The National tribune., 1888-04-12
NOSES CREEK.
Hou the Boys Crossed Over the Water on the
Stringers.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having seen
several articles in regard to who first crossed
Noses Creek in the Atlanta campaign, now
desire to tell the story as saw it. was fright
thar" with a party of II men from the oath
KY, under the immediate command of Serg' t
Evan Combs, Of Co. H. We had been sent be-
fore the dawn of day on the morning Of June
90, 1861, to relieve some piczets near the
bridge, which We did, making as little noise as
possible, so as not to draw the fire of the
enemys sharpshooters, who were posted on the
opposite side Of the creek behind q pile of
rails and the plank which had been torn from
the stTingeTs Of the bridge, and not more than
80 yards from our position. We had two or
three conversations with them, truce having
been agreed upon for that purpose. At such
times they would ask When are you coming
over, Yauk?" When told that we would be
over IN day or two, they would reply: If
we catch y0u-ali Yanks down here we will kill
the last one of YOU"
When the time agreed upon for the truce
would be out one Of the BOYS would tell them
TO Look out Johnny; / am going to shoot"
and that would end the truce for that time.
Ia the afternoon Scrgt Combs informed Us that
his orders were to cross on the strngers of the
bridge, and any man who refused TO go was to
be shot by our own men. This was sad news
for us, for we had more than the ordinary
amount Of respect for our neighbors, aud we
knew il would be contrary to their wishes Tor
US to comeauy nearer than we then were. While
waiting for the signal to cross we had ample
time TO consider what might be the couse-
qucnce OF raising fuss with our nelShbors.
1t would have been impossible for Us to have
crossed with the enemy in possession of one
end of the bridge, but when the signal came 1t
proved to be a she'll Il would like to know
what battery fred that shot. Was it the 10th
Ind. y / am sure it did not miss my head
more than three feet, and struck the ground
under the rail-piie where the JOhnnies were
hid, exploding with the most terrific crash /
ever heard. fthOse rebels were not surprised,
then 1 never saw any that were.
1t was now our time TO move, and we crossed
on the bare stTngers il columns of two's Jas.
Lunsford, of Co. II, and myself forming the
front rank on that occasion. He captured an
officers hat and sword, which was left in the
rush. They were still il possession of COmrade
Lunsford when last l saw him. After the last
rebel from the bridge cot over the brow Of the
hill there was not one of the enemy in sight,
nor did we find any on the brow of the hill.
The fire from our artillery bad completely
routed them. When they did advance it was
with reiuforcements from another locality. l
saw them advancing for more than a mile on
the double-Quick. We talked to them with our
Springfields, which caused them to halt and
throw out skirmishers. As they advanced we
lG44 DdGh atiA lbLCC4 L4lCll 10 keep uhhGl CONCA
and come forward slowly from tree to tree.
don't know who crossed after we did, but
there were others beside our party on the Skin
mish-line at this time, for an officer who was
a stranger to me came 10 where was standing
behind q large chestnut tree and told me TO
GIVE 'em h" He said the brigade was
crossing; that the oath would soon be over, and
we must hold the enemy in check until they
came TO assist Us. presume this officer was
I a vrn= "a ma n WIT
black eyes. Not long after this it seemed to
me that the JEFF Davis Government had
swarmed and were trying to settle near me,
Georgia militia and all.
It has been claimed for the oath KY. that no
part Of il ever fell back without orders, but it
is q mistake. ! fell back from that chestnut
tree without orders. ! did not fall back in
good order. I was demOralized; I was panic
stricken. fell back over saplings as large as
a broomstick and If the bark was not peeled
from the saplngs it was from my legs.-GEo.
w. COPE, Co i, oath KY, Pulaski, KY.