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a rapid and well-directed fire, rendering on this occasion important and distinguished service.’
About sundown, the battle having raged all day and Thomas still holding his log barricades, Gibson, who had taken command of the brigade, was ordered to advance, gaining ground to the left.
They passed over several lines of our troops, who cheered them heartily.
The orders were not to fire a gun. Passing through the last Confederate line engaging the enemy, without halting and without firing, they pushed on until, within a few paces of the Federal line, the charge was ordered, ‘and the whole command,’ said Gibson, ‘with a terrific yell fell upon the enemy.
A volley was received without effect; a second from the barricades checked us for an instant, but the officers rushed forward again, the men followed, and the enemy, panic-stricken, fled in the wildest disorder. . . . We continued to drive the enemy from every position for three-quarters of a mile until we had entered the woods, about 70 yards west of the Chattanooga road, where we halted.’
During the charge several hundred prisoners remained within their lines, but the Louisianians gave no heed to them.
The position they stormed was held by the brigade of General King, whose dead and wounded marked his track to the rear.
A battery was taken by the Thirteenth and Twentieth, but the gallantry of the whole brigade made it in fact a brigade honor.
‘The brigade halted victoriously at night at the very point whence it had recoiled at midday.’
‘Among the officers, Col. Daniel Gober and Col. Leon Von Zinken were conspicuous for courage and skill.
All the officers and men behaved with commendable gallantry.
Maj. C. H. Moore, Capt. H. A. Kennedy, who commanded the Nineteenth in the evening charge, and Capt. E. M. Dubroca, Thirteenth and Twentieth, showed themselves capable officers on the field.’
Major Graves, chief of artillery, fell mortally wounded in the arms of Captain Slocomb.
The staff of General Adams was also cordially
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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