h Iowa's ammunition gave out or
before this all the other Regiments and Brigades had given way,
leaving me without support, and when I found my ammunition gone I
never felt such a chilling in my life. It is terrible right in the
midst of a hot contest to have your cartridges give out. We had fired
forty-two rounds, and had but a few left. I saved them and ceased
firing, falling back to my supports. The enemy charged me in full
force. I halted and they came within fifty feet. We opened on them
such a terrible fire they fled. General Curtis rode into the field
then and asked me to charge. This would have blanched anybody but an
Iowa soldier. No ammunition and to charge! We fixed bayonets, and as I
gave the order the boys cheered and cheered, swinging their hats in
every direction. CHARGE! and such a yell as they crossed that field
with, you never heard--it was unearthly and scared the rebels so bad
they never stopped to fire at us or to let us reach them. As we
marched back, now dark, nearly one-half the entire Army had got on the
ground and the black-coats (Fourth Iowa) had got their fame up. The
charge without ammunition took them all, and as we passed down the
line the whole Army cheered us. General Curtis complimented us on the
field, and what was left of the Fourth Iowa held their heads high that
night, though a gloomy one for those who knew our situation. The next
morning it fell to my lot to open the battle with my artillery again,
and for one hour we poured it into them hot and heavy. We opened with
thirty-two guns; they answered with as many, and such a roar you never
heard. The enemy could not stand it and fled. Our whole army deployed
in sight that morning and it was a grand sight with the artillery
playing in open view. I had read of such things, but they were beyond
my conception. This closed the battle and we breathed free. I escaped
most miraculously. A shell burst right in front of me, and, tearing
away my saddle holsters and taking off a large piece of my pants,
never even scratched me. My clothes were riddled and I got a hit in
the side that is serious, but did not think of it at the time.

Yours, etc., G. M.

[Illustration: SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS IN THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA

Painting by James E. Taylor for General William T. Sherman. This shows the
time when Hardee's Corps, f