Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-01

could make them, and who was bold and
, fearless chief, fully impressed with the neees-
sity of battle succeeded to the command.
Gen. Sherman was executing one of his fa-
vorite movements, the object of which was
to secure the Augusta railroad to the East Of
Atlanta Our right rested on and was pro-
tected by the Chattahoochee river, while the
left was being advanced towards the town of
Decatur. To undertake to pierce our lines
by direct front attack, was extra hazard
Gus, but to mass and strike our flank and
rear promised brilliant results. The battles
OF the Goth and 22d of July followed, with
results with which the country are familiar.
Gen. Hood captured from us ten pieces of
artillery, several stands of colors, some pris-
oners and small arms, but | question, not
withstanding his egotistical report to his SUI
periors, whether he would be willing to ac-
cept from Gen. Sherman another such "vic-
tory" The battles, when compared with the
object for which they were fought, were COM
plete failures, as they neither checked our
advance, nor prevented our occupation and
destruction of the rebel line of communica-
ton with Augusta. 81 = lJs-
The object of the movement having been
accomplished, the left was withdrawn, and
an attempt made to reach the Montgomery
road by extending the right. The battle of
this movement. The attack on the Fifteenth
Army Corps was impetuous and fierce, but
Gen Logan stood firm as a rock, and repuls-
ed their repeated assaults, inficting loss
which the rebel chief could lily afford to
sustain. Upon nearing the road, however, it
was found TO be protected by strong and we'll
manned works. Numerous efforts were made
to reach it, but Hoods experience in the two
weeks which he had been in command, had
developed his caution in a wonderful degree,
and it now became evident that he had more
faith in spades than in bayonets.
Daily our lines were extended-troops
were drawn from the left and sent to the
right till our lines were fully twenty miles in
length, and still rebel muskets and rebel
works opposed us at every point Frequent
Reconnaissance were made from different
parts of our line, all of which revealed the
fact that the enemy were in sufficient force to
successfully resist U.S. This, for a time, in
duced the belief that Hood had been rein
forced, and men began to grow weary of the
monotonous character Of the siege, and to
doubt the possibility of capturing Atlanta.
Skirmishing, artillery duels and sharpshoot-
ing, were the ordinary events Of the day.
The lines were so close together that for
man to expose himself on either side, was to
become the target of numerous Snapshot
ers, who were posted in trees and behind
works. Weeks glided away, and no progress
was apparent; men began to grow impatient
and desire "active work"
On the night of the Goth of August the
lines were silently withdrawn, and the army
changed front to the rear on the right corps,
the goth army corps having previously been
withdrawn to the river to guard and protect
the railroad and our communications.
n1nri no ha in, Of
battle in the open field, and Hood was invited
to attack, but the invitation was declined.
The punishment he had received during the
last days of July could not soon be forgotten,
and he manifested willingness to permit us
to Z" depart in peace" as he evidently expect
ed we were trying to recross the Chattahoo-
chez Wheelers raid on our rear, by large
and well appointed force, was the reason as
signed as the cause of Shermans sudden re-
treat. But he little thought that that was
the vent tina fisherman had long waited for
and ardently desired, as the assurance of
great victory and the capture of Atlanta.
On the 2Sth push was made for the Mont
gomery road, which was reached and destroy
ed for many miles, and on the 3lst General
Howard met the enemy near JOnesboro, who
were posted on the Macon road to prevent its
destruction. On the Ist of September the
Army of the Cumberland closed on Towards
left and the 18th army corps was ordered to
charge the enemy and carry his works. The
corps charged in columniof brigades, the left
supported by the 4th supported by the 4th
army corps and the right refused. The vete-
rams of the l4th corps, under their new COM
mander, Brevet Major General JEFF. c. Davis,
swept up TO the enemy's works with irresst-
able momentum, and 1000 prisoners, 10 pieces
of artillery, stand of cOlors, and the enc
my's dead and wounded were the results.
Brave men Veterans all Worthy defend
ers of your country's honor and liberty 1t
is not forgotten how that on the bloody field
of Chickamauga We stood up like an iron wall
and hurled back the victorious legions of the
rebellion nor shall it ever be forgotten how
upon the fist day of September, after a
four months campaign of hard fighting and
weary marching, you so CALAMITY won the
most brilliant victory of the campaign. The
artillery of this corps deserves special men,
ton. Only two batteries were engaged sup
porting this charge, but the work that was
done by them has not been equalled during
the campaign The batteries were the 5th
Wisconsin and battery G, LIST III. They took
position 1000 yards from, and under the fire
Of two of the enemy's batteries, against
which they directed their fire. The result
was, the enemy's caissons and limbers were
blown up, his carriages cut to pieces and de-
stroyed, and his men so demoralized that
they deserted their battery Indeed such
was the terrible work done by our shot, that
the Chief of Artillery directed the guns to
be dismounted from their broken carriages
and brought them off in wagons, while the
ruined carriages were piled up and burned
First 1t. George Lafferty commanded the
9Th Wisconsin battery, and if the proverb
I" by their works We shall know them be
true, think we may say of the Lieutenant,
that he knows how to use artillery.
Gen. Davis remarked after the engage
ment was over that "the old 9Th Battery did
gloriously," which was a compliment that the
battery justly merits.
The campaign is over, has terminated glo-
riously and successfully. So let the political
campaign in the North terminate in the elec-
ton of honest Abe Lincoln. We all feel that
the great, decisive struggle is the Presiden-
tial campaign now progressing, and is it pos
sible that the North will prove recreant to
the great trust reposed in her, and compel us
to sacrifice in vain.
Three year ago our love for our country
induced US to offer our lives for her salvation.
Notwithstanding these years of hardships,
privations and perils, which can never be
told, notwithstanding the danger that we
know awaits US in the future, we are willing,
yes, more than willing to accept and endure
them all if we can have the assurance that
those who sent us forth are still true to our
country and her flag.
Give us this assurance in the pending cleo
ton, and we will answer for the final triumph
of our armies over the enemies of all we
hold dear on earth. JEAN.