The Republican journal., 1905-02-09
firing" was given, and almost instantly
a shower of lead was poured into the


ly, for in few moments their strong ,,
line had melted away. When the CON-
mand Fix bayonets" was given, onward
dashed all that was left of the 10th
Maine, while cheer; upon cheer rose
above the din of battle. The enemy
fed in all directions, some throwing up
their hands in token of surrender, 9TH
ers hiding behind rocks and bushes to
escape the fury of the charge and later
coming into our lines. The victory of
the second day was decisive. The LIST
Brigade of the Old Iron Division was
the first to see the backs of the enemy
and the 10Th Maine was one of the first
regiments to gain full possession of
that part of the field. 1t assisted in
the recapture of several pieces of artil-
lery and in sending many prisoners to
the rear; but sad were the sights around
us. The dead and wounded covered the
ground. We heard in that memorable
twilight the wild cries for help and the
broken prayers of the sufferers mingled
with the echoes of thunder. Presently
it was dark and we picked our way back
across the field as best we could to
AVOID tramping upon the dead and dy-
ing. Fresh supplies of ammunition
We're distributed to the batteries and
sixty rounds to the men. Dead horses
and broken caisons were moved out of
the way and everything done to prepare
for an attack in the early morning.
Soon all was quiet save for the shrieks
and cries of the wounded and an oc-
casional stray picket Shot At last the
men slept scundly, forgetful of the ter
rjble scenes of the day and the harvest
of death around them.
Morning dawned on notwithstanding
scene. AS the first streaks of light ap-
peared in the east the men awoke from
their few hours of sleep. Rations had
given out and the men must fight on
empty stomachs. Four companies of
the 10th were deployed as brigade
skirmisherS and mine was among the
number. Slowly the men were deploy-
ed in the face of the rebel sharpshoot-
ers, who forwarded their compliments
without stint. The line was too small
to deserve many shells or it would have
received them. The position was in an
open field with nothing to protect the
men from the sharpshooters or shelter
from scorching July sun. They laid
fiat on the ground to make as small
target as possible. About the middle
of the afternoon of July Bird two pieces
of rebel artillery gave the signal. AL
most instantly shells from two hundred
rebel cannon went screaming overhead.
Our own artillery soon responded, and
for two hours these two hundred pieces
sent their shells on their deadly mis-
sion. BY and by came relief. 1T re-
quires less nerve to face the enemy in
AN open field than to lay under fire
with no chance to retaliate. There
may be less danger in the latter case,
but all testimony gives preference to
the former. The enemy were advanc-
ing, aud it was relief at this particu-
lar time, as ten hours on the ground
side 10y side with hundreds of the rebel
dead was not very agreeable situation.
The enemy were advancing in solid
columns against the frail lines of the
ON ,x,ho hn1J l., ,,-l In 81
the line of battle. A position which if
they could gain would mean success. On
they came regardless of the few Skin
mlshers who stood before them, and
whose only chance was to retreat or be
annihilated. Soon they reached the
main line and the terrible struggle be.
gan. l have never read or heard any
better description of that last rebel
charge than that given by Col. w. H.
Fogler, the officer who commanded
the skirmish line on that memorable
afternoon Of July Bird, and which was
said by army officers to be one of the
best skirmish lines ever formed on this
continent. The charging column was
composed of fifteen thousand men, the
flower of the rebel army and it fell up
on the 2nd corps and the boys who
were there. This is Col. Fogler's de-
scription:
For three days had the battle ragged.
Time and again had they charged our
lines only to be driven back with terri
BILE loss. He determined to make one
more bloody effort to break our lines
and drive us from our position. Form
ing his men behind the opposite hills
he prepared for the attack while we al
most GREATNESS awaited their coming.
The mouths Of our cannon opened to
receive the enemy, the cannoniers be-
hind their guns like statues of steel, the
long lines Of infantry clinching their
rifles as only men will clinch when in
splred with the energy of desperation.
Not long had we to wait, for as the
cannoniers ceased their fire OH the op-
posite hill there appeared first line Of
skirmiShers then the solid lines of rebel
infantry. Down the long slope they
come, magnificent in their steadiness
and confidence in their bearing. AS they
came within range our artillery opened
terrific fire Of grape shot and canister