The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-07-18
NUMBER 21.

parapet. AS we were not engaged,
the enemy being beyond the range
of our muskets, the bombardment
became monotonous. Inaction is
very tiresome to a soldier under fire.
While seated, reading a novel, and
leaning against the breastwork, I
suddenly lost all interest in the plot
when I felt the concussion of can
non ball which had pierced the top
of the embankment, literally sprink-
ling me with dirt. The Captain, and
several others, came up and asked:
Johnnie; are you hurt!" 1 attemp-
ted witticism, which under the cir
cumstances may be excusable, by
replying, that had I been upright
would have lost my head"
Our thin line of 5000 soldiers
held in check for one week an ad-
vancing army which, according to
the report of the Federal comman-
der, numbered $1,000 men, and 100
guns, when he began the attack.
The only other Confederate troops
between him and Richmond were
! those at Yorktown, Gloucester Point,
Mulberry Island, and Williamsburg,
numbering about 7000-a total of
10000.
The next battle in which our COM
pany was engaged was at Malvern
Hill-the last of the 'Seven Days
Battles" It began with cannonade
across field about 1000 yards in
width. Before we had advanced 100
yards the enemy gave us grape and
canister. An Irishman remarked,
| with characteristic humor, "Be
jabers, they are so thick I could
raach out and geta handful" Some
of the men laughed; others were no
doubt thinking of graver matters.
At this moment a little bird, fright
ened at the roar of artillery, evident
ly, was seen futtering about as If
seeking place of safety. Itlighted
upon our flagstaff, where it chirped
moment, when it was cheered by
those who had noticed this pretty
incident, while advancing, some Of
them to death.
In 1864 years afterwards-I
visited the scenes of this campaign.
walked over the old parade ground
at Yorktown; the lines of some of
our Notifications exist, but our camp
ground was a corn-feld. At Will
liamsburg, the oldest town in Colon
ial America Jamestown being no
more), I found Fort Magruder grown
over with trees, but the lines of the
fort were easily traced. At Lees
Mill a forest had also grown within
the lines of the old fort. The field
was also covered with trees. Invent
across to the position of the enemy.
The farm was now owned by gray
haired colored man, who showed to
me the old Notifications of the ene-
my. The original farm house had
been burned, and the proprietor had
long since died.
"Was you here dem days!" asked
the darkey, seeing that took quite
an interest in examining the position.
Il was on the other side of the field"
replied. Il was heah, too; no, sab;
I wusn't 'zactly heab," said the dar-
key, reminisceptly. Il was here jis
befo' de fghtin begin in good ear
nest. In dem days / was wuf more'n
$500, and massa sent me over to
'Gloster Pint and ! wuz mighty
glad to 10, too. When dey quit
fghtin' I come back, an Use been
livin' here ever since-me an my
wife; dat's all of US dat's left now.
Dem days was happy days."
It is pleasant, yet sad, to visit the
! scenes Of an old campaign. We car
J only trace the outlines OF the battle
. fields, but the incidents remain in
: effaceably in the memory.