Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-04

Palmer's. On this range of heights, but a
considerable distance from the northern edge,
was the enemys principal line of works.
The Ground in front of Howard was densely
wooded. as was mostly that in front of Palm
er: but On a great part of Hooker's front,
after ascending the table land, vas a cousid-
cradle space of open fields, on the other side
of which, in the direction of Atlanta, were
heavy woods. Behind all three of these corps
ran Peach Tree Creek, through open ground,
with aigh ground (also OPEN still further
back, and furnishing splendid positions for
our batteries, of which the experienced and
able artillerists on Davis, Baird Johnston,
Hooker, Newton and Towards stats did not
fail to avail themselves.
1t was shortly after noon when, in accord
ance with Gen. Thomas design of CLOS
ing up the gap I have spoken of, Gen. New
tons division prepared to advance from the
bank of the creek, in order to relieve Hazen's
brigade of Woods division, (which had been
thrown over previously and allowing it TO
move to the left, as we'll as to take up posi-
ton which, by materially shortening our line,
would tend still farther to close up the inter
val between Newton and Wood
A strong skirmish line was sent out to feel
for the enemy, who had rife pits in advance
of their principal works. Col. Barrett, 44th
H., was put in command of the sIiirnishers,
who comprised six regiments, four from Brig.
Gen. kimbalPs brigade, and two from Col.
Blake's. The latter officer is at present in
command of Gen. Wagner's brigade The
whole line advanced with rapidity and enthu-
siasm, drove the rebels from their rife pits,
and captured several, with the loss of only
two men. This brought them within $50
yards of the main rebel works.
Our line of battle quickly followed up this
advance, and KimbalI and Blake Immediately
took up position on the ridge. The men
had merely halted, as they supposed for the
purpose of eating their humble dinner, and
expected to move on Immediately after
swallowing the same. But the old war
horse, "Nat Kimball," as his men Familiarity
call him, was not to be caught mapping; and
before his soldiers had broken piece of hard
tack or drank a drop of coffee, he ordered
them to commence constructing line of bar
ricades. No order is more cheerfully obeyed
by our soldiers when in the presence of an
enemy, than this. Their experience III meet
ing 50 often the desperate onsets of the rebel
legions, has taken away all the aversion to
tortilying which they manifested at the be-
ginning Of the war. In a majority Of cases,
they are ready to construct bulWarks without
any command from their officers. In the
present instance, although many of them
thought the labor would be thrown away, they
acted with alacrity upon the first word, or
rather hint, from Gen. Kimball; and, as the
event proved, saved thereby hundreds OF
thor own lives, and perhaps prevented the
rout of their own division. Col. Blake, never
slow to follow any good example, did not
hesitate an instant in this case; and the clat-
fol of lie
the ringing of picks, spades and shovels, re-
sounded all along his front.
The enemy made repeated efforts, from
noon to half past two, to ascertain the posi-
ton of our forces; and there was heavy
sklrmishing along Wood and Stanley's fronts,
as well as along the skrmish line, which,
stretching across the great gap connected
the left of Newton with the right of Wood.
Then there was temporary lull along the
whole line
1t was about half past three when the enc
my's skirmishers, advancing as if to recon
hotter, gave notice that something was i'm
pending. Our line had halted longer than
was expected, and was just upon the point of
resuming the advance, when this appearance
Of the rebels determined Newton to remain
behind his hastily constructed works on the
hill, and Hooker to march his troops at once
from the low ground in front Of him, so that
ne might connect with Newton's right. The
order to advance was scarcely given, when
from the high ground, all Hooker's batteries,
and part of HoWar''5, broke forth in a SIM
ultaneOus peal of thunder. The rebel legions
were pouring forth from the woods beyond
the open fields at the top of the ridge, and
pressing forward, rank behind rank, in start
ling and magnificent array, seemed resolved
to crush at one blow whatever might oppose
them. This spectacle the artillersts upon
the elevated ground, north Of the creek,
could plainly see, but the infantry, climbing
up the hill, on the south side, could not. A
moment later, and savage yell upon the
left, followed by the clang and clatter of ten
thousand muskets, announced that Newton's
division had been assaulted by the foe. On
NewtOn's front the enemy did not wait to
push forward skirmish line, but charged at
once in lines of battle, two and three deep.
Our skirmishers in advance of our hastily
constructed works, were driven in with the
velocity of whiylwind, and as they rushed
back in diSOrdered haste, came near throw
ing into confusion the extreme right of
Newton, and for moment caused it to give
way.
Meantime, Brig. Gen. Geary's division of
Rockers corps, which was considerably in
advance of both Williams division on the
right, and Wards (Butterfelds) on the left,
was struck by the rushing storm, and tempo
rarily shattered. Both his right and his cen
ter brigades were pushed from their positions,
after a short and desperate resistance, and
hurled down the hill nearly to the banks of
the creek. Gen. Wards division was still ad-
vancing up the hill side, when the wary old
Kentuckian who at present leads it, saw, as
he then supposed, both Geary on his right
and Newton on his left overthrown. He was
about to detach three or four regiments to
their assistance, when, to his astonishment
the whole scene was changed as if by magic
Newton's line became firm as a rock, and
without another sign of wavering, continued
to pour into the rebel host steady, uninter
rupted and deadly fire. Even the stragglers
from his skirmish line were rallied and die
excellent service in manner | shall men
ton presently. At the same time Geary's
disordered giments reformed, even under {
whitening fire from the enemy, while couple
of his batteries, directing their pieces full al
the right flank of the lines which mad driver
US back, tore them in pieces with tornado
of shot and she'll The indentation in ou
lines produced by the giving way of Geary'
two brigades, became a pit of death in which
hundreds OF maddened reoels plunged, onl.
to die Or to fall wounded and bleeding upol
the sod. Not another inch did Geary retire
but began slowly to advance, until, whel
the fight closed, he occupied exactly the same
ground as when it began.
1t was just as General Ward became con
WINGED all was going well with Newton ant
Geary, that his own line reached the edge o
the kind Of table line L have described, OIL,
to find itself confronted, at distance o
thirty PAGES, by the flower of the rebel army
The fearful tumult that at once burst fortf
was such that no man could tell which portion