The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12
FROM SHERMAN'S ARMY.
Particulars of the Battle of the
28th ult.
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune.
NEAR ATLANTA, july %

NEAR ATLANTA, July ~. 1864.
Immediately after daylight of the 2Sth the
army commenced advancing. The 18th corps
on the extreme right, 18th in the centre, and
10th on the left. jeff. c. Davis division OF
the 14th corps moved on road still further To
the right. to cover the flank and to cOnnec:
with the 18th corps. The front of the army
was in its general direction parallel to the rail-
road from Atlanta to East Point. The country
is rough broken into hills and ravines of everv
conceivable shape and generally heavily wood
ed and very Difficult; to maneuvre in. So far
we have been unable to find that vast plain in
which. according to newspaper tOpOgraphers,
Atlanta is situated. The advance through such
q country was necessarily very slow. Davis
division had by some mistake gone too far to
the right, and Logan, b ,lieving the enemy
would make an attack on his flank, moved
with his right reformed. After marching
about o mile the rebel skirmishers were found
and at once engaged. In the immediate front
of the 18th corps there was ridge of wooded
land. and at its foot an open field in which the
first skirmishing took place. Maj Houghtell-
ing, of Gen. Logans staff, experimenting an
immediate engagement, and seeing the impor-
lance of the position, urged the line forward,
and, after sharp skirmish, it was secured.
Gen. Logan ordered the troops at once to com
mence the construction of protec ions from
rails and fallen timber, and such materials as
could be readily had. t.. .
To understand properly the severe battle of
Ezra Church, the position of the troops is of
primary importance. The 10th and 18th corps
were substantially in line fronting southeast
the 18th corps connecting with the right of
the 18th. formed the flank line, and was at near
ly righG angle with the line of the Army of
the Tennessee.
The 18th corps was disposed as follows !:
the I'd division, Gen. Morgan L. Smith, on the
right; the 18th division, Gen. Harrow, in the
centre; and the LIST division, Gen. Charles R.
Wood, on the left. Gen Woods division con-
nected with the right Of the 18th corps Gen.
Giles A. Smiths division, and formed the sal
ientaone brigade of his division and Harrows.
and Smiths being refused, and forming the
flank. The face of the country through which
the fanking line was formed was rough and
wild-cut up into steep hills and ravines and
irregular in the line which the front of the
thick woods formed on the open field. In the
front of Smiths's division was an open field
rising from the edge Of the timber, in which he
formed, up to crest still higher than his posi-
tion at one point, and at its most favorable
point no higher than his ground. In the
front of Harrow there was an open field, par
TALLY covered with young. growth of pines.
The line as it was formed skirted the open
fields generally but at several points ran
through the wood leaving patches of timber in
its front. Gen. Woods line, which had no ad-
vantages in the shape of the land, was in the
thick wood
While the 18th corps was busily engaged in
thro wing up temporary Notifications, Hind
mans division of Hoods old corps assailed the
I'd and 4th divisions with the utmost fierceness
The pickcts were driven in on the run. and in
an instant almost, the RI bells, with yell. rush.
ed upon them. There were points in the line
where regiments wavered, soldiers started
under the first impulse back-but the two divis-
<I>
rifle fire and drove them back. This attack
was made about half past eleven. and under a
terrible sun. the battle ragged for five hours.
To GO back and describe the rebel move.
ments: Tne evacuation of the left Of our line
the battlefield the 22d, obviously disclosed
to Hooi Gen. Scermans strategy, at least so
far as movements were concerned After cau
tionsly feeling about our the aband )ued work q
OF the former left-he discovered that q p,rtin;,
OF the army Was moving to the right-the rail.
road junction at East Point was to them yul.
nerahle point In fact if the Macon road should
either be destroyed Or occupied by our troops.
there was great danger not only to his Dosition
but his army. During the morning he COM
lnenc, moving his old CORDS now Command
ed 10y Gen stephen d. LIE. through tie sou H.
ecn SUBURBS o! Atlanta towards oar right HIS
purpose was to turn and strike Our nix before
II coud DC moved into position, AID ,:nireGch-
cd. A portion OF Hardee's corps was u-ed ton
the same purpose, having been withdrawn from
tie III IN luie Ut defeilses
HiiiUnlann DIVISION Wa3 repUlseC rs gave
eis'9c-tn' nc who fell back under tho piecipl-
"a & and fierce assault had teen brolEat o2t e.
lNen came another md heavier assault tLai
tie first The rebels moved INTO tn: open atd
III :''iuualls Of regiment, depioy.d II splendid
orc. r, and charg, d th0tiues o: she "a a,,d ~
divi.iOnsa second tinle. There was in our line
no artillery. II had been 30 recently formed
and 80 soon attacked, that the batteries cuutd