The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-18

in Atlanta before night. That was good news,
especially TO soldiers who had been continu-
cusly marching and fighting for 50 consecutive
days. As we understood it, Atlanta was the
objective point, and with its capture we should
get much needed rest
While the conversation between Mcpherson
and Harrow was going on, an occasional shot
could be heard away TO our left rear in the di-
rcction of Stone Mountain. This firing soon
became more distinct. lt was ominous 10 an
educated car. Soldiers looked into each 9th
er's faces TO read their thoughts not daring to
ask, for fear their own convictions would be
confirmed.
Gen Harrow asked Burton to send man
into the tree and with the aid of glass deter
mine.'i possible, the cause of the firing. Pri-
vate Fred Bennett assembled the tree and made
the startling discovery of Hoods advance. He
reported a wdEon-t train moving out rapidly, bo-
yond which was liue of slUrmiShers. Fol
lowing them came three lines of battle, all
headed in our direction. Gen. Mcpherson
waited TO hear no more. He rode in the direc-
tion of the advancing columns. History tells
the rest.
/ formed an opinion on that day, and after a
lapse Of "a years am of the same opinion.
Somebody was terribly mistaken, and had it
not been for the indomitable courage and fight
ing qualities of the Army of the Tennessee,
commanded by that superb leader, Gen. John
n.
that day that did not.
The storm was coming like mighty wave,
ready TO engulf and carry down TO destruction
everything before il.
The Seventeenth Corps was already sorely
pressed from the rear. Dodge was receiving
the onslaught Of Hardee's Corps and hurting
it back broken and disorganized, only TO be re-
formed for another attack. Chcatham was wait
ing patiently to hear the roar of liardee's guns,
! MI "a tn
The al yauce Of Hardccs left came out in full
view of Atlanta, aud oyeTlappcd a little the
front Of tho left wing of the Seventeenth Corps,
which was separated from the right of the Six
teenth Corps by an interval of few hundred
yards Through this gap the Confederates adj
vanced aud made an attack on the rear of the
Fourth Division. To meet this sudden and un-
expected attack Gen. Logan's Chief of Artil-
lery ordered Burton's and Griiiiu's batteries
and other artillery not then engaged TO take n
position in our line Of the day previous, face TO
! the rear and repulse the attack coming in that
direction. Thirty or forty pieces of artillery
were hastily collected and placed in position,
supported by the 4Sth ILL.,, Col. GTeathouse com
handing. They successfully repulscd the
charging columns of Cleburne and saved the
day ou that part of the field. The artillery had
orders 10 take position in the front, which or
dcrs were executed just in time 10 enable that
arm OF the service TO materially aid our in
fantry 10 meet and successfully rcpulse the
charges of Cheatham throughout the remainder
of the afternoon.
One little incident which came under my
personal observation is worthy of record here,
and which shows the demoralizing effect a
wcll-diFccted Ere from artillery has on bodies
/ Of men, no matter how well disciplined. Late
/ in the afternoon n brigade or two of the Seven
\ teenth Corps was occupying the crest of ridge
4 in an open field. The order had been given Ia
I lie down. The stats OF the battle flags had
! been stuck in the ground, and they had come
! 10 stay. The right section. belonging to Dat
terry T. took position 20 the left rear Of tho line
( The ConfcdoTates charged in heavy columns
and with a determination 10 drive that line of
! blue from the ridge. A stubborn resistance
/ was made and every man IN the line was hero.
A heavy GaukiHg column was thrown out with
a view Of turning our left. Lieut.. Whaley met
/ the charge with such "A storm OF shell and case
/ shot that the lines became panic-stricken and
fed in confusion.
The battle ragged until darkness put an end
TO the contest The Sixteenth Corps. on the
left, the Seventeenth, in the center. and the
/ Fifteenth. on the right all did nobly that day.
! While ! do not wish 30 speak disparagingiy ol
any command | am OF the opinion that the
Seventeenth Corps and the Fourth Division,
Fifteenth Corps, did the hardest fighting, and
! will venture this assertion without fear
in the Fourth Division which will claim the
honor Of recapturing DeGrcsss battery. They
had picnic Of their own. and attended TO il.
Thus ended the battle Of the 22d Of July.
We remained occupants Of the battle-ground
until the night Of July p, when we left our
works and Travelled toward the right. The night
! was consumed IN this movement. About o'clock
on the morning Of July p Logan formed his
/ corps in line Of battle and pushed FOR a range
fcfH n mil nil %, F,r.s
trees. The enemy waking up ia the morn.
I ing and finding us gone pushed through At
1 lanta, formed on the East Point Railroad and
I pushed his lines in the direction Of the same
range OF hills. Fortunately we got there first
and then commenced the battle Of Err
I Church.
On account OF the snddenness of the on
slaught. made so by the two contendnR armies
advancing toward each other, il was impossibl,
4 10 bring the artillery into action generally; II
was Greek meet Greek Our lines fortunately
I gained the ridge. which they successfully held
4 throughout tho day, rcpcllng all endeaVors o.
the enemy 10 dislodgc them.
On The morning Of the 2gth Battery pierced
the works Of the 10Th H., and built cmbrasure
TO accommodate the guns. This gave as at
! opportunity 10 witness the dcstructiyeHcss o.
the muskctry fire in the immediate front o
this regiment The underground of pine wai
! completely cut down by musket- balls, aud tn,
/ Confederate dead were piled upon each other
The Fourth Division did its duty in this en-
g8gemeut. From this date commenced tn,
siege, and slow advance vas made by RUNNING
parallels and occupying them. Thus th,
( month Of August wore on and the siege wa
maintained. During this time numerous sortic
were made and sharp diminishing was kept up
On Aug q detail ri 800 men WAS made from
thcdiyisiOu 10 charge the enemy skirmish line
I The charge was 10 be made over An old field /
distance OF over 400 yards. When the signal wa
given the men started on "A run for the rebc
works Private John S. Wilson, Of Co. ID, 26tl
H., stout fellow, out-ran the rest, aud sud
denly found himself alone in front Of rebe
pit filed with IL men and commissioned officer
lie drew Up bis muzketand told them 10 Gght o
run and that pretty quick. All surrendered cx
. cept the officer, who started 10 run and lie sho
him. il Was lauRhable 10 Sec Buck B" as he wa
called. marching back with his IL prisoners
By order 81 Gen. Logan he was allowed &
retain the officers sword and fine Whitne,
rife f1uhd in the pit
About Aug. % VIC left our intrenehed line
after dark and moved 10 the right, going WI
knew not where. The cavalry in the leaf
would light up torch at the fork Of the Y0ads
indicating Ia this way the road We were ex
pected 10 take. In this manner we trampc,
on, glad 10 bg away and out Of reach of tina
troublesome customer, the minic-ball, which
kept up continuous singing at the front
Daylight found the division well out on ih
railroad between East Point aud Montgomery
About 10 O'Clock halt was called, aud la
I destruction Of the road commenced, which wa