Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26

that they were in the bitches before the
enemy were aware OF II, and captured
hundreds of prisoners and made them
selves masters of about one-half of the
captured works in a few minutes.
Now, let me say right here that was one
Of the most brilliant charges made during
the war and against much greater odds
than are often given in history. Our regi-
ment, the Sixty-fourth Georgia, command
ed by Captain Pritchett, was in front Of
the brigade, and had to file right up ra-
vine behind the works before we could
form in line. Here we lost our colonel
John w. Evans, who, while not on duty,
would go into the battle with US. He
jumped up on the bank of the ditch and
was waving his hat and cheering when
he was shot and instantly killed.
As we went rushing up the ravine the
prisoners came pouring down the hill
from the breastworlks, and some one
shouted Il never knew who) to ''carry out
the prisoners" and most of Company K,
the one to which I belonged. started out,
when General Malone, who commanded
the division, called to Captain Pritchett.
/ ran and told him General Malone was
calling him and as he turned and ran up
General Malone ordered him to take the
regiment up to support his brigade. Cap
tain Pritchett rushed of, but ran a little
too far to the right and jumped into the
was captured, as was Lieutenant Morn,
of Company G.
I was close behind them, but seeing the
danger in time dropped down behind a
little traverse about feet high. CHANGING
around 1 met sight that was enough
to appal the stoutest heart The ground
just in my rear seemed to be swept clean
by the storm Of shot and shell across it
from every direction, and did not stop
to think, but began to fire and load as
rapidly as I possibly could, when just as
I raised up on my knees for a fourth
shot over the traverse in my front bull
let cut the hair just back of my right ear,
coming so close that it burned the skin
without breaking it.
OF course 1 ducked my head and felt
for blood and was relieved to find none
Soon there was a shout from the Virginia
boys just a few feet to my left: Look
at those id negroes over there!" and
looking hastily up 1 saw the barrels of
several guns. Just overhead, aimed at the
Virginians, who greeted the holders Of the
guns with a quick volley. 1 found that
place a leetle too warm for comfort. and
by quick somersault threw myself into
a partly sheltered nook in the ditch below
me on my lett, but soon found that I
was the target of some Yankees about
twenty or thirty feet down the ditch, so
with a plunge was across in the ranks of
the Virginians in comparative safety.
Here 1 had leisure to look around, and
beheld the death Of many a brave man
and officer who rushed, as it was, into
the very jaws Of death.
Here Captain Craven, Company A, Cap
tain Buren,, Company ], from Columbus,
Georgia, with Lieutenant Captain Boer,
also of Company /, were shot down and
their bodies literally riddled with bull
let's; while Captain Joe Mckee. Clark
Rifles. Third Georgia regiment and Ser
geant Ben Liddon, Home Guards, from
Morgan county. were instantly killed with
hundreds Of other brave boys, whose
lives were sacrificed; but not in vain, for
the works were held stubbornly by our
men and for nearly two hours a constant
fire was kept up by both sides, and load
ed guns were cooked and with bayonets
fixed, we're thrown over the embank-
ments, and everything to make the place
dangerous, as well as unpleasant TO hold.
Later in the day. about 1 o'clock, the lack
of water became apparent; for with the
stencil of battle in our nostrils and the
scent Of blood all around us (for the ditch
es were full of dead negroes and Yam
kees) and hot sun overhead, our thirst
grew almost intolerable
A great many, myself among the num-
Der, crawled back to the ravine for water,
but the springs were so crowded that the
water was muddied so as not to be fit
to drink, while the branch was filled with
dead and wounded, and there was nothing
to do but wait and take chances to I'LL
canteens.
There being a lull in the firing, we lay
down and waited While waiting Saund-
er's brigade came marching up the ravine,
and took position further to the right,
and just in the rear Of where the works
had not been recaptured, and about
o'clock orders were given for every man
Of the Virginia and Georgia brigades to
go up to the works, and when two NOR
tar guns, which were being carried up
the hill. were placed just on the right of
the recaptured works, should fire two
rounds each, and when Saunders men
were seen coming in sight up the hill on
our right we were to yell with all our
might, and fire our guns as rapidly as
possible whether we saw anyone to shoot
at or not.
The instructions were carried out to the
letter and from the time that Saunders
men came creeping up the hill till they
were in the bitches with the works in full
possession of our forces seemed but
very few minutes, and the battle OF the
Crater was over.
Now, all these things happened much
more quickly than it takes to describe
them. will close by quoting Corporal