Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-05-31

we were matted, IaCeu ABOUT ana man.
euvered around for some time and
finally came to a halt on a hill side in
the woods, facing the valley, across
which some of the 9TH A. c. soon be.
gan to make noise, which grew loud
er, thicker and more rapid and was
finally Joined in by battery directly
in line with ours and to our right,
but we could not tell to which side it
belonged. 1t was soon shutdown and
began growing dark and we felt
thankful that another day was gone
and that we had escaped unframed,
although the balls had whistled some,
and a stray one occasionally remind
ed us that we were not out of range
of the skirmishing in front, and the
battery on our right would frequently
awaken the echoes of the early even
ing. Twas thus we lay in line, tired
and hungry, having been twenty-four
hours without rations, yet thankful
that another day had passed; and, as
the bright stars began to show them
selves we began to wonder and inquire
why we could not get back to camp
and get something to eat, when the
loud whistle of cannon ball, passing
the length of our line and over US,
made US open our eyes little and to
lay still closer to the ground. We i'm
mediately concluded it was but stray
shot and we would hear no more of
it as we were well-sheltered by the
timber, but in about two minutes we
saw the light and heard the report of
of shell as it burst about the center
of our regiment and but few feet in
front of it. Now the boys opened their
eyes still wider and the most Of them
but a tree between themselves and
the enemy, to which they now conclud-
ed the battery belonged, while the
rest of us turned around so as TO face
the music, which kept on with but
slight intermission and no variation
for nearly half hour. About nine
o'clock we fell in line and started off,
it being so dark that we could not see
a man a rod from us. We soon got
into the road and marched back to
where we came from in the morning,
not getting into camp until eleven
o'clock. We were tired and hungry,
but having nothing to eat, spread our
blankets on the ground and lay down.
We marched about eight miles that
day.
Saturday, May %.
After having been to bed an hour
and half,I was awakened to draw
rations, which ] did, but had not got
through before firing commenced. i
went to cutting up the meat immedi-
ately so as to have it ready to divide
if anything should happen, but had
scarcely got it done, when the order
came to get up and fall in. The boys
got up, packed up and got their ra-
tons as soon as possible. We then
fell in and marched to. the front,
where the regiment was stationed be-
hind some log breatworks, and our
company were sent out on the Skin
mish line to relieve the sharpshooters.
They were firing quite briskly as we
took our positions, but it being so
dark that they could do us no damage.
We kept a good lookout, frequently
exchanging shots with them. It was
after ten o'clock when we were re-
lieved and we then went back to the
regiment and were allowed to go to
the rear and cook breakfast. About
noon we were ordered back to the reg
iment and upon arriving we lay down
with them behind their breastworks. !
We slept occasionally until seven
o'clock p. m, then our regiment, with
some others, were sent to the front to
relieve the skirmishers and pickets.
The skirmishers had some logs
thrown up to serve as a slight protec-
ton against the rebel sharpshooters. ,