The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-29
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
Part Taken by the s1st Ohio at Resaca and
Laws Ferry.

Campaign ana am very muCn interested
In his paper OF Oct. %, he says. in speaking
of the Fourteenth Corps on the 9th OF May
From this command, the Goth Ill. kept
working forward by the side of the danger
Gus gap"
This is a m stake for on that morning our
brigade (Second Brigade, Second Division
Sixteenth CORPSE had the advance from
Snake Greek Gap to Resaca; the 9th Ill.
Mid Inf in advance, the Goth H., armed
with Henry rifles supporting them, closely
followed by the S1st OHIO.
We advanced TO the crest of the ridge near
Resaca, our skirmishers going down to the
creek. We iay there till dark, then with
drew TO the mouth of the Gap. While on the
hills near Resaca the guns at the fort threw
many shells at US, and we could see the
trains coming from Dalton loaded with SOL
dieIs, who, as soon as the traiV stop ed
would start at the dOuble-quick for then
line near the creek.
We all wondered why we were not or
dered to assault The fort before it was rein
forced. 1t was explained by Maj. Chamber
lain that IN marching out fIom Snake Creek
Gap to Resaca we bad crossed road that
leads from Rome to Dalton. 1t Was good,
plain road with no Instructions, and as it
came from Dalton on the east side of those
impossible mountains, behind which was
| the remainder OF Gen. Shermans army, 1t
was, of course much shorter than one would
be from Sherman to Mcpherson. Itssaso
ran between McPherson's position at Resaca
and Snake Creek Gap. Just as Gen. McPher-
son was about to order the assault, he
learned that a heavy force of rebels were
marching down this road TO cut him off
from Snake Creek Gap. With this knOwl-
edge he determined to fall back to the
strong delensble position at the Gap.
In our advance from the Gap to Resaca
our front was covered by the 9th Ill. Mid
Inf, armed with Spencers, under Lieut.
Col. J. j. Phillips We had gone but a
short distance when the rebels charged upon
our advance, and Lieut.-Col Phillips was
severely wounded.
Gen. Howard, in speaking of the battle of
Resaca, says: "Onr fighting was indeed
severe, and now we learn that the whole of
1t, except the small combat at Lays Ferry,
was very little effective toward the result
which our commander had in view"
On the 18th our brigade was on the ex-
IRENE right, near the river. On the 14th,
during the fight we Withdrew and marched
to Snake Greek, near Lay Ferry, and found
pOntoOns set up in a field with the 7th
Iowa waiting to carry them to the river.
| now quote from Maj. Chamberlain's
"S1st Ohio Inf Vols.": at was then de-
termined to send the s1st Ohio and 18th I'll.
down the bank of the Oostenaula to rein
force the skirmishers (66th ILL., J, and under
cover of a vigorous musketry fire from these
two regiments the boats were to be rapidly
launched.
As the rebels saw these regiments APP
preaching they redoubled their fire, and
as there was wide, open field TO cross be-
fore reaching the river bank, the troops were
ordered 10 ford doube-quick. With a yell
that would have done credit to a whole
tribe of Comanches, the Slst Ohio and the
18th Ill. rushed across the field and dropped
behind the fence and bushes on the river
bank. While close and deaiening fire was
in progress our boats were safely launched.
1t was the original plan to send across |
the 66th H., and support them with other |
troops. AS they had already been heavily |
engaged, and bad spent much of their am
muuition, the order had to he changed
One company of the 66th III. Capt Hays, |
Co. l. and two companies of the S1st Ohio B |
and c, Lieut.. Dixon aud Capt. Chamberlain |
(all under command of Capt. Chamberlain |
were ordered 10 embark. They were ordered |
to cross, and had barely reached the river |
when an Aid came riding up at full speed, |
shouting Haiti Haiti The hindmost two |
heard the order and stopped. The front one
did not but pushed rapidly across. Col. |
Adams quickly ordered the two boats to
follow, and following these came the fourth |
and fifth boats. The rebels opened fire
upon the boats, killing and wOundiDg many
Landing they deplOyed, and with yell
charged up the bank and scattered the as
tonished rebels. Reinforcements were
quickly sent acrOss-COs. A. f, and II,
elst Ohio, two companies Goth Ill. and one
company 10Th Ill. At sunset they were
ordered to withdraw"
Gen. Mcpherson had received information
that large force OF rebels were crossing at
Calhoun Ferry, between us and the main
army, for the evident purpose of cutting off
Gen. SweeDy's Division. He immed ately
d dispatched courier 10 Gen Sweeny to de-
lay the cross ny. The courier arrived too
late for the first boat. The remaining boats
crossed merely to save the crew of the first
one.
The rumor about the rebels crossing
proved false, but it was not ascertained in
time to lay the pODtoons that night, and
hence the troops were Withdrawn. The
next morning ti5ib) the pontoons were
placed at Lays Ferry, and our division
At p. m. Jackson's (rebel Rr-
gade charged our line, but was repulsed.
The 9TH Iowa lost quite number of men i'm
this charge. On the 18th we moved out to
Rome Crossroads, and had severe fight
with Cleburnes and Walkers Divisions of
rebels. Col. p. J. Burke, 66th Ill.,, COM
our Second Brigade, was severely
wounded here, and died two days afterward
at Chattanooga.
In both movements, on Resaca and at
Lays Ferry, on account Of rumors of large
forces getting between us and the main
army, Mcpherson had hesitated until too
late to be Of any use. This was early in
the campaign. Afterward he became more
bold In all his movements, and at Atlanta,
July %, almost suffered defeat from taking
too great a risk. His death was a hard blow
upon the Army Of the Tennessee have
never met person OF that army but that
loved MCPHERSON HIGH PRIVATE" Co.
!, slst Ohio, Box 956 Emporia Kan.
ONE ON TIL E 9th N. Y. CAV.