The National tribune., 1906-07-05


terry. while above 1T all there waved the
tattered flag, "QldfGlory."
Every man that, day realized that the
crieis had comsi that by the mettie. Oh
man the issue WAS to be decided.
Hand to hang, back and forth, again
and yet again they rushed with. thrust
and parrss-;; with Wild hurrah and rebel
y-n lie sestrurtion goes on.-on.
E..Sn .-...eSack in dimming vision
through the long years past away to-
ward the scenetof strife of that day,
can see the brave boys with CLINT of
fire in their eyes, rs they so manfully
struggled on. i've can still see their
glowing faces when, with ringing shout,
they closed oniIthe- colors, raliyinS on
that beloved banner for victory or
death. ..s.. 10 II s.e-
But our linesl was too thin to stay
their movements. and they broke away
back to the haunts from whence they
came, but leaving their dead and
wounded in our lines. .a.'i-
picture caught in shifting light or
battle smoke has ever been to me a
truthful presentment of Northern-aye,
of Southern-courage exhibited by
American soldiery. No other men save
Americans would have stood before
those toughened veterans of the South,
led to the attack by Stewart and Lor-
ing. both renowned as fighters, and well
they maintained their regulations on
the bloody ridges along Peach Tree
Creek. .-a.s
On Harrison's front hand-to-hand
conflicts actually took place and were
of frequent occurrence that fearful
afternoon.
RcgimentaI DueIs.
The 102d III. drove straight at the
40th Miss. and tore them to pieces.
There blue and gray coats lay side by
side, "reconciled at last in the peace of
death" The 31st and 33d Miss, con-
solidated and commanded by Col. JabeZ
l.. Drake, broke through the 129th- Ill,
reformed their lines, faced about and
charged back again. cutting and slash
ing and losing in our immediate front
rs per cent of its members, every regi-
mental officer killed or wounded. But
once their faces are turned from us;
their retreat is accelerated by wild huz-
zahs of the old regiment, until the Con-
federates reach their reserves. This
was a fight where there was no rear,
and where the towards and buns had
not the slightest chance.
Wild Work Repeated
But the days work was but begun.
That wonderful discipline manifested
by the veterans of the South rallied the
broken troops. and drove them back
upon us again and again. Hardly Civ
ing US time to replenish our famished
cartridge boxes, we are apprised by the
wellknown rebel yell that they still
meant business.
Suddenly and in heavy force they
emerged from the woods, and with saw
age yells, which echoed over the hills,
they came. exultant with the idea of
driving the Yanks into the Chatta-
hoochie.
Gen. Hood had given out to his men
that morning that there was nothing
before them but a few raw troops
three-months men-and who would be
easily put to flight by a few of their
yells. and that they would hardly get
chance for Anything in the line of
fight excepting long distance shots as
we We're running away. Imagine the
surprise of those People, coming sud
denly upon our line and recognizing the
brigade which they had met before on
several fields. ',fis no wonder that one
Captain, disgusted4 with the situation,
threw down his Sword and surrendered
exciaiming: "They fold us we had moth
ing to meet hete but some little snots
of reserves, whom I'VE could easily run
over, but, my G6dt its those - Blue
Stars again" 100
But now on eorsies, the fourth time
that afternoon, the rushing, roaring
hosts in gray. led by one whose name
was n host itself. Alex. p. Stewart, and
before whose charging columns none
had ever stood But to go down in death.
The boys tore2 their cartridges with
feverish . ifnPatietce and with black
ened hands wiped the streaming sweat
from their powder-stained faces, while
line fire drove at the Confederate
ranks with spite that killed.
Tom Flynn, commanding the regi-
ment. was storming up and down the
lines, and yelled out, Look sharp, boys.
HelI's turned loose for dinner," Near
er and nearer came the rebs, with a
rush and roar, two to our one, heads
bent low, hats pulled down over their
eyes, guns at the long trail.
Harrison, seeing the danger of a
break, rushed into our midst shouting,
stand firm. boys, and the day is ours"
Old Tom tFlynn), rolling a huge quid
from one cheek to the other, remarked,
Never you mind, Colonel; look out for
the other fellows; these are Illinoisans;
they never fail"
All, why should this not remain a
picture on ones memory? In front was
the coming line tipped with fire and
fare. The smoke of our guns leaping
out in front slowly rises, forming a cur
tain that unites the line of fire and the
clouds above. At intervals we catch a
glimpse of foemen faces. blackened
with powder and glaring with demoniac
fury, lost to all human feelings and full
of a fiendish desire TO, kill; they are no
longer men, but, rather, devils incar-
nate.
Here stands line of men. ready for
this rushing and advancing foe but In
the body of that regiment ~abides the
| steel-strung nerves of Illinois, who, with
slow but precise movement, load and
fire their guns with terrible effect. The
foe in front fall like leaves in Autumn
that line of gray vanishes, a new one
takes its place. the rafting roar blends
into continuous sound of musketry
Guns grow hot to the touch, and the
ground in front Is crimson with the
blood of the fallen foe. Around on
every side-above, below-there swept
a storm of bullets such as was never
seen before or since. Out of that fire
some came alive, but it was a wonder
that any did. An examination of the
field afterward showed the ground
plowed with shot and the smallest twig
told of the storm of death that had
swept 1t.
Hooker watched these charges of
Stewards braves, and was content He
saw the old brigade drive at the foe on
that hill at Resaca, saw ii beat back the
legions of Hardee at Burnt Hickory,
saw 1t in the fiery furnace of New Hope,
Hell Hole" at Pine Mountain, Lost
Mountain, Gilgal Church and the Culp
House, saw this ADVANCE, and was con-
tent.
PlucfSing Safety From Danger.
IIaIa h,, Dow ha rr;eon 4. ,,r,,oI.o i