The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-22
HOW THE BULLETS FLEW,
And how the Sergeant Did Run-He Tells
You Himself. Amusingly.

1.-THE man who, knowing the danger.
anxious to escape from it, yet faces it.
stands firm in its presence. keeps cooi his
observing faculties-such is the American
soldier-a man of the bravest heart and
bravest mind! He is not Indifferent to his
danger, but he cOnfronts it and does his
duty while he is alive and there is duty
to be done. Read this story of soldier
who laughs at his own alarms and does
not seem to know that he was a hero. n
man of bravery that any might envy! Who
says that, forced by the fearful fire of the
enemy. the regiment was as ready to es-
cape the storm by approaching 1t as by
retreat from it'd
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have
been reading about the siege of Port Hud-
son as viewed by Confederate. and the
reminder moves me to call up some recol-
lections of my own. / remember when the
first shell exploded over us-how my feet
felt like pulling my body out Of danger.
How, just then, we were ordered into line
of battle and moved up through the woods
till we came In sight of the enemy's fright
full big guns and their savage infantry with
terrible rifles! We were ordered to retire
then to the woods, where the rebels shelled
and shotted us for all they were worth. cut
and the limbs fell on us! We couldn't
stand it long. and were moved forward
into the open ground. There we lay down
and they got n crOSs-hre on US and let US
have shells that exploded among us and
solid shot that tore up the whole face of
the landscape, and us with it! Then they
got position from which they could rake
our line from end to end. and they added
grape and canister to our dose, and it was
so hot there that we couldn't lie still. and
we got up without orders-and we were
just as ready to go forward out of that
storm as to go back to escape it. Gen.
Dudley rode up and said we were the reg-
ment for him.
Well, we drove the rebs in and we kept
them there for 40 days.
l do not doubt that some of our boys
will remember one day when we were sent
out as alleged sharpshooters? We were to
change from one hedge to another several
rods nearer the enemy. We started too
late, and it was light when we reached the
first fence. l thought that we must obey
the order to get to the second fence light
or dark, though the order was to get there
in the dark. Therefore l said: "Now,
boys. we have to get over that open ground
mighty rapid or there won't many of US
get therer' and I gave the order to for
ward, double-Guick" and ran ahead as
gave the order. By the time got half
way l found the rebel fire SO heavy and
the bullets so thick that I wanted cover
the WORST way, ana was almost sure tndt
all of my comrades were dead or wound
ed by these bullets. l threw myself fat
behind small bunch Of bushes, thankful
for that much to protect me; but the bull
let's cut all of those bushes down almost
as soon and as clear as farmer could
have done it with his brush-hook. l do
not doubt that the rebs were sure that
was shot to pieces, for they let up on me
But l fooled them plenty! ! got up like
a jack int hebox and retreated at a speed
that I'm sure has never been
beaten by civilized man afooti Then they
scared me worse than ever. for they open
ed their rifles on me again. l don't greatly
doubt that every rifle in that fort was
repeater, and that the entire rebel army
was in that fort. just then. every man with
a rife. and that every rife was fred at
me with a rapidity that broke ITS record
If l don't think so now, | felt then that
that was about the situation. I'd have
been willing to sell those zip-zippers for
cent a thousand, for they would have set
me up for life, millionaire,
However. | reached cover and found III
of the detail there! Confonnd them. rot one
had Obeyed my order to forward. double
quick" They searched me for bullets and
found that the only wound | had suffered
was where bullet made n long croSs-cut
slit in the side of my blouse!
Now, boys, you laughed at me then and
let me hear from You often enough about
forward, double-Guick!' so, let me hear
from yom now. p. LLOYD. Sergeant,
Co. X, 1G1st n. Y, SO. Edmeston, N. Y.