Wilmington journal., 1864-11-03
THE FIGHT AT ALTOONA.
JACKSONVILLE, ALA, Oct.


Will you please allow me, through the columns of
7our paPr 10 give Saor' sketcn o' the oatie OF Al
tco0a e,,., ~ 1,
i,rn1A near Big Shanty. Cen French's division then
t 10 the right and tore up the track to within three
lis cf Keupesaw mountair, while ftan. Lorings N
fo the elt moving the tirectiou OF Acworh, cap
,,inr hat place aud tearing up the track dis
tance teyoUd. On tie evening C the 4th Gen French
mas ordered, vi hl3 division, TO and attack AL
.,,na 81 dag light toe moFnDg. The garrison wos
Hen supF. ? to number about five thousand. In &C
co-1ance orders Gen. French moved that mig at so
o. to be the town by light, and, if poasb e.
rise the garrison. His division was composed CT Cen
f-a.s S.ars, Young and CockereIPs brigades, with
taeye pieces CT artillery.
b. fore light the morning Of the 5th we had gained
Dosion on the railroad within three quarters OF
o4 Ol The o. c. and began sklrmishinS with the enc
MS as sOon is light began to dawn column coold
be 6imly movlCg position around the enemy'e
sro gaot, be artillery, supported by portion OF
esineut from lne iezes, 1Oupgs, brigade, posted
~ an emneGge eCGn of the town, eud the 18th Missis-
,ti regiment oi Sears brigade, was detached to al
81 block lCusa branch Of the HIg;to1er
rvr Win The remainder We moved to the north and
rear Of the erenye posltloa which was now discovered
o te very tOTul.d he consisting Cf Strong forts and
navy ots runniny ~ all dl ,ti0ns A tier h2vi,
secured sttiOn the rea-, in the following order,
GeD. Sears 10 attack end carry strong tort
If. an3 Gen. Coyk'TeIl supported by Gsn. Tout &
eck and carry the heavy red0Gbts in front Of a mos
tdmdieie t1rJ Iignt, Gen. French DISPATCHED
lag tt truce deu.andlag uEc0DGitona! surrender
CALM twtn1y-f!e minutes A. the expiration Cf the
ne aio:i&d Item, q Doom from their caunrn brought
the rerK. in FrPpcJ here informed that he
~ ms Iad eV.d-n,ly been reinforced. Ine movement
pd8 ay too 'a e, for just before our arrival five
.imea n N Rome reached the garrison, already
csuyo- d ni three regmauts amounting in all 70 tte
cgeT thr e aaGd, willie iOrc3 did not exceed
twenty five buE3red nien. When Geo. French heard
,be reply &c Immediately began TO prepare for action
dt Tm.r ID 70 lake them by OLm Never in al the
cJn5esf IctiOm have | seen ankle US for the
IA. 10 D-gln Every mau confident of V.ctO:?.
IL c low became gencral nni imposing. Tie
coh.tn sun had irC1 behind AltOCp9s towering
his, sh,Gilng bright yet solemn u5ue upon the sur
rjuudluZ aiD fields, aud the silvcry dewdrots
estCnd With CD 5unligh reminded Cne OF the sweet
leafs sitd ec reed0L.'S soEs. The word AtteL-
to- - AID tie l yer n0be band arose to the!r feet.
For moment n, and eli - at IS tie grave. The
Wiud csed 10 through the lofty pines, and all
Ia tmed TO pau iE soIenn, yet awful grandeuc.
Inc Goudtes Liberty" tr,s5d 10 Ger robe OF love,
around sch heart end whispers courage braves
tui OF! AEs2u:aus, M.s7's:iFplans and Texans, fl-
Iii k sc Ii th!s awful st lnees Ole las one ingerIUg
10 10 home aud hCma friends breathe one prayer 10
HtaV>u that ovsd oues sh,I- meet ogaId ct Id our
goOm Ie htigbt, the lovely hills around he Old h0n0-
sal con III vew. Bot hear, the siecc3 ore k' and
Il IS aiong the iiLe, q" Forward J. win taat Jeil,
e. i5tic Of Mssourians, hey s.ag IJrWa:t,
at the W'ik OF d ath began.
lave fuil we'd t-e army t0m Lexington TO Altoona,
Ina Levr witnessed &C ne is transpirirg
ou Ahoona's blcoiy hills The enemy fought like men,
aud ~hta H"tin twenty yards Of tbelr works. so dead
w1s ibair Gr. that our lines halted, aGd Tor lGe
the contest setm,d doubtful Il YVES here that Major
Waldeli commanding The 81 AID 5!h Missouri tell
moE'aiiy wonnde, whilst noby and exu!'antly leading
us El.n. ii 3T Williams, of the 81, fail severely
"cuaded il The thigh. But another deeper, loudr yell
trcE behind, ard the ery rang along lints forward
tbs "Ehubs" coming, a11 ike the tiger upon his
prey, cur men esped upon the works. And now let
Ia ue ause ard Tor one moment gezs upon tie scene
The canOn'S tnuGter lO gar hear !! the iumoie
o ihe nuske' 4d d. "Dut shriii and terrible from
"a to raIk, Ifsouuied the clash cf bayonets. The
txaUs, determined not to be oud0ne by the Nilsson
Tlais, rushd mpetuOUsly forward, AID having 40 bay
Onts urLed tie butts OF their guns, gathering rocks
tuilcd tEe0 upon the falling foe. Here fell the boole
Slefh,n Barton, bearing he ensign of the 3 and 9th
Msuuri, triumphant over the en5my's works. Here
GLe:al l 1Ou0g was severely wounded, willie leading
his nen to tie charge. Never Was the work Of death
more terrible, while Eere fTeLd End foe tell TO fill one
cOE:mCn grave. Tue galanS Missssippians came
PhGiiy up iUOm the left, ana the enemy staggered,
eed ,d, aud lett in pcsss OF al the for Is
aid redcu0:s except the strOrg fort or our right, to
WhcG he enemy now all retired This fort was the
mst formidable Oh all, being surrounded by deep,
vide ditch, with no appproaca but at the draws Our
men were compelled to rest aud get new supply
o amnuniton While this wa5 being done, and pre-
pGaons berg made to storm and carry the last
naming fort General French received dispatch from
Gereral Armstrong; stating that the enemy were ad-
7aEcug ~ OGO strorg by way of Big Shanty. TnIs
m It recessary to withdraw, for if this true be-
tore preparations be made and the victory
Pee, The enemy would be upon Us in our rear. Gen.
tockoreli ordered three times baft re be EOu'G
Withdrew, and wbea tcesslty compelled him, he wePt
T. re General French with tears bis eyes and the
tEO hrrots Wept together Youder lies some of Mis-
Fodrs nobeat sops, there flowed some of her purest
botd ard shall il all be In vain Bot it is our luck.
Ol the OF one C the brightest victories of the war,
va arr teuted - fase Dispatch for scare ly had
Ter withdrawn when Gen. French received q second
Dispatch, Stating that 40 emmy advancing. But
It WIS ucw too ale. though there was not a mai out
bgged to go back Considering tho Cd!3 against US,
e eHemy 0ut numbering Us, with strong earthworks,
AID the terrible desperation with which they fought, it
Tls ore Of the mos hard ought battles of the
lad hHn5ht We had done hard fighting before, but
there Is not but viii not say it the hardest
fought battle In which he ever engaged. We
never beioTe any f7ld used the bayonot.
rcd forgotten TO mention that M Jr CaEl2E of the
u Missouri, was killed. Though indiridua! deeds of
darIlg could not be recorded must hoTuger mention
Few. Se:geau Rce, If the 81 regiment after laying
three men low his ct, plugged a hayouet Though
32o;bsrs heart, ISL time tie life Of
.iL,svi., of GO. c. nt The regiment, Who WAS
RadIng his "a an,ly On j j. r-y =. " ID II o
company of shar arpshc0ters walked up to rlte pit
Containing Elk Yankeea and demanded Of than 10
fe1dlr all threw down their guns Eut one. He re-
marked that six we're 100 many to surrender to Cn1-
ell said cur hero, eveng his guD you can 60 you
peae SIT, wren be, too surrendered ard the six
marched to the Cur hero carrying with him two
hfavy rif3G. Another, Robert Theardrick a letter
etarrr selDg hpf in the thickness of the fyat
rushed forward, ieter in hand, and severely #
n1rtaiy, wounded. Whea asked Why be rushed so
nto 3ai ger, be replied, wished to encourage the
boys wish mad room for more. he nj iSsouri
flgadc lost near two hundred and eighty killed a1d
wounded. do not kno" me number llst n the other
bllgadea, but suppose it TO b. about the came The