The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-11
From Sherman's Army.
FOUR MILES NORTHEAST OF DALLAS,
Nov, On 1904

i
| GA, May 80, 1864.
| In my last letter ] gave you u brief ac-
count OF the operations of this army, up to
the 9th, Including the affairs of Generals
Hooker and Wood-battles they would
have been, in the younger days of the war,
but not now-and will now continue it to
date.
| At the time of General Woods fight with
the enemy, the lines of battle had been
completed, though since modified, and
were after the following order: The right
resting on, and extending a mile beyond
Dallas, under Mcpherson, was composed Of
the commands Of Generals Logan, Dodge
and jeff. c. Davis. Its flank was protected
by Garrard's cavaly. Next in order, to the
left, were Generals Hooker, Howard and
| Johnson, forming the centre, with General
Schofield on the left, and the flank covered
by the cavalry Of Generals SLOVENIAN,
McCook and Fitzpatrick. These forces were
drawn out in an irregular line, running
northeast and southwest, and presenting
front of twelve or fourteen miles. The
location was on the southern spurs Of the
AllatOOna range of hills, across a continu-
Gus succession of hills and valleys, forming
| very broken surface, and the whole-ex-
cept now and then cleared tield-covered
| with heavy pine and oak forests. Through
,, this range, down into the open country be-
yond, pass several roads which we wish to
pass over, and which the rebels intend to
dispute by planting artillery on the flank
ing hills. Military men say they occupy
strong position; one which it will be waste
full of human life to attempt to carry by
Istraight work. Such, then, being the posi-
ton, and the rebels havingfelt our strength
in the centre, in resisting General Hook er's
advance, and having found that our line
was not easily to be broken at that point.
next made an attempt to break over the
lines on the left. which attempt it
cost the unfortunate division Of Wood
so many men to resist. The exact loss.
SO far as ascertained, Of the division
and Scribner's brigade, which assisted
on the left, was l,6lO. But many were
wounded who fell into the possession of
the rebels, as did nearly all the dead, so
hard were our forces pressed. Some Of
the stretcher- bearers, even, we're cap
far out in the prosecution of their hu-
name work. Batteries were at length
planted which replied to the enemy's fire.
and occasional shells were pitched into our
camp all night, though the enemy has not
attempted anything since upon the left
This affair, it will be remembered, occurred
on the evening of the 9th of May. On the
evening of the next day they made SINH
lar attempt to turn our right flank under
Mcpherson. About half past four in the
afternoon, after having vigorously shelled
OuppositiOn for three-qnarters of an hour.
they made a Simultaneous assault upon
the works of the 18th Corps and the left
wing of the 10th, forming an unbroken
front of more than mile in extent. The
18th Cops, under command of Gen. John
A. Logan. formed tho right of the line
and the left wing of the 10Th Corps, under
command Of Gen. Dodge, was posted on
the left. The assault was one Of the most
furious and persistent yet made in the
campaign. 1t was made by the Corps of
Hardee, supposed to be about @, 600 strong.
all of them seasoned veterans, and fighting
with the utmost Obstinacy. They rushed
impetuously forward under o whitening
fire from our musketry, until many Of
them were within twenty feet Of our breast
works. Five of their color-bearers were
found dead in their places at that distance
from our front. Fifty-four dead rebels
were counted lying on the ground directly
IN front of one regiment, the 66th Indiana.
After they had withdrawn from the
bloody field, our forces had buried 900 Of
their dead, and there were yet many more
when they were ordered by the rebels with
curses to desist, and our stretcher bearers
were at once fired upon. What better evil
dences than the above of the bravery, and
at the same time of the barbarity OF the
rebels, could be asked. Yet it was all un-
availing. Our forces stood like a wall,
and 1t was to the audacious rebels q
wall Of devouring fire. General Logan
u0P0u0SU 0lIlO0b 0utAAcky Ou muSkOlIy
for repelling the attack, since he had
few pieces in position, and fewer still
(four) were enabled, from the position of
the ground, to play on the enemy. He had
not yet completed the breastworks, even,
but only got them in readiness on the sum-
mits of the hills and extended little way
down the sides, SO that on good portion
of the front the men fought face to face,
with only their good muskets for q defense.
But Logan himself was o host. Riding
along the entire line, with an electric word
for each brave regiment, swinging his hat
and cheering where the bullets were
thickest, his strong voice rising high above
the roar of the fight, the splendid ,enthusi-
asm of the man inspired the troops with
like temper, if such inspiration were need
ed, and insured their inviDcibility, which
was never for moment doubtful. ''They
were more than We" said the General,
''but We can whip them every time-every
fifteen minutes day." And he is right,
80 long az himself is included in the num-