Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-08-05
The Battle Of Wednesday.

when the new rebel commander massed
his whole army in an impetuous onset
upon Gen. Sherman's right wing. Less
than one third of our army sustained the
whole charge without yielding an inch,
save little on the flank of Geary's d.
vision, where a gap in the line occurred,
and where the enemy poured through,
but was speedily checked. At twenty
minutes of A p. M, and with. the celebrity
of lightning, the rebel host issued forth
from their concealment, and massed in
enormous columns against Newton, COM
ing on without skirmishers, and with yells
whose volume exceeded any battle shout
ever heard. Newton's division had but
half completed their barbados, and they
had barely time to fall into line and seize
their guns before the entire rebel column,
composed of Walkers and Bates divis-
ions of Hardee's corps, was within range.
The line Of pickets guarding the inter-
val between lhe right and left of our ar
my barely escaped capture by plunging
into Peach-tree Creek and swimming
across. The enemy had struck us at
vital point, where victory for him might
be decisive. Newton had more ground
to guard than he could coyer by even
single line. For the first few minutes
everything seemed trembling in the scale.
Newton's left flank was greatly exposed,
and barely covered his bridge across
Peach>tree Creek. Had it given way,
there would have been great loss. Our
whole right might have been rolled up
and forced back 10 Chattahoochie river.
At the moment the enemy first appear
ed, we had but two guns in position
this vital point, but Capt. Good
speed, Newton's chief of artillery, with
splendid quickness, brought up ten more
guns, making twelve. They opened with
canister, the gunners working with fran
tic energy four guns went into action
on Newton's right. Up to the moment
these guns opened, the rebel columns fad
steadily advanced, engaging Newton's
three reduced brigades at terrible odds.
Ii was wonderful how fast the enemy lost
bis grip when sixteen guns added their
blast to the storm of bullets from the in
antry. His columns slackened pace and
began to waver and lose their careful ar
In vain the rebel cavalry
ode up and down their lines, waving
swords and exhorting men not to fater.
10 twenty minutes the assault had totally
failed, and the enemy gave way, retiring
in confusion to the woods.
Wards division on Newton's right was
struck at the same moment as Newton's.
He had just halted his men at the foot of
the hill for brief rest. After his Skin
mishers had made their way to the crest
Of wood, they came back TO him stating
that the enemy was charging over the
open field in his front in immense force.
Without a moments hesitation, Ward or
dered the division to meet the enemy
with a counter charge. His men moved
up the hill in splendid order, and when !
they gained the crest SO close upon them
were the rebels, that several Of the hos
tile regiments were intermingled. AT
such points the rebels seemed added by
Gen. Wards bold course, and were cap
,ured without difficulty. On another por-
ton of the line, fighting at close quarters
for half an hour, but each sue
ceSsive line Of the rebels was pressed
back by the valor of Wards men. At
end of that time, the rebels fell back into
a dense forest in the rear, completely
whipped. So far as Gen. Wards divis-
ion was concerned, its trophies are sever
al battle flags and three hundred prison
Frs, Including many of the enemy woun-
led and left on the field. Among the
prisoners are representatives of sixteen
regiments, and he no doubt fought double
hat number. Ward sent all his availa-
Ole artillery to protect Newton's flank,
and bis splendid victory was achieved
with muskets alone.
The charge swept along to the right,
striking Geary's division. After Geary
had advanced halfa nile from the trench
IS he occupied in the morning, and bad
ust marched his troops to the top of the
'idge, when the rebel columns were
brown on him with terrible Violence
The 33d New Jersey, which was thrown
'ut TO fortify hill in advance of the
ines, lost over half in the first few min
ties after the charge. Most Of Geary's
inc ran through a dense wood, and his
light flank was exposed by an interval of
wo or three hundred yards, which Gen.
division was endeavoring to
lose when the enemy came ON. Col. ,