The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-28

foot Of q hill near the ChattahoOchee
River. A brisk fire was opened on US as
we advanced, and number Of the boys
were wounded; among them Maj. Willis
ton, Of the 41st Ohio. The firing seemed
to grow in volume at times, and our neil
We're getting impatient at the stubborn
ness Of the Confederates. The scattering
timber furnished little, il any, protection
for us, but there was no hinching. The
men were equal to the occasion, and stead
lily advanced.
From a distance of about 300 yards n
squad Of the enemy could be seen behind
huge pile of rocks, and above the din Of
the firing the sharp. penetrating voice Of
their commanding officer could be heard,
ordering them to shoot low" The Ian
guage he used was more forcible than elc-
CANT, and punctuated with many startling
explosives. He was, in all probability, q
graduate Of the baggage train; certainly
South, 'suh." could far forget himself.
Striking his sword OH the stones, he shout
cd:
Don't you see them? There they are,
- you, shoot low! Here, come back!
Don't run, OF III cut your - heart out.,
All this could be heard and observed
from our position. The fellows efforts to
enthuse his comrades, however, failed, for
| shortly afterward they broke and ran, AMI
in their retreat the commander proved to
be an easy winner in the foot race to the
river.
Dodging rebel bullets in our unprot ected
position had become somewhat monoto-
nous, and the order to charge came to us
as q relief. AS we started for the enemy
with hurrah, they scampered UP and over
the hill. Near the top Of the next hill
nearest the river stood log. cabin, from
the rear door of which several rebels could
be seen escaping as we advanced.
AS we reached the top, of the hill an
| amusing sight met our gaze. To our left
was a road leading down to the river. Be
| hind rail fence Oh the side Of this road
and some distance from the foot of the
hill, another squad of the enemy had
| made stand. Half hundred or SO were
discovered fleeing toward the river, and.
while they ran in many directions, the OBJ
| jective point appeared to be the bridge
crossing the river at the above railroad.
Few. however, reached that point, as the
rapid fire from our lines forced them into
| the water. and it was case Of sink or
| swim" They dived in. by the dozen, not
| delaying to disrobe, however.
The last of the enemy behind the rail
| fence were dislodged and driven across
| the river by picked squad from the 124th
Ohio led by Serg't Shaughnessey, of Co. !.
| The scenery which greeted our vision
| from the hill was one Of the most delight
full it had been the pleasure of the writer
to gaze upon during the campaign. Tie
| ChattahoOchee could be seen winding its
course for miles through beautiful val
| leys. The thick green foliage of the woods
OH the opposite bank of the river in front
Of our position, and which was mirrore,l
| in the water. must have been little less
charming and inviting than CalypsOs bow
er. Through and over the trees an Occa
sional glimpse of the city Of Atlanta, only
| eight miles away, could he had.
| I'm nrflar IA fnlInv nm tho annmv NO G
necessary to advance our picket line to Il
position on the bank Of the river. To d.
/ this before nighifall would be certain deaf til
to any Of our men who exposed themselves
| Under cover of darkness. therefore. q de-
tail was made to dig gopher holes for our
picket line. BY dawn the following morn.
ing these gopher holes were completed
and occupied by our men. Those com
| prisinS the picket line remained in thrir
respective gopher holes all day. as it wa.
not possible to relieve them until darkness
had again fallen.
! 1t was necessary for our men while on
picket to observe the utmost caution, as Il
brisk fire from the enemy's ntrenchments
continued during the day. liz. however. tho
rebels made it uncomfortable for our men
the Union troops were equally alert and
watchful, and many q reckless rebel Oh
the other side of the river who exposed
himself was made to pay the penalty.
The COnfederates taxed the patience ol
Gen. Sherman too far by tarrying in thei
position, for all the artillery in Gen
Woods Third Division. Fourth Corps
was moved forward on July .. and at !
o'clock that night every battery along tn.
line opened fire on the rebels. The heav,
cannOnading continued for only about hal
an honr. the shells passing directly oyel
, the gopher holes. causing the occupant,
considerable annoyance. Tb: firing proved
; too hot for the enemy. who evacuated
the position before morning. and Wood,
Division moved to the east and nfterwaI,
, crossed the river.-PETER PRICE. Go. II
l24th Ohio, 119 So. kedz;e Ave, Chicago
III.