The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-08-04
The Battle Before
Atlanta.
One-Third of our Army Repulses
all the Rebels.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Com
mercial.
BATTLEFIELD, Four MILES FROM
ATLANTA JuIv 21 1864


movements of Gen. Shermau's army up
to the moment yesterday afternoon when
the dashing new rebel commander, Gen
Hood, massed nearly his whole army a
! gainst the right wing, composed of the
/ Twenty-fourth and Twentieth Corps, and
Newton division of the Fourth Corps.
This portion of our army, less than one
third of the whole, met the most reck-
less, massive and headlong charge of the
war, without yielding an inch, save lit
tie on one of the fanks of Geary's dlvi-
sion, where a gap in the line occurred.
and where the enemy pressed through
but was speedily checked. The attack
was made by nearly the whole of the reb
el army, and its complete repulse forms
the most glorious chapter in Sherman s
present campaign. The following are
the details Of the fight:
+ As your readers already know our
whole army had effected the crossing of
Peach Tree creek, small but difficult
stream covering Atlanta on the north and
partially on the east. After the crossing,
which was actually completed by the
morning of the Goth, our left, under Nc
Pherson, rested on thesAugusta railroad,
south of Decatur, and about five miles
from Atlanta. The Fourteenth Corps
was on the extreme right, near the mouth
Of Peach Tree creek. On the left of the
latter. Newton's division of the Fourth
Corps. a gap then occurred in our lines
for three miles, which was covered on
the south bank of the creek by a curtain
of pickets from Newton's division. On
the left of the gap was concentrated the
rest OF our army, several divisions origin
ally on the right having been moved there
early on the morning of the Goth, with a
view to Strengthening that wing, in front
Of which the enemy made numerous
feints, as if about to precipitate his whole
army against it.
The enemy thus being, during the
morning Of the goth, massed on our lett,
orders were issued to Newton, Hooker
and Palmer on the right, to advance and
close the gap of three miles. Newton, on
the left, was ordered to move first, pro-
tccting his left flank by the creek. Sue
cessively U0oker's aud Palmer's corps
were to close upon Newton, and establish
new line a. far as possible in advance
of the trenches, which they had con
structcd half mile south Of Peach Tree
creek Immediately after crossing. Ac-
cordingly, about | Z. NJ. Newton de-
ploycd five regiments as skirmishers, and
pushed forward handsomely, driving
clouds of the enemy's sharpshooters be-
fore them, and scattering their skirmish
reserves. BY 3 p NJ he had advanced
three -fourths Of mile, and carried a
prominent ridge in his front, on which,
after sending fresh skirmish lines for
ward, he proceeded to establish his divi-
sion.
His troops unslung knapsacks, stacked
arms, and fell to erecting a rail barrlcade
with a will Hooker now advanced from
his trcrches. Butterfeld's division, now
commanded by Gen. Ward, on the left,
Geary in the centre, and Cen. Williams
on the right Palmer prepared to close
up on Hooker, whenever the latter should
establish his new line. The country over
which this advance was progressing is
partly rolling and open, irterSected with
difficult creeks, and partially covered with
dense underground. in the advance,
prisoners we're captured at different points
along the line, who unanimously stated
that no considerable body Of their troops
was nearer than mile and a half They
were, beyond doubt, set out to be cap
tured for this purpose. Not less than
three e-fourths Of the entire rebel army
were concealed within musketshot of our
skirmishers.
At the same time, at $40 p. NJ, and
with the celebrity of lightning, the rebel
host poured fourth from their conceal
ment, massed in enormous columns, a.
gainst Newton, coming on without skirm-
ishers, and with yells whose volume ex-
ceeded those of any battle-shout [ ever
heard. Newton's division had but half
completed their barrieade, and they bare
ly had time to fail into line and seize
their guns before the entire rebel column,
composed Of Walkers and Bates's divi.
sions of Hardee's corps, was within range
The pickets guarding the interval be-
tween the right and left of our army bare
ly escaped capture by plunging into
Peach-Tree creek, and swimming across
The enemy had struck US at the vita
spot, just where a victory for him might
be decisive Newton had more ground tC
guard than he could cover by even sin
gle line.
For the first few minutes everything
hung trembling in the scale. Newtou's :
left flank was exposed, and just covered
his bridges across Peach Tree creek
Had it given away the bridges woulc
have been lost, and our whole right nigh
have been rolled up and forced back t(
the Chattahoochee river. The rebel piaL
was to destroy our forces on the right
after which their army would be strone
enough to confront, if not defeat TIT