The National tribune., 1909-09-16

out aat in the morning, answered to
roll.call, and stood to arms till daylight.
q refer to the men occupying the rife
pits Our Orderly-Sergeant. with whom
4 bunked, had got up and was waiting
TO make the call at 5. He was startled
by firing on our right, and was first to
give the alarm in our regiment. The
call to fall out ran like wildfire. along
the dine, The regiment was in line in
fhree minutes, many of the men only
partly dressed. Soon after our line was
formed Gen. Mclaughlin came rushing
in irlqJiring for Lieut.-Col. Pentecost-.
They mad few words, and the General
started up the line toward Steaaman,
ran into the fort and was made prison.
er. Col. Pentecost at once ordered
detail of 30 men. three from each COM
pany. Samuel 2. George, w. 2. Nc
Cuchen ard the writer were the ones
taken from Co. E. We were hurried
up and, deployed. forming skirInish
line about six or eight rods back of
Steadman. In less than five minutes
aine, was formed between us and the
fort. 1t was so dark we could not dis
tinguish blue from gray. When the
order was given to forward the line
was. in bayonet reach of us before we
could distinguish them as Johnnies.
Samuel B. George was knocked down
with the butt of gun and taken pris-
oner. W. P McCuchen was shot thru
both legs. but escaped. The writer es-
capped unhurt- Here the line turned to
their right, swept down and captured
Batteries Nos. IL and IL. From here
they continued their charge toward
Fort, Haskell, but met with strong re-
sistsnce from the Tooth Pa Lieut.
Col. Pentecost was mortally wounded.
The enemy robbed him and carried him
into my tent and laid him on my bunk.
He died the same night. A number of
the 1e0th were killed and wounded
Five. companies of our regiment were
ordered into Fort Haskell, and did their
full share in repulsing those repeated
desperate attempts to take 1t. to which
Comrade Moynaiiaa referred The other
companies were forced back, but quick
ly reformed within less than 100 yards
of Haskell. Here we opened fire. rid
ding our own tents and the rebels as
well. 1t was now daylight. The 18th
Ga was now formed near Battery No.
IL and charged us, but were repulsed
and driven back into Battery No. IL by
our five companies
I beg leave to differ with the Captain
in his statement that the 59th Mass
formed under the shelter OF Fort Has
kelf. charged and retook Batteries II
and I2. ] positively affirm that no such
charge was made by the 59th. Our
i've companies kept continual fire on
this part of the line, so the 59th would
have TO make this charge under our
IRE and under our eyes. 1 wish to
state that we were the first to enter
Battery No. IL II was here we cap.
tured two of the nine battle flags re-
ferYed to. i also differ as 10 the enemy
being finally shut up in Fort Steadman
i ;hn not guessing when / say there
were as many prisoners taken in Bat
teries / l and IL as there were in Stead
man. When the aght was over there
were 400 muskets piled just back OF
Iieut.Col. Pentecosts tent / aGmit
the 2Ilth Pa. made a charge on Stead
man. but il was made on men who had
attempted to retreat and could not for
whitening crossfre from Fort Haskell.
The result would have been all the
same had the charge never been made
Cen Hartranft was promoted af
Stated, and am not the man that would
seek 10 rob either him or the 211tl
men. of my own State, of a single laurel
yet / must insist that promotion fol
service rendered at this particular time
was cheapiy earned. Yes, congratu
latdry order was issued eeinmending thu
ThFd Brigade and all of Wilcox's Divi
sion for their firm bearing. 1t wa
Learned this was where the honor be
longed. Now. come on with your criti
cisIh. We may differ, but will not fight
u, L. Pounds, Co. z, Tooth Pa, Slip
perry Rock, Pa.