Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-05-08

gap in the confederate lines through
which the reserve troops could rush
toward Petersburg. But the white
troops selected did not appear to rea-
lie the situation and eight o'clock
found them huddled in the crater hav-
ing made no well-advised attempt to
widen the gap as was the intention
of the colored brigade.
The confederates had now entirely
recovered from their surprise and
were ready for any further advance of
the union army. We thought all was
over, but in response to repeated or
ders from Gen. Meade to send in more
troops, Gen. Burnside now sent in the
colored division. The Thirtieth u. s. CT
was next to the union breastworks.
and in tones loud, clear and in quick
succession, came the commands of the
colonel: Attention, battalion" The
men sprang to their feet; Elk bay
onets!" There was a sharp rafting
of steel and then came Trail arms!-
Forward, March!" and the regiment.
led by the colonel and adjutant, went
over the breastworks and through the
opening that had previously been
made in the abatis, in columns of four,
out onto the fated plain and toward
the crater. The appearance of the
regimental colors seemed to be the
signal for the enemy's batteries and
it was volley after volley of canister
and shrapnel they gave us. Every
cnt ~
and sometimes a double set. The
brains of the color sergeant were spat-
tered over the flag, but a stalwart
corporal seized the staff before the
silken emblem touched the ground.
The line officers all shouted: For
ward, boys, forward" 1t was our
only safety to reach the confederate
lines as soon as possible. Next came
a volley of musketry followed by the
zip" zip" zip" of the firing at will,
and on every side were men falling,
falling like leaves in the forest in the
gales Of autumn.
AS we neared the confederate in
trenchments a change of direction of
the head of the column to the right
brought us directly in front of the enc
my's line, and then came the order:
by the left flank, March!" and over
the breastworks clambered the dusky
warriors, officers vying with the men
as to who should FIRST be inside of the
confederate works. The abatis made
but little impression, even the breast
works made but short pause, and
the negroes were in hand to hand
fight with as good troops as the con-
federacy had ever mustered. The
black faces assumed an ashy hue, the
eyes glared like those of wild ami
mails, the lips were tightly drawn,
showing the white teeth, and the ex-
preston on every face was terrible
to behold as over the works we went.
Surrender! Surrender! Surrender"
was heard on every side, and those
who defiantly refused were given the
cold steel without mercy. For 18
months l had served in "Upton's Regu-
lars" in the fighting Sixth corps. I
had been at South Mountain, Antietam.
Fredericksburg, Salem Church and
Gettysburg, but never had seen love
lier fighting" as Phil Kearny would
say, than this at the battle of the
Mine. Well do 1 remember the con-
federate captain who while vainly try
ing to hold his command to their
work kept yelling: Kill 'em!" Shoot
'em!" kill the niggers!" but while en-
deavoring to help carry out his own
commands a bayonet, in the hands of
dusky opponent as brave as he,
pierced him through and through.