davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
Battle OF Atlanta.

To THE EDITOR No one who participated
in il can fail TO be interested in Gen. NJ. ID.
Leggett's graphic account of that bloody strug-
gle. extending over a front of nearly seven
miles, and varied by charges and counter
charges in fields and dense woods. No one
observer could see all that took place, and while
do not question the general accuracy of Gen.
Leggett's thrilling narration, / do most en-
phatically deny the accuracy Of the text and
accompanying wood cuts. that represent the
whole Fifteenth Corps as being repuIsed aud
compelled to take up new line.
The facts which misied the General are these:
About o'clock p. N. a large body Of rebels broke
through our line near the railroad and captured
DE Gress's battery of four 20-pound Parrott
guns and considerable number of prisoners.
Gen. Charles L. Woods First Division, Fiji
teenth Corps, was by Gen. Sherman's personal
order formed in line at right angles to the para
pet and charged down on the exultant rebels,
drove them out and re-established the broken
line, capturing the lost guns. appeal to the
memory of every officer aud man in the old
First Division for the substantial accuracy OF
the above; and on pages so and 81, VOL III, Of
Sherman's Memoirs, will be found ample con-
frmation. There was no general repulse of
the Fifteenth Corps; there was no new line
formed by it-at any rate not by the First Di-
vision, the only one whose operations / saw
personally.
The articles that appear from week to week
in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE have more than
an ephemeral interest. They are raw material
which the genius of some future Gibbon or Ma
caulay will weave into the grandest history oil
the most sublime struggle the world has as YET
beheld.-S. G. MENDENHALL, Assistant Sur
geon, 18th Ohio, Frazeysburg, o.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
The Retreat From Lynchburg.

To THE EDITOR: In reading the different
sketches on the Hunter raid, / notice that
writers in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE speak of
being the last to leave LynehbGrg on the even
ing OF the 18th Of June. They are either igno-
rant of the fact, or have forgotten that four
companies Of cavalry-two of the l4th Pa. and
two OF the Sth Ohio-were taken out of the line
on the morning of the 18th, with orders 10 pass
around the south side Of the city and destroy
the river bridge. We arrived at the bridge
about shutdown, and found the rebels prepared
to give US warm reception. After our failure
TO burn the bridge we made our way back
through the brush and rebel pickets as best we
could, arriving at 1 O'Clock a. IN. at the old
church that was used as a hospital, where we
first learned of the retreat of the army. We
continued our march. eyertaking the rear OF
the column about 8 or 10 o'clock on the morn
ing of the 18th. As our brigade was bringing
up the rear we we're attacked at Liberty about
4. p. m, in which engagement / was wounded,
which necessitated my being hauled in an
ambulance TO the head Of navigation on the
Kanawha. The trip over the mountains am
not able TO describe without taking up too much
OF your valuable space. but when say that we
were almost starved. unable to help ourselves,
and that every time they made halt there
were dead taken from the ambuances and de-
posted by the roadside, our sufferings may
be imagined.-G. ID. LAMME, Co. ii, sth Ohio,
Willis, Kan.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
A Veteran Drummer Bead.

Maj. Daniel Simpson, the veteran drummer
OF the Ancient and Honorable ARTILLERY Com
pany for 66 years, died at South Boston, Mass
last week, at the age Of So. Maj. Simpson was
quite a local celebrity in his way and had
welded the drumsticks on many memorable
occasions for a period of So years, intending
the war Of 1872. His first appearance as
drummer was at muster in $500. In 1872 he
was with the New England Guards when they
started for Marblehead to defend the coast, and
he was the only drummer at the Bread street
riots. The Major was striking figure ia the
parades of the Ancient and Honorable Artil-
lery Company until within the past few
years, and as a testimonial to his long and
faithful service his coat sleeve was decorated
with 10 stripes, representing so years of serv-
ice. On extraordinary occasions Dan carried
drum used by John Bobbins at the battle of
Bunker Hill, and a short time ago he presented
this to the Bostonian Society. He came of good
Revolutionary stock, for his paternal grand
father was piper in Gen. Washingtons guard,
and his father distinguished himself by cap
turing British soldier on the famous retreat
from Concord, and also was present at the bat
tie of Bunker Hill. The Major was in easy
circumstances, and his four children are mar
ried into the best Boston families.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
That Flag or Truce.

To THE EDITOR: have seen what Comrades
Tressel and Patterson have written concerning
the reception of the flag of truce at Vicksburg
July 8 1868. Both comrades are mistaken.
know that Gen. Ii. L. Potts was the first officer
to receive the flag of truce. How and why
know this to be the fact, the following will
show: The 32d Ohio was in the trenches on
that day, Col. b. +. Potts in command; the
right of the regiment was little to the left of
Fort Hill and Pemberton Oak, but q few rods
away, Obliquely To the right of Co. A. The
Colonel had his bunk in the trenches, at the
head of the regiment, and / was called there to
do some writing for him, after which 1 con-
cluded to try little sharpshooting from there,
as could have the aid OF the ColoneIS field
glass to discover the holes of rebel sharpshoot-
ers. i had been at work but short time, when
a horseman appeared coming out of Fort Hill
bearing flag OF truce, and few white flags
were stuck on the earthworks to the left of the
fort. / turned to the Colonel, and said to him
excitedly, Colonel, there comes a flag of
truce" he exclaimed lis that So" and
sprang TO his feet, giving the order for our men
to cease firing. sprang out over our works,
as did many others, and ran out to meet the
officer who on meeting US inquired, Where
is the commanding officer OF this line of
works?" 1 informed him, and started back
after Col. Potts, whom / met coming to receive
the flag of truce. heard the officer tell the
Colonel that "Gen. PembertOn wished to meet
Gen. Grant at o'clock p. IN. for the purpose of
arranging terms for the surrender of Vicksburg
and its defenses." Quite number of the boys
had come out over the works by this time, and
we were ordered to return to our places in the
trenches at once, SO cannot say who conducted
the flag of truce to general headquarters.
/ do know to q certainty that Gen. B. F.
Potts was the first officer to receive the Nag of
truce at Vicksburg July 8, 1868. Only one
officer came out of Fort Hill with the first flag
of truce.
The meeting between Gems Grant and Penn
berton, along with their general and staff Off
GERS, took place at 3oclock p. m, in our front,
under q large oak tree, which was afterward
called Pemberton Oak" The meeting was in
our plain view and but few rods to our right
front.-H. G. lehman, Sergeant, Go. III, sd
Ohio, Convoy, D.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05

To THE EDITOR: I'M your issue of May 10, ia
Gen. Leggettf second letter on the battle OF
Atlanta. July ~, 1868, he writes that Gen.
Smiths Division was Oh the left Of the Seven
teenth Corps, aud when Gen. Hardee struck us
ii WAS on the left flank, aud that Cen Smiths
LEFT regiment WAS captured.
Gen. LeGRctt IN certainly mistaken as II was
the 3zd Dino that was the left regiment OF the
Seventeenth Corps that day, aud we were not
captured. When tho attack was made on our
flank We formed our line across our works and
were driven 10 the other side OF them, giving
the enemy tho best side to occupy We were
then compelled 10 fall back 10 the edge Of a
stretch Of woods across a cornheld. When ia
this position Gen. Smith rode up and said
Boys, III You hold this place l5 minutes we
are sale" We remained there till the enemy
moved out from Atlanta, in our rear again.
wben we fell back into Gen Lcggett's Division
The section Of artillery be speaks of was can.
tured, but The 32d Ohio was not.
We had the misfortune 60 be among the
1900 troops at HaFper's Ferry In 1862 which
were sold by Col. Miles, and we DO not want
tho credit OF more than one capture IN four.
years service.-MARHER Mills, Go. q, 32d
Ohio, GratiOt, q.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05

To THE EDITOR. AT recent meeting of
Benton Post. No. 81, at Anthony, KAN an
hour was given over 10 the narrative Of incl
dents. stories, jokes, and songs, and the COM
Eadcs improved the time in an enjoyable man
ner. Among the list oil experiences told was
this one by C0mrade Lawlcss of an Iowa
regiment: The battie OF CoriDth had been
fought, and the Union troops started in pursuit.
"A iousier army than Rosccranss was at that
time never stole a chicken or cursed a buger.
The l0u6iest regiment In the army was the
particular Iowa regiment 10 which COmrade
Lawless belonged, and, though be did not say
90. we may presume that COmrade Lawless WIS
the l0usiest man in that regiment. At night
the troops biyouacked IN line. The Iowa regi-
ment referred 10 had its line fall through a
small hog pasture where up 10 the time OF the
appearance Of Prices army, only the day be-
fore, were kept large drove Of hogs. The
boys from Iowa made their beds and lay down
90 rest aud sleep. They soon became aware
that the ground was alive with hog lice. Next
morning the soldiers from IOwa-hog lice
doH't trouble soldiers from other States were
literally covered with hog lice, but not gray
back was to be found in the regiment. The
new stock which had taken possession Of the
best seams on the soldiers uniforms were
plump and about twice tie ordinary size OF
such creatures
Now this Is an Iowa story, and i presume il
Miii De Regarded aS true, ior no one ever heard
OF an Iowa c0mrade telling q fb But what
wish to ask IL this. Had the hog lice eaten
mp the graybacks2 Perhaps there are other
precincts 70 hear from. III 80, let the returns y
come in and we will count every vote. I be.
lieye Domrade Lawlcsss theory Is right e.,
that hog lice are canDibals
III The theory suggested is correct, and wan
should break out in this country in the future
we want our children NO posted that they will
less did not say how they got rid OF the new
species, but q good square meal of the Iowa
boys probably killed the lice Aext!-BLUE.
COAT, AJtica, Kan.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
He Wants More Fun and Less Gore.

To THE EDITOR: i am much pleased with
Fighting Them Over" and many interesting
things are related there, but sometimes think
a little more fun and less blood would be rel
ished by the old boys. for camp life was made
up of fun as well as misery, and many incidents
might be told that would make the boys forget
their aches and pains i will relate one which
occurred in the Winter of 1863. The First
Brigade, Third Division, Seventeenth Corps,
were in Winter quarters at Black River. Miss
A beautiful camp il was, and we enjoyed the
rest we earned in the YicksbuIg campaign.
The First Brigade differed from others only in
this, that it was well differed by men who had
the confidence and good will of the brigade; so
on New Years eve the boys thought they would
show their regards to Gen. NJ. +. Force, bril-
gade commander, by giving him a serenaGe.
After making raid on the suffers some 500
men procured candles, put them in the sockets
of their bayonets, lighted them, and marched
TO brigade headquarters with flags flying and
bands playing. 1t took the General entirely
by surprise, but after few happy speeches by
the spokesman Of the party, the General made q
short speech. which was loudly cheered, and the
party returned to camp feeling that they had
done noble act. Such acts brought officers
and men closer together and went a long way
TO knock of the rough corners of camp life,
and left in its wake feeling of love and respect
that will last as long as life does.-JoHN Coop
MILLER, 45th Ill.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05

To TEE EDITOR: In your issue Of April Is,
j noticed the communications Of Col. Barnes,
OF the 97th Ohio, and Comrade Bailey, OF the
S2d I'LL, as 10 who was the first 10 enter Chat
tanooga. Col. Barnes is right in every particu-
lar, with the exception that is was three private
soldiers who were sent over the river in the
canoe instead Of two officers. The facts are
these-no more. no less. The evening of Sept
6 volunteers were asked for lone from each
company from our regiment TO swim the river
that night i was one Of the volunteers and
with The others reported TO Maj Moore, OF the
9th, at the river. We were held there until
about III o'clock p. M. when two Of Us were
sent by the Major up the river two miles for a
canoe that had previously been located We
found the canoe, threw our clothes in il, took
10 the water and hoa;ed down, having instruc-
tions 10 do 50 and make little noise possible
When opposite the city we could plainly hear
the rebels talking and laughing some were
In the water swimming on the other side OF
the river. The city had not been evacuated
al that time M o'clock midnight). We re-
ported our success in getting the boat, and were
held al the river until the next morning. when
three Of us-Scrgt HOsum, OF Co. &, afterward
killed al Mission Ridge another, whose name
j have forgotten and myself-were ordered "a
cross over in the canoe aud get the ferry-boat
over. did not return with the boat until the
\ two companions were over and the flag floating
over the fort j not only know that the flag Of
/ the 9th Ohio was the first Union flag TO float
over the city. but also that was the first Union
soldier In the city. Nobody swan the river
i believe that Maj. Moore, who now re,
sides az Cambridge o., will remember the cir.
cumRtances as above written.-C j. GARDNER
! Co. i, 97th Ohio, Utica, III.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
ATLANTA.



To THE EDITOR: was much pleased with
the description given by Gen. Leggett OF the
battle of Atlanta, July %, 1864, and will say
that il agrees almost precisely with that given
by John McElroy in " AndersonVille, Chapter
XII" a book which should be in the hands Of
all old soldiers. On July %, 1864. visited
the 30th ILL.,, Of the Seventeenth Corps, and
learned much Of what Gen. Leggett tells us. i
do not think, as Serg't Crosby johnson, that
Gen. L.. distinctly conveys the idea that the
Fifteenth Corps was routed" i have not heard
of any one who censured any part of the Fiji
teenth Corps for not doing its whole duty on
that day. They were simply manuvered out
OF their works by the rebels coming down the
railroad cut in columns OF fOurs then and
there the famous DE Gress battery was lost The
Comrade (Johnson) conveys the idea that no
other brigades save those of the Fifteenth
Corps had anything TO do in its recapture; for
he says SO far as he knows the line was restored
by the Fifteenth Corps alone. had supposed
that by this time all the soldiers of the Army
Of the Tennessee knew that they had assist
snce. Thanks 10 the comrade for so infinitely
describing 10 us how they lost their part Of the
line. Soon after the noble Mcpherson had been
killed and the Army of the Tennessee had
fallen into the gallant Dogan's hands, and the
Sixteenth Corps had well done its part on the
extreme lett and sent the rebels back with
heavy loss by hanQ-t0- hAnd CONNECT OF nearly
three hours In length. Perhaps about O'Clock
p. IN. Gen. Logan rode up TO Gen. q. nj. Dodge
who commanded the Sixteenth Corps, and said,
Send brigade TO the right of the railroad
and retake the works; they are in the hands Of
the enemy" and rode in that direction.
Gen. Dodge rode up 10 Col. August Mersyt
who commanded the Second Brigade Second
Division, Sixteenth Corps, and ordered him u
take his brigade TO the right of the railroad
three miles distant and charge the works.
There are many boys now living who re-
member very distinctly yet the heat of thai
sutry July afternoon. Most OF that march was
made ON the double-quick, and most soldiers
know what that means.
We met Gen. Logan Just before we reached
the railroad going toward the left. The bri
gade formed in line OF battle just in a curve Of
the railroad near east end of the cut The
Colonel was on his horse near a plank fence
when the animal was struck in the side aud nc
reared up and fell dead across the fence. Sew
eral OF our boys fell on the track. The brigade
consisted Of the 9th, l2th and 10th iii. (the
latter carried the l6-shooters or Henry rines)
and the slst Ohio. They charged down a de
scent and up another aud soon struck th,
works, while the Johnnies were getting away
j could not say as TO the order of the charge
but believe the 18th Ill. was on the right. 20
A Of the Goth was just by the battery, and
some shots were fired as the rebels were retreat
ing. One shell burst i'm one Of the guns, as Eht
fuse was cut too short, and IL burst the breecl
of and the pieces were scattered around, but
do not now remember that il killed any one
GEO. l.. CHILDREss, Co. i, Goth H., Wabash
III.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
Ben Butler ON the Pension VetOes.
R0lf5gao..a C,tY. 4

Gen. b. F. Butler, in speaking on the subject
of the recent pension vetOes of the President,
expressed surprise that Mr.. Cleveland should
have taken the time and trouble required to
investigate such cases. He referred to the law
relative to pensions of March, 1873, passed
when he was in Congress- and which gives
ample power to stop payment of pensions an-
thorized by special act Of Congress and subse-
quently found TO be fraudulent. The clause
referred to is in Section 4720 Of the Revised
Statutes. The President in all probability was
not aware of its existence, and it is not known
that it has ever been availed Of 1t is as fol-
lows: "The Commissioner of Pensions shall,
upon satisfactory evidence that fraud was per-
petrated in obtaining such special act, suspend
payment thereupon until the propriety of
repeating the same can be considered by Con-
OressU
The National tribune., 1886-08-05

Duryea's Zouaves Chas. Montgomery, G. L.
Guthrie Thos. Burns, r. Berrian, Jas. McKeon,
w. III. Chambers, J. S. Raymond, w. III. Uckell
and Gordon Winslow, jr.. all former members of
the original 9Th N. Y. Duryea's Zouayes), con-
cluded TO raise veteran regiment. This regi-
ment was mustered for three years, and did not
return to the Army Of the Potomac till June,
1864, and was then assigned to the Third Bri-
gade, Second Division, Fifth Corps, and the first
fight it took part in was the battle of Bethesda
Church. The only members Of the original 5th
N. Y. Duryea's Zouavesl belonging to this 9Th
N. Y. veteran Duryea's Zouaves) are the ones
whose names / have given above.-B. +. GILL
MAN 32d Mass Boston, Mass.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
THE QUESTION SQUAD.
Comrades Queries and Replies-0dds and Ends o
Information

Information
j. H Lovett Lawrence Mass wants the ad-
dress of Albert A. Shattuek, Captain, 18th u. s.
Cav.-Mrs. Catherine Behr, Columbus, Seb
wants the address Of any member of Co. H. LIST Wis
Cav, who was in the company at Warrington, Va
in August, 1858, and who knew her husband John
Behr.-fenpest Myers, Ida Grove, Iowa, wants
the addresses of Lieut.. Amos Petrow and Capt
Robert Buckley, Co. g, Sd Pa--Nathan r. Eek les
Fort Wayne, Ind, wants the addresses of August
May and Capt. Green, Co. G., 14th Ohio.-wm. H.
anys officer comrade of Co. ID, 18th KY. Cav
b. r. Reynolds, Mcpherson. Kan, would like the
address of any member of Co. Fl, 47th Il-Owen
Todd, Shabonna, ILL.,, wants the address of Capt
Welkers, Co. Ill. LIST Mo. l.. A.--Rev. j. j. Litter
Monona, Iowa, desires the addresses of Lieut. Col
Stewart, Maj. Wood, Capt. Mcdonald. Co H. or
any of the officers of the 65th Hl.-Rev. JOS H.
Bradley. Chaplain. 10th ". Y. Cav, TucIserton N
j. desires the address of MATS Blynn and Snyder Of
that repsiment.-F. w. Bradley Fort Worth Tex
wants the address of any member of the 9th ILL.,
X. ;. Moore, John Detricks and John Zimmerman
all of Co. +, sIst Ind.--Wm. Bixby Deer Lake
Mich, desires the names and addresses of the Cap
tain and Lieutenants of Co. IL, seth N. Y.-Frank
Bohn, ChiliIeOthe, o., wants the addTess of Capt
Chas. Dubels any member of Co. E. 18th ILL.,
VIM. Ford. Preston, England, would like to hear
from any of the members of Co. ID, Sth n. Y Cav
David Lloyd Edgerton, Mimi, would like the
address of any member of Co. X, 39th Wis.-M j.
Moser, Oakdale, Neb., wants the and adj
dress OF the Surgeon or nurse who attended c. T..
Moser. Co. 1. l4th Iowa Cav, during severe sick
ness near Memphis. Tenn. and selma Ala-Jas.
DE Witt Abingdon ILL., wants the name and adj
dress Of the Surgeon in charge of hospital boat Red
Rover, Mound City, H., in August, 1S65.--John
H. Rhoads Maryyille, Pa, would like to know the
whereabouts Of Lewis Clark, Co. +, 7th Pa. Cav
Warren Taylor, Co. 1. 5ith ILL.,, La Rose, H..
wants to hear from any member of his company
who knew him ia 1851 Go. .. White, Co. @.
the address of any officer or member Of the s5th
Wis.
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
The Flag Of the SD III.

To THE EDITOR: The article Of Comrade L.
It. Lee IN reference to the return Of the blue
flag of the 4lst ia. calls my mind back TO that
terrible 18th day Of July, 1863 when SO many
that we had learned 10 love went down in that
hopeless charge.
i remember that short time ago the flag Of
the SD III. was found among the archives OF
the defunct Coniederacy, and noticed as the
Unknown Flag" UnknOwnl Is il possible
that such things can be SO soon forgotten2 Are
the brave men OF our command all dead2 1t
may be that they are, for can now see hun
dreds Of them as they lay on that battlefield
motionless, and Others dragging their mangled
bodies behind stumps, logs and into bitches
anywhere TO get shelter from that storm OF
death. And that was % years ago, and just
after the battle only 80 guns were stacked by
our regiment. We had NO Colonel, no blue
banner, no flag no band, no regiment, and but
one man in 90. l. Corporal Homes commanded
the half dozen in Go. A. Only few men and
officers walked silently back to camp at Yicls-
burg Many Of these were limping, and others
wore bandages. No wonder that 20 years after
our flag is called the Unknown Flag"
The SD iii. was raised al Ottawa, ILL.,, in the
latter part OF 1861, and the flag presented to the
regiment was lost in the death-trap at jackson,
Miss. The brush and trees in front Of the rebel
works were SO cut and pointed that it was inn
possible 10 go toward the works except in open
WAYS that were i'm direct line with their artii-
lery, SO at each discharge the lane thus formed
was swept Of everything standing; the green
leaves and grass were scOrched and burned by
The enemy's guns where many Of cur men fell.
Our Colonel went down badly wounded aud
some OF the men near him attempted TO get
him out OF the lane but the next discharge OF
canister swept them down, and the brave old
Colonel Was left lifeless with his men.-JoHN
Il. NARNELI., Co. A, 53d III, Winamac Ind
The National tribune., 1886-08-05
A soldiers Badge.

Norwell Ryland, Box 81, Richmond, Va,
recently purchased from a negro badge, shield
shape, oR which is inscribed: capt N. G.
GOodenow. Stoneman's staff, war Of 1861" The
badge is of silver, with two crossed sabers of
gold. Mr. Ryland has written To- Gov. Stone
man, of California, in regard to this memento,
and has received a reply from the Governor
that he remembers Capt. GOodenow as one of
his staff, but has not seen nor heard from him
since the close of the war. COmrade GoOdenOw
was at one time Lieutenant in Battery A, I'd
III. Art. MIR. Ryland would be happy to restore
the badge to him or any Of his family