The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-06-25
BIG SHANTY, GEORGIA,
June II, 1864.
THE SITUATION.

ton, twenty-six miles North of Atlanta,
though the heavy skirmishing along his
front for the past three days, has compelled
him sharply to define his lines. His line is
now closely circumscribed by ours. In no
place are the hostile parallels more than
musket shot apart. The rebel right rests
on Kinesaw Mountain, on the railroad, four
miles north of Marietta, their left on Lost
Mountain, some six miles West of Kinesaw.
Between these two formidable ridges the
rebels have gradually been forced back from
triangle, with the apex toward US, until
their line is but q faint crescent, their cen
ter being slightly advanced. Right, left
and center, their position is very closely in
vested. st
DEATH OF GEN. PoLJi. j'
On the 18th no fighting oil importance
took place, owing to the almost impossible
roads. About noon, however, the l4th and
4th Corps advanced their lines slightly,
which brought on very slight diminishing
and continued ell the afterno On. The enc
my responded to our fire, wi tn very little
viger, and gradually gave back. In front
of the 4th Corps, however, there were brief
intervals when the diminishing was quite
spirited on both sides. Our artillery kept
up steady FIRE all the afternoon from the
4th Corps. directed upon Pine Knob, avery
high bill, which the enemy had heavily for
tifer, and upon which he had twenty
Pieces of cannon planted, very few OF which
opened in response to the vigorous salutes
Of Simonson's 5th Indiana Battery, attacks
ed to General Stanley's division. Simon>
sons battery, or at least one section OF 1t,
under command of Lieutenant Allison,
opened at IL o'clock from commanding
post to the west of the knob upon the enc
nv. The second shot fired exploded i'm
mediately in front of Generals Hardee,
! Johnston and Polk, who were standing to-.
pether in consultation, and q fragment en-
t,sred the breast of General Polk, passed
through the body, causing instant death.
| JUNE 18th,
On the morning of..the 18th it was discov-
cred by General Newton, of the I'd division,
18th Corps, that the enemy bad, during the
night, evacuated the Knob and, with hisar
tillery and infantry, fallen back to his main
line, running nearly parallel with the Mari
eta and Burnt Hickory Road. This gave
us possession of the above road, which was
one OF the objects of the demonstration, as
well as the Knob from which point an ex-
cellent view of the enemy's line could be
had. 1t also afforded an excellent point
from which to open signal communication
between General Scofeld, who was on the
extreme right, the town of Big Shanty,
where General Sherman's headquarters are
situated, and Gen. McPherson's command
on the left. At 8 A. M. Captain Leonard,
chief signal officer of the 4th Corps, estab-
lished q station on the Knob and immedi-
ately opened with Hooker and Schotield.
Subsequently communication was opened
with other portions of the line.
Atane ,srly hour on the morning of the 10Th
Gen. McPherson's command on the left,
which extends from the left of the 14th
corps to beyond the railroad advanced, upon
the enemy, with very strong lines supper
ted by artillery, fought them all day very
energetically, driving them slowly back
upon Kinesaw Mountains. The fire Of Me-
Pherson's command met with vigorous re.
Spouse. Mcpherson captured 400 prisoners
during the afternoon. He got an EMILIA
ding artillery fire upon the enemy, who
had taken refuge in his first line of breast
works, drove them from it, and tonight
Mcpherson leads the first line at or near
the base Of Kline Mountains. His loss
was trifing.
/ AN ASSAULT ON THE CENTER.
| About o'clock P. NJ, the 4th and 5th
Corps formed and advanced by column in
mass, with brigade front aud lines of skir'
lnishers thrown out. The demonstration
W as made chiefly by the 4th Corps support
ed by Palmer on the left. Newtons divis
ion of the 4th corps, led the movement; the
AID and 5lst Illinois under Col. Bradley act
ing as skirmishers. The enemy's skirmishers
were encountered and driven aoout half
mile, when they took refuge behind
breastwork composed Of railway ties, about
three feet high. The skirmishers of the 4th
corps, with those of Baird on the left and
at the opposite side of the cleared interval
Stanley on the right, moved forward and
carried the breastworks which were upon
the crest Of small ridge. Pushing rapid
lY forward, with the Sd Kentucky, and
other regiments thrown in as skirmishers,
Col. Bradleyldrove the enemy from the sec.
ond line of ridges, and got within seventy
FIVE or one hundred yards of the enemy's
|
line of works, from which the rebel Skin.
mishers rushed out and charged upon our
skirmishers, who promptly drove them
back.
The assault upon the center was so we'll
planned and rapidly executed, that the en-
envy was completely taken by SURPRISE
Our loss is very light, probably not one
hundred in the three corps who took part
In the assault.
The day has been one of success along
the whole line, which has been advanced, !
some portions, mile, and in other portions
two and half miles, and with total loss
OF probably less than three hundred men,
Inc enemy are just beginning to discover
that General Sherman and his troops can
storm breastworks aud masked batteries
Is well as execute flank movements.
Right Wing.
The 2Oth and Odd Corps the latter on the