The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-29
The Charge at kenesaw.

To THE EDITOR: was pleased to read the
sketch of the charge made by the Third Bril-
gade, Second Division, Fourteenth Corps, OH a
spur of Kencsaw Mountain, Ga, given by Com
rade II. McKinsay. of Havensville, Kan, in
THE TRIBUNE of Dec. %. My regiment, with
the 1ith Mich, gained the front line of works
at Kenesaw on the morning of June %, 1864,
under severe fire from the rebels, who were
intrenched Just across little run, from the
works we were holding. Among the killed
was Capt. Cook, of Co. +, 10th Mich, with a
number killed and wounded in the two regi-
ments-a large number considering the short
space of time-and 12 rents made in our col
ors. A large per cent of the casualties were
officers, as the range was short and the rebel
sharpshooters were on the alert all the time.
The heat of the day was intense, and as the
sun poured down upon us in the works, and we
were without shade or cover to protect us from
its whitening rays, many OF the men suffered
from sun-stroke. l we'll remember the corpu-
lent, good-natured Maj. Fitzgibbons, of the
14th Mich, as he came along the line talking
to the men and giving us advice regarding the
next bout with the Johnnies. In the rear of
our position was an open field, and on this
field the Third Brigade formed to make the
charge, with its flank resting i'll the woods on
the left. Although more than 90 years ago.
can now see the colors of that charging column,
coiling and undulating as they were borne for
Waru III the charge. Inc lneH Oh tHe 1Hiru
Brigade all had capacious lungs, and were
called the Yelling Brigade" They had Or
ders not to yell until they approached the run
they were to cross in reaching the rebel works;
long before they reached the run they were
indulgng in their old propensity, under a
leaden hail from the rebel works. Charging
up the hill, Col. Dan McCook Ia whole man
and soldier) mounted the rebel works-calling
to his men to follow him-and was shot. His
command (contesting the ground) fell back a
few rods threw up works while under fire and
held them. Then it was heads down and lie
low" Then our men commenced digging a
tunnel through to the rebel intrenchments
The rebels raised a flag of truce over their
works. which was responded to by our men,
and the dead lying upon the ground between
the lines were buried. Our men and the Con-
federates buried their respective dead-the
Confederates improving the opportunity for
trading the ever-relishable tobacco with US for
coffee canteens, and other articles they were
most in need of. The bugle declared the truce
ended, and each side took to their pits. Hos
tilties were resumed and the tunneling re-
commenced One Of our men captured by the
rebels escaped in the night and returned to
our lines. He reported the rebels as saying in
his hearing that they were going to make an
attack on our works that night, but this was a
ruse, as was shown later. The tunnel was
nearly through to the rebel works, when, OH
the night Of July 2, the rebels evacuated, leav-
ing several of the sleepy Confederates in the
trenches who we picked up as we passed
through in pursuit. One old fellow in gray
was much surprised to open his eyes upon the
blue coats around him, and heaped bitter re-
proach upon his comrades for leaving in such
a hurry" without waking him up. Many 9TH
ers captured in the pursuit towards Marietta
seemed to enjoy their capture.-L. III. DEWEY,
o. ~ 1n&l. NJ l. i