Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-02-23

rived at the White House Landing, a
distance of 20 miles, on the following
morning at sunrise. On this march
Gen. VIM. Smith, commanding our
corps complimented us very highly,
and as we were not accustomed to
FORCED MARCHES it was quite a con-
sideration. the Second Heavy Aril-
lery regiment of which | was a part
keeping up with the old and expert
enced soldiers without much strag-
Cling. Here we encamped several
hours for rest, then boarded the trans
port "Gov. Chas," and were so II
skimming over the pure and limpid
waters of majestic York river en- route
for City Point. During much of this
voyage we were shad)wed by the
enemy who lined the banks of the
stream hid in ambush. We arrived
safely at this little Getty" and after
disembarking were ordered to sling
knapsacks preparatory to a march to-
wards Petersburg. Reaching the front
we We're Immediately placed in line
of battle, and while lying down in a
peach orchard and awaiting orders to
charge on the rebel batteries and rifle
pits the Johnnies commenced shelling
us, compelling the command to fall to
the rear, as the shot from the enemy's
heavy cannon were raking Batteries
G, d, F and M, of Major Sadler's
Battalion. The next day the first
and second battalions made gallant
and successful attack on the Confed-
crate works, completely routing them
and carrying everything before us
Our regiment lost in this dreadful
charge nearly 100 men of the rank
and file in killed and wounded. The
enemy too, lost heavily, and skedaded
in confusion, leaving behind them /
pieces of artillery and camp equipage
The Second Heavy, or 18th regiment
at this time is over 200 less than it
was one month ago. Capt. Paul
Jones, acting major of the second
battalion, was severely wounded while
gallantly leading his command under
a raking volley of grape and canister
which rained from Battery No. Five,
and which the Petersburg Express"
had reported ''recaptured from the
yanks." We have had but little rest
since we left the Notifications at
Washington, being kept at work all
night building entertainments and
marching and fighting during the
scorching heat of the Virginia sun.
All soldiers will know what such an
ordeal means. Not day has passed
since we left Cold Harbor but that
our regiment has not been exposed to
fire from the screaming minnie ball or
the spherical case limb-tearing shot
and shell, either wounding or sending
some poor soldier Unexpectedly to his
long home; and yet the associated
press dispatches say: "All is quiet;
there is nothing being done of any
note" while the correspondents lounge
fearlessly far back in the rear, out of
harms way, taking their ease and re-
ceiving big salaries Every day not
less than a dozen casualties occur in
our corps, and with no notice taken
of them whatever-in many cases be-
cause the correspondents were too
cowardly to go to the front where the
startling news was to be found. |
think this very wrong, as the name of
the unfortunate soldier should be re-
corded so that relatives might know
of the patriots, fall, and thus give sat-
isfactory information concerning the
death of the hero. The other night |
we were ordered to the extreme rifle
pits, which were about rs yards from
the Johnnies Here we were COM
PEELED to remain in the scorching sun
for four days before being relieved |
from the terrible strain. While in |
these pits AL. j. Adams and l were
detailed from Battery f, with re-
gular detail from other batteries were
ordered on vidette and when all SEEM
ed serene started to dig a hole in
the ground for protection in case the
Rebs commenced firing. The regi-
ment in the pits noticing the vdettes
moving around in the dark supposed |
the enemy was charging, discharged |
their pieces over our heads, when | |
for one, expected to be shot or cap.
tured ran in front of the fusilade of |
musketry and joined the boys without
even hair being touched. Comrade |
Adams and several others remained |
on their posts and were less liable to |
danger. 1t was, indeed, fearful |
risk for those who left the vidette
line; and it was, indeed, fortunate that |
not soldier was killed or wounded. |
Lieut.. Geo. UT, after this reminis-
cence complimented the boys for their
gallantry. Artillery duels are of |
common occurrence, and not day
passes that the artillerymen on both |
sides do not shoot off their big guns as
well as their mouths, for when shells
are not screaming the Rebs yell
"Git down Yank, for we re Il gwain
to shoot" and then the racket COM
mences, and the air becomes blue with
smoke, and flying missiles and oaths,
for remember, the soldier when in the
greatest danger, is just as liable to
take the name of God in vain as if he
were at home sitting around the quiet
fireplace. Last week the Rebs fired
81 pieces of heavy ordnance into our
lines at one time. Then our boys
opened up, and there was, indeed,
much trouble among the fellows over
the way. The event was hot for the
time, while we hugged the rifle pits
nutil the duel was at an end. Fort