The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-10-07
DE GREss's BATTERY.
Tic 68th nl. Claim The Honor OF Taking the
Nuch-Disnuted Guns

Mucf-NiAnNleu Nhnhs
To THE EDITOR: Win you obliee many
comrades by publishing the following official
order IN regard 10 the much-disputed question
of the recapture OF DE Gress's battery, by
Lieut. Col. Jesse j. Phillips, commander Sec
ond Brigade, Second Division, sixteenth Corps;
HEADQUAErERs SECOND BRIGADE SECOND
DIVISION, SIXTEENTH CoEPs, y
BEFORE ATLANTA, Ca Aug. 10, 1864
To Capt l.. H. EvARrs A. A. General, Second De
vision. sixteenth Cups.
SIR: ln compliance with Special order, No. 10
Headquarters, Len Wing Sixteenth Corps, would
respectfully report that the SECOND brigade. Sec
ono Division, Sixteenth Corps during the action 81
the Z2d july ls6i, occupied IA position ga the rBit
ol tl,e second Division, IA orders a. follows; I'm
~ on tIlc right slst OHIO la the center, Goth H.
GA the left. with Two companies A and q Of tine
Goth IN dcployed skirmshers aud almost inn
ncdinte,y after the dcpoyment WAS effected the
enemy attacked with great spirit, driving the shlr-
nishers back, aud the artillery Of the division
opening ou tie head OF the charging column OF the
enemy checked and threw their column In con-
fusion. At this time Maj Gen. Dodge, command
Ing left wing of tue Sixteenth Corps gave the
order direct 90 the commanding officers oi the slst
OHIO and l2h III. TO move forward aud attack the
enemy, which was most gallautly done, ending IA
reIElsing the enemy and in capturing two stands
of eolors and about CSC prisoners. The 60th III AT
the same time driving the enemy back ln con-
fusion, taking prisoners aud one stand al colors.
Tie enemy having been Tcpulsed In their frequent
attacks On this front, IN accordance with orders
from the commanding officer of the left wing of
Sixteenth Corps, this brigade was ordered 10 the
support of the Third Division. Fifteenth Cops.
aud WAS deployed on the right Of the Augusta
Railroad la the following order: Goth III. on the
right, Sst Ohio ln the cCutcr, l.th III. on Tie
leil, with the left Of the l2th III. resting ON
the railroad. This deployment having boon
promptly effected, the brigade ordered 10
charge, which II did IA the most prompt aud uar-
ing manner, reigiling the works from which The
Second Division, Fifteenth Corps had been driven,
aud rcctptutiug Tour guns l2O-pounder PHrruus)
of Dttifcs>s battery aud prisoners, tac t6lh Bll,
tNesic SharpshouteIs) having the honor OF retRiS-
NaFHFf do
pied ilie works al this place unili evening, when
it was relieved and held in reserve Of tie Second
Division, Fifteenth Corps Al II O'Clock al nlghi
two regiments, the SlSt ONO ana l2th III, MClc
ordered 10 report to Gen. Leggett commanding
the Third Division, Seventeenth Corps, aud re-
manned subject TO his orders until the 2dth uit.,
when They were relieved aud ordered To report 10
commanding officer of the Second Division. SIX
teenth Corps. The t6ih III. during the same ilne
reporting 20 Gen, Morgan L. smith, commanding
Second Division. Ilic,Uth Corps. The loss oil ihc
brigade during the action of the 22d ult. WIS, Goth
H., Is men killed aud wounded; olsl ONO, not re-
porting; 18Th H., not reporting. The entlre cap
tures 10y the brigade was iour guns l2o-pounder
Parrots) DeGress's lst IN battery reiaken; three
stands Of colors. During tins action the brigade
was under the command of Col. August Mersey, OF
the 9Th H.. who was wounded In the charge al the
railroad, aud the present commanding officer re-
Prcs that this report could not have been made by
Col Mersey As the brigade WAS acting under llls
orders and immediate supervision, greater justice
could have been done the regiments of the brigade
la the report Than ~ possible 10y one whose con-
nection with the command commenced after the
action; aud as the commanding officer was COM
PEELED 10 make his report from the reports Of regi-
mental commanders, nothing is attempted other
than TO give condensed statement IN reference 10
position, capture, losses, etc The reports OF the
commanding officers of regiments are herewith ia
closed, marked Exhibit A.
j am Captain, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, JESSE j. PHILLIPS.
Lieui-col. commanding Second Brigade, Sec
ond Division, SNteeuih Corps.
-"REN" BARKER, Reed City, Mich.