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lively； they stopped firing to let us pass。 We saw General Leggett； our
Division Commander； come riding toward us。 He was outside of our line of
works； too。 You know how we build breastworkssort of zigzag like； you
know； so they cannot be enfiladed。 Well； that's just the way the works
were along there； and you never saw such a curious shape as we formed our
Division in。 Why； part of them were on one side of the works； and go
along a little further and here was a regiment； or part of a regiment on
the other side； both sets firing in opposite directions。
〃No sir'ee； they were not demoralized or in confusion； they were cool and
as steady as on parade。 But the old Division had； you know； never been
driven from any position they had once taken； in all their long service；
and they did not propose to leave that ridge until they got orders from
some one beside the Rebs。
〃There were times when a fellow did not know which side of the works was
the safest； for the Johnnies were in front of us and in rear of us。
You see； our Fourth Division； which had been to the left of us； had been
forced to quit their works； when the Rebs got into the works in their
rear； so that our Division was now at the point where our line turned
sharply to the left； and rearin the direction of the Sixteenth Corps。
〃We got into business before we had been there over three minutes。
A line of the Rebs tried to charge across the open fields in front of us；
but by the help of the old twenty…four pounders （which proved to be part
of Cooper's Illinois Battery； that we had been alongside of in many a
hard fight before）； we drove them back a…flying； only to have to jump
over on the outside of our works the next minute to tackle a heavy force
that came for our rear through that blasted strip of woods。 We soon
drove them off； and the firing on both sides seemed to have pretty much
stopped。
〃'Our Brigade；' which we discovered； was now commanded by 'Old Whiskers'
（Colonel Piles； of the Seventy…Eighth Ohio。 I'll bet he's got the
longest whiskers of any man in the Army。） You see General Scott had not
been seen or heard of since he had started to the rear after our regiment
when the fighting first commenced。 We all believed that he was either
killed or captured； or he would have been with his command。 He was a
splendid soldier； and a bull…dog of a fighter。 His absence was a great
loss； but we had not much time to think of such things； for our brigade
was then ordered to leave the works and to move to the right about twenty
or thirty rods across a large ravine； where we were placed in position in
an open corn…field； forming a new line at quite an angle from the line of
works we had just left； extending to the left； and getting us back nearer
onto a line with the Sixteenth Corps。 The battery of howitzers； now
reinforced by a part of the Third Ohio heavy guns； still occupied the old
works on the highest part of the hill； just to the right of our new line。
We took our position just on the brow of a hill； and were ordered to lie
down； and the rear rank to go for rails； which we discovered a few rods
behind us in the shape of a good ten…rail fence。 Every rear…rank chap
came back with all the rails he could lug； and we barely had time to lay
them down in front of us； forming a little barricade of six to eight or
ten inches high； when we heard the most unearthly Rebel yell directly in
front of us。 It grew louder and came nearer and nearer； until we could
see a solid line of the gray coats coming out of the woods and down the
opposite slope； their battle flags flying； officers in front with drawn
swords； arms at right shoulder； and every one of them yelling like so
many Sioux Indians。 The line seemed to be massed six or eight ranks
deep； followed closely by the second line； and that by the third； each；
if possible； yelling louder and appearing more desperately reckless than
the one ahead。 At their first appearance we opened on them； and so did
the bully old twenty…four…pounders； with canister。
〃On they came； the first line staggered and wavered back on to the
second； which was coming on the double quick。 Such a raking as we did
give them。 Oh； Lordy； how we did wish that we had the breech loading
Spencers or Winchesters。 But we had the old reliable Springfields； and
we poured it in hot and heavy。 By the time the charging column got down
the opposite slope； and were struggling through the thicket of
undergrowth in the ravine； they were one confused mass of officers and
men； the three lines now forming one solid column； which made several
desperate efforts to rush up to the top of the hill where we were
punishing them so。 One of their first surges came mighty near going
right over the left of our Regiment； as they were lying down behind their
little rail piles。 But the boys clubbed their guns and the officers used
their revolvers and swords and drove them back down the hill。
〃The Seventy…Eighth and Twentieth Ohio； our right and left bowers； who
had been brigaded with us ever since 'Shiloh；' were into it as hot and
heavy as we had been； and had lost numbers of their officers and men； but
were hanging on to their little rail piles when the fight was over。
At one time the Rebs were right in on top of the Seventy…Eighth。 One big
Reb grabbed their colors； and tried to pull them out of the hands of the
color…bearer。 But old Captain Orr； a little； short； dried…up fellow；
about sixty years old； struck him with his sword across the back of the
neck； and killed him deader than a mackerel； right in his tracks。
〃It was now getting dark； and the Johnnies concluded they had taken a
bigger contract in trying to drive us off that hill in one day than they
had counted on； so they quit charging on us； but drew back under cover of
the woods and along the old line of works that we had left； and kept up a
pecking away and sharp…shooting at us all night long。 They opened fire
on us from a number of pieces of artillery from the front； from the left；
and from some heavy guns away over to the right of us； in the main works
around Atlanta。
〃We did not fool away much time that night； either。 We got our shovels
and picks； and while part of us were sharpshooting and trying to keep the
Rebels from working up too close to us； the rest of the boys were putting
up some good solid earthworks right where our rail piles had been； and by
morning we were in splendid shape to have received our friends； no matter
which way they had come at us； for they kept up such an all…fired
shelling of us from so many different directions； that the boys had built
traverses and bomb…proofs at all sorts of angles and in all directions。
〃There was one point off to our right； a few rods up along our old line
of works where there was a crowd of Rebel sharpshooters that annoyed us
more than all the rest； by their constant firing at us through the night。
They killed one of Company H's boys； and wounded several others。 Finally
Captain Williams； of D Company； came along and said he wanted a couple of
good shots out of our company to go with him； so I went for one。 He took
about ten of us； and we crawled down