The National tribune., 1907-07-18


that was the bravest thing that ever
/ happened, for they did not know FOR
sure the fuse had gone out. IL might
/ have gone off just as they got iH- Ih"y
got ii going again. and about 5:SO tRe
explosion tore of the bank t1e tort
stood on for Il distance of $50 feet long
and so or SO feet back. leaving a hole
about so feet deep by so or 60 feet wide
and $50 feet long. where the fort had
stood, entirely destroying the garrison
| OF 500 men; that is. | did not see Dut
, four who We're alive. and they fell IN
a swamp between the lines. The rebels
I were naturally thoroly scared. They
left the works on both sides OF the fort
and ran for dear life. They evidently
thought it was the crack of doom, for
every cannon on Grants whole line was
firing the second the mine exploded.
l never saw men make any better shots
or any faster firing cannon than the
boys did there, where l stood in the
brass battery. The panic of the rebels
| was complete. a boy and dog could
have taken possession of the works for
a mile So far the mine was a great
success.
We began to look for the Ninth Corps
We were anxious for Old Glory to climb
into the rebels works before they got
over their scare and came running back
again. But beyond driving us out OF
their way they had made no prepara-
ton for a quick rush into the rebels
works; hadn't even moved the brush
and poles they had put in front of theii
picket line to keep the enemy from
jumping them some night. Neither did
they have any aSSaulting columns ready
We looked and looked. and wondered
why they did not start. A good halt
hour passed, and then the rebels began
to come trotting back to their works
before we could see anything of storm
ing columns.
! The Ninth Corps finally went into the
crater, most of them to the right. By
that time the rebels were coming back
mad as wet hens. and they jumped the
Ninth Corps boys in great shape. They
got mixed in SO close our artillery haG
to cease firing.
Then another division of the Ninth
Corps went in on the right of the crater
They forced the COnfederates back I
little ways. Part of the division go
onto the crest beyond the crater. bu
the rebels were coming all the time. anC
soon crowded the second division dowT
into the crater. Then the rebels turned
all their guns they could bring to beal
at left. right and center, onto that mas
of men crowded into the crater ana
ravine. The slaughter was just horri-
BILE until the Ninth Corps boys got OF
the crest out of the way.
The Artillery Opens.
Then our artillery opened fire again
and drove the rebels back, taking tn,
works again, and the field was cleal
of men except the killed and wounded
BY that time two hours had passed. ant
the day was lost. Lee was sending
troops on the cars to take a hand, anC
the rebels were coming from all direc-
tiOnS. Some one started Burnside!
black division in. They went down thru
. the works in ranks They
slowly down to the swamp, crossed the
creek. Went up the bank to form a line
of battle in a little field on top of 6
hill. They got that far all right. Jus
tnen Gen. n. NJ. Curtis came along
Some one called his attention to what {
good line the blacks were forming.
! Yes" he said, but when they come
in our guns and artillery will have tc
stop. Then the rebels will run them
back down into the ravine.''
They went into the field, stayed abou
two minutes. then we went in to save
the pieces. Turning to our Colonel, III
ordered him to take his regiment dowr
to the swamp and the rest of the bri
gade would follow. BY that time oul
battery had to stop firing to keep from
hitting the blacks. They went forward
and then they struck the Johnnes skr.
mish line. Those rebel skirmishers pu
up the nastiest fight 1 ever saw. They
would jump up and fire right in those
i black fellows faces while other rebel:
came running from their main line. Il
a minute or two the black line begar
TO sway back and forth. Their white
officers were all down. All at once they
broke all to pieces and started for the
ravine. Cur Colonel stepped forward
and then we started. We did not waii
to follow the trenches; we jumped tht
works and made rush for the SWAMP
between the lines. We lost four mer
out of "a in our company getting doWI
to the creek. The rebels had turned
every available gun they had onto tina
little piece of ground between the lines
The air was just filled with shells, bu
we dashed across the swamp, losing ou
color bearer and one color guard anC
lots of others. Some of US jumped ovel
the creek. and some jumped into tn,
j creek and waded out, bat We soon go
to the bank on the other side of tht
swamp. There we met the black divi
sion coming down the bank, which wa:
about 25 feet high and almost perpen
dicular. The most of them only mad,
one jump of it, for they were as badl!
scared as the rebels had been two hour:
before. We got orders to halt them
but we did not stop many. We worked
our way thru them, or. rather, they raj
over us and made to the rear.
Gen. Curtis Leads On.
/ Gen. Curtis told us to come on, mo-
toned with his sword to the rest of tn,
boys further down the creek. and start
ed to climb the bank, which was GOV
!, cred with brush and briars. He wa!
in a desperate hurry to get us up OF
top of the bank before the rebels cOul,
get there. We went up anywhere, an.
, way we could. as there We're as man.
: pieces of our regiment as there wer
, men in it. After we got loose from tn,
blacks l climbed the bank just to tn
right of Gen. Curtis, and l noticed will
considerable satisfaction, altho he wa
six feet six inches high and weighe,
almost soc pounds, 1 could climb up
bank on my hands and knees just ahou
| as fast as he could. When we got t.
the top of the bank little squad of US
about 20, 1 should think-our Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel, a Captain or tw,
} and a few of the boys-the rebels hat
three heavy guns right out in front o
us. The little rebel Lieutenant in com
: mand motioned to his men with hi
sword to lower the muzzle Of the guns
apparently afraid of overshooting US
but he overdid the matter. When the,
, fired the guns the charge struck tn,
| ground in front of us, passing unde
our feet and throwing us in all direc
. tions. AS soon as 1 could see anythin,
1 saw Lieut.-Col. Ludwick down on hi
, knees digging the dirt out of his eye
, with his hands. He had dropped hi
sword and lost his hat. He pick
ed up his sword, but did no
wait to get his hat. He lie
that go. and jumped up. bare