The National tribune., 1909-04-01

Twentieth Corps were advancing on
Dalton by the main travelled road, Gen.
WHliams's Division leading, and at the
bridge Gen. Knipe and myself were
riding, with Gen. Williams in advance
of the troops. We crossed the bridge,
which up to that time had not been
burned or otherwise impaired. We ad-
vanced on a rising grade about quar-
ter of a mile TO general level of the
country, and were in a lane, with high
rail fences On each side and open fields.
In front, about a quarter of a mile dis
tant, was thick wood. Some one said:
Better we know something about that
woods before we go in there blindly."
A corner of the fence was let down,
and with my orderly / gailoped to a
rise of ground in the open field, and was
examining the wood with my glass when
heard a h2rse begin to whinny in the
woods, and his noise was suddenly
smothered as if some one had put his
hand over his nose. From this in
ferred there was cavalry in that wood,
and / did not care to approach within
musket range. Seeing house on the
roadside, 1 quickly rode there, and as
no one appeared outside I gave my
bride to the orderly, telling him not to
dismount. I went in, and found in
room two frightened women and man
in bed clothes well up around his neck.
The woman said:
You don't want TO hurt SICK man,
do you?"
A glance at the sick mans face told
me plainly that I had no occasion to
prescribe fer him, for I thought it plain
: he had a pistol handy under the cover,
: and 1 said:
"oh. no, madame; 1 only want to
know if this road leads to Dalton, and
how far II is?''
She made some reply, and I retreated
out of doors. and. getting on my horse,
rode rapidly back TO where / had left
Gems. Williams and Knipe. and, not
finding either or them or the troops,
hastened back to the bridge, and found
they had recrossed and were under or
ders to hasten TO the relief of Geary,
who had met the enemy's skirmish line
near a mill, which was little east of
the main road, and from the bluffs
overlooking which rebel pickets had
fred on our men.
- Gen. Hooker was with Geery at the
time, and ordered an advance to the
east TO attack. and sent All Aid to recall
Williams to the support of Geary. The
trocps having thus left the main road
upon which the supply and ammunition
trains were moving to the front, l has
tened 10 have the planks of the bridge
taken UP aS a prec2utiop against the
advaace of any rebel force from the
wood where I had discovered them.
Gen. Sherman's Headquarters.
I then ordered everything belonging
70 the Twentieth Corps Ia go into park
and await the issue Of the fierce battle
which was then on to the east of US. A
Lieutenant with q guard and Gen. Sher-
mans headquarters train came along or
his way to Dallas. The suspicious con
dition OF affairs across the creek having
been explained 10 him by an officer
left at the bridge. he said he was or
dered to take that headquarters train
and to Dallas he was going. He put
down the bridge Dlanking and passed
over. but haG not gone far when he was
ordered TO get back across the stream
as soon as possible by Gen Whipple, o.
Thomas's staff, who, with a squadron
of cavalry, had been skirmishing will
the enemy's cavalry or infantry or both
in the edge of the wood where L ha'
found them. The Lieutenant and hi
headquarters train hurried across tn
bridge, and again the planks were lifte
and piled on the north side.
BY this time evening was coming, an
/ had returned from visit to Gel
Hooker to explain to him the defense
less condition OF the transportation an
ammunition trains OF the army. and as
for a proper guard. l found him in
very sharp battle, close behind the fiji
ing line. as alert and omniscient as h
always appeared in battle. AS L rod
up he was entirely alone as to Aids, an
before ] had time to report the condi
ton Of the trains he said:
lie Due. how splendidiy our men ar
hghsing to-day. We have driven tn
enemy mile or more thru these woods
Let's give them three cheers"
And three cheers we gave. the me
turning their heads around. and, seein
Gen, Hooker cheering. they Joined II
and III continued down the line as IA
"a there were any soidiers to cheel
Just then q Johnny appeared under m
!. horses nose, and said:
I'm prisoner. Where shall ] go
1ut of this hell-6re?"
A discharge from the enemy's canno
he'd ratified the bark Off the trees sboy