The National tribune., 1883-09-13

whole morning passed away without this being
attended TO, and gap of over mile was left
between the right of the Sixteenth Corps and
the refused left of the Seventeenth Corps.
General Hoods plan of attack was bold
and fearless one, and General Hardee, appar-
entity well advised Of the weak position OF our
troops, poured his whole corps ikto this gap. so
that the Seventeenth Corps and the left wing
of the Fifteenth Corps were completely en-
veloped by the rebel troops
When tie first attack came, Just about noon,
General Mcpherson, doubtless unaware of the
situation, rode hastily TO the front, think
ing, no doubt, that the entire Seventeenth
Corps lay between him and any rebel troops,
and in that way met his death.
General Hardee pushed forward his troops
until he passed by the rear Of the Seventeenth
Corps and a part of the left Of the Fifteenth
Corps, so that the men Of my command, like
those of the Seventeenth Corps, were asSailed
on both sides and frequently had TO climb
from one side OF their works 10 the other to re-
pulse attacks from front and rear. Early IN
the action q heavy assault was made from At
lanta, or directly in our front along our entire
line, but particularly along the line OF the rail-
road, and Gen. Morgan l.. Smiths division
Fifteenth Corps-was thrown into confusion
and driven back with heavy loss. The rebels
at once rushed forward and occupied that part
Of cur intrenchments, and even advanced some
UtStdIcG DSSODu, capturing quslc "a uuAiDoi VI
prisoners, and cutting OF the Seventeenth
CORPS and part of the Fifteenth Corps from
the balance Of the army. With General Hardee
attacking them in the rear and large rebel
force charging upon them directly IN front
from Atlanta nothing but the stubborn cour-
age of the men saved this part of the army
from utter destruction. Had there been any
means of communication between General
Hardee in the rear and the rebel forces in the
hot aIsa ssrfoul-
taneously, we would all have been killed or
captured; but, fortunately for rs, nothing of
that kind existed. and after repeIling charge
from the rear we would have time to climb
our works and Tepulse 4 charge from the 'front.'
or vice versa, and SO we continued hghtlng Tor
several hours. | was on the extreme left of
the Fifteenth Corps, and separated by small
ravine from that part of our line occupied by
the rebels.
turned two companies of my own regiment
and battalion OF the Seventeen Ohio, acting
under my orders so that they should enflade
our works held BY the rebels, and about this
time two Rodman guns, belonging to a Michi-
gan battery that had been with the Seven
teenth Corps, came along my line and asked
them 20 help Us.
The sergeant in charge said all their officers
had left them, but If directed what to do they
were still willing TO fight. put them in posi-
tion also to enfilade the rebels IN our line,
from which they had driven General Smith,
and, after a few shots from these guns and two
or three volleys OF musketry, we had the pleas
ure of seeing the JOhnnics hop out of our works
and run towards Atlanta for dear life. About
this time we received orders 10 retreat, but we
sent word back tbat we could hold our line So,
| after retiring about q hundred yards the order
was countermanded, and the men with a wild
shout rushed back to their works In the
meantime that part Of the Fifteenth Corps that
had been driven back rallied and reoccupied
! their line again.
General Hardee having repeatedly assaulted
us from the rear aud being as often repulsed with
great slaughter, slowly withdrew and left us in
possession Of the hard-Won field. Had he pressed
/ the first attack vigorously and thrown in two
! or three fresh brigades Just after Gen. McPher-
son fell, and while all was confusion and dismay
| in the Union lines. he could have driven back
the whole army with great slaughter, for, as on
/ the first day at Shiloh, we were completely out
/ generated, and the day was only saved by the
! most stubborn fighting.
IRA J. BLOOMFIELD,
| Late Colonel 26th III. Inf.