He was a little delirious, and the roar of the cannon and the musketry was still in his ears. But unloosing his hand we started out to find the surgeon. We ran across him and told him what we wanted, that one of the boys had been overlooked, and needed help, would he not come to him; this with an impassioned force. He would come, he replied, as soon as he could, but his hands were full. "No, doctor," we pleaded, "come now, come now," and catching hold of his coat we would not let him go. Dr. Hooten, our brigade surgeon, was a man of tender heart, and he saw we were terribly in earnest. "Where is the boy," he said. We quickly turned and conducted him to Patsey's side. Bending over him he examined him; he had been shot through the lungs. Getting up he motioned for us to follow. "Go to the steward," he said, "and tell him to mix you some morphine and whisky," telling me the right amount of each. I hurriedly left him and was soon returning with the medicine. Reaching his side I knelt down and told him to open his mouth. Inserting the tube of the hospital tin between his teeth, I gently poured the medicine down his throat, but it had no sooner touched his stomach than he vomited it up. I repeated the dose and had the satisfaction at last of seeing him retain it. Drying up the blood and wet in which he was laying with some old rags, we left him with the assurance that he would soon be sleeping. Having been away now from our command for a long time, we felt we must hurry back, however much we felt disposed to stay and do what we could for our boys, so going outside of the fly, we started back to the command. But our mind was torn and rent with sad feelings. Yonder under that hospital fly, lay boys whom we tenderly loved, wounded and helpless, breathing, slowly breathing their lives away, while others suffering pain almost unbearable, lay with teeth clenched, and knitted brows, suffering on in silence. As we slowly walked along how we strove for the mastery of our feelings, but we could not help it, and in spite of all we could do, we cried like a child. Sitting down by a tree until we had partially overcome our sorrow, we arose and again started for the company, while ringing in our ears were the words: "Vengeance is mine I will repay, saith the Lord." How the memory of those days come surging back upon us as we sit at home penning these lines. The scene is as fresh in our memory as if it had happened only yesterday, and the events of those times comes sweeping over us like a flood. But the boys we loved so well, our neighbor lads at home, have long ere this mouldered into dust in their southern graves, can we doubt for a moment that their souls are happy? that they are now singing the happy songs of angels around the great white throne on high? No! No! doubt cannot enter, and so we feel that they are better off than we. All glory to their memories. And such is the tale of the assault on the rebel lines in front of Kenesaw. How many homes it darkened by the shadow it cast upon their firesides. The 27th day of June, 1864, will long be remembered by many families in Champaign and Vermilion counties.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The assault on Kenesaw, as far as capturing the enemy's works were concerned, was a failure; but this did not prove, by any means, that we were whipped. So on the next day it was determined to advance the line held by our brigade, which was formed in close column by regiments, the 125th being in the front line. The movement was made in order to mine the works of the enemy. As the distance was not more than two hundred feet, it was an extremely hazardous undertaking, but as yankee ingenuity cannot be balked, Col. Langley devised a plan, the like of which was never seen before during the war, and completely casts in the shade all engineering exploits on record. The colonel and one man, corporal Joseph Frankenburg, of Co. "E," who volunteered for the undertaking, crawled from our line to a tree some twenty yards in advance, and behind it commenced digging a small pit. After digging enough earth to give protection, an empty cracker box was dragged up from our lines by means of a rope, and filled with earth, this was placed in front of the pit, and after digging a little more, another cracker box was brought along, filled, and placed in juxtaposition. This was continued with success, until finally the whole regiment advanced the twenty yards, and were safely ensconced behind the cracker box fortification. Mining at once commenced under the colonel's direction, but the evacuation of the rebels rendered it useless to proceed with the work to its completion. It was the intention to mine under the rebel breast works, and on the morning of the 4th of July, to usher in the day by one of the grandest pyrotechnic displays that had ever occurred in those parts, which would strike terror and dismay to the hearts of the rebels, and would undoubtedly have been, for some of their number, the last 4th of July celebration they would ever have honored with their presence. But the "Johnnies" found out the scheme, and evacuated the works. Prisoners stated that they suspected something of the sort was going on, so placing a drum on the ground, and on its head some small pieces of gravel, the digging of our boys caused the head of the drum to vibrate, and make the gravel move. This scheme frustrated our designs, but the wonder of many of us was, where they learned enough of philosophy to induce them to make the experiment. One rebel stated that he was stationed where "the mine would have blown him to h—ll if we'uns hadn't left."
Pending the armistice to bury the dead between the lines, the rebel army was represented by Colonel Rice of the 28th Tennessee, our side by Colonel Langley. Colonel Rice was very anxious that the arms and accoutrements of our soldiers who fell at the rebel breast works, should be given over to them, but to this Col. Langley objected, and proposed that they should be regarded as neutral property, and not touched by either party until one or the other should occupy the ground. To this Colonel Rice reluctantly consented, knowing that if he did not it would be equivalent to saying that the rebels were not going to hold their position. The upshot of the matter was just as Colonel Langley expected, the rebels evacuated, and we got all the arms, some 250 Enfield rifles. The rebel generals Cheatham and Hindman, were present during the armistice, and as everything connected with our assault on Kenesaw is of the deepest interest, we have concluded to give a description of these noted rebels. Cheatham's uniform consisted of an old slouch hat, a blue hickory shirt, butternut pants, and a pair of cavalry boots. The supports to his unmentionables were an old leather strap, and a piece of web, the general appearance being that of a "johnney" gone to seed. In a conversation with our colonel he stated that he was of the opinion that the war would be settled by treaty, as neither party could conquer. He was satisfied that we had so completely revolutionized Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland and Louisiana, that, they would never form part of the Confederacy. He virtually admitted that he was only fighting from principle, and not for the love of the Southern Confederacy. When Tennessee passed the ordinance of secession, he went with it, and as he had cast his lot, he did not like to "back down." Hindman was an Arkansian, and had the reputation of being a confirmed gambler and black-leg. He did not command the respect of his troops, and by his brother officers he was despised. In appearance he was very dressy. His auburn hair flowed in ringlets over his shoulders, and it was stated that a light mulatto girl dressed it for him every morning. Colonel Rice was very gentlemanly and humane in the manner in which he assisted our fellows to pay the last sad rites to those who had fallen in front of their works while bravely fighting.
CHAPTER XXV.
Acknowledging the failure of the assault, but acting under the conviction that it would be fatal to rest long under the influence of a defeat, General Sherman determined to again try a flanking movement, and in consequence every effort was put forth to make it a success. Accordingly on the 1st of July, General McPherson was relieved by Garrard's cavalry in front of Kenesaw, and the relieved command was hastily moved to the right. General McPherson commenced his movement on the night of July 2nd, and the effect was instantaneous. On the morning of the 3rd Kenesaw was abandoned and the first dawn of day saw our skirmishers appear on the mountain top.
Marietta was evacuated, and General Sherman entered it in person at half-past eight in the morning, just as the enemy's cavalry vacated the place. The orders were to push the enemy, with the hope of catching him in confusion as he made the passage of the Chattahoochie river. But Johnston had provided against this and had covered his movement well. On the 7th of July, we had effected a crossing of the river. At the same time General Garrard had moved rapidly on Roswell, and destroyed the factories which had supplied the rebel armies with cloth for years. Over one of these the nominal owner displayed the French flag, which of course was not respected. On the 10th of July at day light, Johnston retreated southward, leaving the army of the union undisputed masters north and west of the Chattahoochie river, along whose grassy banks we remained quietly in camp until the 16th of July, though the time was employed in collecting stores at Alatoona, Marietta and Vinings Station, strengthening the railroad guards and garrisons, and improving the bridges and roads leading across the river. On the 17th, everything being in readiness, we were again ordered to advance, and formed a general line along the old Peach Tree creek road. Our brigade crossed the creek on logs and impromptu bridges in face of a heavy fire from the enemy, who occupied intrenched lines ready to receive us.
On the afternoon of the 20th about 4 p. m., the enemy sallied from his works in force and fell in line of battle against our right center. The blow was sudden, and somewhat unexpected, but after a severe battle they were repulsed, leaving on the field about 500 dead, 1000 wounded, 7 stands of colors and many prisoners. His loss could not have fallen short of 5000, whereas our loss was covered by 1500 killed, wounded and missing. On the 21st a reconnoisance was made of the enemy, in his intrenched position, at a general distance from Atlanta of about four miles. On the morning of the 22nd this whole line was found abandoned, much to the surprise of the union army. We thought, for a time, that the enemy had concluded to give up Atlanta without further contest. Gen. Johnston had been relieved of his command and Gen. Hood substituted. A new policy seemed resolved on, of which the bold attack on the right was the index. Our ranks without opposition swept across the strong and well finished works of the enemy, and closed in upon Atlanta until they occupied a line in the form of a general circle of about two miles in radius, when the enemy was again found occupying in force a line of finished redoubts, which had been prepared for more than a year, covering all the roads leading into Atlanta. Here it was, that under the leadership of their new commander, Hood, they made a desperate assault on our lines, but only to be repulsed with terrible slaughter. But this battle of the 22d of July cost us 3,722 killed, wounded and prisoners, and among the dead was Major general McPherson. The enemy left on the field an aggregate loss of 8000 men. And so the days passed, fighting and erecting breastworks, until on the 1st day of September, when as we were in front of Jonesboro, a small town below Atlanta, the rebels came out of their works and offered us battle. The enemy attacked with Lee and Hardee's corps and after a contest of over two hours withdrew behind their works, leaving over 400 dead on the ground, and his wounded, of which about 300 were left in Jonesboro, making his loss not much less than 2,500. Orders were at once given for all the army to turn on Jonesboro. About 4 p. m. of that day Gen. Davis, our corps commander, was all ready, and we assaulted the enemy's lines across open fields, carrying them and taking as prisoners Govan's brigade, including its commander and staff and two four-gun batteries. The next morning the enemy was gone. He had retreated further south. About two o'clock that night the sounds of heavy explosions were heard in the direction of Atlanta, distance about twenty miles, with a succession of minor explosions and what seemed like the rapid firing of cannon and musketry. These continued for about an hour, and again about four a. m. occurred another series of similar discharges, apparently nearer to us, and these sounds could be accounted for on no other grounds than that of a night attack on Atlanta by General Slocum, or the blowing up of the enemy's magazines. Rumors began to arrive, through prisoners captured, that Atlanta had been abandoned, and that Hood had blown up his ammunition trains, which accounted for the sounds. On the morning of Sept. 2nd a courier arrived from Gen. Slocum, reporting that the enemy had evacuated Atlanta, blown up seven trains of cars and retreated on the McDonough road, and that he, Slocum, held possession of the city. On the 7th of September the entire army went into camps grouped about Atlanta, our brigade having reached the city on the night of the 3rd in charge of nearly 1700 prisoners captured at Jonesboro, was posted in the suburbs of the city. Thus was completed and sent down to history another of the great campaigns of the war.
