The National tribune., 1901-10-17

especially watching our colors, and when
he saw them go down for the third time
| he leaped from his horse, and, Selling the
| flagstaff before | could reach it, he re-
mounted and in very emphatic language,
not all of which is found in the book of
army regulations, he declared that if that
| flag went down again he would 90 with it.
The battle RACES on, and we now dis
cover a new line of battle filing in to take
the places of those who have been fighting
us SO long and so well. The enemy was
being reinforced, but no help comes for
us. We look anxiously around for rein
| forcements, but none appear. We seem
| to be abandoned to our fate, but no man
among that heroic number has thought
of retreat until suddenly we found that
we were being outflanked; that the enemy
were working around our right, and there
was but one alternative-we must fall
back or be captured. Slowly, sullenly, we
| began to retire, rallying occasionally to
give the advancing foe volley, then con-
| tlnuing to retire.
While thus engaged, / came across q
soldier of another company, who had been
| shot through the body, and ! and a com
rade undertook to carry him off the field.
| While so engaged we suddenly found our
| selves about midway between our line
and the rebels. The wounded man dis.
covered our perilOus position as soon as
we did, and told us we had better lay
him down and make our escape, or the
rebels would capture the whole of us.
| This we did, but not moment had we
| to spare, as the enemy was close upon u.s.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the Chan
| cellor House, we found new line had
| been formed, passing which we reached a
place of safety, and We're taken back into
the woods to rest and get some water.
W.
in the new line and ordered to throw VI
breastworks.
While in camp on Arlington flights we
used to go out on detail to work on the
defenses of Washington. We had but
little heart or interest in this work. But
in our present condition we had all the
stimulus we needed, and it was aston.
ishing how quickly we had line of breast
| works sufficient TO protect us from any
assault, although we had nothing to die
with except tin plates, halfcanteens, bay.
onets, tin cups, and our hands. While
occupying our new position battery in
our front began to send us some compli
ments in the shape of rebel shells. While
lying on our faces, SO as to give the rebe
missiles plenty of room to circulate over
our heads, | heard a shell burst and saw
a cap fly over my body. On looking
around l found piece of the shell had
struck Robert Mckinney, Co T., who wa,
lying by my side, and had literally crushed
the back Of his head. and my clothes were
despatched with his brains He was 4
most promising and accomplished youn.
man, and was preparing himself for nro
fessional life. / had known him from
childhood, and after the mornings fgbt
we had congratulated each other on hay
ing passed through the fearful slaughter
unframed. We buried him near where h,
fell, at the foot of a white oak, and there
his body still repOses, only to be aWak
ened by the voice of Him who is tb,
Resurrection and the Life.
Monday the two armies occupied theil
respective positions, and all was quiet ex
cept the occasional FIRE of sharp
shooter and some minor artillery engage
ments.
Tuesday was spent in Strengthening
our defenses, till toward evening, whei
the inevitable rain began to fall. We ha,
packed up our effects under orders to b,
ready to march, and there we waited
through the long, dreary night, with th,
ceaseless rain pouring down upop ms
without shelter, soaked to the skin. wear
led, disheartened, and exhausted bv III,
terrible strain that for days had bee,
) upon us, many of our comrades whom w,
loved and honored silent in death or fer
, rlbiy wounded and in the hands of th,
enemy. All of these conditions combine,
to make it one of the worst nights | eve
experienced. Toward morning we re
celved orders to march, and filed out o
) the woods into the road. The first ste,
| took after reaching the road landed m,
IN the mud ankle-deep. l thought that
had seen mud before, but this beat thu
whole previous cataiog. The bottoms O
my pants become overloaded with the sa
cred soil; took out my knife and ampu
tated about six inches of the lower extrem