The National tribune., 1884-01-03
HOLDING bLLATO0NA.
Graphic Description Of the Battle by
a Wisconsin Veteran.
by TIos H. Jackson. Capt, Co. b, 1871 IEts. Vots.,
Brodhe,sd IT'S.

by Taos A. Jackson. Capt, Co B, lst IFis. Tots.,
Brodhosci, iIis
Having read several accounts of this en-
gagement IN your columns by different coIa
lades and from different standpoiats no two
of them being much alike in deseription--yet,
most likely, correct, as they saw it--and having
lust read the account of hIr. O. j. Perkins Of
the 4th Minnesota, with his request that SEINE
officer of the eth Minnesota or 18th Wisconsin
write an account of the battle will under
take to give it as I saw IL ] was placed Ia Q
position that made it warm for myself ana
| the little squad on the outpost from the firing
of the first shot until the last enc died away
among the Allatoona hills. Yet, cannot helps
but leave ont many phases of the fight that
would be interesting to many that particle
pated.
The familiar title of Attn Minnesota carries
me back twenty years when the 4th Minnesota
/ and 18th Wisconsin seemed ike one and the
same family. We were in the same brigade,
and for long time close neighbors and while
at Allatoona were under command of the accom-
plished Colonel John Z. Tourtelotte, Of the 4th
/ Minnesota.
REcoNNAIssAScE.
At 10 o'clock. noon, tia dag before the
! fight in October, the writer, with special de-
tail of thirty men from the 18th Wisconsin,, was
/ ordered to proceed to ATatoona Creek one aud
half miles eGst of The forts tear UP the bridges
/ where the reads crossed the creek, ana Place
! picets at al points Of approach in that vicin
ity, take such observations. could be obtained,
and rc9ort the same TO Colonel Tourteiotte.
! We were somewhat ignorant Of tic real dam
! ger SO near ns thinking it impossible that the
willy Hood co9ld steal away from General
Shcruan's earle eyes, pounee upon the little
gariiea az tll-t3ona Pass, gobble il UP, and de-
stT3y three millions of precious Iatiofs stored
at that point These rati9nS lost to oh2riDa;fs
array, his march to the sea would have been
/ postponed, o. assumed some other shape.
Car little squad arrived at the main bridge
/ about z p. M. and quick as possible tore up
I tho bridge, piling the piaaks Gu our side as
bre25tworks for tho pickles letting the heavy
striIsgers into the stream to float OIL, the creek
being very high az the tilne-llot much over
three rods wide. but deep. There was dense
tangla OF ullderbrIsl on both sides. do not
! remember that there was more than one bridge
IN that vicinity: but there was q ford up
j higher. The only thing especially noticeable
or our reaching TIE bridge vas connection
among the inmates Of q couple Of dwellings
ten OF twenty rods distant from the torn-np
bridge, and III full view. Waving OF handker
chiefs and signals were observed By our boys,
and intended for parties IN an opposite diree-
ticn, but no rebel soldiers were in sight st this
& time; but little before SHUTDOWN the whole
F.
gles. The rebels must have been on dress
parade.
The near approach Of
Az ARalY AND AN ENEMY
was no longer a doubt in our minds After it
became dark we changed the position of our
pickets. as VIC were sure we had been observed
by the rebels. We had scarcely made this
change when the rebels advanced their pickets
to their side Of the creek, SO that tie two
picket-lines were less than four rods apart
J Colonel Tourtelotte had sent MS word not to
remain too long so far ont from the main body.
He was posted on the real state Of affairs
Their wagon train commenced moving south
over high ridge road, making loud rurnbEing
noise, about 10 D. II. We then thought they
were leaving as we believed old TecHinsel
must be close after them and hoped they would
not insist upon dining with Us on the morrow.
In less than ore hour from this time how
ever. our knowledge of their intention was no
longer IN doubt The clanking OF chains the
yelling Of mule drivers. gave evidence Of a
halt near an OLD mill up the creek some dis
lance About that time an 18th Wisconsin
captain and thirty men abandoned the creek
as qaietly as possible. marched up a long, steep
hill 10 a level, elevated spot, where stood al old
dilapidated house, and where a divergence of
roads led in three or four different directions.
There we halted, and a sergeant of company
A ana eight men were sent out on the main
road with orders TO FIRE into anything that did
not promptly answer the ehallange.
The squad had not gone ten rods before the
advance of the enemy was met-two compa-
MES OF Texas regiment.
BaSG WENT THE GUNS
of the squad the FIRE being promptly returned
By the rebel advance. Several exchanges OF
shots we're made between the little 18th Wis
cQnein squad and the Johnuies IS we slowly
: fell back down the hiliTowaras the picket-line
OF the forts. This occurred about midnight
and was the opening Of the ball. aud about Six
j hours before the real battle commenced. This
little fight, three fourtbs OF mile from camp
2 in the middle of q dark night, aroused the
garrison, which WAS soon IN lighting trim. Ihe
18th Wisconsin, or what there was of it. met
e US at the pieket-line eighty or one hundred
f rods out. The rebels followed our sanad tt
: the point where the old house stood ard there
stopped and commenced to plant their artillery,
The space between that point and or forts
. being ciear,-an abandoned plantation. they
were from this time until daylight getting
: their guns in position.
The 18th Wisconsin kept a random. desult5ry
l firing on the rebels until daylight, but, owing
: to the darkness, it was inaccurate, Of course
J, 1t was apparent 10 al that IS soon as daylight
, should come things would become lively be-
e tween the rebels and the forts. Our position
/ was about midway between the artillerists, bai
!. SO low az to be IN little danger from eithel
7 side.
Just the position Of the 18th Minnesota al
J this time we are not able to state, nor thaf O
/ any other regiment, as We the 18TH formed
picket and sIigmish-line, but it is safe TO say
c ali were in good fighting position and were
I not very long idle, During the night Genera
: Corse with screfal thin regiments arrived from
i Rome, including the eth and sd Illinois
: What other troops he brought we do no
+ remember, bat he raised the force to near GOO
f all told.
GENERAL coRsE TOOK coMMASD,
' o. course True to expectation, as soon as i
1 was fairly light the artillery duel coanmenced
: we think the first gun from the rebels /
e was fierce exchange Of shot and shell, thu
J. gallant 18th Wisconsin battery holding th
S fort and no better fighting material was in til,
; service good share of the forenoon wa
IS used up by the artillery the rebel infantry ii
: the meantime stealing around and encirclin,
: the forts, rs preliminary to the desperate
r charge soon to follow
Nt far fronnl0 o'clock q. m. true to ezpecta
!; ton, the familiar yell was raised by 5000 rebe
d Threats tFreneh's division), and on they cam