The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-01

June 14-"Sunday, at 2 a. M, oul
regiment left camp, proceeding some dis
lance to the left. At daybreak four com
panies were sent out to the front as sharp
shooters, with all the ammunition we cOult
store away in our pockets. Canteens filled
(no haversacks) We advanced from STUMP
to stump, on our hands and knees, as far a:
we could, every man to a stump. 1t wa:
close work. The day was intensely hot
The 9th Mich. was on the line parable
with u.s. "a very good regiment.) Oul
orders were to keep up regular ire, t
keep the enemy from concentrating thell
men on the center, where our main assault
was to be made, which assault proved tC
be another failure. Great bravery wa:
shown by our troops. After repeated
charges our army was driven back witt
great loss of life. Our line Of sharpshoot
ers suffered for want of water. Severa
attempts were made, by crawling from one
to the other, gather few canteens,. theI
crawl back. When the detail thought h'
could mp and run a ball would roll hin
over. After number of attempts, every
man wounded who attempted it, it wa:
given up, and " had to suffer for wan
of water. Several times the enemy's ar
tllery tried to drive us out by grape and
canister, but we held on, remaining on the
the 18th we went back into the trenches
At 10 a. m. we were relieved, and haC
something to eat and drink. The conclu
sion has become prevalent that the only
way to capture Port Hudson would be II
starve them into a surrender.
June 19.-''The regiment went into the
rife pits and continued there for 4S hours
June 21.-"Went on picket.
June 24.-"Word came that our Colone
label Smith died in hospital at New
Orleans. A great loss to us. He was ;
strict disciplinarian; had drilled the regi
ment in infantry, light and heavy artillery
bayonet exercise and skirmish drill by
bugle. He went upon the principle tina
| idleness breeds disease. He kept the mel
busy, demanded cleanliness, drilled tn,
non-commissioned Off, ers personally, ant
| they the men in squads, so that before VIZ
left Camp Parapet tine regiment was :
unit in drill. He looked after the healtl
of the men, inspected cook houses ant
| rations daily, holding the Commissary
| Sergeant responsible, and personally saw
that the men got what they were entitled
| to from the Quartermaster and Commits
sary. Company funds were started to bu!
| vegetables and other necessary article:
| for the comfort of the men. Captains o.
companies were held responsible for thu
appearance of the men. He encouraged
| amusements, together with strict sanltar,
regulations. The consequence was tina
during the season, the men becoming &C
| "limated. the death loss was small. III
Sanitary Commission, that visited the DE
partment to look after the health of tn
| troops. stated in their report that the loot
~ Y Vols had the cleanest and healthies
camp in the Department of the Gulf, an,
that the officers looked after the healtl
of the men. Although nearly every mai
| was sick with fever. we only lost tw
men-one by disease, the other accidental.
shot. The result was that the men wer
ready for any duty they were called upol
to perform. The camp was in swamp
and was called Camp Death by the 6tl
Mich, that formerly occupied it. The:
lost 200 men by death, and looked bac!
to it with sorrow.
June 25.-"From the trenches mine
were run and made ready to blow up tn
enemy's works. Continued sickness ha
played havoc in our ranks. Baton Roug
and New Orleans are full of sicis ant
wounded men. Our army is not one hal
it was FIVE weeks ago. Regiments have t
cover more space and do heavier pickle
duty. Continued hammering at the work
keeps the enemy busy replacing what w
destroy.
June 27.-"Today % deserters cam
into our regimental lines. They. wer
nearly starved. They eat bareback wit
as much relish as a child would cake
| They said their ratiOnS were two ears o
corn and half pound of mule meat. DE
| serters have heretofore been coming IN on
and two at time. This was the larges
number at any one time. They repor
that rumors inside were that reinforce
ments would soon relieve them.
| June 29.-"Our regiment at night wen
| to bo loft with Othpr tr0ODS and made Al
attack on the enemy's water batteries
The moon was shining brightly. Our force
got so close that lighted shells wer
thrown into the works: hand grenade
were also used. Another failure to tax
the works. Lay in the trenches all da.
and night of the 30th. Returned to cam
the morning of July 1, completely worl
out and hungry.
| July 2-"Considerable excitement wa
caused by Confederate cavalry making
raid Oh the steamboat landing at Spring
| field, destroying considerable property
| Our regiment with several others. togeth
er with cavalry, were ordered there. ant
soon dispersed them. We have beer
troubled considerably of late by raids from
the enemy's cavalry on the outskirts o
our line, but by means of the telegraph
that had been laid from one end to tn
other, communication was rapidly oh
tanned. Between two pieces of wood
there was an open space of q half mile
and everything that passed during the dn.
had to run the gantlet Of the enemy
sharpshooters, so much so that trains ant
bodies of troops were moved at night.
July 6.-"News was received tha
Vicksburg had surrendered on the 4th
The news was sent into Port Hudson.
| July 7-"Arrangements were made t.
surrender on the Sth. Thousands of IA
| tons were sent into the beseged garri
SON. Firing ceased along both lines.
| July Sour army marched into Por
Hudson, our men mingling with on
prisoners. and sharing their rations witt
them, mingling together in fraternal sym
pathy, for both armies had fought bravel.
in defense Of what they thought was
Just cause.