ced in a dozen lines of battle. In the
heat of action, as the front line gave way, it fell back to the rear.
The Seventh was thus brought in front at 5 P. M., but neither side
thought it best to advance across the open field that lay between the
two hostile forces. Thus night ended the engagement, without loss to the
Seventh.

[Sidenote: Battle of Dallas.]

The enemy withdrew in the night, and was pursued ten days, to New Hope
Church, in the vicinity of Dallas, Ga.

The battle opened in front of Hooker's Corps, May 25.

The Seventh was put forward to skirmish. In the latter part of the day
it was relieved and set at building breastworks. After sunset, the
brigade was ordered to "fix bayonets and give the enemy the cold steel."
Both Hooker and Geary urged the men forward, on the ground that the
enemy had no ammunition. While Gen. Geary was making this pretext, the
rebels demonstrated the truth of it by sending a shell among the men,
and another under the General's horse. The former burst in the crowded
ranks, killing two, and wounding twelve men. The General vanished, and
no more was seen of him during the night.

The men did not hesitate from fear, but several good reasons were the
cause of the hesitation. Their time had expired. They had already done
more than their share of charging. They would have been cut to pieces by
the rear regiments, and if they had failed, they would have received no
more thanks than they did at Ringgold.

During eight days of the battle, the Seventh fought behind breastworks,
and learned the worth of protection.

[Sidenote: Final Discharge.]

The 11th of June was the glad day of their relief, to turn their faces
towards those homes which had occupied so much of their thoughts for
more than three years. Co. C was marched out into a little grove which
was to witness the sad parting of the veterans from those whose term of
service had not yet expired. Many tears were shed, as they shook each
other's hands, one party turning to battle, then imminent, the other, to
hasten to the embrace of friends.

The former portion of the company was transferred to Co. B of the 5th O.
V. I., and had the honor of sharing in General Sherman's brilliant
campaign of successes, through Georgia and South Carolina. They were
discharged, June 20, 1865, after having the satisfaction of seeing the
war ended.

The veterans of the company proceeded by rail to Nashville, thence by
steamer down the Cumberlan