The National tribune., 1903-06-18

of the old Twentieth Corps, which had
been disbanded after the battle of Chicka-
mauga. Its distinguishing badge was the
fve-pointed star of the Twelfth Corps. 1t
redeemed the reputation of its namesake
and added new luster to its guiding star.
The corps was assigned to the Army OF
the Cumberland. commanded by Gen. Geo.
Il. Thomas, the "Rock Of Chickamauga," !"
than whom no brighter name adorns the
pages of American history. Our corps
commander was that magnificent soldier,
the Bayard of the Union army, Gen.
Joseph Hooker. In him we seemed to
realize the old ideal Of the poet, "A COM
bination and a form indeed, where every
god did seem to set his seal, to give the
world assurance Of a man."
The old veterans need no words OF mine
to euiogize Gen. Hooker. he is remem-
bered by all. The Division Commanders
at the front were: First Division, Gen.
A.. S. Williams; Second Division, Gen.
John w. Geary: Third Division, Gen.
Daniel Butterfeld.
Gen. Butterfeld left June %, and Gen.
VIM. T. Ward was assigned to the Third
Division, and continued in command until
the close of the war.
There was Fourth Division, command
ed by Gen. Lowell II. Rousseau, consisting
Of Gen. II. S. Granger's Brigade Of five
regiments, and nine unassigned regiments;
but they operated in the rear, guard ng our
communications, and l have no means Of
knowing about their service, and hence
can only allude to them as a part of our
corps.
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
The Atlanta campaign commenced May
6, 1864, and the forces taking part in it
| were commanded by Gen. w. T. Sherman,
one of the worlds great military leaders,
a man dominated by one impelling thought
to crush out the rebellion. His force
comprised 9S,797 Of all arms and 254
pieces of artillery, made up as follows:
Army of the Ohio CFwenty-third Corps,
Gen John NJ. Scho6eld: Army of the
Cumberland Fourth, Fourteenth and
Twentieth Corps, Gen. Geo. II. Thomas;
Army of the Tennessee, Gen. James B.
Mcpherson; Fifteenth. Seventeenth and
two Divisions Of the Sixteenth Corps.
The Army Of the Ohio was on the left
at first, but was changed over to the right
later on. The Army Of the Cumberland
had the center, and the Army of the Ten.
| about in the center of the whole.
| The Confederate army was commanded
by Gen. Joseph X. Johnston-in my hum
BILE opinion, their greatest leader. In hin
we found foeman worthy Of our steel.
The Twentieth Corps had its first fight
Of that campaign at Resaca, May Is, al
though Geary had a sharp scrimmage May
Z, at Rocky Face Ridge. On the 18th We
drove the enemy from several strong hills
and captured fOur-gun battery.
On the 10Th the enemy was driven ou'
of Cassrille without making the stand We
had anticipated. On May 25th we had O
very sharp fight at New Hope Churcf
with Steyenson's and Stewards Division.
of Hoods Corps. The engagement tool
place in the afternoon, and lasted unit
dark. During the night the enemy quietl,
stole away. The casualties on both side,
were very heavy.
June 18th Lieut.-Gen. Leonidas Polk
Of the rebel army, was killed, near Kene
saw, by shell from Wheeler's Batter,
Of our Corps. Gen. Polk had been edu
Gated at West Point, but had left tn,
Army for the Church, and at the break
ing out Of the war was an Episcopa
one of their best Generais
June 22d Hindman's and Stevenson
Divisions of Hoods Corps suddenly strucl
Williams's and Geary's Divisions of ON
Corps, and Hascalps Division of tn
Twenty-third, but were repulsed with grea
loss, leaving their dead and wounded an,
many prisoners in our hands. I thin
Of our Corps, was also in this fight, whic
is known as the battle of Kulp's House.
On the 9th was fought the terribl
battle Of Kenesaw Mountain. Capt. Nc
!; Bride, In his history, says: "a vain al
tempt was made to dislodgs the enem
from his stronghold. Gen. Sherman ha
two reasons for making the assault: Firsi
because the two armies had settled dow
! to the conclusion that fanking alone wa
the game; and, second, had It been success
full, Johnston's center would have bee
broken and his army pushed back in COZ
fusion and with great loss to his bridge
on the Chattahoochee. But It was no
! successful, and no more direct assault
J were made upon the enemy's lines by on
! forces during the rest Of the campaign
However, the assault caused the sacrifc
. Of many lives, and Il - believed by man
to have been n eraYa error Of fudgmautV -