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Etawah, and the third time we build barracks since our arrival at Rome; but in these we remained quietly until Hood commenced his movement northward. For awhile we will leave Rome, and invite the reader to go with us to the Allatoona Pass.

The regiment is now armed with the Henry repeating rifle (sixteen shooter,) which were obtained by the men at their own expense. These examples of self-sacrifice are worthy of loyal commendation.

CHAPTER XV.

The situation-Hood's retrograde movement-Gen. Corse ordered from Rome to the Allatoona Pass-Arrival in the eveningFinding the garrison surrounded-Preparations for battleBattle of the Allatoona Pass-Companies E and H deployed on Skirmish line-The demand for surrender-The skirmish line ordered back-Rowett's command in the outer works-Captain Smith holding at bay one rebel regiment-The desperation of the rebels-The retreat to the fort-The fearful sacrifice-The first charge-General Corse wounded-Colonel Rowett assumes command-The first rebel charge repulsed-Rowett's first order -The attempt by the rebels to burn the two million rationsThe second charge-The second repulse-The third chargeSherman on Kenesaw Mountain-Sherman's dispatch to General Corse-The third repulse-The fourth charge-Colonel Rowett's fort at Slaughter-pen-The rebels compelled to give way in dispair-Colonel Rowett wounded-Captain Rattrey assumes command-The Seventh with their sixteen-shootersThe close of the battle-The dead and wounded in Rowett's fort -Companies E, H and K on picket-The rain—The list of casualties-Honorable mention-Burying the dead-Caring for the wounded-Return to Rome-Death of the Seventh's drummer boy-Hood contriving to move northward-General ShermanIndications of some gigantic movement.

On Monday, the third of October, it was known to General Sherman that General Hood, with thirty thousand foot and ten thousand horse, supplied with the nececsary munitions of war to give battle, was on the north side of the Chattahoochee River, moving northward. Never before in the annals of American history had there been such a succession of startling

events. The bridge over the Chattahoochee had been washed away in a storm, Forrest had severed communications between Chattanooga and Nashville, drift-wood had leveled the bridge spanning the Austanula River at Resaca, and a large body of rebel cavalry held Big Shanty. Such was the situation when the stars peeped out from their ether bed in the clear blue sky Monday morning. It was apparent to Sherman that Hood would throw a considerable force against the weak garrison at Allatoona Pass, where were stored over two million of rations. Sherman knew if these were taken his men would be in a perilous condition. A commander with less resources than General Sherman would have contemplated the situation with horror; but not so with the hero of Rocky Face, Kenesaw and Atlanta. Signaling from the summit of Kenesaw, thirty miles across the country, to General Corse, commanding at Rome, he directs him to take all his available force to the Allatoona Pass, and hold it against all oppo sition until he (Sherman) himself could arrive with help. In compliance with these orders General Corse, with the Twelfth Illinois Infantry and Colonel Rowett's brigade, consisting of the Seventh, Fifteenth and Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and the Thirtyninth Iowa Infantry, in all about fifteen hundred, proceeds by rail towards the Allatoona hills, where we arrive late in the night and find that one division from Hood's army, commanded by General French, was already surrounding the place. The train that carried Corse and his fifteen hundred might have

been checked. The enemy saw the train approaching and permitted it to pass in unmolested, thinking it was a train from Chattanooga loaded with supplies for Sherman's army, and therefore would make a fine addition to their game, which with their overwhelming force they were considering as good as captured. Sad, sad mistake was this, as the sequel will show. As soon as the train moves through the pass the regiment leaps from the train; General Corse and Colonel Rowett soon form their battle lines, making all necessary dispositions for the threatening battle, after which the men are ordered to lie down upon the ground to rest; but it is a night before the battle and the soldiers cannot rest. Men are hurrying to and fro; their voices are hushed, for thought is busy with them all; they are thinking of the coming strife, thinking whether they will live to see the old Union's battle flag float over these hills triumphant; thinking of the sables of grief that will be unfolded-in memory of those who will lie down to sleep death's silent sleep ere the sun sinks again beneath the ocean's wave.

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The sun is now rising from behind the eastern hills. The rebels have been at work all night preparing for the assault. Companies E and H, commanded by Captain Smith, are now deployed forward on a skirmish line down the railroad south of the

depot. A demand for General Corse to surrender
is now made by General French. Says he to Corse:
"I have Allatoona surrounded by a superior force,
and to stay the needless effusion of blood I demand
your surrender." General Corse replies: "I am
prepared for the 'needless effusion of blood.':
Firing soon commences upon the skirmish line from
the south, and directly a rebel battery opens with
grape and canister upon our line, killing one man
belonging to Company H-private John Etterlain,
the first to fall in Allatoona's great battle. About
ten o'clock we discover the enemy massing their
forces on the Cartersville road west of the railroad.
Colonel Rowett perceiving that the main battle would
be on his front, sent Captain Rattrey, of his staff, to
order the companies forming the skirmish line south,
to report to the regiment immediately. The skir-
mish line falls back in order, contesting manfully
every foot of ground.

"Hark! A roaring like the tempest!"
'Tis a thundering of the war steeds!
Like a whirlwind on they're rushing;
Let them come, but come to die;
Finding foemen ever ready

For the fray, but not to fly."

We cast our eyes to the south-east and behold a heavy force moving towards the depot. This force soon strikes our left and forces it back. The whole rebel force, six thousand strong, is now sweeping on to the Allatoona hills. The Seventh Illinois and the Thirty-ninth Iowa are standing like a wall of fire in

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