New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-04
dependency grew darker as the of fresh disaster

We had scarcely received the intelligence
Of the capture of tits battery when suddenly we
were amazed 70 hear the roll OF muskery in our rear
toward Decatur each second increasing In Intensity
growing and nearer while the fight on the lef
was being hSt.y urged ana The slight Storm N mont OF
ghtburn. kept swelling into perfect war tempest
Generals and staff officers and ordcres. dashing nadiy
ON foamnr war steeds In all directions shells soid
shot. and musketry uniting in the general war dln
around US, minpling with the agoniing shouts OF lie
dying and wounded as they were joted about IN tns
rough ambulauces which were dripping win io i
blood. Gen Logan with his eagle eye has detected 'he
Of the sempanc and the Rebel designs. anu no
sets 10 work to thwart both. Having sent Tor 1e.
Coxs Sd Division, I'D Corps 10 All the iot or ~,
Corps should occasion require-the troops nave or
rived, and quickly ordered TO form ine IN "ui
rear, crossing the main Atlanta and Dccatur road
THE TIGHT AT DECATUR.
Gen Cox threw up some temporary enist,y the
appearance Of the enemy. The Rebel force Nnien ~
40 ssonished us by its entry into the niue own o ~
ostur in our rear, two divisions OF Wheelers ~
airy with section Of artillery These forces met wih
slight opposition until they reached the M
town wien Col Sprague, commanding tue "a
4th Division 10th Army Corps whose forces eo1ss IN.
OF three small infantry Regiments. section Of ati,
NScsad the Chios5 Board Of Trade battery' ,ecirou
W. WEeeleT's citef" companies In way I'M T 10,
ANYTHING but pleasing 70 mem sfyery Col srrngu.
80 disposed his inferior numbers ms 10 thoiouRn! 80
the superior forces OF the enemy. whose oOlecl ~
ing Decatur evidently 10 captare se'eIh Iuhui.u
wsgons allied with comnissary and ammunition snp-
~. o,,"ct commenced at IL O'Clock Friday
forenoon and lasted three hours during %non tuo
coj Spragne lost a large number OF his gallant men.
many Of whom refused to surrender when taken prison
ers ana were SHOT by their captors avn not aoe 70
forward complete s, OF The easnae - IN ls Eng
est moment: Col Sprague captured number OF prs
oncrs and he and his troops are entitled to praise r
the stubbornness they evlnesd IN proIeohg Ga, tya
toSs jist now IN aoeSsst Of rciotca~s' ron our
base Of supplies.
THE REREIs STILL cBowDING THE PifTHtNTH ooRfs
The firing In front Of the 18th Corps still continued
and suddenly Qrite heavy voley from dense thoket
In font Of the Nth Illinois and the SD Ohio Indicated
that very strong force was rapidly approaching uude
cover of the thick foliage. The Rebels nae 0. tlis
time succeeded in thanking the skirmish line OF both
the 2d and 4th Divisions 18th Corps, and NM Thomas
4. Taylor 4th Division picket officer VINO was IN ooln
mand Of the skirmish line deemed II prudent to retire
10 the main line Of breastworks This change OF 81
ton was accom- shed With In. little loss bus our skr
mlshers had scarcely reached the WORKS when ire
rnendous f1usfetrl ERE opened upon them, and Just
then q solid Rebel column was deserted marching from
behind large brick dwtinc-h0nse, which stood IN
front Of Notifications Capt De Grass famous IS
Illinois Battery of 2Opounder PARROTS now opened on
the enPuy's lines With grape and cnnter but alpa'
renty with bnt little effect for the Rebels were familiar
with the ground and th9 location Of the WORKS ana
wisely marched through slight sopt wh,gs gtog HI
Ohio aud the lllth Illinois kept al bay tue enemy Tor
half an hour, when TO their great horror, they eeheh
the Rebels rushing in them rear from deep cut III he
completely surrounded and b. remain longer was put
to insure total annhaton or capture our troops broke
in considerable confusion for the rear findrg II IN
possible to rally his On. Gep. Ligbburn. commanding
The 4th Division with Gen. Wood. commanding the ID
Division resolved to retire 10 our second line Of rifle
pits and breastworks, some 5n yaIds NON inc main
line which the elemy had captured. To suppress he
temporary panic AID restore confidence 20 the troops
wac but the work Of few minutes and IN fifteen MN
utes q strong line refoi ned ard agaiu advancing 70
meet the foe when very opportunity tue I'd Brigade of
the LIST Div sion 18th Army Corps, Col Williamson
commanding. arrived 10 reinforce Gems. Wood and
Lightburn. Among the fresh troops noticed tho ioEb
Brigade one Of the ~ svest truest ana most tenacious
lighting brgados has marched n the rescue OF our
nations Ibel lies. Col Martin. tried aud trusiy sol
dior. With the ist Brigade. "a Division i5th Army
CORPS ordered by Gen Logan 10 drive the enemy
from our works. retoke Capt De Grass hne battery
and instructions were given by Gen Morgan L. smith,
then In command Of the 18th Corp, IN advance our
whole line and prepare drive tie enemy from the
works al the point oi tho bayoDct necessary ana II
deemed Necessary very soon to resort 10 tis uos
perate expedient for the Rebels we're preparing 10
turn orr captured guus upon Provoked ct the sur
prize which had unused them to abandon their gun our
seemed 20 relish the task before tbom' ahd were
full Of confidence their ability 70 har the Toe back TO
his lurking place In the woods. cheer rang out upon
the sitting air clouds Of dust rolled up 10 the heassns
from beneath the hostile feet Of HaGkces Eass iut
tered and up the hil our gallant charged. signal
ing Their approach with showers of bullets. TIC Rebeis
received al they desired before oar boys were within
fifty or sixty yards and on thef retreat we Witnessed
.ome ground III not lOny) tnmbling Before the
enemy had time 10 relIre out Of tie range OF
orr guns whion werr Icteken IN the charge.
they were throwing fearful quantities OF grape aud can
ist:yr ssIer theu and the next morning tho chastity
sights that | Witnessed IN front u Cen Morgan L.
Smiths lines ndicat plainly that. though tie surprise
In our rear had caused men ~ rereet slowly. and
thereby allow the enemy to gain possesson Of the orr
hoatioas. yet the attempt was . costly sacrifice.
confess that gave our soldiers great saisis ton
10 know thst their deGdy musgc'ry fire had laid .ow
many traitolous Suh Caronai for there they lay In
horr,d leans sweterng in O,ood, their bodies torn
and msugltd in the most shocking manner.
TIE ALARM-JCsTIcB 10 GALLANT CORPS.
Before finishing this account should not TAI TO mon
ton more fully the peculiar circumstances which
brought about Temporary panic IL car army and the
anso Of the 18th rps breaking The scare began as
soon W. the troops heard the heavy hfrg In our rear
which gave rise to report that we sere completely
surrounded by the enemy Iuefc was ming II tdn %
u.s. heavy fighting on our ief' md o"n'ei, AMI some
firing on our riett, thus Strengthening tie rumOrs
which had prevailed after portion 81 the iJtf Corps
had been driven nom i's position. THIS a'rm SUB.
sided quickly. ard perfect "'def agaia pie'o'd
Had proper VrccRItIu seen tfs"h by or command
ers to blockade hG iUty ''s aeep raj road cut hich
interviewed boiveen no.. v bod aJd Goa. Lghtblrns
divisions, and r,ggh which the enoia' easily marched
column, the kebs.. could not hase forced one man
from ihef works. inut'eI great oversight taat
OF permitting large hat finished mansion, together
with sesoi u oidngs 70 reman IN front 81 our for
tiostlonr thereby intsruptng our view OF the dense
woods in ont The tnho, likewise afforded excel.
lent screen tic Rebels and lie undating nature Of
the ground rendered easy matter .or the enemy 10
advance within east niGsdeiry range IN large numbers
before could discover teir approach In season to
check Il. On the sd, Gen. Sherman ordered the ele.
CANT residence behind whose brick walls the Rebel
sharpshooters md protected themselves 10 DO burned
and It's ashes mark the spot where the seal VI in
fhny was placed upon so many traitors graves. The
wide gap In the railroad las also been srongl! fortified
the trees have fallen beneath the sharp nres Of the
sturdy pioneer corps ond formidable abatis pro-
tects our brcaslwCrks. 4 Ene faf finished private
rosdeuee which IA situated within vent, YARDS Of
foItfcations, has beon turned into fort ana nom Is
brick walls dozens Of loophoes nave been cut for the
use OF our shsrpshoOer-. go d which belong to the
Goth Illinois regiment These marksmen ore all AIMED
with most formidable weapon. tie Henry repeating