Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-26

wing, composed Of the l4tR and 2Oth corp
and Newton's division of the 4th corp
This portion of our army, less than one
third of the whole, met the most reckless
massive and headlong charge of the wal
without yielding an inch, save little o
one Of the flanks of Geary's division, wher
/ a gap in the line occurred, and where tn
enemy pressed through but was speedil
checked. The attack was made by nearl
the whole of the rebel army, and Its com
plete repulse forms the most glorious chap
ter in Sherman's present campaign. Th
= following are the details OF the fight:
AS your readers already know, our Who'll
army has effected the crossing of Peachtre
creek, a small but difficult stream, coverin,
Atlanta on the north and partially on thI
east. After the crossing, which was actu
ally completed on the morning of the 10th
our left under Mcpherson rested on tn,
Augusta railroad, south of Decatur, ant
about five miles from Atlanta. The 14tf
corps was on the extreme right, near the
mouth of Peachtree creek. On the left oi
the 14th corps was the 10th corps. On the
left of the latter Newton's division of the
4th corps. A gap then occurred In our lines
for three miles, which was covered on the
south bank of the creek by curtain of
pickets from Newton's division. On the
left Of the gap was concentrated the rest of
our army, several divisions originally on the
right having been moved there early OH the
morning of the 10Th, with view to strength
ening that wing, in front of which the enc
my made numerous feints, as if about to
precipitate his whole army against it. The
enemy thus being, during the morning of
the 10th, massed on our left, orders were is
sued to Newton, Hooker and Palmer on the
right to advance and close the gap of three
miles. Newton, on the left, was ordered to
move first, protecting his left flank by the
creek. Successfully Hooker's and PaImer's
corps were to close upon Newton, and es-
| tablish new line as far as possible in ad-
vance of the trenches, which they had con-
structed half mile south of Peachtree
creek Immediately after crossing. Accord
ingly, about l p. NJ, Newton deployed
five regiments as skirmishers, and pushed
forward handsomely, driving clouds of
the enemy's sharpshooter's before them,
and scattering their skirmish reserves. By
p. M. he had advanced three-fourths of a
mile and carried prominent ridge in his
front, on which, after sending fresh skirm-
ish lines forward, he proceeded to establish
his division. His troops unsung knapsacks,
stacked arms, and fell to erecting a rail bar
ricade with a will. Hooker now advanced
from his trenches. Butterfeld's division,
now commanded by General Ward, on the
left, Geary in center, and Gen. Williams on
the right. Palmer prepared to close up on
Hooker, whenever the latter should estab-
lish his new line. The country over which
this advance was progressing, is partially
rolling and open, intersected with difficult |
creeks, and partially covered with dense |
underground. In the advance, prisoners |
were captured at different points along the |
line, who unanimously stated that no con- |
siderable body of their troops was nearer |
than mile and half. They were, beyond
doubt, sent out to be captured for this pur-
pose. Not less than three-fourths of the |
entire rebel army were concealed within
musket-shot of our skirmishers. At the
same time, at twenty minutes of four o.
clock p. NJ, and with the celerity of light
ning the rebel host poured forth from their
concealment, massed in enormous columns,
against Newton, coming on without skirm-
ishers and with yells whosevolume exceed
ed those of any battle-shout
ever heard. Newton's division had
but half completed their barricade
and they barely had time to fall into line
and seize their guns before the entire rebel
column composed of Walkers and Bates
divisions of Hardee's corps was within
range. The pickets guarding the interval
between the right and lett of our army
barely escaped capture by plunging into
The enemy had struck us at the vital spot,
Just where victory for him might be de-
cisive. Newton had more ground to guard
han he could cover by even single line.
For the first few minutes everything hung
trembling in the scale-Newton's left flank
was exposed and just covered his bridges
lcross Peachtree Creek. Had it given away
he bridges would have been lost, and our
whole right might have been rolled up and
orced back to the Chattahoochie River
rhe rebel plan was to destroy our forces on
he right, after which their army would be
trong enough to confront if not defeat the
main body OF our army on the left. Long
ines of darkies, with pack-saddles, and r
,ther non-combatants came pouring across :
he bridges, with sweat running off of them J
n rivulets. Guards, with fixed bayonets, /
we're placed at the bridges, to collect what !
ver armed strag glers might appear, but !
zone came. In spite of the furious charge,
lone of our troops were stampeded. The /
ebel column poured down an open but
ough series of fields toward Newton's left,
aiming at his bridges. At the !
the enemy first appeared we had ,
'ut two pieces of artillery in position, !
the vital point; but Captain
With splendid quickness, brought up ten
nore guns, making in all twelve. They
pened with canister, the gtlnners working
With frantic energy. Four guns went into
ction on Newton's right. Up to the mo-
1ent these guns opened, the rebel columns
ad swiftly advanced, engaging Newton's t
hree reduced brigades at terrible odds. 1t Q
,as wonderful how fast the enemy lost his
rip when sixteen guns added their blastto a
he storm of bullets from Newton's infan- 7
ry: The dusky, gray columns slackened q
heir pace, and began to waver and lose 2
heir careful arrangement. In few min T
ties they had come to a stand-still, in par I
ial confusion, and firing heavily but Wild 2
v. Color-bearer after color bearer went 3
own under the crash of our canister. In d
ain the rebel field officers rode up and down
he lines waving swords and exhorting the
len not to falter. In twenty minutes the
ssault had totally failed and the enemy c
ave way, retiring In confusion to the woods /
rom which they had emerged. For the rest h
fthe afternoon they keptup a desultory fire, g
yhich was returned by our artillery, but u
hey did not venture to renew the attack. y
he rebel General Stevens, commanding a Il
rigade In Walkers division, was killed. v
Iearly two hundred rebel dead were buried Il
a Newton's front next morning. His brig Il
de did not yield an inch. General Wards Il
vision, on Newton's right, was struck at
he same moment as Newton. General
Ward had just halted his men at ?
he foot OF hill, for brief O
est, after his skirmishers had made way to a
he crest. Word came back to him that the Ii
nemy was charging over the open field in 9
is front, in immense force. Without mo-
nent's hesitation Ward ordered his division Il
o meet the enemy with counter-charqe: a
;o r,,or, n,nva1 I'm hill In enlapd,d ,xrir.' II "a