The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-07-28

MIrcHELL's PLANTATION, GA.
U..t- q 1QcA

EpfToH COuRtkR. -Since my last writir
q nunber Of important events have tram
piref. Fighting os The most desperate cha
acter has been done; repeated infantr
charges have been made by both armies, r,
sulting in unparalleled success to FEEDER,
, arms, and a series Of triumphant victories {
General Sherman and his army. Althoug
our objective point has not yet been gained
IDS capitulation is early looked for.
From the date of my last communication
until June 9th no general engagement wa
fought, though the almost incessant crack o
the rife, mingled with the loud bass Of ar
tiliery as 1t rolled along the line from RICH
to left, would give one unaccustomed to wa
the impression that the contest vas . sever
one.
On the evening of June 9th our line wa
formed rs follows: Thel7th corps command
ed by General Blair, composed the extrem,
left wing of the army; next in line was Gen
eral Logan commanding the 18th corp.
Gent Dodge commanding 10th corps, GEN.
Howard commanding 4th corps, Palmer
com'ding 14th corps. Gen'l Hooker com dne
goth corps. and Gen'l Schofield the 23rd, il
being the right wing Of the army. Gen.
Stoneman being chief Of cavalry, had his
cavalry command formed 30 a to operate on
the tanks and rear of the army, to prevent
flank movement Of the enemy, or sudden
dash upon our immense supply train.
It was late in the evening of June 9th
that Gen. Sherman determined upon sim
ultaneous charge Of the enemy's works on
the following morning. Preparations for the
general assault soon commenced; GEM
Sherman having general superintendent
Of the whole affair; sometimes HE commands
were given to commanders of batteries and
regimental commanders. The 10Th corps
was relieved by portions of the 18th and
18th corps and formed in an advanced pos
ition between Gen'ls Dodge and Howard -
At o'clock &. m. on the morning of June
9th the whole army was formed In battle
array and ready for the onset. with the ex.
cep:ion oftwo corps, 1.-THE 1e and 17th) which
were not included with those that had been
ordered in readiness for the charge. At the
appointed ho1r, long lines of infantry could
be seen standing in line ready for the ad-
vance; the reserves OF infantry and artillery
were formed in proper position, and In sup.
porting distance of our advanced columns.
Our artillery::was now order ed 10 shell the
rebel lines for period of fifteen minutes !;
severe cannonade ensued. The guns from
the rebe! forts replied vigorously for few
minutes, but were soon silenced BY the well
directed shots from our Parrot, Rodman
and Napoleon guns. Our artillery now
ceasel firing. ard the whole line was hushed
into silence the bugle sounded and our
charging columns advanced to the couAict.
The ground over which our troops had to
charge was somewhat billy and broken, and
in some places very stony.
On went our advancing lines regardless Of
the many obstacles that had beer thrown in
the way by the enemy. A strong abattis
had beer made by the enemy in front Of
their works by cutting down the timber a
distance Of seventy Ave yards in uidth in
front of their Entertainments. Our troops
advanced steadily until within hundred
yards Of the rebel line, where they were met
with murderous fire of rebel musketry and
artillery.
Our reserve was now ordered to their sup
port, what was to be done must be done
quickly. A portion of the reserve was i'm
mediately ordered into action, and a stimuli.
taneous charge was made, which resulted in
dislodging the enemy from their works, and
compelling them to beat hasty retreat to
their second line of earthworks.
Gen. Logan's command was unsuccessful
which was on account of it having the most
difficult part Of the task to perform. Though
Logan was repulsed, he did not suffer de-
feat; he gained position within close prox.
unity to the rebel lines, his troops very soon
erected rihe.pits within musket range Of the
enemy's which proved SO harassing to them
that they soon evacuated their line of de.
Tense, and took up a position at respect
able distance to the rear.
As soon as our troops on the right of Lo-
gan had gained the first line of rebel works.
they raised deafening yell and commenced
pouring their deadly volleys Of musketry
into the broken ranks of the retreating foe.
A portion Of orr troops along the line, not
content with the result Of the victory already
gained, rushed impetuosly after the retreat.
ing rebels and succeeded in capturing Sec
ond line of rebel defenses.
All was now acconp lished that was ex.
spected to have been done, by the command.
ing General. The work of conveying to the
rear and caring for wounded now commenced,
long trains o. ambu:ences were soon loaded
and sent to the different field hospitals, the
weather was warm and sweltry, and the
sufferings Of our wounded must have been
very severe, but they bore it patiently,
scarcely q murmur escaped their lips. i.
Our loss In killed and wounded was
greatly exaggerated by the Rrst reports that
we're circulated through the different camps,
and no doubt that some of our army report
ers have sent to Northern Journals for pub.
llcation, a list Of killed and wounded amount.
ing to several thousand men, but such is q
mistake, our loss will not exceed twenty. five