The National tribune., 1902-01-02

fhrOnged with troops streaming lnrouS
the Gap and taking positions preparation
10 advancing on RcSaca, Il point on tn
railroad eight miles distant, which Sher
man considered the key TO Johnston
safety. We threaded our way through
masses of men with scarcely less difficult!
than we encountered in our paSSag'
through the Gap, and were able Il
traverse but little more than mlle wheI
our brigade filed TO the right Of the road
formed close column and stacked arms
while the Twenty-third Corps passed OF
ahead of us. Many of Us saw for the
first time Gen Hooker. the commander OF
this corps. who rode at the head with his
staff. His fine figure and soldierly bear
ing elected admirinG comments from ouI
ranks. We remained interested specta'
tors Of marching columns until p. m'
when our brigade was ordered 10 leave
baggage and move forward in light march
ing order.
We piled our knapsacks and surplus
baggage in heaps, under charge of a de-
tail of guards, and marched rapidly TO 4
point near the railroad. where We found
our corps forming on the left of Hooker $.
Darkness came before our disposition was
complete. so we lay down to sleep on the
bare ground, with arms within reach,
ready for the next order.
RATTLE OF REsACA.
At break of day May IA, We were un-
der arms, and at sunrise our division
formed its lines as reserve for the other
two divisions of the corps, which occupied
the front line on the left of Hooker's
Corps.
When these dispositions were made our
army confronted .T0hnston's along Camp
Creek. from its mouth at the Oostanaula
River in a nOrthcrly direction parallel
with and less than two miles distant from
the railroad, which was absolutely neccs-
sary to the Confederatcs as their single
line of communication. For the protec-
ton of this road Johnston had abandoned
Buzzard Roost and Dalton, and while we
were marching down the west side OF
Rocky Face Ridge 10 Snake Creek Gap
his army was marching down the east side
to meet us at Resaca.
At 4. m. cannouading began on our
right, and at Q a. m. our division moved
in that direction, halting in the rear of
Johnson's Division. BY this time the firing
was heavy and continuous all along the
line.
About noon, in accordance with Sher
mans orders, our army began TO swing
upon the enemy, using JOhnson's Divi-
sion, in front Of US, as Il pivot. Carlin'S
Brigade was the first TO encounter the
enemy in his main works on the east bank
of Camp Greek, and met such terrific
fire of muSketry and artillery that il was
driven back, although fragments remained
under the shelter OF the banks of Camp
Greek, and continued to annoy the enemy.
In this emergency oUr brigade was hur
ried forward 10 its relief, and in a few
moments we stood upon the crest of the
hill and looked down into narrow val
ley; where Camp Creek meandeTed close
under the guns Of the enemy's fOrtitca-
tions, consisting of heavy redOubts for
artillery connected by elaborate breast
works for infantry.
Our regiment formed its line in con-
nection with the 9Sth and 10Sth Ohio. Of
our brigade, but when the bugle sounded
our regiment alone rushed down the slope
toward the enemy.
Our starting was the signal for the dis
charge Of artillery and musketry, which
swept our ranks with grape and canister
and bullets during the short period of
time it required us 10 reach the creek.
There the muddy banks furnished 4 shell
ter for cur men TO direct 4 rapid and per
6istent fire into the embrasureS Of the
Confederate fort at short range thus pre-
venting the gGnnerS from working their
guns and enabling us 10 maintain our pre-
cariOus position until long after nightfall,
when We withdrew, by orders. 10 our
former position, having accomplished all
that could reasonably be expected from
4 single regiment.
Our loss was six killed and % wounded
ont Of 45O men engaged.
The general attack, beginning Mt our
point and continuing toward the left by
each division in succession, proved unsuc-
cessful. Johnston held his main line in
tact, but Our line remained in such close
proximity that he could not weaken his
at any point TO meet Sherman's fanking
movement which must inevitably ensuc.
Early the morning of May II, we
moved nearly mile to the right and occu-
pied some works that had been CON
structed during the night. A portion Of
the regiment was sent into the rifle pits
in front, and at once became engaged
with the rnemy's skirmishcrs, also in rifle
pits.
The larger portion Of the regiment was
sheltered in Il ravine close behind the
works, where bullets and shells flew
harmleSSly overhead. Shortly after we
were relieved by the 18th H.. and retired
10 another ravine a little farther to the
rear. with orders TO be ready 70 support
the skirmisherS in case Of necessity. The
other regiments Of our brigade were post
cd near us.
The firing along the Skirmieh line was
heavy and continuous all day, and several
men Of our regiment were wounded while
In the rife pits. 4 number of wounded
also of oUr brigade were carried back
through our ranks to the rear. We of the
reserve were greatly annoyed by an en-
terprising Eharpshootcr, who managed to
drop a bullet occasionally in our midst.
We conclGded that his gun must he the
shape Of q mules leg, TO shoot over the
Hill.
One Of our batteries stationed few
yards from us fired rapidly all day, shak-
Ing the ground upon which we lay and
deafcning our ears with It's concussions.
At nightfali the firing subsidcd from n
continuous roar 20 ftful outbursts of
musketry, OccasiOned by one side or the
other imagining their antagonists were
stealing upon them In the darkness. Two
Of our companies were detailed after darI;
to dig rife pits on the crest Of the biU
IN front, and while the balance OF MS Law
upon the ground with guns at our side we
could hear the dull thud Of nick and shovel
accentuatod by the concussi0n Of n gun
fired at regular intervals by the battery
near Us, just 10 let the enemy know that
we were still on guard.
Notwithstanding these disturbing clc-
ments, We dropped into slumbcr so pro-
found that when, about midnight, there
was a sudden burst Of artillery. and r