The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-20

I
perate character, often being hand to hand
The corps captured 4S1 prisoners and buried
over 400 dead bodies in front of>their line.
EZRA CHURCH.
On the morning of the 2Sth Of July Gen
Logan, having been relieved from the command
OF the Department by the appointment of Gen
O. o. Howard, reassumed command of the Fif
teenth Corps and returned Gen. Smith to the
! command of the Second Division.
The corps was then moved into position on
! the right of the Seventeenth Corps and extreme
right of the army. with Woodss Division on
the left, Harrow's in the center. and Smiths
| on the right The corps was thus moving for
! ward IN line of battle when the skirmishers be-
came actively engaged, and when the corps
had gained the ridge upon which was situated
| Ezra Chapel the enemy suddenly and furiously
| assaulted the right and center of the line.
They moved rapidly forward, but after an
hours desperate fighting were handsomely re-
pulsed with heavy loss They soon reformed,
however, and again made a desperate assault,
which was repeated four successive times with
like result of the first The engagement lasted
from 1l:30 a. IN. until darkness compelled a
cessation. Gen. Harrow's Division captured
five battlefags and between 1,500 and 1000
muskets Over TOO prisoners were also cap
tnred. Over 600 of the enemy's dead were
buried in front of the line of the Fifteenth
Corps, and large number were supposed to he
carried away during the night rs the enemy
did not withdraw until nearly daylight. Dur
ing the night defensive liues were constructed,
and the following day was occupied in bnrying
the enemy's dead and removing the wounded
from the field to the hospitals in the rear.
From July 90 to Aug. 3 the corps was ad-
vanCed by swinging the right around distance
of one mile, intrenching two intermediate lines.
The Fourteenth Corps from the Army of the
Cumberland, having been sent to the right,
WoOds's Division was sent to connect with its
left, thus Strengthening the line of the Fifteenth
Corps, which then fronted in the direction of
Atlanta.
On Aug. Gen. Harrow wishing to advance
his line to ridge upon which the enemy's
skirmish-line was intrenched, organized por-
tion of his division which moved forward so
rapidly and with so little demonstration that it
surprised the entire line of skirmshers and
captured them all. Gen. Harrow Was assisted
in this movement by the Second Division.
which captured that part of the skirnish line
ip its front, with five prisoners.
No movements OF Importance were made
until Aug. 26, except that ON the 10th Gen.
Woods moved his lihe and gained possession of
the ridge in his front, capturing about 60 pris-
oners.
On the 4th Of August Gen. M. l. Smith was,
on account of disability resulting from a wound
received at Chick asaw, compelled to take leave
of absence, and the command of the division
then dcvolved upon Gen. Lightburn. who re-
tained command until relieved by Brig Gen.
w. B. Hazen Aug. II.
On Aug. 10 Gen. Osterhaus resumed conl-
mand OF the First Division relieving Gen. C.
Z. Woods, who on Aug. % was assigned to
command the Third Division. Seventeenth
Corps.
On the 2eth the corps was withdrawn from
its position in front Of Atlanta, and moved
across UtOy Creek, reaching Camp Creek early
on the morning Of the 9th.
At 8 a. ~. on the 2Stl the corps moved out
and at noon went iHto position near Shadna
Church, two miles north of Farburn brigade
Of Gen. Harrow's Division was sent to destroy
the railroad track and telegraph wires, which
was eflectual1y accomplished.
Esriy OH the morning of the 30th the corps
moved OH the direct route toward Jonesboro
crossing Pond Creek aud Shoai Creek. At $3.50
p M, after skirnlishing all along the route the
corps reached Reufroe Place and thence moved
forward to Flint River. beyond which the
enemy was found posted under cover of strong
harricade covering the crossing. A charge by |
the skirmishers dis1odged the enemy and the
corps crossed the river, constructed a strong
defensive line, and took position for defense
JoNEsBoRo.
At about 3 p. n, Aug. 81, the enemy opened |
an artillery fire in front of the line of the eorps
which they continued for abaut Is minutes. |
when they made sudden and desperate assault |
On all parts of the line. approaching at points /
On the left of Gen. Hazens line (which was the |
left of the corpsJ within 30 paces. Gen. Hazen |
the most determined part of the |
assanlt. which also ragged severely ia front of /
harrow and Osterhaus the enemv approaching |
their lines At an average distance OF 80 and 100 /
PAGES. A most terrible aud destructive fire was !
directed at the enemy. and in less than an |
Bour he was compelled TO retire in confession
The enemy made two more assaults but the /
and destructive fire which they had /
received in the first had DESTROYED their con-
idence OF success, and they were easily repused, /
hough not without severe punishment being
Inflicted upon them.
On Sept. the Fourteenth Corps was ordered
o take position on the left of the Fifteenth /!
md the latter was directed TO make a demon
tration in its favor Accordingly Gen. Logan
aused all his artillery to open on the enemy's
position. Slight actions followed,
With favorable results, and on the night of
opt. ]. the enemy evacuated their position.
Ii day light On the Cd the Union pickets were
II JoHesboro and skirmisling witt, those Of
he enemy just moving out.
The corps then pushed forward and pursued
he enemy. with constant skirmishing, five
niles to their intrenched position around |
,ovejoy's Station, aud took position on
'evated ground IN the enemyS front about
10 yards from what appeared TO be their main
inc. This position maintained until the
'tght OF the 9th, when the corps withdrew aud
eturned to its old position at Jouesboro
)n the 9Th the corps moved to the vicinity of |
borrow g Mill, and on the following day moved |
o East Point and went into position with |
Bterhaus's Division the right HaZeD's in |