The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-26
BATTLE OF ATLANTA.
Comraie Leggett DselaIms any Intention or Re-
feciing on the Fifteenth Corps.

To THE EDITOR have read with great in
terest in a recent number of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE Mr.. Crosby Johnson's criticisms on
my article on the battle of Atlanta. / think
if Mr.. johnson will again read my article, he
will find nothing that can possibly reflect upon
the Fifteenth Corps. He will notice that my
paper attempted only TO give the part taken
by the Third Division of the Seventeenth Corps
in that battle, and mentions other commands
only as became necessary to explain the action
of the Third Division. The Fourth Division
of the Seventeenth Corps ia very often referred
to- because it and the Third were so intimately
related during the entire engagement. Yet 1
did not begin to do full justice to the Fourth
Division, and could not from the material at
my command. 1t certainly was never in my
heart or head to do injustice to or speak lightly
of the fighting qualities OF the Fifteenth Corps.
The very fact that its first commander was
Gen. VIM. L. Sherman and its second Gen.
John A. Logan, is enough of itself TO guarantee
that the corps would do IN any position all that
was in the power of any troops Of equal num-
Der to do. 1 did not know when i wrote how
much of the Fifteenth Corps was in position
that day. l simply learned that all in position
north of Gen. Walcutt had been driven back !;
whether one division or three | did not know,
and for my purposes in writing it made no diff
ference. / was not writing the history Of the
part taken by the Fifteenth Corps, and was not
IN possession OF enough iacbS TO 90 so, IL Il nad
so desired. l simply mentioned the fact that
they were driven from their line and soon
after recovered their position. This certainly
was not speaking disparagiugly of the Fifteenth
Corps. The Fourth Division of the Seven
teenth Corps and the Second Brigade of the
Third Division were driven from their first
lines and did not recover them again until
after the battle; but this fact is not recited as
detracting anything from either of these divis-
ions, for their fighting was never excelled by
any troops in any war. / had no occasion to
speak disparagingly of any troops engaged in
that battle and have not done so.
Permit me further to say that Mr. Johnson
| is labOring under mistake when he suggests
| that the Sd Ohio battery rendered no assistance
| to the Fifteenth Corps IN recovering their
| lines. l know it was in exactly the position
to render such assistance; that Capt. Williams
was exactly the man to make the best use OF
such position, and that he reported at the
| time that he did so, and my remembrance is
clear that he did. If Mr.. Johnson simply
means that the Fifteenth Corps needed no such
assistance, I am entirely willing to concede the
| point, as L have no doubt their charge would
| have restored their lines to them if the Sd
| Ohio had not fired gun.
i thank Mr.. johnson sincerely for his clear
explanation as to the manner in which they
| were driven from their works. i never before
understood how it was. / know there was a
| cut in the road there, but did not know that
| it had been left so unguarded as to permit q
| Confederate brigade to pass through it unOb
| served and form on our rear.-M. ID. LEGGErT
| Cleveland, ..