The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-31

MIA, at Wnlcn place we relnalneu uurIhs
the 29th.
Van Horne, History of the Army Of
the Cumberland" Vol. 2, page i24,)
says:
"Gen. Stoneman went farther and
Jared worse. He sent Garard's Divis-
ion of Cavalry to Flat Rock, and moved
through Covington down the Ocmulgee
to East Macon. In endeavoring to re-
turn he was hemmed in and captured
with 700 of his command, the remainder
escaping.
"Gen. Garrard engaged successfully
two divisions of cavalry at Flat Rock,
and then returned to Atlanta" ="
Vale, in Minty and the Cavalry"
page 327, thus tells of this affair:
"The morning Of the 2Sth disclosed
the fact that the command was
COMPLETELY SURROUNDED
by two divisions and three additional
brigades in all-of cavalry. A
heavy attack was made on the position
of the 7th Pa. near the shoals, which
was successfully repulsed. x x x
Attacks were made on every part of the
line in quick succession from daylight to
about 10 a. m; when, forming the
Third Brigade, dismomted, with a bat
talon of the 4th Mich. on each of its
fanks, Minty assumed the offensive on
the Lithonia road and drove them from
that front in confusion"
Shortly after our return to the lines
in front of Atlanta, I met Gen. Xii
patrick. We were discussing Stone
mans expedition. Fitzpatrick, in his
impulsive manner. exclaimed:
Mark me, Minty, / know Stoneman
like book. He will 60 to the proper
spot like a cannon-ball, but when he
gets there, like shell, he'll burst"
History tells how correct Fitzpatrick
was in his forecast and what miserable
failure Stoneman-the great cavalry
failure Of the war-made of the expedi-
tion. Instead of releasing the Union
prisoners at Macon and Andersonviile,
he and half of his command were made
prisoners.
Coils. Capron and Adams, volunteer
officers, refused to be bound by his
TERMS OF SURRENDER,
and both brought the greater portion of
their brigades back to our lines.
On the 30th We marched to Cross Keys,
80 miles, and on the 31st established a
camp near Buckhead, where the First
and Third Brigades left their horses,
made night march through the woods
and swamps to the trenches close In
front of Atlanta, and there relieved the
Twenty-third Corps-Schofeld's-in ac-
cordance with the requirements Of
SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 80. !
HEADQUARTERS NJ. ID. OF NJ.
NEAR ATLANTA, Ga. Aug. 1, 1864.
II. Brig.-Gen. Garrard's cavalry will relieve
Gen. Scho6eld and occupy in part his trenches,
patrol the roads about Decatur. and picket to-
ward Roswell. He will report TO Gen. Thomas
and be prepared to sally out as cavalry from
his trenches in case of necessity.
By order of MAJ-GEN. SHERMAN.
L. M LAYTON, AlG-oe-taInp.
From the 1st to the 18th of August
we did duty as infantry in the trenches,
during which time we were daily and
nightly engaged with the enemy, and
taking our share of the fire from the
heavy guns in Atlanta.
On the 7th of August an advance and
demonstration was made by the left
wing of the army
AGAINST THE REBEL WORKS,
resulting in the capture of nearly two
miles Of their rife-pits and the pushing
forward of our lines at several points In
this advance my command held the ex-
treme left and was sharply engaged and
had 10 men wounded.
On the 9th my advance skirmishers
at the "Red House" and along the
Augusta Railroad were attacked early
in the morning. The infantry line to
our right was driven back about half
mile. Capt. Vale, of the 7th Pa, in
charge of the adjoining line of skirmish-
ers, quickly moved his line to the right,
seizing an angle of the rife-pits aban-
doned by the infantry near the house,
and securing position from which he
had an enfilading fire on the enemy,
which held them in check and prevented
their occupying the abandoned rife-pits.
sent parts of the 4th Mich. and 7th Pa.
to his assistance, and, extending to the
right, took possession of the abandoned
pits and soon drove the enemy within
their own lines. The great superiority
of our arms-the Spencers-over the
infantry rifles was made very apparent
on this occasion; the enemy could not
stand before our fire.
During the IA days we served in the
trenches, no portion Of the line held by
the dismounted cavalry was at any time
carried by the rebels.
On the 18th general move to the
right relieved us from this duty. We
moved back to our horses, and were once
more busy
SCOUTING AND PICKETING.
On the 18th, in command of the
First and Second Brigades, | marched
for Sand Town, on the extreme right of
the army, and reported to Gen. Kill