The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-25

Peach Tree Creek, July 20.-1he order
was TO charge en- echelon, by divisions
at intervals of 600 Yards. so when fht
division on our right had gained the
proper distance the command was giver
"By the right of companies to the front
march. +" and it was well that such was the
order, for we could never have gone through
that tangled mass Of timber and brush in
Iine-of-h hattie. 1t Was heavy timbered
section and the trees had been teiIed. lap
ped and crossed until they presented an
almost impossible barrier. hut we finally
made our way through the worst of Il and
were then halted and wheeled by the left
flank into Hne-ol-bat;'e, being then under
fire OF the picketS.
The order TO fix hay1neis, forward,
double quick, march was given. We
raised The old rebel veil, and rushed on the
works, but the yell was soon drowned by
the roar of musketry and thunder OF can
non, crane and canister, and mlnie-haliS
moved great gaps III our ranks, hat ON we
went until it seemed a hand-t0h@nd con
flict was inevitable. when cur boys began
to WAIVER and soon the line fell back under
cover of a little bill, where we reformed our
shattered columns and forward again with
the same result.
A three gun battery was Immediately in
our front. and the enemy were maSSed IN
the ditch. and indeed it seemed Ike a Tor
lorn hope to attempt 10 diSlodge them, but
having rested short time We made the
third charge and drove them from the
works. capturing the three cannon and the
flag of the SD \. j.. and planting our
colGrS on the hreaeSjworks.
We thought the4att e was won. and were
rejoicing over what We supposed would
result in a glorious victory. but, alas,
Hardee : Corps WAS Te7ulSed en- car right.
and in 2 short lime the Yankees we're
pouring CALLING fire MO Us from front and
flank, which with an cnilading fire Of artil-
lery from our right rgoVed 50 destructive
that we were ordered - retire, leaving cur
captured guns, bat holding 10 the New
Jersey flag, which We carried out as a
trophy.
Sorrowfully the survivors retired TO our
breaStWorlIS. mcufnIn" the loss OF many of
our friends, but thankful that We had es
capped. Thus Gen. Hood 5 first battle was
a failure. with a loss of probably 1000 or
5000 men. but il was no fault of he troops
on our part of the line. Tor Stewart Corps
literally obeyed his orders, carrying every
thing, and with proper support on the right
could have driven the enemy across Peach
Tree Creek.
July Pho fighting to-day, excert the
skirmishers, hut we have had d hard days
work Strengthening oar Qualifications, &C
casionally moving position TO right or left,
digging new bitches, only To leave them
again Tor somebody eiSe'S benefit. | have
not learned our exact loss in yesterday
battle, but the loss in our consolidated
regiment is about Is per cent. which is not
as heavy as might have been expected,
considering the short range at which we
fought, and the disadvantage we had in
making three successive charges on the
enemy in his works.
July 22.-Last night we abandoned our
bitches and fell back on Atlanta, forming
line -of-battie in the suburbs of the city
where We again began welding the pick
and spade. By daylight we had slight
earthw orks thrown up, and the enemy
moved UP and drove in our pickets. We
reinforced and drove them back, then they
reinforced and drove us back.
This was repeated until half the lne-Of-
battle was on the skirmish-line and the
whole day was spent with charge after
change, amounting at times almost 10 a
regular engagement. 1t has been a lively
day with all, for those who were not on
the skirmish line were Throwing dirt with
Ail their might, and by night we had pretty
fair works and felt like we could hold our
position against any attack.
Gen. Hardee'S Corps attacked the Fed
eral left at about p. m, but We took no
part except as interested listeners. The
battle ragged furiously for three hours, and