The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-10-18
HAND-TO-HAND.
The Valiant 12th Wis. Battery at the Battle
of AlIatoona.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Sherman
had made AlIatoona his base of supplies,
and garrisoned it with about 500 men, under
Col. Tourtelotte composed of the 18th Wis,
SD ILL.,, 4th Mimi, and the 18th Wis. battery,
which were reinforced the night before the
battle by about 200 men from Rome, under
Gen. Corse.
While Sherman was at Atlanta with his
main army Hood fianked him, cut off his
communication, and with 800 picked men,
under Gen. French, made vigorous effort
TO capture the fort.
In the engagement the enemy lost in killed,
wounded and prisoners about 1900 men.
Our loss was about 200, nearly half our
force.
The break of day revealed the enemy's
battery upon one of the elevations OF The
rough, mountainous country which sur
rounds Allatoons.
Tom Croft, of the fourth piece in our
battery, wss designated to send them our
morning compliments We gathered around
while he took careful aim at one of their
cannon. Flash! crash went the gun, and
into the air the ball. We watched it until
hurrahs, wells and cheers announced the
effect of one of the best shots of the war.
1t struck the gun, dismounting 1t, crushing
the carriage, and killing OF wOundlng every
gunner.
This rough morning greeting set them IN
motion. The guDners spraDg 10 their guns,
hurriedly taking aim. We saw the flash, flash,
fash, then the Jets of smoke, and heard the
bomb, bomb, bomb, and on came their shots.
Rising into the air like rockets, they made
their arch and fell around us. Some buried
themselves in the embankment and earth,
some over-reached their mark, and some
made us dodge under shelter. But, . Hey
therei" Take care there!" Here she
comes!" Run for your lives!" and the
boys scattered behind shelter as shell
came kissing along and broke over our
heads.
Now our whole battery opened, and for
two hours was the fierce artillery duel carried
on making a continuous thuOder and roar
of cannon, shrieking and bursting OF shot
and shell, keeping the air filled with deadly
missiles. 1t presented grand but danger
Gus spectacle.
Further than making Us keep close behind
the embankment, and watching and lodging
their shells, they did US little harm, and we
silenced their guns.
Then the rebels sent rs a flag of truce,
demanding the surrender Of the fort, 10
avoid the useless effusion of blood. To
which the reply was returned that an effu-
sion OF blood was preferable.
Under this truce they treacherously re-
arranged their forces and surrounded the
fort, and then like bloodhounds they came
on. As they advanced they came upon
q small outpost held by the seth Iowa and
q cannon. That cannon taken and turned
on the fort would greatly aid in its reduc-
ton. TIE enemy concentrated to capture
il. As they rushed on it their ranks were
thinned by two rounds of grape and can
lister. They rushed over the embankment,
and a kand-to-hand encounter ensued. Men
fell in pairs, with bayoDets thrust through
each other Both sides lost heavily. The
eolor-bearer fell, and another sprang for
ward ard raised the flag. He was shot, and
another bore il alOft, ONLY to be surrounded
and captured with the cOlors
OyeTpoweTed. the gallant band seized the
cannon by hand and started for the fort.
Now came sharp running fight. As they
fell back they stubbOrnly contested the
ground. Those having hold of the gun
made their best time for the fort, while
their comrades by bayonet and bullet
stayed the enemy in close fight. They
Ie.reated loading and firing The enemy
rushe d onto ne cannon, but were shot, bay
eue;ed, and driven away.
Meantime the occupants of the fort, un-
able TO assist for fear Of shooting their COM
rrdes. impatiently watched the thrilling
Spectacle. Soon they reached the fort, and
rushed in, with the enemy close behind
them. a bale of cotton was thrown into
tine entrance, and the whole fort opened
with cannon and rife, strewipg the ground
with the dead and wounded But on they
came, only to give way TO the inevitable,
to rally and rerally for four desperate
charges.
Sherman had learned Of the intended at
tack, and made every effort to relieve the
garrison. But now laundering cannon
warned him Of their valiant defense. Chat
ing at the Impossibility Of flying over the
mountains to their rescue, he assembled
mountain and signaled in the skies to cheer
his warriors on to hold the fort, for am
coming" To reply for the garrison, the
brave Mckenzie spraDg to the parapet, and
amid the storm Of death, answered back :
1--WE wilt"
The enemy approached the third time,
but the brave gunners who bad slain so
many Of the foe were all killed or manned
except the brave Croft who sulenly and
alone dealt out death and destruction.
Large numbers of the garrison were MANNED
and the ground was drenched with blood
and gore; but still the men stood to the
work, pouring forth a continuous stream
VI ucsuAg LBbSScuRtfS, ana again drove OH
the enemy, mill once more they fell back
for final effort.
Both sides now rallied every available
man for q final contest. In the fort Croft
got help on his gun. Every nan who could
aim a gun reused TO the emergency. We
had no commander. Every man was his
own chieftain, fighting for home and country
The enemy advanced over the brow of the
hill, climbing over trees, stones and OBJ
stacles. The cannon from the fort belched
forth grape and canister and the rifemen
thinned out the advancing ranks. The
enemy drew their hats over their faces to
hide the angry flashes Of death. Many fell
not realizing what hit them some Ieapt
into the air in wild agony; others stumbled
with a moan aud groan, but though large
numbers went down, they still pressed on.
Then came another hand-to-band encounter.
We rushed onto each other, thrust and parry,
TO shoot and get shot; but had to give way
before superior numbers; the rifiemen were
driven into the fort, and it was given up for
lost
Theenemy, thinking themselves victorious,
began to plumber the camp. Now was our
time TO give them few rounds while the
rifemen picked them of. We pressed them
hard, and they gave way. Then, finding
themselves defeated, they attempted TO set
fire to the warehouses containing our sup
plies, but were shot torch in hand. We fol-
lowed them up and captured many prisoners.