The National tribune., 1894-06-21

From this time ON the wounding and
killing on the picket-lines was not so
frequent as before; in fact, it almost
ceased. Early on the morning of the
20th of October, about daybreak, very
foggy morning, being in command of
the pickets that night, / heard clatter
of horses approaching along the road.
We were cooking coffee at the time, and
as the horsemen approached, to our sur
prise, it
PROVED TO BE GEN. RosECRANs,
or Old Rosey," as we used to call him.
He asked what command we belonged
to, remarking at the same time, Cook
ing coffee, are you?" We at once in
vited him and staff to dismount and take
break fast with us, such as we had. He
accepted our invitation, and we were
very proud to be thus honored with the
General and staff. But when we found
he was on his way to Bridgeport to leave
us, having been relieved of the command
of the army, we were much grieved, as
We thought there was no one like "Old
Rosey."
The General was also downcast, and
he soon left. bidding us good-by. |
never saw him again until our Reunion
of the Army of the Cumberland in
Washington, September, 1887, and as |
approached the General, after a lapse
OF "A years, l asked him if he remem-
bered where we had last met, and, to
my surprise, be referred to the breakfast
he took with us at our picket-post at
Browns Ferry in 1868, and he insisted
on a return Of the compliment with a
special breakfast at Willard's Hotel
But returning to my story. About
8 O'Clock a. NJ, Oct 27, Gen. Hazen,
with l 300 selected men from his own
and our (Turchin's) brigade, concen-
trated above our camp on the bank Of
the Tennessee River, got into fatboats
and quietly foated across the river OPP
posite our camp at Browns Ferry, sur
prised and drove away the rebel picket
post stationed at the river.
The empty flats were at once taken
by the Engineer Corps, and with the
help of detail from our brigade soon
had pontoon bridge thrown across the
stream. Over this the rest of the COM
mand came double-quick, and the whole
division moved forward. We were soon
engaged with the rebel troops and sharp
shooters stationed at this point.
The fight lasted a few hours, and at
last we drove them
IN GREAT CONFUSION
from the field into Lookout Valley, and
the road and river to Bridgeport was
open and full rations in sight.
Next day, Oct. 26, the Eleventh and
Twelfth Corps, under Gems. Hooker and
Howard, made their appearance and
came across the river over the pontoon
bridge.
These troops had just come from the
Army of the Potomac, having come by
cars to Bridgeport, and marched to Chat
taneoga over the short route of % miles.
They were accompanied by brass bands
and drum corps; many of the officers
had fur collars on their overcoats, and
the men had new uniforms and many had
on paper collars; in fact, they looked to
US like Sunday soldiers
We had not seen anything new, not
even shoes, for six months, and were
ragged. sboeless, and half starved, even
more ragged than the rebels, and as these
well-dres5ed soldiers passed us our boys
would often say to them:
Boys, you won't get any fresh bread
and butter or paper collars here.
As they encamped next to us we soon
called on our aristocratic neighbors and
made their acquaintance. We found
them good fellows, and got the news of
what was going On In the North. We
had heard nothing from home for several
months 1t was not our good fortune to
rest long, for Gen. Longstreet, who was
stationed with his corps at the head of
Lookout Valley, discovering the object
Of these movements, did not wait long,
and started out to recover lost ground,
not even waiting for daylight.
The night of the 28th was clear, and
the moon shone bright, and was very
favorable for one of his old tricks-a
night attack. Hooker's troops were
sleeping soundly after their long march
all day. About 2 o'clock in the morn
ing Longstreet made the attack on
Geary's Division
IE GREAT FURY,
assanlting them on two sides with a
severe fire, but bis men, who had been
sleeping on their arms, were on their feet
and ready for him at the first shot from
the picket-lines.
The fight lasted for three hours, when
Longstreet's line was broken and his men
driven from the field in a complete
rout
Ii was Longstreet's intention to crush
Geary, and then with bis whole force fall
upon Gen Howard, and thus use up his
old friends from the Army of the Poto-
mac. He had sent a smaller force at the
same time to attack Howard. This force
had worked around TO a position almost
in Howard's rear, and occupied steep
hill, which they barricaded very strongly. |