The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-15
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
SKIRMISH-hINE "REMINISCENCES.
Dangerous Duty Sil.'ncinS n Rebel Batter,
During the Atlanta Campaign.

Dangerous Duty Sil.'ncins n Rebel Battery
During the Atlanta Campaign.
Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
Army of the Cumberland the skirmish-hne
was at its best during the Atlanta campagn,
where most of the time both Union and Con-
federates were protected by strong field
works, with the ever-alert skirmish-iines be-
tween.
Although the skirmisher was q target for
the enemy. our boys were always ready to
volunteer for the dangerous duty, and no.
where during the war was the courage in
genui,y and audacity of the American volun-
teer mere fully developed than on the Skin
mish-line
Yet the acts of heroism Of our outpOsts
during that 1O0-days' fighting never were told
in newspaper correspondence, nor included in
official reports, except in general terms; as
Capt -, in charge of my slirmish-line
drove the enemy's pickets from the hill in
my 'front.' taking 10 prisoners. Our loSs two
killed and eight wounded"
Nv service on the Atlanta campaign was as
a Duty Sergeant of Co. +, 3lst Ohio, First Bril-
caie, Third Division, Fourteenth Corps A
skirmish-iine Of 30 men and two officers of
our regiment Il have forgotten the names of
tie othcers) did a most satisfactory days
work near Big Shanty, | think, about the
18th day of June, 1e64. 1t was in the morn
Ing, and raining rs it can rain only in that
country. We were in the timber Guilt
valed field in our front, and from behind
good works on the opposite side of the field a
rebel battery was making our position very
uncomfortable for us.
In response to a call for so men to 30 out
and quiet the rebel battery | took my
place, prompted either by sense of duty or
a deiail by the First Sergeant-probably the
latter.
in our advance we crawled through the
sticky mud over the ground exposed to the
fire of tine battery and supports of infantry,
until reaching n strip Of low ground with
sharp ridge between us and our foes Here
our line was reformed and each OF rs in
structed as to his duty. Again we advanced,
creeping cautiously, until reaching the crest
OF the ridge, where. as we lay close to mother
earth, we beheld several ugly guns looking
ont from as many ''portholes not 800
yards away.
The enemy's skirmish-line in front of the
battery had disappeared. The rebel gunners
skipped around very lively when they got
oar first 70 ley. aimed at the opening in their
works through which their guns were fired.
by shaking" back few yards we loaded
sur Springfeids under shelter of the ridge,
then wriegIing forward aimed every shot at
he Portfolios. The rebel gunners tried to
disledge us, but their shots went over us. or
strik,ng the gronnd in our front would rise
and pass over ms, doing 20 harm except an
occasional mud bath.
We soon warmed up TO our work. and in
ess than an hour we made it SO hot around
hose guns that the battery ceased firing
until nigiitiali. when they got in a few shots
another 30 moved up to relieve us.
The readers of TIKI NATIONAL TRIBUNE
cen. to some extent imagine that we were
not dressed for an evening society reception
up North when we joined our main line in
he trenches TO prepare our supper of bacon,
ried bareback and coffee We lost sever,
nen on that skirmish-line. One. | remcm-
,er, was killed near where / had lain in the
vening. He was JOHN Smith, who enlisted
1T fleetwood, o., He was a model young
man and an excellent Soldiers. A. Nc
-,EiL, 3lst Ohio, Columbus, ..