Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-08-06

wooded. as was mostly that in front of Palm
err: but on a great part of Hookers, front,
after ascending the table land, was consid-
cradle space of open fields, on the other side
of which, in the direction of Atlanta, were
heavy woods. Behind all three of these corps
ran Peach Tree Greek, through open ground
with high ground (also open) still further
back, and furnishing splendid positions for
our batteries, of which the experienced and
able artilierists on Davis, Baird, Johnston
Hooker, Newton and Towards stats did not
fail to avail themselves.
1t was shortly after noon, when, in accord
ance with Gen. Thomas design of clos
ing up the gap have spoken Of, Gen. New
tons division prepared to advance from the
bank of the creek, in order to relieve Hazen':
brigade of Woods division, (which had been
thrown over previously and allowing 1t C
move to the left, as well as to take up posi-
ton which, by materially shortening our line
would tend still farther to close up the inter
val between Newton and Wood.
A strong skirmish line was sent out to fee
for the enemy, who had rifle pits in advance
of their principal works Col. Barrett, 44tf
Ill. was put i'm command of the skirmishers
who comprised six regiments, four from Brig
Gen. KimbalPs brigade, and two from Col
Blake's. The latter officer is at present in
command of Gen. Wagner's brigade. The
whole line advanced with rapidity and enthu
siasm, drove the rebels from their rifle pits,
and captured several, with the loss of only
two men. This brought them within Bot
wards of the main rebel works.
Our line of battle quickly followed up this
advance, and Kimball and Blake Immediately
took up position On the ridge. The mer
had merely halted, as they supposed, for the
purpose of eating their humble dinner, and
expected to move on Immediately after
swallowing the same. But the old wal
horse, mat Kimball," as his men Familiarity
call him, was not to be caught mapping; and
before his soldiers had broken a piece of hard
tack or drank drop of coffee, he ordered
them to commence constructing line of bar
ricades. No order is more cheerfully obeyeC
by our soldiers when in the presence of an
enemy, than this. Their experience in meet
ing so often the desperate onsets of the rebe
legiOns, has taken away all the aversion to
fOrtifying which they manifested at the be-
ginning of the war. In a majority Of cases,
they are ready to construct bulwarks without
any command from their officers. In the
present instance, although many of them
thought the labor would be thrown away, they
acted with alacrity upon the first word, on
rather hint, from Gen. Kimball; and, as the
event proved, saved thereby hundreds OF
their own lives, and perhaps prevented the
rOut of their own division. Col. Blake, never
slow to follow any good example, did not
hesitate an instant in this case; and the clat-
ter of logs and rails thrown together, with
the ringing of picks, spades and shovels, re-
sounded all along his front.
The enemy made repeated efforts, from
E..nE rkas.. 10,
tiOn of our forces; and there was heavy
skirmishing along Wood and Stanleys fronts
as well as along the skirmish line, which
stretching across the great gap, connected
the left Of Newton with the right of Wood
Then there was temporary lull along the
whole line.
1t was about half past three when the enc.
my's skirmishers, advancing as if to recon
hotter, gave notice that something was i'm
pending. Our line had halted longer than
was expected, and was just upon the point OF
resuming the advance, when this appearance
of the rebels determined Newton to remain
behind his hastily constructed works on the
hill, and Hooker to march his troops at once
from the low ground in front of him, so that
he might connect with NewtOn's right. The
order to advance was scarcely given, when
from the high ground, all Hooker's batteries,
and part of Towards, broke forth in a SIM
ultaneOus peal of thunder. The rebel legions
were pouring forth from the woods beyond
the open fields at tine top of the ridge, and
pressing forward, rank behind rank, in start
ling and magnificent array, seemed resolved
to crush at one blow whatever might oppose
them. This spectacle the artillerists upon
tine elevated ground, north of the creek,
could plainly see, but the infantry, climbing
up the hill, on the south side, could not. A
moment later, and a savage yell upon the
left, followed by the clang and clatter of ten
thousand muskets, announced that Newt0n's
division had been assailed by the foe. On
NewtOn's front the enemy did not wait to
push forward skirmish line, but charged al
once in lines of battle, two and three deep
Our skirRsishers in advance of our hastily
constructed works, were driven in with the
velocity of a whirlwind, and as they rushed
back in disOrdered haste, came lear throw
ing into confusion the extreme. right o.
Newton, and for a moment caused it to give
way
Meantime, Brig. Gen. Geary's division o.
HOOker's corps, (which was considerably in
advance of both Williams division on the
right, and Wards (Butterfeld's) on the left
was struck by the rushing storm, and tempo
rarily shattered. Both his right and his cen
ter brigades were pushed from their positions
after a short and desperate resistance, and
hurled down the hill nearly to the banks o.
the creek. Gen. Wards division was still ad
Vancing up the hill side, when the wary old
Kentuckian who at present leads it, saw, al
he then supposed, both Geary on his right
and Newton on his left overthrow. He was
about to detach three or four regiments to
their assistance, when, tO~his establishment
the whole scene was changed as if by magic
NewtOn's line became firm as a rock, and
without another sign of wavering, continued
to pour into the rebel host a steady, uninter
rupted and deadly fire. Even the .straggler
from his skirmish line were rallied and die
excellent service in a manner / shall men
ton presently. At the same time Gearyf
disOrdered regiments reformed, even under
whitening fire from the enemy, while couple
of his batteries, directing their pieces full a
the right flank of the lines which had driver
US back, tore them in pieces with a tornad,
of shot and she'll The indentation in on
lines produced by the giving way of Geary'
two brigades, became a pit of death in which
hundreds of maddened rebels plunged, onl,
to die or to fall wounded and bleeding upol
the Sod Not another inch did Geary retire
but began slowly to advance, until, whel
the fight closed, he occupied exactly the sam
ground as when it began. -
Il was just as General Ward became con
WINGED all was going well with Newton an
Geary, that his own line reached the edge o
the kind of table line / have described, onl
to find itself confronted, at a distance O
thirty PAGES, by the flower of the rebel army
The fearful tumult that at once burst fortl
a. Il. 4 Il.
of it was the roar of musketry, and which tn
Elnr..n s..l.. 1t n.nh h.,