The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-28
A MONTH OF BATTLES.
Continued from page ID

VIII eACftenent 1mmCQlately en-
sued. in the midst of which section of
lThompsons Pa. Battery gailoped into
position on the summit OF the hill. In
stantiy the mercilcss shell sped with
deadly precision and angry fire flashes
from the black mouths Of the we'll
fiery tempest was followed again by a
ringing fire from fresh artillery. and
for miles along the Rappahannock the
war fiend held high carnival. The pow
der smoke tainted and pure air Of heav-
en-, and the carol of the forest bird was
hushed as the awful thunder passed
over the solid earth.
The death-shot kissing from afar,
The shock. the shout. the groan Of war
J Reverberate along that vale"
Il While this grand artillery duel ragged
} l was the unwilling witness to a fatal
accident. An old man named Sanders.
4 OF Go. i of our regiment. standing in
place i'm line. with his head resting
upon the muzZle OF his musket, was in
stan'ly Killed by its premature dis
charge, the loops of his Ieggings hav-
ing in some manner drawn back the
hammer of the gun. He fell dead I'm
the ranks. About the same time our
; Adjutant. Israel Uncapher. a veteran
of the Mexican War, made a miracu-
lous escape His horse becoming I'M
manageable. he dismounted. He had
scarcely touched the ground when a
solid shot passed directly through the
horse just below the seat Of the saddle.
distinctly remember the heavy thud
as the shot struck him, his piercing
neigh of pain and sudden fall.
J During all this time heavy firing was
heard above and below the bridge The
smoke of the conflict curled high above
the tree-tops, contrasting beautifully
with the somber hue OF the pines and
the delicate foliage of the poplars and
naples that fringed the shores Of the
river. The bronzed and battleworn in
fantry lined the rifie-pits or supported
!, smoking batteries as they vomited forth
sheeted flames. Sigel was fighting fur
Ford the heroic Gen. Henry Bohlen, of
Schurz's Division, fell at the head Of
his First Brigade.
Night at length crept down with it's
curtain of darkness. No sound was
heard save the ring Of axes and ham,
engaged In the construction of bridge
above the Station. The pale stars
looked down coldly upon the scene
and the night bird tapped her wings
and uttered dismal cry as If in mock
cry of the stifled means Of the dying
| With the first gray streaks of the
morning the conflict was renewed.
Early in the day Lieutenant Of
Thompson's Battery fell MORALLY
wounded near one of the guns. The
work on the rife-pits, carried on dur
| ing the night, was still continued A
magnificent artillery duel ragged almost
continuously, but the day ended as it's
predecessor. The sun went down bloody
red behind the Blue Ridge, and the
pail Of night again curtained the wreck
and disorder Of the ensanguined field.
During its dark hours the rain poured
| down in torrents, and a sullen roar of
rushing waters came up from the rapid
| river.
Two Days Of Repulses.
repeated efforts to cross the river at
various points, but had been every
where repulsed. The center of interest
seemed to be where our brigade (Hart-
suff's), the forlorn hope of Pope's
army, was still holding Cemetery Hill,
the only troops on the southwest bank
of the river. AS night came on the
Rappahannock swelled to flood height,
and the temporary bridge was swept
away. The railroad bridge remained,
and the brigade was ordered to put 1T
IN shape for the crossing Of men and
wheels. This was done, and on the
morning of the 23d the brigade crossed
rapidly at a trail arms at the time ap
pointed. AS the last gun-carriage was
yet rumbling over the splintered plank
the southern pier Of the bridge creaked
and swayed a moment and then fell
i
flood.
Magnificent Spectacle.
AS the heavy vapors of morning
| slowly lifted from the soggy earth
magnificent spectacle was presented.
Long battle lines Of Confederate infan-
| try with cavalry were observed advanc-
ing against Cemetery Hill. Steadily,
with martial bearing, they swept the
plain, evidently believing that the
/ hri1 loo hoI Ia6 nd no
Hartsuffs Brigade must be captured.
Twenty pieces Of artillery on the north
bank of the river finally opened upon
the enemy's grand advance, the thun-
der of the rapid discharges reverberat-
| ing far up and down the valley. AS the
morning breeZes waited the cannon
smoke from river and plain the glitter
ing forest Of Confederate bayonets was
seen still advancing. Again our guns
belched forth fearful storms Of death
that cut swaths through the we'll
| dressed ranks. These were closed up
bravely, but repeated volleying dis
charges staggered their bleeding col
umns, and when it was discovered that
Hartsuff's Brigade was safe on the north
bank the whole gray mass of the enemy
and over the bodies Of the slain, while
the cheers Of our artillerymen rolled
far over the reeking field.
Thus ended the attempt of the enc
my to cross the river at this point. The
Confederate column on the opposite
side Of the river, after the battle, moved
parallel with our division, which moved
up toward Warrenton, bivouacking in
| sight Of the town the same evening.
During two days thereafter the enc
my was reported in large force NOV
ing up toward our right, endeavoring,
apparently, to flank us. SUNDAY morn
ing we marched in the direction Of Sui
phur Springs where body Of the enc
my was attempting to cross the river.
On Monday we were pushed still further
on the right, and on Tuesday the divi-
sion was thrown across the Warrenton
pike near Waterloo Bridge.
Recruits Arrive.
| During all this time. while shifting
from point to point, the thunder of ar
! tillery was almost constantly vibrating
upon our ears While at Waterloo so
men, recruits for Co. G, 18th Pa, un-
der Lieut.. Hopper. Joined the regiment.
They arrived at time when it must
have been very evident to them that
they could enjoy but a brief respite be-
fore being called upon to face powder