The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-30

the last of a thousand blood stained
fields, where men had died that our
country might live, and its glory and
brave deeds were dimmed by the glo-
rious cup OF peace.
The following description of the bat
tie of Fort Blakely is taken from the
Cincinnati Gazette of April, 1865, writ
ten by correspondent who saw the
charge:
AT 6 O'Clock p. m. the advance of
our skirmish line had fairly begun and
as l looked the scene was a strange
one. Wreaths of thin blue smoke were
curling around rebel ramparts, lit up
continually by spurts and flashes of
indicative fire. A rolling sound like
the call of battle, beaten upon a thous-
and drums, pulsated through the air.
Never for a moment did the fire slack
en-, nor for an instant was there an In
PERMISSION of the sound Secure behind
their works, the rebels poured a con-
tinuous stream of bullets in the faces
of our advancing soldiers.
Our whole line is slowly moving, not
in line of battle or in mass. nor yet in
confusion or pell nell. Each man had
his own obstacle to encounter and
each glanced at his own regimental
flag ready to form when the nature of
the ground would permit. At this point
they could be seen climbing over fallen
trees and creeping and pushing
through wilderness of brush and tan
gled timber. but whether climbing,
leaping or creeping, they still held
their faces steadily towards the foe,
still looking steadily in the faces OF
that line of angry fire. 1t is seven
hundred yards from where our men
have started to the real rebel fortif-
cations; the whole distance is strewn
with fallen timber, bitches and sunken
torpedoes. Now they have reached the
abatis and are pushing the sharpened
branches aside with their guns. The
whole rebel line is ablaze with artil-
lery and small arms, and the blood of
scores who passed through other CORY
fields here stained the ground. The
brave men of Andrews division, COM
posed of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois
troops, urge their way through the ap-
parently impenetrable network of fall
len timber, but it was fearful trial
to stem that flood of angry fire and
our losses here were greater than up
on any other portion of the field.
"a ringing cheer resounded along
the lines, a short, sharp struggle takes
place at the foot of the rebel ramparts.
Our men have flung themselves across
the ditch and are climbing up the out
er slope of the works. Another mo-
ment, and something flashes like me-
teor through the smoke and fire.
Thank God! it is the sacred banner of
the stars: it floats as ever mid the
storm of battle and in an instant long
lines of blue-coated soldiers are stand.
ing proudly erect upon the crest of
the hostile works. It was the flag OF
the Sixty-ninth Indiana and it told
that victory had been won, and sent a
thrill through every heart"
The Sixty-ninth was mustered out
at Mobile, Ala, July 6, 1865, with six.
eighty-four men. During it's service it
had received sixty recruits. 1t lost in
killed and wounded and by disease 500
men during the three years of its ser.
vice; 500 of these had been killed In
battle, 500 died of wounds or disease.
Not in vain the offering of blood!
Not in vain the sowing and the har-
vest cleaned by death! Not in vain the
blight of hearts and homes! the moth.
er's grief, the maiden's tears. the or.
phan's wailing cry, if out of these has
come forth a nation stronger, better
purer, than ever dreamed of by poet,
patriot or sage.