The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-18
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What0ur Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
What was Done by the Fourth Division, Fifteenth
Corps

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In May, 1864,
tbe Fourth Division, Fifteenth Corps, was com
posed of the following regiments and batteries:
The 26th, 10th, 4Sth, 90th and l03d H.; 18th,
97th, 99th aud Tooth Ind; 10th and 10th Chic /;
9th Iowa: 18th Mich aud Battery i. LIST Ill,
/. A. (Cheney'sl, and Grifin's LIST Iowa bat
terry The division was commanded by Brig
Gen. William Harrow. No Drawer regiments
ever went forth 20 do battle under the dear old
flag, aud as ] look back through the vista Of
time ] thank God that my lot was cast with
such men aud that ! belonged TO that division
and corps organization.
We marched from our Winter quarters at
Ecoitsboro, Ala, where We had been rendez-
vousing after our return from Knoxville. Mis-
siouary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, May ,,
1861. We passed through Stevenson, and at
Bridgeport bought the first gingerbread seen
since leaving home from the bakers OF tho
Twelfth Corps. Here we crossed the Tennes-
see River on a pOntOun bridge. past Nickaiack
Cave, on through the NaITows which were
filled with dead mules that once belonged 10
wagon trains Of the Army Of the Cumberland,
past White Side and Running Waters, around
Point Lookout. across the valley, over Mission
airy Ridge aud halted for a short time az Craw-
fish Springs Ga. Our march led rs over n
portion OF the battle-ground Of ChickamauCa,
where the Army Of the Cumberland had fought
60 s,ubboTnly aud her0ically under Pap Thomas
eight months before.
The rebel army commanded by Gen. Joseph
J.. Johnston, was strongly posted at Rocky Face
and Nall Creek Gap We passed close to the
enemvs right az Lee and Gordon's Mills Di-
vcrEins from Rockers lines we marched to-
ward Ship Gap. and on the 9th moved through
Smoke Creek Gap, and found ourselves near the
railroad in luhust0n's rear. Gen. Fitzpatrick S
cavalry WAS leading. with the Fourth Division,
IN supporting distance. The cavalry ran against
F.rf Frfa
wounded, and retired Our division deployed
in columns by briEades and advanced with q
cheer. They were met by whitening fire, and
ordered TO lie down. The rebel artillery,
posted on the opposite hills. treated them 20 a
Fourth-ofJuly celebration with shell and case
shot Cheney's battery was ordered up 10 the
front 10 silence the rebel guns. which il did
instantly. The infantry charged the hin and
captured the works with a number Of prisoners.
The attic Of Besaca was fought aud won the
Fourth Division contributing It's full measure
in securing the victory. On the evening Of
May Is Johnston evacuated his strong position
and was IN full retreat. The next morning
our division crossed the OOstanaula ut Lays
Ferry, and started in immediate pursuit. The
country between the Oostanaula and the
Etawah III ycrs Is much more level than other
portions Of northern Georgia, and our march
WAS more rapid. The names Of Gainesville,
Calhoun, Adairsvllle and Kingston will sound
familiar 70 many who read this narrative. ]
think il was north of Gainesville where Nc
PbcTs8n and Thomas We're marching on con-
TerEiug roads aud the Fiiteeulh CerIfs had 10
lay over aud give Thomas the right Of way.
Early on the 25d the Fourth Division crossed
the Ltawah on a covered bridge. We marched
IN the direction Of NanWert, and reached that
place OF tie 2jth. We were now about is
miles northwest Of Dallas. which was reach
ed and eHcompas@ed. The Fifteenth Corps
WIS the right wing Of Sbermau's army. The
arrangement Of the corps by divisions was as
follows; The Fourth Division on the right,
Second Division in the center and First Di-
vision on the left. IN this position the battle
o. Dallas was fought. the divisions dividing
hou0rs equally. Al enc time Naicott's Brigade
was Outhankcd and the lst Iowa battery lost
lis guns, bGt the infantry charged and retoOk
the battery before the rebels could move il.
Tie night Of the 29th Of May viii long be
remembered by LOgaus Corps. Mcpherson
was en4caTGring 20 execute a move from right
10 center % relieve the Twentieth Corps, but
Johnston anticipated his intentions. and Just
IS The artillery OF the Fourth Division had
rcarhed Dallas, and probably mile from the
WORKS. TIC rebel yell was beard. charge was
made. and the artillery belonging TO the Second
Division, which had held fast in line COM
meuced 70 play, and the infantry took hand.
a negro stampede followed. aud wit b the roar OF
UusEetrv, Tie laundering If the artillery, the
screaming and bursting Of shells aud the rat
ting q camp kettles carried by the frantic ne
RTOes. il appeared to be veritablc pandcmo-
mimi.
We returned 10 orr works and remained for
day or tEG, AID then relieved Hooker 40 New
Hope Church, or near that historic building
and he moved 70 the left 10 execute a brilliant
flank movement in tie direction Of Ackw0rtb.
We marched 20 4rkw0rth and Big Shauty,
fra f4FF a 4Ir.r A
draws and bis men captured 2 locomotive, and
where the 18th and 18th III battalion was
captured by Ereuchs Division, Of Stewards
Corps. We marched down and took position
before Little KcHcsaw. On top Of which tile
rebels had fort with nine guns The bat
teries On tie Inc directly in front sere Baticry
IL q ILL.,; 9Th Wis: Battery 4, lst H. ard tht
Isl iowa. Here j. where we had the finest
artillery prPcticc Of the campaign. Cheney'i
battery expended 1,005 rounds alone Thi:
was tie place where the rebel Gen. Polk wa.
KILLED.
The morning Of June q dawned bright and
clear, and tIat terrible day with its carnage vii
long be remembered. Our division contributed
its quota 10 the casualties, the corps sufferiu,
throughout. Johnston evacuated on July
and we entered Marietta July 4, marched {,
the right. and July 6 found the division a.
Turner'S Perry, near the mouth Of SickaiacE
Greek. We remained here q short timc, her
@ retrggraGe march WAS ordered We retracei
our STEPS % Marietta, thence o. Roswell crossed
tie CEaltaaDDchoe on the 18th Of the month
marched ont, supported Girafd aud assisted
81 destroying the Georgia Railroad urar De
catUT. We marched ia The direction of Atlanta
and On jelly ~ our lines pushed up clos,
70 The rebel position On the left. A section O
Battery a, Isl Iii. Art, was severely punished
by rebel masked battery, aud Cheney's and
Grfin's guns went % the rel .cf 81 Lieut.. Raub
GrllH lost heavily III horses aud men, and her
C0nrade Reed, Of Battery +, lad both leg
torn OF By 2 shell.
The 2lst wss consumed IN feeling for th
rebels charge was made by q division O
the Seventeenth Corps on our left, MATERIAL,
aided By the artillery Of the Fourth Division
Tie charge developed the fact that the febe
works % The other side Of the field were ful
u JohuHics and that they knew how to shoot
The charging division suffered severely, par
tlculaTlg the Iowa Brigade.
July = was memorable day, a dav tina
Will o. q luil page in our couutry's history
day Of daring, heroic fighting, Of valor. q
laurcls won by that grand old Army Of In
Tennessee. Brave men and true who freel
gave their lives for their country, fell by score
and hundreds. Mcpherson died that da,
What a Joss 10 the army aud the Nation. BRAY,
noble, kind hearted Mcpherson. Loved b
al, hated by none.
At aybrcak our skirmish-line ad vanced an
found the rebel intrcuchmeuts eyacuatcd am
deserted. The infantry followed and occupie
the works. The artillery advanced ais,
Battery j, commanded then By Capt. Burton
occupied an elevated piece Of ground, IN Ia
center q which stood q large chestnut tire,
Around this tree the artillery was parkct