The National tribune., 1907-07-25
battle will give the best answer to that

battle will give the best answer to that
Question.
Lieut.. shirfy's Report.
HEADQUARTERS Signal Detachment,
Fifteenth Corps. Little River, Ga,
Oct. %, 1864.
Lieutenant: have the honor to
performed by myself and the detach-
ment under my command during the
five days ending Oct. 8, 1864.
During Oct. and 8 was in camp
at East Point, Ga, making out reports
and preparing to march. On the 4th
Corps. taking with me the men be-
longing with my own party and order
ing those of Lieut.. Adams's party 20
Reserve Camp at Atlanta. Marched
20 miles and bivouacked at IL p m
On the 5th we marched eight miles and
encamped, when 1 went to Marietta to
assist in getting signal communication
between the Headquarters of Gems
Sherman and Howard. During those
two days l reconnoitered, when neces-
sary, and occasionally did the duties of
Aid to Gen. OSterhauS.
During the five days Lieut.. Wei
rick was on special duty bringing men
and stores from Chattanooga to Allan
ia and was detained by a railroad acci-
dent. Accompanying you will find his
report
Lieut.. Fish took charge of Signal
Station on Kenesaw Mountain Oct. /,
and reported quiet that day and the
I'd Having seen indications of the
enemy on Oct 3, he kept a good look
out with telescope, and discovered 4
large camp of the enemy near Lost
Mountain, also infantry and cavalry
moving, and in the evening he discov-
cred rebel cavalry on the railroad near
Big Shanty, which fact he reported to
the proper authorities. That evening
all of our forces in his front were with
drawn. and he thus left outside our
lines and near the enemy. Fearing an
attack, he made preparations for a Wig
orous defence. and also to destroy all
public property he could not carry
away in case he should be compelled
to leave, but he bravely stood at his
small force kept the enemy away.
oct. he watched and reported the
movement of the enemy, and passed
many messages, among which was in
formation to Allatoona of the move
mentS of the enemy against that place
out, in cons, iuence of which the garri-
son was reinforced and enabled on
the following day to successfully re-
sist the assaults of the enemy and
save our large store of supplies.
Oct Gen. Sherman was on the
many important messages for him to ]
seven different stations, with which he
that day. The message
in the morning that Gen. Corse had
arrived at Allatoona with reinforce
ments, and in the evening after the |
battle that they still held out gave the |
General much pleasure, and he remark |
ed they were worth Il million dol |
lars" to him. Accompanying / send |
Lieut.. Fish's report with copy of |
many important messages sent by him
appended.
Lieut.. Shellabarger was away on
leave of absence. and consequently / |
have no report from him. During the
five days Lieut.. Adams was on Signal |
Station at Allatoona. in charge of the
enlisted men belonging to the party of
Lieuts. Worley and Allen, and perform
ing the duties of that station, Oct. 8 |
and 4, he received and sent number
of important messages in regard to
the movements of the enemy and tele-
graph, etc.
".Oct. the enemy made the attack |
on Allatoona, and as the point occu-
pied as signal station by him became
on account of the enemys |
fire, he repaired to one of the forts
with his flag, from which he sent
during the engagement. When
the battle became general he watched |
he movements of the enemy and di-
-ected the fire of our artillery, and at
he same time directed the men under
mis- charge to repair to the rifie-pits.
and procure arms from wounded men
and use them, which they all did, one
man firing as high as so rounds.
Il have not yet received Lieut..
Adams's report, but will forward it to
you upon its arrival.