The National tribune., 1902-02-06

forced to lie fiat IN their bitches anG lev
had the temcrity 10 reply, as the appear
ance of head above their works made
il a target of a hundred muskctS.
Two guns of Barnett'S Battery were
brought forward and planted 80 as 10 par
tally cnflade the bitches. y round oi
grape and canister at such close range
set he occupants all aStir and forced then
10 expose their bodies to our muSkctS.
1t became altogether Il onc->idcd affair."
and many of our men enjoyed this crUe
sport. a> their yelling like Comanchc In
dianS Indicated,
1t grew 50 tame To some of our men
that they crawlcd within few steps of
the bitches 20 watch for the exposure of
patch OF gray and make sure of Il good
shot Doubtless the approach of night
was welcomed by the victims. for at dusk
they withdrew TO works mile i'll their
rear.
The members of our regiment fired
about 100 rounds of ammunition each. One
of our number was wounded
Our entire line was advanced during the
day as close as possible to the enemy : IN
trenchmeutS resulting in the usual Skir-
assault was made by Forces Brigade on
Il commanding hill. the possession of
which was necessary TO the continuity of
our line. The assault was successful.
BATTLE OF ATLANTA.
ne morning pE July Il TnIlof SlDTHdh
that Atlanta was ours. but was not gem
orally credited until announced from head
quarters. Our corps was directed TO
march into the city, and the order reached
our regiment about noon, which order, to-
gether with the announcement of the fall
of Atlanta. it became my duty TO com
municate 10 company commanders.
Despite heat and dust. we moved cheer
fully forward with Il swinging step, pass
ing vacated line of Confederate iG-
trenchmentS and out into the main high
way, which we followed across the rail
road until We came within three miles of
the city, when we turned 10 the right into
some heavy timber and formed line of
battle.
About the same time we heard the
cracking Of musketry in front, and soon
the unwelcomc intelligence passed
through the ranks that the Confederate
army was still between us and the COW
eted stronghold. Our division was posted
on the extreme right of the army, with
our brigade in position on a ridge over
looking the city of Atlanta three miles
away and the Confederate intrenchments
Intervening about one mile distant
Meanwhile a great battle was in pro
Eress on the extreme left of our army.
We could hear the firing and see the
smoke rising above the tree-tops.
As the Army of the Tennessee was
moving forward in full expectation OF an
suddenly aSsailed in front. flank and rear
by the combined forces of Hoods army
concentrated there for the purpose. Gen.
McPhesSon. the commander, fell and 10
of our guns were taken at the first onset
For time confusion reigned but our
men soon rallied and held their own
against further assaults.
When night came TO end the conflict
the woods and fields We're strewn with
the dead and dying of both armies. our
loss being about $500 men and the Con
fcderatcs' about the same.
During the night Hood Withdrew to his
works. leaving the battlefield with hun
dreds of unburicd dead in our possession.
A gun fired regularly every 10 minutes
In front of Onr brigade by one of the en-
rmy's batteries disturbed our slumber in
slight degree, hut did no damage that
We heard Of.
We spent July % in building fortifca-
tiols, as an attack was expected at any
time. The Confederate skirmishers in
front of Bairds Division showed diSpo-
sition to advance. which brought out
heavy muSketry and artillery fire from our
lines aud apparently had the effect of dis
couraglng such Il movement
There was but slight skirmishing in
front Of our division.
Our battery was brought up to our line
and fired toward Atlanta. but the shots
fell q little short of the city.
SABBATH IN TIE TRENCHES.
SabbalIs come and go during this cam
paign without receiving the slightest at
tcn,i"u.
Considerable cannonading was kept up
during July 2l tSundayl more by us on
The right and more by the enemy on our
left
il is said that our shells reach the city,
and if 50 what jar 10 the nerves Of wor-
shippers iii the churches
After nightfaIl the picket firing grew
louder until 10 =. III. ii seemed about 10
culmiuaic in q general charge on one side
or hc other
We had all gone 10 sleep in our blan-
EctS when the Uproar started by a broad
side from our batteries followed I,v the
sounding Of bri@lcs in Raird's Division and
loud cheers from our men in the bitches.
The Confcdorates fired franticaIy, belicv-
ing We were about to tumble into their
works, but II was merely rJlSc on our
part; not man left our works. The mus
kerry soon subsidcd. but the Confcderafcs
continued to fire their cannon at regular
intervals.
We worked hard all day on our in
trcHclments. and now consider them so
complete that if we do not have an Op-
pOrtuuiiy 10 defend them against assault,
many of our boys win be badly disap-
pointed.
We awoke July - before daylight to
see Col. Mitchell, our brigade commander,
standing AT the door of Col. Van Tassclrs
tent instructiBg him TO have our shelter
tents taken down or concealed with brush,
as an assault ON our works was altogether
probable. Our regiment, holding the eX-
trcme right of the army, would naturally
receive tlc first blow in the expected at
tempt to turn our right. The day how
ever was comparatively quiet
On our left the Confcdcrates were per-
mitted, under 4 flag Of truce. TO bury their
dead on the battlefield of the 22d.
Directly III our front is n massive fCrt
which so far has not fired q gun, but its
threatening look has caused US great un-
easiness. We sat about dusk looking over
this fort TO the city beyond, speculating as
usual as to the number and size Of the
guns we might encounter in case we were
ordered 10 advance. Our discussion was
cut short by three shots from our bat
terry, which was a signal, and a moment
later rocket flashed before our eyes
which we all took TO be huge shell from
the fort, and right III our midst, too, judg
ing from the noise. 0ne-half the regi-
ment turned a summersaut, and the other
half Rugged the grass before the nature
Of the projectilc was discovered. Five
other rockets Of various cOlors were sent
up and answered by n corresponding num-
chr from the extreme left Of our army
away beyond Atlanta, showing that our
line formed a semi-circle around the city
The enemy was very quiet during the