The National tribune., 1909-05-20

woods leaving dead. wounded and arms
in our possession. / took up the chosen
position, and commenced to fortify 1t.
The enemy was ralIying his men IN the
woods, keeping up constant fire on
our lines, and made several attempts
to charge. We returned the fire Wig
orously; repulsed the charges before
they got far out of the woods. This
was kept up briskly until p. M. when
the fire began to abate, but brisk
skirmishing fire was kept up until lark.
The Ambulance Corps worked faithful
iy all night, carrying off the wounded
of both armies"
Gen. Geary's Report.
Gen. ]. w. Geary says:
'I have never seen more heroic fght-
ing For three hours the fury of the Bat
tie along our entire line could not have
been surpassed. Then the tempest of
sounds and missiles began gradually to
decrease, and by dark nothing but
heavy skirmishing remained. Gen.
Hood had massed the greater part OF
his entire army in this furious assault
upon a single corps (and that one the
smallest in our army, and was whipped
back to the ground he had left in the
morning. 1t is with a feeling of un-
usual admiration for the troops under
my command that / record the history
VI part III llc Ddttlt VI
Creek. Attacked by overwhelming num-
bers from front, right flank and rear,
five regiments with the artillery held
the key position while fighting terribly
all the time. The rest of my command
changed its front, formed a connected
! line. and threw themselves into the
| combat with such determination and
valor that they overcame five times
their number. This result was largely
due to the fact that by changing my
| front in the manner described our
troops delivered an effective and per-
sistent cross-fire upon the enemy at the
moment when they were flushed with
the anticipation of victory, and. sup
| posing themselves entrapped, they re
| treated, broken and dismayed. This
battle was very remarkable one as
test of the discipline and va1or of our
| troops, and as the first defeat of the
lnewly-appointed commander of The
rebel army 1t was glorious in its results
The field everywhere bore marks of the
extreme severity of the contest. and re-
called to my mind, in appearance, the
scene of conflict where the same dipi-
sion fought at Gettysburg Not a
tree or bush within our entire range,
but bore the scars of battle. The ap-
pearance of the enemy as they charged
| upon our front across the cleared field
was magnificent Rarely has such "a
|
out from the woods, they advanced in
immense brown and gray masses mot
1ines), with flags and banners, many Of
| them new and beautiful, while their
general and staff officers were in plain
view. with drawn sabers flashing in the
light, galloping here and there as they
urged their troops on to the charge.
The rebel troops also seemed to rush
| forward with more than customary
nerve and heartiness in the attack. This
grand charge was Hoods inaugural, and
his army came upon us that day full of
| high hope, confident that the small
force in their front could not withstand
them, but their ardor and confidence
were soon shaken. My artillery, served
with the utmost rapidity, even while
receiving volleys from the rear, poured
out steady discharges of canister and
shell, and We could see the great gaps
In that compact mass of human beings
as each shot tore thru their ranks.
Those masses Of the enemy that charged
upon my right and rear reached at one
time within few yards of Bundy's
Battery. but by the cool bravery of my
! omcers and men were driven back. I