Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-02-13


suing days an artillery fight was kept
up with the river between US.
The morning of the 23d Of August
we were aroused at daylight to go and
destroy the railroad bridge across the
Rappahannock. The brioge was 800
feet long. The night had been one OF
rain and storm; the river was rising
fast. 1t had already taken off our
bridge built two nights before. We
had one battery and one brigade on
the opposite side of the river and the
rebs had begun fierce cannonade at
day break. Some twenty pieces OF ar
tillery were stationed on our side to
command the bridge while our men
could oct across. At the moment our
battery and brigade came laundering
across both sides opened a terrible
fire. | was standing on the bank ad-
hiring the courage of the foe for our
artillery was making fearful havoc in
their ranks, but they would close up
without any faltering or apparent
hesitation. | had aot much time to
watch the fight for it was now appar-
ent to all that their object was to gain
possession of the bridge. The river
was swollen and it was impossible to
ford it. It was to my interest to de-
stroy the bridge as that would give
us several hours start Of the enemy.
The moment the last man Of our bri-
gade was on the bridge | was ordered
to burn it. commencing at the farther
end. 1 was detailed by Maj. Houston
to take charge of the destruction of
the bridge and | had ordered grist
mill that stood at the end of the bridge
quilted and armful Of shavings on
hand So when l gave the word call
ready" every fellow picked up his load.
Some had boiling chests, some grain
elevators or hoppers and one extrava-
giant cuss had the desk from the office.
Others carried fire. Just as the last
of the infantry came across at double
quick [ heard Gen. Mcdowell say:
Now for it, be quick" | yelled at
the men to come on and we started.
Just as l got on the bridge a ball
knocked off a piece of railing about
the center. Before we got across two
more hit the bridge. But for the
next half hour | was too busy to pay
much attention to the battle. At the
end of that time we Lad the bridge on
| fire at both ends and in the center.
AS soon as the rebels found that they
could not save the bridge they fell
back. | have since that been where
men were falling thick and fast and a
man could not call his life his own for
a moment but nothing has left so Wv
Id an impression on my mind as the
burning of that bridge. None of US
on the bridge were hurt as the shells
did not burst soon enough, but those
on the banks suffered severely in both
killed and wounded. AS soon as the
bridge was thoroughly on fife the re-
treat of our army commenced, but
our corps had to stay at the bridge
most of the day until it was all
| burned. We were the last to leave
and the rebs showed their spite by
shelling us as long as they could see
us. AS we had neither breakfast nor
dinner we were glad of supper when
we got to camp. By the time supper
was over the rear guard of our caval-
nv passed us with the not very graft
fying news that the rebel cavalry
were crossing the river five miles be-
low us. We had sixteen wagons;
some drawn by four mules, others by
four horses, and all slower than the
wrath to come and all overloaded.
We had all OF the engineering and
bridge apparatus, entrenching tools,
instruments, etc of Pope's army.
So you see our train would be valu-
able to the rebs and great loss to us.
Mai. Houston examined his maps and
decided to keep a blind or neighbour
hood road. This we followed until l
o'clock when our mules refused to 90
farther 1t was very dark and rain
ing hard. Guards were set in rear
and advance and the rest of us sat
down by the trees till daylight.
We reached Warrenton about noon,
wet, stiff and hungry and learned that
a large body of rebel cavalry had
passed within three-quarters of mile
of us at 3 o'clock. q omit portions
of letter describing movements Of diff
ferent divisions and proceed with
events Of personal interest.)
When | returned from the battle
field at dark | told the officers and
men they need not 60 to bed as we
would be ordered to build Bull Run
bridge that night and before an hour
we were ordered to build the bridge
Immediately. 3 There was
no material on hand; we had to 90 to
the woods for everything. The bridge
was 4S feet long and IA feet high. \
BY daylight next morning we
had it ready for covering. was
left with forty men to cover it, while
the rest of the corps were sent to
build a bridge craoss Cub Run.
The battle opened on our left. We
could hear the shouts of combatants,
but | could not 90 on the field as it
took all the energy | had to keep my
men at work; they were so worn out.
At noon the bridge was finished, >
and [ Immediately marched