The National tribune., 1909-02-04

the defenders of the gap. and HoolseT's
more worrisome fusilade from spurs
of the ridge further south. Thomas
could not sit down behind this formid-
able wall and do nothing. How could
he retain before him the Confederate
host? Only by getting IN closer con-
tact
ION the sth I sent Newton some two
miles porthward. where the ascent was
not so abrupt. He succeeded by rushes
in getting from cover to cover. tho not
without loss. till he had wrested' at
least one-third of the knife edge from
those resolute men of gray. Quickly
the observers Of this sharp contest saw
the bright signal flags up there in mo-
all possible support by their marks
men and by their efforts to land shells
on the ridge. The enemys signals
were near Newton. He tried hard to
capture them, but failed. In the night
two pieces OF artillery, after much toll,
reached the top, and soon cleared away
a few hundred yards more of this ter
ritory in bloody dispute. On May Q
Thomas put forth a triple effort to get
nearer his foe First, Stanley's Divi-
sion reconnoitered Buzzard Roost Gap
into the very Jaws of DEATH till it
drew the fire from newly discovered
batteries and set whole lines of Con-
federate musketry supports ablaze. At
this time / had a narrow escape. STAN
ley, Capt. G. C. Kniffin, of his staff, sev-
eral other officers and myself were in
group watching reconnaissance. All
supposed there were no Confederate
sharpshooters near enough to do harm,
when, whiZi came a bullet, which
passed thru the group; Kniffin's hat
was pierced, three holes were made in
my coat, and neighboring tree was
struck.
Thomas now made second effort.
Palmer sent Morgan's Brigade up one
of the spurs south of the gap. It en-
countered the hottest fire, and suffered
a considerable loss in killed and
wounded. One regiment drove back the
enemy's first line. and, like Newton's
men, came within speaking distance
of their opponents. Here arose the story
to the effect thst a witty Corporal pro-
posed to read to them the Presidents
Emancipation Proclamation, and that
they kept from firing while he did so.
Still further south, with Hooker's Twen-
tieth Corps and almost beyond our
hearing, Thomas made his third push.
In this action 80 were reported killed
and a larger number wounded, among
them every regimental commander en-
gagged"
Gen. JOhnston's Story.
Gen. Joseph e. Johnston's account
of the opening of the campaign is as
follows:
"On the 4th the Federal army, in
cluding the troops from Knoxville. was
at Ringgold. Next day it skirmished
until dark with our advanced guard of
cavalry. This was repeated on the 9Th.
On the 7th it moved forward, driving
our cavalry from Tunnel Hill, and taxi
ing a position in the afternoon in front
of the railroad gap and parallel to
Rocky Face-the right a mile south of
the gap and the left nesr the Cleveland
road.
Until that day I had regarded a bat
tie n the broad valley In which Dalton
stands az inevitable. The greatly su-
perior strength Of the Federal army
made the chances Of battle altogether
In It's favor. It had also places of
refuge in case Of defeat. in the in
trenched pass Of Ringgold and in the
fortress OF Chattanooga. while we, n
beaten. had none nearer than Atlanta
leo miles Of. with three rivers inter-
vsning. Gen. shsrman's oourss indi-
eating no intention Of giving battle sast
of Rocky Face. We prepared to fleht
on either side Of the ridge Fer that
object A. p. Gtswart's Dtvision was
placed In the gap. Cheatham's on the
crest Of the hill. attending mile north
Of Stewards, and Bates also ON the
crest Of the hill and extending o mile