The National tribune., 1888-01-05
EZRA CHAPEL.
How Gen. Howard Impressed Troops in Bait

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In recent is
sue appears an article from J. B. Ridenour, Cap
tain, Co. A, 55th H., in regard to the battle Of
Ezra Chapel. While must commend the action
of 5he gallant Second Division Of the Fifteenth
Corps, / wish the CAPTAIN to bear in mind that
the Fourth Division of his Corps, commanded
by Gen. Harrow, was there also and took a
very active part in dispensing Lincoln pills to
the Johnnies that day, with very good results.
The Captain is right when he says the Second
Division was on the extreme right flank. The
Fourth Division joined on the left of the Sec
ond, and formed the center of the Fifteenth
Corps But beg leave to differ with the COM
rade when he says that 662 dead rebels were
counted in front Of the Fifteenth Corps; prin-
cipally in front of the Second Division" Gen.
Logan in his official report of that battle says:
- 565 dead rebels have been buried and there
are yet 200 unburied. The worst Of the fight
ing occurred in front of Gems. Harrow's and
Morgan l.. Smiths Divisions, which formed the
center and right Of the Corps, and Gen. Har-
rows Division (the Fourth captured five bat
tle-fags." The query now with me is, how the
Fourth Division, being on the left of the Sec
ond Division-both being in the front line of
BATTLE the Second Division, as the Captain says
in his article, did the principal part of the fight
ing while the Fourth Division captured
five battle-fags. Now, Captain, don't
say the Fourth Division did all the
I
is credit for what justly belongs to it. The
Johnnies were not in the habit of making pres
ents of their flags TO the Yankees in those days,
but were more like little Joe Foraker, of Ohio,
was last Fall when Grover wanted those same
| flags. The Third Brigade Of the Fourth Di-
| vision was commanded by j. III. Oliver, of the
| 18th Mich, was composed of the 18th and Goth
| H., 99th Ind, 18th Mich and 10th Ohio, and
was posted in a piece of woods on narrow
| ridge. The underground in front of the 10th
| Ohio was very dense, and the view was so OBJ.
/ structed that we could not see the enemy until
! very close to u.s. Near noon their first charge
was made. The battle lasted until p. m and
| in that time six different charges were made
| by the rebels, and six times as calamity re-
pulsed by the Third Brigade, with great loss tt
the enemy. Eighty-six dead rebels were buried
/ in front of the 10th Ohio. The colors of the 31s
La were shot down and captured in this place
The rest Of the brigade were also engaged and
did all that was required of them. Six days
before this the brave and chivalrous younl
commander of the Army of the Tennessee gave
| up his life on the bloody battlefield of Atlanta
and Gen. Howard, from the Eastern army, wa
assigned 10 command the Army of the Tennes
see This was his first battle after taking com
mand, and he passed along the line just befor
dark, congratulatiDg the troops on their victory
This being the first time we had seen him, hi
solderly bearing impressed the soldiers tina
old Uncle Billy" had made no mistake il
giving him command of the Army of the Ten
nessee, although we would rather have had tn
idolized commander of the Fifteenth Corps
John A. Logan.
In writing this have no desire to enter int
any controversy or to pluck one laurel leaf fron
any organization that composed that body Q
troops known as the Fifteenth Corps, but onl
to give simple statement as to how itappeare
to me. / hope some one able to will writ
more about the Fifteenth Corps; it made rec
ord we are all proud of. Fall. in comrades, an
let US hear from you.-W. j. SHELTON, Sci
geant, Co. f, 10th Ohio, Bradyyille, O.
Chicago letter carrier says: Hoods Sarsi
parilla cured me of muscular rheumatism"