The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-26


- 2H'h sur army com
---l mgnrcd q general for
a. ward movement Con.
Joseph Hooker Twentieth Corps moved for
ward in zinc connecting with Gcn Plmors
Tsurfs ,rtf. Germs on thgir right and Gen. New-
ton's Division az the Fourth toTps on their left.
There ras some skirmish'Dg going on duunE
the advance "a the early hours 81 the morning,
but towards midday the enemy had rel red
ont OF ght
The unbraken stiffness " bich followed caused
our army 10 feel their way very antIously; no
fact there Was q general feeling that the enemy
were awaiting our approach ln ambusclde,
And when our army had arrived at Peach
Tree Creek narrow but deep, sluggish stream,
with abrupt banks. clothed wiki an almosl-lm-
passable underground, which would be, without
bridges fatal bar 10 the escape OF a routed
and pursued army, IL became necessary Tor our
nruy 90 halt until bridges could be thrown
HCrUss
Az has since been Rscertained, Gen. Rockers
C0rDs took Up position along the banks OF Peach
Tree Creek IN the following order Gen. A. ;.
Nilliams's First Division on the right, Gen.
GeaTv's Sec0nd Division next ln order ~ the
center. with the Third Division Of Gen. Ward
on the left The positions taken by the three
brigades Of Gen. Geary formed previous to
the crossing OF the creek, a. las been ascer-
tained were as follows: Col. JUnes's Brigade on
the right. Col lrelRnd's Brigade joined Jones's
lcft aud ours, the First Brigade Cot Candy
commanding, the left OF the Second Divisions
line
Preparatory 10 our main line moving for
ward Gtary &C vanced across Peach Tree Greek
90 rec1nu0itCT with small force consisting Of
She 29h Ohio and the 2Sth Pa. OF the First
Brigade, tue $50 n. j., OF the Second Brigade,
and four brass guns OF either the 18Th n. y
battery or perhaps were section OF Battery j.
1st OHIO Art This small force advanced eau
.aHs
oil reaching an eminence some GOO yards in ad-
vance Of our main line, aud which overlooked
RnarruW omen valley 90 t.re front and left, but
on tie right front was heavy timber connecting
with wooded ravines on our right and rear
The opposite ridge was covered with thick
underground Of bushes.
10 WH other Lieut.. Eundv or Capt. DilFer
who brought forward the four guns and placed
Them De- q position covering The valley. The
25th Pa took Up their position on she left Of
the battery, and the 25th Ohio ON the right
with ilie ieti company connecting with the
bRtteTys right.
The S3i n J. as skirmishers deployed and
advanced toward the opposite ridge, with Gen.
Gearg and lis staff following close up 10 their
rear. in the mean time, however. the two reg
imeut6 In reserve hastily constructed light
baIricade Out OF o rail fence and the artillery
officer prepared bis guns for action.
] WISH 10 say right here that the officer who
campaign proved himself 10 be one Of tho most
daring Fighters Ia Shermau's army. In fact
the whole army knew him from the fact OF his
wearing a buckskin suit Of Clothes and par
ticulaTly on account Of lis daring conduct IN
battle. lie was one OF the noblest specimens
Of manhood ever saw. be was moro than
six feel in hight, and physically WIS perfectly
pr0p0riioned. His hair was black aud ne wore
"a ionE His complexion was dark aud eyes
black, whose hory glance was like the eagle,
An, nlc, 70 have known one of the bravest OF
she brave, one must have had the opportunity
OF seeing him 10 battle for il Ia vain 10 try 70
do bim justice In 8 description.
When the SD IN. j. az Bkirmishers had
EeachCd within few yards Of the underbrusb
on the summit 81 the opposite ridge suddenly
d large body ~ 0uicdgIatCs rushed forth from
cover in q charge upon Gcary, aud the Skin.
mishcIs aAG The rebel yCl. rcsuuuded over biil
and valley. bot almost Instantly the gallant
artillery officer opened FIRE with she'll which
o. could De seen, were bursting in rapid sue
GessioH among the advancing COuiederaJos
This firing Nas 80 rapid and 50 Well directed
that iUr a time ii threw The enemy into c0usid,
cradle disorder bat 10 dad not check their Close
and hot pursuit Of Geary and the skirmishers
When dou. 6eary and bis staff bad reached
our position on Che hill. and as their stced,
were leapinE over the barriGsde, Capt. Elliott
tGeary's Ghioi-0I-StaGl fell iron his horse NOR.
tally wounded. GCary shouted "A genera
engagement Hold your ground ] viii briuJ
mp she main line" prolonged cheer RAM
Dut defiance 10 the foe.
What remained Of The skirmighers nov cam,
ln. aud they were closely followed by tht
Fnemy who came on in the attack slih a reck
lessnCss seldom seen on any battlefield.
The artillery nhlcer'e guns, uoW dHube-sh0t
te0 with canister, dsals destruction aud dis
may 10 their ranks, and Notwithstanding thi
hnd Sac Nell-dlreCted FOlleya OF the 25Lh Pa
placed bg fresh batiali0nE who kept coming
but "a ihis defense the men OF y necessity
fought with the FalOT OF desperation. On the
Mll4l COME, dense maE2 Of TeCk less men. III
struggle now tromblcs in the balance. Til
war ui muskctry, the doafoHiHg roar OF th
gums. aud Che defiant shouts OF the c0mbataut
cannot DE Otherwise described than as "A cou
hiCl where neither aide was disposed 10 Civ
place io tho other
ull5u Smoke retAes over tie Geld, 40 Tia
our men WHO were lHhtug iu close pr0E mat
10 the battery were unable 10 see that part ,
Their regiment 20 kept Dlt Of view on thel
right suddenly CTUaa fire Ii received froi
tht reht a number u our meu are eaila
npon ~ take She places Of the dead 90
wounded GrtiiieIymen ~ work tho guns o. th
battery
A lAak Gre from the right rear commence
and two Of the guns are instantly turned /
ceF0r she rcATB HHc al dice OFen hrB Ia Ia
a.
cradle force q the enemy, who had succgcdr
ln ClsalHE iH our rear uualr cover ~ liz Eaut
On 0ul unprotected right
III 60 occurred that the greater portion OF n
2Bth OHIO had discovered this nalk movemeI
soon enough 10 attempt 10 change their lrol
iaciug 20 thc right, but this gallant reg uiei
saw that thlg were about To be cut OF from Il
main body, and were 50 quickly forced 10 n
sire before the superior numbers brougl
against them that those who had bat 4
gently volunteered FROM lie loft cOmpAny
that cUmniaHa 10 work tlle guns OF che baltni
were unable even II they had 80 desired, 70 r
Sire with them.
TIT C0HioderateE without delay, rushed I
fhe ill toward the battery from the directit
ni Gus rlFid rear, as they did also On our frOl
MHd FiFht. Iht feB remaining men were no
boiug SHOT down with Startling rapidity.
mRilors now were tho battery horses We
eiihhf al shot down or maduened ly wounds
without riders, had atRui pedod 60 Tie reaf. Al
there Wa5 no hope Of getting these guns ID Il
Held Ia TACT, our only hnp0 OF saving Tic H.
tofE was 90 bold che guns until the main IN
Should cOmc up Our guns heavily sh0tted va
canister. hiili poured steady Gro into tlIc rcd
ranks Tic enemy became furious. aud r4n
rnshiuf teFard ns regardless 81 the death ID %
Ing discharges that were cutting down The
EmhLs
tbs slate OF affairs caused our men 70 rene
hhuir efforts via o resolve 10 eel their lives