Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-07-27
Mar CnATrAHoocHEE RIVER. Ca
~

Arriving at our present camp FIVE DAYS
since, we have enjoyed needed and pleasant
relaxation from the fatigue of marching and
Building of breastworks rest all the bet
ter from the uncertainty attending its dura-
ton.
Every day our picket line has been adj
vanced without resistance, till it now lines
with the Chattahoochee, across which the
rebels hastily retreated yesterday morning,
burning the bridges and leaving their out
posts TO swim the river or suffer capture.
Hundreds of strong, healthy rebels are de-
sertlng to our lines, and they tell Us that only
by regimental, brigade and division guards,
and cavalry scouts, wholesale desertion is
prevented They have fought long enough.
and are willing to give up beaten.
Previous to the evacuation of the rebel
works near Kenesaw, we were treated 10
heavy cannonading along the line, while
strong bodies of troops were moving to the
right, rendering Johnston's works untenable.
From different papers we read of the de-
parture Of national militia, and their ac-
counts of material, roadside ovations, march
es and other incidentals, strongly reminding
Us of our primitive soldier days. May they
have no harder lot, and the expiration OF
their term mark the termination of the war
We cannot but be grateful for their tempo
rary aid
On the evening of July I'd Col. Utley call
ed the boys around him, and, briefly review
ing the past, wished them well in the future,
and babe them goodbye. He is succeeded
in command by Lieut.. Col Bloodgood
Early OH the morning of July Sd we moved
forward into the abandoned works of the en-
envy A frame building on the rebel Skin
mish line was honeycombed by our balls, and
trees nearly cut off by our artillery fire
Two common lines passed, and we came upon
q perfect mesh OF obstacles: sharp pointed
stakes set out like bayonets and yard wide;
then a mass of brush, crossed, brings Us to
the earthworks, wide enough fol- wagon to
be driven along them, and behind these,
strong redoubts for batteries. The bravest
men IN heaviest masses could not hope to
charge such works with success. but the
Hank movement gave bloodless victory
Shortly after crossing the fourth and last de-
fensive line, our advanced battery opened on
heavy columns of the retiring foe, while a
rebel battery quickly replied, sending the
soldering, kissing shells among and around
US, and wounding badly few men. You
would have had one picture of war to have
seen those shells cracking overhead, and the
pieces propelled ahead, while the men lay
close to the earth, their knapsacks shining in
the sun like the backs of huge turtles Our
brigade was then sent forward to reconnoitre.
Companies 4 and +, as skirmishers, advanced
for miles, through ravines, woods and fields
driving the cavalry videttes before them, till
We came slap against rebel line of works.
scout riding close to US lost his horse, but
escaped with life. The rebels opened on our
column with shell, at half mile distant
We threw up works and held them till re
lieved by the 18th corps The movement
unsupported right or left so far to the front,
endangered the brigade, and we owe it to the
enemy's ignorance of our force that we did
not suffer severely in consequence. Gen.
Ward, commanding, was responsible for the
blunder, and was deservedly severely repri-
manded by Gen. Hooker.
Independence day was celebrated by diff
terent bands playing national airs and con-
tinued round of cannonading as our batteries
shelled the works discovered in cur yester-
days advance. Towards evening the bugles
sounded, and a head of column starts away
to the southwest. As it marches out, the
masses fall in, following the flags of brigades,
till the field but just swarmng with men is
vacant, and traceless Of our presence save by
the empty barrels which held our bacon, and
the stragglers winch no regulation can re-
strain. The day closed with scare; rebels
reported advancing in column; men ran to
and fro brea5tworks rose like enchantment,
and when finished we learned that we had
been alarmed by our own men, and had done
our work for nothing Sleep was none the
less sweet for our labor that afternoon.
The 9Th found Us in reserve, marching
leisurely with frequent halts Again we
come upon elaborate Notifications, trees fell
ed for hundred yards, the trunks adhering
to the stumps; then the sharpened outward
set fence of stakes, and the zigzag works,
broad as a railroad a deep pit, log above
to protect the head and arranged TO roll back
harmlessly if struck by cannon, and thick
sha 10 shield no mon frO,, -Iaro &C
the sun. There were positions for cannon,
the embrasures made of posts set deep and
saplngs braided in like the willows in bas-
ket, horizontally. But all their labor thanks
30 Sherman and the flank movement, proved
in vain.
Towards night the march quickens and we
come upon high hills and deep ravines dense
ly woOded-up we toll and down we march,
the sound of artillery nearer each moment,
till we expect to be pushed into action, and
Just at evening halt. Moving at noon next
day we sweep around and march back towards
the right, but near the river and to our pres
ent position, passing the Sd and Goth Wis
cOnsin who exchanged kindly greetings as
we now and then recognized an acquaint-
ance. Trees were crashing down and breast
works on the crest Of a steep hill went up
rapidly
Our duty till the next movement, will con-
sist in picketing and viii be regarded as a
relaxation. The picket lines are very heavy
and well supported Immediately after an
advance, shovels and spades are distributed,
logs placed and pits dug along the line about
three rods apart, and eacI holding four men
We have orders not to fire on the rebels and
they do not disturb Us. To the right and
left the rifles crack away singly and in vo-
leys, and the spiteful replies never fail to
come back humming through the air
As evening comes sounds grow more dis
tinct The rebels can be distinctly heard
laughing and talking on the ridge in our front.
A battery, reported to be the 9th Wisconsin,
came out on the skirmish line and fired
number of shots, each spinning through the
embrazures of the rebel works and making
them hunt their holes. Some of our men call
to the rebels and are answered Their re-
plies amount to nothing more than the ques-
tions of trading coffee for tobacco.
Near the river they had worked till yester-
day morning terrifying steep ridge. Logs
fourteen feet high and firmly set fenced Us
out, and works covered with logs and then
dirt, the front pierced for musketry, and
declared TO be impregnable to an infantry
attack in front, by the rebel Inspector who
left his report in the hurry of departure, OPP
posed our advance till the booming Of our
he r;x-a warmed -hpr1, -