The National tribune., 1901-05-16

dered out on the left about two miles,
where, just at dark, the rest of our bri-
gade Joined us. In our front was an open
field about 400 yards wide, which we con-
tented ourselves in watching throughout
the night, to penetrate the designs OF an
enemy said to be moving on our left flank.
The night, however, passed quietly, and
i'll the early morning we returned to our
camp on Brush Mountain.
ASSAULT on KENEsAw.
June "a Gen. Sherman issued orders
for a grand assault upon the enemy S
lines, to take place on Monday, June q.
Accordingly, early on the 9th the signal
was given and the charge was sounded
to assault the enemy, intrenched upon
and around Kenesaw.
No sooner were the assaulting columns
in motion than from behind rife-pits,
from rocky ledges, and down from the top
of towering kenesaw rained shot and
shell in one ceaseless, fiery torrent. Still
onward pressed our comrades through
that storm of death, right up to the rebel
intrenchments, when a halt was sounded,
as over those bristling works they could
not go.
Our regiment being on the extreme left,
was not brought into action, yet we were
under orders to be ready to move to the
support of our comrades at any moment.
From our elevated position on Brush
Mountain we could look across the bloody
field, and as we turned our eyes toward
lofty Kenesaw the thought of charging
its gloomy sides was not a pleasant one,
as the whole mountain-top and Side
seemed to be wrapped in pillows of fame.
Our comrades were struggling against
fearful odds, and as the shadows of night
fell around them they retired from an ad-
vanced position to their intrenchments.
Once, and only once, did the willy John
ston score a victory over Sherman.
The few days following we remained in
camp. Everything meantime remained un-
usually quiet on our part of the line, ex-
cept an occasional lively exchange of
compliments by the artillery of friend and
foe.
Thus matters progressed until the even.
ing Of July z, when we were ordered to
quietly buckle ON our war harness and
form in line. About 8 O'Clock we moved
silently down a winding mountain road to
the valley below, and, clothed with the
stiffness of death, marched close along the
enemy's lines toward the southwest.
On that dark night a number of boys
of the Sd Ohio Cav, which command fol
lowed us down through the dense brush
on the mountain side, lost their hats. But
upon reaching the level country each one
replenished his loss at the expense of
some line infantryman.
shadowy form of comrade, and with a
sweep Of a long arm grab a hat and then
dash off into the night.
Morning found US on the right flank of
Sherman's army, when the fact was re-
yealed TO US that the rebels were on the
retreat and Sherman's boys were after
them.
About sunrise a short halt was ordered
TO make coffee, after which we again
moved forward, marching all day, and
about o'clock in the evening came to q
halt on the Sandtown Road, about three
! miles from the Chattahoochee River.
On Independence Day we remained in
| camp until toward night, enjoying a rest
after "A hours march. Late in the after.
noon we moved down the Sandtown Road
about two miles, driving the enemy's skir.
mishers into heavy line of earthworks
from which they opened upon us with ar.
tillery. We then retired a short distance
| and as night was coming on a halt was
ordered.
About o'clock the following morning
we were put in rapid motion toward the
right, but had moved only a short dis.
tance when we encountered the enemy
| heavily intrenched near the mouth OF
| Nickajack Creek.
Upon the opposite side of the Nicka.
jack was an open field, and beyond that
on the high ground, was heavy timber
| We soon learned that there was some
! thing else or those high bluffs besides
| timber. There was a heavy fort, with
strong earthwOrks extending out on each
| side, and behind those works was a saucy
enemy, for as we looked across the creek
We could see little puffs of white smoke
and then came larger puffs, followed by
the screaming Of shot and shell all around
us. We then turned our faces to the
south, and found some fellows on the op
| posite side of the Chattahoochee to be en-.
gagged IN the same unfriendly actions
| which caused us to retire to a place OF
safety.
Night now coming on, we were soon
busily engaged in throwing up q line Of