The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-04-17

Is miles from Fort Henry, on the Len
nessee River, and moved at p. m, Rrrly'
ing in sight of the works on the afternoon
of the 10Th.
Lieut.-Col. T. Z. G. Ransom had com
mand Of the regiment (the 18th lll.l, Col
w. II. L. Wallace being in command OF
our brigade, the Second, in McClcrnand'
Division. o.,
This brigade consisted of the 18th, Goth,
Doth and 4Sth H., 4th Ill Cav, and lay
lor's and NIcAllister's Illinois BATTERIES
Col Oglesby's, the First Brigade, Of our
division, took the right Of the line of in
Vcstmcnt, and we took positions on their
left.
Our regiment was on the right Of the
brigade. and our company (A) on the right
of the regiment, and next to John A.
I.ogan's regiment, the 31st H.. which was
on the left of Oglesby's Brigade.
The weather was very cold, showing
much of the time We were allowed no
fires, for fear of disclosing our position 10
the enemy, so we had TO take our hard
tack without its almost necessary accom-
paniment, hot coffee. Some of the boys,
however went into a ravine to the rear
two or three times, and made several
camp kettles full with which many filled
their canteens. We had no tents, but
they would have been of little use, as we
were in line of battle most of the time,
night and day. We would lie down in the
snow, each man with his musket in hand,
and be instantly on our feet at Ransom S
oft repeated Fall in as the picket hr-
ing became heavier and nearer.
Our sufferings from cold were very
great, and the men seemed to be in half
frozen state, and were anxious that some
thing should turn up" to ameliorate or
change their condition.
On Friday afternoon the gunboats open
cd fire upon the enemys works. Quite Of
len the Shots would pass over our heads
with a piercing shrek. cutting off the tops
of the trees, which fell upon and about
us. Shortly after daylight, on Saturday,
the 18th, the fighting commenced in earn
est, almost the entire army of the enemy
coming out on their left, and impetuously
attacking Oglesby's Brigade and ours,
with the intention of cutting their way out
on the Nashville Road. About II o'clock
thee First Brigade (Oglesby'sl got out Of
ammunition and fell back. LOgan's regi-
mcnt was the last TO go. At his request
we covered his retreat, by moving by the
right flank in his immediate front. / was
quite near him much of the time.
Logan was a brave soldier; his eyes
flashed like fire, and he was continually
yelling to his men to Give it to en-" As
he fell back he was shot through the arm.
e~A~
shoulder.
My time was fully occupied in pulling
the dead and wounded back out Of the
way, and getting cartridges from their
boxes, and replenishing those of the men
who were fighting. They kept a good
line, and not one attempted to run away.
\ very large man Of our company, by
the name of Thompson, told me that morn
ing, when we saw the enemy moving to-
ward US, that he had a presentiment that
he would be the first man killed. 1t
proved true; half hour after he was shot
through the heart. The next man killed
was Corp'l Cornemiller, who was shot
through the forehead, and fell back into
my arms, the hot blood squirting into my
face. In short, | will state here, that be-
tween Z i. m. AMI l. IN our company lost
10 killed and % wounded, or SO out of 81;
our regiment $50 killed and wounded out
of 49,
Ransom was absent not over FIVE min
utes to get his wound dressed, during
which time the regiment was command
ed by Maj. Nevins.
RANsOMs COMMAND SURROUNDED.
Our brigade was ordered to retire short
~ after Oglcsby had fallen back, but the
Aid sent to our regiment was killed before
reaching us. The ground was quite billy,
and we did not see the other regiments on
our left when they moved away. At about
11:30 the enemy's infantry closed in on
our TANKS, and Forests cavalry moved
around and took position in our rear. and
we were entirely surrounded. My atten-
Iion was first drawn to this by the fact
that our men were being shot in the back,
and on looking 10 the rear / saw the cav
airy and Immediately notified Ransom,
who at the time was near the right flank
of our Notwithstanding line.
He at once ordered the regiment to
"Face to the rear and charge cavalry
which we did on the run, he in advance.
Up to this time / had not been hit, al
though / had received two shots through
my coat and one through my trousers.
When | had gone, l suppose, about 100
feet, | felt as though | was suddenly
struck with a leaden whip across the
thighs, and was pitched headlong into q
hole. My company passed on over me;
had been struck in the left thigh, just be
low the hip, by a ~ caliber (nearly 81
inchl musket ball, which hattened on the
bone and came out nearly in front. This
came from the infantry on our left.
OF course, | learned this afterwards
as | did not know at this time with what
or exactly where, ] had been hit. | a
once got up and followed on. Before
reaching the cavalry line | selected the
point at which | would 20 through, anC
NIl'u NltIlu ~ Ietl Ol II, On iuIUlup
eyes TO the right, / saw cavalryman witt
his rife pointed ut, and within six feet
Of me; l threw my revolver (which was in
my left hand round but before | got 9
bead" on him. he fired and / fell on, am
among, a pile Of dead and wounded. Ii
falling, my right wrist struck u sharp
pointed stub, my hand opened, and IN,
sword flew beyond reach. This time i
was a mimic ball that had struck me il
the center OF the right hip-socket from
above, splitting off the outer half, and
passing down by the thigh bone, fractures
II four inches below the head. and lOdget
above the knee. The sensation was tn,
same as the first: this time. as before.
could not tell in which hip or thigh | haC
been hit.
AMONG TIE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
/ attempted to get up. but could onl,
raise my head; my hips and lower limb
were as lead. In Il moment the enemy,
infantry were passing over me- and II
less than five minutes only their Stragglcr
could be seen. They commenced robbins
and tearing the clothing from the dca
ami wounded. / demonstrated, and toll
them that il was not in accordance wit
civilized warfare: that there was no oh
jrction 10 their stripping the dead. but tn
wounded required all they had to kee
them from freezing. The stragglers of a
army are usually the worse men in il, an
pun Loosely fall to the rear to rob the dca
and wounded. lis general characte
should not be judged 10y them.
i he dead and wounded were thirI, .J,ou