The National tribune., 1909-07-29
PEACH TREE CREEK.
The Bate Began While the Men We're
Eating Dinner.

Editor National Tribune: raised
my company In Lowell, Co. G, 33d
Mass, and was A. D. C. on the staff of
Gen. VIM. T. Ward. of Kentucky. We
had just crossed Peach Tree Creek on a
rail bridge about l O'Clock July 90,
1864, and halted, the main line con-
cealed in a corn field and low growth
of bushes. In addition to my other
duties of A. d. c., / ran mess COM
posed of Is of us. We had taken a
beautiful grove, and spread a rubber
blanket on the ground for table
cloth. sent to the mess wagon for our
lunch % be brought up. The boys in
line were cooking their coffee and en-
joying their hardtack When our
lunch arrived we seated ourselves and
had taken the first bite, when Col
Bloodgood galloped up, saluted Gen.
Ward, saying:
The enemy are reported advancing
in five columns in our front. What
shall we do?"
Gen. Ward answered, Advance on
them
with orders went in different directions.
1 will never forget the sounds of mus
kety from our extreme right, as it rat
tied all along the line like a hail storm
Col Bloodgood advanced his strong
, line of skirmishers, engaging the en-.
emy, then gradually falling back
drawing them to the top of the hilE
they not seeing the concealed main
line When within 25, so and 100 feet
of our main line We charged on them
moving them like grass before the
scythe. My regiment, 33d Mass, was
engaged with the 33d Miss, of which
regiment not one was left All were
either killed, wounded or captured
Lieut.-Col Drake, commanding the 33d
Miss, was killed; 125 lay touching
each other as they fell. I went all over
the field at night. 1t was sad sight
to witness by moonlight. Next morning
/ conducted Gen. Ward and staff and
Gen. Hooker and staff over the field
When Gen. Hooker came to the 125
that lay touching each other he raised
his hat / had charge of the squad to
bury the dead. l had trench dug just
long enough to lay the 125 side by side
as they had fallen. I had the seven
battle flags, and turned them over to
Corps Headquarters. Third Division
loss, 528; Twentieth Corps, 1851, The
rebs admitted a loss of 5000.
i have been quite interested in the
account of the battle OF Peach Tree
| Creek Of July 20. 1864, but was sur.
prised that Gen. Ward, on whose staff
/ was serving at the time, did not max
an official report On the files, at oul
Massachusetts, State House is Gen.
| Wards own words to Gov. Andrew, OF
Massachusetts,. / send a copy: Lieut.
Thompson has been on my staff ever
since / took command of the Third Di-
vision of the Twentieth Corps. He wa.
on Butterfield's staff before I as.
sumed command. Lieut. THOMPSON is
vigilant, skillful and faithful in the dis
charge of his duties. His conduct or
the goth of July, 1864, at the battle OF
Peach Tree Creek deserves special
praise. There, during the fight lasting
three and half hours, he was constant
ly exposed to danger. yet promptly and
efficiently obeying all my orders, some
of them carrying him nearly to the en-
emy's lines. He richly merits promo.
ton. I sincerely hope he NAV receive
it, He is fully competent to command
a regiment. Yours truly, w. T. Ward
Brigadier-General."-Jos. P. Thompson
] Lowell. Mass.