The National tribune., 1902-12-18
THE WESTERN ARMY.
11th Ill. Man Gives HIS Recollections Of
the Battle of Aug 6, 1864.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have
been especially interested in Gen. Green
B. Raum's account of the Atlanta Cam
paign. l think, however, that the General
is mistaken in his statement contained in
The National Tribune OF Oct. %.
My recollection and memoranda of the
engagements are this: After n delay of
two days, caused by Gen. J. NJ. Palmer
not 0beying Gen. Schofield's orders, at IL
o'clock, Aug. 6. 1864, Reilly's Brigade, con-
sisting of the Tooth and 10Th Ohio. 18th
ILL.,, 18th KY, and the 9Th Tenn, was or
dered to make reconnaissance, the Tooth
Ohio on the left, 112th Ill. in center, 1O4th
Ohio on the right, the 10th Ky. off to the
right, to protect the flank 1--WE being the
extreme right, the 9Th Tenn. in reserve;
the brigade being supported by Cameron's
old brigade, commanded by Easement. A
strong skirnish line was put out, and We
advanced across the creek, up the slope to
the woods: found the rebels in force be-
hind wcli-constructed works, with good
headlogs on them, protected by abatis and
large underground partly cut off and en-
tangled together so as to make it as nearly
impossible as possible. The charge was
made, and we the 10Th Hid, some of us,
reached to within about 20 feet of the
works, and We're compelled to halt. Soon
after we halted l was wounded severely,
and went back to where the Second Lieu
tenant was, and told him to take command
of the company, and then went back to
near the creek, where l met Gen. II. J..
Henderson and Gen. Cox. Gen. Cox asked
me if another brigade could take the
works, and l told him that a division
could not take them. He turned to an Aid
and sent him to Gen. Schofeld with the
question and my reply Whilst the Sur
geon was dressing my wounds the Aid re-
turned, and Easements Brigade was or
dered up and our brigade was withdrawn
what was left able to get off. The bri-
gade lost about $50; the 10Th I'll. lost 13
killed on the field, 60 wounded, six of
whom died within few days, and one
missing. Co. X (my company lost three
killed on the field. and nine wounded; one
of these died shortly after.
I remember this very distinctly, as one
Of my men-one of the killed-had been out
in front looking around that morning, and
came in just as we were forming, and he
said to me: "Cap, we will catch hell, for
they have got good works, and the men
behind them are as thick as graybacks." !"
reported this to Gen. Henderson; but We
had started, and we soon found that his
statement was true. / had 30 men
present for duty on that charge, and
IL. including myself were laid off. some
for all time. others for a short time.
carry one of the bullets that hit me that
day as a memento of the occasion. Our
brigade always blamed Gen. Palmer for
onr loss that day, as we were ordered to
make the charge two days before, after
Gen. Palmer made the reconnaissance. but
he delayed two days, thus giving the rebs
q chance to build good works
1 write this not to create strife or con-
tention, but to make tie record straight as
the accounts appearing in The National
Trihuue will I think 20 into history some
day. Gen. Raum is a good writer. and
one of tile best Pension Commissioners we
have ever had-one that decided claims as
the makers of the pension laws intended
them to ZEE. II. CoLCoRD, Captain Go.
K. 10TH Ill.