The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-05-09
THE CAMP FIRE.
The Battle OF Penchtrcc Creek-Hu-
manity In war--Weti scattered
rensi ons Guns Made 10 Fire
Under Water--ttc., Etc.

Speaking of Peachirse creek II was
one of the gems OF battle between Re-
SAGA and Atlanta. and was really mete-
oric. lasting only few hours OF an
afternoon on July 20. 1864. Hood
was I'm command of the confederatcs,
and he had undoubtedly made up his
mind TO make n savage attempt upon
the center of Sherman's magnificent
line and cut ~ In two. and demoralize
things generally. Newton's line was
weak. and Hood came down tremend-
ously upon IL and an almost hand-to-
hand fight ensued. For an hour the
blue and the gray were pretty we'll
mixed. and bayoneting and clubbing
with the butts OF muskets among the
soldiers and the use OF pistols and
swords among the officers were not In
frequent i never heard or saw such
rain OF canister and grape for 40 or
80 minutes; and the rebel yell" above
IL all made things hum. Gen. John
III. King. who commanded the regu-
lars. was hurried up and placed In re-
serve In beautiful piece OF woods,
and Prussian artilleryman. whom
we called Leather Breeches." Sc
cured small elevation near by
with his six guns, and ever
lastine.y poured shell and canister
into the advancing enemy.
Once rebel regiment OF infantry
divided itself by three In attempting
TO take this battery. Not far OF "A
Michigan battery joins in the diapa-
son and sends hundreds OF impetuous
Southerners To that undiscovered
country Every human being under
Hooker is at work, and Newton. But
terrified. Geary and Sweeney are light
ing like devils. Yankee as well as
rebel yells mingle with the voclfera-
tions OF she'll and shrapnel. and the
tops and branches OF trees are falling
as II lightning had struck them In
hundreds OF places.
There's old Pap Thomas. like "A
fool. y exclaims King, "still mounted3'
and then King and Fetterman and
Mulligan go and forclbly take Thomas
of his horse and stand him behind a
tree. Hooker Is In front mounted.
lighting his cid corps for all there is
in IL. All the reserves are behind
trees or down on their bellies, ind
shot, she'll. grape. bullet and CAMS
ter make music In their midst.
Talk about sour symphonies. IL
was carnival OF tones that could
have been heard thirty miles. and II
was kept up until dark. when firing
ceased and King was ordered TO close
up an ugly gap that had
been made In Newton's division.
Hooker covered himself with smoke
and glory. and went right into the
jaw OF the battle and staid there until
he whipped the enemy out OF sight
and he slept that night with Gead and
dying. collapsed caissons and gun
carriers, and wounded horses all
around. / saw him ut daylight the
next morning. and he looked as
though he had been dragged through
a stubble-fleld.
Where are they?" 1 asked.
"A good many Of them are in hell, "
he replied. but the most OF them are
In Atlanta.
He was right regarding the latter,
for we soon had orders TO march. and
we never heard a bullet or shell until
the whole army had moved in line OF
battle up 10 within two miles OF the
fortified city. Then they checked us
with their demoralizing aerial mes.
sengers OF hate. and we went into
camp and staid there until the veto.
ries at and near Jonesborough. August
81. which gave ms Atlanta the day fol
lowing. | did not hear the rebel
bands play Dixie again until late
In November. Ben G.. Truman, In
Toledo Blade.
Humanity In War.