The National tribune., 1888-01-05

AT afternoon mas been c&NcQ 70 tne aDoF6 "
the many errors 1t contains, as | shall try 10
show by the official reports made at the time
OF the battle of Atlanta, as hereafter copied.
]. The ID Iowa never belonged 10 the First
Division Fifteenth Corps, at any time during
the war.
,. The Goth Iowa was one Of the regiments
that formed part of the First Division, IL
teenth Corps from the time the corps was or
ganized until the war was over, and was mus
tered ont at Louisville, KY, July, 1865.
3 The 3D. No. at the time of the battle OF
Atlanta was in the Third Brigade, First Di-
vision, Fifteenth Corps, aud had no part IN the
capture OF De Gress's battery, as viii be shown
by copy OF official reports Of that battle made
at that time by division and brigade command
ers Of the First Division, Fifteenth Corps.
Report Of Brig.-Gen. c. Z. Woods:
BATTLE, July q, 1864
HEADe'Rs FIRST DIV. FIFTEENTH CoRPs.
NEAR ATLANTA, Aug ., 1884,
have the honor 10 make tine following report OF
fe part taken by this division in The battles O. The
Falir n tie morning Of The 22d OF July the di-
vision moved forward into WORKS abandoned Dy
the rebels the night previous, asa took position ou
tie left OF the Twenty third Corps, The right rest
ing "a the Howard House.
About III O'Clock a The Third Brigade, Col.
Hugo NGuEelug commanding, was detached Dy
order OF NsjlseIl Logan and sent 10 the eff, ieav-
ing nc the First Brigade, Col. Allio Smith, 10Th
iowa commanding. and the Second Brigade, Col.
rt-ft7 ~ -
lie following effective strength:
25sh Iowa is2 officers ana men; 39th Iowa, 2s3
officers and men; Z7th Mo-. lS5 officers and men;
76.h Ohio, 4l3 officers and men. Io-al l.c63.
4lli Iowa 800 officers and men; 9th Iowa, 300 Off
Gers and men; 9Th Iowa, S65 officers and men.
Tie Slst Iowa was absent al Roswell guarding
trains Aggregate in the First and Second Bri-
Pades Gg3 OF this number there were between
two and three hundred on the slirmish- line.
About ? O'Clock 2. NJ The rebels made a deter
mined attack upon The lines in heavy force TO my
left and after having been several times repulsed
succeeded in breaking the lines and occupying the
piis, which gave them a position there al 4U3
yards 10 my left and rear. Finding the position
uutenaole, threw hack nag icit forming new
line facing the enemy left flank, my right resting
az Ehe Howard House. / at the same time kept up
a heavy FIRE Of artillery on the enemy, preventing
them from taking OF Dcffress battery Ct four guns,
{-pouuer PARROTS of'Ehieil They had possession.
Shortly after having taken my new position / re-
ccred verbal order from Gen. NJ J.. smith, COM
lnand.ng Fifteenth Corps, 70 attack The enemy IN
flank and rear while the other troops moved up IN
fro1si 10 retaize ile position.
I Immediately moved the Second Brigade for
ward 10 attack III flank and rear, aud the First Bri-
gade 10 attack ia laul and front. This proved
successful and H. less than IS minutes lcd retakcn
DeGress's battery aud driven the enemy from the
Esfie-rits on their left far the Railroad. The
Whole rebel line then fell back and the works Were
reoccuIeC by our troops Hlillst moving tE.cz the
First Brigade 10 reOceupy tIeir original position
the enemy made a charge cur right t-th Iowa.
Of Second Brigade. which was posted on the re
verse % am Ole rebel battery. Inc enemy were
driven back with great slaughter, and made nc
further attack that night
CHARLES r. RooDs.
BrigalieT-CeDeIal Vols, Commanding Division
Extract from the report Of Col. Milo Smith
commanding First Brigade First Division, FIT
teenth Corps:
Prem demonstrations now making BY the enemy
80 became manifest they massing troops SIM
r1edteiy front 81 The Second Division. nay left
zVhiah was soon proven by their attacking IN such
force IS 70 break through our lines that point
made immediate preparations accordingly, not
slr
f-5nr Tiy ieit having completely changed uy from
70 9s 70 face tie flank Of the Zines ny left.
mace room fortile Second Brigade on my right and
moved rapidly across the haillp row appearing =
Ely irOBi as once attacking the enemy his flank
ard 50 vigorously Inst they were soon obliged 4
abandon Tie works tie5 sad TEN poT.rily occupied
together uIth Deliresss battery Of u FOUNDER Par
rolis u.ich had been Ia tlFer possession and alss
leaving tiier t.ead aud wounded IL our hands.
aiie works being sosg strengthened by the afFiva
q more troops my brigade was al once ordcres
back 70 rcoccuPy is original position.
Extract from report Of Col. J. A. Williamson
commanding Second Brigade. First Division
Fifteenth Corps.
About O'Clock the acticn commenced on on
immediate lct iie rebels attaching tl8e Second an
Fourth Divisions q. The Fifteenth Corgs Whei
the action bad lasted haf hour or periap
longer The rebels carried the works Ia front Of Ii
Second Division capturing Capt. De(sTess' batter
q z9-pOuuaeT Parrot guns. la accordance vii
orders u ile General commanding lIe division,
changed TIE mont 81 my e, letting my right ses
where . was and swinging my left back cOnnectIn
my lea with the right q Tue Flr-i Brigade Of on
Division. remained ia line Of battle for q Ehol
tinge awaiting the advance Of the rebels. bu
they did not come. Gen. Woods ordered me {
advance 10 two lines aud flank the works iror
which tie rebels had driven our forces short tim
besoTe. commenced the movement, the s,ll am
Oil in FIRST line and Z5lls ga second line and yer
soon casne under q heavy Gre. 10 which the con
H1Ane was exposed only Tor 3 short time, FOR
soon came uuder cover 81 g little stream. Her
was short delay in getting through thick bran
Dc. he line was Soon formed on the oppOsii
EaNe q fitc when the command ali
70 20 forward, which il did CALAMITY banking an
carrying The works and rceaptuEing De GTess
battery. az n the shortest possible time in which
work q. ths kind could be done. eft the eth
the works, sending the 4il 10 the right 60 occupy
rebel battery which commanded The head Of a r
yiHe - ief led 10 our line 81 the only place whel
t6erc = bEeastsY0rk. The regiment had n,
more than formed before % was assaulted by bl
Rlde 81 TtDcl infantry under command Of Col. Il
EeE. Gnd g very stubborn fight eEsued. The req
ineut nOby BE d the position and finally repeile
the assault. iuGiciing great loss on the rebels
kilten. wounded 8no prisoners The 9th Al
lrEJai was, according 60 the statements made 4
prisoner, nearly annibiiatcd IL Tie engageuien
TIE honor 81 gceauturlGg DE Gresss battery Is dt
y ne ~ ala s.l regiments, mea from both reg
Enents arriving there about tie same lime.
And further 10 show that the Third Brfgad
First Division, Fiiteeath Corps, to which Il
b DO. belonged, was not on the part Of q
field where De Gress's battery was stationed ,
any time during the assault on the Second u
vision, az viii be shown by extracts from Il
other oaicers on the battle Of July p, Gen. I
gan reports as follows;
At tlle time the firing commenced Gen. NJ
PhersOn WAS near the Fifteenth Corps Hearii
firing he rode rapidly toward the LEFT Of the arm
rode Al the same time ia that direcsion but hel
ing from an officer met that attack was
Ing made Ina force. i returned TO my corps
"A short time aHergFard Iieut.-Coi. Stro
brought order from Gen. Mcpherson 10 se.
brigade 10 III the interval between The Sixteen
and Seventeenth Corps. sent the Third Brigas
First Division, Col. MangeiinR. @
&aageling's Brigade, Of the Fifteenth Corps abe
tins time came mp on ibe dOubie-quick and was
once engaged with the head Of column Of [
enemy moving through the interval between
Elzteeuih and Seventeenth Corps with the eTide
Intention % striking the Seventeenth Corps Ia {
rear OF LegEetts Division. Col. Wangeing thr.
his small brigade into line Of battle pushed
enemy back under heavy ere gained a slight G
walton Of ground and threw up rail pit. .
Between tile Seventeenth Corps and the right
gade Of the Fourth Division Sixteenth Corps lCt
Dodge right. there interval fully 10
in width. The greater portion Of this interval >
heavily timbered, and afforded an excellent CO.
Tor the movements Of the enemy's troops. Ii '
occupied by no troops whatever. except Col. w
CEILINGS Brigade. of the Fifteenth Corps whic
moved rs j came into the field TO an elevated d,
ton la the Of the center Of the Fourth Di,
Son, Seventeenth Corps. about midway betwt
Bald Hill and Gen. Dodge'F command
This shows that the comrade IN his sta
ment Of assisting 70 recapture De Gress's
terry must be mistaken; and il this does
satisfy the comrade as to who did recaptl
that battery, ] have other reports in respect
that affair. and also to show that the First 9
Second Division had no reserves after the