The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-06
FIGHTING THEM OVER
That0ur Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
KENESAw MOUNTAIN.
Thc Great Charge on June q, 1854.


him. or rather some OF has statements
1 discover by reference TO my diary Of that
date that lhc regiment 20 which belonged at
was nos tAc l25th Ohio. with which on that
date ] was present. made a charge on the rebel
works. losing In commissioned officers alone n
Lieutenant Colonel mOrtally wounded aud n
prisoner two Captains killed aud two mortally
wounded, an Adjuiaut seriously wounded SO
i think / may fairly claim 10 have some
personal knowledge OF small section OF that
battlefield.
The attack on June o was the result Of the
continuous movement Of the army towards its
right which had been in progress for about
three weeks and which il was hoped by Gen.
Sherman had so attenuatcd the enemys lines
20 keep pace with the movement, that an
attack al several different points might be sue
ccssful az one or more OF them.
Accordingly. Gen. George II. Thomas was
ordered 10 attack at two points ms front
with the Army Of the Cumberland. and Gen,
James T. Mel hersOn at the same time on the
front of the Army Of the Tennessee, aud he
would make strong efforts to reach the top Of
the mountain with "A skirmish line.
Gen. John NJ. Schoiieid, with the Army Of
the Ohio, was directed 10 make heavy demon
stratiou on the extreme right. and it may be
here remarked was very successful in gaining
ground on the rebel lett flank aud reaching the
road from Marietta 10 Saadtown, on the Chat
tahoochee River Gen. Sherman's preference
had been IN favor OF an extended movement
on tins flank. cutting loose from the railroad,
but the condition OF the roads following the
constant rains Of almost the entire month pre-
vented. leaving no alternative but that OF a
d rect attack II any movement was made.
Gen. Morgan /. Smiths Division, comprising
two hriEades, under Gems Giles A. Smith and
Jightburn, together with Gen. c. c. Wacutt's
Brigade. OF Gen. Vim. HarTOw's Division, all Of
tie Fifteenth Corps, formed the attacking col
umn for Gen. Mcpherson.
Gen. John NeWt0n's Division, Of the Fourth
Corps. and Gen. jeff c. Davis's Division, OF the
Fourteenth Corps were 10 attack in froat Of
The Fourth Corps for Gen. Thomas
NeWian's Division was arranged with Hsr-
ker's tIhIral aud NagneT's tSecond) BrigAdes
IL front each in column of regiments, ia close
column by division closed IN mass on first
division, Kimbalrs First Brigade being in
reserve.
Now, don't all jump on me If have not got
that formation exactly right, as IL is p years
since have seen a dnllground.
Wagner and Harker about 100 yards
apart and were, at concerted signal. 10 adj
vance simultaneously with Davis's Division,
Of the Fourteenth Corps. whose formation was
similar 70 that Of Newton, with the brigades
OF McCo0k aud MITCHELL in advance and Nor.
Eans ia reserve. advancing from the front Of
Nhitaker's Brigade. Of Sianley's Division. OF
the Fourth Corps. while Newton's advance was
from lie 'front.' OF Stanley extreme left and but
BfeB rods from the position previously occupied
By Kimtaii's Brigade.
The movement, which was ordered for a.
NJ. began nearly on time after heavy cannon
Eciug Of considerable duration along our v hole
line. Ia 'front.' Of Davis il resulted in taking a
position very close 10 the rebel works. holding
and furtilying il az a terrible sacrifice OF life.
Wagner and HaTker charged at the same time.
the bead VI Maguer's column, which ] think
was The 39lh Ind, reaching point within 20
feet 81 tie Tebe! works and directly in front Of
emDrasurts from which two pieces OF artillery
were pouring forth canister, reinforced by
musketry rom the front right, aud le.t The
result Of HarkgT's attack has been told by
Capt Rice. aud all that need be said here Is that
IL was a i4iiute.
As sool. as this attack failed q speak pariicu-
larry Of NagHeF's), kimbaiFs Brigade which
Wa yet Inside OF our works was moved out in
front and under cover Of The brush was formed
for : charge.
Al the command they moved forward with a
cheer, On The double quick, with the 74th III.
81 advance. moving over the bodies % the
Secoud Brigade. but getting little il any nearer
tie rebel works than they. Then lying down
IoT perhaps I've minutes, perhaps half an hour.
VINO can ieiIg
Finally. the order to "fall back " was given.
Eauy Of those who rose and turned 10 retreat
&C 30 Only 10 BE- shot down. the rebels swarm
Ing Oh the top Of their works IN their eager
Ness 20 kiIi the Yankees. A number who were
30 close np iilat they dared not attempt 70 re-
teat lsoiue being wouuded). On the call OF the
Tcbels gat mp and surrendered.
soon GA the left the dried leaves and grass
having caught Gre. the flames crent dangerously
near tie helpless wounded. causing them 10
cry Tor help. On bearing this the rebels called
Out, fEnss! come aud get your wounded !:
they are burning mp" Under the direction Of
Aaj 6abiH44th ll. commanding our skifnish-
line, while OT the rebel side Georgia Ifeuteu-
Gnt-CoiCHel oOnImaudedJ J, cur stretcheT-bearers,
who were close by. came on the field and for
tbe time being those who but few moments
before geTc eager % take one another's lives
NrTe engaged IN friendly efforts 10 succor the
Esipiezs and dying.
smitL's Division. IN front Of the Fifteenth
Corps aHa mile 70 the left Of Newton, carried
TIE eBemys sklrmish PTS, which we're adj
N&nced some GO yards. passed over them. and
Closed ~ on the main rebel line which they
faiieo u carry, Col. BarubIll Goth H., being
killed within 20 feet OF them The division
was finally Withdrawn % the rife-piis they had
captured, reversing and holding them the
EkIrmIsh-lIue, which was 70 reach the top Of the
mountain, reached only the rebel skirmish- line.
j hus thc attack Tor which much was hoped re-
suited in complete failure, for the little ground
gained aud held In no measure compensated
for the Joss - life and limbs which were in
yOlved. Z wIll give two dispatches from Gen.
Thomas 10 Gen. Sherman:
JUEE 2, Io.l5AM.
Bal Cen. EHEsnstE: Y0urs received Uar.
kefs BRIGADE advanced 90 within ~ PAGES Of lie
enemy ireazi ssor1s hId WAS replissd ,sItI, ,aI,
lister - siosl range Gen. Harker losing an arr,
Gen &agnrfs brigade, 81 Newton'r Division sun.
porting brli ttsTzcr wac severely handled That
- is compelled y Teorg4IIlze. Col. Miiohclrs Ri.
Fhpe ~ l'aFlrr Division captured line ~ cie
bTeastyotkr, which they siiII hold McCsook'- nj.
Rade wa al-g severely handled nearly every Colo.
ne berg .l.eo wounded. n u compelled a. faI
back and reofgaulze. The troops are all too fpuf.l
exhausted - advance, bul bold all that we have
gained Gro -. THoMAs
Maj. Gen. u. s. Il.
AQaiH in reply 10 Gen. Sherman's note Of
=. 10. Of tie 9th. asking what he thinks Of Z
flank movement 20 the right, which Gen. scho
fed bad that day opened the way for, Gen
Thomas writes:
JUEE q.
GfN. ~HIUMhE: What force do YOU tbirk q,
moving UstAE u with the greater part Of tb,
army. q .h.aE il drc.dedIy better than BsttiTf
against bless works ~ feet tlic. aud strongly aba
Used. Gro. ~. THon 49,
Aqj-Ceh. L s. Il.
] quote these two dispatches, first. As tba
81 1913 seems 10 ind cate that more troop
than Harzcrs Brigade were engaged In the a.
eault. second, rs evidence that the assault
was over Sad the troops engaged in part with
drawn in IhoDas's font AZ lO.l5 a. m. and
third a. indicating the light in which Gen
Thomas regarded the movement
Van Horne. in his History Of the Army O
the Cumberland" states the loss in Davis's aBt
AeWt0n's Divisions about equally divided 4
have beeu $50 ia killed, wounded and miss
ing.