The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-07-28

right, where the creek takes q windinl
couI 50 through aravihe on a. plantation, 8
Deploving the 10th Indiana and 9th Ken
lucky a. skirmishers, Knewfeler move'
cautiously down under cover to the creek
which was lined with a growth OF bushes
A few swan the stream, threw down string
ers, and the skirmishers as they passet
over, deploying to the right and left, ad
vanced on the rebel works. Many o
knewfefer's command, finding the process!
of crossing tedious, threw down their gun,
and SWAIN the stream il time to carry tn,
rebel works. under an annoying artillery
fire from rebel battery, and participated
in the capture ofthirty or forty prisoners
Gibbons brigade endeavored to cross Ia
front but the position was so placed that i,
waited. Diminishing continued till the
evening beswecn Knefeler's and the rebel
infantry under Bates; but the latter con.
tinually lost ground. Our troops neye,
fought better than here. The thought Of
getting into Atlanta seemed to spur them
on to dare anything. During the evening
the bridge was rebuilt by Hazen, and the
division passed over.
On Wednesday morning Gen. Sherman
ordered Gen. Howard to move BY the left
flank and close the gap between him and
Schofeld. Woods division was relieved
from the position of the previous day, and
Newton filled it, with orders to push stead
lily forward on the direct road to Atlanta.
Stanley moved down the road leading to
Atlanta via. Schofeld's right, and passed
without much opposition. and formed a
junction with Schofield At IL o'clock, noon.
after little delay in bridging the south
branch of Peach Tree creek.
Schofeld had the day previous formed .
junction with Mcpherson at Decatur. Need
ing nothing but curve, Mcpherson, on
Tuesday and Wednesday swung his left
around to within three miles of the stream,
after having torn up four miles of the A. q
Augusta Railroad between Stone Mountai
and Decatur.
With the aid Of the Garrald cavalry,
Scho6eld advanced on road running direct
to the city, and when within three miles,
encountered the skirmishers of the enemy.
Pushing rapidly forward his skirmishers and
batteries, he developed the strength Of the
enemy, who, with infantry, had taken q
strong position. Howard Immediately ad.
vanced Newton's division upon tho rebel
works, erected by them after they had been
driven from the Creek by Knewfeler and
Gibson.
Kimbal. with his invincible Brigade, led
the charge upon the works, carrying them
about 2 o'clock and taking a number of
prisoners.
Skirmishing continued along the whole
line till evening, with loss of twenty or
thirty men, and the gaining of numerous
On the 10Th, Gen Bragg and JEFF Davis
had arrived at Johnson's headquarters, and
on the 10th protracted council OF war was
held between JEFF Davis, Johnston. Bragg,
Coy. Brown and Hood. What the result Of
their deliberations we're is, Of course un.
known, but on the 7th Johnston issued his
farewell address to his army.
On the 18th, Bragg. Davis and johnson
took their departure for Richmond, and
followed the address of Gen'l
Hood.
For several days previous to these adj
dresses, vague reports were rife, put in cir.
culation by deserters, that troops from
Johnston's army were being sent to Mobile
and Charleston and Virginia. But little
credit was given the story, as it was believed
that the rebels had fallen back to Stone
Mountain.
Genreal Mcpherson, however, developed
the fact that they had not disappeared in
that direction, and the destruction of the
Atlanta and West Point Railroad by Stone
mans cavalry, rendered it very improbable
that any considerable number of the enemy
DAD retreated in that direction.
But when our advance was made, and we
failed to find any further than Hindman's
and Bates divisions, and one brigade of
Reynolds, coupled with the report of scouts
who saw troops passing south, but little
doubt remained that johnson was merely
the avaunt courier Of his army. That they
have gone from Atlanta is beyond doubt.
and Hood is but covering the removal Of the
army and Government property, and If he
remains much longer in our front he must
be captured by our army which is closing
in around the doomed city.
The "Gate City" is already nearly evacu.
ated, and men, children and human chattels
are being hurried South, and the Atlanta
appeal seems alone to stand at the post of
danger.
Our loss since crossing the river is about
seventy-ive men.
Among the slightly wounded are the Ma
jor Of the 10th Indiana, and Capt Eaton Of
Hazen 8 staff
The Atlanta Appeal reports that Rousseau
has made visit into Alabama and cut the
railroad at Opelika. The former is the juno
ton between the Montgomery and Macon
railroad, closing the door to the reinforce.
ment of Mobile.
SUNDAY, July 24.-On Wednesday after
noon the enemy was found in strong works
frun vv,slac f.o,,, ~ - e.ook - u.>..>.