The National tribune., 1904-03-31

Our arst position on the front line was
where the City Point Railroad entered
Petersburg and where We were exposed to
both the FIRE from that Whjtworth Bat
terry and the sharpshooters In our front.
How to get our guns there was . prob,
in anytime to know how to move into posi-
ton at night. Gen. STANDARDS headQuar-
tiers were near the place, and l reached his
bombproof in safety and got such infor-
nation as was necessary, and after dark
We drove to our assigned position, then
removed the horses mile or more to the
rear. It was only necessary to open the
portfolios OF cur earthwork to invite balls
from the sharpshooters. The Whitworth
Battery frequently opened fire on ms, and
one OF their shells exploded and killed
half dozen colored soldiers at our side.
Lieut.. Kilgore, at the risk Of his life.
picked it up and threw it out in the ditch.
The artillery officer OF each day was
obliged to examine all the guns on
the line under his corps commander. When
it became my duty | started in on our
right and crept along, under cover
at some points, where was warned
by the infantry on guard to dodge. and
made the investigations preliminary and
necessary to written report of the con-
ditiOn Of the artillery. Fort Steadmau
was erected close to the spot where Col.
Steadman, Of the 18th Conn, received his
fatal wound.
THE PETERSBURG MINE.
Before June "a. 1854, the mine was
completed, and 5000 pounds Of powder
was in position under the rebel fort. We
knew what was going on; in fact, 1t was
an open secret along our line, and min
ing became a mania. Our battery boys
sunk shaft and imagined they could hear
counter-mining by the enemy.
June 20 l received orders to report with
the battery at a location not far from
Gen. Burnside's headquarters, with three
days rations. On the morning of the Both
we heard the noise and saw the smoke
occasioned by the explosion, and soon
heard OF the sacrifice of Gen. Bartletts
Brigade, that entered and passed through
the crater. The explosion was a success,
and partially opened the enemy's line for
the capturing Of Petersburg and close Of
further orders until after dark, and was
then directed to place our guns in front
OF the crater. We had to pass through
the woods in which Burnside's quarters
were, and the noise we made attracted
the fire OF the enemy; but we placed tho
guns in position and retired the horses TO
a place Of safety, and only one horse and
one man We're wounded. The narrow ra-
vine between us and the enemy made it
possible for close observance Of each 9th
er, and during hours Of hostility it was
dangerous to person to expose himself.
And yet, Lieut.. Wildey, as brave man
as ever lived, would, with white shirt
and open collar Che was sailor), show
himself and draw the fire Of sharpshoot-
ers. Trees where he stood were barked
by their bullets, but he seemed to have a
charmed life, and never was hurt. After
the war, as engineer in the Philadelphia
Mint, he was killed by accident.
There was n Congressional investigation
Of the calamity resulting from the sue
cessful mine explosion, but doubt wheth-
er the true cause was uncovered Anti
pathy between Gen. Burnside. who stuck
the Army Of the Potomac in the mud and
won defeat at Fredericksburg, and Gen.
Meade, to whom he had subsequently re-
ported as a subordinate, l believe, was
the main cause OF our terrible disaster.
The mine originated in Bunside's com
Peasants, who had a regiment Of expe-
rienced miners, and consummated, appar-
emily, under protest Of Gen. Meade.
burnside had assigned the posts of hon
or to regiments and given detailed instruc-
tions that were, on the night before the
explosion. countermanded by Meade. My
informant, John Youngman, who was on
clerical duty at Burnsides headquarters.
and one of my boyhood companions, said
that when Burnside received Meade's or
der changing the program, broke out in
dignantly: Damn him. let him attend to
1t himselfv' The result was disarrange-
ment, confusion. calamity!
AS ranking Captain in our regiment
declined promotion, and rendered my resig
nation. 1t was repeatedly refused. When
urgently stated that 1 declined pro.
motion and was In the way Of the desired
promotion OF my Lieutenants, and that
my presence at my wife's bedside seemed
duty, it was accepted, and l received
nation Sept. %, 1864.
could foresee the end Of the war. Gems.
Grant and Sherman, with their veterans,
cooperating to crush the Confederacy and
to save the Union, could not fail.
This VIII Interest Many.