The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-23
I'm IRRESISTIBLE ONSET.
A Comrade Tells Of the Cannon Charge u
at Resaca.
ITO be continred.)

Editor National Tribune: There has been
much controversy over and many claims
for the honor OF the celebrated cannon
charge" at the battle OF Resaca, Ga, on
the afternoon of May 10, 1854 In the battles
IN which was at different times engaged,
| L was keen observer OF incidents that oc-
Cured near and around me, and in some
actions, from the position OF the ground on
which the regiment was formed, an extenS-
i've view of the field of battle could be OBJ
tanned during an engagement.
In hard fought battle the nerves and
minds of the soldiers are naturally strung
to their utmost tension; memory is so inn
pressed with events of the moment that
time cannot efface them. Having been an
observer of and participant in that particu
lar and gallant cannon charge" of 80
years ago, the recollection of is us fresh in
my memory as though it happened yester-
day.
Gen. Hoolsers Corps (the Twentieth for
two days previous to the date on which the
charge took place had been engaged on the
right OF the army, but the morning of May
10, 1851, found 1T going in a hurry to the
left, reaching its new position in time to
save battery of the Fourth Corps, which
was being hard pressed by the enemy.
About 1870 p. m. the Third Division of
the Twentieth Corps, commanded by Gen.
Daniel Butterfield, took position at the foot
OF mountain fronting the rebel lines and
the fort containing the cannon which were
to he so desperately fought for.
Not 20 feet from where | stood was a large
oak tree, behind which were Gems. Hooker
Sickles, Butterfield, Geary and other Off
GERS in consultation. Seating myself at the
foot OF the tree was in a position to hear
the plan of attack.
| learned that the Third Division Butter
fields was to have the place of honor;
division to be formed en- masse in columns
of regiments ID feet apart, and make the
charge. The time set for the forward move
ment was 2:30 p. m.
Never was there a more perfect afternoon
under Il Georgia sky than that of May Is,
1864, when the blue and gray came together
for victory or defeat. 1t seemed that the
resplendence of the day had been prcar-
ranged, that nature displayed her manifold
beauties to incite us with new courage and
strength to fight to preserve the union of
Nation which had so grown and thrived
under the influence of her bOunteouS en-
dOwmentS.
AT the appointed time the command was
ordered forward. Up the mountain we went,
on top of which was brigade of Geary's
Division (SecondD lying down. Through
this line we passed, down the slope from
which the enemy had cut the trees so that
the cannon from their fort could do better
execution; across the old Dalton turnpike,
when we received an cnfi!ading fire from a
rebel battery on our right; up an incline on
reform our lines; across the opening to the
rebel works.
With Yankee hurrahs, answered by rebel
yeilS so familiar to all old soldiers of the
civil war, with the thunder of their artillery
and a tremendous burst of musketry from
both sides, the struggle began. History
gives the result of our effort, and the evil
dence we had along the line of march the
next day told the story of their great hurry
TO get further south.
Resaca was really the first of the large
and important battles that followed in
quick succession from the time until the
capture of Atlanta, Ga, Is days after
Now, having personally gone through all of
the incidents leading up to and connected
with the movements of the Twentieth Corps
during the three days fight in and around
ReSaca, | believe that | am in position to |
say that to Gen. Butterfeld and his Third |
Division belongs all the honor of that grand |
and glorious " cannon charge" 1t belongs |
to no brigade, no regiment but to the whole |
of that Third Division, commanded and led |
personally by Gems. Hooker and Butter |
field, both experiencing all the danger Incl |
dental to officers and privateS in what |
seemed to he a fOrlOrn hope against Con- |
federate veterans strongly intrenched, every |
bit as brave and willing to sacrifice their |
lives for the cause for which they were
fighting as their patriotic opponents from
the North.
Nearly dil the dctOfS III tnlS grand drama
have answered their last roll call Those
now living who were participants in this
particular charge of so long ago may have
forgotten or have different version of the
action AS to those cannon in that fort.
though not captured in the charge, the DO
SitiOn taken by the Third Division made it
for the enemy to take them
away, covered as they were by concen-
rated fire from the rifles in the hands of
soldiers of this command.
My knowledge of how those cannon were
AIKEN from the fort comes from a report
hat detail of soldiers from the different
egiments in the division was made. and
hat during the night of May Is this body
If men, numbering about 400, under cover
If darkness, and with no opposition, dug
way the earth i'm front of the redOubt and
oOk them away. At the time this was
lone was absent with a detail of men fer
he purpose OF getting intrench;ng tools.
nd the above statement was made to me
N my return. If | am not mistaken the
nemy was on the retreat when the can
ION were taken from the forth w.
BRENNAN, Sergeant, Goth Conn.
Hoods Sarsaparilla in vigorates the body clarifies
he mind aud makes one feel like new person. | 1