Maysville weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1864-1866, 1864-06-09
- From tie Cincinnati Enquiror-
TIE BATTLE OF DALLAS, GA.
BATTLE FIELD, May 20, 1864.

10 Wnicn the cootending hosts are m assed
around certain centre, than to give faith
ful narrative of the desperate skirmishes
aud conflicts of vast army of over one
hundred thousand men, whose lines often
times extend over a distance of twenty
miles. Add to this the fact that the coun-
try through which we have campaigned is
one vast wilderness Of trees, succession of
abrupt hills aud deep raviues. As have
sent you dispatches bringing our campo gn
up to the 10th of May, will resume my
narrative from that date.
Having captured Kingston, Rome and
Cassville. as / have described, the rebels
fell back behind the Etoweh, destroying
the railway bridge in their rear. Our troops
were halted and got two days rest in camp
in order to refresh aud recruit.
This respite was much needed. for TWEEN
ty days hard marching and fighting had
exhausted the troops and worn out their
shoes and clothes. About noon on the
twenty third we broke camp aud resumed
our line Of march.
I The Twenty third Corps occupied the ex
treme left, with instructions to make feiut
attack on the enemy should they develop
themselves, and thus screen our real inten-
ton of outhanking III en-. Mcpherson dri-
wing round upon our extreme right. Palm
er came next with part of the 18th Corps,
while Howard and Hooker extending be-
tween him and the Twenty third.
On the oath Wheeler's cavalry. probably
brigade, attacked General Schofie IDS
wagon train. which was going back to
Kings.ons with surgeons baggage, and sue
ceeded, without resistance, in burning and
capturing about hundred wagons and their
contents. Some of our cavalry came up
soon afterward like policemen after a rob
berry. They swore like troopers. and had
they been there in time they would, most
likely, have hurt some of the rebels. AS it
was, they recovered some of the mules.
As an arp of service, l have little faith
in our cavalry force, particularly out here.
If they were distributed among Corps aud
Division Commanders as Orderles and
mounted videttes, they would be much
more effective.
General Stoneman is reported to have
destroyed the rebel iron works and founde
ries to the left and rear'of Altoona.
| By a detour, marching for nearly two
days through woods, along the extreme
right spur Of the Altoona range of hills, tn ro'
which we had oftentimes to strike out a
new road we reached the Punkin Vine
Creek on the evening of the 25th. Here
we heard heavy cauonading in our front.
and regular file firing of nusketry. 1t
was Hooker engaged with the enemy.
As we crossed the bridge, wounded men
were fast coming to the rear, some limping
along, othars supported by comrades, others
upon stretchers with the pallOr of death
upon their pain distorted features. As we
advanced toward the front the wounded be-
come more numerous. 1t was getting dark
and a heavy rain was falling, columns of
troops were hurrying OF, Generals and off
GERS were riding in hot haste. clearing the
ambulance out Of their way. In the dark
ness tho stretches were often jostied which
brought forth groans of pain from the suf-
fering occupants.
i remarked an officer who was carried on
horseback. He was shot through the alb
domen With his hand pressed over his
laeerated bowels be exclaimed with every
jolt. "Oh God, Oh God" Poor fellow. he
had "fought his last fight" In the dark
ness our horses stumbled over the dead
bodies which were covered with blankets.
1t was Towards corps which was so rapidly
pushing to the front.
HooKERs ASSAULT.
Hooker was all this time fercely engaged
in the front and rather hard pressed by the
enemy.
Geary's division. which had the advance,
pushed too near their works. and was appa
rently decoyed Oh by feint.
The enemy's batteries opened with foar-
full effect, hurling grape and canister in
showers among the forming liEes. The
troops staggered beneath it.
Butterfeld's division, now swung round |
to the left of the first, and advanced close |
on the enemy's works. while Williams di-
vision pressed forward on the other side.-
The enemy now revealed several concealed |
batteries which swept our lines with de
structive effect. A section of two guns in
our front annoyed US most, so they were
ordered to be taken by assault. The at
tack was met with a regular sheet of grape,
canister and rife balls. The enemy were
driven from the guns, but we were not in a
position to take advantage of our partial
Iuccess. Masked batteries opened on all
ides, throwing our lines into cousid erable
confusion.
Night was now falling with deep dark
less and heavy torrents of rain. 10 this
desperate, but imprudent charge, we lost
bout 200 killed, aud $50 wounded. The
bird brigade lost severely, having one Col
mel, four Captains and two L:eutenants {
Wounded. The Fifth aud Seventy third
ohio suffered most. In return Tor those q
,rave men, who heroically threw them S
elves irto the breach, | fear we did not get |
% adequate return, unless long list of S
asualtes can be considered such. '
Heavy lines of skiImishers might have q
eveloped the enemy's position, and re- v
eaIed their batteries, as well as hurling 7
eavv columns of troops under destruc- l.
i've fire. Human life is precious, and the d
General who effects the lost good with the
sast sacrifice. does most. v
Our brave troops will 60 any place, yet, n
hey ought not to be hurled every place. B
The Fourth Corps had gradually come b
D to the relief of Hooker. yet, the dark "
sss of the night prevented them from ia o.
ing up their line of battle until next mora 81
g, whea they relieved the 10Th.
part of Jood's and Hardee's Corps, with @,