The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-18
PEACH-TREE CREEK.
The Part Taken by ex-President Harrison;
Brigade i'll that Battle.


r HAVE been a subscriber to THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE for many years. and one of the
first things that attracts my vision is the
Picket Shots and Fighting Them Over
columns l have been particularly interested
in the different articles on the battle of Peach
Tree Creek that have appeared in the past few
months, from COmrade Clark, of Geary's Di-
vision, down to the last comrade who told his
part in that bloody conflict. l have noticed
that as far as l know, the accounts have been
uniformly exact as to details. Comrade Clark
says be was captured in the rush of Hoods
men over our lines which ended his part in
that battle But he promised to give his ex-
perenCe in testing Southern hospitality, a
promise / wish 10 remind him of at this time.
Ny story will in nowse conflict with any of
the accounts yet written, because none have
written from the Immediate part of the field
where we fought. Our Division (the Third of
the Twentieth Corps left the nights of the
Chattahoochie (where we had lain since the
9TH on the evening of July H. 1864. We
east and then south, and crossed on pontoons
at place known as Paice's Ferry, and marched
three miles eastward from the river and camped
on high, stony ridge. On the 18th we moved,
late in the day, two or three miles southwark,
keeping in compact order and ready for bust
ness We were aroused on the morning of the
18th and went TO work fortifying in our front.
As we left our new works on the morning of
July 90, 1864. some of the boys claimed TO be
able to smell fight and before the setting of
the sun many Of them had good reason to feel
thus The day was very warm. We were to
cross Peach Tree Creek and occupy range of
hills south of the stream. As we drew near
the valley of the creek occasional firing was
heard on the other side. The creek was
not very wide, but deep and sluggish. We
crossed and halted for time in cornfeld on
the bottom. awaiting assignment, and while
II / IL 4
seemed to come down the short way, we were
also compelled to dodge rebel bullets that came
spitefully through the corn. When we did
move we went west down the creek by the
right flank.
By this time firing had become quite brisk
in front. Our regiment was Oh the right of
the division We went until our right could
by moving by tho left flank or front join Gen.
Geary's Second Division, and there we rested
and waited.
DEVILS lane full of blackberry bushes was
between US and the foot OF a steep hill, which
we had to climb much sooner than we had
thought of. There some annoying picket
firing, and Knapps battery was seat TO the top
of the hill in front of US, where they succeeded
by several wel-directed shells in setting Oh
fire a large cottOD-gin where q score or more Of
rebel shaFpshoOteTs were concealed, our boys
peppering il to them as they ran away from the
burning building Then all was quiet-a calm
in fact-until about o'clock, or near that time
when all at once, bang bang bang, went the
muskets Of the skirmishers, and then Gen.
Geary's Division. which we were TO join rs soon
as we moved forward, commenced firing over
the works they had erected on the hill to the
right of our front. Kuapp's battery also
opened up with much noise aud smoke.
Our brigade was the First of the Third Divis-
ion, and was commanded by Gen. Ben Harri-
son, and we were ordered to move TO the top of
I.,l& 81 l., IL
tangled brisrs / know not how, but up the hill
we moved then il seemed Bedlam had been
let loose. The left Of our brigade-the 10th
Ohio and the 10th Ill.-were at work, and
Knapp's battery boys we're motioning US TO
hasten to their relief, the enemy being close in
front of them. The hill or ridge soped to the
left so the left of our line became engaged be-
fore we were in sight of the enemy. As we
came to the top and passed in among the can
non we saw the slope over across the hollow
alive with the gray devils. They were in three
lines. and were coming "by right Of COM
panics TO the 'front.'" which movement any old
soldier will understand. Their arms glittered
in the sunlight and their flags were all to the
breeze.
There were 225 seven-shooting Spencer riqes
in our brigade, six companies being armed with
them, and the advancing enemy were treated
TO blaze of fire IN their front not seen every
day. The guns Of Knapp's battery were being
worked with savage energy and were throwing
double charges of canister into the enemy's
ranks at short range On they came, but the
rebel column split in our front; those who
drfted to the left went down to the line on our
left, and we saw them and the left of our bril-
gade run together, towards which point we saw
Gen. Harrison ride, followed by an Orderly or
two.
We were then directed to turn our fire in
that direction. which We did, as well as the
t.4f A ff,ro To- r..
hot work the enemy began to give way, and
then We saw our line follow them up the hill.
All the time we kept up continuous fire at
their retreating column. After getting to the
crest of the hill severe fight, lasting a few
minutes took place, ending in the defeat of the
enemy, and the battle was about over.
Severe and heavy fighting took place far to
our right and left, as has been described before
in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE. Our brigade
took in three stands of colors and many prison.
ers, and their dead lay thickly strewn on the
hillside in front Of our brigade.
Just before dark Gen. Hooker came along
and stopped to thank Col. Harrison and the
brigade for the work done that afternoon and
TO promise Col. Harrison promotion, which
soon came in the shape of we'll IN erited star
We all know now what the plans of the rebel
Gen. Hood were. The old rebel had Just been
appointed to command over Joe Johnston,
whom he begged to stay and issue orders for
(Hood'sl name But Johnston skipped for
Macon by first train. Hood gave orders to
sweep down Peach Tree Creek to the river aud
"clean up" everything in sight. He expected
to catch us in the pocket" cul.de-sac" he
calls Informed by the creek where it empties
into the river and the old rebel thought his
plan only failed because he ordered the attack
at 8 a. m, when IL was not made until $3.50
D. M We walked into his cul-de-sac" and
staid, but il looked for short time as though
we might all go where ComTade Clark says he
went.
We lay on the field all night, being occasion
ally reused up by a false alarm. The next day,
the 2lst was spent in burying the dead, and
on the 22d we again advanced towards Atlanta,
and just at noon we heard far TO our left the
sounds of the great battle where brave John A.
Logan covered himself with glory and McPher-
| son lost his life.
In the fight of the Goth, the 10th Ind. and
105th Ill., of our brigade, were at first held in
reserve. but when the pressure was the worst
in front of the left OF our brigade 1.-THE 18th and
! l29thl they were moved to that point, and
| helped drive back the almost victorious enemy
C 81. CASTLE, Corporal, Co. D. l02d ILL.,,
| Clarinda, Iowa.
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