The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-05
THE BATTLE AT ATLANTA.
Accounts of the Rebel Repulse by
an Eye Witness.
Thrilling Details Of the ValOr of
our Troops.
Special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.

Battlefield, FOUR MILES FROM ATLANTA
July 81, 1864.
l left the front on Thursday, July 81. at
2P.M. At that time our right was estab-
lished on the battlefield about four miles
from Atlanta. Our left was within easy
range Smelling distance of the enemy, who
stuck closely to his heavy works, guarding
the town a mile or two outside the SUI
burbs.
Your correspondent Montrose has fur
nished you with full details of the move
ments of Sherman's army up to the mo-
ment yesterday afternoon) when its DASH
ing new commander (HooO massed nearly
the whole rebel army against the right
wing, composed of the 14th and Goth
corps, and Newtons division Of the 4th
corps.
This portion of our army-less than
One-third of the whole-met the most
reckless, massive and headlong charge Of
the war without yielding an inch, save a
little on one OF the TANKS of Geary's di-
vision, where a gap in the line occurred,
and where the enemy passed through, but
was speedily checked The attack was
made by nearly the whole rebel army,
and its complete repulse forms the most
glOriOns chapter in Shermanis campaign.
Hooker had advanced from his trenches.
Butterfield's division, now commanded by
Gen. Warden on the left; Geary's in the
centre, and Williams on the right of
Palmer's, prepared to close up on Hooker
whenever the latter shOnld have estab-
lished his new line.
The country over which the advance
was progressing was partially rolling and
open, intersected with difficult creeks, and
partially covered with underground.
In the advance prisoners were captured
at different points along the line, who
unanimously stated that considerable
body of their troops was near by-a mile
and half. Beyond doubt, for this pur-
pose not less than ,hree-fourths of the re-
bel army were concealed within musket-
shot of our skirmishers at the same time.
At twenty minutes before four P. NJ,
and with the celebrity of lightning the re-
bel host poured forth from their conceal
ment, massed in enormous columns against
Newton.
They came without skirmishers and
with yells, whose volume exceeded any
battle shout ever heard. NewtOn's divi-
sion had but half completed their barricade
and they hardly had time to fall into line
and secure their guns before the entire re-
bel column, composed of Walkers and
Baths divisions of Hardee's corps, was
within range, and the line of pickets
guarding the interval between the right
and the left of our army, barely escaped
capture by plunging into Peach Tree Creek
and swimming across.
The enemy had struck US at the vital
point, where victory for him might be
decisive. Newton had more ground to
guard than he could cover by even sin
gle line. For the first few minutes every
thing hung trembling in the scale. New
tons lett flank was exposed and just COW
cred his bridges across Peach Tree Greek.
Had it given way the day would have
been dark. Our whole right might have
been routed.
The rebel plan was to destroy our forces
on the right, after which their army would
be strong enough to confront, if not de-
feat, the main body of our army.
Guards with fixed bayonets were placed
at the bridge to collect whatever armed
stragglers might appear, but none came in
sight of our force None of our troops
were stampeded.
The rebel column poured down an open
but rough series of fields towards New
tons left, evidently aiming at his bridges.
At the moment the enemy first appeared,
we had but two pieces of artillery in posi-
ton guarding this vital point, but Captain
Goodspeed, Newton's Chief of Artillery,
with splendid quickness beat up ten more
guns, making in all twelve.
They opened with canister, the gunners
working with frantic energy. Up to the
moment when these guns opened, the
rebel columns had swiftly advanced, en-
gaging Newton's three reduced brigades at
terrible odds. 1t was wonderful how last
the enemy lost his grip when the sixteen
guns added their blast to the storm of bull
lets from Newton's infantry, his columns
slackened their pace and began to waver
and lose their careful arrangements in a
few minutes. They had come to stand
still in partial confusion, and firing heay-
lily but wildly Color bearer after color
bearer went down under the crash of our
canister.
In vain the rebel cavalry rode up and
down the lines, waving their swords and
shouting to their men not to talter. In
twenty minutes the assault had totally
failed. The enemy gave way, retiring in
confusion to the woods, from which they
had emerged. For the rest of the after
noon they kept up a desultory fire which
was returned by our artillery, but they did
not venture to renew the attack. The
rebel General Stevens, commanding a
brigade in Walkers division, was killed
here.
Nearly two hundred rebel dead were
buried in Newton's front next morning.
His brigades did not yield an inch. Gen.
Wards division, on Newton's right, was
struck at the same moment as Newtons.
Gen. Ward had just halted his men at the
foot of the hill for brief rest. His skir-
mishers came back to him announcing
that the enemy was charging over the
open field just in his front in immense
| force.
Without moments hesitation Ward or.
! dered his division to meet the enemy witt
canister. His men moved up the hill il
splendid order, and when they gained the