The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-02

our left, and the other two upon our right flank
at intervals of a few rods Both forces were
refused at nearly right angles with the general
direction of our intrenched line.
At 2 o'clock, heraded by the roar of the
Confederate batteries, Gen. S. ID. Lees Corps,
in double line of assault, pushed up the slope,
every man yelling like demon incarnate.
Our skirmishers came in upon the run Close
behind the first rebel line rushed into sight out
of the skirts Of the brHsh that fringed the slope,
and when within hundred PAGES our first vol
ley met them full in the face. A few of the
most desperate reached the rifie-pits, but the
main body was swept back TO the shelter OF the
copse, leaving the hill-crest covered with
bloody burden. The second line advanced
with less spirit, halted for the most part about
60 yards from our works, and, lying down,
kept up desultOry fire upon US. The officers
again formed the lines aud drove their men up
the Hill, again to be driven like chaf before
the wind. Over 100 dead men were visible in
our front and three battleflags had fallen be-
fore the brigade.
Many wounded and about 100 unhurt who
had got too near TO retreat, surrendered and
were sent to the rear Among these jaunty
young Colonel with a broken arm, mounted
the works and gazed up and down the line
Recognizing the himsy character of the barri-
cade and the scant number of defenders look
of inefiabe rage and disgust distorted his fine
: ltdAuEtS dS he SltOuG toward the HeIu HUoplIdis
We buried 102 dead within our brigade lines !;
30 of these directly in front of the 55th III.
and 57th Ohio in one grave, and among them
a Lieutenant Colonel, Major and Captain,
while before the picket-pOsts were many more.
/ The attack was made along the front of the
/ Fifteenth Corps but the only severe blow
/ was struck at the Second Division, and broke
on the 55th III. and 57th Ohio, of the First
! Brigade, which suffered the greatest loss. In
] tho afternoon of "a VT dow the Seventeenth
/ Corps Joined US on the left, and the Fourteenth
4 Corps come sweeping down between us and the
1 railroad. We could overlook, from our little
( eminence, the approach of the column, the
deployment Of the gallant advance and the
/ final assault upon the right flank of Hardees
army, where Cleburnes Division met the at
/ tack. The Confederate works were strong,
running across the railroad and, therefore, at
right-angles with the intrenchments in our
/ front, with saients containing batteries that
were served with great rapidity, raining grape
and shell upon the blue lines as they came into
range. 1t was nearly o'clock before the sue
! cessful charge was made. Gen. Sherman stood
watching the formation, visibly impatient.
| Soon the skirmishers were seen running for
ward, and behind them the two lines rolled
onward. The rebel pickets rushed back pell-
nell before them; the smoke leaped from the
cannons' mouths toward them, and the mus
kerry volIeys tore visible gaps through them
Now portion of them would falter, and with
our hearts in our mouths we dreaded lest the
next minute should see them go routed to the
rear. But the hesitation was never general
and always brief, the brigades sweeping OIL
with cumulative determination up the slope
and over the batteries. Sherman, rubbing his
hands, one over the other, said to the officer
next to him, They're rolling them up like d
sheet Of paper" But it was $50 o'clock be
fore the Fourth Corps could get into position
TO envelope Hardees doomed legions from the
south. Darkness closed down upon the days
work. Two hours more of daylight and thC
whole of Hardees Corps would have beer
hemmed in, but in the dark ness he slipped out
and Atlanta was in the hands of the Twentieth
Corps. 2. RIDENoUR, Captain, Co. A, 55tl
H., Woodruff, Ill.