58 HENRY HILL GOODELL 



conversations across the ravine, our boys telling them that 

 if they wanted any soft bread, we would put some in a mor- 

 tar and send it over, etc., etc. Our meals were brought out 

 at 3 o'clock in the morning, and after dark at night. We lay 

 here three days and were relieved on the 10th by the 

 159th. I was very much interested the last day in watching 

 a snake swallow a toad. It was astonishing how wide he 

 opened his jaws and pushed a toad down, three times his 

 diameter. Rather a curious place to study natural history, 

 under the guns of Port Hudson. We returned to our old 

 camping-ground. June 11, between 12 and 1 p.m., a general 

 assault was planned, but owing to some misunderstanding 

 the scheme failed and we were repulsed. 



June 14 we were under way at an early hour, for we 

 formed the reserve to the attacking column on the centre. 

 Colonel Birge was in command of the reserve. We rose at 

 2 a.m., had coffee, and started under the guidance of Cap- 

 tain Norton at 3. In a few moments we heard a terrific yell 

 and the crash and roar of artillery and musketry. Soon the 

 wounded and dead began to be brought in, some faint and 

 pale, others cursing and swearing and vowing they would 

 go back for revenge. All kinds of conflicting rumors were 

 rife as to the success of our brave fellows. Then General 

 Paine was wounded and Colonel Birge assumed command, 

 we, forming the reserve, being under Colonel Morgan. Soon 

 we were ordered forward. On through the scene of our first 

 day's fight, then down through a ravine where a road had 

 been cut. Halting at the foot of a hill we formed line of 

 battle and charged, but it was a great mistake, for instead 

 of creeping round the hill we had to charge over it, down 

 through the ravine and up the next before we could reach 



