Western cyclone., 1886-10-28
Incidents of ChicIsamauea.

Sergt. A. Alspaugh OF the Thirty first
Ohio, writing Of the severe fighting on
the right Of Gen. Thomas line after the
enemy had broken through the gap left
by Woods withdrawal, says: At one
point, in q countercharge, we occupied a
position held few moments before by
the enemy, which brought their sklllk-
ers and killed and wounded in the rear
of or mixed up with our irregular line.
Seeing fine looking young soldier,
dressed in a neat suit of dark blue, un-
armed and standing behind a tree for
protection, pompous colonel inquired
why he was not firing like the others.
"Why, I'm color bearer" said the
soldier, hugging the tree still closer and
exhibiting his solor-belt.
"Well, then, where is your 1ag?" said
the colonel, who liked to carry point.
81 lost it in that close work back
there" said the soldier.
"Well, pick up gun and go to work
like the other men," said the officer,
thinking he had added one more soldier
to our depleted ranks.
"Why, colonel, said the soldier, with
a kind Of foolish look getting possession
of his face, Il b'long on t'other side. "
And sure enough, it was one of Long
streets men that the colonel had been
trying to force into our ranks. just
then was no time to care for struggling
prisoners, and as the enemy occupied the
ground short time after, the young
color bearer probably rejoincd his regi-
ment, and may yet live to tell his chill
dren how near he came to bearing arms
on the federal side.
And this contested ground had also
it's pathetic scenes. AS we finally fell
back to the summit it became necessary
to abandon many Of our killed and
wounded, among them noble looking
young soldier, member of an Illinois
regiment, who, shot through both thighs,
lay helpless. His appealing look as |
passed was more than humanity could
resist, and asking him to clasp his arms
about my neck [ gained an erect posi-
ton and attempted to bear him beyond
danger, but in vain, for, as l leaned for
ward in bearing my burden, his legs,
which hung limp and lifeless, became en-
tangled with my own wearied limbs and
] was soon compelled to abandon him
from sheer want of strength. As | sank
down upon the ground he unclasped his
arms and, with look of mingled graft
tude and resignation that will cling TO
me through life, sank back upon the
earth.
Men who we're inclined to struggle did
not bait there, and probably the most
prolonged hand TO hand contest of the
war took place that calm Sabbath after
noon for the possession Of that portion
of the ridge occupied by the concen-
trated front of Wood, Brannan, Palmer
and Reynolds. A knowledge OF militia
ry skill would hardly have taken the
place of pluck upon that occasion and
saved the army from the worst defeat it
it ever met
Some very unmiliSaTy scenes we're wit
messed there: for instance, a commits
stoned officer in the ranks armed with
musket and bavOnet while a private
with ramrod in lien of sword. led that
portion of the line into the fight Veri-
", tactics were at discount there and
the determination TO stay that pervaded
the remnant of Rosecrans' ssarmy upon
that ridge was worth more to the coun-
try than all the knowledge distributed
thorougheut the land in quarter of a
century fromDDits West Point depot
Tho possession Of the rail piles crown
ing the ridge was more than once de-
cided with empty muskets, and each man
who tarried there and did his whole
duty, felt responsibility resting upon
him that he could not shake off felt
that while his own immediate front was
firm the army was safe.