The National tribune., 1904-07-14
REClTALS AND "REMINISCENCES.
Stories Eminenty Worth Telling Of Experiences and Adventures
in the Great National Struggle.

where they remained for short time,
when this was also abandoned for another,
more formidable, where, with their in
creasing numbers, our task was becoming
more difficult.
AS scon as the first barricade was taken
it was turned for our own protection, ana
none too soon. for this was scarcely done
when the rebels made a desperate charge
upon the two regiments, but the charge
was a disastrous failure. They fell back
to their works i'm some confusion.
Our infantry coming up, Gen. Kipat-
rick pushed his whole division forward.
soon having the enemy OH the backward
move, which he followed for several
miles. then went into camp. strongly barrl-
! cading, as n protection against any sud
den onslaught.
On the morning of Aug % we were on
he move early. and. finding JacksOn's cav
airy, Immediately engaged him, and was
not long in starting them OH the move; Dnt
to our surprise we found no infantry.
They. as we afterwards learned. had
pushed on to Flint River. 1t now became
necessary. il possible. to save the Red Oak
Bridge over Flint River. which at this
point is n deep and narrow stream. and
on account of it's steep banks unfordabe.
so the Seventeenth Corps could make
crossing. \ movement was made so as
to force the rebels from the Red Oaks
road to the JOnesbOro road, when Col.
Jones. with his Sth Ind. Cav. and the 2d
Ky. Cav. was dispatched with all haste
to seize the bridge. No considerable force
was met until near the bridge. where he
found they had possession with strong
guard. Quickly taking in the situation
and knowing the advantage of sudden
and determined charge, Col. Jones dis
mounted his men and charged. driving
the rebels from the coveted prize before
they were fully aware of what was up, Is
hoy f1ntr tl.y
case of being hard pressed, to cross the
river at that point. Once over. we found
plenty of fighting for a while. as the rebels
were well posted behind barrcades. and
stubbornly resisted our further advance
on this road.
Fitzpatrick pushed on after the rebel cav
airy. driving them across the river on the
Jonesboro road. which had to be forded.
where they took position TO prevent Kill
patrick following. Our artillery was
brought forward and placed in position.
opened upon them. and Gen. Fitzpatrick
was able to cross when he dsmounted his
command and sent his horses back across
the river and the men were soon behind
barricades. Then followed an hour Or two
of hot work, as the rebels attempted to
force him back to the west side of the
river. making several desperate charges;
but all in vain. Our infantry coming up
airy. which pushed forward after re-
treating foe.
After Col. Jones had crossed the Red
Oak Bridge he formed his command in
semi-eirc!e. with fanks resting on the river
above and below the bridge. throwing IA
strong picket line some distance to his
front. and harricaded his position. 4
Sergeant and 70 men We're then started
on the hazardous mission of reaching the
Atlanta & Macon Railroad. between
JOnesborO and Lovejoy, to cut the tele-
graph wires and destroy as much Of the
railroad as possible. gather what informa-
tion they could. and return. Going down
the east bank of Flint River. to n point
almost opposite LOvejOy. they turned east
and made for the railroad. which they
reached at a point north of Lovejoy and
between that and JOnesbOrO.
On the west side of the river opposite
the point where we were located. the valley
was narrow. with hills rising sharply.
well covered with timber. In the friendly
shelter and seclusion Of these woods were
gathered our horses. In our 'front.' on the
east side of the river. the valley was
wider and for distance of 600 or 700
yards there was Il gentle rise. whence
the hills rose sharply. the tops well wood
ed. Back of these hills ran the railroad
between Jonesboro and Iovejoy: and in
the woods lay Pat Clebnrne's infantry.
while at the bridge was the Sth Ind Cav.
$50 men. and one battalion Of the I'd Ky
Cav. 1OO men. prepared to hold that
bridge. for the Seventeenth Corps 'must
needs pass that way
1t did not take the rebels long to take
in the situation. and the 'smal army in
his front. Fearing he knew not what. as
they had learned To he surprised at moth
ing from Uncle Billy" he Immediately
determined to dislodge the Yankees. and
for that purpose ran into position 10
M af nvtlll ln.r- t<t,<~ 4.
LOCO yards from our works and began n
fierce cannonading. As we were without
artillery, there was nothing for us but TO
watch and wait. The enemy's position
being so much higher than ours, they
could not depress their guns sufficiently to
get range on ms. and their shots passed
over our barricades. and fell among our
horses. causing n stampede. leaving us
nary a hOss. Finding the shells of no
avail few rounds Of grape and canister
were fired. but with no better success.
when the firing ceased, and for time all
was quiet.
1t was about 8 O'Clock in the afternoon
that company of the I'd Ky. Cav. ad-
vancfd beyond our pickets to reconnoiter
This boldness. and the stubbOrnness OF the
command, who seemed determined to hold
the bridge. called for more decisive meas
ures, and Pat Cleburne formed his divi-
sion in Line to charge and capture the
of the woods in splendid shape. with
guns ut right-shOulder-shift A beautifM
sight they presented. as. breaking into
trot. they came down that hill, across
the valley. and upon our pickets. who.
after firing few shots, fell back to the
reserve.
On came that line Of gray. without
firing a shot or halting a moment After
firing few shots from their Spencers, the
pickets sought its main line. Was there
any chance of this little band checking
that steadily-advancing column of infan-
try. who still carried their guns at right
shoulder, having fired only a few seat
tered shots! Every man had neryed him
self to meet the shock. and with determi-
ration to hnrl that line back and keep
Old Glory floating at the bridge
Having advanced to within less than
100 yards of the frail works the rebels
came to u charge bayonet. What n grand
sight. as that line OF gIittering steel ad-
vanced while above the lines foated %
battle flags. The time had come for des-
perate work: the command was given to
commence firing. and was obeyed with
eagerness; the way the levers of our
Spencers worked was a caution to the
| rebels. When the column had reached to
| within $50 feet of the barricade. the FIRE