The National tribune., 1906-07-05

Il: WASHINGTON, b. q, TIN
.;raa,n,nx and .,.a.rlin;x. sor 3 q. mas
tery. while above 4 it, all there waved the
tattered flag. nldfGlory."
Every man tbAt day realized that the
man the issue MAS to be decided.
Hand to hang, back and FORTH again
and yet again they rushed with. thrust
End parrSS;; With Wild hurrah and rebel
,.1 10 stsuetson :, goes s;va 1n n,ne x,.,on
! through the long years past away to-
ward the scenetofistrife Of that day, I
can see the brave boys. with CLINT OF
| fire in their eyeasas they so maRfullv
struggled on. 1--WE can still see their
| glowing faces when, with ringing shou-.
they closed oninhe- colors. rallying on
| that beloved banner for victory or
DEATH. 49,. 10 70 80.
But our lineel was too thin to stay
their movements. and they broke away
back to the haunts from whence they
came. but leaving their dead and
wounded in our lines. 47-".sis .
A picture caught in shifting light Of
|, truthful presentment of Northern-aye,
OF Seuthern-courage exhibited by
American soldiery. No other men save
Americans would have stood before
those toughened veterans of the South.
led to the attack by Stewart and Lor-
ing. both renowned as fighters, and well
they maintained their regulations on
the bloody ridges along Peach Tree
Creek. -. ,se~-s,.. .a~a.<
On Harrison's front hand-to-hand
conflicts actually, took place and were
of frequent occurrence that fearful
afternoon. ..
Regimental Duels.
The 102d ILL., drove straight at the
40th Miss. and tore them to pieces.
There blue and gray coats lay side by
side, "reconciled at last in the peace Of
DEATH" The 31st and SD Miss, con-
solidated and commanded by Col Jabez
L.. Drake, broke through the 129th, H.,
reformed their lines, faced about and
charged back again, cutting and slash
ing and losing in our Immediate front
IS per cent of its members, every regi-
mental officer killed or wounded. But
once their faces are turned from us;
their retreat is accelerated by wild huZ-
zahs Of the old regiment, until the Con-
federates reach their reserves. This
was fight where there was no rear,
not the slightest chance.
Wild Work Repeated.
But the days work was but begun.
That wonderful discipline manifested
by the veterans of the South rallied the
broken troops. and drove them back
upon us again and again. Hardly CIV
ing us time to replenish our famished
cartridge boxes, We are apprised by the
well-known rebel yell that they still
meant business.
Suddenly and in heavy force they
age yells, which echoed over the hills,
they came, exultant with the idea OF
driving the Yanks into the Chatta-
hoochie.
Gen. Hood had given out to his men
that morning that there was nothing
before them but few raw troops
three-months men-and who would be
easily put to flight by few Of their
yells. and that they would hardly get
chance for arything in the line of
fight excepting lShg- distance shots as
we were running away Imagine the
surprise Of thHsfo YeopIe, coming sud-
denly upon our lifl9' and recognizing the
brigade which they had met before on
Captain. disgusteasWith 1.-THE the s i,aa ps
threw down his Sword and surrendered,
exciaiming: THEY told us we had moth
ing to meet hefe but some little snots
of reserves, whom I'VE could easily run
over owe but, my Gods3t's those - Blue
stars again.
But now on eon4es. the fourth time
that afternoon. TIE rushing, roaring
hosts in gray. led by one whose name
was q host itself, Alex. P. Stewart, and
before whose charging coliirfins none
had ever stood Bth TO go down in death
The boys 'torsa their cartridges with
feverisfs ifnpatiaHce, and with black
ened hands wiped the streaming sweat
from their powder-stained faces. while
line fire drove at the Confederate
ranks with spite that killed
Tom Flynn, commanding the regi-
ment. was storming up and down the
lines, and yelled out, Look sharp, boys
HelPs turned loose for dinner" Near
er and nearer came the rebs, with
rush and a roar. two to our one, heads
bent low, hats pulled down over their
eyes guns at the long trail.
Harrison. seeing the danger Of a
break, rushed into our midst, shouting
Stand firm, boys, and the day is ours"
Old Tom (Flynn), rolling huge quid
from one cheek to the other, remarked
Never you mind, Colonel; look out for
the other fellows; these are Illinoisans:
they never fail"
All! why should this not remain a
picture on. ones memory? In front was
the coming line tipped with fire and
fame. The smoke of our guns leaping
out in front slowly rises. forming a cur
tain that unites the line of fire and the
clouds above. At intervals we catch a
glimpse of foemen faces. blackened
with powder and glaring with demoniac
fury, lost to all human feelings and full
Of fiendish desire to, kill; they are no
longer men, but, rather, devils incar-
nate.
Here stands a line of men. ready for
this rushing and advancing foe, but in
the body Of that regiment 4abides the
steel-strung nerves Of Illinois, who. with
slow but precise movement, load and
fire their guns with terrible effect. The
foe in front fall like leaves in Autumn,
that line Of gray vanishes, a new one
takes It's place. the rafting roar blends
into continuous sound Of musketry.
Guns grow hot to the touch, and the
ground in front is crimson with the
blood Of the fallen foe. Around on
every side-abOve, below-there swept
storm OF bullets such as was never
seen before. or since. Out OF that fire
some came alive, but 1T was a wonder
that any did. An examination of the
field afterward showed the ground
plowed with shot and the smallest twig
nf q nf