The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-05
FROM JoHNsToN's ARMY.
4 HEAVY BATTLE ON MONDAY the 27tl


The Atlanta papers furnish the following account
of the fights -s-- - 2,
On Monday morning, 9th June, the enemy
evnced disposition to fight what they doubtless
considered one of our weakest points on the line
They commenced a<furious bombardment over the
heights held by our troops on Little kennesaw,
and it is estimated that they expended three
thousand shot and shell in the fruitless operation
Our batteries answered with much spirit, and with
the advantage of pluBeing shot, they made effec-
tive havoc on the enemy's positions.
Early in the day Sherman advanced his heavy
lines of battle against the point held by Vaughn's
brigade and reached point within forty feet of
our line before our fire was delivered. For a mo-
ment the enemy was staggered, but he quickly
pushed on his heavy coumns-said to be seven
over his piles of dead and succeeded in planting
three stands of colors OF our works. These we're
captured by the brigade, which continued to pour
on the now thick and hudded mass of Yankees
destructive fire. The confusion into which their
heavy lines were THROWN impeded their move
ments very much. The captured officers and men
state that they were inspired with whiskey.
= The enemy evinced disposition to make gen.
era ATTACK. They continued heavy cannoDade
along the line in front of Hindmans and Gle
burnes divisions, the evident object of which was
to cover an advance for the purpose of securing
splendid positions the hills before US, especial
ly Bald Hill, for the purpose of Smelling lines
more efectually. The enemy advanced heavy
lines against Cheathams and Cleburne's position
and charged furiously up to within few feet of
our entertainments, but they were calamity and
deliberately repulsed.
The enemy advanced with the utmost conf
dence, and made very heavy assaults, but they
were quickly checked by the unfinching opposi-
ton of our soldiers They were hurled back with
great loss and becoming more and more feebly
sustained aud disheartened, 4hey finally retreated
In utter confusion and with immense loss. Our
casualties are comparatively small. This is &C
counted for by the fact that we quietly remained
in position, awaiting and checking the enemy's
assaults, but not making any charges in return, on
the fleeing masses which were dissipated by the
destructive fire poured on them by our troops
When the heavy movements of the day were
ended and night closed over the field, the main
lines of battle of the opposing armies were with
IN SIX hundred yards Of each other. During the
night hard fighting continued.
On Tuesday morning the battle was resumed,
but up to noon we could not learn any of the par
ticulars. Heavy cannonading was distinctly heard
tfrom the suburbs OF the city and large clouds of
smoke wreathed their folds above the points on
which the opposing batteries are believing horrid
discords.
few Of the Federals, who were captured on
Monday, were brought to Atlanta and lodged at
the hotel provided for them. They report that
Sherman ordered an advance on Monday and was
determined to take Kennesaw Mountain. His per-
sisent and stubborn efforts have thus far proved
futile, we doubt not they will still farther prove
useless. Strategy may require US to abandon our
present position. The fighting power of the ene-
my never succeed in effccting it,
captured Yankee colonel states that Sherman
had got the army ruined by bringing it forward in
the raid upon Marietta, and that the troops could
not all be depended>upou in great engagement.
The loss of the enemy Monday is estimated from
three to seven thousand Our loss will not exceed
two hundred aud fifty.
During the fight Monday afternoonthe woods in
which the action occurred took fire from the artil-
lery, and large numberaof the enemy's dead and
wounded were consumed in the flames. Our men
were unable to render them any assistance without
running the gauntlet Of their sharpshooers.
Their dead and wounded still upon the
ground where they fell, with the exception Of a
few who crawled off Monday night. The suffering
of the wounded beggars description, having lair
upon the ground for twenty four hours exposed to
the burning rays of the sum- without food or water
| Among the prisoners brought down Tuesday was
Col. Kerr, of an Illinois regiment, in Towards
corps. He reports that they~ advanced upon our
lines in heavy columns thirteen deep-and were
repulsed with terrible slaughter. He says Sher-
man will soon use his army up at his present way
of doing He says further, we learn, that his men
|
line of works.
MARIETTA June 29.-Unusual quiet along the
lines to-day, the enemy being permitted to bury
his fast purifying dead
! AS the details of Hardee's great victory is
brought to light, they prove that it was at first
derrated. The enemy admit loss of l 800 in
front of Ceburne's DIVISION, and loss in killed
along the front of Cheatham's division Of $50.
| Five hundred ambulances were counted yester-
| day from the summit of KenEesaw mountain trans
porting their wounded to Big Shanty from the
| front OF Gen. Hardee's works. Their loss along
the line of that corps is estimated at 900, and
about the same in front of Loring.
. The Yankee Generals Dan. McCook and Packer
certainly killed.
MARIETTA, June 30.-Heavy firing was pro-
voked this morning by an attempt of the enemy to
establish fortified line of pickets the south
east of Fair Ridge occupid by a part Of. Gen.
Cheatham's command. Moving out, they eucoun-
tered our videttes, who fell back and reported the
enemy advancing. Our batteries opened on them,
the artillery doing excellent shooting, every she'll
exploding, apparently, in the right place.
correspondent of the atlanta Inteligencer,
writing on the 27th,' says:
sShermau's position is now very precarious. He
must either fight or retreat. If he risks battle,
there is every probability that he will be defeated,
for, placing aside the superior fighting qualities of
our men, he has to take several entrenched picket
lines before he reaches main line of battle To
carry our picket lines he must bring up his lines