The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12
FROM SHERMAN'S ARMY. .,
Particulars of the Battle of the
81 .1sA ~ p 28th ult., ;s''' 1870 ed
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune.

T..
b ...,,..,,, NEAR ATLANTA, July %, 1864.
? Immediately after daylight OF the 2Sth the
army commenced advancing. The 18th corps
on the extreme right, 18th in the CENTRE and
10th on the left. jeff c. Davis division of
the 14th corps moved on road still further TO
with the 18th corps. The front of the army
was in its general direction parallel to the rail-
road from Atlanta to East Point. The country
is rough broken into hills and ravines Of every
conceivable shape and generally heavily wood
ed and very difficult to ,maneuvre in. So far
we have been unable to hnd that vast plain in
which. accordingto newspaper topographers,
q country was necessarily very slow. Davis
division had by some mistake gone too far to
the right, and Logan, believing the enemy
would make an attack on his flank, moved
with his right reformed. After. marching
about q mile the rebel skirmishers were found
and at once engaged. In the immediate front
of the 18th corps there was ridge of wooded
first skirmishhg took place. Maj Houghtell1
ing, of Gen. Logan's staff, apprehending an
immediate engagement, and seeing the impor-
tance of the position urged the line forward,
and, after sharp skirmish it was secured.
Gen. Logan ordered thetroops at once to com.
mence the construction of protec ions from
rails and fallen timber, and such materials as
II
To understand properly the severe battle OF
Ezra Church, the position of the troops is of
primary Importance. The 18th and 18th CORPS
were substantially in line fronting southeast !;
the.15th corps connecting with the right of
the 18th. formed the flank line, and was at near,
ly righs angle with the line of the Army of
the Tennessee. ~"
The 18th corps was disposed as follows:
the 2ddivision, Gen. Morgan L. Smith, on the
right; the 4th division, Gen. Harrow, in the
centre; and the 1st division, Gen. Charles R.
Wood, on the left. Gen Woods division con-
nected with the right of the 18th corps Gen.
Giles A. Smiths division, and formed the sal
ient-one brigade of his division, and HarroW1.
and Smiths being refused, and forming the
flank. The face of the country through which
the fanking line was formed was rough and
wild-cut up into steep hills and ravines and
irregular in the line which the front Of the
thick woods formed on the open field. In the
front of Smithss division was an open field
rising from the edge Of the timber, in which he
formed, up to q crest still highef than his posi-
tion at one point, and at ITS most favorable
point. no higher than his ground. In the
front of Harrow there was an open field, par
tally covered with young growth of pines.
The. line as it was formed skirted the open
fields generally, but at several points ran
through the wood leaving patches of timber in
its front. Gen. Woods line, which had no ad-
vantages in the shape of the land, was In the
thick wood pc
While the 18th corps was busily engaged In
throwing up temporary Notifications, Hind
mans division of Hoods old corps assailed the
I'd and 4th divisions with the utmost fierceness.
The pickets were driven in on the run, and in
an instant almost, the rebels, with YELL rush.
ed upon them. There were points in the line
where regiments wavered, soldiers started
under the first impulse back-but the two divis-
ixra1 fto ol,<,l.. .xvxsfl
rifle fire and drove them back. This attack
was made about half past eleven, and under
terrible sun. the battle ragged for five hours.
To go back and describe the rebel move.
ments: The evacuation of the left of our line.
the battlefield the 22d, obviously disclosed
to Hood Gen. S.erman's strategy, at least 80
far as movements were concerned After can
tiously feeling about our 1.-The aband oued works
OF the former left--he discovered that portion
of the army was moving to the right-the rail.
road junctlOn at East Point was to them q yui.
nerable point In fact if the Macon road shoujd
either be destroyed or occupied by our troops.
there was great danger not only to his position,
but his army. During the morn nv he COM
lnenct q moving his old corps now command
ca oy 1en Stephen u. Lee. through the SOUTH
ern suburbs OF Atlanta towards our right His
purpose was to turn and strike our lnk before
1t could be moved into position, aid enirench-.
cd. a portion of HardeeS corps was ured for.
the same purpose, having been withdrawn from
the u ,in lme Uf defenses. .,. sls ssis
hindnlan's division was repulsed as have
statod-thse who fell back under the precipi-
sase aud fierce assault had been brought oack.
'ihen came another and heavier assault than
tie first The rebels moved into the open neld
N columns Of Regiments. deploysd 10 splendid
ord r, and charged the Zines OF the "a and 4th
divisions second rime. There vas In 0ilr line
| no artillery. Il had been 20 recently formed
, and so soon attacked, that the batteries cu4ld