Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-21
The Battle OF Jonesbo<os.

To the Atlanta Iateligsneer We are indebted for
the first succnct and intelligible account we have
vet had of the battle that preceded the fall Of At
ianta ;-:
On wednesday morning, August 81, the enemy
advanced in heavy force against the position which
General Hardee held At Jonesooro' in accordance
With orders. severe and most terrible battle en-.
sued during the day. General Hsrdee being in
command of the two corps in position placed his
own corps in charge of Cleburne, on the left, and
Lees corps under the charge of that commander.
Six corps of the Yankee army advanced ag.iust the
line across the Macon and Western railroad, and
! penetrating our right almost to the McDonough
road. The advance Of Shermsn's forces was checked
and their assaults repealed with the usual bravery
| that has ever marked our veterans.
| At nightfall the line was nearly in the same po-
sition that it occupied in the morning. During the
night Lees corps by order Of General Hood, moved
| to the right to form connection with Stewarts
! corps and the militia forces in Atlanta Thus
large smount of the effective strength of Hardees
command was Withdrawn and his line fearfuIy
| weakened. -
Early on Thursday, the Yankee army, consisting
Of six corps, led in person by Sherman, advanced
on the enfesbled line held by Hardees command
Then ensued the hardest fought battle Of the war.
| The veterans of the brave old soldier, Hardee-
| uen who had never been defeated on any hsld-
stood grizzly and fought with unsurpassed bravery
| and gallsnuy They bore the fury Of the storm Of
osttlc during several hours, and though they knew
the most tren srdous power Of the Zoe that assaed
them, and were well aware of their own weakness,
they stood uncobqueraole and undismayed. That
isolated but undnonted corps small as it was, con-
| tinued to fghS until night closed one the scene.
Clsburnes division occupied the right and against
his position, mainly directed against Govan's brig
ade, tho enemy massed in tremendous force. These
veterans, who have never turned their back on the
foe in 6ght fought with desperation never surpsss
ed in battle but finally were forced by detail, from
their position, but not until the enemy lay thick
and deep on the sangunary field.
The enemy continued to push their forces in
heavy massed divisions in linss ten to one against
our thin and almost worn out battalions. Night st
last closed over the bloody seene when the want of
| ammunition, and want of men. and the imminent
danger of capture by q heavy flank movement on
the part of the enemy together with the destruction
their en6lading fire was producing, caused General
| Hsrdee to withdraw to Lovejoy's station.
| This movement was consummsted with much sue
cess, all our wounded being withdrawn and every
thing being saved but six or eight guns which were
sosnduned Tor the want horses compstent to draw
| them.
| On Friday, the Yankees were engaged in clearing
the battle field of the Debris and little disposition
wss exhibited on their part to renew hostilities-
| The gallant lnen who had fought them so bravely
a:a Desperately the day before still confronted them
e. anesuned ever, and eager for the fray, though
their RANKS exhibited battered and worn appear
ance that vas very saddening to their war-von
| General.
Thus Was torsh one of the most desperate battles
and against the most terrible Odds that the army Of
Tennessee has yet engaged in Hardees corps fought
alone against almost the entire Yankee army, in
mediately u.'der the eye and command Of Sherman.
That the need of unmeasuIed praise is justly their
due and that they saved the army of Tennessee
from utter rout aud humiliation, is neontestibly
| true.