Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-10
AFFAIRS BEFORE PETERSBURG,
From the Capital of Arkansas
From the Twenty-seeoua Regiment.


Is Part IN tie Battle Before Aaa,.ta-Eo,o it
Uon Honor at tie Front-Ireises Of Officers
High 5y1 CoHtnaand-4HeatioB Of Ote1 IYls
co5,sii Regiments
HEADQ'Rs ID BRIG. Sd DIV, 20 A G.
THREE MILES FROM ATLANTA, July p.
EDIToRs STATE JoVRNAL: Yesterday there
was general advance of the whole army.
/ The Sd Division. 10th Corps, crossed Peach
Tree Creek-a deep narrow and muddy
branch running nearly east and west-at 9
o'clock, Gems. Gearys and Williams divisions
having crossed the day before The Sd
Brigade formed on the left and joined the
4th Corps, the 10th Wisconsin being next to
and on our left.
The 22d Wisconsin was ordered on Skin
mish and advanced across an open field which
was divided by deep ravine forming two
parts or hills with the ground sloping toward
the ravine gradually. The rebels gave signs
+ of uneasiness and soon advanced to the edge
/ Of the wood that bordered the field, and half
mile distant. Our line of battle was yet
/ behind the high ground where it had first
/ formed, v b IN the word came that the rebels
/ were advancing. The 22d Wisconsin held its
/ line, skirmishing with the advancing foe
A critical moment had arrived. Our flank
was Ia danger, and could the rebels have
/ broken our line here, our whole force would
/ have suffered awfully, an impossible creek
was behind US and woods to shelter our
retreat. The 22d was now pressed so hard
that they could hold out but a short time
The left of their line was already flanked.
The order came to advance. Quickly and ST.
1 lentiy the division moved forward onward
and upward until the crest of the first hill
was reached by the ID Brigade in the ad-
vance OF the lst and Sd. The 22d fell back
and formed in the line. The rebs came on
e5t DlaSse Our batteries on the right and left
opened and followed by the roar of musketry
told the beholder that heavy work was being
done.
The engagement was for a time doubtful.
Geary was pressed back. The Ist Division
of the 18th Corps was driven behind its third
line. In our trOh, 1t raging. Now our
men fell back to the rayine, having advanced
! once beyond, driving the rebels, who were
reinforced by another line, and came up on
double quick Once in the ravine, our cen
ter WAS protected from their fury, while the
battery on our right and also the one on our
lett moved them down. On they came down
the slope, when our men received them as
soldiers do Like grain before the reaper
they fell, filling the road and covering the
hillside They wavCr, then rally and fire.
Our Inc then advances and drives them back
nearly half a mile and holds them there
Ammunition Was brought up, as our second
line had now but ftteegt rounds to the man.
The guns were So hot lint / satg 0toau uiH
their hDo&> bistsred by handling them Had
the rebels reinforced come upon Us, tl.ev
could have driven u back. But so severely
had we punished them that they gave it up.
Our line advanced and captured their
wounded.
Three hundred of their killed lay upon our
ground and from 80 to 100 wounded, all Sc
nj laid FL
some shade trees TO wait their turn for trans
pOrtatiou TO our filled hospitals Cur men
wese cared for first. The ID Brigade cap
tured 200 prisoners, and / am told that a
great many were captured by the other brig
aides of this and other divisions.
just ut dusk, when the fighting was still
heavy, Gen. Sherman sent word that Scho-
field and McPhersOn's armies had got TO with
III two miles Of Atlanta in the rebel rear
When tbs news announced, a shout arose
that was distinctly heard above the din of
battle
At O'Clock the firing ceased AMI the
wounded heroes were cared for.
Gen. Hooker compliments Gen. Ward for
the conduct of his division, and Col. Coburn
Is comphmented for the conduct of his brig
AIDE. Gen. Hooker, after learning what the
22d Wisconsin had done, praised its conduct
and said that no regiment ever did better,
and that Col. BloodgoOd was deserving of
great credit for his persisteney in holding his
line so long. And he deserved it in behalf
Of the brave regiment he commands.
Our regiment is quite small now, only about
25u men Ton duty.
The rebels lost several field officers, and
the report is current that Gen, Hood was
killed. Our men have been busy all dav
burying the rebel dead. Their loss is esti-
mated at p, 200 killed and wounded in the
engagement.
Our I'd brigade lost pol men killed and
wounded.
The Goth Wisconsin lost severely and fought
well.
The Sd Wisconsin was not engaged.
The 5lst Wisconsin arrived here this morn
ing in good health, and Is assigned to the Sd
brigade, lst division.
There is some skirmishing on the lines to-
day, but no heavy firing. The l4th corps on |
our right was not engaged much yesterday,
but there IS an indication OF a fight there as
! write
Our wounded are all well cared tor.
Our lines are strengthened and we propose
to whip out Mr.. Johnnes.
Yours in haste, FAIRPLAY.