The National tribune., 1901-08-29

/ but few changes Of position, pouring in.
ceSSdnt discharges Of muSketry into each
others ranks, until the dead and dying
were leaped upon each other.
While this desperate struggle was in
progress our brigade was placed by Gen
7 McCook in reserve, a short distance In
rear Of Rousseau, sheltered in a rayine.
Here We endured nearly seven hours of
enforced inactivity, awaiting the command
10 rush 10 any portion Of our line in front
that might show sign of weakness. At
> 0 clock the demand came EOusseau's
men had exhausted their ammunition. We
must take their place. The order was
promptly obeyed, each man stepped into
his place and all moved forward through
the heavy timber, which proved an effect
ual protection against hostile bullets until
a glimpse could be had Of an open field in
front, when the occasional zip Of bull
let gave notice that many more of the
same kind might be expected where the
timber ceased TO impede them. Rous-
seau men, with cartridges almost gone,
now began to retire from the edge of the
timber and quietly passed through our
opened ranks to the rear, while our bri-
ward.
Nearing the timber's edge, the deadly
missiles grew more plentiful, like the be
ginning OF hard shower, and when the
open space was reached the air seemed
MED with them, and our men began to
TAN. The order to lie down was exc
cuted with unusual promptness, as well
as the oFGer to commence firing. and
now we began to return the same kind Of
messages we were receiving directing
them across the open field to the edge of
timber beyond, where incessant flashes, as
Of lightning, leaping over, under and
through the little puffs of smoke cloud
mat h9Yered near the tree tops, an
hounced the presence and activity of our
enemies.
Our fresh and vigorous firing soon had
the effect of weakening that of our op-
poncnts, which encouraged Col. Kirk Ia
ofdef the brigade to charge and drive
them from their position. Springing to
our rect, we rushed across the field with
a yell. driving the Confederatcs pack into
the woods; but they rallied and perhaps
were reinforced, for before we reached
the shelter Of their position we enc0un-
tered a murderous fire of musketry and
artillery, which compelled us to retrare
our steps, with much less enthusiasm
than we had when going forward. but not
before we had lost our commander. Mai.
LeVahWay, who, IN the act of giving an
order, mad his head shot away by a can
non ball, his body falling from his horse
in full view of the regiment.
once again in our former position u,a
resumed hiring with redOubled energy, The
tohiederates, exhausted with nearly two
days OF protractcd effort, could not main
tam the severity of their fire. and when
II grew decidedly weaker our brigade wac
again ordered forward and this time
reached the limits of the field. whore
long line Of dead and wounded marked
Inc position the rebels had held SO ner
sistently. Another open field, beyond
winch they had retired, barred our far
ther progress until about 4 D. IN. when
there was rapid weakening ali along
the line and presently their fire ceased
entirely. AS they retired from the front
OF our brigade no order was given TO fol-
low, but while the survivors Of our reei-
ment were congratulating each other on
our sudden release from danger, n shell
hurting over the tree-tops dropped in the
midst of my company. A fash, a Ioud
conclusion, a cloud OF smoke, and groans
from half dozen PROSTATE forms. This
fatal shot, fred at random from n Con
tederate battery just az it dashed away
IN retreat, was the final shot of the great
battle. e'e"'
Our attention was now turned TO tbe
vacant places in our ranks. The regi-
ment had lost - killed and 112 wounded
out Of 5OS men who went into action.
(Io be continuedD