Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-04
THE ATLANTA BATTLES.
Wednesdays Fight on Peach Tree Creek
Thomas, Hooker. Howard, Palmer.
A TREMENDOUS REBEL ASSAULT REFUSED
Our Loss, $500; Rebel Loss, $500.
Wisconsin Regis Favorably Mentioned.

Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.
Seven miles from the Chattahoochee, in a
straight line, (nearly eight by rail,) lies the
city Of Atlanta This is of course measured
from the railroad bridge. The river runs
generally southwest. Our army was adVanc-
ing along the line Of the Atlanta & Western
Railroad. in a southeast direction. A little
north Of east from the city, fifteen miles in q
STRAIGHT line. is Stone Mountain, near the
base of which rises a stream called Peach
Tree Creek, deep and difficult to cross. The
general direction Of this creek is west, it
entering the Chattahoochee Just above the
railroad bridge. TIE creek forms nearly a
right angle with the river, anc within that
angle lies Atlanta. The city then was de-
Tended by the Chattahoochee on the west and
the Peach Tree Greek on the north This
peculiar conformation of the streams was ia
ken advantage Of by the rebel leaders; and
when they fell back across the Chattahoochec,
they arranged their lines along the two sides
Of this angle. The apex of the angle is at
the railroad bridge. From that point the re-
bel line ran southwest along the Atlanta side of
the river, and directly east and west along
the Peach Tree Greek.
The problem now presented to our com
manders was this: Ought they to force a
enemy, at some point or points south of the
railroad bridge, and advance upon Atlanta
from the west and south-upon which sides,
the riOer being crossed, it was comparatively
defenseless; or should they throw their
troops over the river north of the bridge,
where they were likely to meet with little or
20 opposition, and thence march upon the
rebel defenCes south of Peach Tree Creek !?
Taking the first course was to perform what
is always considered one of the most difficult
achievements in warfare, namely, to cross a
great rjpe, IN tie ,face Of foe. The second
course involved another exceedingly danger
Gus undertaking-Me .fghti,g of a great battle
leM a 1iUc' Just IN tie rear. It was finally
concluded, however, to risk the second alter
uatiVe-a conclusion which reflects great
honor upon our generalship, and was fully
justified by two considerations: First, our
superiority in numbers over the enemy made
the danger of fighting, with the river in our
rear, much less than ordinary, under similar
circumstances and second glance at the
map will show that by crossing the Chatta-
hoochee south Of the railroad bridge, we ex-
posed our line of communications whereas,
by crossing north of it we kept this line com
pletely covered.
The last Of the army, except such portions
as were destined to hold our line of commu-
nicatiOns, went over early on the morning of
the 18th of July. 1t was very wise arrange
ment to throw the left wing over first; be
cause the higher up the river the crossing
was effected, the less liable the troops were to
any formidable attack from the enemy; and
1t was matter of the first Importance to
have strong force on the other side, to as
sist, if necessary, the right wing, which was
II Il
and near he great angle in their lines which
| have already described. Besides, as we
should, after getting over the river, be oblig-
ed to face to the right, i'll order to march
southwark upon the rebel works along Peach
Tree Greek, the left wing would be compelled
to move much further than the right; and
this was an additional reason for its be-
ing first thrown across. The weather was
very fine for military operations, it being
only moderately warm, and refreshing show
ers falling almost every day. For the first
four miles on the southeast side of the Chat
tahoOchee, the country was exceedingly rough
and broken, consisting of hills, ridges and
rayineS, covered with oaks and pines, the
whole resembling the AlatOona Mountains
Before any portion of the Army of the
Cumberland Except Towards Corpse had
reached the southwest side of the Chattahoo-
chee, Mcpherson had made a material adj
vance, moving his extreme left along road
which runs from Marietta direct to Stone
Mountain, over a branch of Peach Tree
Creek, named Nancy Greek, through the
small village of Cross Keys, and forward so
to threaten seriously the line of the GeOr-
gia Tor Augusta Railroad. Schofeld, next
to McPherson>s troops on the right, and How
ard, on Schoheld's right, made corresponding
movements. By 10 a. m. on the 10Th, Hook
er and Palmer being then over, all portions
of the line advanced, almost everywhere en-
countering the enemy's skirmishers, (princi-
pally dismounted cavalry) and everywhere
driving them back. Portions of Stanley's
and Woods divisions very handsomely dis
tinguished themselves during this movement
and by night of the 10th nearly the whole
army had crossed to the south side of Peach
Tree Greek.
Logan's corps, the 18th, moved over to the
left of the Army of the Tennessee, and adj
vancing with rapidity and energy, its left
flank well covered by Garrard's cavalry d.
vision, it struck the Augusta railroad at
point about two and a half miles west of
Stone Mountain, and Immediately commenced
tearing up the track This brilliant achieve
ment, in connection with Rousseau's remark
able and daring raid upon the Atlanta and
West Point (MObile) road, must have greatly
alarmed the enemy, and probably determined
hum to make, the next day, desperate effort
to drive US back
On Wednesday morning then, behold our
entire army south of Peach Tree Greek, on a
line running nearly east and west, and con-
fronting the rebel battalions, who occupied
strong works just before them. Day had
scarcely dawned when the left wing of the
army was in motion. The 18th Corps (Blair's)
passed to the extreme left, while the 18th
logan s. marched westward along the Au-
guSta kallroad, tearing up the track as it
went, until 1t reached Decatur, eight miles
from Stone Mountain Schofeld advanced
toward Atlanta, connecting with General
lodges division of McPherson's army. on the
lett Howard, marching by the left flank,
formed junction with SchofeId; and Hook
er, marching by the right flank, filed up the
interval between Howard and Palmer.
D! noon OF the goth, the whole army was
~ me 1S Oh battle, nearly in the following or
uer Inc l4th Corps (Palmer's) on the ex-
t. en- G Tlsht the goth, (Hookers), next; the
+'' IAi Ie.1 3, next; the 23d, (Schofelds),
neAti Ioth' (Dodge'S) next, although partly
IN reserve; the 18th, Io@an,sI next and
18th, (Blairsl, on the extreme riabt Car.
rard cavalry division covered orr right
tank, While General Ed. McCooks held the
ferries along the river. -I'''' '''e
burlhS tne afternoon Of the Doth the whole
lett wing OF the army advanced Sr;T;nc, 10
enemy before them in a series of sbars srlI
brilliant skirmisheS which. occnrr;rcr anu
small armies, would be called battles ~ u'al
in one of these that Gen. Gresham, comro. va
ing the right division of the 18th cornS
ceived severe if not dangerous wound y,
nightfall our extreme left had advanced no.
" ten miles south of the Augusta railroad
and rested at point which was little so~I
-,