The National tribune., 1897-08-19

fights around Vicksburg, and they we're
lively enough to amuse any one"
$50 you were in the affair on the
22d, were you? We are awful anxious
to hear all about ii. Come over here to
my quarters and tell us all you know.
All we know is that there has been a
biz fight, with Mcpherson killed, and a
heavy loss of life besides, and the rebels
claim great victory"
go, they be blanked. 1t was the
sickest victory they ever got. About
one more victory of that kind would
make their Internal old Confederacy
ready for a coroner's inquest. Well,
can tell you pretty much all about that
fight, for | reckon, if the truth was
known, our regiment fired about the
first and last shot that opened and
closed the fighting on that day. Well,
you see the whole army got across the
river, and were closing in around the
City of Atlanta.
"Our corps (tbe Seventeenth was the
extreme left of the army, and were NOV
ing up toward the city from the east.
TIE Fifteenth Logan's) Corps joined
us on the right, the Army of the Cum
berland farther to the right. We run
onto the rebs about shutdown the 21st.
They had some breastworks on ridge
in front of us, and we had a pretty
sharp fight before we drove them
off. We went right to work, and
kept at it all night in changing and
strengthening the old rebel barricades,
fronting them towards Atlanta, and by
morning had some good solid works
along our whole line. During the night
we fancied we could hear wagons or artil-
lery moving away in front of us, appa-
rently going south, or towards our left.
"About 8 Sr 4 o'clock in the morning,
while | was fhoveling dirt like beaver
out on fireworks, the Lieutenant came
to nfe and said the Colonel wanted to
see me, pointing to large tree in the
rear, where | could find him. | reported
and found him with Gen. Leggett, who
commanded our division, talking mighty
serious, and Bob Wheeler, of Co. +,
standing there with his Springfield at a
parade-rest AS soon as | came up the
Colonel said:
"Boys, the General wants two level.
headed chaps to 60 out beyond the pickets
to the front and toward the left. | have
selected you Tor the duty. Go as quietly
as possible and as fast as you can ; keep
your eyes and ears open; don't fire q
shot if you can help it, and come back
and tell us exactly what you have seen
and heard, and not what you imagine
or suspect. l have selected you for the
duty
He gave us the countersign, and of
we started over the breastworks and
through the thick woods. We soor
came to our skirmish or pickets, onl y 6
few rods in front of our works, and
cautioned them not to fire OH us il
going or returning. We went out as
much as half mile or more, until We
could plainly hear the sound of wagons
and artillery. We then cautiously
crept forward until we could see the
main road leading south from the city
filled with marching men, artillery and
| teams. We could hear the commands of
the officers and see the flags and banners
of regiment after regiment as they
passed US.
1--WE got back quietly and quickly
passed through our picket-line all right
and found the General and our Colonel
sitting on Il log where we had left them
waiting for us. We reported what We
had seen and heard, and gave it as oul
opinion that the Johnnies were evacuat.
ing Atlanta The General shook his
head, and the Colonel says: You may
return to your company Bob says tc
me:
I" The old General shakes his head as
though he thought them sly rebs amt
evacuating Atlanta so mighty sudden,
but are up TO some devilment again. !
amt sure but he's right. They amt going