DALLAS.
Here, as at Balaklava, "some one blundered," and while we have not had a
Tennyson to immortalize the event, it is of more than ordinary interest
to Kentuckians, especially those who participated in the bloody event.
More because of the fearful slaughter and the mournful fact that it was
the result of a failure to deliver orders at the proper time. The
official report showed a loss of 51 per cent, a loss, considering the
time actually engaged, unparalleled in the history of the war. To my
mind it was the most desperate and disastrous of all the many
engagements in which the Orphans took part during their four years of
experience.
The actual time under fire did not in my judgment exceed thirty minutes.
To describe accurately the position of the enemy at this distant day
would be a difficult task, but when the reader is told that they
occupied two parallel lines of entrenchments, from both of which he
delivered simultaneously a destructive and murderous fire, that was so
fatal that nothing but the protecting hand of an all-wise and merciful
Providence could save. The first of these lines was a few yards below,
and in front of the second, which ran along the summit of the ridge and
enabled the second line to fire directly overhead without endangering
the first. Besides this double advantage, they were able to enfilade our
line with their artillery from both extremes of their line. Smith's
brigade, on our left, having received orders (which were also intended
for us and which failed of delivery) to withhold the attack, enabled the
enemy to deliver an oblique fire upon us from his infantry on the left,
as well as from his two lines directly in front. At every step Kentucky
was paying double toll with the lives of her noblest and best. To push
forward meant certain and complete annihilation; to remain where we were
some seventy-five or eighty yards in their front, meant the same, only a
little slower death.
The order to "fall back" having been given, we were only too glad to
attempt our escape from the death trap into which we had been ordered.
Many of our wounded and all of our dead were left on the field or
intervening space between the entrenched lines of the opposing forces.
Several of the wounded crawled back after nightfall and in this way made
their escape. The grounds in the rear of our works presented an
appalling sight when I reached them with my burden on my back--Sergeant
W. E. Knox, who had a broken leg. Nothing but a miracle saved us both
from the murderous fire of the enemy. Here fell the gallant and polished
Major Millett within ten paces of our entrenchment, he being the third
major of the Fourth Regiment to be killed on the field.
Several incidents of a thrilling and miraculous character occurred on
this field, as afterward related. Some of our wounded who approached
nearest the enemy's works and fell into their hands were taken to the
little town of Dallas, a mile or two distant, where they were found two
days later, and left in a shamefully neglected condition. Among them was
one of the most noble gentlemen and gallant soldiers it was ever my good
fortune to know, Captain D. E. McKendrie of the Sixth Kentucky, and who
died a few days later.
There were really only two brigades engaged in this encounter, the
Orphan Brigade and Findlay's Florida Brigade. The burden of the
encounter fell upon the Orphans, as shown by their greater loss. But
here again was displayed that daring, regardless of consequences, which
had been so often displayed by this little band of Kentuckians on so
many fields from Fort Donaldson to this eventful day. I hope I shall not
be accused of egotism for seeming to arrogate to myself and my fellow
Kentuckians honors to which we are not entitled and of which all of her
people may be justly proud. The loss of 51 per cent tells the story more
graphically than anything I may say by way of compliment or eulogy.
The reader may wonder why this attack was ordered against a force so
strongly and irresistibly posted. The answer is easy to the old veteran
who knows the difficulty in ascertaining an enemy's position in a
heavily timbered country like this, with trees and bushes in full leaf,
and how great the danger from the ever alert sharpshooter to the man
attempting a reconnaissance. The object was to develop his strength at
this point, the commander believing Sherman to be only feigning while he
was carrying out other and ulterior plans. But so it was, we paid dearly
for the desired information.
I have reviewed every foot of this ground the second time, stopping here
and there to pick up a minnie ball lodged in the enemy's works, fired at
them by my dear old "Orphan" boys, and while thus engaged the familiar
faces of many a noble comrade and in one or two instances school
fellows' images passed before my mind in panorama that almost unnerved
and dumfounded me. Studying coolly at this time the great advantage the
enemy had in position and numbers, I am surprised that any of us escaped
at all. I had no difficulty whatever in locating at once the position of
both parties and the exact spot on which my regiment and company fought.
Most of the Confederate lines have been partly and in some places
completely obliterated by the plow, but hills and hollows are still
there. The enemy's lines have been little disturbed and are mostly
intact even at this distant day.
I must confess that I am wont to linger about this hallowed spot and my
heart beats heavily when I think of the comrades and friends who died
here and whose bodies I assisted in giving the last rude sepulchre. I
turn away from it with tearful eyes and sorrowful heart.