The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-10-21

| uhys III INV nlSlOTy v! tne IgOtn.
do not presume TO be able to give you
anything like description Of tho terrible
erandure of tho scene that occurred around
Kenesaw Mountain. Georgia. on the event.
ful 27'b o! June. for it is beyond my power
to paint in words, the sweeping line, tho
rushing column, and tho deadly CHARGE
The army OF johnson had been forced back
step by stop. ever retrcatiug but fighting
still. until their lines roachod one Of tho
strongest positions, both naturally and ar.
tifcialiy. which 1t 10 possible 10 imagine. -
| Their right res,ed on rocky and preoipitous
Kenesaw. their left crossing tho town of Ma.
rietts, while their whole front was protected
by massive and almost impreguabie works
For reasons best known to our generals. /,
had been determined that q general sssaul,
should be made Upon portions Of tho emo
my's works, aud tho morning OF tho 27,h
selected as the time of trial. Al an early
hour the 125tb was moved out, and taken
to that part OF our line occupied BY Stan.
leys forces. aud was hero deployed as skirm.
! ishors, crossing tho front of our Uba 3d)
Brigade. and joined on the right and lott by
| other regiments from other Divisions, The
whole skirmish line being under the direc
tion of Colonel Opdycko. Tho command
| of the l25th devolved on Lieut. Colonel ID,
III Moore. aided bv Major Bruff. Our line
"ns formed Immediately in rear of our out.
er works, aud here waited tho sigual that
was to send US forward like living, crush.
ing avalanche. upon tho foe A. we lay dc.
pIoyed, took hasty view of the ground
over which we were to pass. Immedia tel '
In front OF our loft, whero l was stationed,
vas au open fold. extending down TO piece
OF timber, some forty rods distant, in tho
edge OF which wore tho ouemvs rife pits.
which we're filed with the best troops of
Jobnsons army; sbont fiftcon rods in rear
OF these pits, was the main line OF the rebel
works, snd within range of our own. The
right companies we're similnrly situatcd,
while the ccntre of the regiment was
moro protected by belt If tinber which
extended nearly to the enemy's liue. II was
not over fifty five rods from our breast orts
to those OF tho enemy, nOd In passing over
this space We wore not only exposed to a
fire from the rife pits. but also that of the
main works. Such was the nature of the
ground that there was no shelter from tho
instant We crossed our works to go forward,
until We reached these rebel pits. Our or.
ders we're to take those pits" Once over
our own works. there could be no safety but
in instantaneous movement and success.
Col. Opdycke commanded Forward" and
the l25th, led by it's gallant Liout. Colonel
aud Major, had passed tho last works that
could shelter them from tho enemy's Are,
aud rushed upon the foo. Tho euemy's fire
was most terrific Secure behind their
works. thor infantry deluged us with
balls. while thoir artillery swept our deplet.
cd ranks With grape aud sholl. pouring
upon US an unccasing tido of death -
Many Of our brave boys foil close to the
oncu,ys abattis Lieut.. Dily fell doad With.
in fow feet of the works, while gallantIv
leading on his men. Lieut.. Burnham fell.
pierced by four balls. cicse BY the ditch
Capt Moses was badly wounded At the head
of his company. No liue Of skiruisbers
could storm those works in tho face OF such
fire. The assaiIing columns advanced to
support us. but could not roach Us, SO SO.
we're WAS the fro. At this instant, General
Harkor foil from his horse mortaliy wound.
I'd; the regiments on tho right and left Of
tho l25ih fell back, drawing upon US the
whole fire Of the euemy IN our front No
troops could live under such fire, and the
order came for the l25'h to fall back to the
captured pits, and TO hold then. Slowly
and su'lcniy we fell back, and did hold these
pits, though the enemy came out and made
from US. But in vain, for every pit WAS a
Tigers lair" held by men who would have
perished rather than have yielded them
We had accomplished all We we're ordered
to do in taking and holding the rife pits,
for it WAS not expected ths q skrmsh line
could successfully storm such main works
as those Of the enemy. The s,ormipg col
umns had been Withdrawn before the l25th
WAS ordered back to tho rife pits, and the
attempt abandoned for tho time. In duo
season the l25th was released, and what re.
mainod of it was taken back 10 the ground
occupied by it before starting cut in the
morning. Our loss Was severe, numbering
forty-iour men and nine officers. killed and
wounded. Tho almost unprecedented loss
OF officers arose from the fact that we we're
so close 10 the enemy that il was an easy
matter for them to single out officers from
men. few instances of personal daring
and address: AS we we're rushing upon the
rifle pits, Rebel officer. soeing our Lieut..
Colonel, Moore, IN advance of the line,
sprang toward him, and. with drawn saber,
demanded his surrender. But saic rebel
bad miscaculated his man; for, In an in.
slant. Col. Moores revolver was at his breast,
coupled with demand for him, the rebel,
to surrender. Col Moore's argument be-
ing the moro powerful, tho rebel gave in
and yielded his sword to the Colonel, who
sent him to tho rear. In the heat of tho
engagement, had to pass along the line
to execute an order which had been given
mo, and in so doing found Colonel Opdycke
mounted on his fnvorite horse, riding as
coolly along the skirmish line as though on
a pleasure tour, instead of being in the
midst OF storm of balls. l also saw a pri.
va,e Of Co. B, Isaac Brown, rush into rife
pit, and capture it's entire contents of FIVE
rebels. These instances came under my
own observation. No doubt but there we're
many other deeds OF personal daring. for 1t
was a day of daring deeds. A truce was
shortly after agreed upon. for the purpose
of allowing US to bury our dead. which wo
did. and they now ill soldiers graves.
Brave boys were they," but their fighting
10 now over, and their names are added TO
the liar of thnsa Eho fall in th,ar