The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-21
CHARGE 1T RESAcA.
Question as to the Capture Of
a Rebel Battery.

Editor National Tribune: At Resaca oul
regiment the 45th Ohio, was the extreme
left of the Twenty-third Corps. AS the
corps advanced to the charge in the morn
ing we rushed down the hill through dense
woods into an open field Just in front OF
the rebel breaStworkS.
We discovered that we were considerably
ahead of the line to our right. We halted
for the others TO line up, when the John
MES poured a terrific fire into us from the
front and an enfilading fire, as we were the
only Yankees in sight. From many guns
they saIuted US with grape and canister.
We stood there but an instant, as the
boys were falling very rapidly. We ran
ahead and Jumped into creek. After the
first charge we fell back to this creek
where we remained all day. Our cannon,
mostly 30-pounders, shooting over us, and
the rebels firing back, gave us constant
pommeling by conclusion. When night
came we felt as though we had been run
through sausage machine.
So close were we to the JOhnnies that
we dared not raise our heads above the
bank.
just to our immediate left was the fort,
which could hardly be seen when we made
the first charge, for just in front of it was a
dense underground. Before night this was
swept away.
No charge was made on the fort till
about mid day, when troops formed by
division on the hill to our immediate left
rear. and charged across this small field
and through the brush to the fort. This
was kept up through the remainder of the
day. BY night this field was literally
covered with dead and wounded.
Now, | am not going to say who these
troops were, nor give details, for | don't
want someone who was there" to bob
serenely up and say / am a at-big no
Such-a-thing.
Tl,4t i ID I'm nyrf mid
night there was terrific musketry firing
about that fort, and early the next morning
we were told that volunteers had been
called for, and they, with a company of
the pioneer corps, with picks and shovels,
had done the work. The volunteers crawled
up near the top of the fort, where they lay
down. loading as rapidly as possible, rails
them across the parapet and firing; thus
driving the Johnnics from their cannon.
Meanwhile the pioneer boys dug holes
through the fort in front of each cannon,
sprang in fastened ropes around the muZ-
zles, and pulled them out.
While this was going on there is no
doubt the balance of the Twentieth Corps
was not far away, and cutie likely they
were very busy pumping lead for the John
MICS.
During the day, as the Twentieth Corps
CHARGED across this field on our immediate
left. we had the very best OF opportunity to
notice each column from the time they
came into the field, Each column bravely
held its position until its ammunition was
gone. when it retired The field was fast
filing with tke ,rfallen. Just as each
column started for9 the charge, all over the
field one would see muskets raised on end
and moved bYtthfir wounded holders, so
that the boys would not step on them as
they CHARGED. 1.3l
One OF the faileny a boy OF 18 or 10 years,
was so calm and, self possessed ! could
not help watching him through that hot
F. L suItry afternoon. He was shot through
Il fight lee about, half way between knee
and hip. He qooilY examined the wound,
then took off his canteen and took a drink;
laying it down he folded his blanket and
laid it over his lee, then poured little
water on the blanket. Loosing his car
fridge box, he fixed it for pillow and lay
down.
All this time and the remainder OF the
afternoon the bullets, and during a charge
the crane and canister, were falling thick
about him. When charging column was
coming. his gun would be raised.
At dusk I went to him. He was cool and
accomplishing ran back and got two
Of the boys. We took him to the top of the
hill and laid him alongside Of the road.
the wounded were being collected
for the amhulances. ] did not ask his
name or REGIMENT, and often wonder if he
is still livinr.-H. G. Keeler, Co. q, 45th
Ohio, Waterville, Wash.