The National tribune., 1901-05-09
BATTLE OF PEACHTREE CREEK.
Gen Coburn and Others Make Some State
ments In Regard to It

| Some resolutions passed by G.. A. r.
| Posts in Indiana, in honor Of the late Gen.
Harrison, contained statements in regar d
to the battle of Peachtree Creek which
| inpelled Gen. John Coburn to make the
! following statement:
The brigades advanced by the order of
Gen. Ward, commanding the division. A
soldier, whose name is Henry H Crist,
of 20. /, 33d Ind, whom / had left but
short time before, quite a distance in
front of the skirInish line, brought me the
information that the enemy was adyauc-
ing in large numbers and not far di tant
at once put my brigade under arms
i then went to inform Cen Ward of
these facts. | found him in Il very short
time and insisted on an advance of his
division. He doubted the fact of the ap-
pr0ach of the enemy, and added that Gen.
Hooker had ordered this division to re-
main in our present position. | said if b.
tEIOokerj were here he would not give
such an order; that il we were attacked
and compelled to retire, even a short dis
tance, we could not do so safely, since the
creek was too deep to wade and the banks
were soft and mirey. He repeated that it
was HOOkerS orders for his division to re-
main there. | insisted on an advance,
since we could fight to a better advan-
tage, out in front. than where we were.
u
believe that the rebels are coming. Go
and see yourself, and if they are coming
move your brigade forward and tell Har-
risOn to advance with you"
l saw Harrison in a very few minutes
and told him what Ward had said. and
that | was going to the front to see for
myself whether the enemy was coming;
and as my brigade was already under
arms, If they were coming L would at once
order an advance, and seeing this that he
could act accordingly: He said he would
be ready to move whenever my brigade
moved.
went to the top of the ridge some 40
or 90 rods and plainly saw the enemy
coming in large numbers, their lines ex-
tending to the woods on either side of
large field. Returning, in haste, ordered
the advance Of my command, and Gen
Harrison's men also advanced at once
Before our commands got to the top of
the ridge the enemy came over and down
toward US.
Wards Division contained three br,:
gades. The Third Brigade got no order
from him, and remained until | went per,
sonally and insisted on the movement of
this brigade forward on my left The COM
manding officer said he had no orders to
move. The enemy had, by this time. got |
upon the Immediate left of my command, |
but We're soon driven back by the men of |
the Third Brigade
That part of the field was completely |
shut out from view Of my command by |
a heavy thicket Of pines, pers simmons, |
blackberry bushes and small trees that
had grown up along an old fence-row run
ming to the front along the left of my com |
mand.
Col. Harrison in his report of the bat
tie says, in reference to the orders to adj
vance, the following:
While thus formed and waiting 7 met
Col. Coburn, commanding Second Brigade.
who informed me that bis skirmisher, re-
ported the enemy advancing to attack us.
and suggested that our line ought to he
advanced to the crest IF the small ridee
which extended itself in front of his line
and portion of the left of my brigade.
| concurred in this suggestion, and Col.
Coburn went Immediately to submit the
matter to the BrigaGier- General com
nanding the division, and very soon after
ganced to move forwarG to the crest of
he ridge mentioned. Page IS, History
,f the 10th Ind
So 1t appears that we moved under or
iers, and not over them.
Let me add a word as to Mr.. Crist who
gave me the information Of the approach
II the enemy. He has now letters from
Maj. L. T. Miller, the commanding officer
" the 33d Ind; also from myself as Sri-
yade commander, recognizing his valuable
services on that day, which l append as
it compliments 10 his good sense, courage
md prompt action in a great emergency.
He still lives and is a most worthy and
gentleman, residing in HaIts-
lille, Ind.
JOHN CoBURN. T.
Note lon Page 827, Volume So Re
,eilion Record ), Gen. Ward states that
bout 3 p. M, July 20, at Peachtr ee
Jreek, "Col. Coburn reported to me that !
ha auouny aHva nna- l.