The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-26

tAa@ng WAtiA ONcT ltVsutb men oI aik ar HIS,
 assembled at Chattanooga and Ring
 gold. Ga, began his forward movement
 against Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, whose
 army of about 42,0oo of all arms was
 stationed at Dalton, Ga, covered by
 Wheeler's cavalry. mostly at Tunnel Hill and in the gaps of Taylor's Ridge, west and northwest of Rocky Face
 Ridge. From the 5th to the 10th Sher-
 mans host gradually bore down upon Wheeler with every inch of ground strongly contested by the attenuated
 and widely extended line of Confe6er-
 ate troopers. The main body of Fed
 erals having by that time reached
 Rocky Face. held by Stevenson's di-
 vision. hard and persistent infantry
 and artillery fighting ensued. In the
 meantime Sherman had detached Mc-
 Pherson's corps and sent 1t by way of
 Lafayette to the southwest of Dalton.
 which breaking through Snake Creek
 gap in Taylor's Ridge, was fighting it's
 way, opposed only by our cavalry and
 small force of infantry. towards Res-
 aca, south of Dalton. and on John
 ston's line of communication.
 On the f1th of May our forces at
 Rocky Face were hard pressed by Sher-
 mans infantry and artillery while a
 Federal cavalry force of 5000 was
 pressing southward on tho road lead
 ing from Red Clay to Dalton in an ef-
 Tort to envelope Johnston's forces in
 and about Dalton General Wheeler
 had detached large portion of his
 cavalry to oppose MeFhersons fIanking
 movement. and the remainder had
 moved out on the night of the 10th
 on the Red Clay road ard had taken
 position to the northeast of Rocky
 Face near varneH Station, his left
 keeping in touch with our infantry
 holding that position. with the Geor- gia brigade of Kelly's Division. some
 two miles in advance of his main force. acting as skirmish line against the 5000 Federal cavalry slowly but stead lily moving south on the Red Clay roadG
 What was known as the 'rexas Brig ade, composed of the sth and 1fth Texas. sri Arkansas and probably the 4th Tennessee. and Aliens brigade of Kelly's Division. composed of the srd. Eth and 10th Confederate and one other regiment. not now remembered, were resting by the roadside about a mile m rear Of our skirmish line holding horses and ready to mount The day was growing apace and the sound of firing at Rocky Face and on our skirnn- ish line became a roar of battle. when, from towards the skirmish line. Gen v e-- " tAVSAUA anu Etttl CdK1G ua&nLH& down the road towards where we were standing to horse Orders were hur- riedly passed down the column to mount and staff officer riding down from where General Wheeler had rein ed up. directed Col John s. Prather our (the sth Confederate) Regiment. to move up the road at a Eallop. As we passed by General Wheeler directed the Texas brigade to follow the sth Confederate at the same pace. We were in column Of fours and Wheeler and staff dashed of in a eanter at our head The mile or more to the skirmish line was swept over fn few minutes Arriving near a cottage. on the left of the road. we found our slxirmish line extending across and to the right and left of the road; that portion on the right in the edge of wood with a half mile or more of open field in It's front. filled with line after line of blue coated Fed e1al cavalry; that portion on the left of the road was in open weeds, the line of skirmishers sndeavoring to hold q ridge that extended westward from and at right angles with the road, whffs half way up the ridge in their front was heavy line of dismounted Federal skirHtshers. At the foot of the ridge a stiil heavier line of dismounted Fed erals, and at the top of the next ridge, back of these. still another line, and back of all. the held horses of the ene-
 my. By proper order. Colonel Prather rapidly put us in line to the front on the left of tLe road, and as we cleared the road, the Texas brigade, pistols in hand and in column of fouFs swept up the road charging in column; simuI- the sth Confederate, pistols
 in hand. passed through our dismounted skirmishers and charged down the ridge with a wild yell. rode over the first line of Federals. then, firing at close quarters, dashed on to the second line and crushed it, killing some. others. and capturing nearly all of the second line. The quick charge. the brief fight with pistols against both pistols and guns, the cap lure of prisoners, the casualties in our own ranks and the whirlwind of battle, broke the splendid alignment with which we threw ourselves upon the enemy. and the line became ragged, and. for the time being, disorganfzed My squadron Companies A and B) was near the left of the line of the charge. with Company H, Captain John s. Mc- Elderly on the right of Company A. In the charge over the enemy's second line at the foot of the ridge, Private Ed nund Ross Riddle of my company fell I lead from his horse; Orderly Sergeant lanes ". Hardie of the same company was grievously wounded: some three others of the same company were wounded and several horses were also H ounded. About the time that Riddle tell, I glanced to the right and saw, near the top of the next ridge. Sergeant Thompson of Company "H." wounded md unable to manage his horse which lad carried him close to the enemy's ine on top of the ridge; just then his wounded sergeant still astride, but Y ~ounded and helpless; Federal officer rotted out from his line and, rising in his stirrups at each stroke. was split
 ing the head of the wounded Thomp- son with his saber The writer still lad a shot or two in his navy six and iTed at the eowardly fellow, but as he vas some forty yards to his right front ny shot evidently went wild, but Cap ain MeElderry. who was rallYtng his company, seeing the dastaFdly action. dashed forward and shot the coward rom his horse; three or more of the Federals on foot came out to their 1fficers assistance and one of these shot Captain McElderry. who fell dead from his horse. The Federals in our front then broke into run, and at t this time, General K ely, sabre in hand. came dash
 ing up in front of our rallying lines, ordered what few of my squadron that had lined up to make a left oolique. left. then unbroken, and greeting us with hot enhiading Are. Up the ridge ike whirlwind, ip charge of sabers, ompauies A and\R went hut before