The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-17

brigade, followed by charge. The Ala
bamians were picked up and hurled back
in broken mass, and the last of them
had not reached the woods before the
guns were again playing upon them.
The loss of the Confederate regiment was
over $50 men, 100 of whom, including
eight company commanders, died around
the battery.
THE REpULsE AT KENNEsAW.
The day after the repulse of the Eff
teenth Corps at Kennesaw mountain the
Fortieth and Fifty-seventh Indiana,
Ninety. seventh and Twenty sixth Ohio,
Twenty eighth Kentucky, and One
hundredth Illinois regiments, each num-
bering about 500 men, were selected to
make an assault on ridge 300 yards in
their front. The lines were formed in
regimental divisions, and while the front
was only the width of two companies the
depth was thirty lines of men in open
order. 1t was in fact giant wedge of
flesh and blood and steel which was to
drive itself through the Confederate
lines.
As the men stood in line their officers
explained to them in low and earnest
tones what was planned and what was
hoped for. It was forlorn hope indeed.
Every man must have realized that there
would be a terrible loss of life even be-.
fore the salient was reached, but each
one seemed to nerve himself for what.was
to come. During the twenty minutes
interval between forming and the order
to advance there was almost dead silence
in. the ranks. The men leaned upon
their muskets and peered through the
forest in their front which hid the Con-
federate position, and the supports on the
ranks moved up and into position as 1t
fearing that their footsteps would disturb
the dead of the day before.
1t was not positively known TO tine
Federals that the salient was defended
by cannon. The hope that it was not
gave the men more spirit, as the lay Of
the pround-forest, thicket and. ridge
furnished fair shelter from musketry fire.
Soon after 8 o'clock a single low spoken
order brought every man to- front face.
The moment had come. As the column
had formed under cover it was hoped to
take the defenders of the salient by sur
prise. The lines were dressed, and IN
moment more we're moving through tne
woods. From the valleys at the base OF
the Kennesaw, Lost or Pine mountains
to their crests there is scarcely level
spot. The sides are covered with forests
and thicket, aud the ground is almost a
succession of rocky terraces. Over this
difficult ground the great blue wedge
forced its way at rapid pace, but no
cheer was heard-no shouts were given.
"Crack crack crack |"
1t is the alarm from the Confederate
skirmishers, who have crept down al
most to the base of the mountain. Iney
are posted behind great rocks and hidden
behind lodges. They cannot retreat;
they must surrender or fight it out. Ihey
choose the latter course. Nine out OF
eyery ten hold their positions until the
point of the blue wedge reaches them and
brings a savage death with it.
All along the sides of the grim noun
tain the skirmishers bar the way, seeking
to detain the wedge and alarm the defend
ers of the salient. Here and there a
Federal throws up his hands and falls
back but the column makes no halt UP
mn. up. and now an officer in front waves
his sword as the slopes of the parapet
come into sight. Here the cover sud
denly ends. From the bushes to the
salient, distance of 200 feet, the grouno
has been swept bare of tree and bush,
and rocks have been rolled aside.
At the foo, of the parapet is pallsade
of that abattis. Behind the
works are a thousand muskets-a thou
sand Confederates with fingers on trig-
gers. At regular intervals along. this
iine-25O feet front-are six Held pieces,
each one loaded with grape and canister.
The men within are waiting. Not an
order is given nor a head appears in
siobt until the first line Of blue is out OF
cover. -,
Now, as if one finger had pressed the
thousand triggers, great sheet OF name
leaps forth and scorches and bllsters ana
shriyels the advance. The second line
crowds up over the dead and dying, the
third and fourth cheer as they come.
Now with crash as if volcano was
breaking through the crest OF the noun
tain, the six guns beleh their contents
into that mass of men sixty deep.
The effort was horrible. What were
mon a moment az O are now bloody shreds
blown against the rocks and scattered lar
over the ground. Some of the CORY trag-
ments fall upon tie lines yet halfway up
the slope. .ho
rear lines crowd up. There Is ahotner
bloody feast ready as soon as the cannon
can be charged. Then comes the order
to break lines and divide to the right ana
left to get out of range OF the artillery
The men rush forward to the abattls-
some lie fat down-other5 take cover De-
hind rocks.
holds them before the salient. The Con
federates have them at their mercy. Men
take deliberate aim and send bullet
the heads of the living targets.
When the burial party comes to do its
work it will find that seven out OF every
ten Federals lying before that abattis mas
heen killed stone dead by single bullet.
The fire of musketry might have
lbecked the assault, but aided by artil'
Srv the assault became a butchery.
drsspe Ira and canister searched out spots
s|cure tane from bullets. and men in the very
rSr ranks, who did not even catch sight t t
ot the abattis were struck down 6y the
irh missiles. No assault could have ave
brpgbt out more nerve and nesolsn,, : rocEv Jus
clit .ho;,
orig Ansi Positions pos the roll Of dead lead and and
wo1ded was g shock to those who haa
escaed. No one had blundered. John, ea H.
stonI lines were there, and they I'm muss 1aops be
ing # a weak spot to drive wed ge ln!o.
Thatt,oI;ant was one of the strongest