Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-10-19
From, the Hath Battery.
CAMP I4TH ONO BATTERY, VET.
Vols. EAST PoINT. GA.
Sart 90 1854

Sept. %, 1864.
Chronicle Friends:-Now that Atlanta
has been wrested from rebellious hands,
the old flag quietly but proudly floating
over the city, and the army settled down
into camp life for short season of rest,
am permitted to remember you by way
of letter. l am not prepared to enter
into the full details connected with the
occupatic of the city by our forces. leav-
ing that to more talented and accomplish
edwriters-a host of whom follow the
army for the purpose of giving to the
public a history of our marches, battles,
&c. | propose merely to follow the Bat
te~y and note its part taken during the
last days of the memorable siege and
consequent flank movement of the army
of the Tennessee, which resulted so glo
riousIy to our Unions cause, on the I'd
inst. NY letter is of rather a late date,
but soldier writes when circumstances
permit.
In my last letter, dated in front of At
lanta, Aug. Sth, it left US behind our in
trenchments. the prospect none the fair
est for an early capture of the city, yet
preparations pointed to move of i'm
portance soon. The lines in our front
were advanced twice before the final po-
sition was gained to the South invest of
Atlanta, the Battery being constantly on
the line. We were engaged almost daily
in shelling the city and the earthworks
Of the enemy in our front, which consist
ed of two large forts and three lines of
rife pits. Casemated works were erected
| for our Batteries, where the lines were
advanced nearest those of the enemy,
from which our artillery worked with
marked effect on that of the rebels, our
fire being so accurate that the enemy inVa-
ria blv ceased MS fire after a few shots---
At this point We lost several men wound
ed. both from the rebel sharpshooters and
their she'll Private VIM. z. Forbes re-
ceived a painful wound in his left foot,
from a stray musket ball, on the 18th
He suffered the amputatien of two toes
and is now in Hospital.
On the I4th. while returning the fire
from fort in our front, Sergt. Reeves
gun SQUAD met with the loss of three
wounded. A shell from one of the en-
emy's gun squad penstrated the casemate
work, shattering the wheel of the sergt's.
piece, exploding the shell. the fragments
of which few in every direction, severe
| ly wounding private Solomon Ostrander,
prostrating Corporal Samuel B. Gilchriest
and private Wm. @. Sharp, bruising the
latters face and head quite seriously
The Corp'L being of genuine grit, and a
good gunner, his piece loaded and sight
ed. he fred it at his rival IN in much
less time than it takes me to write about
it. His shot was an excellent one, enter
ing the port of Mr. Rebel, causing con-
siderable confusion among the occupants
of the rebel fort From this time until
the 25th, there was daily practice be-
tween the opposing artillery. and / as
sure you the rebels are not the poorest
shots in the world with this kind of
weapons. At times they would greet US
with shots from dozen guns, their shell
falling on every side, scattering the frag-
ments in sad confusion. They used three
81 pound rife guns on our position, but
without serious result, aside from the de-
noralizing effect that one of these hugs
shells hsdwiren flying through the tim-
Der and air. A tree of three feet in di-
ameter was of little consequences to these
shells
Lying in these damp trenches constant
ly for better than three weeks did not
serve to improve the health of our troops,
and quite number of the Battery were
sent to the hospital from disease contract
ed in them Few were sorry when the
order came on the evening of the 25th,
to pull away from the works quietly.
That night we marched better than a
mile to the right and rear, where new
line of works were thrown up, to use in
case the rebels discovered our withdraw
al and wished to follow and attack us
1t was at this time that the 4th corps
Withdrew from our left, in front of At
lanta, and passed TO our right This was
the first of the successful flank movement
for the Macon R. R. The Goth corps,
which had occupied position to our left
Al . h.
ing of the 25th, marching to the Railroad
crossing of the Chattahooche, where they
will guard the bridge and our supplies
during the movement which must be
successful in forcing the enemy from the
city, resulting in general. engagement
or our possession of their only remaining
| line of communication.
The hospitals and sick, with all sur
plus baggage and wagons are sent to the
rear across the river, near the Railroad
bridge. Fifteen days rstions were placed
in the supply train and moved to Sand
town, while three days were issued to the
men. and the ammunition train is re-
plenished. Our lines were nearly fifteen
miles long, to the north and west of the
city, which were mostly Withdrawn in a
single night, within hearing distance OF
the watchful ebels, and many were fear
ful that Hood would attempt another of
his assaults. Had he done SO, think
1.-THE result would have been similar to
that of July Goth, 22d and %, as meas
ures were adopted to meet any emergen-
CIV. The Rebel Gen1. seems to have been
completely deceived by Gen. Sherman's
disuositions, as he felt of the Goth corps
at the river, but found too bold front
and too strong works to hazard attack.
Our lines this morning, Aug. 10th, are
Ico6Aected again, but tonight We will
march. We have waited and watch ed