The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-28

IN6 iii e.
his 125 men on picket without a ration of
grub. Our next long stop was at Nye
River, where we were held as support, just
the 18th we arrived on the left wing Of the
army, at Spotsylvania.
1t was a chilly, damp, disagreeable
night-eyerything was wet; no place to
find comfort. We were on an eminence;
to the left we could hear the whip-poor-
will-whip-poor-wi and not another
sound, though thousands Of men. were
moving. A large brushpile afforded the
only dry seat, SO spread my blanket and
shelter tent over it, and upon it sat several
of the officers with me-among them were
Mai. Reynolds, Lients. Hutehins and Cook,
ard Capt. Wood. How long we sat there
don't recollect: but daybreak found US a
mile or two to the front and right; cover
ing a road, crossing which several strong
and high log breastworks ran to the left
down to swamp. The first evening
Lieut.. Hntchins had charge Of SQUAD, !
among them, and We had lively picket mr.
ing. After it got dark we watched for the
flashes of the rebs' muskets and fired at
them. So did the rebs at us. A squad OF
the Oath N. Y. Cav, some 20, got up at
one time and gave yolley. / used my
cartridges judiciously:: but. still, used 3S
of them that night. Not knowing where
our regiment lay-and having no rations,
Lieut.. Hutchins took us half mile or SO
back to the Provost Marshal, who provided
for us. The next day we rejoined the regi-
ment, and while part of the regiment was
to the right or left, on duty, Co. A
was placed ON a skirmish line in little
grove of pines. In our front was dense
underground, which was held by q strong
skirmish line of the enemy; to the right
a small knoll holding three or four bat
teries of artillery, bnt no horses, and but
few living men. The dead and wounded
batterymen lay and sat about the edge of
this knoll: one, especially, swayed two and
fro. still living. but the top of his skull
shattered and the brain oozing ont over
his face.
Oh, CHASTITY sights were quite common
| in yesterdays struggle.
The exposure of the batteries was such
that no man could stay near them in an
upright position. The enemy would pour
terrific fire into it and sweep down ev-
| ery living thing. One man during the
forenoon crawled under one of the guns
and cautiously loaded ii from below with.
out drawing the enemy's fire. Between the
two lines ran little creek, about hip
deep, which we crossed and recrossed sew.
| eral times, trying to drive back the enemy
but We were unable to do SO, except where
to the left OF us, tall member, of Go
one with guidOn. who ventured too far
out of the brush, and our tall friend had a
bead on them.
AN ANSWERED PRAYER.
This was the first time we ever faced
death and battle, and although we did not
finch. it made me, at least, realize how
near we are to death when in war. I did
not want to die inst then. and in the in.
most OF my heart prayed to the Almighty
God to spare my life. While walking by
forked pine tree saw little book stick.
ing in this fork, open and wet by the rains
l walked toward this book. and found it to
be pocket Testament with the Psalms il,
back, the book open at Psalm 118, and the
18th verse prominently showing forth-tO
me-like beacon light. Look it up and
say il this was not a direct answer and
q comfort to me! Looking back now, and
Knowing the thousand chances of death in
this most bloody and persistent campaign
| l am thankful to God, for He alone pre-
served me. came home without q
scratch. On another day, at Spotsylvania
We pushed our skirmish line quite a dis
lance ahead, into and through the brush.
after dark, and lay down on the end of
our blankets, rubber below, and slapped
| the other end over our bodies, so that head
and feet stuck out and got wet. 1t rained
all night aud the wafer ''sqnashed" under
us. 1t was too dark to see our neiglbors
but saw objects only when they got above
the sky line. How got into Co. j.
here, l don't know; but about midnight
saw against the sky the outlines of O. NJ
Serg't Searles and that big Company
Clerk, carrying q box OF crackers coming
over the knoll from the left. They stopped
before each man, peeped down, and asked
us this Co. Fy Having had no ra
tons lately, and seeing chance, looked
1 up, took my Co. II crackers, and q,
they did not know me, was happy. Ths
next day remained on the skirlnish line
as we advanced into small woods W.
held the north end, and the rebels had
small breastworks In the. southend; al
We're in full view, especially I, who stood
in wood road--a position which twt
others had refused before me. There wai
no danger, however, as neither side offered
fight. Here Iagain came among my owr
company. One OF them, Ezra Nc, stooi
next to me, and tab friend beyond him
As we--the friend and I--conversed Ia {
low tone Era suddenly opened his mouth
looked toward the rebs, raised his gun II
q most serious manner, snapped a cap, and
then, In most contented manner, huddlei