Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-08-16
THE BELDING BANNER

we did not get q chance to see the
town. In little while soldiers be-
gan to come back loaded with tin
ware, mostly coffee pots. We began
to count them, but soon they came in
dozens and we gave up in dispair.
The tinware was taken to division
headquarters and divided among the
the regiments of the division. There
are sixteen regiments in our division
and our regiment got seventeen cof-
fee pots. Many of the boys went for
ward and saw the town and brought
back trophies of all kinds. About
five o'clock the 18th corps begins to
pass and soon the rebels open on the
town with a battery, but ours is soon
brought into position and the rebels
retired. About shutdown we went to
to rear for a little ways, turned to
the left and went down a by-road for
short distance, and went into camp
to guard the road. We have march,
ed about eight miles today. At nine
o'clock a. m, we stopped for an hour
and half to rest, but as there were
blackberries near by we picked all we
wanted to eat and enough for dinner.
Had a good dinner of blackberries
and bareback. We got some green
apples, potatoes and meal today.
Drew beef after dark. We heard that
the fourth brigade had eight wound
ed today. ! saw one dead rebel cap
tain.
Wednesday, July 20, 1864.
We got up at 2:30 a. m. and went
TO cooking beef. Had orders to be
ready to march at five o'clock. Boiled
beef and potatoes and had bully
breakfast. Wrote little. We start
err at seven o'clock and went out
short distance, then lay down, while
other troops passed ahead. We saw
Generals Sherman, Scofield, Haskell,
Cox and several others, whose names
l did not learn. After going around
to the north and west we finally, got
on to a main road that lead directly
towards Atlanta. We were pretty
we'll to the rear all the forenoon and
did not march very far. We laid still
for about three hours in the middle
of the day. About three o'clock we
were marched forward and were
formed in line on the left Of the road.
We were in the second line. We
took off our knapsacks and left one
man to watch them. We would adj
vance and then lie down. All woods
and the country was level. We
marched in line over half a mile and
did not get into position for the night
until dark and then went to work for
tifying. / worked until ten o'clock
fixing up the rivetting before lying
down and was awakened once and
shovelled dirt for fifteen minutes af-
ter that. Slept what we could without
bed or covering. There was some
pretty heavy artillery firing this af-
ternoon, but no rebel guns were open
was brisk and the bullets flew over
quite thick. One ball struck within
six inches of my hand as we lay on
the ground and filled my face with
dirt. Later in the day and while
some of our men were charging and
we were lying close to the ground, a
bullet went through my hat rim close
to the band and struck the cartridge
box strap on my shoulder, giving me
quite thump and feeling as though
large stone had hit me on my head
and shoulder. No blood was drawn.
Saw about dozen "Johnnies"
| (rebels) brought in this afternoon,
who seemed pleased to get within our
lines. We marched about five miles
today and are now only two miles
from Atlanta. The rebels have a line
of works about 20 or 80 rods in front
of us but the brush is very thick,
so we are able to see only for a little
ways ahead.
Thursday, July 81, 1864.
Some skirmishing and artillery fir
ing last night, but not enough to
alarm us. Got up before sunrise and
prepared our breakfast, then went to
work at our breastworks. We had
them finished by nine o'clock, and
then as there was no movement on
foot we read. Had to keep low, how
ever, to avoid the bullets. Frank
Dumon was wounded quite seriously
by musket ball in the afternoon.
Many of the troops climbed a tall
pine tree, and took peep at Atlanta,
which was between two and three
miles distant. The artillery officers
climbed il and watched their shots as
they threw them into the city.
Friday, July %, 1864.
We were awakened at daylight by
orders TO pack up Immediately. The
rebels had left their line on our front
and we went over it and stopped and
ate breakfast, then went on toward
the city. The skirmishers drove the
rebels before them without much
trouble clear into their main forts.
We marched on by the flank until
they opened on us with their artil-
lery, then formed in line to the right
of the road and in sight of the rebel
forts, and nearly mile away. Seven
companies of our regiment were sent
out on the skirmish line, and compan-
les ID, and B took positions just be-
hind where they were putting up
battery and went to throwing up
breastworks. The rebels now COM
menced Smelling US and we had to
work and lie down to avoid the shells
alternately. AS soon as we heard the
report of rebel cannon, thousand
men would instantly drop down or
dodge behind tree and as soon as
the she'll had struck, burst or passed
over they would jump up and begin
work again. In an hour and half
we had our works done and sat quiet
ly behind them. We went to the rear
a md aooLaI Jsxxo,-e xxr1sIo .o..~