The National tribune., 1898-01-13

was subjected to severe enfilading fire
| asked Gen. Leggett to send up some
24-pound howitzers attached to the di.
vision, and with. them cleared out the
woods until my men could throw up q
line of work facing Atlanta, with re-
fused line from my right running. down
hill toward my rear, SO as to protect my
right flank. Gen. Leggett then brought
up the rest of his division on to my left,
extending the line that way, as it was
threatened by bodies of troops in front.
The night of the 2lst | threw up heavy
traverses, FIVE to each regiment, and
strengthened the works.
In the night the enemy abandoned
their line; and next morning, the 22d,
the Fifteenth Corps moved up to my
right, and Giles Smith, having succeeded
Gen. Gresham, moved out to Gen. Leg
gett's left. In the battle of the 22d the
enemy rolled up our line till they came
to my brigade, intrenched in the tray
erses, and advanced no farther.
In the two days 40 per cent. of my
brigade was lost. The Doth Ill. marched
up the hill on the 21st over $50 strong.
At sunset of the 2sd it numbered one
officer and II men, but held its place.
Capt Walker, my Assistant-Adjutant
General, was wounded. After 10 years
of suffering, he died of his wounds last
Winter. While making a tourniquet for
him on the field, | was shot through the
face.
| was brevetted Major-General " for
especial galiantry before Atlanta on the
22d of July the only brevet entitled
" for especial gallantry" in that cam
paign. You mention Gen. Gresham as
the general officer who was wounded !;
and 90 SO far into detail as to mention
that Col. Reynolds lieutenant Colonel
of one of my regiments was wounded,
vet nv name Is nowhere referred to In
any way.
| might mention other similar in
stances. Taken together they all have
an air of an Intentional exclusion of my
name as participant in the war. Of
course, there is nothing of the sort. You
simply have not bothered yourself with
details. NJ. /. FORCE.
NOTE-This may be another instance in
which, by attempting TO avoid details, which
would swell the bulk Of my intended volume
into too large proportions, may seem TO have
done individual injustice There was not in
the whole army more intelligent, conscien-
tious. Jealous or brave officer than Gen. Force,
for whom / always entertained the most pro-
found respect and personal affection. / in
dorse all he says. ". T. 5.
Brig-Gen. T. ". Sweeny wrote to Gen.
Sherman, from New York, Oh Oct 80,
1876, thus:
GENERAL: Having read your Me-
moirs," l confess to being disappointed
at the entire absence Of any aotice of
the operations Of my command Second
Division, Sixteenth Corps, Army of the
TENNESSEE during the Atlanta campaign
of 1864. Knowing your high sense of
justice, and that it is your intention to
correct any mistakes or errors you may
have unintentionally made in your first
edition, / have the honor to inclose here
with extracts from my military history
submitted to the Retiring Board, by
which was retired in May, 1870.
Hoping you will give this matter
favorable consideration. have the
honor to subscribe myself, General,
Your most obedient servant,
T. w. SwEENY,
Brigadier-General, T.. S. Army.
NoTE.-The Atlanta Army " consisted of
three separate armies, embracing six corps,
made up OF - divisions OF infantry and four
of cavalry To have embraced these latter
in the +" Memoirs" would have sweled them
TO an unwieldy size, and / aimed to limit my
narrative 10 the main armies, with occasional
reference TO the corps and detaehments leaving
TO history 10 collect the details w. I. s.
TIE EXTRACTS.
Left Pulaski, Tenn, with my division
Second Division, Sixteenth Corps April %,
1864; passed through Huntsville, Ala, on
the I'd OF May. and encamped on Chcka-
manga Creek on the 7th; took possession of
Snake Creek Gap on the afternoon OF the Sth,
skirmishing heavily with the enemy.
At daylight Oh the morning Of the 9th the
rebels attacked me with vigor and drove