The National tribune., 1906-07-05

same moment, and the deadly struggle
was on.
On the left front of that regiment
was broad meadow of cleared land and
q cornfield. and from the woodland be-
yond the enemy, in unbrOken columns.
came like the waves of the sea. pitiless
and in grand form upon us. Our bat
teries swung into position, and the hiss
ing Shell exploded in their crowded
ranks. The boys were firing at close
range, and the line in front melted
away; yet it closed up, and on it came,
sullen and determined. gap of near
ly half mile on our left between us
and Newton. which Coburn and Wood
were to close, was still open. and the
Vigilant enemy took advantage and two
regiments of Featherstone passed our
flank. Co 3 doubled back to protect
our flank as well as may be. while the
rest of the regiment were attending to
business on the front
Now Stewards men were at us, COM
ing on the run, not 100 yards away.
The Battle wassOn.
God help us nowi The enemy evt-
IDENTIFY intended to crush US between
the upper and neither millstones of
those mighty forces.
Thomas forced his way through
masses of Newton's Division Fourth
Corps, bringing Spencer's Battery-M,
1st Ill.-with horses on the run, into
position about 400 yards to our lef:
and in the briefest possible time his six
guns were smashing shells in the
crowded ranks of gray at the rate of
10 per minute, causing fearful destruc-
tion. The 129th III. will ever feel CRATE
, ful for the help they got that day from
Battery NJ. But the eXultant enemy
swept on, and Featherstone hurled with
Titanic force his troops against Harri-
sons Brigade. The waves of battle
dashed against rock, which recovered
from its first tremor and stood firm as
the hills
The brave Confederates. with desper-
ate courage, rushed upon the 12gth H.,
also striking the left of the 18th Ohio.
sheet of flame at pistol range flashed
| in their faces, and their ranks were
moved down. The enemy drew their
hats low over their faces to hide those
angry flashes that meant death Many
fell, never realizing that they were hit:
some in wild agony leaped into the air,
others, with groan and a moan, STUN
bled and pitched headlong to the earth;
but still they pressed on, though many
went down TO rise no more. Humanity
could hardly endure such a storm of
lead. The 1920 H., at our right, while
| not engaged in front delivered an emf
iduiiiS Hfe lTOIH lilelT henry TlHeS upon
the foe in our front; but the gallant foe
endured much. We quit firing, and
the clang of steel. fixing bayonets, told
OF a glorified heroism
Harrison, dashing to and fro inspired
the boys with confidence, his voice ring
ing above that battle blast giving en-
couragement to any faltering ones.
And now, with teeth set tightly, the
line of blue rushed at the line of gray:
there with or h.,
full onset, and the old First Brigade
fresh from Resaca and the Allatoona
Hills, were at ii again.
The fearful impact of those five dou-
BILE lines with dreadful force carried
them through our lines, till, meeting
with the troops that had fianked our
| left, halt, face about and with aug
| mented force came tearing back with
rush and the most unearthly yells
endeavored to carry with them the
129th Ill.
! To it's credit, be it said, the old regi-
ment stood like rock in the pathway
of our opponents. Surrender or die,
you Yankee - - -" was heard
shouted from the frenzied Confedcrates
all along the line; an answering cry
| from the blue coats, Surrender your
selves, you - -"
| Men and officers went down, but no
one thought TO lose the day and field
| Overhead lay the sulphurous smoke of
battle; all around lay mingled the si-
lent dead, the dying and the wounded.
1t was only wars wild splendor. Could
but shut out the vision of carnage
and the crimson-hued hill at Peach
Tree Creek! Could we but forget the
mangled bodies of the living and those
pale in death, foes or friends all
Americans-or forever still the criis
of the wounded boys, the pi:cous plead
ing of the dying for home and loved
ones! All! the mists of years lifts, and
| the picture still remains.
| Glance Down the Line.
One glance down our lines. They are
| lines no longer, for in one struggling
mass are coats of blue and jackets of
gray-three Of gray to one of blue-a
heteroEeneous mass OF humanity