, 1864-07-21
FROM SHERMAN'S >. RMY.
News to July 18Th.
HOW The Cknttnhoochee was
Crossed.

How The Chnttnhoochee was
Crossed.
Correspondence Cincinnati Comme,ctal.l
4slua's FoRp, Ga. July 8, 1854.
A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE.
On the evening Of the It'll Of July, at
whole line the most tremendous cannon-
ale Of the camraign," expendlng over 4G0
rounds of ammunition In 1alf an hour. All
this was directed against the rebels on the
opposite eide Of the river, and was Intended
to draw their attention from an attempt
was supposed General sch0deld would make
at that hour to- cr0ss the river above. AL
this time the 23d corps lay quietly in camp
four miles In reserve, wondering what 1t I'll
meant, und asking in vain for information.
The rebels did not youchsafe even single
gun In reply; consequently the casualties In
our lines were nothing The next morning
to support the Esd in the operations Of TO-
day.
BRILLIANT DAYS WORE.
This morning the sd Corps broke camp at
an early hour, and directed its march east
ward, aiming to strike tho river ut Isham's
Ford, eight miles above the railroad bridge.
Headquarters moved cut in advance, and
resident Of the country, as q guide, we
emerged suddenly from the thick forest out
upon the brink OF the river b1utIs, There lay
the Chattahoochee, about 150 feet below us,
muddy and rapid from recent rains-in every
respect an unclassicl1 stream. Right here
lives William Ulrich, sud to be good Union
man, and Pennsylyania German, whose
honest heart was greatly delighted, perhaps,
and perhaps lot, at our sudden advent I'M
mcdiately the glasses Of Lhe Signal Corps were
leyeled at the opposite bank, but not o dis
coyery could they make except solitary
man wandering In the bushes. Moving lit
tie further down the bluff, close reconnofs
eance with the glasses discovered on top Of
the opposite hill, just in the edge Of newly
harvested what field, single twelve pound
brass howitzer, with few Eunners walking
about 1t, and, close down to the rivers edge,
half dozen rebel sharpsho0ters squutted un-
der large tree, Just opposite the ford. We
about 400 feet wide, and from crest to crest
Of the hills OIL either side OF the river, between
which the cannon must play, was about o
third OF mile
After accommodating the situation short
time, General Schodeld rode away to the
ford, which Is just ct the mouth OF Soapes'
Creek, to choose positions and make dlsposi.
tions Of the artillery. The 18th Ohio aud
ed Indiana Batteries were, with the least
possible noise and demonstration, planted SO
as to cover the ford and cross FIRE the rebel
gun, while scetlon OF lhe eth Mich'Ean was
held In readiness 10 descend into the wiley
nile tulther down, at Inc proper time, md
enfllade the 6harpshooters on the opposite
bunk. All these pieces were under strict OF
ders not TO IRE nnoer any lroFoeafion, until
they received positive orders. Tho solitary
hoWitzer on tue other side, bestowed upon
them, at random, about hull i dozen shots
during the forenoon, and then remained
until no
Meantime, and until late IN the afternoon,
the troops :" ero s1onIy EettinE into shape,
and the numbering ponto0n trains were com
1ng up AID parking on the hill, ready to 20
down into the valley when needed 4 little
before four, Gen. Schofield sent orders to
Gen. Cox to have lis skirmish line In rcadl-
ness, snd at that hour pass it rapidly across
lew rode Of cornf1eld, which lar between
the hill and the river, mud, 1t they drew tue
rebel fire, to open with Ills cannon and 81
lence It.
As the hour approached, q small party OF
spectators posted themselves halfway down
the hillside, mile below the ford, and with
glasses thrust out from behind convenient
frees and fences, eagerly awaited the spec.
tacle. The captain Of the rebel gun could be
clearly seen on the distant hill seeking COM
fort, as best le could, tit was the hottest d "
Of the year,) and reading January number
or the Chuttauooga 1l5e{. The ruu had been
drawn back to conceal It littl., aud sen.
tinel sat on the brink of the hill to observe
our movements and glye notice to the gun
ners to bring forward the piece. The sharp
shooters also could be seen, slarlns intentiy
ont Of their cover upon the opposite open
ing In the willows. where the ford Was up.
preached.
Our skirnieh line was composed OF about
eco men from several regiments; and L vol.
unteez detachment ol eco men from the 23d
aud 25th Michigan, 11lth Ohio, and other reg,
iments which had in their r:.nls many man old
the ours in the pontoons which were to carry
oser thS hrst companies. a.. ,u,o auo, :,
AZ nan PAST c!ocA tne !!ltts s4ua4 y,
sh!a1S th .ssus % u1a ~ ene ~ Hoous a,,1 ulea nao
eonesat sn1 ~ r. ,..'.a @ astoSs ss
~ e @ - ~ 4t;iors t,'sw he3;n rorr;n5r -, -
ens s,st., q, A. ~" rsi,',i m, ~ ~ Hi
u t;m4i q tl.n fp 1c"n m bus,s1v and nm r. thc
saar +ne "rnr.-s 10y ttrn',dia ~ 4ho;r n,, w :,
t3a., ~, ~. ..I -, Sa..-s.,s4 49, .. 6ae ~ ~
pun s1en a;iu a .ds IT, INLAY htooPs ~ 5a
IT. 5,o;I put ILL, ~ y ~ ~ san' snt Suasa WHSLE ~ -
tMeK auo9t nls sa1s, ~ u i uIeef ugaeipg M lev
u aesga, tae ,ap1 tha u1a ~ Rata, LUZ sao
ana H.. rshei ~nnnars ~ a,i ;ncnntinen,iv MI taIt
NV hee1Ie a1a5 I;aa,,,ear ~ tha tyonas .aH'
~ fnl,o1rs loon ~, a. IN f;,n nhou4 n thai
onnaa ~ a,rea ~ Iat1,n Tho shn1is from nn'
h"ttsries nour in arr, aronnf #. and the rs,
clouds Of Confederate dust that leap no m shog 3
nn,r tot,l rna the;r I'm 4 snsli Inn nna ~
tho a,,ns Ianda nraar +ha trna ~ shorn
t"e suns lanuS opaes lna .3ce " suniP
snoo'es ~ Etasees .,ea als Yueaa'3 upoI
.nen, aou ene4 ~ uissuseleu 13inS nas ~
| tnc Elouuo' AAe ni.oMs eoulplGseis seEeti
our p1aVe ooys, anu Iaey cannot nrea snot y! ~
| then, put must mug tae soii 1of aear l,1e
sudoe9ly Pontooh ooat, nued VAIN nlnt
eoats, Is seen nearing the opposite snore, tneL
anotaef, Ana a1otaeI, ~ Tue hrst uoal
touches .lano, tapt- nanieis, % Mnoss eyc II
rlvet:d TO bis glass, shouts, "Ihey hold NJ
THEIR hands they hold up their hands
they drop their guns! they run dosn the
bcnk! The shells have cut oil their retreat,
there is no other resource, aud they come
running down to tue boats with npllr.ed
hands u token Of surrender, and yet crouch
| The 1ofl Kentucky Infantry is first over the
river, they run rapidly u, the hill, and three
men, 3ully five rods IN advance OF all others
lay hands upon the gun in the name Of the
| Government With 1t they capture caisson
tDll o. ammunition, TWO horses, two ducks
aEu III, tmi taptan .tt 4n soa' tnsy hau leit e
n;nna H. t 49, nu ~ nos "n spinea @ ~
! Pisee. ~. Euu au4 tao aesouecI Ituenee "c4t
seIy ploPefly, pnS NV possesslon VI 1aese
tnIte mtn. Mou1a 1hnew toflr namss.
N 1nlt1y n!'nutes aite5 kne st1mpeoc, zap
nnld tain panle's naa 5eaenea tne lora, sWam nls
hStse .Sa T oEer pen1na pontoon, and ehaRen ou'
.ne tAat1anoochee: Where the rebels hao
tea'enco etat.. Gu lucy would make SO bloody q re-
sis.an sa
oouu .ns Rnntoohs nau 1efI1ea over seyera
n,s1a ~, ~, WV 4olAea - nne OF oatt1e ~
onotn " ~, ~ " VI tne nl1, o1t !oon9 he
CORDS bccan tn cross + Was necessarr moe that M
aIl possible ernrfs}tfon shnnId he nsst, "a ~.