"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。