The National tribune., 1902-01-23

ing companies followed on the double
quick through the intense binding heat
and q shower of bullets. We captured
the enemy's rifle pits and few prisoners
who did not vacate soon enough. There
we awaited the coming of the heavy
column behind us. as our portion of the
work was accomplished. 1t soon swept
over us eight lines deep, crossed little
stream obStructed with tangled under
brush which broke the lines to some eS-
tent, and charged up the slope of hill
toward the cnemys works. 1t was then the
Confederates redoubled their fire with
musketry and artillery, sweeping the
ranks with such deadly effect that 153
men of the leading regiment Q13th Ohio
We're shot in 20 minutes.
4 tangled mass Of abatis and "chevaux-
de-frise" was before our men, the sun was
beating down with intense heat. they were
exhausted with more than half mile Of
rapid running, while bullets and grape
shot were moving their ranks like grass
| had failed, but they would not retreat.
| Dropping fiat on the ground, the word was
! passed along the line, "Shoot under the
| hcadlOgS," and desperate fire was d-
/ rectcd ut the space between the top of
/ the intrenchmcnts and the heavy logs
which surm0untcd them.
The COnfodcratCs recognizing the fail
urc of our charge. were content to drop
| back into safe positions for a little rest.
which gave our line an opportunity to con
ccntratc continuous fire under the head
/ logs, and when the COnfcderatcS at
| tempted to resume firing there was such q
! vicious Spluttering of Splintcrs, dirt and
lead under their head logs that few Of
! them had the tcmcrity to raise their heads
high enough to come within range.
Next the word is passed along our line,
/ htItiV IivaS ~ and yrbila l.
continues firing the other delves into the
ground with bayOncts, spoons, tin plates
and hands, and in one hour enough clay
has been thrown up within 40 steps Of the
| Confederate works to shelter our men in
comparative safety the remainder of the
day. When night comes fresh men with
tools are placed along the newly-establisIl-
ed line, and our Notifications grow with
prodigiOus celerity during the night.
| Our regiment was withdrawn soon af-
ter dark, having lost six killed and %
wounded.
| Many Of our wounded who could not
| help themselves lay between the lines eX-
| posed to the fierce rays of the sun all day
June q, and at night suffered untold tor
ture Of pain and thirst, vainly begging the
aid Of their comrades, who could not leave
the protection of their works without fac
| ing almost certain death; yet there were
Il number who did crawl out after night
| fall among the dead and dying, under a
shower of bullets, to succOr pleading com
| rades. Many were too badly wounded or
! too close to the enemy to be reached, and
their cries for help brought them no re-
| lief until at last n fire started in the grass,
and slowly spreading over the field liter
ally roasted all who remained alive.
The Major Of the 18th Ohio lay NOR
tally wounded and slowly bleeding 10
death in front OF his regiment. His com
rades could hear his pleading cries. and
| several crawled out to help him, but he
was too weak to be dragged, and no man
could stand upright and escape death.
They could only listen to his voice grad
ually growing weaker until ii ceased, and
then they knew he had found relief in
death.
Our intrcnchmcnts had grown during
the night almost TO the proportions of
the encmy's, and n vicious fire was kept
up all day June % between the contend
ing lines at such close range that none
dared on either side to raise his head
above his works.
The experience of McCooks Brigade
which charged side by side with us, was
similar to ours, and two brigades Of New.
toms Division, which made an assault a
mile on our left, were also repulScd, and
the dire result was the loss of 800 men
killed and wounded in the four brigadcs
engaged. II is reported that when Gen,
Sherman saw the effect of his ill-fated or.
der he sat down and cried like n child
But there is no complaint from the ranks
we thlnk ne made a mistake, that is all
(IO be continued