The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-03
GEN. C0BURN AS A SOLDIER
A COmrade in Arms Recalls Some Stir
ring Scenes in the Atlanta Campaign.
The Story Of the Capture Of the Only Battery
Taken at Resaca-The Man Who Received
the Surrender Of the City of Atlanta.

war experience. These were captured at Re-
SAGA. They were brass pieces; / think six
Founders. I commanded Company g OF the
SEVENTEEN Indiana, Col. Benjamin Harrison's
regiment, in that fight. We were more than n
quarter OF a mile from the rebel line on our left,
on Sunday May Is. 1864. when. shortly after
noon, orders came TO take that battery Our
regiment led the charge. followed by the rest of
the brigade, while the entire line OF the army on
that wing moved forward and engaged the en-
envy so sharply that he could not concentrate
upon any single point. Colonel Harrison showed
at his best in this affair. and we had never been
so proud of him as on that day. The position of
the rebel battery was indicated by its smoke. on
a line of hills in our front, and we became the
object Of its direct fire as soon as
we began to descend the Hill on which our forces
had been aligned to make the charge. We
pressed right on with a yell, and were soon
among the trees and bushes in the valley, NOV
ing at a double-quick. The shots of the battery
now went over us. their guns not being sufi-
GENTLY depressed, and we went ahead in safety
for the present. Our line was somewhat broken
by the instructions through which We passed,
but nothing stopped our charge until we were
among the guns on the hill, and had killed, capt
ured or driven back the artillerymen. AS those
who escaped disappeared through the bushes, we
suddenly became aware that our foes had a sec
ond line. manned by infantrymen, and as We
StbDU thttt, uucutu Nltu NlClOIls W ItEdlu OlE
breath. we received a tremendous fire right in
our faces, which did sad havoc among our ranks.
1t was now our time TO retire, and we hastily
son ght refuge under the brow of the hill or ridge
where their shots could not reach us, each man
sheltering himself the best he could behind
trees. stones, stumps or brush. We stayed there
the remainder of the afternoon, as close to
mother earth as men ever get. Every eye on
both sides was on the watch constantly. and if any
one exposed himself for an instant he became
the target for numerous rifles. Several times
the rebels rose up as thoughthey would attempt
to regain their highly-prized battery. but they
were as often met by a hot tire which drove them
to cover. And so the battery remained under
the fire of the two armies, neither being able to
remove the guns. After some time both sides,
as II by common consent, became quiet, and
then there were only exchanges OF desultoiy
shots.
passed up from the left rear that Colonel Harri-
son was drawing OFF the regiment and reforming
1t back across the valley. not far from where we
had started, and that he desired all his men TO
report there. The rest of the brigade had worked
right up to and among us, so that our withdrawal
would not uncover the battery. and this left US
free 10 obey the order without surrendering the
coveted guns. One by one we passed to the rear,
dropping down out of sight so as not to attract
Harrison metme. As he shook my hand warmly
he remarked: They said you were killed, but
Major Ragan told me It was a mistake. for ne had
seen You lying under the hill with your company
close TO the battery, protecting it from recapture.'
He spoke of those who had been killed or
wounded, and as he did so there were tears on
his cheeks. Indeed, | have never seen men so
moved by their feelings as those OF our regiment
were who had escaped safely as reports were
made concerning our losses. In some cases men
would break down and cry like children as they
heard 0r told themselves how a dear friend had
been killed. / never expect to see such an affect
ing scene again. 1t was our first fight and We
had not got used to it.
Presently Colonel Harrison said to me: From
what l hear from Major Raglan no man knows
the position of the rebel battery better than you
do. / have been asked to make a detail to assist
in cutting the guns out, and want to send you
vance and / claim that we captured the battery
M company had already lost i've men killed
whom died afterward. which seemed to be
loss enough for one day; but 1t was
no time for hesitation, so l answered,
Ill right, we are ready and the detail wasmade,
our orders being to report TO Col. John Coburn,
who was to have charge of the desperate enter
prise. Details had been made from other regi-
ments, in all two hundred men. Meantime our
men had had a hasty cup of coffee, with hard
tack, and this refreshed and strengthened them
greatly.
at was dark when Colonel Coburn came
marching along with his detail. and we fell in
line. He led us through the woods, every man
being enioined to strict silence. As we APP
preached the rebel line our movements became
still moro cautious, and it required some time to
m msra ea We're Mss an a given an in w ias ennS; co lone cV Go-
burn seemed to be everywhere. No man could
have been more active or determined. Every
part OF our men were set to work cutting away
the breastwork In front of the guns, which con-
efSIeu OF logs III eartQ, Wnile TIC resi- were so
disposed as to protect them from assault. When
the rebels discovered us they raised UP three
ss Often times driven Sna 0R fo the e,re' e COVER weo of
their works by our shots. which
could see them better. But they showed an ugly
determination to keep us from the battery, and
1T was only the display of force and equal deter
mination on our part which held them back. In
about two hours sufficient openings were made,
and then ropes were attached to the guns and
they were hauled out of position and down the
hill. The noise made by the gun-carriages caused
than ever. but the rest of the brigade protected
our movement, and We were soon down in the
valley. Colonel Coburn then went among the
men, giving them directions how to proceed in
order to get safely away. We retired through
the woods in two columns, hauling the four guns
silence. When we had safely reached the rear
the pieces were delivered 10 the proper ordnance
officer, who had been detailed to receive them,
and we fastened 10 our several commands and
sought rest. 1t was a time for congratulations,
for we had accomplished an unprecedented
care for anything OF that sort then, and were
soon sound asleep anywhere that we could find
my company had only one casualty in cut
ting ont the guns. George Mcmillan, now living
in Kansas. who was shot through the thigh. We
carried him back with us. / am unable to say
anything about the losses OF the rest OF the
party art were under fire 100 DAYS in that cam.
paign. Colonies Harrison and COburn were pro-
NOTED TO the command of brigades soon after
the battle of Resaca and became brigadier-gen.
erals, the former being assigned to the First
Brigade, and the latter TO the Second. Being so
near General Coburn, he frequently came under
my observation, and he was always in the line of
his duty-vigilant. indefatigable, eonsiderate OF
his men, ~braye-always leading his men. 1t was
at the battle Of Peach Tree creek that he distin-
guished himself even more than in the capture
OF the battery. Our division had crossed the
creek, and stacked arms, waiting for orders.
General Coburn's command being on the left. A
hill rose vi in front OF our brigade, but
fell away to level ground on our left. Ever ON
the alert, General Coburn had ridden out to
the front, and il was not long until he discov-
cred the rebels moving from q strong position so
as to strike our part of the line where, being un-
aware of our arrival, they expected TO find an
interval between Newton's and Geary's divisions,
which would enable them TO break through our
line and turn our TANKS either way. From our
place under the hill we could see nothing Of their
movement, and were unaware of the impending
danger. 1t was a critical moment for us. With
General Coburn, to see was To act. He instantly
rode hack TO his BRIGADE and ordered his men TO
rode down cur line Mt the top of his speed. call
ing out that the rebels were coming. and for us
to move forward to meet them. Then he re-
turned to his own command. Our officers and
men responded promptly and in "a very few min
utes were moving up the hill JUST as we had al
most reached the top therebels, having observed
Coburn's brigade. fired upon it. Before they had
did a battery on our right. and, as they were
moving three lines deep, our shots made great
havoc among them. Goburn's brigade also fired
as it moved forward, and that part of
the Fourteenth Corps within range and the left
also opened fire with good effect. liz was a COM
ran TO the woods in their rear without attempt
ing TO return our fire. We followed. and at the