al had not, by any means, made himself their favorite; and
therefore, his protestations that, "to lose the Seventh would be to lose
the seventh star of the Pleiades," and that "they were dear to him as
the apple of his eye," only served to disgust them.

[Sidenote: Bridgeport.]

On the 4th of January, 1864, his brigade was sent to Bridgeport to spend
the rest of the winter.

It took the steamer Chickamauga, April 12, and sailed 110 miles down the
Tennessee, to a point fifteen miles beyond Huntsville, having two or
three skirmishes on the way, and capturing a few prisoners. After three
days it returned to its camp.

Another effort was made by Gen. Slocum and all the Corps authorities, to
persuade the men to enter the veteran service; but they said, "We know
the promises of men in authority, and how much care is exercised for the
comfort of those under them. We love the society of our friends at home
as well as the multitudes of young men who have never spent a day in the
service. We will take our turn with them." These thoughts biased the men
so that, again, they could not feel it their duty to re-enlist, and
when the glad hour of their release came, they returned to their homes
with clear consciences.

[Sidenote: Rocky-Faced Ridge and Resaca.]

The proper time for their discharge drew near, and the men claimed their
right to the promise made them in Camp Dennison, but that promise was
utterly disregarded by the government. When Gen. Sherman was ready to
enter upon the Atlanta Campaign, the Seventh was ordered to join his
forces. Leaving Bridgeport on the 3d of May, it passed by Lookout
Mountain, around seven miles to the right of Ringgold, over Taylor's
Ridge at Gordon Springs, and came up to Rocky-Faced Ridge on the 8th of
May, 1864. A line of battle was immediately formed by Hooker's Corps, to
drive the enemy from the Ridge. Geary's brigade moved up. When it had
nearly reached the summit, the General halted the Seventh and detailed
it for his body guard, in consideration of its hard service and severe
losses. The rest of the force skirmished from 3 P. M. until night,
losing 200 men in killed and wounded.

The enemy retreated, and next made a stand at Resaca, Ga., May 14. The
Seventh was posted in the rear of the center of the grand line of
battle. The next day it was moved with its division to the left wing, in
time to save the 4th A. C., which was not able to stand. In the
afternoon the Union troops advan