The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-01-17
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
Continued from Arst page.l

IOrWaru as mucn as possible. nashell
is using his artillery freely and pressing
strongly, but finds the enemy too strong
to give hope of getting his works."
Haskell mi ght think so, but Cox, with
Stoneman behind him, was two miles
farther off and gaining ground north
ward and coming nearer to help Has
kell. There was still a slight hope of
redeeming the day so full of disasters !
But at last Cox's dispatch, received at
4:30 p. M, showed that nothing more
could be done. Cox and Stoneman,
routing a Confederate detachment and
driving it back, seizing and holding an
important Confederate outwork, had
done good service for future operation,
but that, important as it was, just then
afforded poor consolation to our COM
mander. He did then believe that some
of us might have broken through that
long line OF Confederates; yet, somehow,
it was not to bel
TX. THE TRIUMPH OF JOHNSTON.
On the Confederate side, when Gen.
Johnston left the Kenesaw nights and
retired to his Headquarters to recsive re-
ports and forward them to Richmond, he
was greatly rejoiced with the triumphs
of that day. But his account of the con-
fict is modest. A few of his words will
indicate the spirit of the man:
"But the most determined and power
full attack fell upon Cheatham's Division
and the left of Cleburn's. The lines Of
the two armies were much nearer to each
other there; therefore, the action was
begun at shorter range. The Federal
troops were in greater force and deeper
order, too. and pressed forward with the
resolution always displayed by the
American soldier when properly led
An attempt to turn the left was promptly
met and defeated by Cheatham's reserves
-Vaughn's Brigade. After maintain
ing the contest for three-quarters of an
hour, until more of their best soldiers lay
dead and wounded than the number of
British veterans that fell in Gen. Jack
sons celebrated battle at New Orleans,
the foremost dead lying against our
breastworks, they retired. unsuccessful,
because they had encountered intrenehed
unsurpassed by that of Ma
poleon's Old Guard, or that which fol-
lowed Wellington into France out Of
Spain"
The entire Confederate loss was 522,
against $500 for Sherman. 1t is a
wonder that ours was not greater.
K. LETTERS FROM THE FIELD.
While preparing the foregoing ac-
count of " Kenesaw," | knew | was near
the residence of the sister of Gen. Harker,
Mrs. w. K. Smith. After visit she has
kindly let me have some letters written
during our operations, and one short
time before he went into battle / am
allowed to make extracts. These, |
am sure, will make this history seem
realistic indeed.
The first part Of. the letter from which
/ will make extracts, addressed to his
" darling sister," has items of only per-
sonal concern. Then he goes on to say I:
Long ere this reaches you, you will
doubtless have learned something about
our present campaign, and, perhaps,
something concerning the operations of
my own brigade. / have not time now
to 90 into details / will only add that
we have been fighting almost incessantly
since we reached the vicinity of Dallas,
X X and that | have lost about
400 men, killed and wounded.
"At the battle of Resaca, on the 18th
of May, | was wounded just below the
left knee by she'll. 1t was severe
confusion, but the limb was not broken.
Though / suffered considerably, | did
not leave the field. | am now nearly
well, and hope to conduct my heroic
brigade through the great struggle,
which is almost hourly expected. The
hosts now confront each
other in q threatening attitude, and
though no general engagement is now in
progress, the blood of many poor fel-
low is made to stain the dust by the
sharpshooters. But few steps
from where this is being penned, l see
several newly-made graves, the number
increasing by the fall of gall
liant officers and brave men, and before
this reaches you thousands of others must
fall. Who they will be, God in his in
finite wisdom alone knoweth !" After
a few other precious messages, he closes i:
Your affectionate brother, G. G. Har-
ker."
Another letter, written earlier, before
a great battle, has some characteristic
"a great battle is expected.
Its results cannot be doubted, but many
must fall in the terrible struggle. We
go forth with confidence in an army
which has never been beaten. Believ-
ing in the justice of our cause, we will
trust results to the Disposer of the desti-
nies of nations. If spared, | will write
to you as soon as the results of our move
ments are made known. X
my darling sisterl God keep
you and bless you'll c. G. Harker."
/ find also letter of my own, which,
think, has not yet found its way into
official columns. 1t will afford our