The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-15

are too many holes to hide i'll for there
to be any pitched battles. 1t now seems
that the Yankees are in line from here
and extend all around Charleston, except
on the northeast of the city. Very cold
for this latitude.
Feb. 11.-No fighting today. The enc
NV on the move The Yankees attacked
us yesterday, but found. as they have al
ways found before, that our brigade can
not be moved by direct assault. We al
WAYS hold our ground, unless tanked.
We received orders this afternoon TO be
ready to move at a moments notice
In spite of the war we try TO have the
pleasures of the season even IN camp Inc
18th inst. being st. Valentines Day,we put
the names of our lady friends, written on
slips of paper, in a hat and drew for the
one to whom each should write valen'
tine. -
Feb. 12-Aroused last night at II
O'Clock, and marched to White Hall Sta.
tion. five miles, and from White Hall TO
Green Bend five miles, before daylight.
After day we marched to the Ashepoo
River and remained there the balance OF
the day under arms, watching for the
enemy, but we did not see them.
DEFENDING CHARLESTON.
Feb. 13.-Left Ashepoo last night at
dark, and took the train for Charleston,
where we arrived about ] o'clock this a.
m. Today the enemy are throwing lots OF
shells into the city. 1t is plain that we
will have to evacuate, and the people seem
to feel it. In consequence there are signs
of unrest and anxiety.
Feb 1--WE have learned that Sher-
man has withdrawn all of his forces mere
abouts and is rapidly marching north and
devastating the country. Today there Is
heavy firing going On between our batter
les on James Island and the Federal bat
Icln Ghnlllnp
city some. This is done every day.
Feb. 15.-In camp at the Savannah
Railroad Depot Ny regiment received
orders to march into the city, but the or
ders were countermanded and in the after
noon we marched to the Charleston race
course and went into camp. This move
would indicate that Sherman is threatening
the city from the north, as his forces have
gone around the city in that direction.
1t looks like our Generals do not know
what to do, or have not sufficient troops
to do anything. / suspect it is the latter
Feb. 1G-An oyster bed near our camp,
and we are living in restaurant style.
Rather late in the day 10 get good fare,
but better late than never We wade in
the water and pick up the oysters, and
then throw them on fire and let them re-
main until they pop open; then we scoop
them out and eat them.
This will be our only chance to get
something good TO eat for long time,
suspect, as active preparations are being
made to evacuate Charleston. Enemy
Smelling the city.
ISSUING FOOD TO CITIZENS.
Feb. 17.-Marched into the city as
Provost Guard, and to protect the Com
nissary stores.
The supplies my company were guard
ing were being issued to the people; but
he pefpia SO that they almost
trampled one another under foot to get TO
tie opening il the building from which
the supplies were being issued. The popu-
lace is a wild, roaring mob composed
principally of women. Finally they got
worked up TO such pitch of frenzy that
the women and men charged the supplies,
and made a furious rush on US. If they
had got possession of the building they
would have killed half of one another fight
ing over the food. The frantic cries and
struggles of these people surprised me, for
j never thought that people could possibly
act this way. We took In the situation
and promptly fixed bayonets and formed
q line around the building and forced them
all out at the point of the bayonet. We
paid no attention to age or sex. II looked
cruel, but this had to be done TO prevent
more serious consequences. They then
went ground the building with the inten-
ton of demOlishing the fence and getting
in the rear. We then had to load our
guns and give them to understand that
somebody would get seriously hurt if they
attempted to carry out that plan. They
then surged wildly around to the opening
from which the supplies were being issued.
Those who received a package of any
thing would be asssiled by others, and in
the scramble and the fight the packages
of rice and meal would get torn up and
the contests lost on the ground. This
rnOh was M oil and polnrc
We spent the day here contending with
these people, and for once during the wal
bayonets were necessity. | was ex-
ceediBgly glad when night came, for we
had hard work before we succeeded III
giving out these supplies.
Up to this time ! had looked upon wo-
men as angels, but this scene impressed
upon my mind the fact that, if they were
angels, they would fight and scramble
over the things of this world as artistical
ly as men. / had also looked upon man
as the protector Of women, but here !
saw men as ruthlessly trample over wo-
men as they would over dogs. Perhaps
we are human or inhuman, as the occa.
sion demands, or we think it demands.
At any rate, some are not human all the
time. This whole scene shocked me.
When night came we went into camp
on the Citadel Green. On this green | had
drilled many hours each day in the past.
j WIS lHeii cdUet IN the JltaQel or Mill
tary Academy, and it did come odd thar
i was destined 90 spend my last night in
Charleston there. Within the walls OF
this institution / was studying for my
usefulness in life, but this war has shat
tered all my hopes and aspirations.
There is great confusion in the city, and
all authority is at an end. The destruc-
tive shells from the enemy's guns on Nor
ris Island are falling in il, and doing
great damage.
The cradle in which the war was born
and rocked is now being rocked" TO pieces
by both friend and foe.
WITHIN THE DOOMED CITY.
Feb. 1s.-An of last night stores were
being destroyed; gunbOats and batteries
being blown up. All night long there was
a continuous rain of shells into the city
from the enemy's cannon. Some fell quite
near our camp. One shell fell on the pull
pit of the Baptist Church. just across the
street from our camp, and, exploding, de-
molished the whole end of the church
AS the sun rose this morning the work Of
destruction was still going on; fires were
raging at various places, and amid the
ringing Of bells the people were running
wildly about the streets.
We left our camp on the Citadel Green
at sunrise, and began our march out of the
city, helpless witnesses TO the disorder and
confusion. In the meantime the Yankees
were approaching it from the opposite di-
rection TO receive its surrender.
We marched out by the northeast. and
passed near the Northeastern Railroad
depot. About the time we got near this
fhaRf Go IL