The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-04-25
REBELS ATTACK THE TRAIN.

| fort and the hreastworks in the rear, but
afterward were removed and planted by the
guns, where they remained until late al
night when relieved by Geary's Division)
defended by from 300 to 500 men and officers
of the various regiments of the brigade"
Col. Harrison. of the 10th Ind, in his
report, on page 372, says: ITO sum up the
account of the days fight, will add that
detachments from my regiment. and, l be-
| leve, from each Of the other regiments OF
the brigade, held the rebels from Ie-entering
and taking the guns we had captured until
they were brought off at night"
will now go back to Col. Cobham's re-
port. On page 164, Lieut.-Col. k. l.. Kill
patrick, in his official report says he was
put in command of the regiment about 10
r. M, May Is, with instructions to take
orders from Col. Gotham. After relieving
the 1Ilih Pa, was soon ordered to assume
the entire control of the getting out Of the
cannon. / placed Capt. Shirer in command
of the working party Whose report is here
with inclosed) to consist of Co.'s G. II, /, K.
C and were afterward added" His report
does not show that his regiment lost a single
man.
On page 1875 is Capt. shirer's report, as
| follows:
CAMP IN THE FIELD, May 20 1864.
SIR: have The honor to make the following
report: On the plight OF the l6th of May, 1854 the
in getting four pieces of artillery out of captured
fort of which the enemy held possession In the
rear, their pickets being within 20 yards Of of
the guns. After one-half hours digging through
the front side Of the fort, our lines were attacked
by the enemy. The party engaged in digRuR
broke and lcfs the hill. leaving their tools in the
work Our regiment remained until the firing
ceRscd.
was then ordered by Lieut.-Col. Fitzpatrick to
take q detachment of the 5th Ohio and finish
digging through the embank r,ent aud get the
artillery out without delay. took Cos A. q. II. I
and X to complete the work. which took some two
hours hard labor After getting all the pieces out
but two. which found 10 be difficult matter
without more assistance, appealed to the Major
Of one of the regiments to send down the hill and
get some OF bis men without arms to assist In get
ting out the other two pieces, which he did, the
balance Of our regiment being under arms as our
support
As soon q. the pieces were pulled out Of the fort
relieved his and proceeded with The pieces
10 the and reported TO Cen Geary, who
ordered me TO keep them until morning, when
they were taken charge of by Knap's battery.
have the honor to be. very respectfully. your
obedicnt servant,
AUSTIN T. sHIRER, Captain. Co O, 5th Ohio
Col. GOTHAM, commanding Third Brigade.
On page 222 Lieut.. Col Enos Fourat in
the latter part of his report, says: Sol Cob
ham, considering that he had sufficient force
to hold the hill in his own brigade, relieved
my regiment.
Just as 1 was drawing them off heavy
firing commenced in our front, and we were
retained TO assist in removing the guns from
the fort. About midnight Col. Gotham
ordered a fatigue detail from my regiment
to haul the cannon from the fort down the
hill.
Contrary to our expectations, this was
done without drawing any fire from the
enemy. About a. m on the 10th we were
finally relieved and retired to tbs foot of
the hill for rest. / lost in the action one of
my best officers, Capt. Bray, wounded
through the thigh, two enlisted men killed,
"a wounded and one missing"
think / have shown who captured the
battery, who removed the guns to the foot
Of the hill, and who took them to Resaca.
While i do not think any one regiment very
much Drawer than another, some must lead
in all actions and Others support and watch
the tanks. Geary's Division was certainly
supporting ButteTfield's at Resaca May Is,
1864, and the First Brigade of Butterfeld's
Division most assuredly drove the enemy
from the 4-gun battery and prevented them
from returning.-S. G. KERsEY, Lebanon,