The National tribune., 1890-10-16


| skilfuily executed. In this position the COM
pany was assailed with most fatal effect, losing
! most Of its members and all of its Sergcants.
Capt. Stanley was furious over his loss express
! ing himself in most decided Kings English
! thereat; and we'll he might be filled with
mingled grief and fury at the loss of such
| gallant men but to him and them IL was duty g
call that was sufficient IL was obeyed Wits a
ready willingness, q skilfulness, an intrepid
bravery and herosm by each, singular and
collectively, rarely displayed and seldom
cqualcd.
While these events, irregularIy narrated. were
occurring, it~was getting along into midatter.
noon, the sun appearing dim and dusky above
the smoke of
THAT BATTLE DARKENED FIELD.
We were so to speak, in hole; il seemed as If
all To right aud most TO left had been forced
from their positions, while we alone had main
tanned our position assigned us i'll the morning.
As history has later shown, tho Federal lines
had been bent back on either wing until IL
had assumed the form Of an immense horse
shoe, of which we formed the part representing
the toe
Col. Douglas Putnam, of the 92d Ohio. in n
communication says that while we were resting
in this position Gen. TurChin called him To his
tree and asked the hour. On receiving answer
between and 5, near ,. said he wished il was
night, 50 that we could get ont of there; aud
replying 20 the Colonel's query "a 60 what he
lthc Gcneral) intended doing said in his broken
English: Do! This brigade stays right here
untll We are All cut To pieces that's what we'll
&C. Meaning that, unless ordered TO quit the
position, we would maintain IL TO tho last.
Lieut.-C Col DevOl, Capt Ford, of Co l., Lieut.
James Haddow and others had just been care
fully accommodating our front, but could dis
cover no enemy in force.
Pardon a moments depression while ] relate
an incident in which we, as well rs the entire
army indirectly, were interested. and pos
sibly affected by, Ia that it may have had
much 10 DO IN saving the Federal army that
day aud possibly later. 1t occurred while we
were lying as related Mrs. Gen. Turchin was
her husbands almost constant companion on
his campaigns, and we boys used TO say that
she WAS the boSt General Of the two which,
If a fact was in no wise disparaging to the
Genera himself. II appears that in this in
stance she proved herself Justly entitled to the
high opinion we entertained of hor; for on the
occasion, TO say the least, she was by no means
idle. Some time between 2 and 3 O'Clock in the
afternoon, while the Federal right was being
driven back under the tremendous onslaughts
of LonRstreets troops there WAS a train, the
wagons ladened with ammunition strung ont
about three miles in length, moving along the
Lafayette road toward Chattanooga. the drivers
doing their utmost TO get their precious ana
dangerous loads safe beyond he reach of the
enemy, when in the hurry hubbub aud ex-
element incident to q rush Of stragglers TO tho
rear, II is said that psuic.stricken officer with
a weight aud power OF shunidur- strap that must
have far exceeded that of his brain. went fly
ing along the train, ordering it's immediate de-
struction. Be that as it may, there was no
little hurry and confusion and danger as well,
both from the enemy aud the rush of teams aud
men in pauicky effort to get 20 places Of safety.
Mrs Turchin, most fortunately for all con-
cerned. was near st hand, and knowing how
and when TO do good thing without being
told, had kept her eye on that train and its
movements from the first. aiding and directing
where her exertious could be serviceable, com
pretending the situation cf affairs, gathered
rein aud took in the line OF train, bringing
confidence out Of disorder, moving on the
wagons that had been stopped in the wild
panic OF the few, and stragglcrs shamed 20
order, and not few induced TO return 10 the
front Mrs. Turchn had made mp her mind
10 take that train to place Of safety. aud she
did. The result OF her pluck ana good COM
mon sense exercised on this occasion was that
not pound Of ammunition was lost. This /
believe is a scrap of history that has not be-
fore found It's way into print.
III was probably after , o'clock; the works
on our front had burned; To our right rear the
fight was still raging: 10 our left at this time
il was Ominousy. painfully quiet For some
time L0rgsireet had been endeay0riug to place
Taomas's command in the center of hollow
square. Ere long, rs we lay there in tho de-
preston,
THE FIGHT BROKE OUT ANEW
10 the left aud rear. We lay there with feelings
akin 10 awe. listening TO the gathering roar of
hattie to the right rear. and 10 the neaFer-ap-
preaching left rear; the minnie. balls, again
coming from ali directions, began TO clip the
bushes ia our midst or Lit the trees with spite
ful slap, varying the m0Dotony by pluhging
indiscrimnately, with thud. into some mem
Der CT the brigade. This continued until il
began TO look like, notwithstanding our val
orous efforts during the day, We were 10 be- sur
rounded and as a brigade captured or ami
hilzted.
IL WAS late in the afternoon, probably about
4-5O Oc!oCk, when Gen. Reynolds rode up 10
Gen. TgrehIn. As he rode up. Lieut-Col De-
vol remarked 10 Lient. s. l.. Grosveucr. Some.
thing Is going 10 De done" The commanders Of
the regiments were assembled near the head Of
the brigade for consultation or commando
Capt. J.. i. henry, Of 20. Il, 18th, left his
place with bis company for few moments
conversation with au officer Of the Signal Corps
OF his acquaintance on the Generals staff
Shortly after the assembly Of the officers, Gen
Iurchin separated from the group, and rs he
did 50 was heard 10 say: ! not surrender; /
take my brigade aud charge right ont Of this"
General you can try it," The officers resumed
their respective places. Gen. TuTchin walked
10 and among his men as they lay there on the
ground Approaching the --, he asked,
4" w bat regiment is tbis2" 10 which possibly Is
hundred anawered, -. The General re-
piled. That's good, --. know you wilt do
what tell yon; can depend on you" Sub
stautiglly tho same language was addressed b.
tue other regiments On approaching the --,
be said Now. when ] say charge you not
charge IN, then charge back again but 20 right
through them, -- -- EN-" This little
speech raised laugh that nearly approached
cheer. by the remark the brigade was given
10 uni- i-Tstand there must be- no recOii 10 was 70
do or die or both, IN the effort 20 cut our way
out Of our present position, in which the en-
emy with strong cordoHs Of troops were sur
rounding Us. Mounting his h0r-e he con-
nanded, Attention. Brigade ~ When at
attention, Gen. TGrchin indicated the man
ner Of formation and movement and gave the
command. Marchl !"
The Both 8nd the 1lth Ohio were formed to-
gether, the Both in advance; the 81 Ohio and
18th X y. together the 92d in advance.
Confronting us were two double lines Of Con-
federate infantry with artillery between. These
lines were much longer than were ours, and AZ
We were now faced extended To our left some
distance. Gen. Reynolds was On the extreme
right Of our lines, cheering the men on. Wo
had not crossed tho narrow space 10 where tho
advance lines Of the Coufederates had been
formed before they broke in confusion, and
without the slightest check we ran over them
aud their lines; those on the left (right), broke
and ran for piece Of timber in which the
left Of their second line rested. 1t is doubtful
whether the f5OufederaIs artillery rad gnt ftIIy