The National tribune., 1909-04-15


their location was only surmised, and
could not be clearly seen until the as
sauiting column was within a few rods
of them.
Rrig.-Gen. Charles G. Harker, who
was that day to have the post of honor
and danger, who was to seal with his
life's blood his devotion to his country,
had long since established a reputation
as one of the best and ablest cfficers in
the Army Of the Cumberland. A grad
Oate of West Point, where he was es-
teemed a cadet of the greatest promise,
he had taken Senator John Sherman's
place as Colonel of the 65th Ohio, and
had shaped and disciplined the brigade
Into a fighting machine of the highest
efficiency by patient, laborious effort
united to a superior intelligence and
devotion. Rigid disciplinarian as he
was, his followers and subordinates
gave him loving admiration, because
they were able 10 speedily see that his
strict schooling was solely for their
benefit This schooling and his leader
ship gave the brigade great reputation
at Stone River. Chickamauga and Mis-
sion Ridge. The brigade as now con-
stituted was composed of the z2d Ill,
Col Francis Swanwick; 27th ILL.,, Lieut.
Col. VIM. A. Sehmitt; 42d H.. Lieut.
Col. Edgar d. Swain; 51st H., Col
Luther p. Bradley; 18th Ill, Col Allen
Buekner; Sd KY, Col. Henry c. Dun
lap; 64th Ohio, Col. Alexander Nell
vain; 65th Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Horatio n.
iwhitbeck; 125th Ohio, Col. Emerson
Opdycke.
The signal for advance was given
about 9 o'clock. and the 125th Ohio,
led by Col. Opdycke, was thrown for
ward as skirTnishers, and ran the enc
my's pickets back to their works. The
brigade was close at the heels of the
ell linz 80
glingSyincs and briars and the stubborn
thickets, was soon at the very foot of
the breastworl1s, where II received a
blasting volley. The fire from the we'll
sheltered rebels was so severe that the
brigade fell back a few rods TO the
protection of the surface of the ground,
where il was at once reformed by its
gallant commander,
Col. Moore's Report.
Bishop David H. Stone, of the Afetho-
dist Episcopal Church, was at that time
Lieutenant-Colonel of the 125th Ohio
and a brave, jealous officer. 1t will be
interesting to. take a section from his
report of this resolute and spirited at
tack:
June 81, It having been determined
to charge the enemy's works to the
right of Kenesaw Mountain. the Third
Brigade was designated to form one of
tIlc u dSSdUll luS
enemy in front of works occupied by
the extreme right of the Fourth Army
Corps. Col Opdycke, in charge of the
skirmish line for the division, selected
the 125th for skirmishers, ordering that
1t. should push ahead at all hazards,
scaling the eneny's works with the
head of the column, in case the charge
was successful or protecting the rear IL
repulsed. [ deployed the regiment in
rear of our works at intervals of four
feet. placing Mai Bruff in charge of the
right wing, while / directed the move
ments of the left. Between our main
works and those of the enemy there
Vas an interval of not to exceed 400
PAGES. Fifty PAGES in front, and rum
Eing nearly parallel to our works, was
a ravine. which was the only place be-
tween the lines where men were not
exposed to fire from the enemy's main
works. At the sound Of the bugle, Is
minutes before 10 a. m, the line sprung
over the works and moved forward in
quick time without firing. We passed
the enemy's advance pits, capturing al
most his entire line of pickets, and sent
them to the rear in charge of wounded
men, or without guard when there were
not wounded men at hand, as 1 would
not spare well men from the ranks.
"ks the line advanced beyond the
enemy's rife pits it was exposed to a
more whitening fire, but IL moved for
ward in splendid style till it encoun-
tered the abatis in front of his main
works, when 1 halted and lay down TO
await the charging column. The head
of the column no sooner reached the
abatis than it, too, was unable to stand
the fire. and the men Immediately threw
themselves ffaf on the ground. All at
tempts TO again rally them were un-
successful, altho several men struggled
ahru the dense abatis and were cut
down while climbing the outer slope of
the enemy's works. There was no con-
certed action, and after maintaining
its position fully Is minutes the column
was forced to fall back"
The Charge Renewed.
Reforming his brigade and riding
from, one end of the line to the other
with words of encouragement, Gen. Har-
Ger led it forward to second and even