The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-05-28

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ately after, Gen. Howard, who, in the alb |
sence of Gen. Thomas, had command of
the 18th and 23d corps, in addition to his
own corps, ordered forward Gen. Stanley's
division on the center to make demonstra-
ton to develop the enemy's strength and
position. Simultaneously with this order,
Gen. Newton was instructed to endeavor to
throw regiment or two up Rocky Face,
and to move along it cautiously. Gen. Har-
ker was instructed by Newton to execute the
order. and promptly selected the I25th
Ohio, Col. Opdycke, to perform the order
The response of Col. Opdycke and his
"Ohio Tigers" was prompt, fearless and
steady. The veteran regiment climbed the
steep ridge, ever and anon stopping to cross
some rock gorge, or scale almost perpendic-
ular bluffs, where to miss a step was GER
tain death.
Arriving on the summit of the ridge, the
regiment i'm mediately encountered the Skin
mishers OF the enemy, who in small force
extended across the ridge. The enemy was
driven slowly from the ridge toward Dalton,
retreating before the unerring fire of the
brave regiment that confronted them. So
many natural and artificial distractions
were encountered that the regiment did not
move more than half mile per hour.
Learning that the rebels were moving to
our left against our force in large numbers,
Gen. Harker was ordered to throw his whole
brigade up the ridge to support the 125th
the order was obeyed with alacrity, and the
enemy was driven about three miles, when
adeep gorge was encountered, which check
ed the advance for the rest Of the day.
Signal stations were established at vari-
Gus points, SO that by O'Clock Gen. How
ard had complete signal communications
along the whole line from Howard s extreme
left to Hooker's right. Five stations in all
were established.
Late in the afternoon Gen. Davis sent for
ward Col. John Mitchell's brigade, to move
olong the right center and complete the line
: between Gen. Cruft's brigade of SANKEY'S
division and Johnston S division. His brig
sde was little en- ecneZon, but when an ad-
vance OF the whole line was ordered, he ad-
Vanced rapidly upon knob thickly covered
with underbrush, and drove the enemy off.
Gen. Cruft held the right of Stanley s
line, and when the forward movement was
ordered, sent the 31st Indiana out as skir-
mishers. They moved rapidly and in ex-
cellent order across the open fields, the en-
: envy retreating from behind their barbados
at their approach and seeking safety in fight.
Hating for a brief moment, and seeking
} protection behind the rebel barricade, the
= 3lst again moved forward, and the whole
line simultaneously pressed forward, and at
the close Of the diminishing at shutdown,
occupied position about one mile in the
rear of the gaps in which Palmer fought
the enemy so stubbornly on the goth and
r 9th of February.
3 Brig. Gen. Woods skirmishers were en-
(; gagged during the day on the left of Stanley,
extending to the base Of Rocky Face.
As l have already said, Seho6eld's corps
is working east of the rebel positions, while
r Hooker's bears south of Dalton, and
# Mcpherson, with large army, Is aiming al
: Resaca, in the rear of the rebel works at Dal-
ton. Geary's division is in front of Due
Gap, in Johns Mountain, which is a pre-
g cipitous elevation, four and a half miles
e southwest of Dalton, covered with forests,
underbrush, and loose, tumbling boulders
/. About So clock this afternoon Col. Bush
0 beck's and Col. Candy's brigades were mar
shalled for assault. They advanced up the
: mountain with splendid spirit, meeting with
: little opposition, until they toiled up the
f crest, where they received whitening and
: concentrated fire. which, in about twenty
e minutes, compelled them to fall back to a
j plateau on the mountain, not far from It's
q base. The rebels were commanded by Gen
e John II. Morgan, who is now leading d.
t vision of rebel infantry. Two of our bat
teries were at the base of the mountain, in
field, but they could not be sufficiently
D elevated to be effective. At the same time
the rebels could not depress their guns to
e contest our advance up the hillside. They
e were in heavy rifle pits and their concentra-
ted fire was not to be borne by mortal man
} Our troops held their ground for about a
half hour at the first assault. A second as
e sault was made about o'clock, the object
being to flank the rebel right, on the crest
l Like the first, it failed after gallant fight.
Our troops withdrew about dark to the DO
? sition occupied in the morning, and went
f into bivouack. The loss during both as
SSseults will not exceed $50 killed and
wounded.
It must be renei>.. hered that large bodies
of tr6 ops are working round the rebel left
flank. Fitzpatrick occupies our right with
his cavalry. Stoneman is on the left. The
failure of one or two storming parties is
expected before Johnston is expelled. His
attention will soon be called to other local
tiles than Dalton.
Uen. SchoneIu, WIN MS corps, To-Day
reached Newton's left, and this afternoon
moved up Cow Valley, to the left of Rocky
!, Face Ridge. He will possibly strike the
enemy on his right flank simultaneously
FL with an attack on his left BY a column now
moving forward for that purpose. Should
these flank movements succeed, Johnston
must of necessity vacate his almost impreg-
nable position and move back on Atlanta or
Rome, or fight US this side at Resaca, in a
} less strong position.
Monday. Nav 9th. at & O'clock Davis