PEEBLE’S FARM.
“Forward----charge!
Into the smoke and hurling death,
Trampling friend and crushing foe;
Through the cannons’ flaming breath,
Beneath the flag we rushing go.”
_Unknown._
On the 16th of August we were relieved from the trenches. On the 18th
we made an attack on the Weldon railroad, in order to cut off the
supplies of the rebel forces in front of Petersburg. In this action our
regiment lost thirteen men. The railroad was too strongly guarded for
our attempt to succeed.
We were called upon frequently to repel attacks from the enemy, and
continually kept busy until the 1st of September, when we were again
ordered to the trenches for a few days. We were soon relieved however,
for our services were required in another direction.
On the 30th of September the Fifth and Ninth corps made a charge on the
rebel Fort McRea. We formed our line in a piece of woods, bringing the
32nd Massachusetts directly in front of the fort, and the 4th Michigan
on our right. We had to cross an open field, and the enemy’s batteries
opened on us directly, but we went on steadily until we were in range
of the rebel rifles, then we made a dash, and soon reached the fort.
Our colonel received a wound in the leg, and Col. Welch of the 4th
Michigan fell mortally wounded. The first to mount the parapet was an
officer of our regiment; he jumped the deep ditch in front of the fort,
and swinging his sword above his head, shouted to us to follow him;
he was followed by several officers, who jumped the ditch and rushed
into the fort. We soon followed them, though being encumbered with our
equipments, we could not as easily jump the ditch as the officers. I
jumped into the moat, and shouted to a Johnny Reb to help me up the
slope; he shook his head, so I brought my gun to my shoulder and
threatened to shoot him. He reached out his hand and helped me up the
bank.
Corporal Lewis Chesbro of my company, instead of climbing the bank, ran
around to the rear of the fort, where he saw a rebel gunner sighting
a piece of artillery towards a portion of our division that had not
reached the works. Chesbro instantly shot the gunner, then tried in
vain to turn the piece around. Seeing me inside the fort, he called for
me to help him. Together we turned it partly round and sighted it at
another of the rebel pieces of artillery, with which they were trying
to escape.
The shot killed the two lead horses; the driver jumped down and cut the
dead horses clear and managed to save the gun for us to face again the
same day. After we had taken the first line of works, the Ninth corps
passed to the front to take the second line. General Charles S. Griffin
our commander, told us that we had done our duty well, and had done
enough for one day, so we stacked arms and dropped down to rest.
Just at dusk, an aide came riding swiftly to our line, with the
message that the left of the troops in front of us had broke, and our
assistance was wanted. The order came clear and sharp:
“Fall in! Take arms! Left face! Forward double quick, march!”
General Griffin took the lead, shouting,
“Follow me!”
Away we went to where the troops had broke, and oh, what confusion!
Shells bursting, men running here and there, every one for himself, and
above all the noise was heard the rebel yell, once heard, never to be
forgotten.
Our brigade passed through the retreating men, and began firing, to
check if possible, the enemy’s advance. This we did, and drove them
back to their old position.
Here I saw a sight which in all the confusion and excitement thrilled
me with admiration, something not often seen in action under any
circumstances. The 155th Pennsylvania regiment of our brigade was on
our right, firing by rank, and as cool as if on dress parade, and they
continued so to do until we retired, leaving the recovered position for
the Ninth corps to hold. Griffin’s “Fighting brigade” was composed of
seasoned veterans, and of them all, none were braver or bolder than the
155th Penn. volunteers.