\"AtamassmeetingheldSeptember28th,1864,bytheFederalprisonersconfinedatSavannah,Ga。,itwasunanimouslyagreedthatthefollowingresolutionsbesenttothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,inthehopethathemighttherebytakesuchstepsasinhiswisdomhemaythinknecessaryforourspeedyexchangeorparole:
\"Resolved,ThatwhilewewoulddeclareourunboundedlovefortheUnion,forthehomeofourfathers,andforthegravesofthosewevenerate,wewouldbegmostrespectfullythatoursituationasprisonersbediligentlyinquiredinto,andeveryobstacleconsistentwiththehonoranddignityoftheGovernmentatonceremoved。
\"Resolved,ThatwhileallowingtheConfederateauthoritiesallduepraisefortheattentionpaidtoprisoners,numbersofourmenaredailyconsignedtoearlygraves,intheprimeofmanhood,farfromhomeandkindred,andthisisnotcausedintentionallybytheConfederateGovernment,butbyforceofcircumstances;theprisonersareforcedtogowithoutshelter,and,inagreatportionofcases,withoutmedicine。
\"Resolved,That,whereas,tenthousandofourbravecomradeshavedescendedintoanuntimelygravewithinthelastsixmonths,andaswebelievetheirdeathwascausedbythedifferenceofclimate,thepeculiarkindandinsufficiencyoffood,andlackofpropermedicaltreatment;
and,whereas,thosedifficultiesstillremain,wewoulddeclareasourfirmbelief,thatunlesswearespeedilyexchanged,wehavenoalternativebuttosharethelamentablefateofourcomrades。Mustthisthingstillgoon！Istherenohope？
\"Resolved,That,whereas,thecoldandinclementseasonoftheyearisfastapproaching,weholdittobeourdutyassoldiersandcitizensoftheUnitedStates,toinformourGovernmentthatthemajorityofourprisonersatewithoutproperclothing,insomecasesbeingalmostnaked,andarewithoutblanketstoprotectusfromthescorchingsunbydayortheheavydewsbynight,andwewouldmostrespectfullyrequesttheGovernmenttomakesomearrangementwherebywecanbesuppliedwiththese,tous,necessaryarticles。
\"Resolved,That,whereas,thetermofserviceofmanyofourcomradeshavingexpired,they,havingservedtrulyandfaithfullyforthetermoftheirseveralenlistments,wouldmostrespectfullyasktheirGovernment,aretheytobeforgotten？Arepastservicestobeignored？Nothavingseentheirwivesandlittleonesforoverthreeyears,theywouldmostrespectfully,butfirmly,requesttheGovernmenttomakesomearrangementswherebytheycanbeexchangedorparoled。
\"Resolved,That,whereas,inthefortuneofwar,itwasourlottobecomeprisoners,wehavesufferedpatiently,andarestillwillingtosuffer,ifbysodoingwecanbenefitthecountry;butwemustmostrespectfullybegtosay,thatwearenotwillingtosuffertofurthertheendsofanypartyorcliquetothedetrimentofourhonor,ourfamilies,andourcountry,andwebegthatthisaffairbeexplainedtous,thatwemaycontinuetoholdtheGovernmentinthatrespectwhichisnecessarytomakeagoodcitizenandsoldier。
\"P。BRADLEY,\"ChairmanofCommitteeinbehalfofPrisoners。\"
InregardtotheaboveIwillsimplysaythis,thatwhileIcannotpretendtoknoworevenmuchthatwentonaroundme,Idonotthinkitwaspossibleforamassmeetingofprisonerstohavebeenheldwithoutmyknowingit,anditsessentialfeatures。Stilllesswasitpossibleforamassmeetingtohavebeenheldwhichwouldhaveadoptedanysuchadocumentastheabove,oranythingelsethataRebelwouldhavefoundtheleastpleasureinrepublishing。Thewholethingisabrazenfalsehood。
CHAPTERLV。
WHYWEWEREHURRIEDOUTOFANDERSONVILLE——THEOFTHEFALLOFATLANTA——
OURLONGINGTOHEARTHENEWS——ARRIVALOFSOMEFRESHFISH——HOWWEKNEW
THEYWEREWESTERNBOYS——DIFFERENCEINTHEAPPEARANCEOFTHESOLDIERSOF
THETWOARMIES。
ThereasonofourbeinghurriedoutofAndersonvilleunderthefalsepretextofexchangedawnedonusbeforewehadbeeninSavannahlong。
IfthereaderwillconsultthemapofGeorgiahewillunderstandthis,too。Lethimrememberthatseveraloftherailroadswhichnowappearwerenotbuiltthen。TheroaduponwhichAndersonvilleissituatedwasaboutonehundredandtwentymileslong,reachingfromMacontoAmericus,Andersonvillebeingaboutmidwaybetweenthesetwo。IthadnoconnectionsanywhereexceptatMacon,anditwashundredsofmilesacrossthecountryfromAndersonvilletoanyotherroad。WhenAtlantafellitbroughtourfolkstowithinsixtymilesofMacon,andanydaytheywereliabletomakeaforwardmovement,whichwouldcapturethatplace,andhaveuswherewecouldberetakenwithease。
TherewasnothingleftundonetorousetheapprehensionsoftheRebelsinthatdirection。ThehumiliatingsurrenderofGeneralStonemanatMaconinJuly,showedthemwhatour,folkswerethinkingof,andawakenedtheirmindstothedisastrousconsequencesofsuchamovementwhenexecutedbyabolderandablercommander。TwodaysofoneofKilpatrick\'sswift,silentmarcheswouldcarryhishard—ridingtroopersaroundHood\'srightflank,andintothestreetsofMacon,whereahalfhour\'sworkwiththetorchonthebridgesacrosstheOcmulgeeandthecreeksthatenteritatthatpoint,wouldhavecutalloftheConfederateArmyoftheTennessee\'scommunications。AnotherdayandnightofeasymarchingwouldbringhisguidonsflutteringthroughthewoodsabouttheStockadeatAndersonville,andgivehimareinforcementoftwelveorfifteenthousandable—bodiedsoldiers,withwhomhecouldhaveheldthewholeValleyoftheChattahoochie,andbecomethenethermillstone,againstwhichShermancouldhavegroundHood\'sarmytopowder。
Suchathingwasnotonlypossible,butveryprobable,anddoubtlesswouldhaveoccurredhadweremainedinAndersonvilleanotherweek。
Hencethehastetogetusaway,andhencethelieaboutexchange,for,haditnotbeenforthis,one—quarteratleastofthosetakenonthecarswouldhavesucceededingettingoffandattemptedtohavereachedSherman\'slines。
TheremovalwentonwithsuchrapiditythatbytheendofSeptemberonlyeightthousandtwohundredandeighteenremainedatAndersonville,andtheseweremostlytoosicktobemoved;twothousandsevenhundreddiedinSeptember,fifteenhundredandsixtyinOctober,andfourhundredandeighty—fiveinNovember,sothatatthebeginningofDecembertherewereonlythirteenhundredandfifty—nineremaining。ThelargerpartofthosetakenoutweresentontoCharleston,andsubsequentlytoFlorenceandSalisbury。Aboutsixorseventhousandofus,asnearasIremember,werebroughttoSavannah……
WewereallexceedinglyanxioustoknowhowtheAtlantacampaignhadended。Sofarourinformationonlycomprisedthefactsthatasharpbattlehadbeenfought,andtheresultwasthecompletepossessionofourgreatobjectivepoint。Themannerofaccomplishingthisgloriousend,themagnitudeoftheengagement,theregiments,brigadesandcorpsparticipating,thelossonbothsides,thecompletenessofthevictories,etc。,wereallmattersthatweknewnothingof,andthirstedtolearn。
TheRebelpaperssaidaslittleaspossibleaboutthecapture,andthefactsinthatlittleweresolargelydilutedwithfictionastoconveynorealinformation。Butfewnew,prisonerswerecomingin,andnoneofthesewerefromSherman。However,towardthelastofSeptember,ahandfulof\"freshfish\"wereturnedinside,whomourexperiencedeyesinstantlytolduswereWesternboys。
Therewasneveranydifficultyintelling,asfarashecouldbeseen,whetheraboybelongedtotheEastorthewest。First,noonefromtheArmyofthePotomacwaseverwithouthiscorpsbadgewornconspicuously;
itwasraretoseesuchathingononeofSherman\'smen。ThentherewasadressyairabouttheArmyofthePotomacthatwaswhollywantinginthesoldiersservingwestoftheAlleghanies。
TheArmy,ofthePotomacwasalwaysneartoitsbaseofsupplies,alwayshaditsstoresaccessible,andthecareoftheclothingandequipmentsofthemenwasanessentialpartofitsdiscipline。Araggedorshabbilydressedmanwasararity。Dresscoats,papercollars,freshwoolenshirts,neat—fittingpantaloons,goodcomfortableshoes,andtrimcapsorhats,withalltheblazingbrassofcompanylettersaninchlong,regimentalnumber,bugleandeagle,accordingtotheRegulations,wereascommontoEasternboysastheywererareamongtheWesterners。
Thelatterusuallyworeblouses,insteadofdresscoats,andasaruletheirclothinghadnotbeenrenewedsincetheopening,ofthecampaign—
anditshowedthis。Thosewhoworegoodbootsorshoesgenerallyhadtosubmittoforcibleexchangesbytheir,captors,andthesamewastrueofheadgear。TheRebelswerebadlyoffinregardtohats。Theydidnothaveskillandingenuityenoughtomaketheseoutoffeltorstraw,andthemake—shiftstheycontrivedofquiltedcalicoandlong—leavedpine,wereuglyenoughtofrightenhornedcattle。
Ineverblamedthemmuchforwantingtogetridofthese,eveniftheydidhavetocommitasortofhighwayrobberyupondefenselessprisonerstodoso。Tobeatraitorinarmswasbadcertainly,butoneneverappreciatedtheentiremagnitudeofthecrimeuntilhesawaRebelwearingacalicoorapine—leafhat。Thenonefeltasifitwouldbeagreatmistaketoevershowsuchamanmercy。
TheArmyofNorthernVirginiaseemedtohavesuppliedthemselveswithhead—gearofYankeemanufactureofpreviousyears,andtheythenquittakingthehatsoftheirprisoners。Johnston\'sArmydidnothavesuchgoodluck,andhadtokeepplunderingtotheendofthewar。
AnotherthingabouttheArmyofthePotomacwasthevarietyoftheuniforms。ThereweremembersofZouaveregiments,wearingbaggybreechesofvarioushues,gaiters,crimsonfezes,andprofuselybraidedjackets。
Ihavebeforementionedthequeergarbofthe\"LostDucks。\"（LesEnfantsPerdu,Forty—eighthNewYork。）
Oneofthemoststrikinguniformswasthatofthe\"FourteenthBrooklyn。\"
Theyworescarletpantaloons,abluejackethandsomelybraided,andaredfez,withawhiteclothwrappedaroundthehead,turban—fashion。
Asalargenumberofthemwerecaptured,theyformedquiteapicturesquefeatureofeverycrowd。Theyweregenerallygoodfellowsandgallantsoldiers。
Anotheruniformthatattractedmuch,thoughnotsofavorable,attentionwasthatoftheThirdNewJerseyCavalry,orFirstNewJerseyHussars,astheypreferredtocallthemselves。Thedesigneroftheuniformmusthavehadaninterestinacurcumaplantation,orelsehewasafanaticalOrangeman。EachuniformwouldfurnishoccasionenoughforadozenNewYorkriotsonthe12thofJuly。NeverwassuchaneruptionoftheyellowsseenoutsideofthejaundicedliveryofsomeEasternpotentate。
Downeachlegofthepantaloonsranastripeofyellowbraidoneandone—
halfincheswide。Thejackethadenormousgiltbuttons,andwasembellishedwithyellowbraiduntilitwasdifficulttotellwhetheritwasblueclothtrimmedwithyellow,oryellowadornedwithblue。Fromtheshouldersswungalittle,falsehussarjacket,linedwiththesameflaringyellow。Thevizor—lesscapwassimilarlywarmedupwiththehueoftheperfectedsunflower。Theirsaffronmagnificencewaslikethegorgeousgoldoftheliliesofthefield,andSolomoninallhisglorycouldnothavebeauarrayedlikeoneofthem。Ihopehewasnot。Iwanttoretainmyrespectforhim。Wedubbedthesedaffodilcavaliers\"Butterflies,\"andthenamestucktothemlikeapoorrelation。
Stillanotherdistinctionthatwasalwaysnoticeablebetweenthetwoarmieswasinthebodilybearingofthemen。TheArmyofthePotomacwasdrilledmorerigidlythantheWesternmen,andhadcomparativelyfewlongmarches。ItsmembershadsomethingofthestiffnessandprecisionofEnglishandGermansoldiery,whiletheWesternboyshadthelong,\"reachy\"stride,andeasyswingthatmadefortymilesadayarathercommonplacemarchforaninfantryregiment。
ThiswaswhyweknewthenewprisonerstobeSherman\'sboysassoonastheycameinside,andwestartedforthemtohearthenews。Invitingthemovertoourlean—to,wetoldthemouranxietyforthestoryofthedecisiveblowthatgaveustheCentralGateoftheConfederacy,andaskedthemtogiveittous。
CHAPTER,LVI。
WHATCAUSEDTHEFALLOFATLANTA——ADISSERTATIONUPONANIMPORTANT
PSYCHOLOGICALPROBLEM——THEBATTLEOFJONESBORO——WHYITWASFOUGHT——
HOWSHERMANDECEIVEDHOOD——ADESPERATEBAYONETCHARGE,ANDTHEONLY
SUCCESSFULONEINTHEATLANTACAMPAIGN——AGALLANTCOLONELANDHOWHE
DIED——THEHEROISMOFSOMEENLISTEDMEN——GOINGCALMLYINTOCERTAINDEATH。
Anintelligent,quick—eyed,sunburnedboy,withoutanounceofsurplusfleshonfaceorlimbs,whichhadbeenreducedtogray—houndconditionbythelaborsandanxietiesofthemonthsofbattlingbetweenChattanoogaandAtlanta,seemedtobetheacceptedtalkerofthecrowd,sincealltherestlookedathim,asifexpectinghimtoanswerforthem。Hedidso:
\"YouwanttoknowabouthowwegotAtlantaatlast,doyou？Well,ifyoudon\'tknow,Ishouldthinkyouwouldwantto。IfIdidn\'t,I\'dwantsomebodytotellmeallaboutitjustassoonashecouldgettome,foritwasoneoftheneatestlittlebitsofworkthat\'oldBilly\'andhisboyseverdid,anditgotawaywithHoodsobadthathehardlyknewwhathurthim。
\"Well,first,I\'lltellyouthatwebelongtotheoldFourteenthOhioVolunteers,which,ifyouknowanythingabouttheArmyoftheCumberland,you\'llrememberhasjustaboutasgoodarecordasanythattrainsaroundoldPapThomas——andhedon\'t\'lownoslouchesofanykindnearhim,either——youcanbet$500toacentonthat,andoffertogivebackthecentifyouwin。OursisJimSteedman\'soldregiment——you\'veallheardofoldChickamaugaJim,whoslashedhisdivisionof7,000freshmenintotheRebelflankontheseconddayatChickamauga,inawaythatmadeLongstreetwishhe\'dstaidontheRappahannock,andnevertriedtogetupanylittlesociablewiththeWesterners。IfIdosayitmyself,I
believewe\'vegotasgoodacrowdofsquare,stand—up,trust\'em—every—
minute—in—your—lifeboys,aseverthawedhard—tackandsowbelly。Wegotallthegruntersandweaksistersfannedoutthefirstyear,andsincethenwe\'vebeenonabusinessbasis,allthetime。We\'reinamightygoodbrigade,too。MostoftheregimentshavebeenwithussinceweformedthefirstbrigadePapThomasevercommanded,andwadedwithhimthroughthemudofKentucky,fromWildCattoMillSprings,wherehegaveZollicofferjustalittletheawfulestthrashingthataRebelGeneralevergot。That,youknow,wasinJanuary,1862,andwasthefirstvictorygainedbytheWesternArmy,andourpeoplefeltsorejoicedoveritthat——\"
\"Yes,yes;we\'vereadallaboutthat,\"webrokein,\"andwe\'dliketohearitagain,someothertime;buttellusnowaboutAtlanta。\"
\"Allright。Let\'ssee:wherewasI？O,yes,talkingaboutourbrigade。
ItistheThirdBrigade,oftheThirdDivision,oftheFourteenthCorps,andismadeupoftheFourteenthOhio,Thirty—eighthOhio,TenthKentucky,andSeventy—fourthIndiana。OuroldColonel——GeorgeP。Este——
commandsit。Weneverlikedhimverywellincamp,butItellyouhe\'sawholeteaminafight,andhe\'ddosowelltherethatallwouldtaketohimagain,andhe\'dberealpopularforawhile。\"
\"Now,isn\'tthatstrange,\"brokeinAndrews,whowasgiventofitsofspeculationofpsychologicalphenomena:\"Noneofusyearntodie,butthesurestwaytogaintheaffectionoftheboysistoshowzealinleadingthemintoscrapeswherethechancesofgettingshotarethebest。
Courageinaction,likecharity,coversamultitudeofsins。Ihaveknownittomakethemostunpopularmaninthebattalion,themostpopularinsideofhalfanhour。Now,M。（addressinghimselftome,）yourememberLieutenantH。,ofourbattalion。Youknowhewasaveryfancyyoungfellow;woreassnipish\'clothesasthetailorcouldmake,hadgoldlaceonhisjacketwherevertheregulationswouldallowit,decoratedhisshoulderswiththestunningestpairofshoulderknotsIeversaw,andsoon。Well,hedidnotstaywithuslongafterwewenttothefront。Hewentbackonadetailforacourtmartial,andstaidagoodwhile。Whenherejoinedus,hewasnotingoododor,atall,andtheboysweren\'tatallcarefulinsayingunpleasantthingswhenhecouldhearthem,AlittlewhileafterhecamebackwemadethatreconnaissanceupontheVirginiaRoad。WestirreduptheJohnnieswithourskirmishline,andwhilethefiringwasgoingoninfrontwesatonourhorsesinline,waitingfortheordertomoveforwardandengage。Youknowhowsolemnsuchmomentsare。IlookeddownthelineandsawLieutenantH。
attherightofCompany——,incommandofit。Ihadnotseenhimsincehecameback,andIsungout:
\"\'Hello,Lieutenant,howdoyoufeel？\'
\"Thereplycameback,promptly,andwithboyishcheerfulness:
\"\'Bully,by————;I\'mgoingtoleadseventymenofCompanyintoactiontoday！\'
\"Howhisboysdidcheerhim。Whenthebuglesounded—forward,trot,\'hiscompanysailedinasiftheymeantit,andswepttheJohnniesoffinshortmeter。YouneverheardanybodysayanythingagainstLieutenantafterthat。\"
\"YouknowhowitwaswithCaptainG。,ofourregiment,\"saidoneoftheFourteenthtoanother。\"HewaspromotedfromOrderlySergeanttoaSecondLieutenant,andassignedtoCompanyD。AllthemembersofCompanyDwenttoheadquartersinabody,andprotestedagainsthisbeingputintheircompany,andhewasnot。Well,hebehavedsowellatChickamaugathattheboyssawthattheyhaddonehimagreatinjustice,andallthosethatstilllivedwentagaintoheadquarters,andaskedtotakeallbackthattheyhadsaid,andtohavehimputintothecompany。\"
\"Well,thatwasdoingthemanlything,sure;butgoonaboutAtlanta。\"
\"Iwastellingaboutourbrigade,\"resumedthenarrator。\"Ofcourse,wethinkourregiment\'sthebestbylongoddsinthearmy——everyfellowthinksthatofhisregiment——butnexttoitcometheotherregimentsofourbrigade。There\'snotacentofdiscountonanyofthem。
\"ShermanhadstretchedouthisrightawaytothesouthandwestofAtlanta。AboutthemiddleofAugustourcorps,commandedbyJeffersonC。
Davis,waslyinginworksatUtoyCreek,acoupleofmilesfromAtlanta。
WecouldseethetallsteeplesandthehighbuildingsoftheCityquiteplainly。Thingshadgoneondullandquietlikeforabouttendays。
ThiswaslongerbyagooddealthanwehadbeenatrestsinceweleftResacaintheSpring。Weknewthatsomethingwasbrewing,andthatitmustcometoaheadsoon。
\"IbelongtoCompanyC。Ourlittlemess——nowreducedtothreebythelossoftwoofourbestsoldiersandcooks,DisbrowandSulier,killedbehindhead—logsinfrontofAtlanta,bysharpshooters——hadonefellowthatwecalled\'Observer,\'becausehehadsuchafacultyofpickingupnewsinhisprowlingaroundheadquarters。Hebroughtusinsomuchofthis,anditwasgenerallysoreliablethatwefrequentlymadeuphisabsencefromdutybytakinghisplace。Hewasneverawayfromafight,though。Onthenightofthe25thofAugust,\'Observer\'cameinwiththenewsthatsomethingwasinthewind。Shermanwasgettingawfulrestless,andwehadfoundoutthatthisalwaysmeantlotsoftroubletoourfriendsontheotherside。
\"Sureenough,orderscametogetreadytomove,andthenextnightweallmovedtotherightandrear,outofsightoftheJohnnies。OurwellbuiltworkswereleftinchargeofGarrard\'sCavalry,whoconcealedtheirhorsesintherear,andcameupandtookourplaces。ThewholearmyexcepttheTwentiethCorpsmovedquietlyoff,anddiditsonicelythatweweregonesometimebeforetheenemysuspectedit。ThentheTwentiethCorpspulledouttowardstheNorth,andfellbacktotheChattahoochie,makingquiteashoveofretreat。TheRebelssnappedupthebaitgreedily。Theythoughtthesiegewasbeingraised,andtheypouredovertheirworkstohurrytheTwentiethboysoff。TheTwentiethfellowsletthemknowthattherewaslotsofstinginthemyet,andtheJohnnieswerenotlongindiscoveringthatitwouldhavebeenmoneyintheirpocketsiftheyhadletthat\'moon—and—star\'（that\'stheTwentieth\'sbadge,youknow）crowdalone。
\"ButtheRebsthoughttherestofusweregoneforgoodandthatAtlantawassaved。Naturallytheyfeltmightyhappyoverit;andresolvedtohaveabigcelebration——aball,ameetingofjubilee,etc。Extratrainswererunin,withgirlsandwomenfromthesurroundingcountry,andtheyjusthadahigholdtime。
\"InthemeantimeweweregoingthroughsomanydifferentkindsoftacticsthatitlookedasifShermanwasreallycrazythistime,sure。Finallywemadeagrandleftwheel,andthenwentforwardalongwayinlineofbattle。Itpuzzledusagooddeal,butweknewthatShermancouldn\'tgetusintoanyscrapethatPapThomascouldn\'tgetusoutof,andsoitwasallright。
\"Alongontheeveningofthe31stourrightwingseemedtohaverunagainstahornet\'snest,andwecouldhearthemusketryandcannonspeakoutrealspiteful,butnothingcamedownourway。WehadstrucktherailroadleadingsouthfromAtlantatoMacon,andbegantearingitup。
ThejollityatAtlantawasstoppedrightinthemiddlebytheappallingnewsthattheYankeeshadn\'tretreatedworthacent,buthadbrokenoutinanewandmuchworsespotthanever。Thentherewasnoendoftroubleallaround,andHoodstartedpartofhisarmybackafterus。
\"PartofHardee\'sandPatCleburne\'scommandwentintopositioninfrontofus。WeleftthemalonetillStanleycouldcomeuponourleft,andswingaround,soastocutofftheirretreat,whenwewouldbageveryoneofthem。ButStanleywasasslowashealwayswas,anddidnotcomeupuntilitwastoolate,andthegamewasgone。
\"Thesunwasjustgoingdownontheeveningofthe1stofSeptember,whenwebegantoseewewereinforit,sure。TheFourteenthCorpswheeledintopositionneartherailroad,andthesoundofmusketryandartillerybecameveryloudandclearonourfrontandleft。Weturnedalittleandmarchedstraighttowardtheracket,becomingmoreexcitedeveryminute。
WesawtheCarlin\'sbrigadeofregulars,whoweresomedistanceaheadofus,pileknapsacks,forminline,fixbayonets,anddashoffwitharousingcheer。
\"TheRebelfirebeatuponthemlikeaSummerrain—storm,thegroundshookwiththenoise,andjustaswereachedtheedgeofthecottonfield,wesawtheremnantofthebrigadecomeflyingbackoutoftheawful,blastingshowerofbullets。Thewholeslopewascoveredwithdeadandwounded。\"
\"Yes,\"interruptsoneoftheFourteenth;\"andtheymadethatchargerightgamely,too,Icantellyou。Theyweregoodsoldiers,andwellled。Whenwewentovertheworks,IrememberseeingthebodyofalittleMajorofoneoftheregimentslyingrightonthetop。Ifhehadn\'tbeenkilledhe\'dbeeninsideinahalf—a—dozenstepsmore。There\'snomistakeaboutit;thoseregularswillfight。\"
\"Whenwesawthis,\"resumedthenarrator,\"itsetourfellowsfairlywild;theybecamejustcryingmad;Ineversawthemsobefore。Theordercametostripforthecharge,andourknapsackswerepiledinhalfaminute。ALieutenantofourcompany,whowasthenonthestaffofGen。
Baird,ourdivisioncommander,rodeslowlydownthelineandgaveusourinstructionstoloadourguns,fixbayonets,andholdfireuntilwewereontopoftheRebelworks。ThenColonelEstesangoutclearandsteadyasabuglesignal:
\"\'Brigade,forward！Guidecenter！MARCH！！\'
\"andwestarted。Heavens,howtheydidletintous,aswecameupintorange。Theyhadtenpiecesofartillery,andmoremenbehindthebreastworksthanwehadinline,andthefiretheypouredonuswassimplywithering。Wewalkedacrossthehundredsofdeadanddyingoftheregularbrigade,andateverystepourownmenfelldownamongthem。
GeneralBaud\'shorsewasshotdown,andtheGeneralthrownfaroverhishead,buthejumpedupandranalongsideofus。MajorWilson,ourregimentalcommander,fellmortallywounded;LieutenantKirkwaskilled,andalsoCaptainStopfard,AdjutantGeneralofthebrigade。LieutenantsCobbandMitchelldroppedwithwoundsthatprovedfatalinafewdays。
CaptainUganlostanarm,one—thirdoftheenlistedmenfell,butwewentstraightahead,thegrapeandthemusketrybecomingworseeverystep,untilwegainedtheedgeofthehill,wherewewerecheckedaminutebythebrush,whichtheRebelshadfixedupintheshapeofabattis。Justthenaterriblefirefromanewdirection,ourleft,sweptdownthewholelengthofourline。TheColoneloftheSeventeenthNewYork——asgallantamanaseverlivedsawthenewtrouble,tookhisregimentinontherun,andrelievedusofthis,buthewashimselfmortallywounded。Ifourboyswerehalf—crazybefore,theywerefranticnow,andaswegotoutoftheentanglementofthebrush,weraisedafearfulyellandranattheworks。Weclimbedthesides,firedrightdownintothedefenders,andthenbeganwiththebayonetandsword。Forafewminutesitwassimplyawful。Onbothsidesmenactedlikeinfuriateddevils。Theydashedeachother\'sbrainsoutwithclubbedmuskets;bayonetsweredrivenintomen\'sbodiesuptothemuzzleofthegun;officersrantheirswordsthroughtheiropponents,andrevolvers,afterbeingemptiedintothefacesoftheRebels,werethrownwithdesperateforceintotheranks。InourregimentwasastoutGermanbutchernamedFrankFleck。Hebecamesoexcitedthathethrewdownhissword,andrushedamongtheRebelswithhisbarefists,knockingdownaswathofthem。HeyelledtothefirstRebelhemet\"PyGott,I\'venopatiencemityou,\'andknockedhimsprawling。
HecaughtholdofthecommanderoftheRebelBrigade,andsnatchedhimbackovertheworksbymainstrength。Wonderfultosay,heescapedunhurt,buttheboyswillprobablynotsoonlethimhearthelastof\"PyGott,I\'venopatiencemityou。\'
\"TheTenthKentucky,bythequeerestluckintheworld,wasmatchedagainsttheRebelNinthKentucky。Thecommandersofthetworegimentswerebrothers—in—law,andthemenrelatives,friends,acquaintancesandschoolmates。Theyhatedeachotheraccordingly,andthefightbetweenthemwasmorebitter,ifpossible,thananywhereelseontheline。
TheThirty—EighthOhioandSeventy—fourthIndianaputinsomeworkthatwasjustmagnificent。Wehadn\'ttimetolookatitthen,butthedeadandwoundedpiledupafterthefighttoldthestory。
\"Wegraduallyforcedourwayovertheworks,buttheRebelsweregametothelast,andwehadtomakethemsurrenderalmostoneatatime。
Theartillerymentriedtofireonuswhenweweresoclosewecouldlayourhandsontheguns。
\"Finallynearlyallintheworkssurrendered,andweredisarmedandmarchedback。Justthenanaidcamedashingupwiththeinformationthatwemustturntheworks,andgetreadytoreceiveHardee,whowasadvancingtoretaketheposition。Wesnatchedupsomeshovelslyingnear,andbeganwork。WehadnotimetoremovethedeadanddyingRebelsontheworks,andthedirtwethrewcoveredthemup。Itprovedafalsealarm。Hardeehadasmuchashecoulddotosavehisownhide,andtheaffairendedaboutdark。
\"Whenwecametocountupwhatwehadgained,wefoundthatwehadactuallytakenmoreprisonersfrombehindbreastworksthantherewereinourbrigadewhenwestartedthecharge。Wehadmadetheonlyreallysuccessfulbayonetchargeofthecampaign。EveryothertimesinceweleftChattanoogathepartystandingonthedefensivehadbeensuccessful。
Herewehadtakenstrongdoublelines,withtenguns,sevenbattleflags,andovertwothousandprisoners。Wehadlostterribly——notlessthanone—thirdofthebrigade,andmanyofourbestmen。Ourregimentwentintothebattlewithfifteenofficers;nineofthesewerekilledorwounded,andsevenoftheninelosteithertheirlimbsorlives。
TheThirty—EighthOhio,andtheotherregimentsofthebrigadelostequallyheavy。WethoughtChickamaugaawful,butJonesborodiscountedit。\"
\"Doyouknow,\"saidanotheroftheFourteenth,\"IheardourSurgeontellingabouthowthatColonelGrower,oftheSeventeenthNewYork,whocameinsosplendidlyonourleft,died？TheysayhewasaWallStreetbroker,beforethewar。Hewashitshortlyafterheledhisregimentin,andafterthefight,wascarriedbacktothehospital。
WhileourSurgeonwasgoingtheroundsColonelGrowercalledhim,andsaidquietly,\'Whenyougetthroughwiththemen,comeandseeme,please。\'
\"TheDoctorwouldhaveattendedtohimthen,butGrowerwouldn\'tlethim。
