe Davis's
plantation. Joe was a brother of jeff
Davis, and our boys got a supply of his
liquor.
BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILLS.
Early on May 16 we formed in line and
mand, which had engaged the enemy at
Champion Hills.
BY way of depression l will say Cham
pion Hills were so called because they
were part of a plantation owned by John
Champion. The first hill had an eleya-
tion of about 90 feet, but on the west side
of the first hill was another hill, with an
elevation of about so feet, which was con-
sidered quite a prominent elevation for
that otherwise fiat section of country. On
the top Of this second hill was planted the
enemy's artillery, commanding the ap-
proaches from all directions, making the
position a remarkably strong one. West
of the second hill were spurs or foothills,
etc. Therefore the place where our regi-
ment helped to make history should be
known as Champions Hills.
But to return. Our enemy's hearts must
have sunk with fear as they saw from
the nights above us that solid phalanx,
with our grand old flags proudly floating in
the early morning breeze.
Logan's Division rapidly moved to the
right of the Jackson road, and crossed a
wide field of bottom land, gaining q posi-
ton near the edge Of the timber skirting
the high grounds in our front We were
hardly ir position on the right of Cen
Hovey's command, before the enemy made
a furious assault, uttering their wild rebel
yell.
Degolyer's battery had gone into posi-
tion near our regiment, and from the mo-
ment the enemy came from cover hurled
shot and shell, to which was added a
storm of leaden hail from the 6Sth and its
companion regiments.
Great gaps were made in the enemy's
ranks, yet on came the living toward the
potion we held. We saw that compact
mass of gray come out of the timber; saw
them as they reached the rail fence in our
front; saw the rails fly as they threw it
down; while yolley followed volley in quick
succession.
One of Logan's staff at this moment
galloped up and shouted Logan COM
mands you to hold your position, and we
will bag the whole of Pembertons army"
which command was answered by q with
ering volley from the muskets of Leggett's
men lHdl tnEeW tHe eneIny INTO confusion
and drove them to cover. Gen. Grant had
dispatched an Aid-de-C Camp to inquire of
Logan, How goes the battleT' To which
Logan replied: rTell the General that nv
division can't be whipped by all the rebels
this side of h-7l. We are going ahead.
and won't stop till we get orders"
We were still holding our position with
death-like grip, momentarily expecting
renewed assault by the enemy. Hold
you are sure of your man." Directly In
our front was observed a rebel flag. "Hand
me ,yopr gum" said Lieut. Col. Shook; II