Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-07-29
The Army in Ge0rgIa---Desperate
Fighting Before Atlanta.

ATLANTA, July 22d, ria NASHVILLE,
July PA glorious victory has been
followed By onr occrpatioa OF this city
A brief resume Of events for the past few
days viii not be uninteresting to your
readers -.f
Cin July 18th, the last Of our troops
crossed the river Chattahooehse, and
nearly all that day and the next were
occupied BY the army in getting into
line. soothing more serious than skir-
mishing occurred during the 18th. The
weather was very fine for military oper-
ations, it being only moderated warm,
and refreshing showers falling almost
every day. For the FIRST four miles on
the southeast side of the Chattahoochee,
the country was exceedingly rough and
broken, consisting Of hills, ridges and
ravines, covered with oaks and pines,
the whole resembling the Alatoona
Mountains.
Until the evening of the 18th, our ad.
vance was resisted principally by dis
mounted cavalry firing from behind logs,
rocks, and trees. By the morning of the
10Th we had reached the north bank of
Peach Tree creek, considerable stream
running north Of Atlanta and westward
into the Chattahoochee. The rebels
were posted all along the south bank OF
this stream, and became exceedingly
sensitive TO our further advance. Parts
Of Sehofeld's and Howard's corps cross.
ed the creek, however on the 18th, and
established themselve, on the south side
Meantime our left wing, composed of
Array Of the Tennessee troops, which
hrst crossed the Cnattahoochse, hal
swung around until they had reached
the Augusta Railroad, two miles west Of
Stone Mountain, in conjunction with
Gerrard's cavalry division. They drove
away the rebels who were on this road,
and tore up several miles Of track.
Rosseau had seriously intsrfered with
communications along the Mobile rail-
road, II indeed be bad not interrupted Il
altogether Only the Macon road was
left open to the rebels, and their situa-
ton began to grow desperate. On the
18th Of July, Joe Johnston was relieved
OF his command Of the rebel army, and
Hood appointed to succeed him. As the
rebel papers next morning made it svi-
dent that Hood was put in command on
account Of his desperate fighting quail
ties, we all began to look anxiously for
battle on the afternoon. On the 18th,
portions Of Palmer's corps crossed Peach
Tree creek. Dilworth's, formerly Dan
McCook's brigade, OF Davis division,
which, with the exception of Morgan's
brigade and some skirmishers, was on
the extreme right Of oar line, was met
by free opposition. As il advanced To-
ward high ridge held BY the rebels, one
regiment, the SD Ohio, being somewhat
ahead OF the others, was so fariously as
sailed that ID was compelled to give way,
and its commanding officer, Lieut. Col,
Claucey, was captured The integrity
of the line, however, was speedily restor-
ed, and the brigade finally established
south of the creek. Col Mitchelfs brig
ade was hurried down to the support Of
Col Dilworth, and also crossed the creek
Our loss ia this affair was little shert OF
two hundred and ifty men
On the morning of the 10th, General
Hooker's corps crossed the creek to the
left OF Palmsr's, and took position 10
some low ground along the stream with
out fortifying.
Still further to the lefi, Newton divis-
ion Of Howard's corps had crossed, and
moved out of the bottom and to higher
ground--indeed, upon portion of the
same ridge before spoken of, as extend
ing all along the south side OF the creek,
and occupied by the rebels. Immediate
ly upon advancing to this position, Gen.
Nesson's men commenced TO fortify.
They were still engaged in this work,
when about half past three in the after
noon, they were assailed with Desperate
energy by Bates and Walker divisions,
of Hardees corps. The rebels came up
in some places in two lines, and some in
| three, and in spite of the most fearful
losses, advanced repeatedly to within
two or three rods of our lines KimbaIFs 9
brigade was on the right of the division,
and for moment seemed to faltcr, but
fresh troops were hurried up to form on
kimbalfs right, along Blake's front, to
Bradley's extreme left The entire d.
vision stood as firm as q rock. The
storm which had struck Newton so fierce
ly, rolled over toward the left of Hooker )
corps. Gen. Wards division held the
left of the corps; Geary the centre. and
Williams the right The advance of the
rebel skirmishers towards Hooker's lines
indicated their intention to attack; and
his troops, in anticipation Of the same,
were speedily brought forward from the
low ground along the creek 10 higher
ground In front of this high ground
they were in line with Newton division
on the left, and Johnson's division ol
Palmers corps on the right just as
they had reached the crest Of the ridge,
with q considerable stretch Of open
ground in front, they were met by the
rebel battalions, composed of Stewart s
and parts of Hoods old corps, also ad-
vancing hastily three lines deep from the
woods beyond the open ground. For the
first time in the campaign a 6ght took
place with neither party behind works
Almost the whole OF Hooker's Corps
was struck simultaneously, although as
the wave Of battle rolled from left to
light, Wards Division was engaged a
minute or two sooner than the others.
Face to face, the eombatants stood, fr.
ing deadly volleys into each Others
hosoaz At times the lines we're M,