The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-08-25
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
In THE FIELD NEAR ATLANTA GA. \
1914

~
August, 1864
EDIToR COURIER For the benefit of
those wh ho feel-an interest in the 18th Iowa
Infantry, will give a brief account of our
battles before Atlanta.
On the goth of July we came in on the ex
trcme left of the line through Decatur, took
ON positions and began our advance toward
the enemy's works driving back their skir
mishers on to their main line behind their
entertainments. We halted about 800 Yards
from the enemy, and when night set in we
made our position as strong as possible by
throwing up breast works General Gresh-
am was hadlv wounded in our advance. =
General Giles A. Smith took command OF
our Division.
About O'Clock on the morning of the
25th General L"ggett (who occupied posi-
zion on onr ltf) made charge with one Bri
gade of his Division; our Division was im.
mediatrly ordered to charge too: we sue
ceeded in reaching point within 100 yards
Of the rehel works. when the Brigade on our
right gave way, and finding the enemy too
strongiy posted we were ordered to fall ba *
again to our breastworks, but not until man
brave men were killed and wounded. The
loss of the 10Th Iowa in killed and wounded
was 40. a
In CO. y. Lieut f NJ Gebhart killed, 1st
Sergeant r NJ Wilson. mortallv wounded
Peter Hoover and A. Mcconnell slightly.
Seret. w son lived but few hours. Rich
ard was good brave soldier, and met death
ike a hero md a christian.
Our Division was ordered to the left OF
Leggetts, where we again threw up breast.
works and were again on the extreme left OF
the army. On the ODD about l2 o'clock the
enemy commenced an advance in our front
and il was soon apparent that they were try
ing 10 turn our left flank General McPher
son had been ordered hy Gen. Sherman 10
set tie 10th corps (Dodge's) to tearing up
railroads, hut seeing the danger Mcpherson
| ordered Dodge to form IN the left of the 18th
(B'ar's) corps; but so near was the rebs
that the 18th corps on coming into line left
a gap of about half mile between their
right and the 18th Iowa. We held them
for nhout half an hour. when they, finding
our left exposed, charged into the opening
and completely turned our left flank, and we
were finally compelled to fall back to new
position which we did in good order. IT was
near this place General Mcpherson was kill
ed white trying to close up the gap. He had
ordered Totten's battery in which was can
fured; also an Indiana regiment which was
badly cut mp IN five minutes and their Col.
onel (Jones) killed Private George J Rev.
nolds OF co D who had been shot through the
ann and taken prisoner, succeeded in getting
out Of the rebel lines. when ne found General
Mcpherson lying or the ground alone and
dying; George asked him il he could do any
thing for him. he-tred to speak and appear.
ed anxious to communicate smething but
conld not. A party Of rebels came along and
asked who the officer was. George told
them. They took his dispatches and atch
and again made George their prisoner. Rev.
nolds begged off. sald he was wounded and
could not 60, and not only that but he want.
ed to remain with his dying General The
rebels left him supposing they would soon
advance their lines and have them anyhow
Aboutfive minutes after they left General
Mcpherson breathed his last, when REYNOLDS
started out for some help; finding one ofthe
Generals staff an ambulence was brough'
and the body conveyed to the rear.
| After falling hack to our rev position the
enemy chargtd us repeatedly, but could not
disiodge us. We had to fight them awhile
in our front, and repulse them, ard ther
Turn and fight another advapcing column il
thc opposite direction. Many the reg
ments which charged on uswas literally cu
to, pieces. The 45th Alabama made an al
tempt to storm the works of the 10Th, bu
all who reached our line was either killed OF
captured with their flag We had the sat
isfaction of seeing Colonel Belkaap tax,
Col Lampley, of the 45th Ala. bv the Goa
collar and haul him over our works prise
ner. Besides their Colonel we captured thei
Major and about 30 men, We also captured
a Laut. Col. Grimm of the 3Sth Tennessee
| The loss Of our regiment was heavy, Lieut.
Col. HedrIck and Capt. Hedrick were botl
severely wounded and Stephen G illespie kill
ed before We, left cur frst line Of works..
Lieut. Gephart was killed while with fev
others trying 10 capture arehei flag an'
drive them back from an angle in the works
70 our regret. Soon after taking our new
position Squire Marts and Francis Phillip
were wounded and Sergt. Joseph Hockart
Corporal w. S. McIsin, EF-HyYdaG III