The National tribune., 1901-08-01


oft-times discover through riffs in the
dark clouds CLEANS of sunshine, oases in
the desert of war; affording opportunity
for positive pleasure. 1t is the purpose
of this article to present to your readers
a wartime experience in which the sunny
side of army life is predominant.
l crave the readers indulgence while
depression is made for the purpose of re-
counting some of the events having con-
nection with and leading up to my assign
ment to a fragment of the Fifth Corps at
Alexandria, Va, on Oct. p, 1862.
MALVERN HILL.
1t is the morning of July /, 1862. The
armies of Lee and Mcclellan confront
each other on the field of Malvern Hill;
the one naughty, eXultant, arrogant, flush
ed with pride and enthusiasm born OF
recent victories, is eager for combat; the
other sullen, defiant, determined, never
having acknowledged itself beaten in the
fights before Richmond, conscious of its
power from its well-chosen position,
throws down the gage of battle. The
challenge is promptly accepted, and the
giants-the Armies of the Potomac and of
Northern Virginia, grapple in death
struggle for supremacy.
The writer is Il private in Co. *, 44th
N. Y. Third Brigade, First Division,
Fifth Corps. All day the conflict RACES,
with varying success. 1t is about or D
O'Clock in the afternoon when our brigade
which up to this time has been held in
reserves led into action. Reaching the
brow Of the hill behind which We have
been lying, there is exposed to our view
q long line of Union guns; the gunners
working, with desperate energy, are pour
ing calling fire of shot and Shell into
an advancing column of the enemy.
We are halted in rear of the guns, and
ordered to lie down. The cannOnade is
terrific The column of gray continues to
advance We are ordered forward. a
regiment of the enemy appears upon our
left flank. We wheel to meet this new
attack. They in turn are assailed by other
Union troops and disappear. We wheel
again, and advance upon the enemy III
our front. There is one continual roar of
musketry. The lines of blue and gray
meet under the pitiless storm OF leaden
hail Four colOT-bearers Of the 44th \.
]. have fallen; the cOlors are prone upon
the ground. / call the COlOners Utice) at
tentiop to the fallen flag and he directs me
to take it and act as color-bcarer. 1he
regiment is reformed upon the colors ana
ordered to lie down.
OFF to the left a young Confederate
Color-Sergeant, supported by few of his
comrades, disdaining TO retreat, waves his
flag defiantly toward the Federal forces.
Some one in our ranks struck with admlra-
ton at the gallantry of the young South
erner, calls upon our men not TO hre upon
him. a mounted officer plunges through
our lines and dashes forward toward the
rebel flag He is followed by few men
from the Union lines.
All this time the rattle of mUsketry and
the roar of artillery continues unabated.
The foe in front press steadily forward;
the 44th rise, deliver a scattering yolley,
and charge The limit of human endur-
ance is reached, and that line of brave
men break to the rear and seek refuge in
retreat We follow a short distance and
sink upon the ground. / feel a sharp,
stinging sensation in by left leg; rifle
ball has shattered the bone below the knee.
The Confederates push forward a fresh
upon this new foe. Shell from the bat
teries in our rear pass over US and burst
among them. Paying little heed to the
bursting shell, with a yell they charge up
the slope. The position of our regiment
is an unenyiable one Our ammunition is
giving out. We are too weak to advance
and too strong TO retreat, and that yelling
line of gray is advancing upon US. Our
artillery has ceased firing. Turning to dis
cover the cause, a long line of blue is seen
coming down the hill on the dOuble-quick.
The U. S. uniform never looked so well
to me as it did at that moment. We greet
their coming with prolonged cheering.
With answering cheers those gallant men
rushed through our depleted ranks and
dash forward TO meet the foe.
Our regiment is now led off the field,
myself borne upon the shoulders of COM
rades As | deliver the colors to the
Colonel he says You are First Sergeant
of your company" and directs my tent
mate, Geo. Whitlock, to assist me to the
field hospital.
The regiment had suffered a loss Of p
killed and 7S wounded out of a total of
225 led into action. Our Co. X was com
manded after the battle by the Third Ser
geant; other companies were in command
of non-commissioned officers.
ToILsoslE MARCH TO HARRIsoN's LANDING.
As Whitlock and myself pass to the
rear TO the hospital we come upon a
Gordon of mounted cavalrymen, who with
drawn sabers encircle the rear of the
army, posted there TO prevent struggling
At about II O'Clock p. m. Whitlock
came to where l lay, in company with
hundred Of others, saying the army is
retreating. and if we stay here we will
all be taken prisoners. i had always had
dread of being captured. Using
crotched stick under one arm and placing
the other arm upon Whitlock's shoulder,
we essay the march to Harrison's Land
Ing.
At day break we make q wide detour to
the left of the road. We were ravenously
hungry, having eaten nothing in a hours.
Seeing Il house some distance to our left,
we determine to go there and ask for food.
In answer to our knock. the door is opened
by the lady of the house, who at first de-
nies our request. Perceiving our cOndi-
tion, her wOman's heart relents, and bid
ding us be seated proceeds to get break
fast for us, adding that she would not turn
wounded man from her door hungry,
even if he was an enemy. That breakfast
was something TO be remembered not that
II was especially sumptuOus, but there
was plenty of it and it was well cooked,
and-well, we simply ate as any healthy
soldier would who had tasted 2i hours
We gave the woman a gold dollar, all
the money we had. This affected her more
than anything else. She looked at it with
far-away look, remarking that she had
not seen any since ''yO'uns come down
here TO fight we'uns."
Feeling much refreshed, we resumed
our toilsome journey 10 the Landing
Those who were there will remember now
the endless trail in all directions had
churned the soil until it had become per-
feet quagmire. Making our way through
this slough, we came upon j comparatively
dry spot in one of the rude structures
erected for the stabliBg OF horses, where
sit down while the faithful Whitlock goes
In search of our Regimental Surgeon, VIM.
Frothingham.
After a long search he succeeds in find
Ing the regiment and returnS with tho Cur