The National tribune., 1901-10-24

activity. 1t Is high time tOr tne Aim
of the Cumberland to do something TO
the good of our country.
Grants army in the West has the cit!
of Vicksburg and Pemberton's army IL
its grasp, and will soon compel Its sur
render.
Meade's army in the East is attemptin!
to pre-, ent Lee from invading Pennsyl
wanna.
Here in the center we are confronting
Brag='s army of Il, goo with our army OF
5000. Bragg has the advantage OF po
sition-a strong intrenched line extending
from McAIinnville to Columbia along the
north bank of Duck River. Directly IL
front of us is a range of abrupt mis-
which cannot be passed except through
three gaps, named Liberty, Bellbuckle
and Hoover. These gaps are held by
Hardee's Corps, which will doubtless Of
fer obstinate resistance to our advance.
1t is probable that Rosecrans will avoid
q direct attack ON these strongholds by
a flank movement, by which we may get
In the rear of Bragg's army and force
him out of his works to meet us in the
open field, where our superior numbers
can be made effective. If Braggs army
has constructed Notifications as formula
bic as ours. they should be well nigh i'm
pregnable to direct attack. We hear that
Tullahoma is his stronghold, and there
he will retire if forced from his advanced
positions.
June % Grangers Corps and a large
detachment of cavalry advanced upon the
left of Bragg'S army. We could hear
the skirmishing resulting from this move
ment, and knew that our turn would soon
come The possibilities of the campaign
before us engrossed all our thoughts. AS
usual there were privates ready to in
form US of every movement in advance,
but as these self-appointed commanders
of imaginary brigades and divisions failed
to inform us in our last campaign that
the enemy would surprise US before break
fast, we lacked confidence in their pre-
dictions.
June "a Willich's Brigade filed out on
the Shelbyville Pike, our brigade fol-
lowed, then came Baldwin's, of our di-
vision, after which Phil Sheridan's and
JEFF. G. Davis's Divisions Joined their
ranks to ours, thus constituting the Right
Wing, under command of Gen. McCook.
Once in line we moved over the turnpike
like huge serpent with its head toward
the enemy, its outspreading fangs repre-
scented by line of skirlnshers ready to
strike the object lying across its path.
We had not proceeded very far until
the irregular swapping of musketry an
nounced that the enemy's pickets were
opposing our advance, but they retired
slowly, saluting us from every point of
cover with persistent valor, which delayed
but did not arrest our progress. Six miles
from camp Sheridan and Davis DETECTED
toward Millersburg, leaving our division
headed toward Liberty Gap.
LIBERTY GAP.
As we advanced the enemy gathered
strength until our skirmishers encoun-
tered a resistance too vigorous to be dis
PEELED. Willich's Brigade then deployed
on both sides of the road, while ours
moved up to support it. We found
brigade of the enemy under Gen. LiddIe
before US, and our skirmishers had to
be heavily reinforced to dislOdge and press
him back to the entrance of Liberty Gap, |
whore he held his position at the close
of the day.
We passed through Lddle's camp,
which was occupied by his troops last |
night, and for some time previous. Evil |
IDENTIFY we had deprived them of comforta- |
Bile quarters at very inOppOrtune time,
as rain fell steadily all day, drenching
blue and gray alike. Our engagements |
did not permit US the privilege of a camp,
nor could We allow it to the enemy.
When darkness approached our brigade
bivouacked on a hillside, minus every ar
$ |
Ram fell necessarily, and wood being
scarce we kept our fires alive with diff
Guilty.
1t was my good fortune to secure a
boulder partly imbedded in the mud near
our fire, where | might sit with my chin
resting Oh my knees-lying down was out
# the question. A rubber blanket par
Ially protected my body from the cold
ain In this position | tried to find con-
ISOLATION In the belief that l would either
&c killed or cured of a slow fever that
lad tormented me for more than a week
The morning of June % disclosed a
yretched camp, occupied by dripping,
lispirited soldiers searching blindly for the
Missing requisites for warm breakfast |
About noon Wnlich's Brigade attempt
ID 10 dislodge the enemy from the en-
rance of Liberty Gap, but did not meet
With success.
We were held in readiness to support
his attack until p. m, when an order
ng our regiment, to advance, which we
lid promptly.
Rushing down the hillside, we passed
iround & spur at the foot and found be-
lore us level field Of growing corn near
y waist high, and beyond it the hills on
'ither side of the Gap, where the enemy
his numbers in the brush.
THROUGH THE CoRNFIELD
Our appearance on the scene attracted
The encmy's fire while we were forming
Tor the charge. 1t was not our purpose
to waste time in making a show, SO before
we had time to consider what were our
the order was given and |
over the fence we clambered into the
midst of the young corn, which toppIed |
over before us as grain before the reaper,
while behind us it lay crushed into the |
soft mud that reached our shoe tops.
Not tender stalks of corn alone toppled |
over MS as we advanced-blue ferns here
and there were seen TO fall and rich red |
blood added its color 10 the picture of
icsoiation into which that peaceful corn
held had been speedily transformed
We gave little heed 10 the doleful pic
turc at our backs as we struggled forward.
Our eyes were fixed upon the brush be-
yond the field, where the flash and smoke
Of musketry disclosed the danger line. The |
sooner we reach it and dislodge the enemy
the fewer of our number will be left |
writing in the muddy field.
As we emerge from the field the smoke |
clears away before our eyes and we ell
ter the cover unopposed. The enemy is |
retrcating toward the southern end of the !,
Gap. while we prepare to biyouac on the |
hillside Of the stronghold we have won.
First comes the duty OF looking after |
our comrades who fell with the topping |
corn. Three OF our regiment lie dead |
upon the field and 20 are wounded, while |
the losses in our division is DBL, including |
our brigade commander, who is seriously |
wounded. 1t was my sad duty to search |
In the darkness for the body of a dead |
and help to bear it to tho hill |
side, whero we consigned it to a hastily |
dug grave.