The National tribune., 1909-07-22

"Inasmuch as the enemy had retreat
ed southwest and would probably next
appear at Rome, answered Gen. Corse
with orders to get back to Rome with
his troops as quickly as possible. ,r
Gen. Corse's Report.
Gen. Corse's report OF this fight at
AIlatoona is very fuIl and graphic. II
is dated Rome. Oct. II. 1864; recltes
the fact that he received his orders by
signal to go to tho assistance Of ALA
toona on the 4tii, when he teleBraphed
to Kingston for cars, and a train of 30
empty cars was started for him, but
about 10 of them got off the track and
! caused delay. BY Z p. m. he had at
Rome a train of cars, which he loaded
up with Col. Rowetts Brigade and. part
of the 18th III. Inf, started at p. m,
reached Aliatoona distant IS miles) at
] a. m. of the 5th, and sent the train
back for more men, but the road was in
bad order, and no more men came in
time. He found Col. Tourtellotte's gar
rison composed of $50 men; his rein
forcement was 1854: total for the de-
fense, 1.944. The outposts were al
ready engaged, and as soon as daylight
came he drew back the men from the
village to the ridge on which the. re-
doubts were built The enemy was
composed of Frenci1's Division of three
brigades, variousiy reported from 4 600
to 5000 strong. This force gradually
surrounded the place by p. m, when
Gen. French sent in by flag of. truce
this note: .,
Around Allatoona, Oct. s.. 1864.
Commanding Officer, United States
Forces, Allatoona: .s.
Il have placed the forces under my.
command in such positions that you
are surrounded, and to avoid a, needless
effusion of blood 1 call On you to sur
render your forces at once, and uncon-
ditionally.
Five minutes will be allowed you to
decide. Should you accede to this. you
will be treated in the most honorable
manner as prisoners of war. s.
Il have the honor to be, very re-
spectfuily yours, 10.
! IS. G. French Major General Com
Handing Forces Confederate States
Gen. Corse answered Immediately: ?
Headquarters Fourth Division, Fif-
teenth Corps, Allatoona, Ga; $3.50
a. M, Oct. S. 1864. -
'Maj.-Gen. S. G. French, Confederate
States, etc: s.-,-...-,
Your communication demanding
surrender of my command / acknowl-
edge receipt Of, and respectfully reply
that We are prepared for the needless
effusion of blood" whenever 1t is agree
able to you.
John NJ. Corse. Brigadier-General,
Commanding Forces United States
"Of course, the attack began at once,
coming from front, flank and rear.
! There were two small redoubts, with
slight parapets and bitches. one on each
| side OF the deep railroad cut. These
redorhts had been located by Col Poe,
| Unitod States Engineers. at the time of
our advance on Senesaw, the previous
June. Each redoubt overlooked the
storehouses close by the railroad, ana
each could aid the other defensiyely
by catching in flank the attacking force
| of the other. Our troops at first en-
deavored 20 hold some ground outside
the redoubts. but were coon driven in
side, when the enemy made repeated
| assaults, but were always driven back.
About Ii a. m Col. Redfield, Of the
39th Iowa, was killed and Col Rowett
was wounded, but never ceased to fight
and encourage his men. Col. Tourtel-
| lotte was shot thru the hips, but con-
| tinued to command. Gen. Corse was at
] p. m. shot across the face, the bali
cutting his ear, which stunned him, but
he continued to encourage his men and
| to give orders. The enemy (about 1870
p. m.) made last and desperate effort
to carry one of the redoubts. but was
| badly cut to pieces by the artillery and
infantry fire from the other, when he
began to draw off, leaving his dead and
wounded on the ground"
| Go be continued