The National tribune., 1893-05-25
AT KEN ESAW.
A saith Ill. Man Tells What He Saw There.

NOTICE in the Issue of March 90 page 2,
4 third column, in the corps history the
-, following: Gen. Davis Immediately COM
menced fortifying his advanced position,
at distance of about rs yards from the
enemy's Notifications" etc.
My regiment Oath Ill., was in the Second
Brigade of Gen. Davis's Division and four
companies, including my own, were deployed
as skirmishers at close distance in two lines in
front of the brigade, in that memorable charge
and not man in Gen. Sherman's army was
engaged in the charge to the right of the First
Corporal of my company.
The Third Brigade commanded by gallant
Gen. Dan McCook, joined the left of our
brigade and reached the enemy's works at a
shorter distance than would have been possible
for our brigade 10 do, owing 10 the conforma-
ton Of the line of the enemy's rhe-pits, which
receded from our front. A number of mon of
the 125th ILL.,, in the Third Brigade. reached
the embankment of the rife pits, and lying
down thrust their guns under the head logs 4"
and fired. friend of mine in that regiment
was one of the number and was hit with a
large stone tossed over the headlogs by one of
the Johnnies who objected TO so unceremo-
nious cali.
The Third Brigade fell back only so far as
was absolutely necessary to give a little pro-
lection under the brow of hill, and there be-
gan Certifying and made frst-rate line of
at the nearest point, and afterwards con-
structed another line just 90 PAGES from the
enemy's works.
A few years ago there was an article pub
lished in the Century Magazine, from Gen. w. T.
Sherman. in relation TO the charge in which
he stated that the Second Division, Fourteenth
Corps. had fortified its position at one point
within 70 yards Of the enemys works. Gen.
Joseph Il. Johnston, think in the same ISSUE
very seriously questioned the correctness of
the statement Now, know my statement Of
the distance between the two lines of rife pits
is absolutely correct. | stepped the distances
carefully on the morning after the enemy
evacuated our front, and the measurements
were taken from one head-log to the other
My letter written home few days afterward
is at hand, and does not leave me to the uncer
tanty of the memory.
! notice in the same clause from which / have
quoted in the beginning, the following: about
midnight on the Goth the enemy attacked Gen.
Davis. overwhelming his skirmishers and driv-
ing them back, when they rallied and drove
the enemy again to their works"
The facts are that detail of about 20 men
from my regiment, under command of Capt.
David Cleveland. Of Co. b, if | remember cor
rectly, were sent ont to construct short de.
tached line of rifle pits to the right and slightly
in advance of our establ ished line.
The detail had stacked arms about 200 feet
to the rear of the point where the work was
being done, with only two or three mon with
guns as pickets slightly in front of the work
ing party. The enemy sent out a party of
perhaps dozen or 20 men, who cautiously crept
up as closely as possible and opened fire. The
boys ran for their guns and returned the fire,
and the enemy withdrew. Only one man in
our party was wounded, slightly.
Our men remained on the ground, and as
soon as they could control their laughter at the
1ta,tl g Al
their hasty flight resumed work. / was with
the party. but being sick was excused and had
got about 20 rods away when the firing took
place, though | returned to ascertain results
e. NJ. PAYNE First Sergeant, Co. A. Saith H.,
Morrison, III.