Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-07-05

ing, Dut no artillery nrlng In our VIC
Unity. The weather was warm and
pleasant.
Thursday, June 80, 1864.
We were on guard one hour last
night and retired leaving everything
quiet, but in a short time we heard
the roar of artilley and the rattle OF
small arms, some four or five miles to
our left. 1t was a steady and con-
tinued roar for over half an hour,
when it quoted down and everything
was again silent. Have not heard
the result of the firing however. To-
day there was a good deal of Skin
mishing but without doing much dam
age. At four O'Clock we got orders
to pack up and be ready to go to the
rear and rest after dark. We sat
down and Wanted but our relief
did not come so we lay down to rest
and sleep. After dark our skirmish-
ers and rebel skirmishers endeavored
to get up a trade, the rebels wanting
to swap corn bread for hard tack.
They shouted away at each other for
some time, but none Of them dared to
advance to make the exchange 1t
rained some this afternoon.
Friday, July l, 1864.
HIS Was udy VI HslIu lOll anu OUt
long to be remembered Our promis-
ed relief did not arrive until we could
see daylight coming, but we were
soon up and under way toward the
rear. We went about a mile and
were then told that we might get
breakfast and be ready to march in
two hours. What a relief we thought,
but we had to comply with the re-
quest and at seven o'clock started off
towards the south. We made quite
detour to the right to get around
large open field, keeping in the thick
brush to keep out of sight. We went
about four miles, when we again
came to the front line Of works, and
were allowed to rest half an hour. 1t
was a very warm day and many of the
boys fell out by the way. At ten
o'clock we were formed in line the
25th in the second line. Skirmishers
were sent forward and in a little
while they came in sight of the rebels
and the firing commenced. We were
in the thick woods, mostly small tim
Der, so IL. did not afford us very much
cover, but whenever we stopped we
would lay down and let the balls pass
over. Thus we went on driving the
rebels before us, now through thick
timber; now through an open field
surrounding house and through
garden, laying the fences all low as
we advanced. About one o'clock they
opened on US with a couple small
guns, but the woods were so thick
that they had to fire at random, so
they damaged us not at all. Our bat
terry was soon brought up and the rebel
guns soon seized firing and were re-
tired. An open field was before us
which was dangerous to cross as there
was not much cover for the skirmish-
ers.l A heavy skirmish line was
formed on the edge of the timber and
at the sound of a cannon they started
on run with yell and all the troops
joined in with their voices as loud as
they could shout. guess the "rebs"
thought the whole Yank nation was
coming at them, for our troops went
across the field without receiving
much Of any fire. Our line then ad-
vanced and at about five o'clock we
reached the cross roads, the point at
which we had aimed. We had driven
the rebels about two miles. We were
now to fortify and hold our line at all
hazards, but the enemy were so close
that we could not work on the ridge
that we wished to, and there was
large open field in front, some sixty
rods across. They concluded to try
the breastworks, and four of our COM
pany, | among them, were sent for
ward to commence work for our COM
pany. Two of us were shoveling and
two bringing rails, Joseph Ancliff and
| were using the spades to the best of
our ability, but had not been at it
more than five minutes, when Joseph
threw up his hand, exclaiming, Boys,
Pm shot," and fell A mimic ball had
broken his left arm and leg, the lat
ter close up to his body A stretcher
was brought and he was taken to the
rear, They Immediately resolved TO
charge the rebel position and the 25th |
was one of the regiments to take part.
They left all guns and traps and about
shutdown with a yell started off and
did the job up handsomely and in
hurry No artillery was used. II
stayed and worked on the breastworks
but regretted IL very much, wishing
had gone. Malon Abby came back
wounded in the jaw, but no bones
broken. None others of our company
were hurt. worked until dark, then
drew rations and divided them and at
$50 went out to the company who
were on the skirmish line at the far
Their edge of the field. I ate and lay
down. Five Of our regiment were
wounded today, and two had had
sunstroke. II was . very hot day