New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-09-02
PROM sIIERMAN's ARMY.


NilpatrirL's Expediiion--His Orders md
How Hc Exsem,ed T heur- Extending Our
Linss 10 the Right-A Gniisss ARTILLERY
Omccr-A Word "a CePp~rhesds.
from Our Special Correspondent.
RIGHT WING q MILES ). W or ATLANTA. Aug. 3d.
In previous letter, mentioned the success
full attack upon and burning Of the Depot, and
destruction Of the Railroad track Of Fairburn,
by the forces Of Gen. Fitzpatrick. From prudcn-
tial rcasons, la 0 abstained from mentioning
particulars Of another and much more important
raid upon the Macon road until now. General
Ki,pa,rick's forces were increased by several
thousand men, and when he started, four days
ago. undsr orders from Gen. Sherman to smash
the enemy's communications at any and every
cost, he had, probably, six thousand mounted
men, at least, that Is the number given TO me
by the officers supposed TO know. lie was to
swoop around 20 the right and strike the Macon
road between Rough and Ready and Jonesboro
Up 10 this time. don't know that anything
definite has been heard from him ct headqoar-
ters.
Circumstances, however, strongly favor the
presumption that Fitzpatrick has accomplished
the work no was sent 10 do, though probably AZ
the expense Of muri hard lighting and possibly
Of severe losses. A prisoner brought in yester-
day states that Armstrong; Cavalry which we
knew had "yone for him." came up and bad
FIGHT with Fitzpatrick ION the Goth. l suppose)
capturing nine ambnlanccs and some forty or
fifty of our men. That fitzpatrick drove Arm
strong in the fight which followed and went on
about his business. Two colored men came in
from the Rebel lines yesterday, and bring re-
ports going n confirm this account. These last
reports, however, locate tho engagement at or
near JunesbGro.
They say Fitzpatrick whipped out Armstrong,
and the same night large coniiagration was
noticed in the direction Of Jonesboro, leading to
the belief that the place had been burned. The
enemy had placed themselves across his rear.
Prisoners, and ctizens who have come 20 us
from the extreme right, say no cars had come
into Atlanta from below Tor three days previous
10 their leaving. OF course, 1t is about time To
hear from this raid, and may be able TO give
more reliable information before the mail goes
out, The country may rest assured that no un-
necessary time will be lost here. Much, doubt
less, now depends upon the result Of these last
cavalry expeditions 10 The encmy's rear.
The extension of our lines around 10 the ex-
trcmc right, and the occasional pushing Of their
pickets at aud beyond East Point, have brought
The enciny's infantry down from the direction of
Atlanta, upon the doublc-quick, On more than
one occasions; but his line is 20 extended he
finds il necessary to withdraw again when the
immediate danger IL past, IN order 10 protect his
lines nearer the town. Tho Cavalry are LEFT to
guard their flank beyond their immediate works.
Being upon the inside of the circle IL takes less
men by about one.half tn match our outer and
more extended line of works. We made demon.
stration on Friday in which tho skTmishcrs, aided
by artillery, set 10 work ~ ascertain the truth of
reports that the Johnnys had left. We soon
found they were not dead, or gone upon
Journey, but only asleep. Gen. ilascall, with
two or three officers of his stall, advanced half
a mile across an open field in front Of the main
line. and ordering forward one of Capt. Shields
guns. watched the effect Of our shells upon the
cnemy's line. The movement was not noticed
by the rebels until the gun opened rapidly in
this new position, but scarcely minute elapsed
before Capt. Shields received a response IL his
sautes. The guns situated in our main works
had failed u wake them. Now tho rebel bat
teries in his front, TO the right, and to the left,
from five different points, opened q converging
fire upon him. Thcirshcls exploded all around
the gun, and in, over aud about the house and
grounds whore the General stood.
Capt Paddock's battery, from a position in
the main line, cooperatcd with his Parrot guns,
making some good Shots but II was observed
that much of his ammunition was defective. the
shells not exploding. A premature explosion OF
"A shell in the gun finally carried Oft several
inches of the muzzle and cracked the gun beyond
the possibility OF repair, and it was withdrawn.
Capt Shields fired away oil his ammunition,
and, greatly 10 the surprise Of every one, with
drew his gun safely, and had not man injured.
Later in the day q shot from the enemy struck
one Of his lnbcrs, and blew il up with q tre-
mendous report. 1t contained about seventy
pounds of powder, besides shells and case shot.
Only one man, fortunately, received any injury,
and that not serious, from the accident.
contraband. whom the captain had just be-
forvsent 10 The spring for water, heard the ex-
ploson and for . long time hesitated 10 return,
10! knowing what had happened. After nearly