The National tribune., 1910-12-29

regular rations. dug 15 rife pits and
took part in six battles. Our clothes
and shoes. worn out. could only be re-
placed by those of dead men.
We crossed the James River on June
lG. and made a rapid march to Peters
burg, arriving there about p. m. L
had been lame from my shaking up,
but Oh the 1th ! reported to my COM
pany, drew another gun and was ready
for duty.
Below the James.
Comrade John p. Davis. a member
of my company OBJ, now living at
Parre, Pa, says:
After crossing the James River we
came to large opening in the timber
but we soon discovered that il was
slashed for nearly half mile wide,
and the worst we had ever been up
against. 1t was pine saplings. four to
eight inches thick, and cut to fall one
way, jack pines, hanging on the stumps
about three feet from the ground, the
branches all trimmed off, with sharp
points meeting us and so close together
we could not see thru them. We were
ordered in line of battle, and then
Forward, marchi" Well, we were
ragged enough from our experience
thru the Wilderness and other points,
but when we finally got thru the slashed
timber in font of Petersburg our
tIotieS were hanging III tatterS. by UnlS
time the rebels got our range and were
shelling US. killing and wOunding many
of our regiment. We soon reached
some shelter in rayine. Col. B. G.
Parney. of the I'd Pa. Prov. II. A., was
in command of our brigade (Third,
First Division). We were formed in
line of battle. my regiment in the lead,
TO make a charge upon the rebel bat
terry that had been doing such fearful
execution. Col. Barney gave the order:
Fix bayonets-Guide right-Marchv
We rose up out of the ravine in the
face of a murderous fire. In less than
two minutes the air grew so dark from
the smoke of bursting shells we could
not see 10 PAGES in front. The rebel
battery cut us to pieces"
our division commander reported as
follows in reference to the June II
charge:
The Third Brigade, under command
of Col. 3. Y. Barney. was formed in
two lines. The 161tn Pa. was thrown
the enemy's batteries opened with shell
and canister upon the lines of the Third
Brigade. killing and wounding a large
number before my men advanced The
lines were then moved forward, with
bayonets fixed, charging at a run over
the entire distance up the slope with
steadiness and bravery The men
charged the Confederate works fiercelv
and valiantly, mounting the parapet
ana leaping quite over the ditch into
the enemy's lines, where the fighting
became hand-tO-hand conflict my
men using the bayonet and breech. and
succeeded in carrying the works in
handsome style. including a battery of
four field pieces. My troops pressed
forward, and also succeeded in taking
the second line of the enemy's works.
TOO much praise cannot oe accorded
the men making this charge, subject as
they were not only to a terrible fire of
smell and canister from the rebel bat
teries previously referred to, but to
heavy and continuous volleys of mus
kerry. without discharging single
piece in defense until they reached the
enemy's lines and their works"
Gen. Burnsides report to Cen Meade
can be found as follows:
I'VE hold the crest of the hill about
400 yards in the rear of the enemy s
line. There is not much left of the
Third Brigade, First Division, of myi
corps. My two heavy>~a artillery regi-
ments cd Pa. Prov. II. y and the 14th
N. Y. II. A. are entirely cut to pieces
rhe Ninth Corps only contained the
two heavy artillery regiments referred
TO above.
In the Rebellion Records the losses
of the I'd Pa. Prov. II. A on June Ill
were: KILLED, one officer and 80 men:
wounded, six officers and 1S7 men;
missing, 13 men; total 246."
Orderly Serg't Knapp, of Co. d, and
nearly 100 others were shot inside the
Confederate lines. Our color bearerI
was killed close to the Confederate bat
terry, where our flag was found.
At the Crater.
At the Mine battle, July 80, 1864, my
regiment was the first to place its col |
ors upon the rebel works.
Says Gen. Gilbert p. Robinson's re-
port: