The National tribune., 1900-06-28

Of honor to its history, and every man en-
gagged in this battle might feel justly
proud. Gen. Geary in his official report
says of the battle:
The enemy hurled their main body
J the 18th N. Y, the 109th Pa. and the
| two left companies of the 111th Pa. met
them with intense and well-directed fire,
and the actual fighting throughout the
battle was sustained in conjunction with
| the artillery by the 18th N. y. the 1O9th
Pa, the 111th Pa. and portion of the
29th Pa, numbering $50 officers and
| men"
He also says of the conduct of the
above-named regiments in sustaining the
lrunt of the battle:
Il cannot speak too highly. They ac-
quilted themselves in a manner deserving
al the commendation that a commander
can bestow upon them, and which l take
pleasure in mentioning officially"
Surely our decimated ranks deserved
the praise. but our work was not DONE
and so after buryins the dead and caring
for the wounded, we were looking for
more trouble from the old foe that had
followed us from Old Virginia.
The purpose of the Confederates hav
ing been frustrated and communication
with Rosecrans at Chattanooga made, we
went into camp on RaccOon Mountain.
which We fortified and felt secure from
further attack. While we did not have
plenty to eat, the air was keen and brac-
ing, and in n short time, although we
were on short rations, our health was
never better and we were content. While
drilling was not much INDUCED in. vet in
spection of arms, reviews and dress pa
radeS were the order of the day, and that
gave the men plenty of exercise. This
seems to have been done with a purpose,
and for the work that was to follow, that
hn OF n.ar dc, nf tha oct
and West with glory.
FROM PAGEANT TO BATTLE.
Every morning Geary's Division was
marched out for about an hour for re-
view. On Nov. "a they went out as usual,
leaving in camp those who had no shoes
and few guards. After the review and
inspection, instead of returning to camp
we were deployed as skirmiShers, and be-
fore we fully grasped the situation were
toiiing up the steep side of Lookout
Mountain, closely followed by the entire
division in line of battle. We were about
as much surprised as the Confederates at
the move. But as history has told of this
fight above the clouds | will simply relate
an incident that occurred in that fight at
the time.
1t appears while our troops were ad-
vancing upon the Confederate position
many of our wounded crawled into assures
of the 111th deserted in face of the enemy
and commenced to rob the dead and
wounded rs they lay on that bloody field
In searching the pockets of a wounded
man, who, by the way, was a member of
his own regiment he was demonstrated
with and told by his helpless victim that
he would report him at the first oppor-
tUnity.
Knowing that he would be severely pun
ishcd if found out, the brute determined
on numbering his comrade, already bleed |
ing with wounds received in defense Of
his country. Selling a musket, he struck |
the helpless man several blows on the |
head, and thinking he had killed him left |
him.
Parties hunting for the wounded found |
him unconscious and alive, took him to |
the hospital at Chattanooga, and after |
careful nursing brought him around so he |
was able to tell his story. His would-be
murderer was arrested, and when Col.
fronted by his accuser collapsed. He was
tried by court-martial, and the sentence
was that his head be shaved and he be
drummed out of camp and the findings of |
the court be published in the local papers
OK the town from which he enlisted. Our
entire division witnessed his disgrace.
With placard on his breast and another
on his back with the words Coward
Robblng the dead" etc, on them, he was
paraded up and down the lines amid the
jcers of the men, who all agreed that, as
they had seen other soldiers shot for sim
ply deserting, this scoundrel should have
at least shared the same fate. Gen.
Geary, making speech to the division on
this occasion, said:
The court has been too merciful to this
relrobate. He should be shot to death,
and shall not be responsible for the ras-
calls life after he is let loose" What ever
became of him L never knew, but | know
many of the boys would have killed him
had they gotten the chance.
A period of inaction took place after
this, during which time Grant accumuIat-
ed supplies at Chattanooga and the army
began to he canvassed for men to re-enlist,
he inducement being a furlough and boun-
ty. All men having served two years
were eligible, and the Tooth Pa had very
few who did not avail themselves of this
to go home.
CThe end)