The National tribune., 1904-06-02

The next morning we moved forward
and massed near the foot of the slope lead
ing up to the Tunnel. From here we could
observe the rebels moving IL large body of
troops from their center. taking position in
out front. About II O'Clock the order to
advance was given, and as soon as we
turned around the spur of hill, near a
field, we came in good range of their bat
teries. How they sent shot and shell to-
ward US is yet vivid TO my mind !.
A shot passed between David Monroe and
me and Knocked him down. Are you
killed, Dave! / asked. No he an
answered, and up he jumped. and away We
went. To this time we had marched by
the right flank, but then the command was
given to form line of battle and Right
shoulder shift arms Then. up we went.
through the rebel fire concentrated upon
our line. Talk about Pjcketts charge at
Gettysburg. From the moment we started
their concentrated fire went through our
ranks! Half way UP the slope a sheet of
fire was let loose upon us: but steady and
unfaltering tie three regiments of our bri-
gade marched forward and upward. About
20 rods from the rebel lines fence ran
nearly parallel with their works. Until
we reached there ITO shot had been fired
from our line, and we dropped behind the
rails and opened fire upon the rebels
that was severe. After holding this po-
sltlon for some time we made a rush for
the works, but were unable to effect n
charge over them, owing to their fierce fire,
that Trimmed our ranks. Our flag bearer
was shot down, another grabbed the col
ors and he. too. fell. Scrgt Albert Dros-
sci held the flag up. and he was shot
While we could not get into the works the
rebels were unable to drive us back.
The 36th iii. was left as reserve at
the foot of the slope; why. being utterly
useless there as far as the attack was
concerned, has always been unaccountable
How sorely we needed them, 4 yell from
our right flank and rear caused us to look
that way. The rebels were making des-
perate efforts to cut us off, and came on
IN big force crying: Surrender. you
Yankee devils" The cry was met with
derision. i remember, as / hastily loaded
my gun and looked at their heavy masses
approaching. the thought struck ME that
every one of our bullets must hit its marx
Col. Viewer commanded: Fall back
18th" But by this time it was no easy
matter 10 fall back. Again he shouted:
Fall back. Save yourselves. Ii was ROW
hand-to-hand fight; no time for loading.
i remember hoy funny it looked TO see so
many OF our men-as well as rebels
without hats or caps. And then my hat
went of. Making a grab, | recovered il
and dashed through the line of yelling
rebels, and down the slope. Ii seemed to
me would never get down that field alive
but the rebel guns, as well as ours were
empty. and in the hurry and excitement
and shooting down the slope, THAR bullets
did not hit many. AS soon as the last OF
us got behind the rifles of the 18th H.
that regiment let loose on the rebels and
stopped their pursuit. In his with the
Western Army" Gen. Green Il. Raum
says that he was in the rear Of the 18th
Iowa with Col. Clark Viewer. / saw and
heard our brave Colonel, but do not re-
member seeing our brigade commander
After our repulse we rallied on the FLAG
of our regiment and Gen. John T.. SmitiI
came 10 us, smoking a pipe as calmly as
he would III camp, and said: well. boys
that's tough place up there No dis.
seNtIng voice was raised. just then the
Adjutant of the 10Th Mo. came up and
said: They are fanking us, General and
the General went TO verify the dispatch
but the rebels had enough for that day
and were i'll no shape for any movement
except retreat. The attack on Tunne.
Hill would have succeeded if the first lin,
lad been reinforced: but Gen. Sherman al
ways expected too much from his old
corps. As it was, our attack i'm sucl
fierce manner caused Bragg to SEM
heavy reinforce ments from his center an.
enabled the comrades of the Cumberlan,
Army to rush up Missionary Ridge. Their,
was hard, heroic fighting that day all alon.
the line, and no soldier of the old Thir,
Division of the Fifteenth Corps ought I,
feel jealous because this or that regimen
got little nearer to the fort than lii
own. As l stated, if we had received an,
reinforcements after making the last rush
we would surely have entered the rebe
works; but whether we could have hell
them any length of time against the heav,
lines of rebels is very doubtful. Some O
our wounded who fell into the hands of tn
rebels said afterwards that the rebel
ma oil
that even if we had penetrated thei
works we would have been unable I,
maintain our hold upon them
Less has been written of the Tunne
Hill battle than Of any other bloody fight