The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-04
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
The Rebel Assault on Allatoona,
Georgia.
Letter from the Fourth Min.
neSOta.
From Our own Correspondent.


neSOta.
From our own Correspondent.
HrApo'Rs FOURTH MINI. VET. INrANrRY,(
ALLArooNA, Ca, Oct. 1S, 1864. {
To the Editor of the Pioneer: ,
Matters having assumed their original
status of quietness, l find an opportunity
of writing to you. You have probably
been informed previous to this of our fight
of the 9Th inst, and been made acquainted
with the glorious results proceeding there
from. / will not pretend to throw any
new light upon the subject, but will en-
deavor to give you description more in
detail, perhaps, than any which you have
hitherto received of the desperate attack
and decided repulse of the force which
attacked our position on the morning of
October 9Th. During the two days pre-
ceding the attack we were informed of
the intention of the rebels to make an at
tempt to capture the garrison and commits
sary stores at this point, and in view
thereof made such preparations as were
deemed necessary for the preservation of
our trust. The force in garrison, under
command of Lieut.. Colonel Tourtellotte
previous to and at the time of the attack,
consisted of the effective men of the
Eighteenth Wisconsin, Ninety-third Hi
nois, and Fourth Minnesota Regiments,
numbering, in all, some seven hundred.
At midnight of the 18th inst. brigade
of troops under command of Brig. General
Corse, of the Third Brigade. Fifteenth
Army Corps, arrived from Rome, Ga,
and took up their position upon the west
side of our fertilization. Our full force
was now computed as consisting of 1,700
infantry and one battery of artillery.
With this force we held our position and
defeated our antagonist
Firing was commenced upon our picket
line facing southwark at II A. M. of the
9Th This continued until six O'Clock
without abatement. The rebel general
commanding sent in bis demand for sur
surrender after having allowed his bate
ries to open fire on our position at 6 A. M.
and continued the same until S:l5 follow
ing. The demand for surrender was as
follows:
HEADQUARTERS G. 8. FORCES,
In FRONT OF ALLATooNA, Georgia,
Oct. 5-6:15 A. NJ, 1854. }
To Commanding Officer of q. S. Forces at Ala
tOon0, Ca:
have so disposed of the forces under my
command that you are surrounded, and to pre-
vent the needless effusion of blood l demand
the unconditional surrender of the forces at
your place. I give you five minutes in which
to decide. Should you accede to my demand
for the surrender of the place, you will all be
treated in an honorable manner as prisoners of
war.
have the honor to be very respectfully
your obedient servant,
MAJOR GIN FRENCH,
Commanding G. s. Forces.
To which very reasonable request our
brave general returned the following terse
reply, which, however, never reached the
Confederate general, for reasons which
will be hereafter stated:
HEADo'Rs FOURTH DIVISION 10TH A. CO.
ALLArOoNA. Georgia,
October 5, 1864-8:30 A. NJ.
Major Gen. French:
The receipt of your communication calling
for the surrender of this place is hereby &C.
knowledged. In reply will say, we are pre-
pared for the needless effusion of blood !"
whenever it may be agreeable to you.
have the honor to be your most obedient
servant BRIG. GEN. CORSE.
Commanding.
During the pending truce, under the
protection of which the rebel Generals
demand was conveyed to the General COM
manding the Federal forces, the enemy,
contrary to all military rule and custom,
advanced their lines, and to protect him
self from capture by our pickets, which,
under the circumstances, would have been
justifiable, the rebel Adjutant General was
necessitated to retire without receiving
the reply
At 10 o'clock the enemy had so formed
their lines as to attack us simultaneously
from the north, from the west and south
sides. From the nature of the ground
they were debarred from planting their
batteries in position to bear upon US with
effect. The contest was therefore kept up
and continued by the infantry. For six
hours, without intermission, we were COM
pelled to hold them, and we did so. Sew
enteen hundred were against some four
thousand of the enemy until P. M, at
which time they, becoming satisfied that
their attempts at capture were entirely
fruitless, retreated in dismay. Then the