The National tribune., 1902-08-14

make out along the line irregular rows of
such huts as the men had been able to
construct-huts hardly worth the name,
little better than the open Winter weather.
Here, behind the works. was no sign of a
mOvement-no preparation for march.
And now cared comparatively little con
corning the attack of the battalions; this
attack could mean nothing more than n
surprise of the picket-lnes. in order. prob
ably, to procure prisoners and thereby get
information for Gen. Lee; but, at the same
time, my main duty was over and done:
l had seen that in this part of the lines
there was no great movement going on;
not having anything more important to do,
l would get back quickly as possible,
that l might warn those New York peo-
pie, and, through them, the whole of
our skirmish-line.
So l hurried back; l would march out
with the battalion through the picket-line.
and then drop out in the dark and ger
around them, for l knew that they would
steal up close before charging. | reached
the place where 1 had left the sharp
shooters, and heard just at my right the
sound of their marching; in moment
was following. We went through the
picket-line-there halted, and the order
was given, not by an officer but from man
to man, to deploy; l was in the darkness
behind the men, and had scarcely been
able to hear the order as it passed down
the line.
Now, knowing that 1 had no time to
lose, as these 90 men would make a line
of 300 yards, l set off at as fast a gait
as prudence would allow, going toward
the right flank of the skirmishers, whose
advance was extremely slow.
In the still night there was not sound,
except of my own making. Between me
and the sky l could catch dim outlines
fnr of lln -lx- sfnn lima
toward their enemy sleeping; and l hur-
ried too greatly, for l fell into a ditch and
was long in getting out, so that when at
last l was on the flank of the skirmisheIs
they were near the brow of the hill, and
l heard challenge directed to me, and
others at my left directed at the battalion,
and then shot far to my left where
foung's battalion of Scales's was leading
the assault; and then, as l rushed forward
risking the aim of the sentinel, fire spout
ed from 80 rifles, and the rebel cry rang
out In the dark morning as Dunlop's line,
half wheeling to the right swept upon
the rifle-pits of the 9th n. Y. Art.
l had reached the line too late; the men
were standing in their pits, looking stupid
and frightened. One of them, seeing my
gray uniform, said to me, We give up"
l started to run; my foot tripped and /
fell.
One moment more and the pit was filed
by half a dozen men in gray, each shout
ing at the top of his voice, and each seiZ-
ing prisoner; in a second others came
on and began picking up the blankets,
knapsacks and everything else lying about
and laughing in high glee.
LET me gO!' l cried to the man hold
ing me. Don't you see your mistaken
Mary mistake, my boy! l saw you
ahead of us. Hadn't ben for you we'd
ha' caught heap more. Come along.
You can't fool me!'
l struggled to get away.
"Herev' he shouted; Wade! come help
me manage this fellow, or I'll have to kill
him.
But 1 had him so that he could not
strike. l continued to struggle and des-
peratiOn lent me strength. l broke away,
but for an instant only; now two men
had me and held me securely.
The Federal prisoners were standing at
the fire. More were brought up, and
strong guard placed over them, while the
battalion was cleaning out the rihe-pits
for half a mile on our left. My captors
still held me. The firing had ceased; there
was nothing to fire at, and l knew that
these fellows. reckless as they were-for
it now developed that the attack had been
devised for no other purpose than getting
spOil*-would nevertheless be compelled
to withdraw at once; day was at hand.
How bitterly l now regretted my unavail-
ing struggles. If l had only kept quiet
l could yet slip away, but now the atten
ton of all was upon me, and l must en-
dure my bitter fate-a fate that had al
ways been before me in possibility, yet
which, after SO long time, knew l had
never fully admitted.
At sunrise the battalion was back in
the intrenchments. The prisoners-almOst
as many as cOmpany-marched under
guard in the rear, and l, although in gray,
in the midst of them.** Yet as l marched
along under the gaze of McGOwan's Bri-
gade, / tried to collect whatever mental
resources were left me; pulled my hat
over my brOws, and lowered my head, and
bent over to lessen my hight, hoping yet
that l might be regarded as one of many
prisoners OF war. But the closing day of
the year was not my day; the battalion
and the caprives marched through crowds,
gathering not for the purpose of gazing
at the unfortunate, for Federal prisoners
were u common sight to these soldiers of
many campaigns, but to see the sharp
shooters in whose ranks We all had friends.
"By grannies, yOnder's Jones!' shouted
a man-Stokes, of Co. H.
At once l was surrounded. Some of
the men shook my hand. Others stood
aloof. All gazed upon me as men look
upon the miserable.
*Maj. Dunlop, Lees SharpshoOters, p.
22S, says: I'VE secured all the supplies
necessary to our comfort for the winter.
Ed.
*"From Report of Gen. Wright, Dec. 81,
1865: ''The enemy made an attack upon
my picket-line at about o'clock and sue
ceeded in killing two men and w0undiug
three. Thirty-seven are reported miss
ing."-Ed.
(To be continued.)
War to the Knife.
Uncle Hiram-Is it much of split in
the church?