The National tribune., 1908-12-17
Scres Emnenty Worth Telling Of Experiences aud Adventures
+ In tie Great National Struggle.

kaVuoA 0tlo$SiSe
DEVILS Dere and the Round Tops The
sun was wen down in the west, when
from the distant hills, edged on their
submits with timber, two batteries of
Confederate artillery, of four guns each.
came out in full view, one of which
came on at gaIlop, wheeled into posi-
ton, dropped limbers, the men standing
In place ready to open FIRE. Soon regi-
ments of infantry began to appear, and,
moving forward. formed in line of bat
tie to the left Of these guns. Watching
these as they came into fine thru a
field glass, and counting battle flags and
intervals in the front line. calculated
that there were eight regiments, and of
probably from 400 to 500 muskets In
each; In rear OF these. forming the
front line OF battle, were two smaller
lines OF infantry, formed some two or
three hundred yards. in rear as support
ing columns. On their left flank, as q
curtain, were two or more regiments
moving by the left flank in files Of four.
How long it took this bolt of war to
complete its preparation for lanching
itself upon our thin extended line Is
impossible to even guess, as I became
SO much interested in its movements,
and particularly in watching a dashiug
officer riding a niilk-white horse and
who appeared to- be a field officer, gs-
signing the different commands to their
respective positions. that lost all track
of the artillery. But ii seems to me
that something like two hours must
have elapsed before the column was
fully completed
Then an officer and staff rode along
the front line. and must have made
some remarks to the men, as distinct
ly saw a futter of battle flags and hats
In 6A 81 11rrf
far away to be heard Then the whole
mass moved out with arms at right
shoulder-shift, their movement in per-
feet alignment, but with what appeared
to me as at a slow. measured tread,
evidently intending not to exhaust itself
in covering the intervening space. In
front OF the oncoming lines took par
ticular notice Of two lines Of men de-
ployed as sleirmfshers well out to the
front, and about 100 yards distant from
each other. the first line vaulting over
the intervening fences with which the
valley in front was divided into fields
and meadows. while the second line
Lleveled these distractions as they came
to them, thus removing and clearing
the way for the onceming lines Of bat
tie. The last saw Of my white horse
friend. the enemy. he had dismeunted,
and was leading the advancing line on
foot and the horse was being led to
the rear.
A stubborn SIxirmish Line.
As soon as the advance skfrmish line
came within reach OF US we opened a
brisk fire upon it. and the two lines of
depfoyed men were soon battered into
one blazing line of musketry. At this
juncture the 18th n. Y. came out to the
front as a reinforcement to us, and
sharpshooter, slsfrmisher and reinforce
hapannl an ina ~
defense, with orders to hold the enemy
at bay to the last notch The oncoming
line Of Confederate infantry halted from
time to time. waiting for its advance, to
clear the way, while we in the heavy
timber made every tree and rock a
veritable battlefield, and probably dur
ing the whole war more stubborn
skirmish fight was never waged. Our
movements were directed by the bugie
calls OF the Major Of the 60th y. Y,
which rang clear and distinct above the
rage of conflict. The smoke of battle
gathering under the dense foliage of
the trees, together with the dusk Of
evening, soon brought out to view the
flashes of the n8ilsketry, and so near
us came the solid line of battle at one
time that its tramp. tramp. and the
sharp. short commands Of its officers
became clearly audible.
The main line of the enemy entering
of defense swung its left around so as
to become parallel with ours. and came
at US with q rush, extending from the
foot of the hill and overlapping Us,
turned our right, while one Of the sup
ports and the fianking line passed on
up the bank Of the creek and took pos
session OF the vacant works on our
right. Fearful that our own line would
open fire before we could get in behind
our works, we of the skirmfsh line
having been driven back southerly be-
yond the right of the brigade, scrambled
over as the line behind the works
opened a steady and destructive fire in
mined were the eneny's rushes that in
places they reached the works and
sought to climb over, and In several
places their dead fell within our line on
our side of the work. One takes little
toll Of time under the stress of battle.
and how long the attack continued
there in the darkness and blackneSS Of
night one can form no estimate.
Three distinct assaults were repulsed,.
each with disaster to the onruShing
enemy. and the fighting continued until
apparently both the attack and defense
had exhausted its ammunition. The
Third Brigade had with 1t at the COM
mencement OF the action 40 rounds in
cartridge box and an extra 20 rounds in
blouse pocket or haversack. At last
the fire died down On both sides, now
and then breaking out in some fitful
flare for q moment or two.
AS to the two regiments on the left
OF our line, the men kept in reserve
two rounds, one in the gun and one
other handy for immedia use, and as
the night wore on still In line fell into
fitfuI slumber, many leaning against the
works. During the night ammunition
was brought to US I'm gunny sacks, and
doied out, each man receiving 20
rounds.
Battle Renewed In the Morning.
At the dawn of the next morning the
battle was renewed. At one place in
the line several Confederates were be-
hind large rock which formed part of
our works. During the night after the
firing had died down several Confeder-
ates with carteens, looking for water
and losing their direction in the dark
| ness, wandered among US, and were
taken In, much to their surprise.
| At one time during the thickest of the
battle bullets began to enfilade US from
| the right. The 18th n. Y. throwing
I back Its right and taken in front and
| flank. came near being wiped out, and
| gained its place among the fighting
regiments.
1t was at this point where for the
only time during the war and service
of nearly for years that saw the
| deadly work of the bayonet. Il rausi
have been long after midnight before
the other nOrtf0ns of the Twentieft