The National tribune., 1900-08-23

The Confederate works were the best
/ ever saw. They had more time to build
them and men more used to that kind of
labor.
Serg't Elliott and had sent letter to
Secretary Stanton applying for commits
sions in q colOred regiment. They were
being raised in States that had been in
rebellion and also in the North, and as
nOn-cOmmiSsiOned officers were allowed to
go before a board of examiners in the
field we thought we could pass success
fully. On the 10th the answer to our let
ter came, referring us to the above board
but when l went to report that fact to
Capt. Dunn, my commanding officer, he
refused to let me go. So Elliott would
not go either, and we decided to remain
in the regiment to the last.
On July IL we were within few days
march of our objective point, Atlanta
and were moving very cautiously, skir-
mishing continuously night and day, until
we reached Peach Tree Greek, which we
crossed on the Goth.
AN ALMOST SUCCESSFUL SURPRISE.
The enemy in the meantime had been
concentrated in the outer line OF works
surrounding the Gate City of the South
and intended to give us a surprise, which
was partially successful, but the good
luck which followed the White Stars at
tended us on this occasion and we beat
them off.
Our First Brigade, consisting of the 18th
Pa, 2Sth Pa. and 9th and 10Th Ohio, had
crossed the creek and taken position on
wooded knoll. On their left was an
open field which extended in their front.
On their right was a heavily-wooded ra-
vine; the 14lth Pa. held the left of the
line, while the 29th Ohio almost touched
the ravine. Knap's Battery of three-inch
ritinS W. tho loft mud Cant I,,'o
l2-pound brass guns were distributed, two
in the 2Sth Pa, two in the 9th Ohio and
two in the 29th Ohio.
The 33d n. J. had been advanced as
skirmlshers and my regiment the 100th
Pa had been hurried across the creek
and lay in reserve between the 2Sth Pa.
and 147th Pa. and about so yards in their
rear.
We had hardly lain down when the
Confederates made an onslaught upon the
First Brigade and in overwhelming num-
hers tried to crush them. Such fighting
l never witnessed in my life. How our
brave lads fought that day no pen can
with only such breastwOrks as could be-
thrown up in few minutes, and had not
been long in line before the Confe,ierates
struck them. The enemy had discovered
our weak point-the ravine>and tried
hard to double up the 29th and 9th Ohio.
who fought bravely to maintain their po-
sition, but were at last forced to yield to
superior numbers.
CoLoRS IN DANGER.
Col. Gotham, commanding the First
Brigade, ordered us up to support the line,
put the pressure being most on the right
we were turned in that direction and
pushed beyond the right section of Bun
dy'S Battery, which the Confederates were
making desperate charges to capture.
AT this time the 29th and 9th Ohio
; were forced back by an overwhelming
mass of desperate rebels, and after MAX
ing stubborn resistance part of my regi-
ment was forced to retire. The few that
stood with our colors We're soon killed or
wounded, and l remarked:
Fergus; we will lose our colors il we
| stay here!
He never answered ME, but kent his
race TO the front. Looking around / saw
but TWO or three men firing on the line
where my regiment had stood. Then see
ing the enemy forming for another charge
i knew that it was only madness to stay
there; SO fell back some 90 or 60 Yards
to where Capt Bundy was rallying the
boys and threatening those who would
not obey him. Seeing me he grasped my
| flagstaff and attempted to take it from
me, but assured him would follow him.
So with about 20 or % men he led ms
| back toward his guns, where we took Do
| sition to the right and slightly in the
rear.
The guns had been pulled out of the
works and turned to the right flank by
Serg't Fergus Elliott, Thomas Why, Al
| bert Croasdale and two or three Of the
| artillerists, and were doing terrible ex-
ecution to the enemy
Our position was held in this manner
for more than half an hour, and before
any reinforcements arrived l had thought
] my Color-Sergeant had been killed or cap
tured, but when / returned and saw lin