CHAHTER XL. BURYING THE DEAD-ANOTHER SWING AROUND ON OUR ALL SUMMER'S LINE-BATTLE of North ANNA RIVER—A TOUCHING INCIDENT-ANOTHER SWING-BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR-THE THREE YEAR'S MEN GO HOME-REFLECTIONS. After both armies get tired and exhausted in their slaughtering, we have a kind of rest, only some hard skirmishing going on, which, in ordinary campaigns would be called hard fighting. But we are so used to it now that we don't pretend to make any more bowing to the bullets, and only when a huge shell comes slowly through the air do we bow our heads in meekness. We pitch in and bury all the dead we can reach, but there are thousands between both lines that neither party can reach, consequently we have an unwholesome atmosphere to breathe. About the 17th of May we make another swing around to the enemy's right, leaving the gory fields around Spottsylvania Court House behind. we find the enemy before us. our route, with their tenants, rible line. Almost every step we take We leave little mounds along who have fallen on this ter On the 27th we arrive at the North Anna River, and find the enemy entrenched on both sides of the river before us. Our division, under the gallant General Barlow, of New York, form quietly in a piece of woods in front of a rebel redoubt. We know what is to be our next move. We have a couple of hours before everything is ready for the charge which is going to be made. So we hurry up, and in a short time have our steaming coffee ready for use. Oh, what a delicious flavor this coffee has, from our burnt tin cups. I am sure I never tasted anything which I relished more than my cup of coffee on this occasion, for it was our only chance to have any in a long while, and this time it was like stolen fruit, but we took the consequences and had a cup of our favorite beverage. After finishing our meal, the order comes to pile our knapsacks in a heap, for this time we were going a little lighter than we were used to do on the charge. It is only a short ways to the enemy's works on our side of the river. It is an easy task to capture those, but we mean to cross the river and take the works on the other side. Getting into line, fix bayonets, shoulder arms, are the orders. The order to load is not given, for on this campaign every man is supposed to keep his piece loaded at all times. Forward-doublequick-march, is the order, and all move forward in solid mass with a cheer, and in less than five minutes we have the rebel redoubt and the works are taken in our front, with the troops that were in them. The rebels open up from their artillery, which line the banks on the other side, and pieces of shell fly all around. We follow up the charge to the banks of the river, but are so close to the rebels that they fire at us with musketry, and pour in shrapnell, grape and cannister at us thick and fast. We make our way along the bank and attempt a passage over the bridge that spans the stream, but the enemy have a fearful fire concentrated at that passage, and we get off quicker than we got on, and get behind what cover we can for protection, as it is of no possible use to be exposed where no benefit is derived. Making our way back to the redoubt, after running the gauntlet of the rebel batteries, we get into position. Night puts an end to this days' fight. Here we lost a good many of our men whose term of service would have been up on the 10th of June, only four days more. Poor fellows, what plans for the future they must have made for themselves after they should get home. But, alas, for all our plans. In an instant they are dashed to pieces by the fortunes of a cruel war. During the night our troops make a crossing on the right, causing the enemy in our front to give back, so that we can cross with leisure. After crossing the river, we find that they have fallen back only a short distance and are fortified behind some strong works. We get orders to build breastworks, too, and commence only a short distance from the rebel lines. They keep firing at us while we are at work with the spade, and quite a number are borne to the rear, killed or wounded. At last we have our works built, and feel safe against any attack they choose to make, with a good foothold on their side of North Anna River. On the 26th we fight one more battle here, and make another move on our LINE, this time getting around in hopes to get between Lee's army and Richmond, but we are met at Cold Harbor by the rebel army, ensconced behind strong works. This is the hardest LINE we ever traveled on to go to Richmond. But we have many a long day's work before us ere we reach our much fought for Richmond. Here we fight another great battle, thinking to drive Lee's army into the Chickahominy river. For five or six hours we attempt to force the enemy's works, but each time are repulsed with great slaughter. Our lines extend about eight miles, and the roar of musketry and boom of artillery along the entire line, make a noise equal to that of the wilderness or Spotsylvania. Our losses here, after accomplishing nothing as we can see, are estimated at from twelve to fifteen thousand men. After being repulsed we build some breast works by a creek of water, and stay behind them for a few days, probably to rest. Indeed it is a rest much needed, after more than a month's campaign, which never was equalled in modern times. Not a day in all this time but we have been under fire, most of the time fighting hard battles, and so far have seen nothing but fighting, marching, digging, and burying the dead. Oh, what a bloody trail we have left behind to point out to all future generations the celebrated LINE that we fought on all summer in the year 1864. Not less than fifty thousand men have been left behind, weltering in their gore, on our own side, and that, too, inside of one short month. On the 10th of June, at this place, those who did not re-enlist of our gallant old Third, are going home, for their contract with their good Uncle Sam is ended, and now they can go and bask in the sunshine of those they love, after serving their country for three long years of hard campaigns and battles. We who cannot go home with our comrades have entered into another contract with our Uncle Sam for three years more. We do not censure them or feel hard toward them for not re-enlisting, for we consider that they have done their share, at least for awhile, in this great struggle. It is just three years ago to-day, the 10th of June, since we enlisted to fight the enemies of our country. We left our beautiful Valley City with more than a thousand strong. But how many of all that gallant regiment are left after the campaigns and battles of the last three years. Let the poor widows and orphans at home answer this all important question. Our comrades who leave us give us three times three cheers, and we return them with a will, and they leave on their homeward march, while we stay to fight it out on the LINE if it takes all summer, and winter too. CHAPTER XLI. ANOTHER SWING ON THE LINE-A FORCED MARCH-CROSS- SCARED INTO LIFE BY A RATTLESNAKE-HEAVY THE FIELD HOSPITAL. It is now clear that it is impossible to break the enemy's lines at this point, and we get the order to move again. We strike across the Peninsula, and after a forced march, arrive at the James River. On the 14th of June cross the river at Wilcox Landing. We camp a short distance from the river, and we feel that a good bath would do us no harm, and soon hundreds of us are rolling around in the beautiful James. The day is very hot, and I find that during the night I am awakened by cramps, and diarrhœa set in, which put me in a fearful condition, especially now when the army is on the move. Next morning I am so sick that I cannot march any further. The regiment file out of their bivouac, and for the first time in over three years am left behind. One of our drummer boys is left with me, and I have a surgeon's pass to get into an ambulance. Making my way to the main road, I sit down to wait for one to take me along. Hundreds pass by empty, but I cannot get any of them to stop. At last I get picked up by one belonging to the Eighteenth Corps. This is my first ride in one, and I trust in God it will be my last, for I never suffered so much in my life as on that day. The rougher the roads the faster my inhuman driver would drive, until at last I beg of him to have mercy on me and drive slower over the rougher part of the road. But I |