The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-11-19

take position the line but bivouac your troops
with your left to the right-lOoking from Atlanta
-0fthe railroad. Your skirmshers will be left out
and will occupy your present line of defences.
1t is proper to notify you that c eatham's Corps
will also withdraw into the city defences. The
General enjoins watchfulness upon your Skin
mishers.
Bv command of Lieutenant-G General Hardee
T.. B. Roy,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
To Major-General Cleburne."
The next ord is as follows:
al My direction of Lieutenant-General
Hardee, YOUR division will move at o'clock to-
night on the road which will he indicated by the
guide Your skirmishers will be left on the line
you occupied to-day. Respectfully,
T.B. Roy,
Assistant Acknowledgement"
The following is statement made by Captain
Irving A. Buck, the Adjutant-G General of Cleburn's
division, who placed Govan's brigade in position
on that day:
although seventeen years have elapsed. the
incidents of the 22d of July, 1864 are distinct in
my mind.
"Our left brigade (Govans) being heavily en-
gagged and needing assistance, was directed by
General Cleburne to bring up our reserve brigade
Lowrey's) to Govan's aid. While riding back
TO execute this order l discovered that gap of
about a brigade front existed between our division
and that upon right (Walkers), the two
having swung apart in passing through dense
woods, where to maintain the alignment was
impossible. Knowing that the order to LOwrey
'ras oivan in ignorance Of this dangerous condi-
ton - things, a13 believing ehzt TIA sam tcD
was too nsou1lgteus. "a admit the loss Of tame
Necessity 20 e,ls,af .tle..t -.v-ss ss-ss-l
Ciebure continued cH, finding General low
rv and, after delivering my Instructions, told
him OF this gap, o..,. suggested thai shout5 10
filled stating the position of affairs and saying
that had no orders to this effect but that under
the circumstances he would be justified in exer-
cising his discretion and powers as general
officer to disregard the order and fill the space
and avert great danger. He was prompt to
assume this responsibility, and after showing
him the threatened point galloped back to
General Cleburne, who approved the action.
"Very fortunate it was that Lowrey so decided,
as he encountered the Federal troops moving
upon this gap, and although he was very roughly
handled, meeting heavy losses. particularly in
officers, the movement was stopped, which would
have severed our corps and exposed our division
to flank attack which could but have proven
disastrous.
"This fierce attack upon Lowrey was made by
your brigade and the fighting must to large
extent have been by the Fifteenth Iowa, as
Colonel Lampley Of the Forty-ffth Alabama
was captured by you personally and the colors
of the regiment which have seen in your hands
since the war were taken by the Fifteenth Iowa.
"Lamnley was too slightly wounded to have
caused his death, which occurred some days later,
and it is supposed that depression from chagrin
at his misfortune contributed largely to his sad
end How little cause for shame or modification
he had upon his own account or that of his COM
mand, none other than yourself, who witnessed
their gallant conduct, better knows.
"This day was the most severe, fatal, and hard
fought which it was the fortune of the division
to be in during my services with it, and the record
of its losses well attests the galantry with which
attack was made and met.
IRVING A. BUCK,
"Late Asst Adi-Gen., Cleburne's Division"
The slaughter in the early part of the day on
side was severe: later in the day it was small.
But throughout the day on the confederate side
it simply fearful. Govan's brigade lost IS
killed, 322 wounded, and 81 missing. Smiths
brigade lost 10 killed 1O7 wounded, and 1e5 cap
tured. Lowreys brigade lost SO killed, 379
wounded, and 135 missing. OF these in the
Forty-fifth Alabama alone there were two officers
and % men killed, 13 officers and SO wounded,
and one officer and 81 men missing
1 have had the pleasure within short time of
being in correspondence with General Govan in
reference TO this battle. His letters so inter
esting that do not see how 1 can omit reading
two of them. I call your attention particularly
to the close Of the first letter. in which he speaks
of the gallantry of the Sixteenth Iowa.
MARIANA, LEE Co., ARK, Nor 13, 1878.
Gen. W. W. BELKNAP, Keokuk, Iowa Dear
Sir: Your letter of the Cd September last came
to hand after considerable delay, the prevailing
epidemic south causing great irregularities in the
mails; and about the time Of its reception all
mails were suspended. l hope this will account
for my long silence and seeming diseourtesy in
not replying more promptly to your letters. 1