The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-30
THE FIGHT AT DALLAS.
An Extract from an Illinois Sharpshooter's
Journal.


To THE EDITOR: Seeing a call from COM
rade in THE TRIBUNE for an account of the
skirmsh at Dallas, Ga, May 81, 1864, beg
leave to offer the following made up from my
diary. In your issue of Sept. %, 1884, Mr.. S. II.
Henderson, of Co. b, 4th independent battalion
of Ohio Cav, would like to see an account of
the skirmish at Dallas, Ga, Tuesday, May 81,
1864, especially Co. 6, Goth III. w. S. S. Here
is the full account of the part taken by the
company at Dallas, Ga, from my daily journal:
Tuesday, May 81, 1S64.-Weather warm and
pleasant. Skirmshing commenced at daylight.
The Western SharpshoOters Goth Ill., were
ordered out on the skirmish-lne in front of
the Second Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth
Corps by Gen. Thos. w. Sweeny, commanding.
At 8 o'clock a. m. was writing letter home,
and Corporal John Henderson was also doing
the same, while the stray shots were passing
over our heads and the skirmishing on our
right and left quite lively. Just as was about
finishing my letter, Henderson said to me,
"Gunboats (my nickname), this is my last
letter home" 1 said, John, take that fool
notion out of your head" He then said, No,
Charlie, am going to get killed today" and
handed me some things he wished to have sent
to his mother in Dayton. Just then Gen.
Swceny rode by us and said, Boys, put up
your traps; we will have hell here in a few
minutes!" And if / mistake not, Old Bulldog
Swceny was correct, for had hardly put away
my traps when orderlies and staff officers came
riding up, and Lieut.. Perry p Ellis called out,
Fall in, Co G, fall in!" Our regiment had
been lying in reserve since the all-nights Sun
day BATTLE May %. Maj. A. X. Campbell and
Adj't w. Wilson formed the regiment in the
rear of the SD Ill. and Goth Ind. Col. Aug.
Mersey 10Th H. gave the order, Forward,
Second Brigade!" and away we went over the
works under the fire Of the rebel batteries on
the hills in front of Dallas, Ga As soon as we
passed over our works the rebel skirmishers
opened on us brisk fire, which we returned.
/ was then slightly wounded in the right knee
and fell back in the works held by the SD Ill.
The Goth III. w. S. S. charged across Dallas
Run and drove the Johnnies out of their rifle
pits but the regiment having no support, we
were forced back by the rebels, and here we
lost Corporal John Henderson and Private
Joseph Smith killed, and Privates Geo. p.
Peters, Chas. F. Kimmel and James Farley, of
Co. g. 66th ILL.,, wounded. In the evening we
fell back from Dallas, Ga, to New Hope Church.
The sortie in front of the Second Division, Six
tcenth Corps was to draw the attention of the
rebels from Gen. John A. LOgan's Fifteenth
Corps who were then occupying the extreme
right of Gen. VIM. T. Sherman's army, so that
the Fifteenth Corps could withdraw from Dali
las and form q new position near New Hope
Church. The S1st Ohio and 18th and Goth Ill.
were on the skirmish-line in front of Dallas,
while the First and Third Brigades were hold
ing our line of works In this skirmish at
Dallas Lieut.. Van Lew, of CO. T., was killed,
and Lieut. Henry Sanders, of Co. F, wounded.
AT 10 o'clock in the night the Second Division,
Sixteenth Corps, fell back on the Burnt lick
DRY road five miles to Lone Mountain, Ga,
where we lay in line of battle all night. / was
walking with a musket for a crutch.-CHAs +.
kIMMEL, Sergt, Co. G, Seth Ill.