The National tribune., 1902-01-23

saw about as fast as the ticking of a
watch. We saw, but did not hear much
after the first round. We were deafened,
and heard nothing but a continuous buzz
ing sound, which haunted our ears many
hours after the roar of cannonading had
ceased.
For the second time our cheers rolled
mp to the mountain top as we saw logs
hurled into the air and great breaches
opened in the enemy's Notifications. At
the end of an hour their guns were
siienced, until this afternoon, when they
suddenly let loose a broadside into the
camps of our division. One poor fellow
asleep III his shelter tent was torn into
fragments ard others were wounded. Our
cannon again responded, but elected no
reply, until all was again quiet, when an
other brua3sifa was precipitated into our
midst, driving US again into our intrench-
ments.
Cur present position Is near the foot of
Kenesaw, four miles from Marietta, with
our skirmish line a hundred yards in ad-
vance, confronting the Confederate skirm-
ishers, whose bullets occasionally skip
over our heads.
Very little firing is done by the skirm-
ishers, who are content to leave this duty
to the cannOnecrs.
PICKET TRUCE.
June 81 there was comparativcly IittIe
| firing, either artillery or musketry.
Co. +, who picketed the line in front Of
oar brigade. came off duty and reported,
that they had agreed with the Confcd-
crate picEets not TO fire unless ordered,
and then the first vOlley 10 be overhead.
The two lines were only 20 steps apart,
and before the agreement neither dared
raise their heads above the intrenchmcnts,
hrrf of nr.,l- hot cto hpI 20 ha
front and exchanged friendly visits.
June % the batteries fired vigorously
awhile from the mountain, without serious
damage to us. unless the death Of one man
can lie called serious, foT one poor fellow
of the l2Jth III. was killed. Alas, that
| human life is held SO cheap that we
scarcely make note OF its loss unless the
victims are numbered by the hundreds.
About sunset we received orders to be
ready to move at a moments notice. We
packed up and sat down on our KNAPP
sacks TO await the notice. Long We wait
ed, until sleep overcame US. The earth
! furnished a rough but welcome bed, our
| knapsacks easy pillows, while we sluIn.
bered until well nigh midnight, when, al
| last, the notice came and there were re,
iuctant efforts to rise to our feet, and
much rubbing Of sleepy eyes ere we stood
in line ready 20 march. We needed no in
| junction to keep quiet as we moved out;
! tie sharp outline Of Kenesaw, with Its
| frowning batteries clearly defined in the
| bright moonlight, eXerted a sufficient re,
straining influence.
| q portion of McPhcrson's Corps arrived
to take our place.
Leaving our position, we picked Oul
way slowly along the muddy, narrow road
cut through the timber until we JOINED
the remainder of the brigade and division
half mile in the rear, whence we al
moved off toward the right of our line
Our route in many places led through
swamps and tangled underbrush, ant
more than one unfortunate, mistaking The
shadow of a tree cast by the uncertain
moonlight for a solid log and dry footing
found himself instead in the mud knee
deep.
1t was a relief when we reached al
open space, where our path was almost
as clear as day. Long as we Travelled ole
Kenesaw hung still at our elbow like {
dark sentinel observing our movement
with unwavering watchfulness and un
folding to our enemy that which we So
much desired should be hidden.
| Presently the gray tints of the morn
ing appeared, and when they gave way (,
sunrise we halted nearly mile in rea
Of our advance line and encamped behint
some intrcnchmcnts recently vacated b!
our troops.
We found We were only three mile
west Of our starting point in a direct line
although We had Travelled twice the dis
tance by q circuitOns route.
We remained in this position until tn
morning Of June q, when we receive,
orders to march, with guns, cartridg
boxes, haverSacks and cantecns, all knap
sacks and other baggage 10 be left be
hind under guard. Our brigade and Nc
Cooks were moved forward close il
rear of Morcau's Brigade, which occu
pied the first line of works. There W
formed in column by regiments, with our
in front. The remaining regiments Of ou
brigade formed behind US.
J 1t was plain ta us that we were TO ss