The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-08-04
Letter from Col. !. m. Hcdxick

-OssS AANsA "Os' - ~ eAS~a TN
We are permitted to publish the following
letter from Lieut.. Col, Hedrick to his wife:
" ATLANTA. July %, 1864
MY DEAR WIFE.-Snce my last letter,
we (the Army Of the Tennessee under Gen.
McPherson) have continued our flank move,
ment by the left and to the rear until day
before yesterday evening we encountered
the enemy and his breast works, drove him
steadily until night inside ola very strong
line of Notifications. During the charge
this day we lost our Division Commander,
Gen. Gresham. Yesterday morning our
division made desperate charge on very
strong line Of the enemy's forts anil rife, pits,
we got up nearly to the muzzles Of their
guns with our Regiment and Brigade, but
not being properly supported on the ri sht
we failed to take their works. We lost 40
men killed and wounded yesterday in the
charge. Lieut.. Gehhart was slightly wound.
ed in the leg. Orderly Wilson of Co, d.
mortally 10 the bowels (since dead) No bet
ter, drawer, man ever lived. Capt. Porter
had but one other man wounded. Andrew
Mcconnell slightly. Capt. Hedrick had
Sergeant Mcdowell badlo but not mortally,
Corporal Wood, tnortal,y; Private VIM. H.
Walker, MORALLY; and some others slightly
wounded. We had but three officers
wounded, one Lieut. McArther, veiy badly.
The firs Of the enemy surpassed every
thing ever witnessed. The division lost
500 to 600 men. The corps perhaps 900.
Gen. Giles A. Smith is now our division
commander, since Gresham was wounded,
and he congratulated our brigade and di.
vision highly for thu gal|antry of our on.
erations yesterday aud day before. We
are now in the rear of Atlanta IL miles dis
tant baoing cut aud now occupying their
railroad running TO Augusta. They only
have one line of railroad communication
left. 1t is now one continuous engagement.
fighting, entrenching, and advancing con.
st,ntly with an incessant roar of artillery
and musketry arou6d the dooNed CITY, re.
mnd'ng us of Vicksburg We have now
lost 100 men since the campaign commenc
ed, from our regiment. This campaign is
rapidly drawing to close. we have the
place nearly surrounded and are constantly
tightening our grip and closing the lines
and they must come out and q sht us in one
grand decisive engagement, evacuate OF
surrender soon. Lam pretty well, Capt
Porter and Hedrick also. The enemy are
at last evscuating the works in our front
Yours truly, - NJ HepsIcx
e asa a@Ssa 81 July %, 1864.
MY DEAR WIRE After writing the en-.
closed letter yesterday morning the rebels
massed their entire force against our left,
and came very near annihilating the Army
of the Tennessee Their movements were
finally checked but with terrible loss to us
in men and officers. 1t was without doub,
the most bloody engagement Of the Georgia
campaign Orderly Stephen Gillespie, was
shot through the heart at my side fighting
like hero as he was Capt Hedrck had
his arm broken near the shoulder and hs
Is now lying ut nv sile doing as well as
could be expected-he will recover hope
was shot in the back near the spine com.
ing out atthe point Of the hip, making 8
bad but not dangerous flesh wound OF some
six inches. I was also shot through tht
arm between the. elbow and hand. an
suffering much pam but in no danger
Lieut. Gebhart was shot through the head
God pity his mother and family. Our loss
es in the 18th will 60 to $50 yesterday &C
cordng to present figures. General Nc
Pherson and many other officers were killed
We f,ught them all day and almost ami
hilated Hardee's corps. Don't be uneasy
about me or the Captain. We will 60 HON,
when able to travel No body else from OF
tumwa as can hear Of injured