Allatoona Pass - Page 6

johan_steele · #51 06-23-2008, 10:26 PM

K Co, 4th MN VI detail of the early part of the battle.

"I posted my men on the east side of the railroad cut; had been there about thirty minutes when I discovered in front, about a thousand yards away, a brigade of rebels coming down the mountain. Between them and myself there was a ridge that ran off to point so far to my right that I could not see any person passing up the track. Shortly after the rebels came down off the mountain into the valley I saw an officer (Major Durr, 39th Mississippi) directly in front of me with a handkerchief tied to his sword and advancing toward me saying, at the same time, "Do you not know that there has been a flag of truce sent to your commanding officer demanding your surrender?" I repplied very emphatically, "No. What do you want? Do you want to surrender?" He replied, "I do not." I then said to him that he had better drop down out of sight, as my bots were not feeling very friendly just then toward them. While engaged with him in this conversation, the rebels were moving around both to right and left of us. In the meantime I had sent out a man in both directions, and they came back quickly, reporting to me that we were being surrounded by the enemy. Losing no time, I rallied my men saying, "Boys, follow me!" My weight being much less at that time than now and not caring for grass to get much of a start under our feet, i think we made the home stretch in pretty fair time. We were pressed by the 35th & 39th Mississippi regiments. I found Major Durr a fine, pleasant,gentlemanly kind of man. He wrote his name in my diary-all the token I have in remembrance of him."

It was this incident which primarily gave fly the rumor that CS forces unfairly made advances under a flag of truce.

johan_steele · #52 06-23-2008, 10:54 PM

Sylvannus Allen of A Co 4th MN was a Methodist Minister and a popular man. Rebels troops took up residence in his improvised chapel... he killed eight of them with his rifle.

All of the tent poles and excess cracker and ammunition boxes were tossed onto the works w/ dirt piled atop them to strengthen their positions.

Markings had been placed about the forts from 100 to 500 yards to help the men in accurate firing.

Charles H Savidge of H Co 4th MN VI was also a Methodist minister, he had enlisted as a private. During the battle a bullet struck him square in the chest lodging in his testament just above his heart; he survived, unharmed, to become a popular chaplain.

There is some confusion about what national flag was carried at Allatoona. Some state the flag was of the Philidelphia pattern w/ no battle honors whatsoever upon it only the name of the regiment. This may make the most sense as both flags contained at Camp Ripley contain only the Regimental identification and the flag in the possesion of Freeborn County, which appears to have seen little use, was most likely provided the Regiment only at the end of the War; perhaps in time for the Grand Review. Another source states that the names: Iuka, Corinth, Hatchie, Greenwood and Vicksburg were upon it. This matches none of the surviving flags maintained in Minnesota; only three remain and that carried at Allatoona does not appear to be one of them.

The flag of the Wisconsin battery held 192 bullet holes. The battery lost 27 horses to enemy artillery fire, but it is believed no man was wounded by their fire.

A Minnesota soldier, known for his skill with a rifle, was praised for killing a Rebel officer at a distance of over three hundred yards, striking and killing the man with a ball in the forhead. His reply speaks of the charachter of the men. "Honor me not for slaying a soldier; he died well, and for that he should be praised, not I."

Joey12thga · #53 07-23-2008, 02:55 PM

Ok I was readin through some online stuff the other night and found reference to the use of a couple Henrys on the Eastern side. Anyone else seen this or do you think it was bunk.

johan_steele · #54 07-23-2008, 04:39 PM

As far as I know only the 7th IL had any Henry's at Allatoona. I would be suprised to find any enlisted man of the 4th MN w/ one I don't think it would be PEC.

Joey12thga · #55 07-23-2008, 08:18 PM

Yea I knew the 7th IL had them. I got pressure from above for the LH program saying they want a couple over on the Eastern side because they "heard" that a couple of 7th IL boys came across the foot bridge at some point or some such thing. I saw one reference the other night in some online thing about a henry on the Eastenr side over close to the cut. So I am not sure if they meant they had crossed the pass or what.

I just wanted to see if you had seen anything of the like in your studies.

Either way it's one of those things where they may hold my feet to the fire to have them but who knows.

ole · #56 07-23-2008, 11:06 PM

The 4th could have gotten some non-issue Henrys. It was not unheard of.

ole

johan_steele · #57 07-24-2008, 08:28 AM

I believe there was one officer in the 4th MN who had a Henry by the time of the Grand Review. The LH people probably have someone who has a Henry and wants to play w/ it. The 7th was heavily involved in skirmishing primarily to the South & West of Rowett's Redoubt. After the Redoubt fell most of the US forces ended up in the Star Fort and held on by their fingernails.

As Corse's men arrived and detrained men from a couple Regiments were detailed to guide them to their positions, that would have been the only opportunity for somebody who would spend the rest of the battle on the East side to acquire a Henry and as the 7th was not 100% Henry's to me that option seems quite slim. IIRC those in the 7th who weren't carrying Henry's had Enfields or Springfields yet, I don't recall which.

Keep in mind when Corse arrived advance elements of French's force were already in the area, Skirmishing started well prior to dawn. Corse's men hauled *** to their new positions and grabbed a little rest or improved their positions.

The trenches on the east side of the cut might have ended up w/ a Henry if a couple of those 7th IL boys out skirmishing got seperated and that's where they somehow ended up. But to me, I'm a purist; at the same time I've been at an event w/ a CS cav re-enactor carrying two Walker Colts, a Henry and a sword... and no horse.

If they really want to have the Henry over there I might suggest a small firearms demonstration for the public. Have a man load and fire w/ ramrod as fast as he can. A fella who can come close to the 3 shots a minute mantra and standing next to him a man w/ a Henry and explain at this battle there were most of a thousand rounds going down range a minute for a large portion of the battle. That may speak volumes more than having a skirmisher out w/ a Henry.

I can look again when I get home but IIRC the Garrison was almost all the Springfields, Henry and M1841 w/ the Ohio Cav boys having Sharps IIRC. I don't remember where those dozen or so Cav boys were. French's men were carrying Lorenz, M1841 and Enfields for the most part. I don't believe French's men benefited from resupply courtesy of Forrest and the US Army but I wouldn't be too suprised if there were some Springfields in the mix. Actualy come to think of it I think the Missouri boys had a number of them.

Joey12thga · #58 07-24-2008, 02:20 PM

Yea basically you back up everythign I have found and can document. As it stands I only have 2 guys with an interest in bringing the Henry and they seem ok with using it for Sunday and thats it, that is our tactical demo day. For the sake of the Organizers I am letting them in, for my side of it I am tellin gthem to bring a back up hehe.

Oh and one of Frenches Men apprently picked up a Henry in the assault and then dropped it cause he couldnt fire it. I will hunt the reference down, I think it is Scaifes book.

johan_steele · #59 07-24-2008, 09:44 PM

One of my favorite quotes in reference to Allatoona and a Henry is from an unidentified 7th IL man. It referenced hand to hand fighting at what could only be Rowett's redoubt. "The Henry was a ****ed expensive club." IIRC the man broke his Henry and picked up another from a dead comrade. He also complained about the difficulty of keeping a Henry clean. His comments were that the real advantage of the Springfield over the henry was the ease of field maintenance. Crap, I have no idea where that reference is and I don't expect to be home again before next week.

RLQ1 · #60 07-28-2008, 12:43 PM

If I am not mistaken, the 12 troopers from the 5th Ohio Cavalry were stationed in or near the Eastern Redoubt. On one of the interpretive plaques, there is a photo of a group of the 5th Ohio with their sabers, and Sharps carbines.

I have seen documented Spencers that were issued to members of the 5th Ohio, but I don't know if these were issued post Allatoona Pass or not.