The National tribune., 1901-08-15

"I'm Gen. F., fellow" cried that digni-
EXCUSE me, Gineral," said Peter, with
droll salute; Il thought you was some
other loaferw
The crowd laughed heartily, and the
disconnected General very soon disap-
peared.
were all buried in slunber, rebel bat
terry was run down to the bank upon the
other side of the river, and opened fire
upon US. The shells went shreklnS
through the air, dropping in every direc-
ton; men, reused from their slumbers,
ran wildly about, ducking their heads in
the most comical manner, in vain search
for a place of security.
Indeed, they had good cause for the
fear they manifested; for the shells eN-
ploded all around them, creating immense
confusion and doing considerable damage
What made the matter worse was the
fact that we were utterly helpless, and
had to stand the brunt of the enemy
fire without the power to return it.
The shells were flying among the ship
ping and sailors and soldiers jumped into
the river, where they were IN more dan
ger of getting hit, and struck out for
shore, where, when they had arrived, they
found the missiles more plentiful and de-
structive than on shipboard.
The excitement lasted for nearly an
hour, when the aerial demons ceased to
fly. much to the satisfaction of our men,
who muttered tender blessings on the
heads of those that caused the mischief.
Strange to say, none were injured IN
our regiment, though ore man was struck
dead in the 62d Pa, which was encamped
next to US.
WE MARCH TO FORTRESS MONROE.
The 9Th remained at Harrison's Land
ing till Aug II, 1862; thence they
marched down the Peninsula, en- route
for Fortress Monroe, passing, on their
way, through nearly all our old camps.
Again we beheld the result of our labors
in front of Yorktown. With what differ
ent emotions we gazed upon them! Our
memories naturally reverted to the gar
liant dead who had cheerfully labOrcd with
us in those intrenchments, and who now
sleep forever on the bloody held OF the
ChickahOminy, or the plains of Malvern.
We had started from this place with eX-
ultant hearts-the enemy in fight before
us; we returned dropping and di5pirltcd-
n triumphant enemy behind US. But we
had our sears and our glory; and our VIZ
gin flags had been baptized in the fierce
fire of five battles, and we had even wrest-
ed victory from ruinous defeat.
Our march was rapidly continued, and
in about five days we reached Fortress
Monroe, where we remained for short
time, receiving there number of recruits
from Massachusetts, who were enthusl-
astically welcomed.
Thence we marched to Newport News,
where we embarked for Aqua Creek,
which we reached the next day. FROM
that place we went by rail to tredeHcks-
burg, encamping at Stafford lights,
where we remained two or three days.
From this camp we marched, on Aug. "A,
to Ellis's Ford, On the Rappahannock,
where we watched and waited for about
a week, and then proceeded to Warren
ton Junction. Leaving that place we
went on to Manassas, and participated IN
all the disastrous encounters which oc-
Cured there.
Our regiment. however, did not suffer,
as we had only five wounded. We then
proceeded, via Vienna, to Chain Bridge,
on the Potomac, whence we returned TO
our old camp at Miners Hill, after an abb
sence of nearly SIX months.
We marched slowly and silently up the
hill, familiar scenes meeting us on every
hand; we passed over the pathways
which had been worn by the feet of the
men of the 9th; we reached the old parade
ground, where we had so often stood III
the pride of full ranks; sadly and silent
ly we marched into the company streets;
the tall weeds nearly ohscuced the cellars
we had dug the last Winter; the old seats
The ashes of the old campfires were
still visible and the tent-poies we had
stuck into the ground still remained stand
ing. One by one ourpo0r fellows pitched
their tents. In little while all was done;
then the history of the last few months
became painfully evident.
The vacant cellars could be seen on
every hand The men who had once
lived, laughed and sung within them were
dead. The officers tents were pitched
in line. Another terrible hiatus appeared.
Co. Is tent was not pitched; its cellar
was not covered; its officers had not re-
turned All had been killed on the PENN
sula.
In few days the broken corps of the
Army of the Potomac We're gathered be-
fore the works that protected Washing
ton, and the process of reorganization
was commenced by Gen. Mcclellan, who
had again assumed control of the army,
after the disastrous campaign of Pope.
About this time rumors were ripe that
Gen. Lee meditated the invasion of Mary