The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-02
JONESBORO, GA.
An Ohio Surgeons Account of the Charge.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: l have read
what has been said by several comrades who
have attempted to explain the charge at Jones'
bOro, Ga, at the close of the Atlanta campaign,
and there seems to have been as many and rs
diverse opinions as there writers on this
subject; the first of whom was Geo. A. Brown,
of the 3Sth Ohio which rather tends to mis-
lead the reader and makes the charge very
small affair, where he says, Answering rs to
| what Ohio regiments charged the rebel breast
works Mt Joncsboro. Ga, after the 18th Regulars
had driven in their pickets or skirmishers" he
says, {" the 3Sth Ohio and 7Ith Ind. formed the
storming column, supported by the 18th and
3lst Ohio"
As he mentions only tho four regiments, one
who was not there would look upon fight with
only two regiments engaged and two in reserve
rs a small affair. The fact is the whole brigade
was in the charge, which was composed of the
18th and 3Sth Ohio 10th Ky. aud 71th Ind,
and instead of the 10th u. s. Inf having driven
in the rebel skirmishers, what was called the
Regular Brigade, composed of four regiments
of u. s. infantry (of which the 10th was one)
had assaulted these works and had twice been
driven back with heavy loss. These works
were formed of two lines Of earthwOrks, the
rear limo running off from the front at an
acute angle, and wero very strong, and they
lay in the edge of Il thick wood and under
brush. When our brigade came upon the ground
bhcJ lolihNu 5i lIliS VI DdJllcf IAGu bdg buclSi
and Mt tho command they rushed upon these
works and captured both lines, with 426 pris-
oners.
The charge was made in the face Of a wither-
ing fire of musketry, grape and canister, and
some of the best officers and men OF the brigade
were killed and severely wounded Our losses
were heavy The 3Sth Ohio lost Col Choate
and Isl officers and men. The 14th Ohio lost
Maj. John W.Wilson. in command, shot through
the knee. and subsequently died in Atlanta aud
also Sc officers and men, Is of whom were killed
Several OF the officers and men killed and
wounded that day had served their full time,
but being unable to get home, went into the
fight and were either killed or wounded !;
among whom was the gallant Capt. Ogan, of
Co. X OF tho 14th Ohio, who commanded his
company, and lost an arm near the shoulder.
Gen. Baird issued congratulatOry order,
No. Is, after that battle, in which he commended
the brigade for the gallant charge, which was
rs follows:
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION,
FOURTEENTH CoRrs,
JoSEsBoRo, GA, Sept. 3. 1864.
General Order No Is.
SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD DIVISION: You havo
again covered yourselves with glory. IL was not
necessary for tho heroes Of ChiOlamauga and OF
Mission Ridge 20 do more TO illustrate the vaor of
the American soldier.
You have gone through this long and arduous
campaign, enduring ali its hRrdships and fRiigues
The work which you have been called upon TO
perform has been perfectly accomplished, and your
losses In daily and nightly conflicts with the enemy
have cquRcd the casualties of great battle. Al
ways to the enemy, he has not dared 20 attack
| your lines and nj the end OF the campaign you
might have gone To your homes with proud salts
| faction, although not privileged to take part In
any of its more brilliant events.
The opinion had however. grown prevalent that
intrcnchments wen defended. either by the enemy
or ourselves, could not be carried by assault and II
was reserved for the gallant Third Brigade of our
division In front OF Joncsboro to dspTovo this, aud
| in doing give the ushtuy stroke To the Atlanta
| campaign. Eleven hundred men of the 74th Ind,
10Th Ky, 18th Ohio and SSH Ohio regiments, you
assaulted works OF exrencly difficult approach de-
| Tended by the boosted fighting troops OF the rebel
| army, and under mETderous Gre Of canister and
muskeiry you carried them with the bayonct, tax
| ing half rs many prisoners ms your own number.
The losses you sustained Zone out Of every three
engaged being struck show how desperate was
| the struggle and how magnificent your success
Comrades congratulate you and am proud to
be your commander. SO long glory is priced
or bravery bonorcd among men, IL will be the
bonst OF your descendants that you belonged TO
this army.
BY command Of Brig Gen BAIRD.
Official; GEORGE i. ESTE, Colonel, commanding
Third Brigade.
Ny object in writing this was to correct what
| seemed 10 me great error as il would appear
from the article that the closing scene in the cap
tnre Of Atlanta for which Shcrman's army had
been fighting for for 100 days, was finally closed
by an assault by two regiments, supported by
two others, after fifth had driven In tho siir
mish- limo OF the enemy. 1t seemed like be-
Hitting the great campaign where some Of the
greatest battles of the war had been fought aud
tho whole closed up by the assault Of two rcgi-
ments.
Other troops took part in this charge on our
right and left, but of those have no knowledge.
only as their wounded were brought TO my de-
pot in the rear for care. ] had the care Of the
Colonel Of the 18th NJ Y, shot through the abb
domcn, a fatal wound lie begged Of mo to
] ryfv T. r
course / could not think Of doing. Ho died
some time during the day. in great pain / also
found some of the 33d ~ J. badly wounded
GEORGE L. SLoAT, NJ. d., Surgeon, 14th Ohio,
Washington, ID. G..