The National tribune., 1884-09-11
CHAMPIONS HILL.
Graphic Picture of Most Exciting Time-Logan's
Division at Champion's Hill.

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A6raphic Picture of Most Exciting Time-Logan's
Division at Champions Hill.
To THE EDITOR: Comrade J. B. Harris, Co.
C. Saith Ind, relates an incident of the battle
of Champions Hill in THE TRIBUNE of July
81, the most dramatic of the kind that ever
fell under the observation of the writer. 1t
was q scene worthy of the poets pen or artists
pencil and richly deserves niche IN history.
Unfortunately, no Carleton" B. +. Taylor,
Richardson or other great war correspondent
was spectator of the scene enacted; otherwise,
the readers of the war -tecming columns of con-
temporary journals would have been thrilled
with the recital of it, as were the grimy on
lockers. Gen. Sheridan 10 more promptly or
successfully rallied the fleeing Army of the
Shenandoah at Cedar Creek than Gen. Logan
did the fugitive 34th Ind. at Champions Hill.
This regiment was on the extreme right OF
Hovey's Division Of the Thirteenth Corps, and
the 30th III. next to il, on the extreme left OF
Logan's Division of the Seventeenth Corps, at
the time referred TO by Comrade Harris. Until
short time previous TO this tl( 80th Ill. was in
position farther to the right and front of the
34th Ind, warmly engaged, when large body
of the enemy was seen moving towards the
right of Hovey, but some distance 10 the left OF
our regiment 1.-THE 30th ILL., 1t was generally
remarked that there would soon be lively
racket 20 our left. At this juncture we were
/ relieved by another regiment and fell back
/ few rods replenished our cartridge-boxes and
moved about the length of the regiment to the
/ left under a CALLING fire. We were formed
! facing south along rail fence, which ran east
and west on the summit OF ridge, with woods
! and rebels in front, and an open field TO our
rear Sixty or so rods north of us was another
/ ridge parallel TO the one On which our line was
/ formed, with a ravine between, with gentle
slopes on each side. A few batteries were in
position on this northern ridge. The left of
| the Both extended to an angle in the fence,
1 which turned to the north a few rods, thence
! to the east. The 34th was TO the left and rear
Of the Both, near the latter angle Of the fence.
Scarcely had we got into position when the
already hot FIRE was augmented by terrific
crashes of musketry. The 34th received rather
| more than their share Of the whitening FIRE OF
| the Confederate re-enforcements. Soon they
were fleeing down the slope in wild confusion.
/ The 30th was soon exposed TO deadly flank
fire in consequence of the stampede Of the 34th,
and began TO fall back. a company at time,
vying with them in seeking a more congenial
atmosphere. In the meantime, we saw Gen.
Logan, a half mile of TO our right, approach
ing with the speed Of q cyclone.
When in speaking distance. he shouted:
"What regiment is tbis2" "The Saith Ind"
was the reply. Men, for Gods sake, don't
disgrace your State. Not mother of one of
you but what would rather see her son brought
home dead, than TO disgrace yourself" Gen
eral, the rebels are awful thick up there" says
some one. Dash it, there's the place to kill
them While they are shooting you, you can
be shooting them. You do not belong TO my
command, but you must fight" Thus he
talked with the greatest volubility. He spake
no parallels His language wss forcible, in
spring, and savored little of birthstone.
Every word weighed pound, and ntstraight
to the mark. Thanks TO Logan, the disgrace
| Of Buena Vista was not transferred to the 34th
1 N han
gitives were in line facing the foe. The alac-
rity they exhibited in falling into line, under
the inspiring exhortation, was evidence of their
excellent military training.
The artillery on the ridge behind us concen-
trEted their fire upon the woods from whence
the destructive shots Of the enemy came. The
screechlng shells were tossed over our heads
during the time when Logan was discoursing
{ SO enthusiastically, which effectually arrested
, the advance of Pemberton's hosts. Soon we
. were in our old position; the enemy's fire
! slsckened; we were ordered forward, but found
him in full retreat.
Comrade Harris SAYS: awhile on the retreat
, we came across Gen. Logan" As already
! stated, Gen Logan, observing and directing the
movements Of his own division, saw the STAN
pede and took bee-line as fast as his horse
could carry him. TO arrest it, That is how you
"came across" him.
The comrade further says: "The General
II bHcu 1tlL ub lOT LIS WHICH WIS UU
the right and was not engaged that afternoon
! Now, comrade, you do not know what you are
talking about. Your vision and hearing must
have been very imperfect or some one has
been imposing upon your credulity. Perhaps
you became so bcwildered by that stampede as
' 10 disqualify you from being competent wit
? ness. The most charitable presumption is that
' you were not we'll
{ Had you looked TO your right, two or three
e hours before your repulse, you would have seen
s McAllister's battery-D, LIST Ill. Art.-up with
e the skirnish line, on q spur that jutted out
o from the ridge, by the woods and south of the
I ravine hurling shot and shell into the woods
a where the position of the enemy could only
be known by the lines Of smoke from theil
guns, you would have seen regiment or more
of butternuts rush from the woods, with the
= old rebel yell, for the battery. When they
: were about midway between the woods and
l. battery, you would have seen and heard ths
= : guns belching grape and canister into theil
: ranks; you would have seen them suddenly
about face, with trailed arms, rapid strides
and lowly stoops, silently return TO th'
c friendly shelter of the woods. These wer,
: not the guns that they wanted. SooI
!; after this you could have seen lonj
y lines of boys in blue, with measured tread de
y scend from the northern ridge, cross the rayine
9 ascend the slope to the fence, and enter tn
} woods 10 the south Of the field. Had you lis
y tened you could have heard the heavy boom o
artillery and dcafcning crashes of musketry
provided your hearing was perfect. Yes
comrade, Logan's Division was there and wa
le engaged al that afternoon, and don't you for
s. get it. 1t fsnked the eneny's left, seized tn
h Clinton and Nicksburg road in rear of him, 20
possession of the bridge over Bakers Greek
e and cut of his line of retreat by that road, wit
D. the exception Of Barton's Brigade, which ha
d crossed before Logan's troops reached til
IS bridge.
rs The remainder of Pemberton's forces fe
le through the woods and on by-roads until the
20 reached the Raymond and vicksburg roas
es which lay farther 10 the south, where they ha
d TO ford the creek on their retreat TO the Bi
le Black River. Nearly oil of his cannon we
ye captured In consequence of the seizure of th
ne road and bridge by Logan's Division.
s. The 32d Ohio Ia regimont of his division
le captured a battery near the Clinton road an
o about a half mile from the bridge and thr