Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-01-18
THE 3ATTLE-FIELDS.
Cd SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES
Ihe Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and in
graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.

Oraph1c and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.
Sergeant David U. Mccullough"
sald the captain, twas carrying the
coiors of the Fifty-Second Ohio when
we made the assault On Kenesaw, June
n, 1864. He was at the abattis in
front Of the main rebel works when he
was shot through the shoulder. AS one
OF the color guards caught him and
lowered him to the ground Mccullough
handed Major J. T. Holmes, then IN
command Of the Fifty-second, the col
ors and said: Take them, Major
they never touched the ground
The Major grasped the colors, gave
them to one of the corporals of the
color guard, and led the way through
the instructions. At first the colors
were planted on top of the rebel works.
When they were shot down and the flag
stan spl1ntered the boys cut a canteen
IN strips, repaired the staff, and plant
ed the colors in the loose earth at the
FOOT OF the works. 1 remember that q
rebel captain was killed in trying to get
the flag while 1t was on top of the
works. and when the burial parties
went out between the lines to look after
the dead, the adjutant of the Rock
City guards told me that he saw Col.
Dan McCook on top of the works, and
said further that officers and men were
amazed to see him there and to hear
him coolly demand their surrender. For
minute no one fired. Then came the
fusillade that fatally wounded the colo
/ mel. 49,. ..isaf
When we raced the works, Major
Holmes and myself lay down against
the glacis face Of the Notifications,
our heads close together, and our feet
wide apart, our bodies making Il letter
"a on an inverted W Walters, Of COM
pany FL, came up and lay down be-
tween us, his head near the Majors
feet. We were watching the rebels on
the opposite side Of the works and
keeping them under cover. Major
Holmes spoke to Walters and told him
that he would be in less danger if he
came closer to the works, and explain
ed that, located as he was, the rebels
could put their guns over the BREAST
works and fire. whereas, if he was on
our line, they would have more diff
Guilty in depressing their rifles and we
could divert the shot by striking the
guns aside.
walters was watching for an oppor-
tunity to get in a shot, and was so
eager that he rose to his knees then
stood up. Before he could fire, how
ever, he was severely wounded on the
left side of the neck, the rebel bullet
missing the artery, but making an ugly
wound, which bled profusely. Before
he was struck Walters had been full
of fight. After he was struck we stood
as one dazed, holding his gun mechan-
ically away from his body. Then, as
he saw the blood squirt out and run
down his breast he dropped his gun,
turned, and started on run back
down the hill.
HE never halted until he reached
General Morgan's line on the hill
across Noyes' creek, where we had
formed for the charge. It seemed to
me that the whole rebel division in
front Of us opened fire on Walters as
he ran, but he escaped without an
other scratch. I never laid eyes on
him again until we arrived at Column
bus, Ohio, to be mustered out, when
ho ;vo%a tot 10
company H. He told me privately
that that shot at Kenesaw took all the
sand out of him, and when he got back
to Big Shanty he was so confused
that he couldn't remember to what
command he belonged. He was sent
from Big Shanty to Chattanooga, from
there to Nashville, from there to
Louisville. and from there to Column
bus. His memory did not return to
him. he said with a smile, until his old
regiment marched into camp to be mus
tered out.
"At Peach Tree creek, companies II
and X crossed the creek on foot log,
and made their way toward the tim
we met a heavy column of rebels, and,
deploying as skirmishers, we fell back
on a house with paling fence about
it. Corporal Coleman of company II,
in trying to make his way through the
fence in front of the house, was held
for some minutes under the fire Of the
enemy. He got his body through all
right. but his knapsack caught in the
palings. and in a way to hold him fast.
He struck out with hands and feet like
a man swimming. but in a few min
utes got grip on himself. coolly I'M
buckled the straps of his knapsack,
left it hanging in the fence, and rush
ed on with the company to the house,
where he did good service, until we
were REINFORCED by a full brigade"
Several stories," said the Major,
"haye been told of that burial party at
Kenesaw. l was witness to the in
h0n