Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-11-05
From the Eighteenth Wisconsin.
THE DEFENSE OF ALAToONA.
An Heroic and Successful Resistance.
The Losses of the Eighteenth
Correspondence of the State Journal.
a-oo,- O. DOT q Is

Wisconsin, that has suffered greatly, from the
fact that no one connected with il has made
it his especial business TO JlOc for it. | dc
not purpose to attempt anything of the kind
in this communication. My purpose is mere
ly to give brief account of late brilliant
Engagement, in which the Eighteenth took d
prominent part.
On the 9Th inst, the expected attack upon
this important post was made. Warming had
been received two days previous from Gen
Sherman that Hood was North of the Chatta-
hoOchee, and that Allatoona was threatened,
and must be held at all hazards. The post
was held at that time by three regiments
the 4th Minnesota, esd Illinois and seven
companies of the 18th Wisconsin, with the
18th Wisconsin battery. Late at night on
the 4th inst, Gen. Corse, with brigade OF
infantry, was sent to reinforce them, and with
this small force of little more than two thou
sand men, we waited the attack on the NOR
row. At the early hour of two in the morn
ing the piekets gave notice of the approach
II
ordered under arms, and deployed as Skin
mishers. In this position it remained until
daylight should disclose the number and
strength of the force against as; all night
the balance of the command was preparing
for the coming contest.
Such was the disposition and number of
our garrison, when the grey dawn disclosed
the force arrayed against US, and as soon as
it was light, the position of the rebel batter
les was apparent about 1900 yards South of
our forts. The first iron messenger was sent
from our side, and seemed to do good service,
disabling, at the first fire, one of the enemies
pieces. Their artillery, seven pieces of large
calibre for field service, opened soon after
upon US, and an artillery duel was kept up for
some hours, but as usual the damage done by
artillery was very slight. 1t was apparent
that our shots were decidedly more effective
than theirs,
About ten o'clock the skirmishing of infan-
try was heard on the right flank, and almost
Immediately afterwards in our rear. Our po-
sition was completely surrounded. 1t was ev-
ident an overwhelming force was against US,
and that the intention was TO make short work
in gobbling up our little garrison. We had no
no sooner discovered the position ofthe enemy
than flag of truce appeared, under which
the rebel Gen. French sent message to the
General commanding our forces, demanding
the surrender of the place to prevent the
useless effusiOn of blood" 1t was sent back
with the answer that ''the Union forces here
we're expected to hold the place, and when
Gen. French was ready TO commence the
useless effusion of blood we were ready to
receive him." Accompanying the demand for
our surrender was an intimation that "lf the
garrison Surrendered hse1t they would be treat
ed as prisoners of war" OF course, howev-
er, according to modern logic, it would be
very unfair for us to infer that the rebel Gen
eral intended TO intimate any alternative.
Hardly had the peaceful flag disappeared
from view before the rebel lines were seen
approaching our position. On they came
with defiant yell, charging against storms
of grape and canister and death-dealing bull
let's Twice the wave of human beings surg
ed up to the very muzzles of our guns; twice
the wave receded from the ramparts like bill
lows from the rocky shore. One fort was
carried-bayOnets were crossed-numbers by
their physical force overpOwered the garri-
son our BOYS gave way and fell back; and
one part of our line was in rebel hands,
But as the last tattered Union flag retreated,
and the rebels raised their shout of triumph,
the trap was sprung, and from commanding
batteries a storm of shell and shot was hurl
ed among them, and they yielded their hard
won prize with severer loss than they suffered
in acquiring it. Broken and discouraged,
their ranks fell back, and the victory was
ours This fort that was taken was one of
the old rebel works, and was to have been
leyeIed, but the result proved that perhaps
it was well enough the design was not carried
out. although our forces suffered severely in
falling back from it. There was no artillery
in il.
After the defeated army had retired, we
had time to look around and see what loss
the brave garrison had had sustained. Over
four hundred were killed or wounded, and
nearly two hundred taken prisoners, making
a loss of nearly One-third of the force engag-
ed-a greater propOrtionate loss, probably,
than any previous battlefield in this war can
show. The rebel force must have been at
least eight thousand, of which they lost in
killed, wounded and prisoners, at least fifteen
hundred.
The 18th Wisconsin being during the first
part of the day, and during the first attack,
on the skirmish line in front of our position,
1--WE were in the trenches to repel the final
charge did not suffer as severely as the reg
iment which repealed the attack from the
rear, but its loss was after all nearly as Sc
we're as that of the other regiment.
Three companies, +, Z and G, under COM
mand of Capt. Mcintyre, were stationed two
miles below Allatoona, at railroad bridge.
A strong block-hOuse had been built there,
and as it was supposed that Sherman would
have force up for the relief of the post be-
fore the block-house could be destroyed, the
garrison was left there. simultaneously with
the attack upon AllatoOna, a demand was
made for the surrender of this little force. Ii
is said that the reply received was as brief
and decided as that of General Corse at Al
latoona, so one piece of artillery and a regi-
ment of infantry were left behind to reduce
the bloek-house, and bring the rebellious lit
tie garrison to terms. All day the siege was
maintained, but it was not until dark, and
then only after the heavier artillery was
opened upon il and the block-house sCdS on
fire, that this garrison of eighty men yielded,
literally smoked out, after having killed or
wounded more than their own number. The
loss here sustained by our regiment was one
killed, four wounded, with four officers and
seventy-fve men taken prisoners. Captain
j. w. Roberts, to whose vigilance and ener-
gy was chiefly due the fact that the block
house was in a condition to sustain a siege,
so prolonged and and determined rs this, had
been few days previous detached from his
command and assigned to duty as Acting As.
sistant Inspector General on Gen. Jno. E.
Smiths staff.
At Huntsville, Ala, last winter the old
18th re-enlisted as a veteran regiment. More
than three-fourths of the entire regiment will
continue in the service after their original
term expires. 1t was not practicable to give
the 18th their flrlou0h before this campai0u