The National tribune., 1883-06-28

through our lines and capture our supply train.
The Second brigade-Col. August Mersy-double-
gnicked 20 the right and formed in line of battle
along the Augusta Railroad. Here we met the
Second division being driven back and in full re-
treat and the rebel General Stewart close on its
heels. Gen. John A. Logan ordered the Second
brigade TO double-Quick and remember McPher-
SON. This the first that we had heard of the
death OF General Mcpherson The old Second
brigade was tired and fatigued and hardly able to
go. bat Revenge MCPHERSON " was our battle-cry,
and we formed in line OF battle and charged over
the railroad and through the brush to the deepcut
at the Howard house. Colonel Mersy formed the
brigade with the Twelfth Illinois on the left,
Eighty-irst Ohio in the center. and Sixty sixth Hi
Dois on the right. While forming here the rebels
completely Tiddled our eolors killing one color
bearerer and vvounding four. Colonel MeTsy
gave the command =" Douhle-auiclz charge ~ and
away went with yell, a1ler the rebels through
brush and bottom, driving them out Of their rifle
pits and recaptuTiBg Captain DE Ores four-gun
battery Of twenty pound Parrot guns, the rebels
not having time TO take 1t away. They shot
down the horses IN heap right in sight
n they fell back. We were close on to them, and
1t was a horrible sight 10 see the men and horses
ali lying together in heap The credit of recaptur
ing the battery belongs to company G.. Sixty-Sxth
Illinois. 1ieut. y. T. Ellis, comnanding) and
company X, Iieut Alvin 5. Davis. conmanding.)
The rebels had only time to spike the guns with
l0-penny nails. We pulled them out, and PTivates
Hiram :. Vinson, David Paggett, Tom Curtis and
David Smith. of company X, Sixty-slSth Illinois,
Aaron Halienbecl<, Fred. w. Ho;fbauer, Charles
+. Kimmel J. VI. Sortrnan, II. y. Sortman. Albert
Gray and VI. A Hatfield turned the pieces Ga the
rebels, while Capt w. :. Boyd, of company A,
pulled the lanyard, and away we fred ON the reb-
els. One piece burst. however w0unJiing David
Paggctt. At dusk the fighting ceased. and the
SiNty-sixth Illinois Western silarpshooters were
OCT the skirnish-ine. In the official history of
the Ninth and Fourth Iowa, Col. CaFsacadon, of
the Ninth claims the honor OF capturing De Gres'
battery. but this Is sad mistake. Give justice TO
whom justice IS due The Sizty-sixth Illinois, with
their l6-shooters (iienry repeating Tifes,l
titled to the honor CT TecapfRrng the battery, for
they were little too quick for the " Hawkeyes,'
We sSirTIished To within one mile of Atlanta. At
9 y. m, while Private Kimmel, better known
+" Gunboats' was on the picllet-ine in the dark
ness OF the night and in the pine woods he heard
soldier grooming and calling for help BE was
laying between the two ssSirIaish-lines, and KIM
mel went up TO him and asked him what he
wanted. He looked at him in the dark and said:
" Are you "A friend or foe 20 kjalnael replied: " 4
foe He calculated: :" For Gods sake have pity
on me sIad give ne drink OF water" Kimmel
gave him drink and tied UP his wound, which
was in the right knee and quite severe. He be-
Ionged TO company y, Thiftieth Georgia regiment.
We carried him TO the and sent him to Second
division Sixteenth Army Corps hospital. Colonel
August MeTsy, of the Ninth Illinois, while on the
charge, was wounded in the leg and his horse was
killed under ilim while jumping rail fence. He
Was seen wrinlying his hands and exclaialing Oh,
n5nc Billy horse oh, mine Billy horse is killed; the
TANNED rebels have killed mine Billy horsel Oh
mine Got mine Gott What is left OF mine little
Mines AS he wont TO call the Ninth Illinois.
In TINS battle and charge the old Second brigade
alSo recaptured some of the ThiFty-seventh
and FoTTy-scventh Ohio regiments who were be-
ing taken by The rebels to the rear. All hail the
Ninth T~eifih and Sixty-sixth Illinois and Eighty
first Ohio!