The Republican journal., 1917-04-19

the rebel works. Here | wish to relate
little incident which took place while in
this position. Gen. o. o. Howard was
in command of the 1st brigade, End Div.
End Corps. composed of the LIST Mimi,
18th Mass, 34th New York and 18th
Me. He had lost an arm at Fair Oaks
and the boys thought lots of the Chris
tian soldier, as he was called. While
laying there under fire, the shells would
burst, scattering their fragments in
every direction. Now it is quite natural
to dodge when you see something COM
ing your way, and sometimes when you
could only hear them. Howard thought
lots of his Maine boys and did not wish
those old soldiers to see them dodge,
and he said in sharp voice: Don't
dodge, hoys, the danger is over when
you have heard the report" That was
all right as far as it went. Soon the tide
turned, shell burst close to his horse,
which was spirited one, making him
prance quite lively for moment. The
general lost his head and ducked it down
onto his horses head. The boys saw
their turn and called out, "Don't dodge,
General, the danger is ell over after tho
report" AS he looked up through the
smoke he was smiling. He could take
joke as well as give one.
The End Corps, to which the 10Th Maine
belonged, was held in reserve during the
three days we were across the river.
Those who read history know of Burn
sides failure, or rather slaughter of more
than ten thousand noble boys with moth
ing gained, and of his retreat across the
ed. About noon on the third day Hook
er, who commanded the corps, and who
was never accused of cowardness. was
ordered to charge Mayre's Heights. He
knew it was torlorn hope, yet like
good soldier he prepared for the charge.
The LIST brigade of the End Division, COM
manded by Gen. Howard, marched out
from the city across the level field and
formed in line of battle by regiments,
the 10Th Me. leading the brigade. We
stood there not more than ten minutes
when rebel battery in our immediate
front opened fire. So near were they we
could see the gunners peep. over the
works to see what effect the fire had.
At the first fire the men dropped to the
ground. The regiments were not more
than ten feet apart when we dropped
and the 10Th being in the lead got but
little protection from the shells. They
burst in the regiments in the rear with
terrible slaughter. One shell passed
over Co. E. and burst in the 34th regi-
ment. killing thirteen and wounding
many more. This shell took out whole
company. We laid there in the mud ex-
pecting the next minute would be our
last. The old regiments got out, all that
were left. No troops could stand such
slaughter as those shells were making.
A brigade was sent to our relief, but
suffered the same slaughter. We held
the ground until dark, when the fire
ceased and we could stir around little.
l admit that l was SO cold and numb
with fright that ] could scarcely stand.
If that was warfare / had got enough,
The loss in the 10th was small, as it was
protected by little rise in the ground
and shell that would hit the rise would
bounce and go over. One that would
clear the bank wolld clear US by hugging
the ground. / think half my bigness
was in that mud. About IL O'Clock that
night we recrossed the river, going to the
old campground of three days before,
wet, cold and hungry, and sad at the loss,