The National tribune., 1902-01-23

hone of an attack. Our Skirmish line Is II
the foot of the mountain: the enemy : /;
hundred yards above. The nature of tht
ground renders an advance on our part II
line OF battle impract!rahle.
A company of the 18th III. attempted
to relieve our company lBl on the shlr
3 mish line the morning of June ~. hu,
was unable TO do 50 without running tnt
gantlet of deadly fire by the enemy 5
pickctS, so our company was Kept al us
post until nightfall. Barnctt's Battery
posfed on hill in Our rear. fired conSld,
erably during the forenoon of the .oth
over our heads, and we We're Interested III
watching the shells bursting on the side
and summit of Kenesaw. The Confeder-
ate battery replied occasionally, the shells
also passing over our heads.
Meanwhile number of our batteries
had lien planted in our rear and to right
and left, and soon after noon concentrated
q terrific fire upon the breastworks and
batteries of the mountain side aDd sum
NIT. The Confederate cannon. apparently
being greatly Outnumbered by ours re
piled feebly and without effect, 50 that
our guns could then devote much attention
TO the infantry, and certainly caused them
to dodge about in their works 10 escape our
shells. which we witnessed with much sat
isfaction, expressing our delight in re-
peated cheers, which reached the ears of
the victims.
Our position near the foot of tie noun
tain appeared comparatively safe. as we
believed the Confederate cannon could not
be sufficiently depressed to reach us; but
we were nearly deafened by the concus-
sion of our guns. A mimic ball OCCASION
ally found its way into our midst.
TIE CoNFEDERATEs ACTIVE. --
June 21 was a day of comparative
quiet. Our batteries fired but 4 few
shots. and elected no reply. But we could
plainly see the COnfederatcS strengthening
their works and building new ones. EVi-
IDENTIFY our officers believed these prepara-
tons were only ruse, for no attempt
was made to protect our guns, which
stood openly on the hilltop.
We could see that a movement Of our
troops TO the right was in progress. Me
Pherson's men came from the left to re-
Heyc q portion of our corps, which moved
TO the right and relieved a portion of
HOward'S Corps, and the latter Il portion
of Hooker's Corps. which then was en-
ablcj TO take new ground to the right.
We were greatly surprised the morning
of June % al the changed appearance OF
the mountain The enemy had worked
like beavers all night, and now continu-
Gus line of heavy works pierced for ~
cannon frowned down upon us. While
we were speculating as to what would
great volume of smoke, and in a few mo-
ments q shower of bursting shells rained
upon u.s. Our batteries being unprotected
by works were driven TO the rear with
out firing Il shot, and then our brigade be
came target for 40 guns. Our regiment
came in for the lions share of attention,
on account of our freshiy-built rifle pits,
the yellow clay being in plain view from
the mountain.
HAIL OF SHOT AND SHELL.
Our trench was very shallow ard really
no protection against the shells, which
came down upon US from above, and be
sides was only intended TO ward off bul-
lets. But VIC packed our bodies in like
herring in q box, while for 10 or - min
utes there was continuous bursting of
shells about our heads almost as fast as
one could count. After that for an hour
the firing was not so rapid as far as we
were concerned, as a portion of the shots
were diverted to right and left along the
line Of our brigade and division.
Our shelter tents were pitched immedi-
ately in rear of our trench, and there
the shells played havoc, splinteriDg trees
and throwing showers of dirt into the air
when they sank into the ground ard ex-
ploded, as many CT them did. Between
the reports of the shells we could hear
the Confederatcs yelling from their rife
pits, "Strike tents'' Lie down" and
many other expressions very funny to
TO them, but entirely devoid Of amusement
TO us.
However, we remembered that We had
our sport two days previous. when they
were lodging our shells, and we were
cheering them TO the echo. At the end
of an hour the firing suddenly ceased and
We were encouraged TO raise our heads
from the ditch ike lot of mud turtles
Ev.p1 i 20, . h.,
ruins Of campgrOund, Uttered as it was
with branches of trees, huge splinters
from the trunks, and sprnkled with clay
thrown out of deep holes.
Our breathing spell was a short one
and before We We're aware the shells We're
falling in our midst, and again we tum-
bled into the ditch without waiting for
orders; in fact, our officers knew we mad
sense enough TO come in out Of the hail,
and really did not have time to give any
orders, as they jumped in and fattened
their noses on the bottom Of the pit as
quickly as we did. All except the Colonel,
and he alone remained in his tent until a
particularly vicious shell scooped q big
slab from an adjacent tree and threw il
upon his tent, which collapsed. a mo-
ment later our commander, who was nj
ways pitching his tent where il suited his
convenience, regardless of exposure, and
loved TO rally his brother officers for seek,
Ing shelter in the works when the air be-
came unhealthy" outside emerged from
the ilattened canvas and actually ran, not
away from the enemy, mind you, bus to-
ward the front and landed in our ditch
We gave him a hearty cheer, SO glad We're
we TO see him willing 10 view the situa-
ton from our standpoint. But there was
one high private who scornod to lie in
the ditch. lie stood bolt uprigh: on our
works and watched the Confederate can,
non during the bombardment, and wher
the smoke of the discharge was projected
TO right or TO left he would yell Right
or Left" but when it was projected to
ward us lie would cry Down in 'front.'
and four seconds later q bursting shel
about our ears would verify his warning
Our tormentOrs gave us an hour at nOOI
to cook and eat our dinner, which we i'm
proved, and so We We're in better physical
condition wheE we next tumbled into the
ditch. a number Of our men asked and
obtained leave to go out with their guns
to the skirmish line-it was safer there.
This program was continued all day
yet strange 10 say, our regiment had only
two men slightly wounded. Our frail bar
ricade was not struck, fortunately for us
as the rails which formed a portion of i
would have been hurled upon us will
deadly effect; but our campground anC
tents showed the effects of the lombard
ment.
Scarcely ever did VIC welcome the ap
prOach OF night with greater feeling 0
relief, and with good supply Of tools W
undertook TO dig our ditch so deep that W
might lie in II with safety, but were sool
stopped by an order TO prepare to marcl