Connecticut western news., 1911-09-21
WAR "REMINISCENCES
Comrade Roberts Tells More About
 Soldiers Privations.
BY E. s ROBERTS

Dear Comrades In my last letter described the Harrison house somewhat. The western gable faced towards Peters burgh, which was in plain sight and was the goal toward which we had design and were only waiting for darkness so that we could make the start Shot and shell were flying in all direction. As our forces lay ,the 9th corpsl just back of the hill upon which the Harrison house was situated, we were the recip- tents of their careless way of throwing things. They had seen the troops as they moved in, and let us know it. It was a very uncomfortable situation and many of our boys were killed or wound ed. We protected ourselves as best we could by digging pits and throwing the dirt on the danger side.
 We were glad to welcome the dark ness, for with it came cessation, some. what of the firing. This is the way that we spent Sunday June 18th, and our friends at home knew but little of how we were spending the Sabbath, At 10 o'clock p. m., under cover of the dark ness our regiment was put in motion aud we moved over the hill and down by the Harrison house, into wheat field and filed into line on the eastern edge of the same and it was very evident that the "Johnnies" were strongly located on the west side of the same piece,
 As we moved into line the "Johnnies" threw up rocket that went over our heads. Then in few minutes another went up. Evidently these were signals. It was darkness all around us excepting from the flash of cannon or bursting shell, which lighted for g moment. Then it was darker than ever. A picket line was soon sent forward into tht wheat field with orders to make the best possible defence. The boys, realizing that standing wheat would make pooI shelter, went to work with cups, plates, bayonets and hands, digging holes in the ground and throwing the dirt up in front. And mind you, there was no sleep until the hole would hold you. and ! by lying down behind the mound thrown up, there was some protection, but from the she'll there was none. These pits were dug by three in group, for better protection.
 The rebels were constantly annoying us by firing through or over the wheat.
 We did not reply, but kept knitting" We'll we knew that as soon as bit of 1 1nCh hn oho were in the tops of all the trees would pick any visible object. Hence you must know that those little pit holes in hot June sun, and in the hot Virginia soil, were not pleasant.
 A canteen of water cooked through the heat of the day was very poor sub stitute to quench thirst, and no one could raise hand or head out of his hid- ing without being certain to pay dearly for hls audacity. While the piokets had been making their positions as tenable as possible, the main line on the margin of the wheat fields had thrown up quite a respectable line of defence, for they had secured shovels to work with. There were many hit, in the wheat, whose bodies must he ln the sun and bleach until night again would permit of stand ing erect and carrying the bodies. or the wounded, back to q safer place. The regiment was divided into two rsliefs. Part of them dug the fore part of the night, and at midnight were relieved by the other boys. Then they went back past the Harrison house to the pits on the hill. But there was anything but safety there. In fact, our two days and nights here were the most uncomforta- ble hours that we had encountered.
 We could distinctly hear the clocks of the city tolling the hours, which led us to wonder how clock in church steeple could toll the still hours of tho night so peacefully while at the same time the booming of the cannon and the crack of the rife told us that there was no peace. 1 At midnight I was ordered to take four men and go to Brigade Headquarters and report to General Upton, who had estab- lished his quarters at the Harrison house. I so reported. thinking that we had bonanza. General Upton came to the door and said:
 Sergeant, make yourself and men as comfortable as you can" | There was a small apple tree near the house under which we lay down and were soon asleep. but only at interval. for the "Johnnies" had athorough range of the premises and during the night made use of their knowledge, and it was quite often that the bullets struck ito the house or through the apple tree.
 AS soon as light began to dawn in the east we reused up and were surprised h see several bullet marks in the butt oi the tree under which we had passed part of the night. We knew that music