Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-08
THE. WAR In GEORGIA.
KILpATRIcK's RAID AROUND ATLANTA

Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commercial
CLHFRo sting ATLANTA, AUGUST %, 1864
The raider Fitzpatrick arrived in late last night having
made complete circuit aruuud the rebel army IN the
short space Of four days, fighting nearly all the tune
against vastly superior forces.
The forces which took part the third division OF
cavalry about two thousand FIVE hundred, and Mntys
and Longs brgades of the second cavalry DIVISION num-
bering two thousand five hundred and fifty four Gen
Garrard Of the second division, did not accompany the
expedition. consequently Col Mnty Of the Fourth Michi
gan who at that time ranked COL (now GeneraD Long,
took command
At o'clock the morning OF the 18th tho exPedl-
ton left the cavalry encampment the left of our line
for the rendezvous of the expedition at Sandtown where
it arrived at six A. M accompanied by two sections oil
the Chicago Battery, under the immediate command CT
Lieut. Robinson. Col Minty broke camp and made Sand
town under of darkness the better to prevent the
enemy learning of the movements yet letter captured
on the GOTH and dated the morning Of the 18TH at At
lanta shows that at that time the enemy had intelligence
through their SPIES not only of the number Of Mntys COM
mand but also the destination of the radng party and
consequently Hood had ample time to make dispositions
OF troops to Intercept them. 49, -
Arriving at Sandtown the morning OF the 18TH Mnty
reported to Gen. Fitzpatrick and received his orders AS
darkness had settled the forest, the whole
command five thousand strong jumped into their saddles
and boldly marched upon the West Point railroad, near
Fairbern the third division in advance skrmIshng all
the way from the right OF infantry lines until they
struck the West Point railroad when the first rebel as
aut made at the moment that the third division and
| a part of Longs brigade had crossed.
The enemy struck the column the left flank with ar
lery and dismounted cavalry, and with so much force
that the 18th Pennsylvania cut in two causing some
confusion for the moment but Major Jennings quickly
reformed his regiment, and supported BY Mror Max, com
mandrg the 4th Michigan made vigorous and lrresls-
tble attack upon the enemy, who was driven from the
ground in disorder. At the moment when the artillery
i nd aLatry frayx
vana two the ambulance drivers could not Withstand
the alarm and rushed their vehicles pemell intO the
woods and smashed three belonging to Mnty brigade
bad that they were abandoned The others were re-
covered by the officers of the brigade. aad took their
| places in the column.
Ipatrck learning that the third division delayed
by the rebel Ross, wno with very large force, was
i slowly falling back, contrasting every inch, ordered
Mnty and Long the front, and with Longs brigade in
the advance followed by Mntys and the third division,
skfmished with aud gradually drove the enemy to Flint
Here the destruction of the bridge the depth OF the
stream and the bad BIO to serious impsdlmens to
| our advance; and Ross and Fergusons brgades of
cavalry prese ted bold on the east bank and with
art eIy opened upon column to dipute its crossing
Fitzpatrick promptly ordered all his artillery into position
and in very few minutes Lieut. Benefits section of the
Chicago battery had dried up" the rebels most erctu-
ally Quickly dismouutpg the st, Sd, and 4th Ohio and
the 4h chigan cavalry, by order of Fitzpatrick, Mn'y
formed in line of BATTLE when artillery ged
four destructive voeys of grape and canister into he
rebel riffs pits and instantly the rushed forward upon
the double quick with cheer t. the bank of the river
range disodging their sharphoolers. Our column at
crossed the river the strngers OF the burned
bridge
ADVANCE UPON AND Stacking OF JoNEsBoRo'.
Leaving the Seventh Pennsy vana, section of art
ery and the led horses the west side of the river
Minty advanced with hs brigades Jonesboro town
on the Atlanta aud Macon railroad twenty miles south of
Atlanta the Fourth Michigan being depoyed skirmsh
ers with the First Ohio, Col Egges,on and Fourth Uni
ted States in line Of battle with section OF artillery
tie centre and he Third Ohio Col SideI and Fourth
Ohio, Lieut. Col. kobie following in column With this
form alton Muty advanced and drove the rebels
before him the town. from the houses of which the
rebels opened sharp but not destructive fire upon
line Not wishing to unnecessarily sacrifice the lives
of his men, Mny ordered forward his artillery to the
kirmish line by hand to within very short distance OF
the buildings 10 which the rebels had taken Judgment
While he was preparing riddle the buildings with his
grape aud canister the rebels deeming discretion the
better part of vao rereated mounted their horses and
evacuated in disorder. Our charged alter them into
the town.
Reporting the possession of the town to Fitzpatrick the
third division quickly brought up, and then
menced the destruction of the town This just before
dark The men went to work with will, put the torch
to the railway buildings court house. and public property
while details from the command tore up and burned about
three miles OF the Macon railway brisk wind sprung
p and very the flames spread TO stores and other
buildings and over twohirds OF the town burned to
the ground together with considerable public property
and effects OF the citizens
THE ENEMY REINFORCED.
Ferguson and Ross while the town being RACED,
reinforced
immediately south of force enrenchDg themselves by
Telling timber, &c. As Kilpatricks object was not to
whip the enemy but to destroy the railway the night
he struck from the railway about five miles and then
marched direct for Loveoys Station the first brigade be-
ing in the advance and the second brigade Lopg bring
ing up the few minutes before rear skrmish
ers were Withdrawn from the town another infantry force
arrived from toward Griffin Resting for the night some
distance from Lovejpys Station at daybreak of the fol-
lowing morning ght from Jonesboro' discovered
by the enemy who started in pursuit with their cavalry
At one and half mile from Lovejoys the dirt road up.
on which column moved forks, one branch leading
direct to the station the other crossing the railroad
had the advance, Miutys brigade leading followed by
command tho northern branch and succeeded In gain
time the main column, that was moving down the direct
pockets which driven by the Seventh Pennsy lvana
when within quarter of mile Of the station report
received that the Fourth Michigan had struck the rail
road Our forces were pushed rapidly forward and at
once received FIRE from the enemy when one battalion
of the Fourth United States dmounted and deploy
ed and brought to the support Of the Fourth Michigan
swelling tho number who engaged in tearing up the
track to hundred and fifty Before their line
fairly formed whole rebel infantry brigade, which
lying ambush with skrmishes out poured into the
ranks Of the working party terrific volley and with wild
yes that made the forests ring rushed mady the
track burners, killing woundiDg and taking prisoners
nearly the entSe detachment, who fought bravely until
their arms we're wresed from hem. Longs brigade
formed artillery placed in position and the