Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-08-03
Array Csrrespendence.
Souri, BASK CHATTAEoocHIE RIVER,
OPPOSITE RAswELL, GEoRGIA, :
T.1v 1E+l 1904 1


passage to Atlanta, which is 20 miles
distant from this point, the left of u
lines. Below us, south of Marietta, our
lines are less than II miles distant from
the city. The army is 80 far as | can
learn, resting from the. excessive duties
of four weeks constant fighting and ma
n~ouyering in and around the Kenesaw
position. It is evidently the intention of
Gen. Sherman to push the rebels beyond
Atlanta beforeths campaign is virtually
closed for the summer: With the pres
emit heat it is almost impossible to o
troops during the day; sun-stroke operst-
ing with terrible effect. 1t is not con6n-
ed to the troops alone, as the animals
necessary for transportation, perhaps suf-
fer considerably from the same cause.
A short sketch of the Battery's doings
in this memorable thirty days 0ghting
around Kenesaw, may provo of interest
to your readers. To look back at the ia
tigues and exposures of those days, l
cannot think any sane man would wish
for more of the conflict. But we are
ready when the advance is again sounded,
well knowing the rebellion can only be
crushed by hard blows, and this army
dreams of no such word as defeat, while
such men as Sherman, Thomas, McPher-
SON, Sehoield, Hooker, Logan, and other
able Generals lead it. It's motto is
Victory" June 5th and 9th were con-
sumed in marching from u position
north of Dallas TO Ackworth, on the rail
road, a distance of fourteen miles. We
passed to the rear of q portion of the
army, over ground that had been warmly
contested by the 4th, 10th and 2ad corps.
In a number of places in the forest, | no.
ticed the graves of several of Ohio's noble
braves, who had fallen in defense of prin-
ciple that will live as long as the memory
of this rebellion. Not alone was Ohio
represented, but the heroes of q dozen
different states had been silently laid
there to rest from their labors, side by
side.
1t was through the flank movment to
Dallas from Kingston, and from thence
to Ackworth that secured to Gen. Sher-
man the Allatoons Pass in the mountains
by that name, through which the rail-
road passes. The Pass had been strongly
fortified by the enemy, and those who
have passed over the road, remark its be-
ing almost impregnsble against assault.
From June It'll to the 10th, we rested at
Ackworth, where the army lay within a
circuit of some six miles, The time was
employed in preparing for the struggle
soon to commence; writing letters home.
and in hurried visits to soldier friends in
the different commands. Friends and
brothers met there, who will not again
meet on earth. While at Ackworth the
18th corps joined the army after a weary
march of several hundred miles. The
army of the Tenn, is commanded by Maj
Gen. James B. Mcpherson, and is com
posed of the 18th, 10Th and 18th corps
commanded respectively by Maj. Gen'ls
Logan, Dodge and Blair. 1t is often the
case that I see these commands confused
by crediting deeds of valor to Gen. Nc.
Pherson's corps, who commands the De
partment and army Of Tennessee, and g
more noble man is hard to find in the
army or out. Our successes at Vicks
burg are greatly due to his skill and abil
ity.
June 10th the army commenced NOV
ing South and East from Ackworth, tn,
23d corps on the right, with Gen. Stone
mans cavalry on the extreme right. Gen
Thomas' army of the Cumberland in tn
centre, the 4th, l4th and Goth corps
while this, the army of the Tenn, on tn
left, with Gen. Garrard's csvalry on tn
extreme left. At Big Shsnty Station
after a march of eight miles, in a drench
ing rain, the increasing preparations wer
made for battle, and here commenced tn
series of constant battles and skirmishe
that occupied the ensuing twenty-eigh
days. Here a rain storm set in whicl
deferred our movements somewhat rem
dering the roads almost impossible to al
tillery and transportation wagons for tel
days, yet our lines we're gradually press
ed forward, more or less fighting occur
ring along the lines, a distance Of from
twelve TO twenty miles. Our position
was in the immediate front of Big Ken
esaw; from the top of which could b
seen their signal flags communicating t
q like station m Lost mountain, seven o
eight miles to the southwest of our move
ments. For nine days we made less thai
two miles, at times our skirmish line be
ing within fifty and a hundred yards o
that of the enemy. These lines were yer,
formidable, and the firing constant from
one days end to another. A large numbe
were killed and wounded on both side
each day, yet our boys would advance a
night and dig rife-pits SO close 10 tn
Johnnies that they would have to draw
back some distance. In this way on
lines reached within eight hundred yard
of their main line to the West of Kene
saw, while the forces to u right ant
left had less difficult ground to operat
on, and u immediate opponents wer
compelled to seek the top and West slop
of the mountain. During all this tim
one could hear the angry growl of artil
lsry and rattle Of musketry, at any hou
of the day or night. On the l4th, tn
rebsl Gen. Polk was killed on Lone noun
tain, by a shell from Capt. simonds' 81
Indiana battery. He was in company wit
Gen'ls johnson, Hordee and Hood, tax
ing observations of u position whel
Al. - k1k >,,k chart fhi. ro1ioi0u