The National tribune., 1896-05-28

Now, after lapse of 81 years, thought
1t might be of interest to the veterans Il
learn how it looks. A great change ha:
taken place since, and many of the old boy.
who fought on that bloody field would
scarcely be able to recognize the place.
i met some here who were in the battle
who had been out to Leggett's Hill. and
they said they were unable to locate the
place occupied by their regiment during
the battle. A few were not even able to
recognize Leggett's Hill. There now stands
three-story brick residence on or very neal
the spot occupied by Battery ID, 1st III. Art
tMcAllister's battery, and the Sd Ohio bat
terry. This place is owned by Mr.. Koch
who came down here soon after the war;
am indebted to him for much valuable in
formation, rs he bought the place not many
years alter the war, and before many changes
mad been made, and he was able to show me
where the breastworks were located which
were erected on the afternoon Of the battle
10 the left of Leggett's Hill, commencing
at the southeast angle of the breastworks
IN northeast direction along the left of the
Ihird DIVISION, Seventeenth Corps and the
sixteenth Corps, nothing now remains of the
Dreastworks except a small portion of the
works occupied by the extreme left of the
Ihlrd Division, and here and there a patch
where the Sixteenth Corps stood.
Atong the McDonough road, northwest OF
the angle on Leggett's Hill, and along that
portion OF the line occupied by the 45th and
2oth ILL.,, and other commands of the Third
Division. Seventeenth Corps, every thing has
been leveled down and laid out in town lots,
and is occupied by residences.
Leaving the McDonough road, turning
almost due north, in the direction of the
Fifteenth Corps, through a strip of timber
where the 18th Wis stood, the breastworks
are in a fair stale of preservation. Along
the line of the Fifteenth Corps there is here
and there patch left, just barely enough to
trace the ine-o.-batte
OF the rebel breastworks considerable is
left at different places. Especially is this
so across the ravine in front of the left of
the Third Division and in front of the Six
teenth Corps, to the left of Leggetts Hill.
1t will be but few years till all trace of this
famous battlefield will be gone
In walking over the field | found only
one bullet; but the natives have quite a
stock of relics on hand, and are disposinp of
them at fair price. was surprised TO find
nailed high up 10 n pine tree where Gen.
Mcpherson fell, sign reading, Gen. John
b. Mcpherson, killed July %, 'G4.n How
or 10y whom such blunder was made I
cannot understand. One would suppose
that anyone who was in the least familiar
with the history of the late war and our
Generals, especially one so prominent as our
beloved Mcpherson, would know that it
was James b., and not John b.
The monument erected where Gen. Nc
Pherson fell is disgrace 10 our Govern
menf. 1t is a condemned cannon inclosed
by cast-iron rail-fence about the size of a
hen-coop. That is all that marks the sacred
spot where the gallant Mcpherson gave up
has precious life for the Nation.
1t seems strange that Shiloh battlefield,
away from any town or railroad, should be
preserved as National park, and Leggett's
Hill and Mcpherson be neglected aud for
gotten; especially when one considers its
nearness to Atlanta, a city of 100000, and
which is destined at no far distant day to
become the city of the South.-JoHN #.
WIEsMAN, Battery ID, LIST Ill. Art. (McAllis-
ter's), 515 North Thirteenth street, Lincoln,
Mol