The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-04
kilpatrick's Dash Around Atlanta Duriug the
Siege.

To THE EDITOR: In the evening, on or about
Aug. Is, 1864, the Third Division and part Of
the Second Division Of Cavalry, with Gen. Kill
patrick in command, started on raid around
the city of Atlanta, Ga. before that city was
captured by the army with Sherman. The dis
mounted cavalry, those who had lost or used up
their horses or mules were used first to drive
in the rebel outposts, and then allowed to re-
turn to the camp at Sand Town, on the Chatta-
hoochie River. Sometimes we rode on mules
when we could get nothing else. or that we
thought better. j, myself was mounted ON a
yellow mule obtained on the McCook raid;
which mule was stated to have belonged to the
rebel Gen. Chalmers's headquarters team. l
suppose the mule served to amuse me some
times, when l thought of the man who was
whipping one and saying to it that it had no
business to be MULE that its father was not
mule and it's mother was not mule.
We had considerable fighting and skirmishing
on the way. Once the column was broken
by rebels on our flank; and there was con-
siderable Smelling and racket the next even
ing, a little before dark, when we reached
the Macon Railroad at Jonesboro. The charge
into Jonesboro was preceded by our she'll
ing the woods with IL cannon. The Smelling
was begun by the simultaneous discharge of
the IL guns, so that it sounded like one gun.
The iron railroad water tank in the town
showed the mark where shell or solid shot
had pierced it. We destroyed some railroad
track here by just picking it up, a large number
of men taking hold of one line of rails and lift
ing iron and ties up and ,arning the track on its
edge and then pushing it over. That night in
the south part of the town we were attacked,
but repulsed the enemy both with artillery and
carbines Some of our regiments fired 100
rounds to the man. Gen. Fitzpatrick appeared
to have expected an attack at that time, and
was there himself and prepared for it.
After the fight at JOnesboro we marched east
and had fighting more or less, when we turned
back toward the railroad and further south.
We were along lane and in large fields of corn,
and just before we reached the railroad we saw
trains cars and the rebel infantry in large num-
bers. Where they came from do not know, for
the 9Th Iowa had been sent about 20 miles fur
Their south at the same time to cut the railroad.
l was informed afterwards that they did so, and
got back to our lines without any particular
mishaps. AT any rate the rebs were in large
numbers, infantry in front of us and cavalry
behind and on both sides of us.
Fitzpatrick rode down close enough to the
rebels to see, and heard one of our men remark
Gas he picked partially spent ball which had
struck him out of the top of his BOOT that he
supposed we could all go in down there and get
killed. Fitzpatrick apparently did not care to
get killed there and them so he did not go
much if any, further l. that direction at that
time; but he had our two batteries out in the
field and dismounted men near them. Soon
the rebels from the railroad side advanced to
attack us, but were repulsed, our batteries fir
ing so fast, or using such heavy charges that
two of our cannon burst
There was a little lull in the fight when the
man in charge of our pack train inquired of
Fitzpatrick what he was to do with it. as if it
was the most important part of the whole bust
ness, and very particularly needed a safe place.
Fitzpatrick pointed in northeasterly direc
ton towards some woods, which looked very
inviting, and in which there was no appear
ance of rebels, and told him to 90 in that direc-
ton for Gods sake, and away he went He
and the mules soon stampeded and went in a
great rush, with the camp kettles Gathering,
when 10! there were the rebs, who ran like
fine fellows One of them informed me after
wards that I" he enlisted to shoot and be shot
at, but he would be id if he enlisted to be
pounded to death with camp kettles"
About the time the pack train man inquired
of Fitzpatrick flag of truce was pointed out as
coming towards us. Fitzpatrick said that he
had no time to swap jack-kniyes. and told the
4th Regulars to form on the right of a lane the
18th Pa on the left, and they to lead the charge
on the way out east and north. Fitzpatrick,
with his escort, took the center of the lane
with his corps flag futtering, and away we
went east Suddenly the whizzing of shells
and bullets told us We had found a masked |
battery and its support. At this place my mule |
was apparently surprised, astonished, and dis
gusted. He acted as ii he knew much better |
than l what he should do in such an emer- |
gency. But as he, she, or it, carried me |
through safe, l have no fault to find with the |
mule at this time. Kilpatrick's Corps flag, |
with the names of the battles he had been in
embroidered on it, was here struck by shell
and torn, and the bearer of it thrown violently
to the ground. But Fitzpatrick himself, on his
spotted or calico horse, jumped the fence in
beautiful style, when he followed the 4th Regu-
lars through. About the time got by the side
of or even with the rebel battery along came
the 18th Pa and captured it.
We had no more fighting on that trip. On
the second day thereafter, in the evening, we
reached our lines northeast of Atlanta, and the
following day returned to our former camp at
Sand Town. We took on the trip four cannon,
three flags, and many prisoners, besides doing
the rebels much injury.-WM. w. WATKINS,
Bellevue, Jackson Co., Iowa.
Gen. Bcnham gt Carrick's Ford.