The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-07-18
"Form Your Company"

colored troops from the Ninth Corps.
and we crossed to the south side OF
the Appomattox river, and formed
part of Hartranft's Division, Ninth
Corps. Our winter quarters were in
a depression a little north Of the Avery
House, division headquarters.
The night of March 24-25 was fog
gy and damp. The smoke of smoul-
dering campfires hung low; all night
long the usual crackle of the muskets
of the pickets kept up, punctuat
with ar occasional "hee-haw" of the
army mules. We slept fully clothed.
About 4:30 a. m. 1 was awakened by
an occasional cannon shot, more in
tense crackle of musketry-n
vol1ey firing-and the rebel yell. l
thought best to get ready for trouble,
aud, without waking my messmates,
! took the three canteens and went to
a low spot in the swale, where we had
a pork barrel sunk in the mud, and
filled the canteens with water. When
I returned to the hut mounted off,
Ger or orderly lin the darkness
could not determine which, galloped
by from division headquarters. and as
he passed shouted Form your COM
pany, and double-quick for Fort Sted-
man. Don't walt for anybody"
The company OBJ was quickly
formed, and we started for the fort.
To the left rear of Fort Haskell we
ran into the rebel skirmishers. We
then lay down and began firing. Our
line was nearly at right angle to our
main line of works and our left about
100 yards to the rear OF Fort Haskell.
Mortar shells were dropping, by the
ton, at an angle from the left, end
shrapnel from the same general di-
rection; mimic balls and, later, CAMS
ter, from our own cannon, which had
been captured at Fort Stedman and
turned on us, from the front.
Fort Haskell was rim of fire to-
the north and west In the darkness
we could not determine if or not the
foe was in possession of Fort Haskell.
AS daylight approached a slight air
movement made a rift in the pail Of
smoke over Fort Haskell, and we
could see Old Glory waving from it's
ramparts. 1t looked good. and, oh,
how we did cheer! The starry flag
never before looked SO good.
It is a matter of official record that
the 20Sth Pennsylvania was the first
regiment to charge the line of the en-
envy. and cleared the rebels out of our
line from Fort Haskell to Fort Sted-
man, recapturing Batteries IL and -
and capturing $50 prisoners. Scott
Eckert Co. b was the first man back
in Fort Stedman, and he was followed
by the right of our regiment.
The order to charge" reached
Lieut.-Co Heintzelman Is to 20 min
utes after we had regained full pos
session Of the works. When the or
der to charge was given / was on my
knees, opening a box Of ammunition.
Many of the men we're out of car
tridges and were taking from car
fridge boxes of the wounded and dead.
Your description of the close and
deadly fighting does not paint the
word-nicture as red as conditions JUS
titled. It was the first place l saw
footprints of men In puddles of hui
man blood. Blood was on my boots
when the fighting ended. 1t was hell!
When we gained full possession OF
the works firing ceased.
The muzzles of the guns in Fort
stedman we're not 200 yards distant
from their main line Of works. We
had a picket line about half distant,
and had crowded their picket line into
their works.
When we gained full possession OF
the works firing ceased, and the reb-
els put up flag Of truce, to gather
their wounded from between the lines.
AS quickly as the smoke lifted we
dropped our guns and held up haver-
sacks. and started for our picket line
to "swap rations for tobacco" Rebel
officers standing on their works rao-
toned and shouted: go back to your
works. We will open fire." We re-
piled: SHOOT We want tobacco"
Preparatory for the spring campaign
all suffers had been ordered to the
rear st City Point, and we were out Of
tobacco.