Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-08-04

uler would caffy-So III nappeue
after we left Louisville, and b.
fore reaching Perrysville in I'll
morning of Oct. Sth, our compan
was thrown out on the left flank ;
skirmishers, and our officers NJ
being acquainted with the countr,
and not having a guide, our cal
tain marched and marched u
through fields and over fences, vi
til at last he noticed some cavalry
HALT" was the order, and, as an
dry goods captain and lawye
lieutenant would do, they wen
boldly to ascertain what cavalry
was. They found out, and cam
running back, hallooing: "Boys
fall in, they are rebels y We dit
fall in, and | don't know if W,
were left or right in front, anC
such a rafting of tin ware among
the boys, as every one had a regu
lar tin shop strapped to his KNAPP
sack. 1t was impossible to under
stand any command from the ex'
cited officers, amid the rattliDe
of tin ware +; but one command
they all understood, aud that was
Boys, fall back in that ravine
right behind you," and we did fall
back, but howl Nevertheless we
got there, and it happened to be
the right direction to take. Here
we braves were to form a hollow
square as defence against cavalry.
But what was a hollow square !
We did not know, and guess our
brave superiors knew less than
some of the boys.
At last we formed a square and
awaited the great cavalry charge,
but no cavalry came, as there were
only four scouts. We remained
formed in a hollow square about
an hour, when our chaplain came
with a guide to hunt us up and
take us back to the regiment, which
at that time was heavily engaged
in fighting, but to the credit of
our green regiment, it behaved
we'll from that day and received
great credit from General Rosseau
after the battle.
Before our captain broke up his
hollow square, he made every one
Of us dispose of our tin ware in the
centre of the square, where it
formed monument for that great
hollow square. Before leaving for
he battle field, our chaplain gave
Is some good advice and prayed
or US, and then we started with
good spirit to defend the Union
With our Springfield rifles, having
to fit them.
If you will allow me to proceed,
shall give you few sketches of
now our regiment and brigade
went through the battle of Chicka-
manga. | shall commence were
our division crossed Lookout noun
.ain at Havers Gap, about Is miles
rom the point of Lookout noun
ain. The crossing took about two
lays for our corps, the 18th. Gen.
Thomas, known as "Old Pap Thorn
is" was our commander. Our
brigade being the rear guard while |
,rossing the mountain, we were
thrown out as skirmishers as soon
as we crossed, and we relieved
another brigade right in front of
Pigeon Hill, about two miles from
he foot of the mountain. Our whole |
rain had been formed behind a
strong line of battle, and that was
not a very good sign either-the
reason for this precaution, as
earned afterwards, was that the
corps on our right went about 20
miles too far up for crossing, and
eft us unprotected, and they could
not form a connection in less than
a day and half.
After our whole brigade was
thrown out as skirmishers we had
4 little shooting with some cavalry,
but not enough to do any serious
damage TO either party. About
o'clock we received orders to fall
back 800 yards at the sound OF
the bugle. We did so, but TO the
sorrow of our regiment and the
Path Illinois, we did not hear the
first call, as we were on the left
and the orderly commenced TO give
his orders from the right, so that
left US 800 yards or more unpro-
tected. The cavalry in our front
kept close up to US, and they found
out our situation, and it was not
long before they gave us a chase,
and they did keep track OF US.
| think it was the 18th Michigan,
supporting battery, in our regi-
ment's rear, which was Smelling the
rebels but as soon as the cavalry
came around our right, they left.
out our situation, we were
ordered to fall back across the creek
in our rear, about forty rods from
the battery. The Johnies didn't
give us a chance, and ordered us
to give up our guns. Most of our
regiment did so, as we were on the
right where the rebels got in our
rear. How many bugles they bad
blown in the rear, We had no time
to count. We were in a bad sit
uation, but by the bravery of
the colonel of the oath ILL
nois who nicked mn every one