The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-27
GENERAL sHERMANs ARMY
The Battle BeIOre Atlanta Description
Of the Ftght-One-Tbird Of our Army
Repulses all OF the Rebels-Our Loss
19I3-Rebcl Loss nc Least 5000.


Teiegr0p r Correspondence OF Cmri,Hag CoHasyriaI.
BATur-FtELD POUR MILES PRoN ATLANTA.
uly a. ls64.-Your correspondent " Montrose"
has furni. he'd you with full details Of the move
ments Of General Sherman's army up to the mo-
ment yesterday afternoon when the dashing new
Rebel commander General Hood, massed nearly
the whole Of his army against the right wing,
compo'ed Of the oath and 2Oth Corps, aud New
tons Division Of the 9Th Corps.
This portion of our army, less than one-third
OF the whole, met the muStreCkless, massive, and
heRdlong charge Of the war, without yielding an
inch, save little on one Of the TANKS of Gcary's
Division, where gap in the line occurred, aud
where the enemy pressed through, but was
speedily checked. The attack was made by
nearly the whole Of the Rebel army, and is com
plete repulse forms the most glorious chapter in
Shermans present campaign. The following
are the details OF the fight -
As your readers already know, our whole army
had effected the crossing OF Peach Tree crock n
small but difficult stream covering Atlanta on
the north and partially on the east. Atter the
crossing which was actually completed by the
morning of the goth, our left, under Mcpherson
rest on the Augusta Railroad south OF Decatur.
and about five miles from Atlanta. The 18th
Corps was on the extreme right, near the mouth
of Peach Tree creek. On the left of the l4tb
Corps was the 2Oth Corps Ont left of the lat
ter Ncwtons Division OF the ith Corps.
n kdp lutu ONtUIItu III our lines tOF three
miles, which was covered on the south bank of
The creek by curtain of pickets from Newton's
Diyisi, n. On the left Of the gap was coucen-
rated the rest Of our army, several divisions or-
gnally on the right having been moved there
carly on the morning of the 20th, with view 70
strengthening that wing, instead OF which the
enemy made numerous ieints, as ii about 10 pre-
cipilate his whole army against il.
The enemy thus being during the morning of
the goth, massed on our lett, orders were issued
TO Newton HppkpF and pa1par m fba 81,
advance and close the gap of three miles, New
ton, on the left, was ordered 70 move first pro-
tecting his left flank by the creek. Snccessiyely
HOokcrs and Palmer's Corps were to close upon
Newton, and establish new line as far as POSI-
bic in advance Of the trenches, which they had
constructed half mile south ofPeach Tree creek
immediately after crossing. Accordingly, about
l Z. NJ, Newton deployed five regiments as skir-
mishtrs, and pushed forward handsomely, driy-
ing clouds of the enemy's sharpshooters before
tbtm and scattering their skirmsh reserves, By
L. Nj. he he had advanced three iourths ofa
mile and carried prominent ridge IN his front,
on which, after sending fresh skirmish lines for
warC, he proceeded to establish his division
His troops unslung knapslcks stacked arms
and fell TO erecting rail barricade with will
Hooker now advanced from his trenches. But
terheld's Division, now commanded by General
Ward, on the left, Geary in centre, and General
Williams on the right Palmer prepared to close
up on Hooker, whenever the latter should cstab-
lish his new line. The country over which this
advance was progressing Is partly rolling aud
open, intersCCtCd with difficult creeks and p,r-
italy covered with dense underground In the
advance, prisoners were captured at different
points along the line, who unanimously stated
that no considerable body of their troops was
nearer than a mile and half They were be.
yond doubt, sent out TO be captured for this pur-
pose. Not less than three-four his of the entire
Rebel army were concealed within musket.shot
Of our Skirmishers.
At the same time, at $40 p. NJ, and with the
ce6rty of lightning, the Rebel host poured forth
from their concealment massed in enormous
columns, against Newton, coming on with skir-
misbCrs, and with yells whose volume exceeded
those Of any battle shout 1 ever heard. New
tons Division had but half completed their barri-
cade, and they barely had time to fall into line
and seize their guns before the entire Rebel
column, composed Of Walkers and Dales Dlyi-
siOns OF Hardee's Corps, were within range The
picketS guarding the interval between the right
and left of our army barely escaped capture by
plunglng into Peach Tree creek and swimming
acTOs. The enemy had struck us at the vital
spot Just where victory for him might be de-
csiVe. Newton had more ground to guard than
he could cover by even Il single line.
For the first few minutes everything hung
trembling in the scale. NeWton's left flank was
exposed and just covered his bridges across
Peach Tree creek. Had il given away, the
bridges would have been lost, and our whole
right might have bern rolled up and forced back
TO the ChattahOOChee river. The Rebel plan was
10 destroy our forces on the right, after which
their army would be strong enough TO confront
If not defeat the main body OF our army on the
left. Long lines of darkies, with pack saddles,
and other non.combatants, came pouring across
the bridges with sweat running of of them in
riyulets. Guards with fixed bayonets were
placed at the bridges to collect whatever armed
stTagglers might appear, but none came. In
spite Of the furious charge none of our troops
were stampeded. The Rebel column poured
down on an open but rough series of fields to-
words NeWIon's left, evidently aiming at his
bridges.
At the time the enemy first appeared we had
but two pieces of artillery in position, guarding
the vital point; but Captain CioOdspeed, New.
tons chief OF artillery, with splendid quickness,
brought up ten more guns, making in all twelve.
They opened with canister, the gunncrs working
viii frantic energy. Four guns went into action
on Newtons right. Up 10 the moment the guns
open' d, the Rebel columns had swiftly advanced
engaging NewtOns three reduced brigades at
terrible odds. 1t was wonderful how fast the
enemy lost his grip when sixteen guns added
their blast 70 the storm of bullets from Newton's
infantry. The dusky, grey columns slackened
their pace, and began 10 waYer and lose their
careful arrangement. In q few minutes theyIhad
come TO a stand-s,ill, in partial confusion, and
hriDg heavily but wildly.
Coor-bearer after color-bearer went down
under the crash of our canister. In vain the
Rebel field officers rode up and down the lines
waving swords and eXhOrting the men not 10
falter. In twenty minutes the assault had totally
failed, and the enemy gave way, retiring In cou-
fusion TO the woods from which they had
For the rest of the afternoon they
kept up desultory fire, which was returned by
our artillery, but they did not venture t0 renew
the attack The Rebel General Stevens, clm-
manding q brigade in Walkers Division, was
killed. Nearly two hundred Rebel dead were
buried in Newton's front next morning His
br adc did not yield an inch. General Wards
on NewtOns right, was struck at the
same moment as Newton.
General Ward had just halted his men a. the
foot OF hill for brief rest after his skirmishers
had made way 10 the crest Word came back 10 him
that the enemy was charging over the open field
in his font in immense force. Without a mo-
mcnts hesitation, Ward ordered his division TO
mt ct the enemy with a counter-c -charge his men
moved up the hill in splendid order and when
they gained the crest they were so close 10 the
Rebels that several of the hostile regiments be-
came intermDged. At such points the Rebels
seemed added by Wards bold COUP and were
without difficulty. On other portions of
the line, fighting at close quarters continued for
half an hour, but each successive line of Rebels
was pressed back by the indubitable YalOr of
Wards men, At the end Of that time the Rebels
fell back into dense forest in their rear, COM
pletely whipped 30 far as General Wards Division
was concerned.
General Wards trophies are seven Rebel bat
le-hags and three hundred prisoners, including
many of the eneulys wounded left on the field.
Among his prisoners are representatives OF six
teen regiments, and he no doubt fought dOubl
that number. Ward sent all of his ayailabl
artillery 10 protect Newtons flank, and his splen
did triumph was achieved with muskets alone.
The charge swept along 10 the right striking /