The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-07-18
KENEsAw MOUNTAIN.
what Battery was u, aud Who Blunderedf

Nbat BATTERY was H. and VINO BtundeTedt
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Time-June,
1864. Place-Front of Kenesaw Mountain,
Ga. Propria persou@, Yanks and rebs, ad lib
itum.
The enemy had disappeared from our front
during the night, and whitherp was the ques-
ton. To answer it, there came TO me, then
Captain OF Co. ID. 33d Ohio, an order to take
my company and enough more TO make 100
men, aud follow the directions of Capt. Ford,
A. A.-G.. Brigade Headquarters.
am not sure but Gen. Hobart may have in-
tended that we should take old Kcnesaw, but
as / was not consulted, the only thing for me
10 do was TO obey orders. Having due consid-
Grafton for the gentlemen over the way, took
the precaution 10 deploy as skirmishers before
moving forward, the men being about equally
distributed on either side of the road, from
which / directed the movement. The brush
was very thick and the road winding, so that
we could see only short distance in advance,
and we had gone probably half a mile in front
OF our works, when zip! zip! zip! very suddenly
emptied the road of the three or four men who
were in il with me- The distance from whence
the shots were fred could not have exceeded
75 yards and missing all of US was little credit
TO their craftsmanship.
OF course, the line went no farther and
needed no express command to halt. Not caring
10 show our weakness. we did very little firing
ourselves, though we had some excellent tar
gets at very close range. On the right OF the
line, in the thick brush, my men were so very
close 10 the enemy they could hear and under
stand everything that said and one reb
was heard TO say, Let's go for EN-; to which
another replied, "Go for EN- h! There
more'n a million of em over there" We had
no wish just then TO have them think other
wise.
Having found what we bad lost, the next
thing was to let go. ] passed the order along
the line quietly TO retire, and after getting
back reasonable distance, assembled the men
in the road, and "lit out for camp, but had
not gone far when we met an artillery officer
riding calmly along ut the head of his battery.
he inquired of me what was IN front, aud
when told rebs, became interested and wished
10 know if any Gauks were there too; and
when informed that my squad was all, he sud
denly awOke 10 the situation, aud exclaimed:
For Gods sake. don't leave me out here with
my battery aionei" Ii was evident that some
body had blundered, and taking my men de-
ployed them in a semi-circle across the road in
front of the battery, not waiting 10 see whether
ii came into position or not, though presume
il did. and that without delay.
Not long afterwards Gen. Morgan rode up to
me and inquired who we were and what we
were doing. aud gave him the desired informa-
ton. In little while he came again, saying
be had permission from Gen. JED. G.. Davis
Corps commander) to use us, aud directed that
when his skrmisbers advanced we should join
their left While we were certainly on debat-
able ground, was not just in condition 10 fire
of an argument, and SO took the other horn of
the dilemma, joining his left and marching by
the right flank TO prevent their left being
turned by the enemy.
They made n very fine advance and drove
the enemy away from he base of the mountain,
crowding their own line part way up it. Soon
r.
lance to the left and into the gap between, and
we moved, making the line complete. By
the peculiar formation Of the ground we were
thrown considerably in advance Of the line on
both sides Of US. and were entertained by the
rebs from the topOf Kenesaw aud by the shells
from our own artillery in rear Of us. Twice
I during the afternoon ! sent requests TO throw
their shells higher aud farther, as two-thrds
of them were dropping aud exploding in rear
Of US.
That night we did our duty as soldiers should.
being in a strange land, and | might add
among strangers, for there were plenty 10
modest and make us afraid. but none 20 relieve
or order us 10 camp, Capt. Ford thinking,
doubtless, we were there long before. Early
next morning / sent Sergeant 10 Gen. Hobart
for orders, aud they came very emphatic !:
Come into camp" Sending a Sergeant to
the right and another 10 the left 10 inform the
officers in charge OF the line Of our intention
70 quit, / waited only long enough to suppose
the information had been received, and then
we went. nor stood upon the order Of our going.
The officer on the left would not let the Sergeant
return until he had shown them the way in 20
our position. into which the enemy had en-
tered soon we were fairly out, and they
had to fight 10 get IT,
Now. what would like to know at this late
day Is whether we failed OF our duty in not
taking Kenesaw that day Also what battery
that was, and by what authority It's command
ing officer was marching IL into the enemy's
linesG And, lastly, why Gen. Morgan should
take my small squad, aud then leave Us out in
the cold all night, when we did not belong 10
his commandG Information bearing upon any
OF the above points will be thankfully received.
j. HIEsoS, 33d Ohio, 1903 Pacific avenue.
Tacoma, Wn. T.