Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-07-28

description Of Tie Ftght--Neloton' s and
Wards Divisions stand tie Blunt One.
Third Of or Army Repulses all Of hc
RcJels- Or loss l,9l3--ReGet Loss at
Leust 5000.
Correspondence of Cincinnati Commercial.
BATTLE FIELD, FouR MILES FROM Ar
shed you with full details of the move
ments of General Shcrmans army up to
the moment yesterday afternoon when the
dashing new rebel commander, General
Hood, massed nearly his whole army against
the right wing composed Of the 18th and
10th corps, aud Newton's division of the
4th corps This portion of our army, less
than one third of the whole, met the most
reckless, massive and headlong charge of
the war, without yielding an inch, save a
little on one of the hanks Of Geary's divis-
ion, where a gap in the line occurred, and
where the enemy pressed through but was
speedily checked. The attack was made by
nearly the whole of the rebel army, and
its complete repulse forms the most glori-
Gus chapter in Sherman's present cam
paign. The following are the details of the
fight:
AS your readers already know, our whole
army has effected the crossing of Peach
tree creek, small but difficult stream,
covering Atlanta on the North and partial
" on the East After the crossing, which
was actually completed on the morning of
the 2Oth, our left rested on the Augusta
railroad. South Of Decatur, and about five
miles from Atlanta. The 18th corps was
on the extreme right, near the mouth CT
Peachtree creek. On the left of the l4th
corps was the Goth corps. On the left Of
the latter was Newton's division Of the Goth
corps. y gap then occurred in our lines
| for three miles, which was covered on the
South bank of the creek by curtain of
pickets from Newton's division. On the
left OF the gap was concentrated the rest Of
our army, several divisions originally on
the right having been moved there early on
the morning of the Doth, with view to
strengthening that wing, in front of which
the enemy had made numerous teints as if
about to precipitate his whole army against
it.
The enemy thus being, during the NOR
ming Of the 2Oth, massed on our left, orders
were issued to Newton, Hooker and Palmer
on the right to advance and close the gap
of three miles. Newton, on the left, was
ordered to move first, protecting his left
flank by the creek. Successfully Hooker 5
and Palmer corps were close upon New
ton, and established new line as far as
possible in advance of the trenches, which
they had constructed half a mile South of
Peachtrcc creek Immediately after crossing.
: Accordingly, about | p. m., Newton de
ploycd five regiments as skirmishers, and
pushed forward handsomely, driving clouds
Of the encmys sharpshooters before them,
and scattering their skirmish reserves. BY
) p. nl., he had advanced three fourths OF a
= mile and carried Il prominent ridge in his
IL f.n,, ,l.,
+ mish lines forward, he proceeded to estab-
lish his division His troops unslung KNAPP
sacks, stacked arms and fell to erecting a
rail barricade with will. Hooker now ad-
vanced from his trenches. Butterfeld :
division, now commanded by Ward, on the
, left, Geary in the centre, and Williams on
the right. Palmer prepared to close up on
+ Hooker, whenever the latter should estab-
lish his new line. The country over which
this advance was progressing, is partially
rolling and open, intersected with difficult
= creeks, and partially covered with dense
underground. In the advance, prisoners
were captured at different points along the
= line, who unanimously stated that no con
siderable body of their troops was nearer
than mile and half They were, beyonc
doubt, sent out to be captured for this pur
5 pose. Not less than three fourths of the
muskct shot Of our skirmshers. At thu
same time, at twenty minutes of 4 p, IN.
y and with the CELEBRITY of lightning, the reb
cl host poured forth from their conceal
!, mcnt, masscd in enormous columns, agains
Newton, coming on without skirmisher
and with yells whose volume exceeded thos
d of any battle-shout | ever heard. Newton
t division had but half completed their bar
: ricadc and they had barely time to fall int,
l. line and seize their guns before the entir
rebel column composed of Walkers an,
IS Bates divisions of Hardce's corps was with
: in range. The pickets guarding the inter
+ val between the right aud left of our arm
y barely escaped capture by plunging int
y Peachtree creek and swimming across. Tn
;. enemy had struck us at the vital spot. jus
where "A victory for him might be decisive
RS Newton had more ground to guard than h
ct could cover even by Il single line For tn
At first few minutes everything hung trembin
1, in the scale-Newton' left flank was eS
ID posed and Just covered his bridges acroS
n Peachtree creek. Had it given away tn
re bridges would have been lost, and OF
I'd whole right might have been rolled up an
ut forced back to the Chattahooche river. Th
a rebel plan was to destroy our forces on tn
e, right, after which their main army woul
+, be strong enough to confront if not defci
ne the main body of our army on the let
I'd Long lines of darkies, with pack saddle
and other non-combatants came pourir
across the bridges, with sweat running G
of them in rivulcts. Guards, with fiXo
bayonets, were placed at the bridges to co
in lect whatever armed stragglers might al
ce pear, but none came. In spite of the fl
IS rious charge, none of our troops stampede,
ry The rebel column poured down an open bl
ro rough series of fields toward Newton let
ct evidently aiming at his bridges At Il
III moment the enemy first appeared we HI
but two pieces of artillery in position
4 guarding the vital point, but Captain Goo,
at speed, Newton's Chief of Artillery, vii
cd splendid quick ckness brought up ten mo
i. guns. Opening with canister, the gunnc
rl worked with frantic energy. Four gu
d went into action on Newton right. Up
the moment these guns opened, the rel
cll columns had swiftly advanced, engagil
'r' Newton three reduced brigades at terriL
h- odds. 1t was wonderful how fast the en-
II my lost his grip when lG guns added tn,
blast to the storm of bullets from Newtor
X, infantry. The dusky, gray columns slac
he encd their pace, and began to waver al
'd- lose their careful arrangement Colorbci
les or after color bearer went down under t
crash of our canister In vain the rel
Tvs field officers rode up and down the lin
IN waving swords and eXhorting the men n
res to talter. In twenty minutes the ASA,
-. had fnilnI and tho npnmv Uoyn yau IN