The National tribune., 1888-07-05

Ohio, Of the Second Brigade, Second Division,
Sixteenth Corps ] would like TO have my say.
was a member Of the Slst Ohio in 1864, and
fully believe that / was in the charge that re-
captured the portion of Smiths line extending
north Of the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad,
and that the right las then faced Of the Slst
Ohio and left Of the Goth Ill.-l6 shooters
came to the line AZ point where the battery
Of four 20-p0under PARROT guns were stationed.
/ am certain that was within p feet Of the
PARROT gun when il exploded, Of which Gen.
Sherman and the First Division men speak as
being bHrsted while IN the hands of the enc
my" the explosion being caused by one Of our
b0ys-WhO had seen Blodgett and Laird using
double charges OF canister IN their guns on our
line-s0 when the gun was unspiked he con-
cluded TO give the rebels q double charge Of
20-pOund shell, reInarEing as he placed the
second shell lpercussi0Bl IN, " Feed EN-, d--n
'em; give them double Tations" The gun was
fired and torn 10 pieces, portions Of the lnuzzle
going way above the tree-tOps, Lieut. III. Hoover,
Co. Is, SIst Ohio, being killed, and many wound
ed. But the rebels did not do as much eXecu-
ton as they would have done if their line had
not been enfladed by the artillery Of the Twen-
ty-third Corps and First Division, Fifteenth
Corps
The bursting Of the gun was seen by many
men Of the Slst Ohio and Goth III. and a few
Of the 54th Ohio and IIlth H., of Smiths Di-
vision. who have at all times given our brigade
full credit for the part taken by it.
In 1855 / attempted TO ascertain from the
many in command, who had recaptured the
battery but found they varied as much as the
boys in their accounts. / had seen private
letter from Gen. Morgan L. Smith, written in
August, 1864, to friend, ia which he spoke Of
tbeb2ttle, saying: "Mersy's Brigade, Of D0dge's
Corps, came 10 our aid, and made as gallant q
charge As have seen during the war" 2
In Sherman and His Campaigns" page 202:
Licht5urn's Brigade fell back in some disorder
shout 40 yards 10 position held by II the night
before, leaving the enemy Tor time ia possession
o. two batteries, intending for time 9 valuable
% Pourdcr Parrot battery Of four guns and sepa-
ratiag the two Divisions Of the Fifteenth Corrs
which were on the right and left Of the railroad
Beng an person close 10 the spot , Sherman
ordered several batteries 81 Schoheld's army 10
De moved 10 o position commanding the interval
by leftllnk Ere. aad ordered an incessant fire
with shells upon the enemy within sight.
OTders werz also sent 10 Gen. Logan 70 cause the
Elitcel CORPS 10 regain its lost ground az any cost
and 10 Gen. III God 10 use his division TO sweep
tie Parapet WIKI soIdiefiy Instinct Logan
had anlepated these orders and was already in
motion
Sherman, il his " Memoirs" Vol II, page 81,
ssyg:
lis (Wood-sj right crossed this parapet Ghe old
1tltag alttlA flank. and
q The same time Tie division which had been
driven back along the railroad rallied by Gen
Logan in person, fought for their former ground.
These combined forces drove Tie enemy into At
lana recovering the % pound Parrot guns i,tit
ono If tlseiu Was found bGrsted while IN the pos
session q tle enemy.
Beng IN person near Gen. Dodge, on the
Sixteenth Corps line, at the time Of the break
ii Smiths line J had seen Gen logan ride IN
70 Gen. Dodge and Immediately Dodge ordered
our Second Brigade to move TO the assistance
q Gen. Smith. wIobe 10 Gen. Logan aud re-
eEes.ed 70 know what brigade recap.ured De
Gresss battery. IN reply ] received the fol-
lowing, VIZ, original forwarded 10 Editor Of
4HE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
UEIrED STATES SENATE,
tfAsHIsG1oN, u. O.. Oct ]. 1855
NY DEAR 7IE. Your letter received and con-
tents n9ied. : took Gen James ". Martin Bri-
GAGE q Liinols, and reeapiurcd dc Gres.s bat
Very truly, JouT A. T,oeAv
This WIS SO unexpected, both from the posi-
ton of Martins Brigade and from Gen. Io-
GAM starting with Col August Bicrsey's Second
brlgade, second Division, Sixteenth Corps.
that ! thought perhaps 1 bad been dreaming Of
Logan beng ~ D0lges Tor aclp, but tic follow
Ing treasured me:
VILLA L. arcCRrAnY % ~ ? -''''
DEAE SIR: ia answer 10 your statement as 10
members oi Tie Fifteenth Corrs denying that ans,
portion ~ shc Sixteenth Corps took part IN rei8-
Is thp4r line broken by the attack Of Tie rebels on
@Hly = l753, have 10 say they certainly have
no. e1-iilied lie oiieiai records. IL they look at
Iy oillelal report u that battle they VIII see that
Gen Logan called upon Use ia person. requesting,
a3a lil rt.l-llE TIC lines that Immediately sent
o. tie epnlc-qulck, Coi. Merscy's Brigade o. Sec
Gao Dlkirioh 13crseys Brigade lost se-
veTely 10 killed and wounded lis own horse was
Ellpt during tlle charge. The brigade captured
Eb0ut 100 prisoners
Gen Morgan J.. Smith. who commanded the di-
r.H 4 ..r.E sn o.. a.. al 80
through. came and thanked nae in person for Afer-
Eeys gallant work and spoke IN the hipiesf terms
q tAe prompt, decisive and effective charge Of
Acrscy aud LAS brigade.
sent with ibe brigade Capt Edward Jonas o.
MY aal = report Z 10 Gen Smith. lie was present
and Was witness q Tie entire attack, ANY partIc-
am, truiy, G.M. DoBGE.
Enclosed diagram OF the field 10 Can't. Jonas
asking # We were sent 10 aid Smiths Division
and received the following:
MoNEoE, La, Nov. 30. 1856.
DEAR ~Ia: Your favor was forwarded 10 me here
aud nas received tnis cve4ing j was not foriu.
Rate enough q see the article mentioned :
but AIn delighted 20 find some one able and will.
fug 10 stand up for the right when the old Sistorrii
Corps Is concerned.
You are perfectly correct Ia your statement nj
facts 20 also is your diagram. Al about tic hour
mentioned Gen. logan rode up 10 Gen Dodge
Stating iiAt The fifteenth Corps was hard pressed
ard asking as there seemed 10 bc n luli en- orT
liBe. tllat Dodge send tie Fifteenth Corpe as-i.t.
ancc.
I was directed 70 conduct the Second pri,-slo
Second Division, Sixteenth Corps Col Mer.ry
eonlilli,lolaf-s 20 q point where Morgan j. lp,frifl
DIVISION, tfti~elltl Corps WAS living qrrf-s ~ re-
ezltnr Railroad, supporting Capt % Eifcs.'s ,-Ia
DIatcu pa cry ihd on arrival 70 report them nj
ton. d. = smith. temporarily IN command sr no
Flestth Cops 10 say 10 lin gnt they were sr,i
Nllh Gen Dodae's compliments, bat - The afti,cE
on our llc might be renewed "a .l,iv tirne ii .
1880 1851 TIE brigade be returned 10 US ID tn.
sll551 tlos5iDlc moment a. tFe arrived We f0a;n
be Fifteenth Corps bad been FOR q q nl.t III o,py
Wheinled- De Crcss's battery had bcen a.,tgiisl
and We were altao Immediately under lt.t.-.. r. j
particularly That % artillery. Cur head II Il ii.
had nc sooner creased the railroad tlaf lie eills