The National tribune., 1888-11-22
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
CROSSING NOSES CREEK.
Br One Of ihs Volunteer Skirmlshers.

CulGfS surely salttl
10 reply. for this reason: When meet com
rade iaboring in error or in pursuit Of kuowl-
edge under difficulties, / deem It my duty 10
enlighten him ali j can, and 10 charitaEly con-
cludc that he las either drank of the waters Of
Lethe or Just aWaked from Rip an Wrinkle
snouze ob3vious of much that happened on
that memorable campaign.
The late AdiutaEt OF the 9th KY, John A.
joyce has written a rich racy book, 4 Check
cred Life" / havea copy by INC. On pages Ia
and lI5. be has this 20 say about the affair:
The I03d Ohio had attempted 10 dIsl0dSc the
enemy and failed. when Gen. Cox came TO Col.
Hurt and asked him to move the 25th 20 the
front TO recOnRUiter and, II possible charge
across and make Judgment or the south side.
The regiment was moved 10 the frOntand drawn
up in double file and the situation explained 10
the men. assuring them IL other regiments mad
failed the old path was equal 10 the task. Every
thing being ready, Hurt and myself took the
head of the regiment, he the right lie, the
left. and
DASHED OFF AT RUN FOR TIE BRIDGE,
scrambiing across like squirrels. One murder
Gus fire was ali the rebel battery poured into
us for before they could reload we cut down
the gunners, killed a number Of horses, capt
ured two pieces Of artillery and sent their sup
port flying toward Marietta. Oar loss was only
seven men
In regard to the above I have this TO say:
The I03d Ohio was never requested TO attempt
il. Il they bad they would have succeeded or
filled the creek with their dead. Col. Hurt, II
living. viii never cOrrOborate such Mum
chausen story. Before the oath XIV. or any
other regiment In the Second Brigade crossed
there was a skirmish-line fully so rods be-
yond, being in It. Leaving Comrades Joyce
and Cope 70 reconcile their differences j will
proceed TO give my version Of the affair.
All agree as 10 the bridge 1t WAS the only
one the Second Brigade had TO do with IN the
vicinity Of Kenesaw. 1t Is on the Sandtown
road. By some old letters and memoranda 1
find we came 10 the road on the evening Of the
Path of June, 1864. camped beside il that night,
and next morning marched down is IN column.
There was but little opposition. We formed ia
line Of battle once; were not engaged. About
noon were opposite the bridge; sklrmlsh-llne
went down to it. For some reason no attempt
was made 10 cross that day. There was report
that il was caused by
DEADLOCK BETWEEN GEMS. scHoFIELD AND
PALMER
about seniority. Il had to be settled by Sher-
man, hence the delay. ] do know, however,
that for "a mortal long hours, with business
going on all around Us, the Twenty-third Corps
lay idle, while il seemed 10 be generally under
stood the flank OF the Twentieth Corps was I'M
covered and IN danger Of being turned. About
noon next day came request for 20 volunteers,
one from each company ia the brigade, TO rein
force the skirmish-iine and cross the bridge
companies nOt furnishing, there would be de-
tail. ] felt sick at the stomach. and had a SEN
sation IN the region ofthe diaphragm never felt
before. The reason was this: / had been down
10 carry ratious 10 a comrade, so got q near view
OF the situation. ] saw hat raised on a ramrod
instantly perforated by three bullets. ] wished
myself moving or with the lowing cattle, for
il seemed like sending men TO certain death.
was -ha Favt man detail If n one offered
would be elected. NOone did. Not being at lib
erty 10 decline went, and had 10 report TO bri-
gade beadq quarters IN light-marching order. A
Second Lieutenant Of the oath Ky. took com
maDd. and we went down 10 the bridge. This
was easy: tail corn al The way. For some time
no attempt was made. The volunteers were
no more eager TO begin the fray than ].
Finally an Orderly came with an order to cross
RtOnce. The Lieutenant said lie would lead all
be asked Of Us were to follow: some OF Us would
get pinked. He called up some OF the skirmsh-
ers divided Us into three parties: first party
10 fire, then start across on a run; after short
interval tie second, AID then the third.
was IN the first squad. We got fairly across on
solid terra frma before shot was fred by the
rebels then rafting volley passed over in
close proximity to our heads and
STRUCK DOWN TWO MEN
in the second party, then on the stringers. Not
another shot was fired the Coufederates lit
out We dcployed ard began 10 climb the hill
beyond. From the trampled state Of the fence
corners, there must have been al least an equal
number Of the enemy opposed 10 Us. After
crossing. 10 avoid the sharp face OF the hill the
road turns short to tine left along the creek for
quite a distance then turning partly doubles
back. and ascends tie hill at an easy grade.
By advancing about so rods in a line with the
bridge v01 strike the road again, and on the
top Of the bin was the battery that poured such
a murderous fire into the oath KY while it was
scrambllHg across ike squirrels. and upon which
COmrade Joyce claims committed such
wholesale slaughter. The laY Of the land was
such that the guns could not assist in defense
Of the bridge or be brought TO bear on It. But to
resume. We advanced slowly. 1t was an old
feld-fast growing up with young pines. with
here and there gOod-sized tIee-seamed with
bitches made by rains. IN one Of these I saw
footprints leading upwards. Following eau
tiously without seeing anyone l found there
was a strip clear Of brush next TO the road
fence; could hear talking; the fence being
covered with brush, prevented sight. After a
while heard one evidently IN command ask
in higher tone:
WHY II - DID YOU GIVE WAY
and leave down there?"
The reply was: The Ysnks were too much
for US
Are there many across?"
Il
Then get into shape and we'll charge down
and drive EN- back before more get over"
Two men got over the fence about 80 yards
TO the left and advanced to a tree from which
i alterward found view could be had beyond
the bridge. They stood close together, one
craning his neck 10 lock over the shoulder OF
the other By shifting nay position got them
in q line, took aim, and pulled the trigger
Almost simultaneously some five or six shots
were fired al me, at random, / suppose The
bullets cut close "a miss in those DAYS was
thought good as a mile. So without ascer.
tanning the effect Of my shot, I went down the
hill faster than ] came up. Coming To an omen
place got view Of the road beyond. column
Of troops was coming rapidly toward he bridge
The day was very hot, and as no pursuit wa,
made, i went no farther. Soon a strong Skin
mish-line under Capt. Bird came up 1 Clipped
IN. and went back up the hill; found the John.
MES IN tie road, drove them from ii and acros,
8 field beyond, then halted, and went bacl, fol
the rest OF my traps. On the way took in thu
aforesaid tree. Two JOhnnies lay dead by il
both shot through the head. They were armed
with muskets and had spurs on: evidently
mounted infantry. ] do not claim to have
killed them. 1t is my opinion that the bridg,
was lightly guarded or we caught them nan
ping. ] see but little glory In it. I will admit
that not knowing the force opposed made i
trying to the nerves. But aside from that. i
was not "p2tchin TO stemming Hoods ad
vance four months later near Columbia Tenn
JOSEPH CITE Co G. 65th III Second Prigada