The National tribune., 1902-02-06

Christian gentleman, and somehow the
hardest swearer in the ranks feels that
Howard's prayers will help win the bat
tie. In the prevailing disregard of the
Sabbath in our army it is refreshing to
pass Gen. HOwaTd'S headquarters on Sun
day and read the inscription on his tent,
Remember the Sabbath Day" Instinct
lively we raise our caps and say THANK
God for one Christian soldier"
Careless as Sherman is himself in re
ligious matters, he expresses profound re-
spcct for Howards principles and we
know he has preferred him for this i'm
portant command over two brilliant Gen
erals who laid claim TO it.
BATTLE OF EZRA CHURCH.
All night long the Army Of the Tennes-
see came marching from the left TO take
Il new position on our right, extending our
line parallel to that of the enemy toward
East Point, railroad junction which this
movement was designed to reach. First
came Dodge's corps, which had already
secured its position and fortified in front
and TO the right of our position, which
previously had been the extreme right Of
our army.
Then came Blairs corps and, lastly, Lo-
gan's, which was moving into its posi-
tiDn still farther to the right the morn
ing OF July %, when our division marched
ont of its works on the road TO Turner's
Ferry, point on the ChattahOochee River
four miles distant, and somewhat in our
rear.
Before reaching the river we encoun-
tered Wheeler's cavalry, which stayed
with us the remainder Of the day. We
then turned to the left on a road leading
toward East Point. our purpose being to
intercept any force that might attempt
to flank the Army OF the Tennessee, for
Sherman rightly judged that Hood would
not suffer the development of our line to-
ward his communications without a strug-
gle to prevent il.
The roar Of muSketry and artillery was
borne 10 our ears about noon from the di-
TcCtion whence We came, but our division
still pressed toward East Point, bnt very
slowly, on account of Wheelcr's obstinate
resistance, which necessitated dcploying
our leading regiments into line Of battle.
About the middle of the afternoon a
staff officer came 10 MS with the news
that the Army Of the Tennessee had been
attacked by Hoods army, and directed us
to return 10 the scene Of action as soon as
possible. This Our commander proceeded
to do by the shortest ronte, but owing to
the continued resistance of the enemy and
our ignorance Of roads, we fiOundered
through the woods, brush and marsh un-
til midnight before we reached the front
and Joined the right Of Logan's corps.
All was then quiet, but il was the calm
after the storm. The'trees were torn with
shot and shell, and the field in front Of
Logan's works was thickly strewn with
Confederate dead and wounded, the re-
suit Of repeated but unsuccessful as
saults upon the Army of the Tennessee
during our absence.
Our failure to reach the scene of ac-
tion in time TO take part in it was not
through lack OF effort. as our march was
so severe that hundreds dropped from our
ranks exhausted.
Wards Division Of the Twentieth
Corps joined ours the morning of July %
in advancing our line TO include the bat
| tlefeld Of the day before, which was ac-
complishcd without opposition.
The remainder Of the day was spent
in burying the enemy's dead, details for
this purpose being made from each regi-
ment Of the two divisions. The enemy S
| loss Is something like 1900 killed and
wounded, while our loss Is about 1000,
which shows the advantage OF fighting be
| hind breastwOrks.
! Looking over the field so thickly strewn
with the gray we thought of that other
| field in front of Kenesaw SO thiclly
strewn with the blue A comrade re-
marked, This pays for Kenesaw," but
| i'll truth II is poor satisfaction to see hun
dreds Of brave fellows stretched upon the
! bloody field, even if they do wear the
gray. We are not fighting for revenge
that we should withhold sympathy for the
wounded or respect and sorrow for the
dead.
| fTo ba aon,iuundl