The National tribune., 1902-08-28


Effective defense of the railroad system
leading from Chattanooga southwark to
the front, the District of Etowah was
created, with headquarters Mt Chatta-
nOoga.
Maj-Gen. James B. Steedman WIS as
signed to the command of the District.
with Capt S. B. Moe Assistant Adjutant-
General.
The district extended from Bridgeport
to the army in front. Gen. Steedman was
well suited to the task: he was man of
great resources, of indomitable courage,
and prompt in action. Troops under his
immediate command occupied Chatta-
nooga, and guarded the railroad as far
south as Dalton, the point of junction OF
the Chattanooga and Knoxville Railroads
A strong garrison well intrenched was
constantly maintained at this point.
During the great conflict in June
around Kenesaw Mountain the Confeder-
ate cavalry in considerable numbers APP
peared both east and west of the railroad
between Dalton and Cartersville. Their
activity and numbers made it necessary
to increase the Union force. both for gar
rison duty and scouting. The cavalry as
signed to this work were the brigades of
Col. Eli II. Murray, commanding the
Third Brigade of the Third Cavalry Di-
vision, composed of the 92d III. MID lni.,
Col. Smith ID. Atkins; Sd Ky. Cav, Maj.
Lewis Wolley, and the 9Th AZ. Cav. Col.
Oliver l.. Baldwin; and Col. Louis
D. Watkins, commanding the Third
Bridage, First Cavalry Division. con-
sisting of the 4th KY. Col. Wickliffe
Cooper; 9th KY, Maj. William H. Fidler,
and the 9Th KY. Cav, Col. John X. Faux
ner. and Col. John 7. Croxton. command
ing the 4th Ky. Md Inf. All of these
troops were from Kentucky except the
92d Ill. The regiments were all well
mounted, and were composed of splen-
did body of young men, courageous. enter
prising and well disciplined. Murray,
Watkins and CroxtOn were officers of
splendid ability, and all rose to distinc-
ton.
A HOT AND DUSTY MARCH.
On June % Gen. John e. Smith, COM
1aanding the Third Division, Fifteenth
Corps, headquarters at Huntsville, Ala.,.
was ordered to move at once with his
division and hold the railroad from Dali
ton southwark.
= Within few hours after receiving the
order the division, with all its camp and,
garrison equipage, Quartermaster, Com
missary and ordnance stores, took the
road toward Chattanooga.
The Third Brigade was stationed at
Decatur, the First Brigade was stationed
at intermediate points between Decatur
and Huntsville while the Second Brigade,
commanded By himself, occupied camp
at Huntsville and garrisOned two railroad
stations east of Huntsville. The weather.
was intensely hot and the road became
very dusty. We experienced great dis
comfort on the march. but we started
early of mornings and marched late in the
no fnr n Ir,f hA Ia
Of the day.
We reached Mud Creek on the evening
Of June 25 l put my men into camp in
the woods near the stream, so that every
man could wash and cool himself off.
The days march had been along an old
established road through a farming coun-
try with many lanes and but little shade;
many of my men, covered with dust, were
Frustrated by the heat.
l busted myself during the day to per-
sonally see that every regiment got along
as comfortably as possible. l remained
on duty until the rear guard came into
camp, when / rode to my own camp and
dismounted. found myself completely
exhausted, hot almost to melting, and COW
cred with dust. l at once had a bucket of
water brought to my tent, where took a
bath; but my head was all agiow, and
seemed almost ready to melt. l put a
wet towel around my neck, changing it
quite often, and sat with my feet in a
bucket of water for about two hours. The
next morning l was all right; my head
had cooled off, and l felt no discomfort
from the previous days march. But
will never forget the heat and dust Of
that days march and the narrow escape
l made from sunstroke.
We reached Chattanooga in due time.
where the troops of the entire division
took cars and hurried forward to their re-
spective posts.
GUARDING THE RAILROAD.
Gen Smith established his headquarters
at Gainesville, the First Brigade accom-
panying him. The Third Brigade had its
headquarters at Kingston, while l was
assigned headquarters at Resaca. The
duty imposed upon the division was to
guard the railroad from Dalton souti, to
AcwOrth and from Kingston west to
Rome. This latter was branch road
% miles long.
The 4th Mimi, commanded by Lieut.
Col. John f. Tourtellotte, was stationed
at Allatoona, with minor posts south. The
other regiments of the First Brigade had
their encampment near Gainesville, and
guarded the railroad bridge across the
Etowah River and the fords and bridges
above and below the railroad
The 9Th Ohio Cav, commanded by
Lieut.-Col. Heath, was also stationed at
Gainesville, and reported to Gen. Smith
The Third Brigade, with headquarters
at Kingston, also had stations on the
Etowah River for the defense of bridges
and fords, and guarded the railroad The
city of Rome had separate garrison of
considerable strength. The object Of con-
centrating so large force in the imme-
diate neighborhood of Gainesville was to
give Cen Smith men enough to enable
him to give battle to any large raiding
force of the enemy that might undertake
diction.
and Adairsville, 81 miles. | ststiOned the
18th Iowa, Col. Clark r. Viewer COM
manding, at Tilton, with substations
northward to connect with the troops at
Dalton. The 10th Mo. was stationed be-
tween Tilton and Resaca at point
named Construction Camp. where quite
number of carpenters and woodsmen
were quartered. These men were en-
ployed in the preparation of bridge tim
bers and cross-ties for use in an emer-
gency. The S0th Ohio, Col. Prem Metham
commanding, was stationed at Resaca,
which was also the headquarters of the
brigade. Resaca is situated on the north
bank of the Oostenaula River, across
which stream there was railroad and a
wagon bridge.
Resaca was well fortified. We had
two forts; east Of the railroad connected
with ritie-pits, and one fort west of the
railroad with two pieces of artillery.
The seth ILL.,. Lieut.-Col. John z. Hall