The National tribune., 1900-01-11
LET 7 z r
from theF IE<lI-.D
ontemporaneous History the 9Sth Ohio

| evening orders came Tor our advance on Inl!
place, and we went to sleep that night no
knowing what events the morning woult
bring forth. We knew we had a larg,
army, and Tunnel Hill could be flanked
yet some few regiments might have bloody
work We moved off in the morning
| leaving wagons behind.
| Our regiment was the advance of thu
| brigade, and the brigade the advance O
| the division, and our corps being the center
| of the whole army, we had an interesting
position. Gen. Davis and Gen. Palmer
were near us, and we had good opportunity
| to know what was going on from hearing
'r1ers they would send off. :
A mile from camp our SkirmiSherS began
popping at the rebel picketS and drove them
steadily back. AS We ncared Tunnel
Hill the army was strung out in one long
line of battle-Our corps reaching more
than two miles; on our left the Fourth
Corps extended in like manner over hills
and ridges; on their left the Twenty-third
Corps reached beyond; on our right was
Hooker's CTwentiethl Corps, to his right
the Fifteenth and part of the Sixteenth
and Seventeenth Corps.
This is an immense army, and the most
effective that ever moved west of the ALE
gheny Mountains; it is thought there are
fully 100000 muSketS carried, and the
whole line about 13 miles long.
A HARD MARCH.
Our advance was necessarily slow, hav-
ing to march in line through fields and
thick woods, and when We came to a ridge
would have to halt until the troops on the
fiankS had SSed around. The weather
was hot, and IL was hard on the men; hun
dredS threw away their knapsacks, and
there were enough coats and blankets left
on the fences and bushes 10 fit out another
army.
Many poor boy, overheated and dis
coura ged, threw down his knapsack that
contained his little all The drummer
boys would crowd around te.see what it
contained. One takes off his blanket and
appropriates the one on the knapsack, as it
is better than his own; another umbuckleS
new hatchet that is carried to cut fire.
wood, ETC., and cuts the straps and open
comes the knapsack. Each one seizes for
something; one gets a new gingham shirt,
another pair of socks, another hand
kerchief, all sent by some good mother
to her boy.
1t is r pity the boy hadn't more courage,
and Oily thrown away a part. 1t will be
long lime before he will get new clothing,
and many damp and cold night will have
to be endured before he will get new
blanket. Yet the march was so fatiguing
that many of the stoutest threw away all
they had.
The houses along the road from Ring
gold to this place are deserted, and many
of them burned or torn down, and their
sites are a picture of deSolation, and one
can not but pity the poor people, and the
only consolation soldiers can give is that
it is the fortune of war.
About II O'Clock we came in sight of
Tunnel Hill, and found it covered with
rebels; they threw shells at us brskly for
some time, but no harm was done. The
shells fell very near the 9Sth, and gave us
the old uneasy feeling their presence in
spires. Indeed, We all thought we would be
compelled to march straight up in the face
of their batteries, but waited half an hour,
and the enemy soon cleared out, the Fourth
Corps having Tapped around, and was en-
dangering their safety.
| had with me Col. Pearce's glass, and
with il had fine view of their movements.
After the rebs left, our division moved up
here, and are now among their deserted
camps. Just across in front OF us is
mountain, in which there is a gap, and
through this runs the railroad and a creek:
this gap is called BuZZard'S RooSt We
can see the rebels on the ridge, and watch
them at their signal station: they are also
at tie foot of the ridge, and are said to be
planting a batter Issve now brought
my story up to the present. The rebels
have just sent "A shell from their battery
over way, and the Fourth Corps are
s FINISHING the slope of the mountain.
We note their progress by their shots, and
those of the rebel sharpshooters.
Monday morning, May .. / take the
opportunity to record proceedings since
yesterday. About noon Gen. Sherman
and st came along TO where we were, and
stopped TO hold communication with the
different corps by signal. II was an inter
esting sight to see him there sending his
dispatches, and | will never forget the ap-
pear Ince Of the man, as he stood there with
care vOrn c)untelance, putting at cigar
impatiently, and intently watching in the
Iirectio OF Hooker's Corps.
In Sherman We recognize one OF the
ablest Generals in the country, and one
ho e enemy regard as the most daring
and bralny they have TO contend against.
In short time Sherman directed Palmer
to occury a cluster Of hills that lay near the
gap, and after a few words. moved off to
nigh ill. Palmer ordered Davis to take
one brigade and move so and So" and he
would order brig ade from Johnson's
vision to help.
Our brig de was selected and we were
soon on the move toward the hill indicated,
which as occunie by re el sharpshooters.
1t was a mile distant. ard by the time we
got u it e ere greatly overheated. Skir-
'Ishers were now a 'yaTced, and we gal
llnt'y moved up the base Of the hill. The
bullets; were niZZing Wickedly, but paSsed
too hig Cur skirmishers brayely ad-
vance !, firing from a charge-bayonet
Hosition Of their guns. The hill was COW
'
from tree to tree as fast as we could. Our
Skirmishers soon gave cheer, and told us
the rebS were leaving. and in five minutes
more we were in their line of rifle-pits and
sank down, about gone up" One reb
jumped out from behind tree and running
toward us said: For Gods sake, don't
shoot" He was deserter, and wanted to
he taken 10 the rear and out of rebel hands.
He stated that the force we drove out were
the 1st Miss. S. S.
A SHARP FIGHT.
WelGst three men wounded and one killed
/ saw the poor fellow when he was shot,
his regiment (the 1I3th) being next our
right. The ball passed clear through him.
Having gained the ridge, We passed down
the top and to help take another ridge the
rebels occupied, and were firing at us con-
stantly, rendering it so dangerous we had
to drop down out of range.
The next hill was carried nicely. Our
regiment skirmished up the front, while
passing to the right. The rebels stuck
to it to the last. and did not leave until they
had to. One of our batteries aided greatly,
and sent their shells crashing into the
cedars among them.
Another hill and we would accomplish
what was wanted. It was q little round
sugar-loaf at the right of the railroad track
and occupied by sharpshooters. Our regi-
ment and another were started for it, and ad-
yanced, pouring in a shower of bullets.
The rebels lay on the ground behind
rocks, and fired wickedly. We rushed for
ward, and gained the cover of the railroad
bank, and then proceeded to dislodge them
u was soon too hot for them, and they
ntT Il Al r