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Feature Article on Atlanta Battle.
Topic: CIVIL WAR
Written by Rich Wallace in July,
1996
ATLANTA OLYMPICS RECALL GREAT SACRIFICE OF SHELBY COUNTY
SOLDIERS...Pg 2 |
| Disaster struck with
thunderous suddenness as the Confederates launched a surprise attack on the left flank of
the Union line from the woods where they had gathered and hid. Nutt recalled "the
Johnnies coming at us like a storm." The Union soldiers, who were originally
positioned behind fortified barricades, had to scramble to the other side of the
barricades and use them as defensive positions as the Rebels attacked them from the rear.
As the Rebs attacked from different directions, the twentieth Ohio performed the same
movement of changing sides of the fortifications, being fired upon, and repulsing the
enemy four separate times. As rifle fire swept the Shelby County boys, the Confederate
soldiers captured a union gun and turned it on the Union line, raking the men with
canister fire. As the battle raged on, the soldiers ran out of cartridges. The dead were
stripped of rifles and ammunition as they lay on the ground.
own the Union line, out of sight of
the Twentieth, General James McPherson was surrounded, then shot in the back by
Confederate skirmishers. McPherson, from Ohio, was the most beloved general in the union
army. General Grant, on hearing of his death, wept. McPherson's death galvanized the Union
troops. General Logan rallied McPherson's men with the cry: "McPherson and
revenge, boys, McPherson and revenge!"
William Updegraff reported that
during the height of the battle the color bearer of the twentieth was shot. Another
soldier grabbed the flag and began to retreat. Capt. Henry Wilson snatched the colors from
him and, rushing forward, planted them on top of the fortifications, calling on the boys
of the twentieth to "rally around their flag."
Mathias Elliot and his brother,
Robert had been with the twentieth since the regiment was formed. The boys were the sons
of William and Mahala Elliot, who were farmers in Dinsmore Township. Mathias had been
awarded the Medal of Gold for meritorious service at several battles, including Shiloh.
Pvt. Updegraff described the action concerning the Elliot brothers as follows: "Mathias
Elliot, of Company F, was killed. His brother Robert stood over his body fighting until he
had fired every cartridge. He then clubbed his musket and fought until he was literally
shot to pieces."
By this time, the fighting had been
raging for more than four hours. The lines surged and clashed together amidst dense smoke
and incredible noise. Capt. Nutt later remembered: "Now it was hand to hand;
bayonets, butts of muskets and fists were used; men were pulled over the works from both
sides. We captured a number of prisoners, and recaptured a number of our boys, and then
sprang back to our own side." Updegraff recalled seeing Capt. Nutt run a Rebel
through with his sword.
At one point amidst the smoke and
din, the men observed a white-haired drummer boy, dressed in union blue, running toward
their breastworks. Panic was etched on his face as he dove for the safety of Nutt and his
men amid a shower of musketry. The boy made it safely.
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