Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-08

continually by spurts and flashes of
vindictive fire.
"Our whole line is slowly moving,
not in line of battle or in mass. nor in
confusion or pen nell. Each man has
his own obstacle to encounter and each
glances al his own regimental flag,
ready TO form when the nature of the
ground permits. AT this point they can
be seen climbing over the fallen trees
and creeping and pushing through a
wilderness of brush and tangled timber,
but whether climbing. leaping or creep
ing, they still hold their faces steadily
toward the foe still looking in the face
of that line of angry fire. 1t is 700
yards from where our men have started
TO the real rebel Notifications the whole
distance is strewn with fallen timber,
bitches and sunken torpedoes. Now they
have reached the abatis and are pushing
the sharpened branches aside with their
guns.
1.-The whole rebel line is ablaze with
artillery and small arms, and the blood
of scores who passed through other
CORY fields here stain the ground, The
brave men Of Andrews division, com
posed of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois
troops, urge their way through the ap
parently impenetraDie network of fallen
timber but il is a fearful trial to stem
that flood of angry fire. \and our losses
are greater than upon any other portion
Of the field.
a ringing cheer resounds along the
lines. a short, sharp struggle takes place
at the foot of the rebel ramparts- Our
men have flung themselves across the
ditch and are climbing up the outer
slope of the works.
Another moment and something
flashes like a meteor through the smoke
and fire. Thank God it is the sacred
-
amid the storm of battle and in an in
slant long lines Of blue coated soldiers
are standing proudly erect upon the crest
of the hostile works. 1t is tbe|hag or
the 69th Indiana, and it tells that vic
tory has been won, which sends thrill
through every heart
This regiment. which had been organ
lied for three years served at Richmond
Ind. on August 10. 1862 fought in the
battle Of Richmond, KY, Chickasaw
Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Thompson's HILL
Champion fill, Black River Bridge, the
Siege of Vicksburg and Jackson before
it Joined in the campaign against Mobile
1t was an Indiana soldier. Capt David
Van Buskirk, of Company F, 9th Indi-
ana who was known as the tallest man
in the Union Army. Is his stocking feet
Captain Buskirk measured six feet. ten
and a half inches, and with his boots on
lowered up 4 full seven feet.
Captain Buskirk who was prominent
in Indiana affairs, both before and after
the war, was a delegate to the Repub
licau convention of 1850 which nomi-
mated Abraham Lincoln for the presi-
dency the first time. During the war
he was wounded twice, and once was
taken prisoner. While a prisoner, he
was treated with unusual consideration
by his captors, who had such confidence
in his honor that they gave him the
freedom of the city of Richmond, Va,
and allowed him to have his meals at a
hotel. Captain Buskirk died at Bloom
inGton in 1885.
Comparatively few of the cid soldiers
from Indiana have survived the ravages
of time, but. those who now remain are
looking forward TO the reunions Of In
diana regiments which will take place in
indianapolis during the week Ct the Ma
cional Grand Army encampment.
Never again will Indianapolis have a
national encampment of the Grand Army
The rapidly thinning ranks of now gray
haired veterans Will soon be gone. and
we shall have only the rich memory Of
what they did and a consciousness Of
the priceless heritage that has descended
to US Of this generation, because they
fought so VIGOROUSLY in order that the
union Of States might endure forever.