The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-07
Western Mans Account of peacl. Tree Greek.

NAUGATUcK, COIN.
Western Mans Account of Peach Tree Greek.
TO the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In THE TRIBUNE Of May leth noticed letter from
Joseph EYigolnsr, company Il, Forty-sirth Penn
sylyana v L. whose statements seem 10 neeSiso,ne
correction. Ii, rs TIE TRIBUNE claims. the true
history of the war IS to be CLEANED by tie future
historian from individual experiences written cut
alter lapse OF twenty years the writers should be
sure they have good memories. Don't let have
too much egotisni nor any more seifmfaton than
IS necessary TO loia up our own end OF tiIe Ire.
am II Western iHetil,t}Drn and bred on that soil
which is said to spontaneously produce great men;
or, in other words, | am an Ohio man by nativity
and Hooser by adoption. But, to come to facts:
would not detract an iota from tilehoncr due the
old Eleventh and Twelfth Corps that came from
nooga; IL the campaign to Atlanta; the Aiarcii to
the sea, sind through the GSgolinas TO Raleigh. |
can call % mimi now one particular spot where the
f1st DIVISION OF the Twentieth Corps. composed OF
part OF the old Twelfth, acted as cooy the acc
oil heavy charging column any troops IL the
world ever did The place was to the right of Ken
esaw Mountain the last line we occupied in
trent of Marietta. Our division the Third OF the
Twentieth Corps. had skirmished its way up 10 the
top OF u ridge iTenS.ing open fields for some dis
lance to lac south and the right OF oEr line. When
we came on the ridge our division formed the
IRENE right of the Union line. After short time,
and when re had comfortably bsIrToWed ourselves
and the 3ohilnics had settled to good behavior IN
or frout the irst division OF corps moved to
our right TO extend the line the ridge.
The men stuck their guns fyre hSd cut ing
arms, and IN lieu stuck them anil had gone To the
rear few steps to gather material for hTestvyoris
Just then the rebs broke into the Opeffeld about
200 yards to their front, not m any particular lire
bat rather in mass of living Falor. about fifty
yards deep--I expect they felt vaioF then they
didn't feel about thirty minutes later. Our battery
turned their guns ON them and euhlastiag fire
piowed furrcws, apparently, clear through their
mass, hut nothing daunted them they kept right
on up the hill after that First division.
Well, we began to feel little anxious Just then,
II you please. We expected TO see Our First divi-
GIS1 Trf.F.R
weight would be certain to fall against We had
gone up there to stay. We always went where we
We're ordered, and stayed till told to quit. But if
that mass of iohnnies pushed the First division out
OF It's way and came capering around behind US,
our dinner hour would be postponed; hence
were anxious. But the boys turned, looked at the
rebs, dropped what they had in hand, gathered
their guns, brought them to shoulder. and stood
so until the rebel mass within thirty steps of
them, when it hesitated, and, finally, boited Then
the boys opened on them. and III thirty minutes Il
was all over. and line was planted TO stay Yes
those Eastern boys are brave enough but we donot
want to be forgotten.
THE TWENTIETH CORPS AT WORK.
Now, to correct some OF brother Engomar's mis-
takes: LIST. He says the Third division, Twentieth
Corps was the old Eleventh Corps. Now, the First
brigade of that division, composed OF the Seventeen
Indiana, the One Hundred and Second One Hun
dred and Fifth, and One Hundred and Twenty
ninth Illinois, and Seyenty-nInth Ohio never saw
the Army OF the Potomac till they it in Wash
iBgton at the close of the war; General Coburns
Thrty-thrd Indiana always belonged to the West
army. There may have been others. but these
know all Wore the blue stars and made the rebs
see them at Peach Tree Creek Another error
The Third division did not cross Peach Tree Creek
til about II o'clock the 20tlt of July. One dvis-
ion OF the Fourth Corps tStanley's L think had
crossed the night before and taken position, with
the left resting Oh the creek, and right ridge
trendig parallel with the creek, half mile to the
west Of this and on the ridge Geary left,
his line extending to the west and the First iivi
sion joined the right of the Second on the same
ridge, Now, remember the First and Second dyis
ions had been moved into place very early IN the
I II
italy protect themselves. This left half mile gap
between the Fourth Corps and the Second division
of the Twentieth We-the Third division crossed
Peach Tree Greek about II O'Clock. massed our
troops behind SANKEY'S. and rested perhaps
hour then we deployed down the valley of the
creek to ill the gap spoken of above The
rebel sllirrnish line held the gap all the time
cur soldiers eontending for the ridge all the
forenoon. Our division was ordered to rest
down in the valley The day was very hot.
The men stuck their guns in line and erawled
under bushes for shelter. Finally, about two
O'Clock, pushed the rebel slSirmish-line
back far enough to get look at what WIS going on
beyond the ridge. They Immediately informed
General Coburn, commanding Second brigade OF
Third division, that the rehs were naSsing their
lines III front General Coburn mounted, rode,
not TO General Towards headquarters, but 10 Gen
eral W L Wards division eonnander), and asked
permission to move his brigade to the top OF the
ridge. General Ward refused. The fight had be-
gun at the right of the corps, and General Hooker
had gone there, and Ward didn't want 10 move
without orders. Coburn came back but, IN few
minutes ne rode again to Wards headquarters,
and when ne came back the second time CHANGED
to be two three rods to the OF line, talk
ing with General Ben. Harrison. As he rode up,
Harrison turned to him with Whats the word,
Generate Coburn said he had permission 10
move his line to an intervening ridge about half
way TO the main ridge Harrison, who commanded
our brigade (the First, remarked that he would
move part of his Hne-tllrce regiments that lay
the east side OF The creekup the same line.
The creek here mentioned flows To the east, the
south SIDE OF the main ridge ill it reaches point
| where 1t turns TO the north breaks through the
ridge and joins Peach Tree Greek at \ RIGHT angle
| The SEVENTEEN Indiana, One Hundred aud Twenty
ninth and One Hundred and Filth Illinois We're on
| the east side, the Seven.y-ninth Ohio and One
/ Hundred and Second Illinois on the west. There
WAS no place along entire division line that the
| line was double, except the space occupied by the
! One Hundred and Twcnty-ninth Illinois. The One
! Hundred and Fifth Illinois followed. As General
/ Harrison placed his foot IN his stirrup to mount
the hail storm from the rebel line struck They
had driven our skruaishline and ut some points,
had gained the ridge. Our line formed promptly.
| Every bush gave up its soldier. Without much
| forinality we went for that ridge. Everybody
/ seemed to know by instinct that that ridge must
| be gained and held, or all was lost for US.
NOT ANOTHER CHANcELLoRsyIILr.
/ General Hooker rode up to General Wards GUAR
tiers just line struck the rebel hosts; he
1 the one Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois stag
ger and yield ground slightly, when the exelama-
ton escaped hims Another Charlottesville -
But just then the gallant old One Hundred and
Fifth Illinois emerged from the bushes steadied
the one Hundred and Twenty-ninths line mo-
| ment or two, and then went forward with ven-
geance. The ridge was won and held The gen
| eral sat his horse watching the One Hundred
/ and Twenty-ninth when it rallied and the rebs
| began to yield and then another exclamation es-
/ capped him Swinging his hat, he said: mol The
! boys have got thein--they have got themi" And
we had Sometimes small things in the details of
battle that lost sight of by the historian turn
the whole tide Of conflict and give victory where
| defeat would appear inevitable. This was small
movement made just in the nick of time, not in
tended to result as it did by ANYBODY, that saved
| our lines, | think, at Peach Tree Creek. The
Union akirmish-line that had been contending all
day up TO o'clock p. m, in front of our brigade
1 belonged TO Geary'a divisional New York rcgi-
ment, / believe. An order came to brigade
| about 2 O'Clock to re~enforce the skirmisli-iine.
Company K, of our regiment, Seventy -nnth Ohio,
and all of the enc Hundred and Second Illinois
| were armed with Spencer rifles. Company X and
! enough of The One Hundred and Second TO make
! ninety men answered the detail Captain c. VIII
/ hanson, Company X, commanding. Where the
creek breaks through the ridge it forms gorge,
and Immediately after it passes, the valley of the
creek opens to perhaps fifty yards on either side
into low, fat bottom, extending 70 the north some
200 yards till it opens into the valley of Peach Tree
| Creek Right at the elbow of the creek, and on
the ridge, stood mill that sheltered the rebels
while forming their lines. Captain Williamson
moved his men in . body up this valley, assembled
s Al