Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-10-22

Holding Allatoona Pass,

1urLner reason Jn6L NoTy kAtI1o u1SeOty
of the War of the Rebellion has been
written by private soldiers We are
sure of one to whom this effort brings
satisfaction. So, what Of it, il we
stop on this fortieth anniversary to
dwell renectingly upon this great 1T
tie event in our nations life.
Do you know that forty years ago
yesterday the eyes of the nation were
upon Allatoona Pass, Georgia, garrf-
soned for the Union cause by less than
1000 young men? Perhaps the destiny
of nation of so, 000, 900 people depend
ed on the courage, integrity, patriotism
and fidelity Of those boys.
There is a feeling that the old sol
diers will tell any old yarn when they
talk war stories, but this Oct. 9th an
niversary is too serious to suggest any
thing that is not true. In the pres
ence of the great little event which
suggested the song, Tho, My Com
rades, See the Signal Waving in the
Sky" in the presence OF dead and
dying comrades, we can afford to tell
the LTuLn only.
Oct. s, 1864, suggests thoughts for
memory and for tears.
1t was during Abraham Ltncoln's
second campaign. The great problem
whether 60,00O,000 of people could gov
ern themselves was on trial. Tne
Union army under Sherman had cap
tured Atlanta The march to the sea
had been planned. Sherman's army
was at Kenesaw Mountain, near At
lanta. Allatoona Pass is eighteen
miles north of Kenesaw. Here 1000
Union soldiers guarded 100000 ra-
tions for Sherman's army, about all
that army had for the march from AT
lanta to the sea- Six thousand Con
federates, infantry and artillery, I'M
der General French, got in the rear
of Sherman's main army and sur
rounded the Allatoona garrison. I'm
der the flag Of truce, French sent
message to General Corse In command
of the Union forces, saying that ne
would give the garrison five minutes
in which to surrender 'fo save the
necessary SHuS1OH VI Hch0o
sent back word that the garrison was
ready for that effusion as soon as his
assailant chose to begin 1t. Then fol-
lowed the greatest little battle OF the
century.
Afr eight hours of the most des-
perate musketry and artillery duel on
record, the rebels retreated. The boys
in blue held the fort. The 100000
rations and several thousand beef cat
tie were saved for Sherman's army
The battle was over, and the march
to the sea could be made. For little
while quiet reigned; then shout OF
triumph went up from the Allatoona
hills. The wounded joined in the re-
joicing The dying looked up at the
rent and riddled flag of the Union, still
proudly floating over the fort, and
thanked God that they had been able
to keep it there.
The Union forces of less than 1000
lost 713 men before the enemy was
repulsed over one-third of the num-
Der engaged. 1t was dearly bought
battle, but maybe 1t paid.
History tells us that the Confeder-
ates lost 1,50o killed and wounded,
and they left 500 guns on the field,
All the field officers of the Union
forces except four were either killed or
wounded. Rank neither gave nor
sought immunity from the burden Of
battle.
For hours not command was heard.
All that met our eyes was the rocky
ridges that spoke with tongues Of
flame 1t was one OF the sublimest
tragedies in history. The sun went
down on an awful scene Mutterings
of thunder rolled through the valleys
and gorges. and lightning flashed
around the mountain. 1t was a fit
ting afterpiece to the tragedy Of the
day Then Natures tear drops fell in
torrents as If to wash the red stain
away.
The blood disappeared, but the scars
remained, though most of them have
long since been hidden under friend
ly sod in the land they helped to
make free It was an awful night
Flashes of lightning cast lurid light
upon many scenes Of horror! And so
the long dreary night wore away
The wounded received as much care
as it was possible to give them The
dead were buried.
Gathered together by companies and
regiments, wrapped in blankets, they
lay side by side near the long shallow
grave in the breast Of the mountain.
The roar of the battle had been ex-
changed for silence! Men whose
voices had shouted in defiance to the
enemy, now spoke in whispers, or
stood silent Hearts that had stood
unmoved through all that storm could
not Withstand the power of that scene
of blood and suffering and death.
Throbbing, they yielded and melted to
tears.
1t was a dearly bought victory; but
II was great stake Sherman's arny