The National tribune., 1884-09-04
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
CHICKAMAUGA.
The stubborn Fight Made by the slst Ohio.

Inc StubB0rn f1Eut Mu0c tt lHt -ftt oHtOs
To THE EDITOR: saw letter from G. S.
Robinson. Co. II, l15th H.. of Aug. 2, entitled,
"Two Glimpses of the Field by Wounded
Man" j saw two or three glimpses of that
bloody field, and one was the one that he de-
scribes, of the 2lst Ohio at dark. We belonged
to the Third Brigade, Third Division, Four
teenth Corps. Our brigade consisted of the
3sth Ind. 10Th Pa, and 2lst Ohio commanded
by Col. Hambright, 79tAPa. Gen: Negley
commanded the division. We were taken from
our brigade about 10 o'clock on Sunday and
placed in the wood on long ridge in the rear
of that small log house, to support battery that
belonged to BTannon's division. We were on
the left OF the battery when we first went on
that ridge The woods beyond seemed TO be
alive with JOhHnies, and our work began at
once Ii was stubborn struggle TO see who
would hold the ridge, but we staid there all
day We were armed with Colts revolving
fve-shooters, and went into the woods with
I25 rounds 10 the man. as we threw away the
tins from our cartridge-boxes and filed them
full, and in our haversacks besides. We had
460 guns srnd officers TO command US that morn-
ing. 1t was nothing but our fiye-shoCters and
the determination of the 2lst TO stay there or
die, as the records of our regiment will show.
Our LieBt.-Col. was soon shot, and the officers
and men began TO melt away like frost before
q hot sun. / never knew why we were taken
from our division and brigade and left there
all day without relief or support. We were
the only regiment of our brigade that fired a
gun that day as the rest of the brigade was back
at Rossville by O'Clock that afternoon; so they
told us the next day. The 3Sth Ind. and 18th
Pa were rs good regiment as the service
could beast Of They were acting under orders
i suppose. /, for one would like to have Gen.
Negley make q statement Of the facts and re-
lieve the minds OF many. In regard TO that
last charge that Comrade Robinson refers to-
that was the third time that we were COM
PEELED to charge their lines TO drive them back,
as our ammunition was nearly gone. We had
taken the ammunition from our dead comrades
boxes and divided it around TO the remaining
ones Some had one round, some two, and
some had none. An officer rode along the lines
about an hour before sundown, and told US that
we must hold the place, as there were re-en-
forcemeBts coming 10 help us; that JEFF G.
Davis's division would soon be there. JEFF c.
Davis's troops did come, but il was after dark,
so that we could not tell friend from foe 10
rods away They came down the hill in
our rear, brigade of them, without a flag
flying or a word spoken that we could
hear. and when our Major sent two men
20 find out who they We're they gobbled them
up and said nothing and when he called TO
them 70 know what troops they were, not an
answer came back. They We're then within
10 rods, and not a round of ammunition left in
ADC NAcn IyiA 2bG OdloE dDQ
Lieutenant, as we had but one left, that ! staCed
by them AL day, but should stay no longer.
he said 10 me; Save yourself if you can. +"
About IL or Is Of us broke over the hill to
where we knew Col. Stanleys brigade was in
the afternoon, and found the Colonel and part
Of his brigade lett behind some logs and fence
poles. As we came running over the hill in
his rear be wanted 70 know what regiment we
belonged TO. We told him we were what was
left OF the 2lst Ohio, aud that the Johnnies
were coming down on him. We had hardly
spoken the words when a volley from a detach-
ment OF them came tearing through our midst,
~ouBding two OF his Inen and one of ours that
had EOt there. l was standiug about five rods
behind their rude brcastworks, talking to the
Colonel. when the yolley came 1t passed over
our heads. The Colonel said, We must get
out OF here" and ordered his men 70 fall in,
an order that was quickly obeyed, and marched
out OF tie woods by the little log house that
was being used for our wounded. 1t was 50
dark then that you could not tell friend from
foe one rod away. The rebs followed rs SC
close that Col. Stanleyls men were exchanging
shots with them the most of the way, until we
got inside Of the picket-Iines that our men had
established al Roswell, and quite lively skir-
mish took place there before they would let up
Ii we were not the last troops Of that bloody
field i would ike 10 know who was, as il was
sfter II O'Clock when we reached Rossville.
Out OF the abb men We had that Sunday morn
ing, when the straggiers were picked up and
some came mp from the rear at Chattanooga IL
the regiment. we had loo men, one Captain, and
two Lieutenants There were III men and
officers taken prisoners that night; the rest o.
them We're killed or wounded. If that doe
not tell what the 2lst Ohio did that terrible
day hope some abler pen will II II woulC
Go ComraGe Robinson any good 10 know VIII,
tried to help him of that field could tell him
hut pnpusFi 4.arR IN hat he y.nsFo
is yet alive. If he is only lucky enough 1.
have two or three doctors and the same mum
Der Of commissioned officers TO testify TO hi
wounds. where he got them, and the place b,
fell, be is all right-H ii. YAs CAMP, Co. c
2Ist Ohio