The National tribune., 1911-04-27

and down the lines, and was Vchc'
ment in his denunciation of the delal
in orders TO move. When orders die
come. however. our brigade was quick.
Iy moved by the left flank, 50 that th'
left Of our regiment was at the pike
Here we delivered our first fire. We
were under fire, however, before We
reached our position, coming frs
from the position occupied by the
Eighth Corps and soon from the
troops and artillery advancing up the
pike. Having arrived SO late, we wcre
not able to hold the position long. Ne
fell back slowly, firing, until the enc
my was close upon us, coming with
colors dying. yelling like demons. and
their forms looming up ghostly in the
dense fog.
/ was wounded there, and fell with
in the cnemy's lines. Three lines OF
battle passed over me, and the sound
of-battie rcceded until lost in the dis
rant rear. After the lines of battle
came stragglers and camp followers,
intent upon plundering the camps and
robbing the dead and wounded
Around whore lay were gathered
quite a number of our boys who were
wounded and some VINO were not, as
well as Confederates who had nc
burning desire to be at the front.
Covered with blood and suffering
from my wounds, a prisoner, four
miles within the cnemy's lines, sub
jected to the taunts of insolcnt strag-
gIers, while the cessation of the
sounds of battle destroyed for several
hours all hope of relief, rebel prison
and probable death seemed inevitable.
1t was given to but few to witness
such awful scenes. Having fallen SO
early, il was given to me to see the
onrushihg tide of an enemy from the
front and flank, flushed with victory
and exultant in the belief that they
had crushed the Army of the Shcnan-
doah.
Conditions of the Rebels.
None but stragglers noticed the
wounded. One of them said to me-:
We'll. YOU all won't burn no more
barns" After the passing of the con-
fict I noticed the different characters
represented III the Confederate army
and the eXtremities to which they
were reduced as to food and supplies.
Among the group around me some
had secured hardtack and other sup
plies from our supply wagons, anG
from their actions one would have
thought that they had not had Il good
meal III month. One maa had Sc
cured small package of pepper, such
;iS was issued to our men. Another
less fortunate, offered linn $40 in Con-
federate money for half of it, and the
offer was refused.
While the stra agSlers probably did
not represent the cream of the Con
federate soldlcry, yet there wero
among them men OF intelligence. who
discussed the war in its various as
poets. some believing they We're now
on the highway 10 success. while 9TH
crS saw clearly that the Confcderacy
was doomed and the end near. Some
there were who were forced into the
service against their will and who
were anXously looking Cor the dawn
Of peace. There were those who
would have been pleased TO see every
Yankee killed, while others sympa-
thiZed and tried to get ambulanccs for
our removal. One braggart after
waiting until the line of battle had
advanced TO a safe distance, stalked
off toward the Belle Grove House, say
ing: We'll, I'm going TO capture Sher-
idan"
When the tide of battle turned It
was plainly indicated by the fact that
those who We're the iarthest in the
rear in tho morning we're in the sd-
vance in the general retreat. and those
around our campfire slipped away one
by one until we were left alone.
1t WAS given TO me TO witness the
rapid approach of the two lines of
battle, one the Confedcrates in retreat
and our own victorious army in close
pursuit \ prairie fire sweeping in
mad fury over hill and valley. driving
before il every living thing. would be
iut i milo representation of that awe
inspiring scene. ] was in its immc-