Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-03

CITY OF AtidIIa ms Is OF course measured
from the railroad bridge The river runs
generally southwest. Our army was advanc-
ing along the line Of the Atlanta i Western
Railroad, in a southeast direction. A little
north Of east from the city, fifteen miles in a
straight line. i Stone Mountain, near the
base Of which rises a stream called Peach
Tree Creek deep and difficult to cross. The
general direction Of this creek is west it
entering the Chattahoochee Just above the
railroad bridge. The creek fosms nearly
right angle with the river anc within that
angle lies atlanta The city then was de-
Tended by the Chattahoochee on the west and
the Peach Tree Greek on the north. This
peculiar conformation Of the streams was ia
ken advantage Of by the rebel leaders; and
when they fell back across the Chattahoochee
they arranged their lines along the two sides
OF this angle. The apex of the angle Is at
the railroad bridge. From that point the re
bel line ran southwest along the Atlanta side OF
the liver, and directly east and west along
the Peach Tree Greek.
The problem now presented TO our COM
manders was this: Ought they to force a
passage across the river, in the face of the
enemy, at some point or points south of the
railroad bridge and advance upon Atlanta
from the west and south-upon when sides
he ,'5rsr be'Rg crossed, it was comparatively
detenseless; or should they throw their
where they were likely to meet with little or
no opposition, and thence march upon the
rebel deiences south of Peach Tree Greek
Taking the first course was to perform what
is always considered one Of the most difficult
achievements in warfare, namely, 10 cross Z
great riger an The face IF q foe. The second
course involved another exceedingly danger
Gus undertaking-tt fighting Of a great battle
testI a 5frei. Just ia the rear 1t was finally
,r5-f h.
natiye-a conclusion which reflects great
honor upon our generalship, and was fully
justified by two considerations: First, our
superiority in numbers over the enemy made
the danger Of fighting, with the river in our
rear, much less than ordinary, under similar
circumstances and second, a glance at the
map VIII show thar by crossing the Chatta-
hoOchee south Of the railroad bridge. we ex-
posed our line of communications whereas,
by crossing north Of it we kept this line com
pIetely covered.
The last of the army, except such portions
as were destined 20 hold our line of cOmmu-
gleati0ns, went over early the morning OF
rAe 18th Of July. 1t was a very wise arrange
ment TO threw the left wing over first; be
etgse the higher up the river the crossing
Vas effected, the less liable the troops were 10
any formidable attack from the enemy: aad
Il was d matter Of the first importance to
sist, If necessary, the right wing, which was
compelled to cross much nearer the rebels,
and near the great angle In their lines which
| have already described. Besides lis We
should, after getting over the river, be oblig-
ed to face to the right, III order to march
southwark upon the rebel works along Peach
Tree Greek. the left wing would be compelled
10 move much further than the right, and
this was an additional reason for its be
a
very fine for military operations, il being
only moderately warm, and refreshing show
ers falling almost every day. For the first
taur miles On the southeast side of the Chat
g4ao0cAee the country was exceedingly rough
and broken, consisting OF hills ridges and
eayines, covered with oaks and pines, the
whole resembling the AIatoona Mountains.
Before any portion OF the Army of the
Cumberland Except h0wards Corpse had
reached the southwest side Of the Chattahoo-
ehee, Mcpherson had made q material adj
vance, moving his extreme left along a road
which runs from Marietta direct TO Stone
Mountain. over branch of Peach free
Creek, named Nancy Creek, through the
small village of Cross Keys and forward so
- 20 threaten seriously the line of the Geor-
-ia Tor Augusta Railroad. SchofeId, next
90 McpherSou's troops on the right and How
ard, ou Schoheld's right, made corresponding
e and Palmer being then over, all portions
81 the line advanced, almost everywhere en-
cauntering the enemys skirmishers, tprinci-
aalIy dism0uItUd cayalry.) and everywhere
driving them back. Portions of Stanley's
and Woods divisions very handsomely dis
tinguished themselves during this movement.
and bv night of the 18th nearly the whole
army had crossed to the south side of Peach
Tree Creek.
Logan's corps, the 10th, moved over TO the
left Of the Army OF the Tennessee, and ad-
raaciug with rapidity and energy, It's left
flank well covered by Garrards cavalry di-
vision II struck the Augusta railroad at a
point about two and a half miles west Of
Stone Mountain, and immediately commenced
tearing up the track. This brilliant achieve
ment, in connection with RousseaU's remark
able and daring raid upon the Atlanta and
West Point (Mobilel road, must have greatly
alarmed the enemy, and probably determined
him To make, the next DAY, a desperate effort
10 drive us back.
On Wednesday morning then, behold oar
entire army south of Peach Tree Greek, on a
line running nearly east and west, ami con
fronting the rebel battalions, who occupied
strong works just before them. Day had
scarcely dawned when the left wing of the
army was j. motion The I7Jh Corps (Blair'sl
passed to the extreme left, while the 10th
(LoEan's) marched westward along the AU-
Susta Railroad, tearing up the track IS il
went, until il reached Decatur, eight miles
from Stone Mountain. ScBouy.j advanced
toward Atlanta, connecting With General
D0dges division of McPEerson's ARMY, on the
left Howard, marching by thu left flank,
formed a junction with Sch0held aud Hook
CT. marching lay the right flank, filed up the
interval between Howard and Palmer.
BY noon of the 10th, the whole army was
ID line OF battle, nearly in the following or
der: The l4th Corps lPalmer's1 Oh the cN-
tsane right; the goth, (Hooker's}, next; the
18th. Howard =, next. the 2$d. (Sehoield's(,
aeEt, 10th, (Dodge'sl, ueNt, although partly
IS reserve the 10Th, Lo-an'sl, next; and
ATth lBlair'Sl, On the extreme right. Gar
TArQ cavalry division covered our right
aauk, while General III. NcCouk's held the
terrl6- along the river
During the afternoon st the 10th. thg whole
left wing OF taa ARMY advanced. Grivin-r the
enemy before them ia "a series OF shsrn and
brilliant skirmishe- which. occurring arr
snail armies, would Us called battles Irv..
& one OF these that Gen Gresham. command
~ the right division of the 18th corps. re-
yeivea severe Il not dangerous wound. Rv
ulZatiatI agT extreme left had advanced near
+ tel miles south Of the Augusta railroad.