Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-07-15
Fer the Delaware Gazette.
NOTES IN Dixie.
VII.
NEAR KENEsAw MOUNTAIN, Ga. /
June 25th, 1864.

I6e month OF Ou06 mas Dee0, 10 double
sense, month of storms ia Georgia. While
vast armies have been struggling for the mas
terry and destruction of each other Nature has
seemed to catch the eOnlagion OF mans i'll
humor, and don6ng her smiles has put on the
most ungenial looks. Rain. rain, iAcessanI
rain has fallen day after day and night after
night, drenching our soldiers, saturating their
clothing and blankets, and making the trench
es, where they have had to constantly con-
front the enemy, beds of watery mire.
On the morning of tie 22d inst. however
there were indications of better weather, the
day daWning bright and clear and a light
breeze sweeping the hast shreds of humid va
por swiftly from before the smiling sun. Yet
another storm was breWing-the dreadful aud
destructive storm of battle. At a. m. Gen.
Hooker ordered his Division commanders TO
hold their commands in readiness to advance.
A reconnaissance had developed the presence
of the enemy in our front, and the recon-
noitering detachment had taken possession OF
and fortified a very important position over
looking almost his entire line. There had
been the usual amount Of skirmisbing on the
picket lines during the previous 36 hours,
showing that the enemy was still looking out
for US, and as yet had no intention to re-
treat. .-,l ID. ...7t -aezi-e 5si
At lO:3 a. m. Gen. Williams Division
was in motion The respective positions of
the brigades having been previously designa-
ted, they moved successfully, each TO the par
ticular point it was designed to occupy in the
line. Along the crest of high wooded hill
was placed Robinson's (3d) Brigade, the left
of which connected with the Division of Gen.
Geary. RobinsoD's position overlooked an
open space 1900 yards in width aud skirted on
the farther side by thick forest, along the
edge of which the rebel skirmishers were ar
rayed, covered by Well-buih rail barricades.-
This point also commanded fine view of the
peaks of Kenessw, three miles distant TO the
left and rear, and overlooked the country in
the direction of Marietta for distance of five
miles. II was in short most excellent po-
sition for defense and within easy artillery
range Of the wooded plateau occupied by the
enemy. - .as I O. s5l..3.aE
On the right of the third Brigade General
Kuipe's Brigade extended the line along the
crest of more unpretendi1g hill considerably
in advance of the one occupied by RobinsOn's
command. This disposition was rendered
necessary by the conformation of the ground.
1t had its advantages also in giving US con-
Verging fire upon the enemy's position. On
the right of Gen. Kuipe was formed Ruger's
! (2d) Brigade, thus completing an immense
conoave half a mile in extent. Along this
concave were ranged three batteries, one be-
ing in the centre or most retired point of the
line and supported by the Sd Brigade and the
other two upon the wings. The extreme
fright covered the main road to Marietta and
was entirely unsupported. SchOfeld's Corps
was Fastening up to join us on that flank but
had not yet arrived. The vast Importance of
its coming quickly will appear in the sequel
The Division being in position the skir-
} mishers we're pushed forward and established
their line two hundred yards from that OF the
enemy. The artillery raked the rebel line
from one end To the other, some of the shets
! being really splendid. But each rebel skir-
misher had little fortifcation, of his own
and by keeping well down in his pit could in
most instances avoid the flying missiles
Soon however the enemy attempts to relieve
his line and boldly marches out detachment
for that purpose. The JOhnnies are quick
ly deserted py the artillery-men and in a nlo.
ment half a dozen shells are hustling through
the air bearing with Lightning speed General
, Williams Tor "Old Pap" Williams, as he i;
more lamiliarly called,) compliments 10 the
) traitors. White puffs of smoke instantly
show where the shells have exploded close to
The rebel detachment. The enemy immedi
8 ately scatters and breaks for the woods, anC
r the rebel picket is relieved" in double-quicl
r time . a.l ID. ...se..
Thus the day wore away. During the af
ternOon several assaults were made on Kuipei
skirmishsrs, the enemy thus incontinentIy init
mating his hostile intentions toward our righ
flank. VII Scofeld come in time, thought
fully meditated every one. The enemy unde
. cover OF the woods was evidently massIng hi
: forces for some purpose. Could it be de
fensiye or offensive one, and if the latter, wha
a if be should plunge against our thin, unsup
Il ported line before Schoield would arrive ?
, Such was the question for which we wer
anxiously seeking satisfactory answer, whel
= the welcome news came that ScbOfeld was il
9 position and that the danger that our fam
o would be turned was past. But then our lin
= was still very much extended and being devo
of support, might not the enemy by des
perate dash break through it Let US see.
n OF all the words in the English languag
a the term ..butternut' best describes the colo
!. of the dress worn by Johnson's soldiers. Bacl
# in the distant recesses of the woods we coul
q discover a butternut-colored column movin
e to our right. Il is partially concealed by th
d foliage but enough is seen TO show our art
G lery-men where to direct their aim. Agai
# Gen. Williams sends his compliments to tn
n buIternuts, and the Rodmans of Vinegar
n Battery speak more loudly and effectively 70
,e the Union Than ever did windy politicians i
,. the balls of Congress. The column disap
o pears in the deep foliage and once more ther
Is is tolerable quiet along the line.
d The evening comes on apace but in ths
q there is no assurance thata battle will not OF
of cur. On the contrary it is prOverbial tha
from three to eight o'clock p. IN. is the fgh
ing portion OF the day. The heaviest work G
battle is almost invariably done during ths
period Accordingly at about p. M Ii
10 firing on Kuipe's line suddenly began to gro,
% more fierce and rapid. The enemy was aC
le vancing. He quickly drove the skirmishe,
u back upon the main line and debouched froi
: the timber in heavy and well sustained masse
y Now the deep volleys begin to roll an
. Kuipe's men are enveloped in the battl,
- smoke. The quick flashes leap from the deel
ri throsted cannon aud their believing thundl
y miugles savagely with the sharp cracking
u musketry. But our attention is suddenl