The National tribune., 1902-08-21
White Oak Road.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUGE: In the
Spring of 1865 l became the pOssessor of
Sharp's carbine picked up on the field
of Hatchers Run. AS l was only mu-
sician, there was some question as to what
l was going to do with it; but l retained
| the gun.
MY regiment. the 10th N Y, was in
the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fifth
Corps During the early days of Gen.
Grants final efforts to Outhank the Con
federate position at Petersburg, a line
formed in the woods about II miles south
west of the city, and, facing north, ap-
preached within few hundred yards of
the White Oak Road. Sheridan with his
cavalry had gone few miles farther west
apd had encountered the enemy at Five
Forks.
We occupied the position assigned to US
by noon of March 30. Just in front of
my brigade was rectangular clearing
about $50 yards wide, extending about q
half-mile toward the north. The White
Oak Road passed from east to west
through this clearing near it's farther end.
We had been in position only short
time when rebel column came down the
road from the right, stopped directly in
front of us, and began preparations for
dinner. Apparently they had not observed
our line, as we were somewhat sheltered
by the woods. At length an officer left
the rebel column and approached our po-
sition. A Captain went to meet him.
They talked few minutes, then the rebel
officer came in as a prisoner Of war. The
COnfederates observing the capture of
their officer put out a picket line. After
dinner they passed on toward Five Forks.
We estimated their number at from 5000
to 1000 men. Up to this time there had
been no firing; in fact, all was quiet that
afternoon and night.
About noon the next day heavy thun-
der shower came up. 1t lasted about two
hours. The ground in front had been n
cornfeld the previous year, and after the
rain was deep, soft mud. The rain stopped
and we prepared to charge through the
| field. l removed the breech lock from my
gun and found the powder wet. l put in
n fresh load. Our men did not seem to
realize that their guns would not fire. We
were ordered forward, the Colonel permit
ting me to take a place in the line of file
closers. Notwithstanding the mud, VIC
moved forward at dOuble-quick. When
within easy range of the Confederate
! breastworkS we were ordered to fire.
There were only about a dozen shots. The
powder in nearly all the guns had been
wet by the heavy rain. The men began
to scatter. l started for the woods on the
right. There our Colonel afterwards Cen
eraD James Grindlay, made heroic effort
to rally his men. Perhaps 30 or 40 men
were with him. By this time the whole
Confederate line was coming over their
breastwOrks. There was nothing for the
Colonel to do but to retire with his men.
waited until the enemy was within easy
range, then fired. Their advance being
at an ordinary pace gave me time to run
back to another tree, load and fire again.
This did several times. When I reached
our picket line l found about dozen men,
A little to our right was group of men
with bucktails iii their hats. To our left
the rebel line encountered two bodies of
Union troops, each firing yolley and re-
tiring.
We continued our retreat. and about a
mile farther came to low valley through
which ran small stream. On the oppo-