The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-26
Twenty-eighth Alabama In
Hardest Battle on Mis-
sionary Ridge
VOLLEYS REPULSED
FEDERALS TWICE
Unsupported and Threatened in Rear
Confederates Fell Back Contest
ing Every Inch of the Ground
in Famous Battle
BY LYMAN CARTER, IN.

y
ga reunion of the veterans, to those Of
the Birmingham district. is the fact that
the Twentyeighth Alabama regiment
from mere was in the hardest of the fight
ing on Missionary ridge.
l. W. McAdory, county superintendent
OF education, was one of the men of This
regiment on Missionary ridge when they
We're forced back by overwhelming num-
bers.
considering the fact that the Twenty
eislth Alabama regiment. or rather the
remnants of that company, will visit the
reunion at Chattanooga this week. Prof
l. W. McAdory has given an account of
the battle, describing the advance of the
ieoerals and the slow and stubborn re-
treat of the Confederates.
The Twenty-eignth Alaba,na rerimon+
was on picket ana stationed fey b,r.
cred yards in front Orchard Knob" he
SAID standing out in front Of and in
speaking distance of the pickets between
us and Fort Wood in the lAcdlity where
the present water pipe stands. When
General Woods division consisting cf
three brigades. marched out OF the fort,
lied into line and advanced 10 the posts
occupied by their nickets, we could hear
every command AMI see every maneuver,
SO close We're they.
Lookout, We're Coming
Their picket lire was doubled. pre-
senting strong front and one of the
troopers hailed us, saying, Look our.
Johnnie, we are coming. Just then n
messenger from General Manigualt ar
rived, his horse foaming, and addressing
our commander, delivered his message.
Colonel Butler the general, directs that
should they attempt an advance, checl,
them at all hazards. Several regiments
are being formed at the foot of the hill
Tor support. Colonel Butler replied, All
right sir, but where is Colonel Davis? p
On your right, sir and the messenger
rode off.
When the bugle sounded the retreat
we fell back to Orchard Knob and took
position in the rifle pits Our right wing
was thrown out until it extended almost
to the top of the knob, thinking that Col
onel Davis with the Twenty-fourth Ala
bama regiment was in line before US. In
q few minutes General Woods division
appeared in three strong lines on top oi
the rise that heretofore had concealed
them.
When the first l!ne eape within a few
hundred yards of our pits, our regime ent
fired a voley. The line was hurled back
in confusion on tho second lire. Again
we fired with the same deadlS result.
Nevertheless, the third line advanced
sweeping the remnants of the other two
in front of them. After the third volleV
some of our men became excited and
then it was 'sh0ot when you got er
loaded. Under the terrific fire of oar
sharp shooters in the pits their left VIM,
slowly crumpled and melted away, its
fragments joining in the attack on our
right
with nothing confronting us, we
turned our fire into their remaining
lines but with small results owing to
the distance. Notwithstanding the hail
of lead, they still advanced until ball
had scarce to leap cannons length
to discharge its commission. one dar-
ing color bearer detached himself from
his regiment and dashed to the edge of
our Tl1lt pllS, So clOSt lildl lie
"a trooper in the face with his boot.
High above our heads he waved his
banner-and fell dead.
above the rafting crash of musket-
ry we became apprehensiVe of the dull
er boom of cannon behind us, and look
ing, we saw solid line of blue ad
vancing In our rear To remain in
the pits longer was nothing short of
suicide and filing out at the left I'VE
IOt
cross-flre.
Lost 12s Men
when roll was called at the foot of
the knob 12S of our battalion alone
were missing, our colors, too. were in
the hands of the enemy After gain
ing the rifle pits they halted, their
weak forces not daring to attack our
main body in the breastworks. just
before dark we were relieved by the
Thirty fourth Alabama regiment un-
der the command of Major Slaughter
and fell back to the main line at the
foot of the ridge. Colonel Davis with
the Twenty-fourth regiment had alsc
fallen back, leaving no opposition on
the right, thus permitting the brigades
of Woods division cross the rifle pits
to advance in our rear.
more than a dozen magnificent mon
uments are standing on the fatal knob
today, commemorating the gallant deeds
performed by Woods division when
they stormed the hold. Standing a
hundred yards or more southwest OF
the monuments is plain iron slab
and written on it is the simple story
the fact that the Twenty eighth Ala
bama regiment alone held the position
against the overwhelming numbers Of
Woods division for seven long and
bloody hours.
I'VE lost many good men in the fight,
among the numbers being Capt Will
liam Rose McAdory of Company H. He
was not in command that day of Com
pany Fl, but OF mixed troop which he
formed at the foot of the ridge short
time before General Woods advance. In
due time Captain McAdory arrived wish
his men and Joined the melee on the
right near the top of the knob where
the fighting was the heaviest.
William Rose McAdory Killed
"He made a daring advance on the
solid lines OF blue and several hours
later was found by his comrades US
they left the pits. He was carried te
our hospital. about a mile and a hall
south of Missionary Ridge. where "a
passed away some time during tn.
night. On returning to the hospital mex,
day and finding my brother dead
Thornton. his slave that had followed
him through his short career. and |
lowered him to his last reAting plac,
in the corner of simple flower gar
den."
Nine years later. at the request of hi
father, l. W. McAdory, with friend