The National tribune., 1910-12-29

of SpOtSylVania. Capt. Norris, of my
company, received a severe sunstroke.
Gen. Stevenson. of my First Division,
was killed on the 10th. We had severe
lighting all day. Rain commenced to
fall, and for five days we suffered Sc
verely from cold, hunger. mud and lack
of shelter. AT night time we lowered
around smouldering campfires. trying
20 dry our clothing and blankets; then
lie down on the damp ground to catch
few hours sleep.
In Grants Memoirs" in speaking of
the service Of my CNinth) corps on the
18th at Spotsylvania east of the
"Floody Angle" he says: Gen. Burn
side, on the left, had advanced up east
of the Confederate salient to the very
parapet Of the enemy, charging over
the rebel works"
| In the Wilderness battle my division
lost 535 men. Total for Ninth Corps,
1,620 men. In the Spotsylvania battles,
May s to 49, my First Division lost 632
men. The total for the Ninth Corps.
S.4S0 men, My regiment lost from May
, to 13 90 men.
Wading the North Anna.
On May % we waded the North
Anna River. drove the rebel skirmish-
ers from the timber just at dusk, built
a line of works. In the morning re-
crossed and started on an all-day-and-
night march to the Pamunkey River.
That march of SO miles, under a broil-
ing hot southern sun in dusty roads,
was fierce.
In the operations of the North Anna
River. the Totopotomoy and the Pa
munkey Rivers, May 22 to June l. my
regiment last 110.
On May 81 we halted at 10 p. m
along the Mechanicsville pike, near
Bethesda Church, and three companies
q, B and c. were detailed for picket
duty and were taken over newly cleared
ground about two miles and posted
along piece of dense timber. We
could hear the Confederates plainly.
At daylight myself. John P. Davis and
VIM. II. Hope walked over short dis
tance to the right to investigate the
turnpike, which ran at right angle with
our line and thru the thick wood into
the Confederate line. Comrade VIM. T.
Hope stepped into the road and was
killed. Capt. Samuel Davis, of Co. c.
came towards our picket line later in
the day along swampy piece of
ground on the opposite side of the road.
He did not heed our warning, and
stepped into the road and was killed,
probably by the same rebel sharpshoot-
er.
About 3 p. IN. we heard a Confeder-
ate bugle call to advance. Lieut.. Kel-
low. of my company OBJ, shouted: AT
tention, boys! They are advancing"
We could hear the dry twigs cracking
in the woods. All three companies fired
n vollcy into the timber. My gun was
nearly loaded for the second shot
when the rebels came swarming thru
the wood, eight times our number, yell
ing "Yi, vi, vi" and Surrender, you
- Yankeesn' l looked down our
line, and saw our boys had fallen back,
some still firing. John p. Davis, of my
company, and myself were late in start
tn prtNrn tLA ~ Il
the second shot at close range, killing
one of their number. We barely es-
capped capture.
Dropped by a Shell.
After l had ran about $50 or 30Oi
yards large mortar shell fired over
the timber from Confederate battery,
burst almost under my feet l pitched
headlong upon the ground from the
concussion, stunned. The Confederate
division came charging over my pros
trate body and on towards the Ninth
Corps position, and were checked by
the hot fire given them by the Tooth
Pa. the Roundheads) with repeating
rifles.
| finally got upon my feet and into
the timber too dazed to walk straight.
| was bleeding from two flesh wounds
| was minus gun, cap and haversack
Space forbids me from relating the
notable service my regiment, the I'd Pa
Prov, experienced at and near Cold
Harbor from May 81 to June -. Suf-
ice 1t to say it participated in most of
the Ninth Corps engagements during
that period. and lost 1875 men.
June IL Gen. Grant commenced his
third fianking movement, crossing both |
the Chickahominy and the James Riv-
ers. ..
From May 8. 1864, until June 13 the |
I'd Pa. marched $50 miles, made 20 |
night marches. was 10 days without