The Portland daily press., 1864-07-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Southwestern Army.
To the Editor Of the Press:
NEAR MARIETTA GA.

To the Editor Of the Press;
NEAR MARIETTA, GA,
June 2l, 1864.
At my last writing, the right wing of our
irmy was at Dallas. | believe l gave you
some account OF Woods (of 4th Corpsl as
sault upon the enemys right on the 9th ult.
Gen. Wood is confident he would have car
ried the position had he been properly sup
ported by johnson (l4th Corps) on his left.
The latter engaged the enemy, but did not
make vigorous and determined assault, and
darkness, together with suspending order
from Gen. Thomas, came too sbon for re-
newal Of the attack.
/ can only give a general outline of move
ments and operations since that time. While
In the vicinity OF Dallas, the rebels made
some attacks of minor Importance upon our
lines, but were readily repulsed.
Our army gained ground to the left, follow
ing up the flank movement made by Gen.
Howard, on the 9th May. Our Cavalry
made dash to the left, and seized Altoona
r. II. station, located in the Mountain Pass
South of the Etowah river. Very soon after
lnC 4uiduG1 CtOcc0 III O1 tuC SaNalh, MI
Pherson shifting from extreme right to the
left and occupy ing Acworth, the next r. r.
station South Of Altoona. This was accom-
plshed with little lighting.
We rested a day or two-reflling our wag-
ons, aud meanwhile, building the r r. bridge
across the Etowah river. When advancing,
the left met the enemy little below Big
Shanty II. X. Station, about four miles from
Ackworth. The right met them at Lost
mountain the centre Of Piney Mt. We
pressed them at all points, Scofeld having
the right, Thomas the center and Mcpherson
the left. The last mentioned came upon
them at Kennesaw Mt and adjoining ridges,
some three miles South OF Big Shanty. The
4th Corps nearly enycloped Piney Mt, and it
was there in its front, on tth I4th inst, that
the rebel Gen. Polk was killed.
Piney Mt. had grown too hot for them, and
the succeeding night they eyacuated-draw-
ing back their center about a mile, but still
keeping their fanks upon Kennesaw on their
right and Lost Mt. upon their left. Gen.
Howard followed up closely, supported by
Gen. Hooker on the right and Gen. Palmer
on the left. He carried their first line of
works in the new position, but found their
main line SO strongly posted that he made no
assault upon 1t. In the night he worked clos
er upon the rebel lines, and during the night
of lhe 10th inst, got batteries in so near
operating with Gen. Hooker-that the enemy
again evacuated during the night.
On the 18th, one of Gen. HoekeE's Diyi.
sions Gray got quite hotly engaged and lost
heavily. They attempted TO carry the main
line Of the enemy's works, but found it too
strong.
Again on the 18th the entire center and
right of the army pushed forward until they
ame upon another strongly fortified line
mile or two from the last.
Early on the 18th the skirmish line of the
4th Corps pushed forward vigorously, Gen.
Howard being determined to know whether
the enemy were attempting to withdraw
gain. The skirmishers were reinforced and
drove the enemy from their outer line, cap
turing some sixty prisoners. The troops
were encouraged by this success-(the brig
adcs OF Hooker and Wagner-Newton's Div
and with the gallant Hooker to direct, fol-
lowed up their success charging and seizing
upon another line Of works stronger than the
frst-evidently constructed for the main line,
but afterwards relinquished and held by an
advanced guard. We were now very close
upon the enemys works and they opened
their artillery-flring also with musketry
from the main line.
Gen. Howard was constantly with his ad-
vance troops, directing the location of bat
teries and adjusting the lines, keeping con-
nection between divisions, and with Hooker
on his right and Palmer on the left. He
found that he had struck salient point in the
enemy's line, and Immediately put in position
enfllading batteries. 1t was found too hot to
work them without cover from the enemy's
fire, and therefore earthworks were construct
ed,-our rifles keeping the nearest rebel bat
terry silent while the entrenching was going
on.
Darkness closed the fight. Gen. Thomas
expressed himself well satisfied with what
the 4th Corps had accomplished, and wrote
that Gen. Sherman was at last very much
pleased" IL was proposed to make an as.
sault in the morning upon the salient point
developed by Gen. Howard. | should add
that the rain was pouring necessarily all day
and all the succeeding night. Under cover
of the darkness johnson again retreated
snatching from us the opportunity OF crush
ing In or breaking through his center. Gen
Howard felt very confident of success, and
Gen. Thomas concurred in his opinion.
Again we pursue-the 4th Corps leading
The enemy's right does not move materially
in McPhersons's front, resting all the while
upon Kennesaw Mt. and the ridges extending
TO the other end of it. Gen. Howard again
came upon the enemy just west of Kenne.
saw. He forced back the pickets and Gen
Thomas, finding the enemy had not yet re-
treated beyond Marietta, ordered up Palmer
on the left and Hooker on the right of How
ard. Skirmishing became very brisk in th,
front Of the latter. This was on Sunday, 1911
inst. They fired with artillery from Kenne
saw and adjoining ridges to the southwest
The 4th Corps took over 200 prisoners; loss
es, about fifty killed and wounded
The other corps were very little engaged
Williams Division, goth Corps, had som
brisk skirmishing, and company Of fort,
men drove rebel regiment from a hill, tn
latter running away almost at the sound Q
the charging cheer.