The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-06-10
THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA
A FiIe-Cioser Who Did Not See It Just as Gen.
Leggett Did.

Leggett Did.
To THE EDITOR: Gen. Leggett's account of
the battle at Atlanta on July %, 1864, was mis-
leading in some particulars. For the purpose
of appearing more heroic he very distinctly
conveys the idea that the Fifteenth Corps was
routed on that day, and that he not only had
the difficult task of holding his own line, but
had to extend assistance 10 the Fifteenth Corps
to enable it to maintain its position. Now,
while cOneede that the Seventeenth Corps did
its whole duty on that occasion, and fought as
calamity as ever men did, think that the
Fifteenth Corps instead of acting so stability
as Leggett would have the reader infer, was
entitled to some credit for its part in the fray.
As was but q fle-c closer, my opportunities
Of observation were not so extensive as those
of General, but / remember very distinctly
what i did see, and although kept no diary,
and have not in my possession any letters writ
ten about that time to enable me to refresh my
memory, think the following account of that
battle will be found substantially correct as seen
from our standpoint.
was member Of the First Brigade, First
Division, Fifteenth Corps. The brigade was
composed, / believe, of the 9th and 10Th Mo-,
the Goth Iowa and the 10th Ohio. The Third
Brigade was composed of the 4th, 9th, 25th and
31st Iowa The division was commanded by
Gen: G. Z. Woods. Gen. Walcutt, mentioned so
favorably by Gen. Leggett, was commander Of
the Second Brigade.
On the morning of July % we found that
the rebels had abandoned the line of works
held by them on the previous day, and with
drawn to an interior line. The Fifteenth Corps
advanced to the abandoned works and began
the labor of changing their front to the rear.
In the new alignment our division was the
right wing of the Army OF the Tennessee, and
connected with the left wing of the Twenty
third Corps. To the left Of us, across small
valley, was our Second Division, under COM
av.I - NJ
open space between the two divisions about 200
yards wide, which was so exposed to a raking
fire from the adjoining hills that no troops were
placed there. The Second Division was so
placed that the railroad from Atlanta to
Augusta pierced its center, leaving one brigade
on the north and one on the south side Of the
railroad. The railroad ran along the ridge and
there was quite deep cut, commencing several
hundred yards in front of the line of the Sec
ond Division, and extending about 200 yards
to its rear.
While the men wero engaged in altering the
abandoned works the battle began. Away off
TO our left and rear we could hear the roar Of
artillery and the rattle Of musketry. Our re-
serves were hurried off to the assistance of the
exposed left wing. So were those Of the
Second Division. This left but four brigades
of the Fifteenth Corps along that front. We
worked and listened to the angry roar which
came up from the left wing. We realized that
our boys were having rough work over there.
At that time the quiet Of our front was only
broken at intervals by an occasional shot from
the skirmish-line. About noon we heard that
Mcpherson had fallen and Logan assumed COM
mand Of the Army of the Tennessee. McPher-
son was fayorite with the men. They had
confidence in his ability as a leader, they
regarded him almost in the light of personal
| friend. His death produced profound sorrow
in the ranks, as well as at headquarters.
There was nothing like battle on our front
until about o'clock in the afternoon, when .
strong force of rebels advanced on the position
/ occupied by the Second Division. From our
| elevated ground we could see as far south as
| the railroad, and could see out to the front Of
| the Second Division, a distance of about 100
| yards, where the thiekening brush prevented
| further view. The attacking column rushed
/ up quite closely to the Second Division, but the
| boys of that command poured in such a velley
as caused them TO recoil They fell back and
/ formed their lines for q new attack. They
altered their tactics, for the hot fire taught
/ them that they could not bulge that division
| by an attack in front. They put brigade in
| column of fours and started them into the rail-
| road cut. They had discovered that this cut
was not properly qua led. At the same time
| the forces on each side were pushed forward
and the battle was renewed, but our fellows
soon checked the force in sight and drove them
back.
Just as the Second Division was congratu-
/ lating themselves on their successful defense
| II their position, the brigade in the cut (which
seems to have passed unobservedJ deployed
from the cut and opened fire from the rear. 1t
| was surprise. The officers aud men did not
understand what force it was. or where they
came from. There were no reserves to engage
them-only thin line between the rebel
forces As soon as the fire from the rear had
| created commotion, the rebels in front ad-
vanced again. Under such circumstances there
was no alternative for the men but TO fall of
to the right and left of the line they had occu
pied.
De Gresss battery was north Of the railroad
and near the right Of the Second Division.
remember that DE Gress staid by mis- guns while
| the rebels were swarming all around him
When he saw he must abandon his guns he raE
hastily from one ts-he other and spiked then
with las / understood) ordinary fence nails
He then mounted his horse and rode to the
northeast. His conduct was most gallant. This
rebels seem to have paid no attention to hin
until his horse had carried him out of theil
front, when they opened fire on him; bu
luckily he escaped unframed, although i
seemed a wonder that he was not killed.
Immediately on the breaking of the line o
the Second Division the front OF the First Di
vision was changed to meet the altered eondi
ton Of affairs. Our batteries opened fire OF
.
guns against US. Our skirmishers also pusheC
forward and opened hot fire on them. Will
our batteries and skirmishers pelting them
their condition was not one Of repose. Although
they had captured the works. they did no
seem to be happy. They fitted about like
swarm Of bees. No place OF safety could b
found.
As soon as the Second Division had got to tn
rear they were reformed. They were reinforeet
by brigade from our Fourth Division. Tn
word was then passed down the line to advanc
and retake the lost position. The chargin
column consisted of our brigade and the low
brigade OF our division, the two routed brigade
of the Second Division, and one brigade Of tn
: Fourth Division. As 1 was only foot soldier
with but little spare time on my hands for OF
servation, must be excused for failing to OF
serve and describe all that was worthy Of mer
ton. However the Iowa brigade was on on
right, and the brigade of the Fourth Divisio
was on our left. There were two ridges be
, tween our position then and the lost works.
the command our men dashed forward. Vine
we reached the crest of the first hill the rebel
opened hot fire. Without discharging o CUR
our men increased their pace, aud soon sweT
over the little hollow, up the second hill an
down into the little canebrake at the foot, an
only about % yards from the works. As W
went down this last slope rihe-balls pattere
; around and among US like Tain-d drops, but q
our pace had increased to run, our positio
! altered so rapidly that their shots did eompars
lively little execution.
Having reached the west side Of the cane