Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-07-13
Sherman's Advance.
Letter from the 10Th Wisconsin
Interesting Account of Operations.
Correspondence of the state Journal.


our connection with the Army of the Cum
bertrand. In ehe reorganization of the 18th
Army Corps, we were placed in the / st Brig
ade, Gen. Force, and Sd Division. Gen. Leg
gett commanding. We left Clifton, on the
Tennessee river, May 18th, for the front, and
we took our position on the left OF Gen.
Sherman's line at Ackworth, the Sth of June,
having march about $50 miles, crossed in our
route six distinct ranges Of mountains, and
forded innumerable rivers and creeks. Rest
ing one day at Ackworth, on the 10th we
moved forward about eight miles, with light
skirmishing driving the enemy's line before
us, until we discovered him in force in front
Of high and much broken range of the AL
toona Mountains. About two miles from the
foot of this range Gen. Sherman formed his
line, the fst Brigade on the extreme left Our
line was formed in a dense underground Of
pine, hickory, oak, chestnut and sassatras
The general bearing of this mountain range
Is from northeast TO southwest. Our line
facing them followed the same parallel from
left 10 right. This range occupied by the
enemy consists of six or more high peaks
the largest and most prominent of which is
called "Lost Mountain At its base and
along It's sue Il tue center OF OeQ. johnston
army. At the time our line was formed, his
right occupied three peaks to the northward:
ais left as many southwark from the centre
Now our Corps occupies two Of these peaks
on his right, and our right has rolled back his
left, doubling his left and right up, back 10
back, along the railroad to Atlanta; each
flank protecting Marietta, which lies between
them in rear of " Lost Mountain" and the
route TO Atlanta. Gen. Sherman has kept
the railroad from Rome open, and gets his
supplies at Big Shanty Station, about FIVE
miles from Ackworth, from which station it
Is only FIVE or six miles to the right or left
IF his army. Gen. Johnston gets his supplies
At Marietta, only miles from Big Shanty.
On the nth, 12th and 18th, details were
regularly made from cur regiment for pickets
and skIrmishers a strong line was estab-
IIshet about so DDS In front of our line, and
heavy skirmishing was commenced; and, as
the rebels held their line rather tenaciously,
il was kept up most of the time night and
day. The rebels had some little work or rife
pit, and four or FIVE men on post.
On the 18th the firing was more brisk than
usual. Two batteries had been erected in
l~out of our line, a little in rear of our skir-
mshers, and occasionally sent a she'll at some
OF their posts. About noon eight of our
skirmishers suddenly charged on n rebel post
and captured four, the rest made their es-
cape. Our men again depioyed and took
their place in line. From near the point of
capture toward our left, our men commenced
advancing, driving back their right consider
able, and closing up along our whole brigade.
At night Co. G was sent out as skirmishers
and a large working party detailed The
3lst Ill. was ordered 10 advance and support
The workmen. They advanced about three
fourths u a mile, and before midnight had
breast work sufficient TO cover regiment.
The 3lst rushed up and occupied them and
opened a heavy fire, which they kept up
most of the night. 1t was expected that if
their line had no strong support near by, they
would take advantage of the darkness to re-
tlre from place exposed as theirs was to our
FIRE. at short range, with no artillery to aid
Lheu. Butt the morning they still occupied /
heir itrle rife pits and boldly aimed their
aieces About o'clock a. IN. the 10th we're
ordered 10 relieve the 3lst, and sprang into
the works on the double quick, escaping the
reEeI FIRE Co. G. commanded by Capt.
Wheeler, were in our front, ensconsed in
some snag places or behind rocks, aud kept
up brisk fire in reply to the foe, doing some
execution, hut keeping themselves well
screened The difficulty of firing over the
reads Of co. q without endangering them,
prevented Us from firing much. In the after
room d brigade from a reserve division of the
18th Army Corps was ordered up on our left,
anl preparations made 10 test the strength of
the force in front of
The ground we then occupied was corn
field and very much Of the land in our front
was put in to corn and wheat, but was rolling
and cut by various deep. rocky, bush-Ened
ravines, running ut different angles No po-
sitiUn could be secured from which to discoy-
er what these contained. Back Of these farm
lands lay more or less force, but well con
eealed by the thick wood. The brigade was
soon formed for the charge. and bore down in
gallant style. They met a much heavier
force than was discernable, but made no de-
Il 4
them 10 a confused flight. Co. @ joined IN
the rush for graybacks and butternuts, and
with some more Of the 10th, who were moved
from the picket line on the flank TO the front,
they captured about 40 prisoners. The whole
regiment sent their compliments, but were
held by strict orders not to leave the breast
work. The force routed was a brigade com
posed Of the 2lst, 10th, 42d Alabama and the
$50 Virginia The Colonel commanding and
about 500 officers aru men were captured.
Their right was driven back rather further
than the line in front of Us, and we had a
king FIRE, and if il had been considered pru-
pent 20 allow US to move, we could no doubt
have captured as many more prisoners, as
We could have got somewhat in their rear.
Many Of the rebs from this brigade have at
various times deserted to us. 4 Captain and
some OF his men came IN the night OF the
18th. The night Of the 10th, Lieutenant
and two men came in, having previously
4A0ue arrangements Tor MS whole come IN al
given signal Sergt. Chas. Bowen, Co. c,
10th regiment, in command of the post, al
lowed the signal to be given, and few came
in others were restrained by their tlmldIty.
II this action l understand the 97th Iudi-
ana, v hich led tie charge, lost / killed and
- wounded. We had only two wounded in
the 18TH and some clothes torn. Major Dawes
had the honor Of receiving a compliment
from them which cut pieces out of his coat
and shirt sleeves
The rebs made quite a display OF force on
their right for a number Of days after this re-
pulse unmasked some heavy works and bat
teries on the hills in our front and finally on
sae 10th ana 18th giving Us pretty brisk
sEehng. Our force, however kept working
up to taem, digging and fighting, until the
ION, when having got the range so as to
shell thelr works ON tse mountain our corps
and one division ui tbe I5tL were formed in
line in the open field, for another charge.
The desperate appearance Of those Sold
ines Of Yanks must have frightened some
BODY or else 1t rained So hard they feared