The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-21
GIN HOUSE

idea as to what was going on. The at
tack commenced on our outpost about
2 o'clock Of the morning Of the 5th,
when a few shots were fired, followed
by intense quiet. After a little the fir
ing was resumed, and was continued
internationally for some time, quite
brisk at times and then all ceasing The
point where all Of the firing was until
along in the forenoon was about a half
mile from here toward Ackworth, where
two wagon roads come together, and
close to the railroad. Beyond this was
length. The farther side being consid
erably higher, gave them a position for
their artillery. Beyond this is some
quite heavy timber. With their artil-
lery on the hill and their infantry on
the low ground this side formed their
extreme right. From here their line
crossed the railroad track and kept ex-
tending in semi-circle until 1t crossed
the railroad on the other side Of US. BY
this time it had got to be about 10
o'clock Our guns had been at work
on theirs until they had ceased firing.
sent out about 40 rods along the brow
Of the ridge to a point where we were
expecting the enemy, and as the line
came in sight the order was given to
fire. But no shot followed, and on put
ting in a little powder to blow out the
IL was IOuuu 10 DE OI SdWOuSI
instead of powder. BY this time the
enemy had got SO close that the only
thing to do was to timber up and get
back to the fort. On coming back they
got stuck about four or five rods from
the fort, the horses were unhitched and
brought in and volunteers called for to
bring the guns In, SO some seven or
eight of us went out and unlimbered
the gun and brought in the timber first
and then went out and brought in the
gun. We all got in safe, although the
bullets were flying pretty thick. About
this time our infantry had to fall back
to the fort, and from that time until
about or o'clock we had about as
warm a time as I ever want to see. 1t
was one desperate struggle for the mas
terry, but we were victorious. The bot
tom Of the fort was covered with the
dead and wounded About 3 o'clock
we got percussion she'll wedged in the
gun on which I was working, SO we had
to abandon 1T for the time. and the
other guns for some reason were not
working, so there was no cannonading
from our fort for time. We also
thought that we were out Of ammuni-
ton, SO I got a musket, as did several
others, and commenced firing with
those. fired about 80 rounds. At this
time some one discovered some ammu-
milton chests that had not been opened,
SO we moved some Of the dead and
WOunOeQ ana brought the second piece
to the embrasure where our piece had
been, and commenced firing percussion
shell into an old house that was shell
tering q lot of the Johnnfes. 1t was not
over a half-hour after we opened this
last time before they were skedaddling
In all directions. While our loss is Sc
we're. 1t Is nothing to theirs. It is sup
posed here that they lost more men
than we had all told. Our loss is sup
posed to be about 700 or 500 In killed.
wounded and missing"
And now. comrades. do any Of you
remember OF seeing the Johnny mount
ed on a bay horse ride broadside across
our front. and how everybody tried to
persuade him to stop? But, as I re-
member It. he was still on his horse
when he passed out Of sight. notwith-
standing the hundreds OF bullets sent
In his direction. Also. the one that lay
down in the road under shelter Of the
bank, and on discovery was fired at and
who jumped and ran for shelter?
have often thought I would like to
know IL either escaped.-A. r. Kibbe,
New Richmond, Wis,