The National tribune., 1901-05-23

the river and trade coffee for tobacco
The latter was Il very scarce commodity
with us, and as coffee was highly prizeC
by the rebels, they would gladly make
the exchange, which would take place af
ter the shadows of night had fallen.
1t was amusing to see a comrade stick
to his choice morSel, as long as there was
any taste to it, after which he would dry
it and smoke it in his pipe, and as he
finally knocked out the ashes would draw
long sigh
About July - the 32d Ohio, with
which we had been associated since No
vember. 1863, was transferred to the
Fourth Division, Seventeenth Corps, to
give Col. Potts a chance to command a
brigade About the same time the noble
18th Wis. was assigned to our brigade,
which military composition-20th, 6Sth,
18th Ohio, and 18th WiS.-we main
tanned to our muSter-out.
The three Ohio regiments had been
associated at Bolivar, Tenn. in the Sum
mer of 1S62; and it is a very remarkable
fact that they served their first enlist
ments, veteraniZed, returned from veteran
furlough, and We're again brigaded to-
gether, so to remain TO the close of the
war, thus forming and cementing a COM
radeship that will last foreyp
Early July 16 we started in the direc-
ton of Rossville, on the ChattahOOchee
River. The object was to cross the river
and if possible plant ourselves on the
east side of Atlanta. After a march of
about 20 miles under hot July sun we
camped one mile from Marietta.
The following day we marched to Ross
Vile 10 miles east of Marietta. and the
same evening crossed the ChattahOochee
on a pontoOn bridge, and went into camp
for the night. From Rossville our line
of march was about 20 miles in south
erly direction to Decatur, a little village
q Rs1FlR fphf mil
from Atlanta, where we arrived on the
evening of July 19.
PEACH TREE CREEK.
The next morning an incessant crash
and roar of artillery and musketry on our
right told us that a battle was being
fought at a place which afterwards was
known as Peach Tree Greek"
We devoted portion of our time while
near Decatur to tearing up and thorough
ly destroying the railroad and bridges. We
also picked blackberries, which grew in
profusiOn around Us.
Early in the afternoon our division
moved forward along the railroad in the
direction of the defenses of Atlanta. At
ter marching about three miles, the en-
emy was discovered to be posted about
half a mile in our front In a strip OF
heavy timber.
The Fourth Division now came up and
Immediately deployed into position on our
right, after which they advanced upon the
enemy, driving them pell-mell about one
mile to high range of hills. In the
meantime our division was rapidly NOV
ing forward and swinging as pivot on
the left of the Fourth Division. We
moved forward across an open plain to
the timber beyond, and just as the sun
was sinking we came TO a halt on the
banks of a creek, from the opposite side
OF which came rebel shot and shell whiz-
zing all around us. Night now coming
on, we lay down in line of battle.
Thenext morning just as the great orb
OF day commenced to tighten up the east
ern horizon general advance was or
dered against the enemy, who were in po-
sition on what afterwards became known
as "Leggett's Hill"
Our lines were quickly formed, our
flags unfurled in the early morning breeze,
and our comrades as they saw the colors
sparkle in the morning sun realized in
them everything we held dear in Govern
ment, and again resolved to follow the
grand old flag on to victory.
We moved across the creek and up the
slope toward the enemy, who had been
reinforced during the night, and were
prepared to dispute every inch of ground.
Our division, however, with the First Bri-
gade in front, moved forward on the
double-Quick. driving the enemy from the
The enemy again being reinforced made
an attempt 10 retake the HILL but at this
Opportune moment the muskets of the
Fourth Division, which were rapidly NOV
ing on our right, gave tongue, causing
the enemy to retreat in wild disorder.
Before 10 o'clock Gen. Leggett had a
battery in position ON the hill and was
throwing shells into Atlanta, one and a
half miles distant. The position thus Sc
cured was one of great importance, as
the occupation Of the hill forced the en-
emy to give up his line of works in our
front and fall back toward Atlanta The
balance of the day was spent in extend
ing our lines and strengthening our posi-
tion against an assault by the enemy.
Early July % we discovered that the
enemy had withdrawn from our 'front.'
ard while engaged in preparing our break
fast We We're aroused by the weIl-known
voice of Col. Welles, shouting Fall in
men, fall inp That earnest voice called
US to our feet in an instant, and grab
bing muskets We formed in line and were
soon marching rapidly to the rear to re-
pei, as We supposed, an attack by rebel
cavalry, upon our corps hospital and Sey-
enteenth Corps headquarters.
IN TRAP.
Upon reaching our position imagine our
Surprise TO find in our front, instead of
while at the same time another line OF
rebel troops were forming across the road
in our rear. Our regiment was thus be-
ing sandwiched between two lines of the
enemy, who appeared to have been Who'll
ly unaware of the position Of our little
Buckeye band.
From our position, being partly con-
cealed in dense copse, the commands of
rebel officers could be distinctly heard, and
prisoners were taken who unknowingly
on; something must be done, and done
quickly, in order to get out of a trap
which was about to spring upon us.
Those were anxious moments, which to
waste meant a visit TO some Southern
prison-pen.
Col. Welles hastily surveyed the ground
on our left, and a moment later whis-
pered down the line, BE cool, men; be
COOL Forward by the left fiank-march."
We sprang to our feet and moved to the
left on the double-quick, and dropping be-
hind rail fence which lay in our path,
poured volley into the enemy, who were
forming in line in an open field on our
right. The alarm thus given by the mus
Eets of our regiment was Immediately re-
spOnded TO by battery of artillery, and
the battle of July % opened in earnest.
The Third Division engaged the enemy
so promptly that our regiment was en-
abled, by making a rapid move TO the left
and a wide detour of about two miles, TO
pass around the enemy's right, and again
join our brigade and division on Leggett's
Hill
Gen R. K. Scott, commanding our bri-