The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-05-21
From Gen. JOhnstOn's AfmY-The
Fighting Commenced.

A nffesn0ndeni of the Augusta CofJ,tatiofditst,
writing from Dalton. g!vea that paper some paI,tc
ulara of the fighting which has already taken place
between Johasron and Sherman. His first lettes,
dated the 3ih Inst, says
go soon aa our cavalry was Withdrawn from our
immedia:. tran, On yesterday Gen Hood ordered
Major Gems stewart aud Bates 10 march through
B,lzzard Gap and occupy ali of the spurs that ju,
out IRON the main ridge on the north SIDE OF the
Gap Eldhdge's battalion Of artillery {comp0sed
of Cap, Staniori's Mississippi Capt DIVERS Eu-
faula, Ala, and capt Fenner's Louisiana batteries,
was cGnspcuousy posted upon the summit Di these
spurs. The intenlion "t this was no don,t 4 ere
irfn,: the enemy however thought very difiefe NJ
/ H. Tor they went 10 woik last nisht and worked
! like beavers. This morning long line of breast
| works u presented 10 orr view, commencing from
. a high knoll immediately In front oil BuZzard Gap
! a,- suetching away north until they reaeh thr
.T,i Las. night we quietly Withdrew, aud re
smmet on, "a, ,.ilon IN The south end OF the Gap
s"I.h '.h, oI1 pn .ea,mencrd this motniug Ut
NJ ard dragged during ~. day nniii r 81. A.
that hour theif skiInishets wei, ..s s,,,.. w.
supported by heavy line Q: Infantry ~
Ftoin that hour up to PM ssitmtshiug has "sea
veIy heivy. and bids lair tG coatnue Far into tue
night
Upon OUT extreme left, at gap near mile be-
low Dalton, hard fight has been Progressing for
an hour. MCNaifs and Eetut's tritades, Ia con
n-ction with our cavalry are making the fight upon
our part. Upon our right wing ani c-htfe the
my have made no demonstration.
Dalton, Ga, May 9.--The ost prominent poin,
along our line of defence Is Buzzard Gap. Dug
Gap, two miles south from Buzzard, aud crows
Valley, are also points OF Interest The enemy
VIII fight hard To gain possession OF these Two
places Buzzafd Gap, ut this time, is receiving
their particular attention. Ii IL evident that the
enemy intends TO give our ght wing the 20 by.
Gen Wheeler, upon our right wing, charged the
enemy cavalry and captured one Colonel ant
over one hundred meh. In the hsh. yesterday
evening at tug Gap, one mile below Dalton, the
enemy were rePuised SIX times, with considerable
loss. Your readers must pardon the uaconnec ted
manner In which my letter Is written. Our duties
during the day are OnerOus, and at night We feel
more Ike sleeping than writing. Firing upon both
sides ceased tonight at 2 NJ.
DALTON, Ga, May 9.-Yesterday there was con.
siderable firing along the lines. In the afternoon
brisk fight took place on the left of our line. II
occurred at Dug Gap, which IL distant from Dalton
about six miles, The position IL an exceedingly
strong one, and of vital importance.
The enemy, appreciating the results which Its
capture might bring about, advanced 4 division
with fixed resolve 10 secure so valuable point.
They advanced 10 the attack with sIeaLiaess,
and our force, consisting OF brigade OF Artsn-
sians, met aud repulsed them handsomely. They
reformed and again essayed the task, but were
sent bowling back. A third and fourth time they
charged our position, and were each time driven
back with much slaughter. II ts said that our men
pursued, driving the enemy two miles before them.
Our loss In the engagement, In killed and wound
ed, sums up thirty five, that Of the enemy some
thing over TWO hundred. Many OF the Yankee
dead were fOund within twenty and thirty yaFds Of
our works.
The enemy ia busy this morning massins his
troops our left. Scouts report very few, II any,
OF the enemy on our right. They are endeavOTing
to force Johnston TO change the trent. Don't think
Thomas will succeed. ! have much that could
mention In this connection that would interest
your readers, bat prudence fOTbids.
Three Yankee prisoners have just been brought
tn. Two OF them, members OF the Cd indiana
cavalry, were captured by scouts In the neigh
bosiso0d Of Spring Place. They say that Thomas
has i've corps de armee under him. The third one
Ia Georgian by birth and native OF this county.
He Joined the Fedarai army al the commencement
of the war, and a. the time Of capture ives deset
ter. They were mum. I could CLEAN nothing Of
Interest from them. Artillery firing continues In
the centre and left.
About o'clck this evening the enemy attacked
Reynoids's left and Pestuss right, endcavortns 70
carry the ridge, but were repulscd with heavy loss.
They also attacked Brown aud were Fepulsed -
these three bfigades belong % s!svensoa's divi
by stewart's division, In very strong nscs, and
made deterSiued effort 10 carry II BY storm, but
after long aud desperate atsugele, were whipped
back with great loss. MaRey's brigade also
whipped back the enemy with severe loss
Simultaneous with the attack ON Stevenson and
Stewart the enemy made m attack on Hiadman's
left and were whipped. TAe day closed With our
army hnIding every position, and have no doubt
vi our ~bility to repel every attack.
Gen Johnsl0n vas on The field day, aud ny hts
pResrace greatly eheetrd the ttO0pa
The army 10 chihusiaslie and conhdeAl Of vic
tory. The great hattie NiIi no doubt be fought 10
morrow
The 9Th TEXAS cavalry made charge on the
Yanhse cavalry ON the clsv riaad road " day, cap
airy, coMmsndiAs lhSaae, asa siShiy -fsuf oikeers
% 0skjoss ss-A.y ass very asssy, da,AeseA ssvssal
o0ctts were wouad<d.