Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-02-02
CIVIL WAR "REMINISCENCES.
Brief History or 25th Mich. Cavalry
During Three Years Service.
nv ono w QUO ATM
BY GEO. w. CHOATE.
CONTINUED from last week.

CONTINUED from last week.
After the flight of Johnson across
Chattahoochee river, Gen. Schofeld
with the 23d Corps was sent from the
right to the extreme left flank of the
army, with orders to cross the river,
and gain position on the right flank
of the enemy. On the 9Th OF July we
come upon the banks of the Chatta-
hoochee. in the face of the enemy at
Ruffs Ferry. Volunteers from this
regiment were among the first to
cross amid a whitening fire of artil-
lery and musketry. 1t is needless TO
state that the enemy was routed and
his guns captured.
PontoJns were thrown across and
in three days time Sherman and vic
toriCus army,had crossed safely to
the south side of the Rubicon and
held a sire ng fortified position.
But crazy "Billy" resolved to give
the enemy no rest, but pressed on un-
til the grim walls of Atlanta hove in
sight. On the 18th day of July our
Div captured Decatur. Then fol-
lowed those severe battles on the
Goth, 22d and 2S'h of July in which
the b ave Mcpherson fell, whose
death spread gloom oyer the who e
army. Slowly and gradually our ar
mics drew their lines about Atlanta,
and for two long months the siege
ogressed-thousand of tons of am
nun tion being expended on both
sides. About the lst of August our
Corps was withdrawn from the left OF
the army, and sent round to the ex
IRENE right; driving the enemy across
Eutoy creek, storming and carrying
his works on the 9Th of August at the
battle of Pine Grove, and establish
ing our lines southwest of the city
A few days after this Sherman com
menced his grand flank movements {
the rear of Atlanta, which resulte
IN the downfall of the "Gate City" Of
the South; the disastrous defeat OF
the enemy at Jonesboro, and the des
truction of both railroads leading
south from Atlanta.
The campaign was now ended; the
great object for which we had beer
struggling for four long months wa;
now accomplished. Atlanta the
Gate City"-the stronghold o.
Southern Chivalry-was now the
headquarters of the army of the
| West.
Though worn and exhausted by the
toll and tremendous exertions of oul
long and arduous campaign-yet We
turned our eyes with feelings of JUS
pride and admiration upon our beau
tiful banner-glorious emblem of oul
MISUNDERSTANDING triumphantly
over the Citadel of Atlanta, and fell
that we had achieved glorious worl
and were proud of our commanding
general who so nobly led us on to vit
tory.
For one short month the columns o
Sherman rested in the vicinity of AT
lanta, and again they assumed life
and action, and on the 4th of Octo
Der started North in pursuit of Ho
who was try ing the thanking game
pursuing him as far north as Dalton
thence into Ala bama, as far as Blu,
noun, aims.
Sherman then left him to the car,
of Gen Thomas with an army com
posed of the 23d and 4th Corps com
manded by Gems. Schofeld and Stan
ley-whilc he, with the other portion
of the army, marched back TO Allan
ia, loaded his wagons, set fire to thu
city, and struck out for the sea.
Next came our weary and exciting
campaign through middle Tennessee
under Gen. Thomas, with the glor
ious battles of Franklin and Nash
vile where we took part in crushin,
the power of Hooo-annihilating hi
army and rushing him, and what few
stragglers he had left across Tennes
see river. Gen. Schofeld with III,
23d Corps was now assigned TO tn,
Department of North Carolina Oh
the 10th of January, 1865, we EN-
barked on transports at Clifton, an,
went down the Tennessee rejoicing
thence up the Ohio to Cincinnati, AM
by rail from there to Washington
City. While there the Corps re
ceived new outfit and then proceede,
10 their destination, arriving AT For
Fisher about the Goth of February
Then commenced the grand and lima
campaign which brought about tn,
b tppy event which we had beer
struggling for so long-which cause,
the nation to rojoice aud weep tear
of Joy. From the sea coast our corp
marched on TO Wilmington thence
Kinston where we encountered tn,
rebel Gen. Hoax with several thous
and troops. a severe bat lie ensue,
the enemy was put to flight witt
loss of prisoners and his heavy sieg,
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