The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-07-08
Assault Upon Kenesaw Mountain--The
Battle Of June 28th.

Through special dispatch to the Gin.
cinnaii Gazette, we have the following par.
ticuiars Of the assault OF Gen. Sherman
upon the center of the enemy's position
on Kenesaw Mountain, on the eth OF
June. All our preliminary movements
were SUCCESSFUL, but the main stack was
repulsed, owing TO the advantageous po.
silion OF the rebels. They fought from
behind strong defences, and we lost
.heavily in officers and men. The dis.
patch is dated Kenesaw Mountain, Ga,
jun 28h, and says:
Or the evening OF the 95Ih OF June,
Davis division OF Palmer's corps was
moved around from the position il bad
occupied 10 one near the left OF Harker's
line. Corresponding changes were made
in the arrangement OF Dodge's and Lo-
gsn's corps. so that the continuity Of The
line was unbroken. The change seemed.
significant of some active operations abou
TO take rlace. The next day was Sun.
day, and very little was done By either
army, but on that day the reason for the
changes became evident. An assault
was to be made on the enemy near the
cen Ter of his line, which was AT this time
held by Hardee's corps, Hoods corps be-
ing on the rebel left, Loring's on the right.
In this assault Davis division was to take
a conspicuous part, as was Newton's di.
vision o! Howard's corps.
Demonstrations were 10 be made upon
T,he enemy's works all along the line, and
Dodge and Logan were TO drive the reb
els from Kenesaw, and if possible occupy
that mountain.
On the morning OF the 27h,at 6 O'Clock,
Blair, upon our extreme left. moved Tor.
ward TO the left Of Kenesaw, as ifto m AXE
the rebels believe he designed turning
their wing, and attacking the mountain in
the rear. His men Uoved a considerable
distance, encounIering nothing but skir-
mishers. Dodge, on Blair's right, ad.
vanced heavy force of skirmishers TO
within forty PAGES of the rebel rifle pits,
where they hated, and threw up for'i6-
| cations.
Dodge's advance was supported by the
troops OF G,esham's division, from Blar's
corps, who always fought successfully
with the enemy's skirmishers until the 5Sd
Indiana. being drawn into what seemed
an ambuscade, lost heavily in killed,
wounded and prisoners. Gen. Dodge
sent up five additional regiments to pro.
lect the Aanks Of his line, aud held on to
his position. LNgan's corp, on the right
OF Dodge's, had severe Fight. Prompt
ly at the hour assigned, he moved out
three OF his brigades TO assail the right
half OF Kenesaw. Walcolt's brigade oil
iIoward's division, was on the left; Giles
A. Smiths, of Morgan l.. Smiths, and
Lightburn's Of the same division, on the
right. Theee. advancing. scattered the
enemy's skirmishers, and, pushing up the
hill with great impetuosity, carried part o.
the rebel rine-p pits. Some Of the retreat.
! ing enemy were captured while attempt.
ing TO retreat to a gorge which Separates
partly the right and left halves Of Kene-
saw. Still pressing forward, our troops
arrived at the foot of perpendicular cliff,
81 feet high. from The crest Of which the
rebels formed n line OF battle, poured
forth destructive fire, and rolled dowr
stones upon the men. Seeing it impossi
bic to scale these cliffs, our line balted
retired a. shert distance. and fortified or
the extreme right. Cox's division, ol
Scho6eld's corps, attended 10 some rebe
works on the sand town road. and occu
pied them, drawing the rebels beyont
> Hascall, and maintained some skirmish
| ing with the enemy during the dag. bu
it was on the center where the most des
perale conflict took place.
Mitchell's and McCook's s brigades, Da
Wis division, were formed into two col
umns, with n battalion from Hark, RS
Wagner's and kimbalrs, Of Newton's di
vision. At given signal Mitchell. Nc
+ Cook and Harker emerged from behinG
our own Notifications, a I'd rushed towards
the enemy with splendid courage and en-
,husiasm. They beat back the enemy
advance, carried the first line of works
and charged up to the first line of de
fences. Wagner followed closely upo,
! the left of lIarker and Kimball. Upo
h the left Of Wagner it seemed as ,houg
n VIC would certainly break the rebel line.
f The colors OF several regiments &er
: planted before the works, and some of ou
= soldiers mounted the ramparts. but ,h
, death of Harker, and the wounding O
4 McCook, the terrible Obstructive fire @
4 both muske,ry and artillery poured int
e our columns, and the difficulty of deploy
. ing such long columns under such fir
: rendered il necessary to recall our mel
G Newton's troops returned to their orig
d nal line. Davis Cd Brigade threw u
Il works between those they had carried an
: the main rebel line, and there remainet
6 The whole contest lasted little more iha
8 an hour. We lost from $500 to 500
!. men. Including many valuable officers
q AS the enemy fought behind breasiworl
IA altogether, his loss was not great. Ha
l. ker's herosm was admired by sll. {
e the living Coonels, Mitchell anG Nc Coo
Of greatly distinguished themselves. Th
d army is not at all disabled by the shoe
ID and has lost neither confidence nor cou
ID age.