The National tribune., 1890-03-27
NATIONAL TRBuNE WAsHNGToN g. THURSDAY MARoH ~ 1850
BATTLE OF RESACA.
An Ohio Man Tells Who Cnp,urcd the Battery.

An Ohio Man Tells Who Captured the Battery.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: In your issue
of Jan. 49, SEQ Will b. Lloyd, of Terre Haute,
Ind. says he knows the First Brigade, Third
Division, Twentieth Corps, took the battery at
Resaca. He is right | presume from this,
that some other command has claimed this
capture which is surprising, to say the least
The First Brigade was commanded at this time
May, 1864 by Brig. Gen. w. Il. Ward, Ken
tuckian, and was composed of the 10th Ind,
Col Benz. Harrison; l02d Ill., Col. Smith;
18th Ohio, Col III. g. Kenneth; 120th H., Col.
Case; 105th Ill.,, Col. Dustin.
On the 14th of May, 1864, this brigade was
under fire in the noighborhood of Resaca all
day, and lost number of men killed aud
wounded by rebel sharpshooters, but we were
not actively engaged During the day Col.
McGroarty, of the SD Ohio, who claimed to bo
at that time carrying full pound of rebel lead
tand seemed TO be carrying that much OF some
thing else, called on some of the officers of the
18th Ohio, and being annoyed by the sharp
shooters he proposed to ride down the slope in
our front, To attract their fire, so wo could To-
cate them, and kill or drive them out; but the
Colonel was persuaded not to be so reckless
Next morning, May Is, the First Brigade was
moved to the right, how far don't know, but
we took a position on n small hill, and in the
timber. We were formed in mass. with regi-
mental front, 10Th Ind. in front lo2d Ill. sec
ond, 10Th Ohio third. 129th H. fourth, and
1O5th H. fifth. The 10Th left their knapsacks
Mt this place. All ready, we were started Mt
full run, yelling fnrously, down tho hill,
across the valley, and in the face of n deadly
fire, up the hill beyond where we captured q
battery of four IL pound guns, aud drove the
Johnnies from their works, which we held, al
though they tried hard 10 regain them. This
battery occupied a natural redoubt, or q basin
shaped place on top of hill, requiring but littlc
work 10 make the inside or wall perpondicu-
lar. Many of the rebels near by, and with the
battery, wore badge, on which were the words
Fort Pillow, which was nothing TO their adj
vantage, the way the day turned out. After
night the First Brigade was relieved, aud next
morning the rebels were gone. This was the
first general engagement of tho brigade. but
AtterWard our encounters with the enemy were
frequent Near Cassville, Ga, May 10, the
Third Division, Twentieth Corps Gen. Butter
field commanding was kept manuvcring in
the brush all day, while under fire, in order 10
make our force seem stronger than il actually
was, this division having come up with large
force of J0hnstons army in advance of tho rest
OF the corps but toward evening the whole
corps was together and formed a continuous
limo IN open ground; those on the extreme
right were on high ground, aud had splendid
view of the whole line. Next morning John
stOn was gone, as usual.
Soon after the battle mt Kulps house Gen.
Bnttcrheld went away and Gen. Ward took
command of the division, and this put Col.
Harrison in command of tho First Brigade,
which he commanded ut Peach Tree Creek
July 20, 1864, where his promptness and energy
must have saved the day-at least many OF us
who were there will always so think We
crossed Peach Tree Creek under FIRE without
serious loss in numbers, filed TO the right and
formed line at the foot of hill and stacked
arms to rest. Col Duans Orderly was at this
place knocked from his horse. dead by a rebel
sharpsh0Oter. In ou7 front tho ground was
considerably elevated, and was in a cornficld;
beyond this road leading TO Atlanta. beyond
which the ground sloped tho other way
After awhile the pickets commenced firing
rapidly and falling back. Col. Harrison i'm.
mediately had his men in line aud ordered us
forward, double quick. mp the hill the crest of
which we gained just in time 10 meet the
rebels coming In mass. five TO seven lines deep,
against our single line of battle. The rebels
were driven back in confusion 10 the timber
where they reformed their column aud came
again, but not quite so far AZ before. They
went back this time in greater confusion 10
the timber, again formed their column and
came the third time, but accomplished nothing
but loss of their men.
Now, If Harrison had been slow TO advance
his part of the line. and had not gained the top
OF the hill, IL is but reasonable to think their
column would have broken through our single
Inv - N"SJ nav hSh 'aA ShbhHh 10 Sec We iAu
no support ON that side Of the creek. But they
did not break through our line. Prisoners said
at the time that they were going ont TO pick
acorns, but soon saw stars which spoiled their
plan, which was to turn the left wing Of Ehs
Fourteenth Corps hf.a6 caG ta a1H14
can truthfully say that the First Brigade
never failed 10 accomplish what they were or.
dercd TO do, aud were never forced TO give mp
position once taken, and our success at Peach
Tree Creek was due 10 Col Harrison advancing
his line just in tho right time aud without or
ders from the division commander IS. e. KKa.
SKY, Corporal, CO. A, 10Th Ohio, First Brigade,
Third Division Twentieth Germs cbannn -