The National tribune., 1893-02-23
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l. MAP.
at the comparatively safe distance of over half
a mile from the most advanced of the enemy.
l suppose his WAS the battery back of the
cornfield that fired over US as we advanced
through 1t. crossed the creek, and climbed the
hill on the south side. The battery ceased
firing as we gained the top The Johnnes
falling back at the same time, we at once set
about reversing their rife pits aud specializing
about the chances of taking Atlanta that day.
While thus employed they came back on the
charge that resulted so disastrousy to them
along the whole line, especially to the right
of US, where our men were in force, and had
partly constructed breastworks.
Any ono with one eye and half sense could
see that our position was one Of extreme
danger, isolated as we were in An interval be-
tween our corps and the Twenty third, with no
troops in support. even back of the creek. As
the enemy came on through the timber, our
men began falling back, thinking it was bnt
their skirrnish-line trying to recover their
position.
Lieut.. August Hirsb. Mike Callahan and the
writer did not run until convinced that it was
death or capture to stay, as they were coming
in heavy line of battle, while we had but a
skirmish-line. The hill back to the creek was
very brushy. 1t was get there and across the
best way you could. AS we came to the creek
largo man of Co. jumped in and waded
across Seeing that the water came nearly to
his arm. pits turned to get back up the bank.
The creek had been very high, and falling re-
Gently had left the banks very slippery. H.
stead of going up tho bank, my feet slipped and
i slid into the water, scrambled out up the
bank and ran up stream to a drift, where most
of the men had crossed thus getting behind
everybody but one man, Mike Callahan, who
was captured.
This place of crossing was little below the
r0rufipld " 70 oil nd pa 6raa "
to the creek on the north, and was more slop-
ing than the south side and less brushy.
At the top there was a ravine running down
to the bottom land. The cornGeld was in this,
forming ridge next to the creek. As ! ran
up the slope bullets knocked the dust all
around, as the rebels had fair view of me for
about 100 yards distance.
As got over the crest Maj. Hammond, of our
regiment, who was in command was there,
forming the line again under shelter of the
ridge, and said to me: King, you good
man! Go back to that rife pit and see if they
try to cross"
The pit was rod or so back down the hill.
said: q will if ! can get drink Of water"
Someone handed me a canteen. and | took
drink and went back; Matt Boots, of Co. d,
who had Spencer rife. also going. AS we did
80 many of the enemy were then in sight, about
80 yards distant.
AS we commenced firing they got under
cover for a few minutes, and then came out to
cross Col. Blanche, with his regiment and
some of ours, came up to the ravine from tho
cornfield, forming on our left. Our position
there was all we could ask. Bullets flew thick
and fast from both sides. until they gave up
the attempt to cross and went back into the
woods, the charge having failed in its object to
pierce our lines, which would not have been
the case if we had made the grand stampede"
as stated by Dolton. If the main attack had
f. tIn;- r;,Lx
gone through the wide gap between the Fourth
and Twenty-third Corps like knife. Two
small regiments Battery NJ Gen. Thomas and
all creation would not have stopped them until
there had been as hard battle, with as much
loss on our side, Us there was two days later,
when Hood tried the same plan with better
success on Mcpherson. As ii was, tho recollec-
ton of the 100 rounds fred-and many moro
of my comrades did the same that day--leads
me to believe that we were no more stampeders
than was Gen. Thomas.
Some people who never got very far to the
front, and saw other troops come back over the
ground where no order could be- kept, are liable
to be unjustly critical but it was not the case
that day with Gen. Thomas When Gen. New
ton told him he thought we were captured, he
said: 20, no! have them fighting in splendid
style over there" Such at least is what we
are told he said, but did not hear him say it,
as cannot locate his whereabouts that day.
AS Comrade BOLTON desires.-whO1 am afraid
is too apt to toot his bugle, disparaging others,
which is the case in his letter referred to and
one published some time ago. where he spoke
of the retreat of the right wing of our army at
Chickamauga,-I tell him what troops he refers
to- ct,as
When men do as hard fighting as Woods and
Sheridan's Divisions did there, suffering the
loss they did and ihficting still greater OIL the
enemy, and having to retire before largely
superior force for lack of proper directions
from Generals who failed to do their duty, they
are not deserving of censure from any one of
the Reserve Corps. who simply took part in the
tail-end of the fight
am tired of hearing Of inglorous retreats
and grand stampedes when there was none.
1t gives our children wrong impression. Our
former enemies aud their present allies do
| enough of that without aid from any comrade.
Henry c. KING, Co. II. Tooth H., Farming
| ton, N. M.