The National tribune., 1884-08-28
ALLATOONA.
Gen. Corse tells Gen. French He Is Ready for the
"Unnecessary EiTuson of Blood " at any Time.

ALLATOONA.
Gen. Corse tells Gen. French He Is Ready for the
"Unnecessary EiInson of Blood at any Time.
To THE EDITOR: Our garrison consisted of
j, 100 men. We had the 4th Minn. and 18th
Wis, together with a part of the 9th Wis. bat
terry all under the command of Col. Tourtellotte,
of the 4th Mimi. Hood had made his desper-
ate flank movement. He very well knew that
we were guarding the main depot of supplies
for Sherman's grand army. Allatoona Pass was
truly the key to Shermans position, and we
knew that we held it. And now the enemy
was upon US in force. He had destroyed the
railroad between us and Sherman's pursuing
columns; he had stormed with shot and shell
our block-house, and had taken prisoners over
100 Of its brave defenders. And now he was
ready for US. Gen. Corse, with 900 men, had
been ordered down from Rome to our relief.
Late in the evening of Oct. A. 1864 our pickets
were driven in, and by the distant firing we
were apprised of the near approach of the enc
my. 1t was midnight. The rumbling of cars,
the putting of engines, the neighiDg of horses
and braying of mules, all told us of the arrival
of Gen. Corse. j remember that we now felt
very confident and brave, for Gen. Corse was
in command. 1t is true that our forts were
badly located, for the hills to the west and
north Of us were SO much higher that they
looked down upon US. All night long our COM
mand was busy, and hurried in silent prepara-
tion.
At daylight on the morning of Oct 5, on
looking across the bottom lands south of US, we
could see the enemy planting his batteries.
About O'Clock he opened fire, throwing shells
mostly into and about our main fort which
was on the west side of the pass. We laughed
at this snowy effort, this futile bombardment.
Soon the cannonading ceased, and an officer
from Gen. French came under flag of truce.
| The writer happened 10 hear what was said
both by Gen. Corse and the rebel officer. After
saluting the General the latter handed him a
/ paper from Gen. French, which read about as
! follows: General: now have you surrounded
4 My force is far superior to yours. To prevent
] the unnecessary effusion of blood, / summon
/ you to immediate surrender" Gen. CoTse
coolly and firmly said: "You say to Gen.
French that will not surrender, and that he can
/ begin the unnecessary efusion of blood when
4 ever he pleases." The aid returned, and within
/ 10 minutes the gray columns with their gleam-
ing muskets were seen marching up and over
! the hills by the left flank, until they reached
the railroad to the north of us. We knew the
! battle would now begin.
! The enemy soon let US know what ne meant
and what be was doing by his uBearthly yells
/ and the murderous rattle of his musketry. He
charged on our thin lines and carried them by
the weight and momentum of numbers. He
rushed over our slim defenses, treading down
our men In the trenches and fairly kicking
/ them in the face. One after another our
| outposts were driven in. Officers came dash
ing 10 Gen. Corse saying, "We have lost our
position; we cannot hold our posts against such
numbersi We are already all cut TO pieces ! "
/ Not many minutes elapsed before the enemy
were seen rallying for a grand charge on our
interior defenses and the fort itself. Gen. Sher-
man was on Lookout Mountain, away north
ward 10 miles. Signal flags were continually
/ waving, up and down, to the right and left,
carrying the burning words Of Sherman and
Force, the one saying, Hold onl Hold the
fort! Never give up!" The other returning
We never will-we cannot surrender" Gen.
COrse was everywhere-walking around out
side and on top of the parapets- going through
the embrasures-cverywh speaking words of
assurance and plucky defiance 1T is hot
boys, but remember Vicksburg We shall not
surrender The writer was standing near the
General when he was about to again mount the
parapets. A ball struck him (Corse) and he
fell backward bleeding. Soon the word passed
that our General was wounded Surrender
seemed now inevitable Family the word
Surrender" passed around, but only while
the General lay there fainting A Surgeon
gave him q little stimulant and handkerchiei
wet with spirits was placed around his torn tenn
pie and ear, and he rallied from the swoon and
arose to his feet. HI and d-n, who talks OF
surrender" said he. I'VE shall never surrender
We viii die right here, every man of us, rather
than give up" Again hope reigned. The
General placed Henry rifles in the trenches
and under the parapets, ready for hand to- hand
fighting. We were none too soon, for the op-
posing forces mingled in bayonet charge and
our men were all driven into the fort. Here
hand to hand they fought and the enemy en-.
countered the Henry rifles. Down the en-
bankmente they fell into the trenches Once
i mn fHcx-~ 0tq,, e. a.
area of which was about 6,000 square feet was
full and crowded with dead and wounded OuI
guns were all silenced from rapid firing. Col
Tourtelotte was badly wounded too, and could
not fight any more. 1t was noon, and we still
held the fort. We had not yet won, for Gen
French had come upon us with 1000 veterans
the flower of Stewarts corps-of Hoods army
and still had reserves But he knew that Sher
man was near. He must rally once NOR,
around an old house near our front for one las
grand charge-one greater and better than am
or ali before; Tor this one must succeed-thi
! must determine the fate of our post Th,
doom OF Gen. Corse and his srmy was sealed
Our batterymen were all slain OF wounded
but we had plucky infantrymen left. We wer
, out Of ammunition, tool What shall be done
. Capt Bruner, Of Co. Z, 18th Wis, solves tn
! problem. be crawls over the walls of the fort
crosses the deep cut on foot bridge to tn
other fort, secures his grape and canister
brings 1t home to US on bis back, all the tim
/. under heavy fire from the enemy. Now ou
. big gun is once more sWabbed and loaded wit
! grape and canister, and by the hands of tn
! brave Capt. Bruner. He was then only boy
a but he showed the pluck and heart of lior
!, Now the Confederates had got ready. w
! could see them, more than q thousand strone
. The low hushed command of officers, the fxin
! of bayonets, the swift double-quick rallyin
!. behind the old house, told us that perchanc
n our fate hung on this final charge.
: But Bruner's gun was now wheeled into til
!. embrasure, where SO many brave battery boy
. had gone down, and he poured the graI
and canister through and through tha
= old housei What sightl The rebels wer
p seized with panic. They could not be ralliet
: and rushed over the hills amid last volle
i from our rifles. Our raen almost cried for 10
when the battle was won. And now came ii
sad work of the Surgeons. We were but few i
number, but our labor was fearfully grea
Two humane Confederate Surgeons were lie
e with US, and together side by side for six day