The National tribune., 1902-09-11

50 yards to his left ran a swampy stream,
n tributary of that creek. Beyond this
stream rose the broad hill held by Wards
skirmishers while his division lay in line
on the lower slope Of that hill in Peach
Tree Valley. Thus it will be seen that
my main line occupied a position equally
advanced with the skirmishers Of both
the other divisions.
MY skirmishers had advanced across
a swampy rivulet about 300 yards in front
of my main line, their left in the open
field and their right on high, narrow,
timbered hill in front Of my right. Deem
ing that hill an important outpost, l d.
rected Col. Jones to send a regiment to 0c-
cupy it. The 33d N. ]. was Immediately
sent. and went to the hill to reconnoiter,
directing another regiment from Col.
Jones's Brigade to follow the 33d N. j.
On reaching the hill 1 found my skirm-
ishers on the crest and the 33d N. j. just
arriving. On my way I met three pris-
| oners, sent in from the skirmish line. They
were quite communicative, saying that
there were no large bodies OF their troops
III line on the hill, and directed n por-
| ton Of the skirmish line to advance a
short distance along the slope Of the ridge
to develop the intentions OF the enemy,
who were keeping perfectly quiet. Not a
man of theirs was to be seen or heard in
any direction.
These skjrmishers had advanced but a
few rods when the enemy poured in u con-
tinuous fire upon us from our front and
right, and were found to be advancing in
very heavy force on all sides, being al
| ready within 75 yards. their heaviest at
tack being OH my right. The 33d n. j..
together with my skirmish line, was quick
ly forced back to my main line with con-
siderable loss.
Scarcely had they rejoined the main
body when the enemy, in immense force,
rapidly and fiercely burst upon the right
flank of Candy's and JOness Brigades and
passed their fianks to their rear, at the
same time charging on Candy's front,
right and rear. 1t was necessary to change
front with portion Of my command to
meet the impending danger. The 14lth
Pa, holding their part Of the front line
in which my artillery was posted, re-
mained to fight the enemy in that dircc-
ton; the Goth N. Y. of Ircland's Brigade,
and the 18th n: Y; and 13d and 1o9th
Pa. of Jones's Brigade. assisted in support
of the artillery; these five regiments, with
the aid of my batteries. fighting on all
sides and holding the hill while with the
rest of my command / quickly changed
front and formed in the midst of the bat
tie, connecting with Gen. Williams's Divi-
sion.- This was done by changing front
to the right with all of Candy's Brigade,
except the 147th Pa. and deploying Ire
lands and JoDes's Brigadcs in one line,
connecting Ireland's left with Candy's and
Jones's right with Gen. Williams's left.
''AIl these changes were completed with
in an hour. during which the battle ragged
on every side Of us with terrific fury. The
five regiments, with the batteries. rs al
ready mentioned, held throughout the hill
occupied by them at noon. All my artil-
lcry was in position there and was served
rapidly from beginning to end Of the bat
tie with great herOism. cOOlness and skill.
THAT hill was the key position of the
entire battle; once gained by the enemy
the day was lost. The enemy perceiv-
ing its Importance. surged in immense
masses against it, while the dispositions
of my command were being made as be-
fore stated, but they stood as firm as a
rock and moved down column after col
umn of that vast, struggling mass that
charged them from three sides. l have
never seen more heroic fighting. For three
hours the fury of the battle along our en-
tire line could not be surpassed. Then
the tempest of clouds and missiles began
gradually to decrease. and by dark moth
ing but heavy skirmishing remained.
Seen. Hood had massed the greater
part of his entire army in this furious as
sault upon single corps (and that one the
smallest in our army. and was whipped
back to the ground he had left in the
morning. 1t is with feeling of I'M
usual admiration for the troops under my
command that l record the history of their