Connecticut western news., 1911-09-28
LODGING BULLETS
Comrade Roberts Recalls Some Close
 Calls in War.
RY E. $ RORFRTs

BY F.. \ ROBERTS
 Dear Comrades When l reached the pit found I had left my canteen, and knew that without canteen | might as we'll be without food or a muslzet; so 1 retraced my steps and got my canteen, but drew the marksmanship of some of the "Johnnies, while the "ping" and 'ke.o-o' were unnomfortably near, yet l reached the pit safely. Safely said, but we were not much safer there, for shells were screeohing about us con- stantly.
 The distance from the house to the rifle pit was not over dozen rods and it was up grade to them there was not tree or any obstruction to bullets-only the boys as they were passing back
 The house was pleasantly situated in the centre of fairly nice lawn. The well was a necessary appurtenance, es- pecially at this time. I saw one com rade go there and draw up bucket of water and holding it on the edge of the curb he bent over to drink when bullet, evidently meant for him, struck in the post just over his head. We heard it distinctly where we stood. The com rade let the bucket go and it went to the bottom of the well. and stayed there till darkness made it safer drinking.
 The one tree under which we slept was pretty we'll peppered when we left it. It was the only bit of shade near the house. After we got back to the pits the rebels kept throwing their shells so that we had to lie low. Quite n num- Der of the boys were killed and many wounded.
 After dark we fell in line and marched out to the picket line; only staying about an hour then moved back into the pits and lay down for the night. When l say i've" 1 mean sometimes, our regi- ment, sometimes the brigade or division, and sometimes detail. But in this case it was battalion of our regiment to which my company belonged.
 Close by the rife pits was cornneld in which lay large division of troops who had to dig pits for protection. for while this was out of sight of the enemy. They dropped their shells in among us rather carelessly. About nine o'clock this night tJune 2lst) we were relieved 1 by other troops and we moved by the left flank again. We crossed the City Point railroad, past General Grants headquarters and marched nearly all night, swinging around south of Peters burgh. quite as near the city as when we started, and halted and lay down for the night near the Jerusalem plank road, and we lay till nearly nine o'clock on the morning of June 22, when we fell in and filed to the right through piece of woods and halted in an open lot in which were feur or five mulberry trees that were full of mulberries that were ripe. The boys were soon i'll the trees eating the fruit. Just to the west of us was heavy pine forest and soon shot began to whistle through the branches, and tLe boys hustled out of the mulberry trees-including the writer-and into line. We sent skirmish line into the pines where they met the rebels in force, and our main line was moved forward into the pines when the firing became general. The Johnnies set fire to the pines which were lmbedded with pine needles that made it hot for us in more ways than one. We lay down till the fire got very close, then up we jumped and rushed through the fire and met the rebels in front. The smoke and heat had become suffocating and intense.