The National tribune., 1900-05-10
SAW SERVICE WITH SHERMAN.
Kenesaw Mountain and Administering a
Generals Tents,


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In April,
1864, Gen. Sherman issued an order for all
veteran regiments on fur!ough to join him
in Tennessee, and the 18th Wis. went there
with the others. We had no skirmishes
until we arrived within two miles of the
eenemy's position at the base Of Kenesaw
Mountain and found the rebels intrenched
in their rifle-pits and, we threw up strong
works to protect us in case of attack. The
next two days We lay in camp, but on the
14th threw up more breastworks nearer the
enemy, 1000 yards from their pits. On
the 18th rebels were noticed in a piece of
pine woods in front Of the position. They
commenced calling fire and kept it up.
Gen. Blair wishing TO know the condition
of things behind the rebel cover, % men from
six companies of the 18th were put under
Capt. Maxon, who volunteered to lead them
in the enterprise. Then our commander.
believing that the rebels were evacuating
their works, sent out the remainder Of our
regiment. We were ordered to go over our
breastworks and deploy across a field of
corn to hedge near the rebel works. The
enemy opened fire in front and flank. We
were ordered on the double-quick to the
hedge for protection. Private Nathaniel
Camp was the only one of our men killed,
and those wounded were Privates Harrison
o. Field, Albert Z. Higbee, and Albert G.
Sprange. When we reached the fence we
lay down. We were obliged to stay there
until night, and while there l came very
near being killed; one bullet went through
small sapling and fell at my feet; another
went through a rail close to me with such
force as to turn inside out, something like
popcorn. :,
sode in the Wisconsin War Book find that
Capt Maxon is given all the credit He
and his men did nobly, but had it not been
for the remainder of our regiment behind
the fence they would have been taken
prisoners or killed.
We saw rebel regiment come over the
hill and form line of battle. We volleyed
| them and drove them back into their in
trenchments. That night we got several
shovels and built ourselves breastwork.
We left 1t the next morning, however, to
| make an advance upon the rebel works.
After we got into the woods there came up
| a terrible thunderstorm. 1t rained so hard
we were obliged to stop, although in line of
battle, and STICK our bayOnetS into the
ground and put our ponchos around us to
shelter us.
When the storm was over we advanced
upon the works once more, and when we
got there there was not a rebel in them.
They had fallen back to the mountain and
TO other places of defense they had formed.
We followed closely and then stopped and
built riiie-pltS of our own. We sent our
pickets out as usual and after completing
the breastWorkS word came that the rebels
we're going to try to cut through our lines
some night. but it was not known where.
We were ordered tohold our lines, whatever
happened. We waited nearly two weeks
for that attack. Then it was made to the
right Of us, facing Kenesaw Mountain.
The rebels were repulsed with great loss
and fell back to their works. While we
were in the position spoken of the rebels
used to throw shells down into our lines,
but did not do much damage. They had
a heavy battery on top of kenesaw. Dur
ing this time Gen. Polk was killed by a
battery on our side while accommodating
our position.
was in the battle Of July % at Atlanta
Just before we arrived in that vicinity was
detailed from our regiment and company
and ordered to report to q Captain of the
Pioneer Corps. My position after that was
near Gen. Leggett's Headquarters. l had
Is privates and Corporal under me. On
the 2lst our regiment and others were or
dered into line Of battle. They were about
mile and a half east of Atlanta. Our
Co. b, was deployed as skirmishers before
the advance was made, and when the ad-
vance was made the sl.arpshooters killed
several OF our boys. The rebels We're
located in an old house, and fired out Of the
| windows. Our men should have been
halted before they got therea and have let the
main force come up, but if there were orders
to halt they did not get them.
When the rebels evacuated their works
| they fell back to Stouter ones, and our men
| took the old ones and adjusted them to their
needs. The next morning l was ordered
out with my men to build redoubt for the
battery. We completed it awhile before
noon. We went to Dime, rand an order
came from Leggett for me to report to him