The National tribune., 1902-06-26


lance to the rear of Fort Hill the enemy
opened with Some guns. bat these We're
soon siienccd by our shells. Hand greuades
were now thrown. and their flashes and
smoke added to the exciting interest of the
scene. so
At 5:45 IL flag was borne up the sloping
side of the fort to the very summit and
there waved and planted. This was greet
81 with tremendous cheers ifoin orr whole
lire. The firing was inccssant until dark.
Mt which time three of orr flags were wav
ing over the fort. What the result is |
cannot tell. ] never experienced proud
err feeling however. than when | saw the
flag of our country bcrne through the
smoke of battle and planted defiantly on
the enemy's stronghold. The hills and
hollows all around the lines were covered
with smoke. The enemy fired with great
rapidity. and rlany balls were constantly
whizzing around MS. / was so much alb
sorbed in the scene before me that took
but little notice of them. | have n distinct
remembrance. however, of several striking
i'll the logs around me. and OF one which
threw the dirt all over me.
After dark | again assembled the hills.
and spent several hours watching scene
which it is impossible to describe on paper.
The struggle at the fort still continued.
Our men held the front and northern an
gle of the fort. which was illuminated by
the flashes of their muskctry. The enemy
held the remainder of the fort. and strong
works directly in its rear. Hand granades
were constantly hurled from each side,
and So near were the c0ntending parties
and so desperate the nature of the con-
test that even 10 and II pound shells were
ignited and thrown over I'm the same way,
casting Il lurid glare over the whole scene
by their flashes the noise of their ex-
p!osions sounding loud above the roar of
muskctry.
This fort was doubtless the center of
conflict for the night, yet it ragged in other
directions The boom of the gunboats
came over from the river; the deep tones
of the mOrtars resoundcd far up and down
it. while their shells. lighting their own
way rose to an immense hight and then
descended with explosions which must
have shaken the whole city, for they shook
the very hill upon which / sat. A battery
just behind me kept firing 30-pOund
Hotchkiss shells. which came over my
head with an unearthly shrek. such as
lost soul might be supposed to utter as it
enters the realms of woe. while to the left
Howitzer elevated as a mortar was
throwing 12-pound shells which went like
shooting stars over into the city.
PROLONGED CONFLICT.
Friday. June 2G.-I went up to the bat
teries early in the morning, and found the
situation unchanged. The struggle still
continued. and the fort was enveloped in
a cloud of smoke. yet in the midst of the
smoke / could see the flash of exploding
shells, which the enemy were rolling down
from their more elevated position upon
our men. / examined the whole situation
with a glass, and could not help but feel
that unless our men could speedily gain a
more sheltered position they must soon
abandon the attempt.
Late in the evening the firing from the
fcrt ceased. / at once hurried to the left,
and my worst fears were soon confirmed.
Our men had been compelled to fall back
from the fort. / halted short distance
in the rear of it. The enemy's shots we're
flying thickly around; one passed very near
my head, struck a tree and fell to the
ground. / picked it up and preserved it.
1t was still hot. One of the 9Th Ill. was
shot Gead near me. He was borne back
OH a stretcher. and as I returned after
dark they were digging a grave for him
i'll the hillside. l stood and gazed into his
pale face with a peculiar interest. How
easily it might have been me instead of
him. In the uncertain starlight his fea
lures rested in all the calmness of quiet
slumber. Our loss in this unfortunate af
fair will probably reach near 300 killed
and wounded. The enemy must have lost
heavily, also.
Saturday. June 27-Capt White was
out in the trenches last night with a ia
tigue party. Early in the morning, while
from a porthoie, rebel ball cut
the forward band from his gun. After
breakfast he again went out, and was soon
afterwards brought in wounded. He had
ri nI NV rupninu no |
handle of a pick under some sandbags. |
Just as he withdrew the handle of the
pick he raised his eyes to the aperture,
and the same moment was struck by
ball. which graZed the top of his nose and |
entered just under his right eye. the ball
lodging somewhere in his head. 1t is a Sc
r;ous wound, and ! fear will prove fatal
| shall miss the Captain much, for we
have wandered through our trenches to-
gether, together we have examined the
works of the enemy, and passed through |
many dangers. But he has fallen; such is |
he fate of war. During the last few days |
I, too, have made many narrow escapes. |
When my time will come / cannot tell. |
Gods will be done.
Sunday, June 2S-Very warm today.
Had meeting at 1870 o. m. The theme |
was, "The Lord reigneth." Just at the |
close of service Gen. Grant rode by and |
lifted his hat in token or reverence. He
is a short man, and presents very plain, |
appearance. |
Monday, June 29-The enemy did a |
great deal Of shooting last night. Their |
shots dropped constantly in camp. l was
awake several times, and each time zip" |
came the hostile missiles, as though they |
were bent ON an errand of mischief; no |
one was hurt, however. In the morning |
we got q mail, which is always joyful |
event in the life of q soldier-that is, if he |
is fortunate enough to obtain a letter,
which at this time was my peculiar good |
fortune, for received one from one of my |
most valued correspondents. In the even
ing l went up to the rifle pits. The trench
es of our brigade are now advanced very
near the works of the enemy, and large |
working parties are still pushing them for
ward. The enemy are digging trench |
from their works to meet ours. They are |
now within about 40 feet of each other.
Tuesday, June 3O.-The enemy cannon
AIDED our advanced works in the morning, |
driven out; they soon returned, however.
Nothing of uncommon interest during the |
rest of the day, except we were mustered |
for pay, as usual, at the end of every two
months.
Wednesday. July 1, 1SG3-Nothing un-
usual occurred in the fore part Of the day. |
In the evening Fcrt Hill was again blown
up. A heavy cannonading ensued, but |
very little infantry firing. No charge was
made. think, however that the fort is
now untenable for the rebels, as it is
scarcely more than shapeless mass of