The National tribune., 1904-08-18

ranks two or three rods, and then run
back to place again. Their legs took them
back in spite of themselves. But second
thought took them into line again! The
men that fell, killed or wounded, were in
plain sight as the line moved forward.
They pressed on, near and up to the
works some mounted the works and went
over. and | and many others just started
to give a cheer, when large body of the
enemy come in on the right flank and rear
from the tunnel cut. That was more than
our boys could stand, and the order was
given to fall back, which all did many times
faster than they got there.
Just about the time that the line was
half way up the hill Gen. Sherman and
staff came riding along our hill, from the
left, and stopped only few PAGES from
me. and watched the boys in their ad-
vance. their efforts at the breastworks, and
their final run down the hill. / watched
this General closely, expecting to see him
send one of his staff off somewhere to
order some more regiments to help and
support those brave boys who were doing
so well: but when the enemy from the
the boys came running down hill, he rode
OF 10 tie right.
Gen. Sherman in his report says: "These
troops were in the nature of supports.
and did not constitute a part of the real
attack: and that explains why he did not
BcHu tEOOps 10 HeIp i he conf
manding officers were too anxious to help,
and the boys got hurt.
COmrade kiser says: LESS has been
written of the Tunnel Hill battle than of
any other bloody fight" Now. perhaps
! can give him. and all of the others who
were in the Tunnel Hill fight, some news
by telling them that they have been ever
lastingly honored-as much as or more
than any other troops in the battle of Mis-
sionary Ridge.
On the base of the Gen. Sherman
statue. erected and unyailed at Washing
ton year ago. there are four plaques or
medalliOns, one for each side of the base,
each to commemorate some important
event of Sherman's career; and one of
them is entitled missionary Ridge" and
ii is an exact picture of Sherman and his
stan as they sat on their horses looking
at the. fight from the background. If a
snapshot had been taken at the time il
would have shown the group just as it is
II only needs six or eight more trees in
the foreground near him. to complete the
scene as ] saw it while standing some six
rods behind. i think that some of his
staff must have given the idea and points
TO the artist who designed the picture
may have sketched the scene indeed.
IL was late in the afternoon of the short
November day when he sat there on his
horse. waiting-waiting to hear from
Thomas on the right. Now / will quote
from his report. After telling about how
Gen. Smiths troops fell back from the
tunnel he says: Thus matters stood about
3 p. m. The day was bright and clear
and the ampitheater of Chattanooga lay
in beauty at our feet | had watched fo,
the attack of Gen. Thomas early in the
day. Column after column of the enem,
was streaming toward me gun after CUR
poured its concentr.c shot on us from ev
cry hill and spur that gave view of an,
part OF the ground held by us. An occa
sOnal shot from Fort Wood. ant
Orchard Knob and some musketry fir,
and artillery over about Lookout Noun
tain, was all that i could detect on oul
side; but about D. N. noticed the whit,
line of musketry fire in front of Orchar,
Knob extending further and further. righ
and left and on. We could only hear ,
faint echo of sound, but enough was seer
TO satisfy me that Gen. Thomas was n
last moving on the center. l knew tina
our attack had drawn vast masses of TN
enemy to our flank, and felt some of TIN
results. Some guns that had been firin;
on us all day were silent, or were turne,
In different direction. The advancin;
line of musketry fire from Orchard Knoll
disappeared to us behind hill, and couI,
no longer be seen: and it was not unit
night closed in that l knew that tn
troops in Chattanooga had swept acros
Missionary Ridge and broken the enemy
center. OF course, the victory was won an,
pursuit was the next step"
Taking Gen. SEerman's own words 70
II, II strikes me now that Gen. Smith
attack on Tunnel Hill without orders wa
the means of drawing the enemy from tn
front OF Thomas /; for Sherman says: "Col
umn after column of the enemy wa
dreaming toward me-" So. il the bows di.
Sght their way up to the breastworks an.