Chapter 84

CHAPTER LXXXIV

ERATTA.  Before moving to the rear of the line of works as stated in the last chapter, we were moved up to the front, on the left flank of the line of works, on the side of a small sloping rise of ground.  Here as soon as it was day light, the enemy opened a fire on us, we could plainly see their breast-works, and they undoubtedly had a clear view of us.

While we were engaged in eating our breakfast, Solly App, was struck in the face with a minnie ball, which had struck the ground and glancing upward hit him on the cheek, Solly looked up at Jerry, and with blood running down his cheek, said:

“That was pretty close, Jerry.”

The rebels continued to fire quite lively and annoyed us considerable wounding a number of the members of the regiment.  Finding that we were uselessly exposed, the Colonel moved us in the rear of the works.

While we were laying in the rear of the works in the after­noon, and during a lull in the firing, an incident occurred which we never could account for and which has always been a great mystery to all members of the company.

A man mounted on a black horse and with a gum Poncho thrown over himself, jumped his horse over our breastworks and deliberately rode out into the field and rode down along the line of works and returned, in view of the skirmishers of both armies, and strange to say not a single shot was fired at him by either side.  Whilst no one had been able to show his head above the breast-works without drawing the enemy’s fire.  Who he was or what he was doing, are questions that often came to our mind and will never be satisfactory answered, it is fair to presume.

The enemy kept up a heavy artillery fire all afternoon and until late at night, and when the morning of the 17^th dawned it was discovered that the enemy had evacuated his heavy line of works, and we were soon on the move and took possession of them.

Our halt was of short duration and moving forward we came up with the enemy, and commenced to skirmish with them about dinner time.  The skirmishing was kept all day and toward evening when we succeeded in gaining a position on a rise, where we proceeded to put up works.

The enemy was in position on a high knob from which they fired down into our lines.  The men put up their dog tents as protection against the rays of the sun, and in order to be secure from the enemy’s minnie balls, they made a barricade of rails around their tents.

Serg’t. Samuel Reily of Company E was shot and killed whilst laying in his tent and enjoying a smoke.  Wm. S. Keller was frying some liver in a pan which he was holding over the fire by the handle, had a bullet shot plum through the bottom of the pan.  Will looked up with a comical smile on his face and turning towards the rebel position, he shook the pan at them and said:

“Shoot a little higher next time, just see you have spilled my grease and ruined my pan.”

During the night the rebels attempted to steal upon us in the darkness and make a midnight attack upon us but finding that we were on our guard and ready for them they did not make the attempt.

Old Leather-breeches’ Battery did excellent service at this place, firing by volley, as was his wont, thus adding to demor­alize the enemy, in place of firing one gun at a time, he would discharge the six guns, thus causing six shells to explode at one point at the same time, and in which case most generally some person got hurt.

On the morning of the 19^th of June, Sunday, we found that the enemy had evacuated their position, and we at once pushed after, and by 9 o’clock, a. m., in the midst of a soaking rain we again came up with their skirmishers.

We pressed forward, driving the enemy before us until about noon, when we came to a halt.  Col. Candy, our Brigade comman­der, rode up to our regiment and directed Cal. Pardee to send out three men to discover the position or location of a certain road on which his Brigade was to take up a position.

The Col. turned to Captain Byers and directed him to detail three men from his company.  The Captain detailed Will Keller, James W. Smith and the writer.

We started out, after receiving instructions from both Candy and Pardee to advance cautiously until we came up to the first cross-road when one of us was to come back to the regiment and report.

We were also informed that the 23^rd Corps’ skirmishers were in our front.  We deployed and advanced until we arrived at an open field, here we halted and consulted as to whether we should advance or not.  Finally it was agreed to advance, which we did until we arrived in the middle of the open space, when we were halted by a low whistle from Smith, who had discovered that we were running into a trap.  We looked ahead of us and saw a sight that almost made our hair stand on end.  In our front as well as to our right and left we discovered the masked works of the enemy, filled with Gray-backs.

We about faced, and started for the rear, when the enemy opened a hot fire on us, the minnie balls whistled all around us, striking the ground in front and behind us, the clothing of my comrades were pierced in several places.  Keller stopped in the midst of the leaden hail and picked up a rebel knapsack which had been dropped during the retreat, bearing it with him in safety back to the cover of the woods.

The Brigade was rapidly brought to our assistance.  The line halted in the edge of the woods and we at once proceeded to put up a strong line of works.

Keller opened the knapsack he had picked up and found a large plug of rebel cavandish and as he did not use the weed, he divided it out among the boys who received it with unmistakable signs of satisfaction.

By evening we had a strong line of entrenchments built and unfurling our colors we planted them in the works and would have been highly delighted at the prospect of having the enemy attempt to capture them.

We remained in line all night without anything unusual taking place.  On the following morning a warm fire was opened up between the pickets and in which a number of our regiment were killed and wounded.  Among the number killed being Nick Grimm of Company E and Captain Samuel F. M’Kee of Company H.  The death of Captain M’Kee was the result of an accident, and was occasioned by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of Jonathan Halderman a private of Company E.  The Captain was stationed on a loft in an old log house, and was firing at a squad of rebels in a rifle pit, and Halderman loaded the gun for him.  In his hurry to load the gun he forgot to put the hammer down after he primed, and when told of his neglect, he went to leave the hammer down and the gun was discharged the ball entering the abdomen of the Captain and fatally wounding him.

The Captain was placed upon a stretcher and was brought back past the regiment on his way back to the hospital.  Col. Pardee spoke to the wounded man expressing his regret and symp­athy at his misfortune.  Captain M’Kee replied, that he did not care to die, he only regretted that he was not shot by the enemy instead of by his own men.  He was taken back to the hospital and died of his wound.

In the afternoon of the same day we were relieved by the 4^th Corps and moved down to the right.  We moved until nearly midnight when we came to a halt.  Part of the regiment was placed on picket.  Daylight found us near the enemy’s line of works near Kennesaw Mountain.

In the morning we moved back a short distance and then formed a line of battle we advanced several hundred yards and then put up a line of works.  The Rebels threw a number of shells at us but they were unable to get the right range and as a natural consequence they flew harmlessly over our heads.