The New York herald., 1864-08-17


under a brisk fire from the enemy
This morning opens without any indication that any
thing decisive 10 ON hand.
The railroad trains regularly TO the 'front.' bringing
Colonel opdyke, Of the One Hundred and Twenty nth
Ohio has been placed in command Of the brigade lately
commanded by General Kimbal
MARIETTA, Ca, August Q, 1884.
Colonel Capron, with his son. youth aged seventeen
years, and Lieutenant Colkns OF the Eighth Michigan
cavalry arrived in town this morning. very much to the
surprise OF all who familiar with the details
SURPRISE the topography Of the country through which
be cnme ana the numerous bands OF gueras that in
the battle OF Hisboro be fonnd his brigade be COM
posed squads and detacbments from The whole COM
mand, except Colonel Aaans brigade, which had re.
NAMED organized e also alarmed discover that
not than third were armed. Having left Athens
he marched day and night thinking by these long and
forced marches TO elude the enemy who he knew
following him.
THE SURPRISE
The night before the morning OF the attack be made
march OF nearly forty miles His object pass all
cross roads, that when he halted there would be less
danger OF an attack because whom beyond these he
supposed that the enemy could only from the front
or rear. large number of contrabands had followed
the brigade and heretofore at night had slept any
within the picket lines; but this morning. o'clock
Colonel Capron ordered them to encamp together
left OF the road The rebels, instead OF coming along
main road dverged before they to the pcets and
came In through the woods on both sides They came
upon the negroes first. Each had horses
OF the and Hundreds OF horses rushing into the
camp frightened by tho hendsh yes OF the rebels
the first evidence OF the attack Here the OF
sernaton s described as being terrific Horses tramp
ling upon our sleeping men the armed foe numbering tho
unarmed captains and lieutenants waking and crying
out for the to form In line
Captain Lord after placing armed guard In the road
10 the and allowing one to pass, succeeded In
ralyng abous hundred men. Colonel Capron was on
bis horse without saddle, everywhere shouting to the
men not TO separate but to remain together and in
good order but the Overpowerng number Of the enemy
rushed on with all the momentum Of avalanche.
About this time Colonel CaprOn found II mpracticabe TO
ride without saddle, and had just finished saddng when
and firing upon him with their revolvers The Colonel
finding that he was unharmed, mounted his horse and
started for the road where about one hundred and fifty
men were In line; but before reaching them another
squad dashed against him, using the most obscene
thcmas and rendng the air with those yells which
describable only to those who have heard them The
Colonel endeavored to flank them They that ne
officer, and pursued him to creek into which he i'm
mediately plunged his horse and reached the op-
poste bank In safety. His followed him. but the
''chivary" we've afraid TO jump the creek During
forenoon Colonel met Citizen who professed to be
loyal man. and he engaged him 70 pilot him to Decatur
He rested while at his house, when the loyal ad-
vised him TO leave his horse, it would be impossible to
loyal man quite pleased to know that Il was true.
He with them until about twelve O'Clock that night
who had Joined them we're asleep, the very patriotic
man. who willing to serve his country. went
home 70 take care OF the Colones horses He with his
and the Lieutenant, were now left alone in the
swamp.
Finding himself without guide the Coohe resolved to
westward to the Cnattahoochee river This march
through woods and marshes was heart stckenng. The
women were even scouting the woods fer fede-
beasts Very often ibis A trio "0Vse" would '01 aDd M
convenient to ooncea, themselves until tnsir
natony scouts had The only article Of ood they
could obtain few berries and sometimes biscuit
friendly negro would give tnem Finally they reached
ford the Az the Colonel lay concealed
one hundred rebels with fifty OF prisoners, heard
their conversation, and them the river, and
Just as he about emerge from bis ambush se-
cond party with more prisoners violent thunder
ing The Colonel now fully determined to take posses
sion Of the boat and the gauntlet by water His
SICK the Leutenants feet swollen and bstered and
himself exhausted with anxiety and fatigue. He hired
negro swim the river obtain the and bring n TO
the opposite shore. Meantime the storm was raging
furously. sambo's courage failed him, but the
desperate position Of the party forced him to get
up his spunk. They started for the bank-the
hands 90 as not to got separated Arriving at The bank
Samho sad "Massa Co onel, Use can't In dar in dis
more than an hour before he could regain self
OF himself that the Colonel dare trust him to the urbd
stream.
heard was splashing and putting. In few moments
the sable OF Neptune came in with the chain in his
mouth, towing the canoe
EMRARKAnoN
The Colonel, Lieutenant and Sam Immediately pushed
ont into the stream hoping under cover Of the darkness
that night The party had gone but snort distance
when they heard the unwecome roar Of rapids They
TO make the Shore the canoe being wholly
controlled by the current This was a most critical
moment. They who had 30 narrowly escaped
death in battle were now at the mercy OF
the maddened, impetuous water. Not all OF the
party could swim. II was decided to remain
in the boat and she oundered they would rest IN the
bling Sped bearing its precious burthen, amid
myriad Of eddes and whrpoos until at last she gave
sudden plunge completely submerging the passengers.
They all held teDacousy to her Sides when she came TO
the surface and with their hats bailed her out Once
more they began paddle down the Chatahoocnee had
gone but mile or 80 when that dreaded Of
falling water through the darkness falling with ap
o ,he sno Reaehne he thew s
the ivy and briars thick that II was almost i'm
possible land After more than an hour OF hard work
they succeeded in getting place to lie down. where the
water was than inch deep, the rain still
pouring in torrents. Al daylight the weary travellers
again embarked, with scarcely hope OF their ever
efforts hen so near home. The undergrowth Is
so high and thick that s ike vast green curtain,
spread on either side for miles along the banks OF this
now historic The bushwhackers were not look
ing for Yankees in Canoes 80 they dd not watch the
the river but their attention seemed TO be directed from
the water TO the approaching roads So very fortunately
for refugees they were permitted 70 quietly slip
As the boat came around bend in the river they saw
One part Of the ROSWELL bridge All began TO cheer and
bend they saw the whole bridge enveoped m vast
sheet fame Colonel Capron says that language
ever tell the bitter anguish OF that moment. The first
and only natural conclusion that whole army had
forced back the river and In their had
burned the bridge Having landed they cautiously ap
preached citizens, who said army ali cut
up and was beyond Marietta. For the first time since
their Journey began they were discouraged All
we're unarmed and, as they supposed, In the
advance of the rebel army However, they
made mp their minds TO press on, and possible reach
before morning They marched through the
woods all night and at daylight reached pckets who
told them the true position Of our army. This glorious
made them forget their hardshps their aceraons
their fatigue. They eame in town to be welcomed by
many brave souls who had suffered the same, though
separated from them
When the Colonel left Hsboro he thinks hc had about
eight hundred II is evident that since the surprise
organization has existed in the brigade. There are
about Two hundred and fifty who have come into
camp In squads OF two three. scarcely than
at time. They they hunted with bloodhounds
and found shot like wolves any beasts OF prey The
mon from Colonel Adams brigade also continually
coming IN. Both colones say will be impractcable "a
make out list of casualties for several days there
will probably two or three hundred come into camp
within week.
There was quite an excitement In town last night, In
consequence Of contemplated attack Most OF the regi
ments slept their The city is under strict mar