Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-04
THE BATTLE OF THE 2aD JULY
Correspondence Of tAe Cincinnati Gazette

NEAR ATLANTA, (GA JULY %
Again the great armies met tested their strength
and displayed vaor seldom witnessed on the proudest
battle splendid plan of the enemy destroy the
Union army has been frustrated by the help of God the
sagacy our generals and the bravery of troops
speak advisedy in strbutng the result to these three
agencies the reader will by following these lines
To gain clearer view of the position fet 60 back
the 2st instant On that day advance Of the Twenty
third Corps joined by the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps
was made in line, until the position gained little
than two miles from The city. Gen. Blair found an i'm
portan position in his front called Bald Hill an emineuce
to tina south Of the railroad which le deeEed necessary
to occupy He charged the position and took it, though
with loss of seven hundred From this the main works
and the buildings Of Atlanta could be plainly seen.
At night that day the Army of the Tennessee was
entrenched in line running nearly SOUTH facing west and
reaching from Scho6eds left half ne north of the rail
road to point nray or quite two miles south Of the
railroad in the following order Sixteenth Corps the
right Fifteenth in the ceotre and Seventeenth the loft
The line at the extreme left was thrown well back to
guard the flank.
STRANGE MOVEMENT.
dark on the 2ls the rebels busy building works
in front At daylight the 22d the pickets dscov
cred them evacuated and tbe rebels all within their main
line Our skimish line was at once advanced and pre-
paraons made to have the whole line advance the line
thrown Up by the rebels Schofeld's corps moved up
frat and began 10 the works The movement
carried t,ward the left. The Fifteenth Corps Joined
to the Twenty third while the Sixteenth ordered to
the extreme left.
this backwar movement the part Of the Could
it the evacuation of the city, That was the concur
rent testimony of scouts and eseters Or could they be
going to try the virtues Of siege That the earnest
wish of every Union soldier
THE LINE ADVANCING.
Early in the day Schofed and Logan had reversed the
rebel works in their front and advanced their main line
w deienCpa
Atlanta Blair had sent out working parties to complete.
works in bis 'front.' while Dodge, who to take po
stou Blas left, after he got into position, busy
reoonnoitering his position.
From the postou assigned to Gen Dodge the court
house and other buildings of the city could plainly be
scarcely mile distant while the owning forts oomed up
much nearer, and uppessanty ieocous 10 appearance
While the General cooy survey Ing of these works
the picket post and endeavorng ascertain
their strength and armament, cloud Of white smoke
from OF the enbrazures and screaming shel
came flying at the little party gathered around him. and
buried itself 10 the ground not twenty feet befre him
without burstng The General and party withdrew,
though not without receiving several compliments of
the same SORT fortunately without injury.
This was about twelve o'clock. Gen. Bair's troops
were yet in position and with the exception of strong
working parties occupying the line made the pro-
vous day Gen Fuller, with Col Merrills brigade, Qst
brigade 4h division, 10th A. CO. was in in rear
of Cen Giles A. Smiths divsonhe left OF Blars Corps.
Gen. Sweeneys division had been ordered up and bad
halted for the Of Gen. Fuller 1t this
accidental position Of the Sixteenth Corps at that particu
lar hour Whlcn proved Goa sen1 70 tue OhVu army,
which in fact saved il from serious disaster. just at this
time too Gen Dodge returned from the skrmsh line, and
while seated at dinner with Gen. Fuller, was rst appized
of the presence Of the enemy in unknown force along our
left flank. He Immediately gave orders to Gen. Sweeny
10 put his division in position protect the flank and
and rising frem his half finished dinner he rode at to
see the position.
THE DRFoUEMENT.
The mystery Of the falling back into the main works by
the rebels IN the morning solved full Corps
Hardees) had made the circuit of left flank and
about to attack 10 the What if Sweeny had been
esewherc' Who can tell what might have been the
resnt2
In short space of time Gen, Sweenys line was formed
Col Rces brigade faced to the rear, easwardy and Col
Merys fronting south the 4h Ohio battery at the angle
Of the two lines and Wekers battery (lst Mo- in the
centre OF Rices brigade Finding from the skrmish firing
that this line too short Gen Dodge first ordered out
one regiment from Gen, Fpers division, and then the