Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-30

I dens in the mountain-side very suddenly,
| losing all relish for the concert of death
which so rudely disturbed the sunset hour.
| At dawn on the morning of the I'd the en-
| envy opened heavs musketry fire along then
lines for miles, which again caused our bat
teries and skirmishers lively hours work,
resulting in the rebels being silenced as
usual During the day We made preparations
| for moving, leaving all our "leafy shades
standing, so as to deceive the rebels as to
our whereabouts, and being relieved by
Wilder's cavalry, at 10 o'clock p. NJ, we
babe adieu to Kenesaw Mountain, and be-
gan to march toward the right, going several
miles in the dark, and hating near very
strong line of rebel-bult works, long captur-
| ed by our forces. until daylight.
Before starting in the morning we were in
| formed that the rebels had evacuated the
mountain, and fallen back to the river, where
they had very strong works. We marched
| all day, going some twelve or fourteen miles,
until we had passed to the right of all the
grand army, and then rested awhile. The
day had been very hot, we had marched fast,
so that many men gave out along the road,
but the news that great many prisoners had
been taken, and that the rebel army was re-
treating in great haste, and the order coming
to "press them on all Sides" stimulated the
boys exceedingly, so that they fell in for a
further advance with good will, and moved
off, fully resolved to ado or die" so that
they might but whip the enemy. We halted
and drew one days rations of bareback"
then forward again, filed to the left across
several fields and over several steep hills I'M
til dark, when we were ordered back to
camp, mile to the rear, accompanied by two
or three shells sent by the rebels to look for
us, but which, happily for us, failed to con-
meet"
We passed most of the " glorious 4th " in
camp, resting from the fatigues of the day
previous, drawing rations and preparing for
further movements. About o'clock 2. NJ.
we fell in again, and marched away to the
right, along the road for some three miles at
a terrible rate, suddenly filing to the left, be-
hind fence, and forming line of battle,
expecting orders to advance every moment.
However, after moving down the fence far
Their, we made barricade of fence rails and
slept behind it till morning.
Early in the day, of July 9Th, we formed a
line-of-battle in front of our lodgings, our
regiment being on the extreme left, covered
| by Co. of "ours," and company of the
SD Indiana as skirmishers, and advanced to
| find a foe. Over hills and hollows, fences
and creeks, fields and forests, brush and BRAN.
bles, tearing through or rushing over every
obstacle-and they were as numerous as they
well could be-our line went forward as stead.
| lily as if impelled by the hand of fate. Sud
denly after marching some two miles in this
way from right 20 left for miles the skirmish.
ers opened fire, charging over everything
with thrilling cheers, and followed by the
whole line, in grim and stern array. The reb
ell works, swarming with graybacks, appeared
on the crest of hill with cheer that made
the welkin ring, the line charged at double
| quick, delivering its fire as it advanced, fore
ing passage through the felled and tangled
trees placed in its way, and planted the glo
rious flag upon its crest, while the dense
woods resounded with the fleeing footsteps Of
| the discounted rebels, who were changing
their base" with alarming rapidity. Guns
knapsacks, letters, blankets, cartridge-boxes
| and " corn-dodgers" were scattered around
all showing that the rebels are firm believer:
in that doctrine of Satan, "skin for skin, yea
all that a man hath will he give for his life.
| Some of the regiments on our right suffered
| severely in this charge, we had one or two
wounded but none killed. Our three regi
mental flags looked well, waving over those
works, so lately covered by the Haunting flag
| of treason, and our boys felt justly proud Of
them, as they cleaned all glorious in the glow
of victory, giving hope and courage, sure
prestige of greater triumphs still in store fol
those who fight beneath their folds.
After resting awhile, the line was reformed
and again advanced. If anything the country
grew rougher as we proceeded, some of the
| hills being almost covered with fragments OF
Mica, many of them as large as a persons
hand, and very bright and sparkling in the
sunshine. After going about a mile farther
and scaling the crest of steep hill, the reb
els opened fire with several pieces of artil
lery and heavy musketry fire upon our Skin.
mishers. We were ordered to lie down, an
order needing no repetition, as we could see
and hear the fragments of shells and bullets
cutting off leaves and branches and striking
over us with great energy and violence, alto
| gether too close to be agreeable. Our batter
les, which were kept close to the line, in its
advance, replied with great effect, while we
laid "under the droopings" of their "elo
quent appeals" hugging the ground as closely
as possible, so as to be as far beneath theil
notice" as possible.
About o'clock p. m. the line again adj
/ vanced, crossing an open field at double-quicI
over a thickly-wooded hill, through which we
| got glimpse of a line of earth-works, wreath
ed in sulpharous smoke, from which shell:
came screaming over eur heads in dangerous
proximity. Dashing across the hollow at it:
/ foot we laid down again on the opposite hill
side, in a clearing, over which the shells flew
| at a terrible rate. An order to charge the
enemy's works was sent round 60 the brigade
commanders, but they, with the regimenta
commanders, protested against it, as the
works in our front were exceedingly strong
our advance would be for at least three
fourths of a mile across an open field, under
the cross-fre of about 20 guns placed il
strong forts, with at least two lines of rife
pits in advance, and a deep muddy creel
about half way there, without any means a
our command for crossing it, except by wad
ing, which was not likely to be very easy
task, as the creek varied from 5 to 10 fee
in depth, and was very conveniently for the
rebels, at point-blank range from their forts
In consequence of its depth there was also
strong probability of our cartridge-boxes get
ting wet, which, it was surmised would no
help the shooting qualities of any ammuni
ton contained therein, therefore it was deem
ed expedient to adjourn for the present thu
proposed charge. An order arrived at Divis
ion Headquarters shortly after eountermand
ing the charge, as it has been ascertained b.
Gen. Mcpherson, that the position of the en-
envy was very much stronger than had beer
anticipated We accordingly went to worl
building breastworks, and planting batteries
so that now our line and the rebel line occu
Ply opposite sides of a deep, open valley
about three fourths of mile wide, with thu
creek and the respective skirmish lines be
tween US.