Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.

called The Atlanta Campaign" 1t was
continuous fighting from May to Sep
TENDER, and it embraced battlefield 1876
miles long. There is nothing in history
to compare with it. The fighting began
at Tunnel Hill. 1t ended at Atlanta.
Every foot of ground was contested
Every day had its battle, and more than
once the firing continued from shutdown
to sunrise.
From his diary, Gen. Fullerton told
the story of "The Battle of One Hun
bred and Eighteen Days" before gath
ering of old fighters, ex-Confederates as
well as Federals, at the Army and Navy
Il Club. He began by asking ii they
knew that while the walls of their club
house were adorned with portraits in
toil, with engravings, with photographs
tof the heroes of the war, there was not
20 single picture of Gen. George II.
Thomas among them. "Ies," said
sGen. Fullerton. "Thomas was the fault
less soldier of the war. He was the one
kgeneral who never made a military mis-
take. He was the only one of our great
sgenerals who gained his position with.
out personal or political influences. A
Virginian, he was separated from his
family and repudiated by his Stale, be.
itusS VI ulo llutilt1 W LllG UnlOu. ne
was the only man who was never re-
lieved of his army. He was never de-
feated. He saved three armies.
"This battle OF lis days began in May
with the very hardest kind of fighting,
in the toughest country you ever saw.
Thomas had examined the region, and
knew it thoroughly. Some miles below
where Johnston's army was posted in
its first strong position. Snake Creek
Gap cuts through the mountains.
Thomas knew it was possible to send
troops down parallel valley, pass
through Snake Creek Gap, strike the
railroad in Johnstons rear, and bag
him. He tried to get Grant to let him
make the attempt, but Grant said lie
must wait. When Sherman came,
Thomas laid the plan before him. Sher.
man wouldn't listen to it at first After
some time he sent Mcpherson down to
pass through the gap, with the instruc-
tiens to strike the railroad, break it up,
withdraw to the gap, and then hit
Johnston a lick as he retreGted. Mean
while Thomas, with the Army of the
Cumberland, held the front and centre
and was to attack Johnston and push
him back. That was the position Thomas
held and the work he had to do all
through the lis days Thomas at
tackled, as directed. Howard was called
on to make the movement. We had tt
go through narrow pass just large
enough for a railroad track, wagol
road, and small stream. In front o.
US was a small hill. Behind that VIZ
didn't know what we would find, saw
that We knew Johnstons army wa
here.
"Howard-well, he is the bravost man
personally, / ever knew. He wen
through the gap to that hill for a gooC
position to direct the troops. ! said t.
him just before we started:
"'General, you are corps comman
der. You ought not to expose yoursol
in this way
sob, no, said he, come on
"Well, we started--four of us. Befor
we got to that little hill the general hat
bullet through his coat, the orderl
was shot in .he leg, the color bearer wa
killed, and my saddle was rome. Wha
we found beyond that Hill was a grea
amphitheatre with the stream damneC
and all around on knobs aud benin
works were artillery and infantry. a
soon as our troops penetrated that gref
pit the storm opened from all sides.
was trap. To make any impressio
upon such position was beyond huma
power. Our troops went as far as the
could, and then stopped and fought.
found myself where | could neither 9
forward nor backward. | was betwee
two fires. So lay down behind b
pine tree, and answered some corr
spondence that had been accnmulatin
After about three hours it became dal
enough for me to get back to orr lines
a : "In trying to dislodge Johnston fro
that position we fought step by ste
along mountain sides. The troops we
SO near together that they could talk
each other. Once somebody on our sit
called out:
"tHoId on, Johnny, and hear Il
y Presidents proclamation
"Firing ceased, and big sergea
stepped out in front of our line a,
read proclamation from Mr.. Linco
extending amnesty to all Confederat
who would lay down their arms al
come in. When the reading was finish
both sides yelled and whooped, and i
fighting went on again.
"There came down to the front O.
day a pleasant gentleman from I
Christian Commission, Capt. Stimaor
Sull IGu, T. ullGllOI. II Ntta " AIllt
were in close quarters at one point
this Atlanta campaign. lie said 10 /
soon after he arrived:
"'Fullertou, | should like to look
the rebels
"'All right, said I. There's
trouble about that can arrange it.
81 took him out behind the Drea
works and said to him
"tNow, get your glass all ready, q
when Soy the word we'll jump on I
and take look.
81 gave the word and up we we
Captain Stimson clapped his glasses
his eyes. Out little way we could
the ConfedeTatcs swarmlug about u
so many huge gray ants building n
Notifications. Ping went bull
and Stimsou dropped. 1t had GO
through his lung and into a tree behi
him. | wrapped hisa in blanket a
had lust started hlm back on Il stretcl
when it occurred to me:
"'Perhaps Stimsons friends at no
would like TO have that bullet fol
souvenir
81 climbed on top Of the breastwor
got out my knife, and began to pry
tie bullet. 'Pingl' sang another, a
4. went into the same tree six inches alb
my head.
"'lf Stimsons family want that b
let they'll have to come afterit, thou
|, and got dowG.
at was strange what chances
took and how some Of MS escaped
that continuous four months fight