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SERGEANT KELLEY'S ADVENTURE.

605

join on the right of Baird's Division. The skirmishers went forward, but in consequence of the roughness of the country, it was near noon before the rest of the regiment could find them. The position to which they were assigned was in front of Kenesaw. The ground over which they had to skirmish was so covered with underbrush, especially where it sloped down to the creek in the hollow, that no line could be kept, and our men could not be distinguished from the enemy at even a short distance. The day therefore became fruitful of surprises and strange adventures on both sides. We captured twenty-five prisoners, including four officers; some under very peculiar circumstances. One captain and a squad were in the act of relieving their guards, when, mistaking our men for theirs, they were brought in.

Sergeant Kelley, commanding Company A, saw, as he made his way through the thick brush, three men in an open space, whom he supposed to be ours, and advanced towards them, but becoming suspicious, he inquired their regiment. "30th Georgia," was the reply. As retreat was impossible, he boldly demanded their surrender, seizing the largest one by the collar. Two of them were disposed to yield, but the third shot at Kelley, who knocked the gun to one side, so that the charge passed through his clothes, without injuring him. It was now his turn to surrender, which he did, and requested to be taken to the rear. But the Rebel who had just fired, proceeded to load again, with the avowed intention of shooting him. Seeing it was death anyway, Kelley broke for our lines-the shot fired after him grazing his head and stunning him for an instant; but he quickly rejoined his company, who, seeing him fall, had supposed him

dead.

Company C was commanded that day by Sergt. Wilson, with orders to line on Company I. In charging through the brush,

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however, they got considerably in the advance, and Wilson becoming anxious about his connections, gave the order, "Lie down." In passing down the line, Jacob Moss was shot directly from the right, and Wilson supposing it to come from some careless fellow in Company I, ran in that direction, when he caught sight of five Rebels, standing at a tree a few feet off, loading and firing. They called, "surrender," but having always felt a greater fear of being taken prisoner than of being killed, after pausing an instant and seeing them raise their muskets, he made a turn and escaped as if shot from a twelve-pounder, the bullets clipping the brush about him. As he came near his men, he ordered, "Company C retreat," and going back about thirty rods, found Company I still in its place. This, he thinks, was the worst scare he ever had, and the boys said that his eyes were as big as saucers for an hour afterward.

As Company D advanced through the thick brush, an order was heard, "Right and left forward," which proved to be from the Rebel side; but the lines being so near together, both obeyed, and were brought face to face-only their numbers were three to one of ours. Picking their men, they fired and then fell back a little way. Thor Thorson confronted an officer and four men. They called on him to surrender. "Not with a loaded gun," said he, and fired at the officer. Noticing as he ran that the men aimed low, he leaped up as they fired, escaping all the bullets but one, which wounded him in the thigh, but not so as to hinder his getting away. The officer was afterward found dead. John C. Taylor was wounded in the shoulder, while attempting to carry Gaylord behind a tree. When we fell back, the Rebs did not come out of the brush, and soon our men rallied and drove them across the creek-part over a bridge and the rest through the mud and

water.

On the other side, Joe Whitman was in hot pursuit

HIS SWEETHEART'S SWORD.

607

of a Reb, who drew him on to re-inforcements. Now it was Joe's turn to run back, and as he jumped into the muddy stream, his U. S. plate was struck by a bullet, which doubled him up, taking away his breath. After lying in the mud awhile, his breath came again, and he scrambled out on the other side. He afterwards took pride in showing the black and blue spot and the battered plate, which became his life preserver.

One Rebel captain surrendered to Capt. Biddulph, of Company K, but very reluctantly gave up his sword, and tried to enter into a stipulation that it should be restored to him on his being exchanged; giving as the reason, that he would not like to lose it, as it was a present from his Southern sweetheart. It is very much to be feared that neither he or she ever saw that sword again. Sergt. Hogue, of the same Company, brought two stalwart Georgians in prisoners, who had called on him to surrender. Other companies also had strange occurrences; making both our losses and our gains that day something to be long remembered.

Jacob Moss only lived till night. He was a good soldier of Jesus Christ, as well as of his country, and in his last hours spoke triumphantly of his hopes of heaven and exhorted his comrades. to meet him there-making a profound impression.

The casualties of the day were:

KILLED.

H. Ribby, Co. B; Sam. Saltmarsh, Co. G.

WOUNDED.

Co. A, Azotus White, thigh; Romaine Kilburn, thigh. Co. B, H. B. Latham, hand. Co. C, W. H. Smith, shoulder; Jacob Moss, body. Co. D, Sergt. J. C. Taylor, shoulder; Alfred Gaylord, thigh, died; Thor. Thorson, thigh; Chas. H. Bissell, back. Co. E, Geo. McHugh, leg. Co. F, M. V. Tremain, chin and body. Co. H, John Nemire, leg. Co. I, Mich. Kirtiser. Co. K, S. Parsons, wrist; C. A. Tucker, arm.

MISSING.

Charles Travis, Co. B; J. M. Leach, Co. D; James Hatch, Co. E: B. Streeter, Warren Folk, Co. G; Wilson Lawson, Co. H; Mich. Cliggitt, Co. I.

The next day the regiment was in reserve and put up tents. But picket firing was very heavy, and in the afternoon forty pieces of artillery opened, with marked effect. All through the day, and for several days that week, discharges of artillery were almost invariably followed by heavy showers. Just before night, the Rebel artillery answered, and some shells came over the regiment, but at dusk we were relieved by the 14th Corps, and went back two miles on to a rocky ledge to sleep. Next morning, and all through the week, our troops were moving to the right, to outflank Kenesaw. On Tuesday afternoon our division took possession of an advanced knoll, adjoining Hooker, which received special commendation from Gen. Thomas. On Wednesday we made demonstrations to help Gen. Hooker, who was heavily attacked by massed forces, but drove them back, with slaughter. These operations on the right continued with slight variations all the week. On the 22nd, W. L. Campbell, Company B, was wounded and on the 23rd, Adelbert Shaw, Company A, and J. C. Ford, Company H.

It was now decided to break through the enemy's line at a favorable point in McPherson's and Thomas' fronts. Davis' and Newton's Divisions were selected for the assaulting column. Every preparation was quietly made to render the assault itself successful, and to insure its vigorous support and following up; as, successful with such a river as the Chattahoochee in Johnston's rear, it would insure the destruction of his army. A hill in the rear of Thomas' centre was cleared, and to it all the telegraph lines were laid. Troops were brought up, and corps to the right and left were held ready for instant support. All day Sunday, the 26th, things were very quiet; a few dropping shots being all that broke the stillness of the day. But it was whispered about that there would be hot work to-morrow. The hospitals were cleared out and accommodations extended.

COL. MILLER WOUNDED.

609

Next morning the troops were massed for a charge, the 36th being in the skirmish line. For about fifteen minutes all the guns within reach concentrated their fire on the point of attack, and precisely at nine o'clock the column moved forward. The skirmish line rushed on and succeeded in effecting a lodgment within a few rods of the Rebel works, where they sheltered themselves and looked for the main column to follow. But they were not able to break through the terrible fire, and after our men had remained about half an hour in this position, they were ordered to retire. By about eleven o'clock, the attack here, as also with McPherson and Schofield, was over, and except some small gains in position, was substantially a failure. The loss was terrible— over fifteen hundred killed, wounded and missing in our corps, including some of our best officers and men. It was a sad day for the 36th. Very soon after the assault commenced, the ambulances began to pour their streams into the hospitals. Among the first to arrive, was our honored Colonel, wounded through the right shoulder and shoulder-blade.

One after another was brought in, until every company was represented, and the 36th, which had already suffered so much, seemed now fast melting away. One case deserves special attention. Hatch, of Company E, the youngest and the tallest of the one hundred who first joined the company, had a brother Henry, only fifteen years old, who was extremely anxious to go with the 36th. At Camp Hammond, the flag in some way became entangled, and he climbed the pole in sight of all, freeing the flag, and the boys made up a collection for him. After the 36th left, he ran away and enlisted in the 57th Illinois; was at Shiloh and most of the battles up to Resaca, when he became footsore, and dropping back, fell in with the 127th, in which he was acquainted; fought with them, and when near Dallas, passing

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