Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-10-15
Helatnn AlIsteoua Pn.r.


be that this hobby was shot and tram
pied into him forty years ago, and for
further reason that very little history
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 1t, IL we
atop on this fortieth anniversary to
dwell rsieotingly upon this great lit
tie event in our nations life
Do you know that forty years ago
yesterday the eyes of the nation were
upon Allatoona Pass, Georgia, garri-
soned for the Union cause by less than
5000 young men? Perhaps the destiny
of nation of $4,000 900 people depend
ed on the courage, integrity, patriotism
and fidelity of those boys
There is 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
encs of the great little event which
suggested the song "Ho. My Com
rades, See the Signal Waving in the
Sky in the presence OF dead and
dying comrades, we can afford TO tell
the truth only
Oct. 5, 1864, suggests thoughts for
memory and for tears
1t was during Abraham Lincoln's
second campaign The great problem
whether 10000. 900 of people could gov
ern themselves was on trial The
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 RAJ
tons 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 he
would give the garrison five minutes
in which to surrender to save the
necessary effusion OF blood Corse
sent bacl. word that the garrison was
ready for that effusion az 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 reiterated 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 d little
while quiet reigned; then a 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 mum
Der engaged. 1t was a dearly bought
battle, but maybe it paid
History tells us that the Confeder-
ates lost 1900 killed and wounded,
and they left 500 guns on the field
All the field officers of the Union
forces except four we're either killed or
wounded Rank neither gave nor
sought immunity from the burden OF
battle
For hours not a 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. IL was q 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 al awful might
Flashes of lightning cast lurid light
upon mary scenes Of horror! And so
the Ions drcary 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
NJ hIood and suffering and daafb