Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-09-02
Correspondence Of the Jourual
LETTER FROM THE 1oO,h n. ".
ARMY Or THE OHIo,
Ann 4

ARMY Or THE OHIO,
NEAR ATLANTA Ga, Aug. TO- 1864.
EpIToR JoURNAL:-Perhaps as great slaugh-
| ter of Union soldiers as has occurred in this
| part of the army, for the number engaged, took
place last Saturday. in the LIST brigade, Sd di-
vision, 23d corps. The brigade was repulsed
in charge on the rebel works with loss OF
about four hundred, including quite number
ofOfficers. On the I'd inst, the 23d corps was
transferred from the left of the army to the ex-
treme right, some five miles southwest of Attain
Ia. We fortified our position, the I'd division,
Gen. Hascall's on the right of Cox's division.
On the 4th the Sd division of the Nth corps
moved to the right of Hascall's division and
drove the rebels from their first line of works.
On the 5th OOxs division moved again to the
right. The Sd brigade threw up works, the LIST
brigade in reserve. By the way Col. James
Riley of the 104th Ohio who has been COM
manding this brigade was recently promoted
to the rank of Brig General. On the morning
of the 9th Gen. Riley was ordered to drive the
rebels from their position a hill quarter of
mile in our front. About 10 a. m. the brigade
advanced, heavy skrmisli line was thrown
out, which drove the rebel skirmishers inside
of their works The rebels were found TO have
an advantageous position ON the hill, thick
timber in front of them, and about twenty rods
from their works was an open field. The Tooth
crossed this field to the edge of the woods, the
1I2th Illinois and 9th Tennessee on the right of
it, the l04th Ohio supporting the skirmish line.
Gen. Riley ordered a charge. Every one re-
garded this very unwise action, as there was
only skirmsh line on either flank to O-Oper-
ate with us, and no support in the rear within
a quarter of mile. But the order must be
obeyed. A signal was given and with a yell
the line started forward. After penetrating the
thick brush few rods we came in full view of
the rebel works and were met by a murderous
fire from their muskets. The bushes and small
trees were Topped down in every direction to
obstruct our advance. But the line pushed for
ward, some almost reached the works, volley
after volley poured into the ranks cutting and
slashing at fearful rate. Our brave Colonel
fell severely wounded in thigh and arm. Off
GERS and men were falling on every side, when
the order was given to fall back Many brave
soldier thus lost his life in trying to fly from
danger. A skirmish line remained in the woods
TO keep the rebels within their works till the
wounded were carried to the rear. The dead
were nearly all left on the field. After the
wounded were safely moved to the rear, the
men of the Tooth regiment were formed in
line and numbered Sirty-One. The regiment
lost one hundred out of two hundred and fifty
evacuated their works. A number of men were
sent to bury the dead that were left before the
rebel works. They found about twenty y-five
dead bodies of men belonging to the 100th and
two or three alive. One man was found severe
ly wounded in the temples, destroying both
eyes, stripped of all his clothing but his shirt
and left to endure his dreadful sufferings in the
burning sun in that condition. But we have
found that there is nothing too bad for rebels
to do, and this is only one case out of ten thous-
and. Some of the bodies of the dead were lit
orally filled with bullet holes The body of
John c. Elliott of company K, Tooth, had no
less than six ball holes through it. 1t is a
wonder that so many escaped.
This week we have advanced a mile farther.
The works of both armies are in sight of each
other. The skirmishers are in speaking dis
tance of each other. The rebels are determined
TO hold the railroad south of Atlanta, and there
will probably be hard fighting. before Atlanta
is given up.
[The following is list ofthe killed and wound
ed of company K. We omit the others not bav-
ing been enlisted in this vicinity:-Ed. Jour.
Killed, Corporal John G. Elliott, Private Bar
ney Kline; wounded, Corporal II. B. Nichols.
Yours, CATO.