The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-04

ter must again relieve the pressure. To
Thomas goes the order: "Take the
rifle pits at the foot of the ridge. At
the six gun signal from Orchard Knob
advance the lines to the attack"
Baird, Wood, Sheridan and Johnson
were quickly in line in the order
named from left to right.
RESPONSE TO CANNON BY LOUD HUI
ZARs.
Restlessly they await the signal. 1t
is we'll on to 4 O'Clock. At last the
sharp report of a cannon from the
Knob. Another! and another! and In
quick succession the six have thunder
ed forth the order for the charge.
To your feet and forward men Of the
Cumberland "Take the rifle pits at
the foot of the RIDGE" is the order.
How splendidly they respond Add
ing emphasis to their loud huzzas is
the noise of the light artillery on the
plain and the deep roar of the big siege
guns in the forts Of Chattanooga. The
crest of the ridge throws its full
weight of metal at the lines in blue.
The musketry fire from the pits Is full
in their faces. But neither shot ncr
shell can stop that impetuous advance.
On and on they 60, surmounting every
obstacle.
The order is obeyed.
The rifle pits are ours and their late
defenders our prisoners. How the
gray Jackets hasten to the rear! We
wondered at their haste, but soon
Understand it when the guns of the
ridge, depressed to sweep the pits,
seemed to open upon US the gates OF
hell itself.
SUBLIME SCENE.
We cannot stay! Must we fall back
Perish the thought! No! No! No
order given and yet to every man the
impulse. Forward the whole linel TO
the crest of the ridge and take the
guns! Every man forward!
Grape and canister from fifty cannon
forbid the advance. Wood, Sheridan,
1 Baird, Johnson, Willich, Hazen, Beat
ty, Carlin, Turchin, Vanderveer, catch
ling the spirit from the men, shout
"Up, boys! to the top" And grape
and canister, wounds and death, are
forgotten!
On and on and up and up we 60,
|"while all the world wondered"
Grant turns to Thomas and, with dis
tress, if not anger to his voice, says
I"Who ordered those men up the
ridgew Replies our old hero: 81
don't know I cid not" Says Grant
|"Granger, did you ?" says Granger,
"they. started without orders. When
those fellows get started all hell CAM
stop them" =,
:. With hearts in their throats these
anxious chieftains watched. The spec
tators in Chattanooga hold their breath
in terrible suspense. It looks des'
perate venture, a foolhardy effort. Can
} they make the top, or will they be driv'
en- back to the plain, with columns
broken and ranks dlsordered?
The musketry fire from the en-
trenched line in gray Is murderous
The cannon belch forth incessantly:
"It is as though men fought upon
, the earth and fiends in upper air. u
:: Not q shot from the wedge-shapeo
lines in blue as they advance with the
> colors Of regiments at the apex of the
} triangles. Sixty regimental banners
in rivalry for the lead! Colors fall al
the bearers sink in death, but othel
stout arms nerved by brave hearts beal
, the flag aloft.
II All! the lines waver! They can
not make it! But repulse means de
feat and the loss of all we have gained
! Look again they 60 forward Will
they reach the crest? See! the an
: swer! A flag the nations flag! Oul
: flag upon the top! Another and yet
another! The crest breaks out in glory
! 1t is the apotheosis of the banner of thu
free
The rebel lines are broken! We are
into their works! Cheer upon cheel
"set the wild echoes flying" from Tun
mel Hill to Lookout! They tell of vic
tory, glorious, eXultant victory!
: Forty pieces of cannon and 7,OOt
stand of arms, with 5000 prisoners
captured give emphasis to the story.
The bars are down for entrance hex
campaign to Atlanta, gate city of ths
r south.
THE GEORGIA CAMPAIGN.
| How vividly we recall the winter
> movement into East Tennessee for th'
+ relief of Burnside, penned up in Knox
+ Vile, and the re-enlistment "for dur
ing the war" of the veteran soldiers
we can give it brief mention only, bu
] would love to tell of the campaign o
3 the summer of 1864 in Georgia; Of th'
! start ipearly May from Ringgold, Cor
, don's Mills and Red Clay of the thre'
great armies of the west, under th'
/ leadership of their commanders: Nc
Pherson, SO soon to fall upon the fielt
f of glory; Schofield who yet lives to re
ceive from grateful country the recog
milton of his services and fame. ant
, Thomas, the steady, the ever sure, al
under the command of that military
2 genius, William Tecumseh Sherman
!, and of how they swept with uniforDai
!: ty of success and constant contest TN
; til they entered Atlanta in earl,
3 September.
> GREAT ARMIES, LIKE GREAT RIVERS
z UNITE.
Mr.. President, three great river
= have their source in sections remot,
from each other, and taking thei
:, winding course by mountains ant
through plain, unite to give the Faith
er of Waters that mighty current tina
insures to the country he traver
prosperity and power. With source!
: far apart, they have common destina
!. ton and in generous rivalry their wa
I Z ters flow; each helping the other tt
the accomplishment of the same