The National tribune., 1902-01-16


advance of our former position toward
Kenesaw Mountain.
The work of building Notifications was
begun at once and continued with all pos
sible speed.
Two lines of works were thus con-
structed, the left reaching to the railroad.
Our regiment occupied the second line in
level strip of timber We were joined
on our left by the Fifteenth Corps, which
had a battery planted near the railroad
and kept up a vigorous fire all afternoon
without eliciting reply. In the evening,
tents, baggage and rations were brought
TO US, and we then moved to q more ad-
vanced position. There was considerable
skirmishing in front of us, and bullets
frequently reached our line.
At night we lay down to sleep, but
were shortly awakened by heavy firing il
front and the whistle of bullets overhead.
1t soon subsidized into irregular skirmish
fire, and we again lay down to pass the
night in blissful Inconsistencies of occa-
sional missiles from the enemy.
sToRMGNG PINE RIDGE.
| Our entire army was pressed as close
as possible TO the enemy during the day.
The program for June Is was for the
! Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Corps
to make a demonstration in the center,
while the Twentieth and Twenty-third
Corps, on the right, should storm the en-
emy's works on Pine Ridge. A level,
| open strip of land extending in front of
and parallel to our line for more than two
miles to the left Of our brigade afforded
us an admirable view Of the movements,
which began at noon by an outburst from
our cannon, TO which the Confederate
| guns responded all along the line. Pres
entity we saw a line of blue emerging
| from the outer edge of a long billow of
smoke evolved from our cannon, and
rushing upon the enemy's works.
! 4 long white streak of smoke emitted
| from their first line of intrenchments, and
the rattle of musketry indicated an ac-
tive resistance on the part Of the Confed-
crates; but it was of short duration, for
! they soon retired to their second line to
prepare for q more desperate struggle.
This was intended to be merely a
demonstration by portions Of the Fif-
teenth and Sixteenth Corps, while the
real attack was made by the Twentieth
and Twenty-third Corps on the right.
At 4 p. III. our brigade moved out with
ont baggage, and while we halted a short
time at our first line Of works bullet
passed through the head Of a Sergeant of
Co. T. and lodged in the brain of a Lieu
tenant Of the 113th Ohio, killing both.
| Shortly after a portion of the regiment
was deplOyed as skirmishers, and led the
brigade over an open field, driving back
the enemy's skirmishers and halting in a
strip OF timber, where we hastily built
temporary works, but at nightfall our
regiment was relieved and returned to its
former position, having lost one killed and
six wounded.
4 shot from one of our batteries killed
Gen. Polk on Pine Mountain.
Remained in camp all day June 1G
awaiting orders. 1t was believed that the
enemy was concentrating a heavy force
in our front to make an attack, and ac-
tive preparations were made for their re,
ceptiOn by massing batteries close to our
line and Immediately on our left.
We were disappointed that the attack
was not made, for we have learned the
advantage of brcastwOrks, and our hope
is tnat the enemy may come out into the
open field TO meet US on equal ground, oI
that he may be foolish enough to charge
our intrenchments. We judge from the
way Johnston is conducting his move
ments that he is waiting for us to make
the assaults, but such is not the wish OF
our rank and file, and we hope is not the
intention of Gen. Sherman.
BE ready to move at q moment.
notice." was the order the morning Of
> June II, but we remained inactive al
day. But our skirmishers were kept busy
, all forenoon. At . p. m. n heavy roar o.
artillery and musketry broke out on oul
5 left in front of the Sixteenth Corps. w,
rushed to the bank commanding the view
of that position in time tc see a charg'
made by the enemy upon the works takeI
! from them a few days before. A lon,
+ line of fresh yellow earth marked ou
works, dark-blue line in rear our troops
; flashes of fame amid puffs of smok,
marked the discharge of muskets, whil
! above and around globe shaped patches O
5 dense white smoke drifting like balloons
with the breeze marked the bursting o
shell. All this was plainly visible as W.
/ watched, as well as tho rushing line o