The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-27


Gen. Mcpherson, for he found Gen.
Giles A. Smith hotly engaged and un-
able to move.
Fortunately, two batteries that were
in line we're in the center of Sweeny's s
Division, on knoll naturally strong and
commanding, and giving sweeping fire
across an open field, covering both the
right and left of Sweeny's Division !;
this knoll being the apex of the forma-
ton of Sweeny, the road bent TO the
west at that point, and Sweeny followed
the direction of the road, forming his
line right where his men were resting.
These two batteries fired very effect
lively upon the enemy's advance forces,
pouring into them canister at short
range. The fire was so destructive and
Mersey's charge so furious that the
enemy very soon gave way on their
front and fell back to the timber. Gen.
Fuller advanced rapidly across the field,
driving the enemy before him, deyel-
oped them in the gap between Gen,
Smith and his right, and, drawing a
rapid fire on his right flank from the
body of the enemy that had poured
around the left of the Seventeenth
Corps, he promptly changed front with
portion of his division and, under a
CALLING fire, moved Oh the enemy in the
timber, clearing that point.
,,,puEpco>,,S CT ,yFps cspTrRrD
The Gath H. pushed in between the
main column of the enemy and their
advance in the timber and captured
their skirmish-line, the same that had
killed Gen. Mcpherson a few minutes
before, and were then in possession of
his papers and effects including his or
ders. which we obtained.
The fighting in Gen. Fuller's front
was very severe, and the ground con-
tested inch by inch, his artillery doing
very effective service. Finally, the
enemy fell back along Fuller's whole
line, and | swung my right in order to
bring it into line with the brigade that
Mcpherson had ordered up 10 Gen. Giles
A. Smiths aid, which had been forced
TO take position to the right and some
in rear of Fuller's advance.
Seventeenth Corps reformed its
right angles with the original
ind joined this brigade. This
ii the enemy we'll to our front, and
Re kept them the rest of the day.
len. Mcpherson arrived on the
1. during the attack on me; stood
be ammunition-train on right OF,
watching the result Of my coun-
ge upon the enemy.
oon as the tide turned in my
e followed a road through the
sleading from Fuller's right be-
4 advance to the left of the Seven
still unaware of the ad-
of the enemy into the gap be-
Euller's right and the Seven
Corps.
it half an hour after my first re-
the enemy | received report
sen. Mcpherson was wounded, and
- ea about, 3 p. m. before | was aware
h sas dead.
About p. m. Gen. Logan called in
seeen for aid to drive back the enemy
4 ss the Decatur and Atlanta road,
here he had made sortie and gained
3 temporary advantage, breaking
fhreugh Gen. Morgan L. Smiths Divis-
pa. of the Fifteenth Corps. | sent the
SsNand Brigade of the Second Division,
undS.. Col. Mersey, accompanied by
Capt Jonas, of my staff.
Mersey's Brigade Immediately went
into line and moved down the main
road, participating in the charge with
Gen. Woods Division, of the Fifteenth
Corps, retook the works and batteries
that had been lost, Col. Mersey receiving
wound in his leg, having his horse
killed under him. Gen. Morgan l..
Smith, who witnessed Col Mersey's at
tack, sent by Capt. Jonas very COM
plimentary message as to Col. Mersey's
charge and its success. When Gen. Logan
called for Mersey's Brigade, he told me
that if the enemy again attacked me and
i needed help to call upon Gen. j. d.
Cox, of the Twenty-third Corps At 8
2. m the enemy made a demonstration
ON my extreme left, and / requested
Gen. Cox to send me brigade, which
be promptly did. The enemy, however
only opened with artillery.
Again Mersey's Brigade was called
into action about midnight, when Gen
Logan ordered two regiments from it tC
occupy the hill that had been hotly
contested in line of the Seventeenth
Corps, and relieve the troops Of thai
command. Mersey's troops promptly
executed the request, crawling in OF
their hands and knees, finding th,
enemy in the bitches on the outside ane
driving them out.
CALAMITY OF MERsEY's BRIGADE
The time of Col. Mersey's Brigad
bad expired; they were exempt from
participating in this battle had the,
chosen to avail themselves Of this right
and were awaiting transportation North
They fought successfully on differen
parts Of the field, suffering heavy loss il
killed and wounded. Gen. Spraeue