New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-14


Harker-A Glorious Career-Becovery
and Burial of Our Dead Under Flag
of Truce.
From Our Special CORES pOndsnt.
NEAR MARIETTA. Ca. June o. 1864.
My previous imperfect and necessarily hur-
Yed accounts Of the OF the 9th inst hardy
convey the public adequate idea OF the desperate
character Of the engagement on that day py 1homa'
and Mcpherson. After more thorough ekani'a''o"
of the ground and an inquiry into the facts a pre-
pared to state that for the desperate nature Vi o IN
dertaking the terrible odds and obstacles ieught
c,;nst aud ths losses sustained il has not been
called during this internal Rebellion. 1t was an effort
IN nerce the Rebel center and expel him from high
woody and commanding ridge when ne had occupied
and fortified by works OF MASSIVE Strength me attack
was made with cheerulness always characteristic Of
the Union troops in the performance OF duty and with
a dash and galantry never exceeded but the result
justified the misgying which portion Of the officers
seemed to entertain OF the impraeticaby OF stormns
such works. We gained q footing alongside OF the
enemy, the hilk but made the ground vast cemc-
terry Of our heroic dead. The losses were heavy,
and Impress US With tho impossibiity Of capturing
such colossal works as experience has taught the
enemy TO construct. Following any custom TO abstain
from all comment and putting the best face upon the
affair which the circumstances will permit Of eonhne
che present letter to recital Of the facts as Tar as
have been able to obtain them from Trustworthy sources
also send herewith oarefuly-prepared diagram OF
shat portion Of the enemys position which was attacked
officer who fought over the ground, and who has re
surveyed the whole pending flag Of truce to-day IL
illustrates the obstacles also encountered by Je l.
Daviss division also incOse lists OF casualties among
commissioned officers, with statement OF the nSgrc
szate losses sustained. Among these we deplore the
death Of the young and gallant BrgsderG Gen Harker
commanding the Sd Brigade Of Newtons division who
FELL at the very foot OF the enemys works while leading
Forward his command in the face OF whitening nTe
From batteries and musketry. Many other valuable
have already referred to the topography of th9 pO
Bition occupied BY the enemy.
IL vas a thicky.wooded ridge running obliquely
ecross the valley nearly from west to east its north
side facing the army of Gen. Thomas which occupies
an irregular line Of bills sweeping In semicrcle from
near the base Of the Kenesaw Mountain around toward
and crossing the Marietta aud SandtOwn roads. small
tributary o Noses Greek runs along the north base Of
Abe ridge and the south side falls away steep angle
sato open field Of several hundred acres in extent
Noses Creek through the valley on the south side
Ube crest Of this ridge rises considerably above and
Dyerooks the hills occupied by troops II IS I'M
hOubtedly the key Of the Rebel position and when lost
they must retire, surrendering Marietta the kenesaw
Mountain and everything north OF the Chattah0o' |
ehee Beside the advantage Ii possesses for de-
tense they can observe nearly every move
ment made by army near them, while
tom the top of the Kenessw nothing do need escape
bhelr 0bsery alton Massing his forces within the circle
Df the wooded and open valley, his back TO Markets.
with his right holding the Kenesaw and his left resting
the ridge between the SandOwn road and the ran.
fosd. and his lines nearly conforming to our owns he
has the advantage Of lying almost IN the form Of hol
Ov square his army covering but fraction Of the area
necessarily occupied BY own and having the ability
10 throw his masses from one to another threatened
point in much less time than be done by ourselves
In word no occupies the inner and we the outer cir
Die Of the contested ground.
, JUNE 30-There was sudden and somewhat pro
ionged attack by the enemy in front OF Gen. Davis
about midnight, with heavy cann0neding the flashes
from which lighted up nights black arch VITA iurid
haule. Tie roar vi mutual arms was torrlDic no
body hurt"
TaE ASSAULT ON THE 27TB-CHAEGE BY NEWTON 8
DIVISION.
Gen Harker's brigade formed the right column. and
vent in By column Of division right ia front. Gen. |
Wagner's brigade the left OF Harker column by
division lett in front. Kmban's brigade was formed
In column of division right in front the left in Of
Wagner. These columns were formed In the woods !
amid complete labyrinth Of underground through
which the smallest animal would have found difficulty
In pursuing straight course aud under severe IRE
bf artillery and musketry. They advanced across
tavne and steep bill IN face Of the enemy WORKS
Harker and Wagner. leading. bad reached the abats
the front divisions passing over 1t aud reaching the
snemy's works. Here they were held IN check by an
overwhelming force behind strongly butt WORKS. nom
which the enemy poured deadly FIRE Of grape, canns
her and musketry. Kimbalps brigade was then or
uered forward to the LEFT Of Wagner and his column
moved forward the front line under command OF Col
n.y. W. Barrett Of the 44th Illinois, passing the aoatls
Up 10 the re5a works holding the outer side OF them N
face of their batteries ana by order depoyng IRON
column OF division into battalion column. The men
rushed to the very mouth OF the rebel embrasnreS ana
kcaed the works where they ie by me score ePon.e
VERY parapets and along the foot Of the epaulmens
The force OF the enemy. with their FIRE. posted IN double
knes TO sweep every angle OF approach rendered
Further advance impossible without total annhlatOn
6leburnes division formed in regular line OF battle
Fronting the Union approach, with Cheathams IN INC
same formation on his ef and Walkers division VI
right angles with and the right OF Cleburne Inns
IS the Rebel account of their own disposition Not
withdrawing all this We held THIS position anu the
rihe pits Until ordered to retire sim hoding tne
rife pits occupied by tho enemy Al Shc morning ny
still In possession. Gen hlmbah Iook az III
znen In his brigade-he lost ia killed. wounded ana
missing The latter have mostly bGen ound uhoef 'he
eusmy's works and have been buried TO-DAY -.
There is one act the part of Rebel onicer when
liant Col Martin. commanding the LIST Arkansas
Rebel Infantry, ceased bis fire, enabling us to Obtain
and remove the wounded from under MS WORKS AZ Iue
same time fro breaking out among the dried Drush
md leaves between the lines he assisted IN extih,
gushing the fire. which prevented our dead ana
wounded from being burned and promised to SEND le
rail for tho purpose If 1t broke outAgan lie sent
10 the picket officer OF the Union lac TerlnS 10 nave
The firing suspended in the evening at which time we
could remove dead. At the time agreed upon nc
had been relieved and Georgia rcgimeat occupied MS
ylaoe which failed TO comply with the understanding
entered intO by Col Martin. On the following Gay,
Aowever be again duty and sent nag OF truce,
renewing the former arrangenenl under when al our
dead rem0y ed and buried a portion Vi tneH hau
been dishgurod by the IRE. .
The space where the charge was made. and the
largest proportion of our men Io was Within narrow
strip 50 yards in width, extending across our wnole
front covered by sbsts aud cbeyaux de friSe Here
with / send careful sketch VI the POSITION Iheie
were no troops the left OF kmbal, ana aKer sue
ceeded in swinging round upon the len ana gettns IN
VI flank FIRE One account says he charged oulbiue oi
1be Rebel abatis and palisades. and Tor Tune was
much troubled get back through his own WORK some
OF our men were cut in two In front OF the keDel en-
brasures others mounted the paTapets and were thrust
Ssck with tha bayonet; while others wounded, were
taken prisoners Among the latter was Lieut. Co heFt
Of the 14th Illinois The Rebels threw spades pleas anu
axes the paraPet at our men -
CHARGE BY JgPP c. DAvIss DIVISION.
The dyision of Gen Davis WAS the right OF Gen;
Newton and like the latter be advanced by column o.
divisions The point OF attack was upoa the apex o.