The National tribune., 1903-02-12
The Sad 18Th Of March for the Fourteenth
Corps-Jo6 Johnston's Attempt to Crush It
Before the Rest of the Army Came Up.

Before the Rest of the Army Came Up.
Incomparahly more dismal than ever
wept the dun, dreary rain from the clouds
lying low along the dark March sky. Sis
hopes of being able to get back to the
main road had persisted the death OF
despair at the sight of the crushing of
the Third Brigade by the swarms Of yell
ing rebels from the woods.
The shattered regiments of the Third
Brigade fell back across the field to the
woods on the south and west, taking refuge
behind the swamps and beginning with
fcyerish activity the construction of bar
ricades and works. The wagons were be-
ing parked further back, among. them
Shad Graham's p0ntoon train, and the hos
pital tents were quickly pitched for the
Surgeons beyond the road leading south
ward to Clinton and Troublefield's store.
Presently the headquarters flags of the
divisions and corps were stationed, and at
tempts were made to shake out their
drenched folds as signals for rallying-
points.
The wornout artillery horses were goad-
ed to exhaustion to drag the guns to the
front through the bogs, and the can
noneers covered with mud in their efforts
to help the horses along. Companies of in
into the mud to help the artillery men.
The Doggy acres of the open field were
covered with dead and wounded men, guns,
equipments, and mired ambulances.
The triumphant rebels were soon check
ed from crossing the main road leading to
Goldsboro by the terrible volleys from the
corps artillery, dragged to where it could
rake the road and enflade the mass.
To the northeast of the road the open
Entl H.,
torrent of rebels, in which ST and his
squad crouching behind their defenses
were like headlard in the midst of the
rush of an angry freshet. There was at
least q half mile of enemies between him
and his friends on the main road.
There was, though, no less confusion
among the victorious rebels than among
the defeated Union soldiers. All over the
miry open ground were men lying dead
and wounded, hundreds limping back pain
fully, hundreds more plunging and spat-
tering about to gather up their dead and
wounded comrades and take them to the
rear. Many hundreds more were obeying
their instincts of fight before the fierce
blasts of canister and shrapnel vomited
from the Union cannon, and were seeking
safety in remoteness.
Generals and their STATS, Colonies,
Majors, Captains and Lieutenants were
laboring through the clinging clay, wav-
ing their swords, yelling. cursing, COM
manding, trying to get their men into line
for an assault upon the awful batteries
to complete the victory.
Most of the men were willing enough,
but it was feafully slow, hard work to
move in any direction.
Hell is ont over there for noon, for
sure, 81" remarked Shorty, sententious-
ly.
ITS condemned sight worse than that
w ednesday morning at Stone River" re-
sponded hisspartner with more. depression
in his tone than Shorty had ever noticed
there in theoweods."
and much good that will do u.s." an
swered Shorty, with something of despair
in his glance over the wide expanse of tur-
bulent enemies. They are only rallying for
q stand. See! They are working for their
lives to throw up barricades and make a
line. Watch, the axes and spades
fly! They ohlVshope to hold their own I'M
til the rest OF sthe army comes up, which
will be, God knows when, for it is stuck
in the mud all over North Carolina. By
the time it gets up, we will be where the
rain won't bother u.s."
mighty sight better than going back to
said 81, with the light of
deadly determination in his sad blue eyes.
Even If they would let us surrender,
which l much misdoubt, from the way
that we have seen them shooting down
men over there in the field, l would rather
die right here than go back to Ander-
sonville. Only God Almighty Himself can
get US out of this scrape, but He only helps
those who help themselves. We will do
our very best as long as we live. Saints
can do no more"
The IRE upon them had ceased, by the
men being called off to join the assault on
the batteries, and Buelrs Brigade support
ing the guns, and 81 took the opportunity
to move around little and inspect his
position.
A swamp lay at the foot of the knoll on
which he was. and between him and the
open field to the southeast where the rebels
were forming for their main attack A
little branch ran from this around the
north of the knoll, making bluff few
feet beyond, SO high that he could not be
readily attacked by the rebels in the field.
To the north was the thick growth of black
Jacks, interspersed with sloughs and
swales, through which he had been fight
ng. A heavy column preceded by q squad
If skirmishers was forming to move
through this and attack Bueii's Brigade in
Hank, while the force in the field attacked
n front. To the south, on a slight rise of
railcutters. The possibility Of taking this
md fighting his way to the main line sug-
yested itself to 81, but he dismissed the
thought Mt once because 1t meant abandon
nent of his wounded.
1--WE will stay and live and die with
hem," he said to Shorty, who had fol-
owed the direction of his partners eyes
md read his thoughts.
my idea exactly. I'm your buckle
berry," said Shorty.
81 looked over his squad, while Shorty
md some others busted themselves gather |
ng up chunks and rails to strengthen their
licenses.
eve got out of that cave out there in |
Georgia, where they tried to burn us up |
live" said Sandy to Pete, as they laid |
N a rail and braced it. 1--WE are going to |
ret out of this somehow"
Monty's eyes were almost closed by the |
wound on his forehead, made by the rail,
tut he was still full of pluck He held a |
vet cloth to his head to reduce the infiam-
nation, and paired off with Tom Brainard,
whose broken arm prevented his loading |
lis carbine. lit should come that Monty
ould not see1t1 shoot, he could load for
Tom. 4 1s,
Gid Mackall,swith his wounded thigh,
lad been braced up with a chunk behind |
lin, 80 that he could see over the log in
ront and sho9t, and protect himself by
Lucking down behind it. The burning
rease of a bullet across Alf's hips hurt
i'm so that ihe would have stopped and
lursed it if he had had the time. Shorty
till had his head bound with the white
ilk handkerchief, but had forgotten that
le had been touched.
'.There is nothing for us to do but to
tand pat, Si,r until the attack is made"
Ie said to hisipartner. ''They won't bother
is much until after that. If Buelrs Bri-