The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-30
FIGHT AT PICKETT'S MILL
ONE OF THE. TWELVE-DAYS' BAT
TIES ABOUT NEW HOPE CHURCH.
How Woods Division Swung Around
to Rebel FIank-Repeated Charges
and Terrible Slaughter.


the spring of 1864 witnessed a new phase
in our military combinations. Previous to
that date dispersion of our troops, and, of
course, our efforts had been the order of
the day; for the campaigns of the spring
and summer of 1864 consolidation of our
troops had been wisely decided on
In conformity with this principle of con-
solidation and concentration, three hitherto
separate armies viz, the Army of the
Cumberland, commanded by Maj. Gen.
George H. Thomas; the Army of the Ten
nessee, commanded by Maj. Gen. j. b. Nc
Pherson, and the Army of the Ohio, COM
manded by Maj. Gen. J. NJ. Schofeld, were
concentrated in and near the northwestern
angle of Georgia in the latter part of April
1864, for the summer campaign into that
State. Including all arms the aggregate
of this combination was slightly in excess
of 100000 men. This grand aggregate was
commanded by the brilliant soldier, Maj.
Gen. w. r. Sherman.
The campaign was opened May 8, 1864
and its objective was the capture of AT
lanta-'the Gate City of the South"
1t is not the purpose of this article to
present even the briefest sketch of the
many varied incidents of the Atlanta cam
paign; but it will not be out of place to re-
mark that, tried by every test known to
military art and science, it was the most
brilliant of all the campaigns of the war
waged for the suppression of the great re-
bellion.'
The purpose of this article is indicated
by its title, namely, to present a sketch of
one of the most sanguinary and remarka-
BILE of the many fierce passages-at-arms
which illustrated the Atlanta campaign.
In with and
awaiting myself of the magicians privilege,
L pass over all the incidents of the cam
paign from the Sd of May to the 18th of
May, 1864, to introduce the reader on a
rainy afternoon, to New Hope Church, in
the vicinity of Dallas, Ga. Here General
Hooker-"Fighting Joe Hooker of war
times-leading the advance struck the Con-
federate army rather Unexpectedly, and
got-well rather a bloody nose. The con-
test was not decisive as the rapidly APP
preaching darkness soon put an end to it.
My division took no part in ii, as the late
hour of its arrival on the scene prevented
any participation. The morning OF the 18th
still found the enemy in our front. My di-
vision was early deplOyed into order of bat
tie on the left Of the Second Division of the
Fourth Corps. The day was spent by my
division in some very brilliant and success
full maneuVering to determine the exact
position of the enemy's intrenched line. To
do this it necessary to drive in his
light troops, who formed Il screen to his
position. The ground was in some parts
very difficult to maneuVer on, and in the
course of the operations deep stream had
to be bridged but the whole was satisfac
torily accomplished. The operations of the
26th having satisfactorily defined the posi-
ton of the enemy'Ss intrenched lines, it was
it should be assaulted, and my division was
selected for this arduous and dangerous
task.
A FLANK ATTACK.
enemys intrenchments rendered it evident
that direct front attack would be of most
doubtful success, and if successful would
certainly involve a great sacrifice of life.
Hence it was determined to find the ex-
IRENE right of the enemy's position, turn
it and attack it in flank.
In conformity with this determination my
division was moved entirely to the left of
our line and formed, by order of Major
General Howard, commanding the corps, in
six parallel lines, each brigade being formed
in two lines The order of the brigades in
this grand column of attack was, first, the
Second Brigade, Brigadier General HaZen
commanding; second, the First Brigade,
Colonel Gibson, Forty-ninth Ohio, COM
manding third, the Third Brigade, Colonel
Knefier, Seventy ninth Indiana, command
ing
When these dispositions were completed
(and to do so required a very short space
of time) the magnificent army moved for
ward. For a mile the march was nearly
due southwark through dense forests and
the thickest jungles, over a country whose
surface was SCARED by deep raVineS and
intersected by difficult ridges.
But the movement of the column through
all these difficulties was steadily forward
Having moved a mile southwark and not
having discovered any indications of the
enemy, it was supposed We had passed en-
tirely to the east of his extreme right. On
this hypothesis the column was wheeled to
the right and advanced in nearly a wester-
/ a
The nature of the surface passed over in
this westerly movement was similar in aI
respects to that already described.
After the westerly movement had pro-
crossed about a mile and a. half the flank
ers discovered that the column, in wheeling
to the right, had swung inside of the
enemys line. 1t was hence necessary, to
gain the goal we were seeking, to face the
column to the left, file left, and by flank
movement conduct the column eastward
and. southwark around the enemy's right
flank.
the division was acting required that the
extreme right of the enemy's intrenched
line should be found and assaulted in flank.
When all these movements so well calcu-
lated to try the physical strength of the
men were concluded and the point gained
from which it believed the column
could move directly against the enemy's
flank, the day was well-nigh spent-it was
nearly o'clock p m.
The men had been on their feet since
early daylight; had marched all day
through dense forests, over a broken coun-
try. without roads, under Ii nearly vertical
sun, and, as a matter of course, were much
fatgued. The column was halted for a
few moments to readjust the lines, to give
the men a brief breathing SPELL and to give
the troops who were to protect the TANKS
of the assaulting force time to come up and
get into position.
A REMARKABLE INCIDENT.
1 pause in the narrative while the wearied
troops are enjoying few moments of
much-needed rest to narrate a remarkable
incident which occurred just at this point
in the current of events. During the brief
halt General Howard and myself went eau
tiously forward, under the dense screen of
the May foliage of the primeval Georgian
forest, to the edge of an open field, which
at this point separated us from the enemy's
line. The field was not more than two hun
dred yards wide, and the enemy's SkirmiSh-
erS in their gopher holes were in plain view
on the opposite side of the field. AS our
object was to gain if possible some infor-
nation of the enemyS position which might
be useful in making the assault great eau
ton was necessary to avoid attracting the
attention of the enemy's skirmishers. While
we were seated near the edge of the field
protected from view by the screen of the
foliage, one of General Towards aids-de-
camp joined us and seated himself imme-
diately on my left In doing so he careless
ly rustled the foliage. Instantly there was
a sharp crack of the musket | heard the
and saw the young man prone on his back.
He was shot through and through. General
Howard ana myself rose very cautiously.
took the young man in our arms and bore
where we had left our staff officers and or
derlieS, behind the protection of the crest
of a ridge when we went forward to make
the reconnaissance. We laid the young man