The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-08-25
FROM THE sTH IOWA CAVALRY,
In FIELD, CHATTAHooCurE RIVER, Ca,
August G. 1854

Editor Advertiser:-Since my last on
the 18th Of July, We have passed through
some Of those scenes ID which all are 10
tcrcsted. l do not know if you received
my last or published it, but allow this a
place in your columns, if possible, for
the benefit Of those interested.
On the 18th we moved camp to the e1.
IRENE right wing Of our army. Gent
Sherman was making one Of his grand
flank movements. 1t was amusing to me
at least to see how he duped the rebels.
The place he laid the FIRST pontoon was
between johnson and Powers Ferries
A flank Of timber ran down to the river,
so he had whole corps Of troops on the
river before the rebs were aware Of it
They had a nice 6 pound gun aud men to
work it to protect citizen while he
threshed his wheat, from Yankee intru-
sion. The sudden appearance of Gen
Schoefield and his boys caused them to
leave the gun as present. When oper.
ations commenced the whole front was
changed. Rebs left wing resting on the
river. We moved to railroad bridge to
relieve the infantry. Our boys had done
but little for one week and we're anxious
for fray. The rebel sharpshooters were
in their pits en- the other bank. 1t was
2 a. IN. when we took our post in the
field. All was quiet till day break, when
each party commenced their work There
was some close shooting all day, but none
hurt in our cummand till 4 p. m., when
James NJ. Doken, Serg't of my Com.
from Muscatinc. showed his head too
plain aud a r, bel bullet stru X him 10 the
center Of the forehead, coming out at the
crown, killing him instantly. This was
my FIRST causal'y and made IA deep iupres-
sion on our minds, bu, By the persever.
ence of our boys, the infantry ard our
batteries, by the 22d We had cleared the
river SO as to justify US in crossing and
moving to position on the Atlanta and |
Shutdown road, at a place called Hope
Church. We had but just got possession
when Ross Brigade of Texan RANGERS
came down on us with a rush aud yell !
that would make faint heart tremble,
but the steady aim Of our boys soon made
the "a liant rangers charge out as quick |
as they came in. In two days after they
tried it over, but with stronger force
and more desperation. They charged on
our battery and opened on US with two
guns. Their shells burst in our camp,
bat not man or horse was hurt on our
'ide, and the rangers went back severely
punished
On the 2Sth at 8 m. our column was
q motion for raid in rear Of Atlanta to
ies'roy the Atlanta and West Point r.
Z; also Atlanta and Macon II r, Gen.
McCook, with our division and an addi.
ion of the 5th Iowa Cav. and Sth Iudia.
IA, our command numbering 1900 cffec-
i've men, re crossed the river to the east
ide and marched down to Cambleton;
lalted fur. the pieht ooh .,, \
Iver Z miles, laid our pontoons, AID by
,oon had our commsnd crossed over. At
undown reached Atlanta and West Point
R II. ln II hours we destroyed three
niles Of the road, water tank and depot.
Mounted aud crossed the road just as the
'oof Of the depot fell in. During the
tight we struck a rebel wagon train Of
500 n number, loaded with government
stores, principally qusrtermaster's. The
mules were the best l ever saw, all Of
which wero killed, after our boys had
'wapped their jaded horses for fresh
mules. Stores aud wagons burned, the
prisoners mounted and taken aloug, to
The humber Of 800; reached the Atlanta
and Macon r. r shortly after daylight
Here We tore up the rails for three miles,
built large log fires, laid the rails across
the weight of the ends, bent them dou-
Bile, burnt depot, train Of cars laden with
lobacco, lard, &c, the water tank, &c.-
At soon We found ourselves surrounded
but no: discouraged. The first brigade
was ordered to bring up the rear, and thus
oar column started back, When about
two miles from the road the first brigade
found itself confronted BY Faulkner's d.
vision of Texan Rangers. Their divls.
ion flag planted close along side the road
We had no alternative but to fight cur
way throu h them, The 9th was 10 ad.
vance Of 1st brigade, ind was ordered to
charge, and in they wen, in gay style
James Horton, lst Lieut. of Co. X, Jos.
Cobb. I'd Lient of Go r"r- ~