Wednesday, March 16, 1864 --- [part 2] At 11 p.m., we were suddenly aroused by a tremendous explosion. I knew what is was in an instant, for I could see shells bursting high in the air, the whole heavens seemed to be on fire, pieces of timber and hard lumps of earth were falling in camp and even beyond. Men were running for life to the woods. I knew the magazine had been blown up. There was scarcely a time to think before another magazine blew up, followed by a shower of fragments. Some one said, “They are going to burst a cannon.” In a moment we heard a sharp explosion. I could hear one of the fragments coming towards us; it seemed to be a long time buzzing in the air—Some one said, “let’s run.” I said, “lie still.” (for we were in bed.) It struck ten feet from out “shebang.” I arose to see who was hurt, for I had heard a groan. I found two men down, sis by side; several men were gathering around. We examined them by the light of the noon, and found that one was Lt. Jerome Bishop of Co. “D,” and the other belonged to the 95th Ill.*** The upper half of their heads were taken off. Sergeant King was wounded, and it was his grown that we had heard, I handled the piece of cannon soon afterwards with the brains still on it. Captain Young was spattered with the brains, and in that condition went to Gen. A. J. Smith, to show that commander his work. Firing at the case-mate was dangerous, but these explosions were destructive. Two were killed and several wounded, just in wantonness of the commanding general, Such conduct can not be justified 1st Lt. Edmund Newsome Co. B 81st IL Inf. ***At 9 p.m., the magazine of the outer works was blown up with one terrific explosion. The scene was indescribable. Dirt, stones, timbers and shells were thrown high in the air, coming down with terrific force, killing and wounding several of our men. The shells bursting and the fragments falling at a late hour, really made might hideous. A few moments after the explosion, a 12 pounder iron gun was bursted in the parapets, a fragment killing 1st Lt. Jerome Bishop, Co. “D,” and wounding sergeant Pembroke M. King of the same company. (This act of Gen. Smith’s ordering the blowing up the fort, for some time made him very unpopular with the boys.)---J.J.F. photograph Lt. Jerome Bishop ancestry
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 19:35:54 +0000
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