The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-28

Editor The Advertiser.
 As a member of Co. B. 37th Georgia
 Regiment. General Bates brigade. and a participant in the above named battle to try to give the readers of your valu- able paper a brief sketch of that most horrible conflict.
 on the 18th of September. 1s63 our brigade was moving slowly and sullenly before the enemy, southward from Chat
 tanooga: the boys were in a fighting hu- nor. especially the Georgians. for they did not like the idea of giving up one foot of Georgia dirt. or of being driven like sheep over their own soil. We had plodded along until we reached a little North Georgia town called Lafayette
 where we were halted for a rest
 The Federal cavalry had struck this town a short time before and the jail and other buildings were perforated with shot and shell. The citizens informed us that the cavalry were under Stoneman. and that the garrison had taken shelter in the jail and other buildings and had suc- ceeded in whipping the Federals and saw ing the town. It was while resting and listening to the conversation, that we were apprised of serious business ahead or rather behind us Courier after courier was seen coming and going in hot haste. their horses fairly flying (and some of them were magnificently mounted). Ev- cry old soldier knew what this meant. without asking and they were not long kept in suspense. for directly our old fighting General. Bill Bate. or Fighting Bill as the boys called him, came gall loping up, a crutch resting on the pom mel of his saddle, and a sword grasped in his right hand. The long roll was heard on every side; the men were hurriedly formed and the command. About face: quick lime; march," was given by our gallant Colonel Radler. The boys respond ed with a genuine Rebel yell. and such a transformation in men was never before seen Faces that had been suilen, were now lit up with smiles 5ests were passed, and every man seemed to step out with determination to whip General Rose crans or die. The march was kept up until about 10 or il a. m.. when right in our front the booming of cannon and the pop. pop of small arms warned us that our cavalry were having a hot time ahead. The command was now given to move by right flank. thus throwing us into line of battle; then forward" After moving forward about half a mile, we were met by our cavalry slowly falling back but contesting every inch of ground. Skirmishers were now thrown forward, and soon the cracking of rifles and the shrieking of shells announced that we
  Reaching the Chickamauga Creek. over dead and dying men. our regiment was halted as a reserve to a portion of our brigade. The other regiments now ad- vanced across the creek, our regiment following in supporting distance. The ad- vance was rapid, and the battle opened in our front with a vim. For protection we were ordered to lie down; not being able to do any shooting. and as men were Call uid If wa UI n obey the order. Soon the Confederates be- gan to drive the enemy back, step by step and we were again ordered up and for ward for about two hundred yards. and then again commanded to lie down. The enemy seeing their men giving ground, must have thrown forward heavy col umn of fresh troops. for now, in front of us, the firing and roar of cannon was in- cessant Wounded men began to pour by us in hundreds, some hobbling along, and some being carried on stretchers.
 We were now ordered forward, as our men in front were badly cut up. and about out of ammunition. Our regiment respond ed with a yell, and moved forward almost at a double quick. Pushing on we soon came up with our men who were stretch cd out in one long line, fiat upon the ground, firing away for all they were worth. Our regiment, under a whitening fire, and seeing the advantage the enemy had. threw themselves upon the ground and commenced loading and firing as rap idly as possible. But,- knowing from past experience that the Tanks would lie there and shoot all the evening, a sergeant in Co. B, S7th Georgia Regiment. rose up, and taking off his old battered "Joe Brown" hat, shouted at he top of his voice, Come on. boys. and let's give them h--l." With such yell as l never heard before, the entire line rose and dashed upon the enemy. The Tanks knew what was coming, and. springing up. they tried to run over each other in their mad flight. Our boys tried to keep to- gether, but the black jacks and pines were so thick that we were soon broken into groups. each on full run aIter the en- emy.
 It was here that the Federal artillery did some fine work; as soon as their men had passed to the rear they opened with canister and shrapnel, moving down our boys at a fearful rate. The writer was with one group of ten. and at s'rsle discharge from the battery we were charging, nine went down from 0 charge of canister. We were so close togather that actually heard the dull thud of the iron hailstones as they struck my com rades, leaving me alone and untouched. dashed to the right, and joining DOT tions of my company and other com mands rushed ahead. But the artiller- ists, limbering up, went galloping to the rear, followed by the Johnnies on dead run. We captured a few of their cannon which became entangled with trees. or. the horses being killed, had to be aban- doned.
 After pursuing them for about half a mile, and having broken completely through their nnes we were ordered to halt, form, and fall back, we were liable to be hanked from the right or left and ''scooped in by the enemy's get ting between us and the gap We had made. If the entire army had moved