growth, and would be, without bridges, a fatal bar to the escape of a routed and pursued army. But across this a number of bridges had been thrown, securing an open way in case of disaster. It had been the purpose of the foe, now led by the impetuous Hood, to make a noisy demonstration in front of the Union left, and then fall with nearly the entire weight of his force upon the unsuspecting right. This purpose he skilfully executed. Massing his forces in front of the severed right wing during the night of the 19th, and concealed from view, he stood in readiness, on the afternoon of the 20th, for the onset, "July 19th," says Colonel Pardee in his official report, "the regiment crossed Peach Tree Creek, north of Howell's Mills, and bivouacked for the night on a small height on the south side of the creek. At eight A. M., of July 20, the brigade moved forward, my regiment being second in line, the Fifth Ohio having the right of the brigade. After marching a short distance, the brigade was halted, and formed in line of battle. The halt was of short duration, however, and the brigade moved forward, the One hundred and forty-seventh Pennsylvania now having the right. After crossing a deep ravine, and ascending a hill, the skirmish line was reached. I then, under direction of Colonel Candy, commanding the brigade, formed line of battle, and threw up a substantial barricade of rails. In my front was a small belt of woods, through which ran a road connecting the Howell's Mill Road with the Buck Head Road, and in front of this road was a small stream, a branch of Emory's Creek. Farther in advance, and directly in my front, was a large cornfield. To my right, and connecting with me, were the works of the Fifth Ohio, and farther to the right the remaining regiments of the brigade, the line extending along the crest of the ridge, and parallel with the road previously mentioned. Knap's Pennsylvania Battery was posted, four pieces, in the line of my regiment, and two on the left of it; Bundy's New York Battery was also posted, four pieces, in the right wing of my regiment, and the remaining two pieces, in the line of the Fifth Ohio. We remained quietly in this position until three P. M. The skirmishers had, in the meantime, taken and were holding a height to the front and right of my regiment. The Thirty-third New Jersey, of the Second Brigade, was ordered out to this hill to throw up a temporary work, and occupy the position. This regiment was soon driven, as were the skirmishers, and the enemy, in heavy force, was seen following them rapidly and closely. At the same time, the enemy made his appearance in the cornfield, in large numbers, advancing rapidly and in excellent order. This column soon came within rifle range, when I directed the fire from my regiment to be opened on them. The artillery opened at the same time. The lines of the enemy were broken, and they were soon compelled to seek cover in the woods, from which they had advanced in such good order a short time previous. The lines of battle of the enemy to the right had pressed forward with such vigor, as to drive back all the regiments on my right, and the disorganized masses of men, as they rushed past my line, told a fearful tale. Under direction of Major Reynolds, Chief of Artillery of the Twentieth Corps, a section of Bundy's Battery, was turned on the advancing enemy. This, with the fire of musketry brought to bear from the right of my regiment, and from the men who had been hastily gathered together, held the enemy in check. At this time a portion of the enemy had gained the ravine in my rear, and there was some danger of their coming from that direction in such force as to seriously endanger the batteries. Finally, aid was brought by Major Reynolds. who led the Sixtieth New York and posted it on my right. The two pieces of artillery which had here been abandoned, were brought in by Captain Kreider, with the aid of volunteers from Companies A and F, and some men of Bundy's Battery. These two pieces were placed in position, which, with the two already faced to the right, gave us an excellent and destructive fire on the enemy's flank and rear. The execution done by these pieces, was made manifest after the fight was over. During the whole of this time, the firing in my proper front was regularly and coolly given on the enemy, who seemed determined to break through the lines. At the opening of the action, the Third Division made connection on the left of my line, forming an obtuse angle with the works of my regiment. The fire from that portion of this line bearing on the cornfield, together with the fire from the artillery, and from my regiment, rendered all attempts of the enemy to break through the lines futile, and repelled each attempt with loss." The loss in the regiment, owing to the protection afforded by the barricade, to which it persistently clung, was but slight, being two killed, and five wounded. The unwavering front presented by this regiment, with the aid of the artillery posted in its line, and the tenacity with which it held its ground, repelling with great slaughter the most desperate charges of the foe, undoubtedly saved the corps from disaster, and won for its commander the commission of a Brevet Brigadier General. "At noon of the 20th," says an eye witness of the scene, "Geary advanced to his tete de pont, and with the assistance of a section of Magill's Battery, succeeded in taking a ridge in his front, to which he advanced his division, formed with Colonel Candy's Brigade on the left, Colonel Jones' on the right, and Colonel Ireland's in the centre, and proceeded at once to erect barricades. They had just fairly got to work when the fierce shout of the enemy and the confused sound of their myriad tramp struck the startled ear. More than half of Geary's line was in a dense forest filled with underbrush, the remainder faced an open field. Across the latter, it was a brave but terrifying sight. When we remember that the entire rebel attacking column reached along the front of but four of our divisions, it can easily be conceived how massive and deep their formations were. In the forest the thickets fairly wilted and disappeared under their feet, so closely were they packed and so irresistible their progress. They came on without skirmishers, and, as if by instinct, struck Geary's right flank, where a gap existed, that Williams' Division was endeavoring to close. The four regiments forming the right brigade were enveloped on their flank and rear in a moment, and cruelly enfiladed. Subjected to a half dozen cross fires, the brigade fell back hastily to the trenches it had one. * left in the morning. To remain would have been annihilation. Portions of Colonel Ireland's Brigade were also torn to pieces by the withering cross-fires, and fell back after repeated gallant efforts to reform their line to return the fire on flank and rear. The moment was a desperate The enemy were almost within grasp of Lieutenant Bundy's Battery on the right, but he wheeled one section from front to right, and by double-shotting the guns with canister, succeeded in repelling the greedy vermin in dirty gray * So bitter was this enfilading fire to which Geary's position was exposed, that the caissons of the guns that had been taken to the rear for safety were driven back to the front to escape a more deadly fire than was sustained at the ordinary point of danger. But the remainder of Geary's Division stood firm as a rock. The enemy in vain charged and re-charged from front and right flank. Until nightfall the unequal contest was waged, but Geary held his hill inflexibly. The enemy sullenly left his front during the evening, firing spitefully as he retired. *. I have seen most of the battlefields in the southwest, but nowhere have I seen traces of more deadly work, than is visible in the dense woods in which Geary's right was formed." As soon as he had recovered from the stunning blow which he had received, the rebel leader rapidly retired to his intrenched lines in and about Atlanta. By sharp manoeuvring and fighting Sherman soon pushed him from this and then commenced his march to the sea. Of the fortunes of the regiment in this march, and its subsequent advance northward through the Carolinas, it is unnecessary to speak in detail, as its course was not marked by any special incident out of the ordinary routine of fatiguing marches and ceaseless vigilance which characterized this triumphant but bloodless campaign. After the surrender of General Johnston, on the 26th of April, 1865, Sherman's Army moved by rapid marches to the neighborhood of Washington, where, on the 15th of July, the One hundred and forty-seventh was finally mustered out of service. DEDICATION OF MONUMENT C 7TH REGIMENT CAVALRY NEAR REED'S BRIDGE, CHICKAMAUGA PARK, GA., NOVEMBER 15TH, 1897. OMRADES of the Great War:-Thirty-six years have passed since the days of 1861, when, in the pride of our early manhood and all aglow with patriotic fire and zeal, we gathered at Harrisburg and offered our services to the Governor of our Commonwealth, asking no Moore's Rebellion Record, Vol. XI, page 252, Docs. |