The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17
Baird's Charge at Jonesboro'.

40 INC 11l1tOE NA1tONAl< 1hlBISE.
Comrade Brubaker, in his account of the battle of
Jonesboro', Ga, September /, 1854, is mistaken
WAS there myself and participated in that famous
charge of the little Third brigade Third division,
Fourteenth Army Corps JEFF. c. Davis was in
command OF the corps, General Baird was division
commander, and Brevet Brigader-GeneraI Este
commanded the brigade, which consisted of the
Fourteenth and Thirty eighth o. v V l. and the
Tenth Kentucky and Seventy -fourth Indiana regi-
meRts. The divisions OF which he speaks were on
right, and drove the enemy inside his ntrench-
IneIlis 2na were enGeayoring to enveop his left
and t3tss2. either rout or capture him entire. All
this co;.ld plainly be from the high position
oar division occupied near the railroad left
But the es1r gallant but ifnpefuous Davis antici-
pated tie movement the right and, to add to
the laurels OF the Fourteenth Corps, of which he
felt proud, advanced upon the rebel works. with
the intention of turning the eneIny's right flank
and thereby capture Har,iee entire. Little did we
think what was IN store for US when, with Davis
and staff on the left OF US and Generals Baird
and Este in our immediate rear, we could plainly
see what was going on IN our front. General Long
commanding the First brigade, had thrown his
troops into the intervening space between the Fiji
feentb Corps and the railroad with our brigade as
support. Well do remember the words OF General
Davis to has stall during the struggle of General
Long and his brigade OF Rcgulars-tllat awful re-
pulse by which the ground was strewn with the
wounded dying and fleeing brigade of General
Long General Davis turning TO one or hiss aids said
Tel General Baird TO fill the breach; - and Gen
eral Baird 70 General Este: General Davis wishes
YOU To close the breach and charge the works -
And white The bullets flying alter the retreat
ing brigade they created lively stir and almost
stampede % General Davis STAFF but he AFTER his
usual stern and resolutc manner, turning to his
staff. said: Hold your horscs-don't d-n one of
you rnn!" Then came the order along the line
given by our gallant Colonel Choaie: Forward
doUbie-uulck, march :" Never wiz the THIRTY
eighth OHIO, the little brigade numbering that
morning but eleven hundred, forget that order to
charge. Before me are the names of l52 members
Of the Tirty-eighth who fell before that awful fire
OF shot and she'll But did we stop7 Did the sacri-
flee OF officers and men who were falling OH every
side check i:npetuous but irresistible onset I?
Not a halt was made until the works were reached
and te trembling but brave enemy taken prisoners.
Colonel Este wounded, and Colonel Clloate
MORALLY shot while planting the thrice fallen colors
upon the rebel works; Captain Donaldson of CO.
lunlbus, Captain ]. w. I. Write and Captain Deu-
cher fell either wounded dead in the fearful
carnage But where General Baird? Com
two horses had bit the dust unde- him. his orderly
came forward with the third. But the gallant
Corporal, as we termed him, said: DIN the
horses will take 1t on focti" And with us he
scaled the rebel works directly in front of that
blazing battery. We Immediately promoted him
to Sergeant" and the memory of DAVIS Baird
Este and Choate VIII be green in the hearts of
the old ThiId brigade. At some future time dear
editor, VIII try and write mp a series OF articles
| for TUE TRIBUNE of the dongs of the old lOak)
and, with the lai6eated General Thomas, the
" Rock of Cl:icl1amauga' | masG not forget to
mention the courage displayed by the Seventeenth
! New York /ouaves IN coming TO our aid. Their
the CALLING fire that swept the field. And mus
not forget to mention that in memory OF that day
I the Thlrty-eigbth Ohio has chosen the Ist Of
September as its anniversary day, snd each year
meets in Reunion to shed tear FOR fallen boys
and hight the battle OF Joneshoro' anew.
Benz. r. MATTERy,
| 3sth o. V. v. l., Sd Brig, Sd Div l4th A. @
West UNITY OHIO.