The National tribune., 1898-06-16
IN TURcHIN'S BRIGADE.
Some Lively Experiences for the Bcys(
of That Organization.

Editor National Tribune: On Sept IS.
1868, our portion of Thomas's army lay
near the foot of Lookout Mountain. In a
few hours we started on an ail-night
march. Every rod of fence was burned as
we marched along, and 1T was dangerous
at times for the artillery to get by, and IL
it had not been for the pain they caused us
by being smoked out We should hardly
have known we had any eyes lett.
We reached Crawfish Springs about day
light, passed Lee and GOrdOn'S Mills, and
arrived in the neighborhOOd of the Kelley
farm between and 10 o'clock: rested,
cooked breakfast, and then went in about
II a. m.
There was no skirmish-line in front OF
our regiment. The ground descended in
front of us. We lay fiat on the ground. n
comrade and myself selected pine tree a
few feet in front of the line. We would hug
the ground to load, then rise up to shoot
AS the comrade got up on one knee TO take
aim ball struck him in the breast and
passed clear through him. i helped HIM
back to the rear of the line, where he was
taken TO the ambulance. He was taken
back as far as Nashville, where he died.
Our Colonel, b. ID. Fearing, was wounded.
through both thighs by the same ball as
he was passing back and forth along the
line.
The Johnnies that afternoon charged our
battery four times. We would let them get
pretty close, then the brigade would give
them a volley and charge them back.
That afternoon ball entered my KNAPP
sack as | lay on the ground, just missing
| my head. At dark we were relieved, and
went to the rear to get some sleep
Sunday morning was very foggy. Wa
| took the front line again about o'clock
| The troops we relieved had built breast
| works out of old dry legs. My company
and, / think, Co. Il were sent out to feel
| for them in the fog. We did not go far be-
fore finding all we wished for and had to-
return to the works. Later, when the fog
lifted the sun dried the leaves and they
took fire from our battery, which was To-
Gated at the left OF our regiment, and only
| one company between ours and the battery.
The fire got into the breastworks and
threatened to leave us without projections
unless stopped. We tried to get Co. b to
pull out the logs in their front and get over
and rake away the leaves, but they de-
clared it would be sure death to man In
front.
/ said, "Boys, il the works burn, probably
the most of us will be killed. If one or two,
get in front and stop the fire, and get killed.
it may save many lives. If there is one
who will volunteer with me We will run the
risk"
A little fellow by the name of John Me-
Vey spoke up: 81 am your man." We
jumped over and worked with will raked
away the leaves and pulled out legs, and,
assisted by those behind the works, the
fire was put out; but how the balls spat ALI
about US, and every chunk we picked up
ball would spat it, reminding us to make
haste, and you can bet we tarried no longer
than we needed to. We both got back,
again without scratch, bat McVey, poor
fellow, was missing at BuZZardS' ROOSt
fight and never heard from after.
On Sunday, about A o'clock p. M, an
officer came up to Gen. j. b. Turchin who
commanded our brigade, and told him his
brigade was surrounded and must cut his
way out or surrender. Which would he dO2
His answer was: 81 think If anybody's
bows go out, mine CO." We at once left our
works, which we had held eight hours
went TO the rear through the woods, passed
around to the left of the Kelly house, and,
came to the edge of the woods, where We
halted.
Soon we saw coming down across the
columns of JohnnieS. When they were
close enough to suit the General he gave
the order to charge. Their first volley left
Lieut.. j. W. Merrell and First Serg't C. A.
Brown wounded on the field, besides a,
number of others. We captured about 500,
but lost about SEQ. A battery of ours got in
position on a hill at our left and began to-
shell the enemy, and we filed up between
the guns and stacked arms. All told, in
my company, there were eight to stack
guns not commissioned officer, and 1
the only nOn-cOmmiSSiO officer with the
company. They kept coming back to the
command, so that after about three days
we could muster % or 80 men.-G. l.. Camp,
Sergeant, Co. G, 92d Ohio, Third Brigade,
Third Division, Fourteenth Corps, Seattle
Wash.