Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-07-27
The Iooth Ohio at RInesaw.

Ne%
around Kinesaw Mountain, Georgia,
on the eventful 9th of June. for it is
my power TO paint in words,
the sweeping line, the rushing column.
aud the deadly charge, The army
of Johnston had been forced back step
by step, ever retreating but fighting
still, until their lines occupied one Of.
the strongest positions, both naturally
and a~rtificially, OF which it IL possible
to imagi O..
Their right rested upon rocky and
PERCEPTIONS Kinesaw, their left cover
ing the town of Marietta, while their
whole front was protected by massive
and almost impregnable works. For
reasons best known to our Generals,
it has been determined that Il general
assault should be made upon portions
of the enemy's werks, and the morn
ing of the 9th selected as the time of
trial. At an early hour the 10th
was moved ont and taken to that part
of our line occupied by Stanley's forces
and was here deployed as skirmishers
covering the front of our (the 3d.
Brigade, and joined on the right and
left by other regiments from the Di-
vision, the whole skirmish line being
under tre direction of Col. Opdycke.
The command of the 10th devolved
on 1t. Col. d. H. Moore, aidedby Maj
Bruf. Our line was formed immedi-
ately in rear of our outer works, and
here waited the signal that was to
send US forward like a living, crushing
avalanche upon the foe. As we lay
deployed | took a hasty view OF the
ground over which we were to pass.
Immediately in front ofour left, where
l was stationed, was an open field ex-
tending down to a piece of timber,
some forty rods distant, in the edge OF
which we're the enemy's rifle pits,
which were filled with the best troops
of Johnston's army; about fifteen rods
in rear ofthese pits was the main line
of tho rebel works, and within range
of our own. The right companies
were similarly situated, while the cen
ter of the regiment was more protect
ed by q belt oftiml er which extended
nearly to the enemy's line. 1t was
now over ffty-fve rods from our breast
works to those of the enemy, and ii
passing over this space we were moi
only exposed TO a fire from the riA,
pits, but also that of the main works
Such was the nature of the grouUC
that there VAS 10 shelter from the in
slant VIC crossed orr works to 20 for
ward, u..r' ~c -eAc j these rebe
pits. Our oTuris 1,rc TO ''taige thOs,
pits" Once over our works, there
could be safety but in instautaneou,
movemout and success
Col. Opdycke commanded "For
ward" and the l25th, led by its galIan.
1t. Colonel and Major had pas; ed th,
last works that could shelter then
from the enemy s fire and rushed Up
On the foe.
The enemy's fire was most terrific
Secure behind their works their in
fantry deluged US with balls, Will,
their artillery swept our depleto,
ranks with grape and she'll, pOurin.
upon us an uncasing tide of DEATH
Many of our brave boys fell close L
the enemies abattis.
Lieut.. billy fell dead within a fey
feet of the works while CALAMITY lead
ing on his men. Lieut.. Burnham feI
pierced by four balls close by the ditch
Capt. Moses was badly wounded at tn
head of his company. No line ofskii
mishe,s could storm those works il
the face of such a fire. The assailin.
columns advanced to support US, bu
cold not reach US so severe wa
the fire. At this instant Geners
Harker fell from his horse MORTAL,
wounded, the regiments on the RICH
and left of the 125th fell back, DAWN.
upon US the whole fire of the enem.
in our front. No troops could liv
8 under sue fire, and the order cam
: for the 125th TO fall back to the car
tured pits and to hold them. SIowl
and suIlenly we fell back, and di
hold those pits though the enem
came ont and made the most despel
ate attempts to wrest them from u
But in vain, for every pit was a at
gers lair" held by men who woul
have persisted rather than have yielC
r ed them.
/ We had accomplished all We wer
| ordered to do in taking and holdin
| the rife pits, for it was not expecte
, that a skirmish line could successful
storm such main works as those ofth
enemy. The storming columns ha
been withdrawn before the 125th wa
ordered back to the rifle pits, and tn
t attempt abandoned for the time. l
. due season the 125th was relieved, an
what remained of it was taken bac
!. to the ground occupied by it befor
starting out in the morning.
> Our loss was severe, numbering 70,
, ty-four men and nine officer, kille
. and wounded. The almost unprecC
| denied loss of officers arose from til
? fact that We were So close to the enC
, my that it was an easy matter 70
them to single out ofic rs from mer
A few instances of personal DARN
and address, and l have done. As W
were rushing upon the rifle pits, a rel
ell officer seeing our Lieut.. COlone
, Moore, in advance ofthe line, spran
: towards him, and with drawn sabe
l demanded his surrender. But sal
: rebel had miscalculated his man; 70.
8 in an instant, Colonel MoOre's revoly
: er was at has breast, coupled with tn
/, demand for him, the rebel, to surrer
der. Col. Moore's argument bein
the more powerful, the rebel gave i
6 and yielded his sword to the Colone
who sent him to the rear.
!, In the hea of the engagement,
+ had to pass along the line to execut
! an order which had beer given mc
\ o-J =, o. In;u- rourl (Nol nD1voE