The National tribune., 1897-03-11
parts of the field revealed clearly what

parts of the field revealed clearly what
| was
: THE GAME OF MY ANTAGONIST,
and the ground somewhat favored him.
The railroad and wagon-road from De
eatur to Atlanta lie along the summit,
from which the waters flow, by short,
steep valleys, into the "Peach Tree "
and Chattahoochee, to the west, and by
other valleys, of gentler declivity, toward
the east (Ocmulgee). The ridgesand level
ground were mostly cleared, and had
been cultivated as corn or cotton-felds ;
but where the valleys were broken they
were left in a state of nature-wooded,
and full of underground. MCPHERSON S
line-ofbattle was across the railroad,
along a general ridge, with a gentle but
cleared valley to his front, between him
and the defenses of Atlanta; and another
valley, behind him, was clear of timber
In part, but to his left-rear the country
was heavily wooded. Hood, during the
night of July 81, had withdrawn from
his Peach Tree line, had occupied the
fortified line of Atlanta, facing north
and east, with Stewart's-formerly
Polk's-Corps and part Of Hardee's,
and with G. w. Smiths Division of
Militia. His own corps, and part, of
Hardee's, had marched out to the road
leading from McDonough to Decatur,
and had turned so as to strike the left
and rear of McPherson's line ain air"
At the same time he had sent Wheeler's
Division of Cavalry against the trains
parked in Decatur. Unluckily for us, |
had sent away the whole of Garrard's Di-
vision of Cavalry during the night of the
Goth, with orders to proceed to Coving-
ton, 80 miles east, to burn two important
bridges across the Ulcofauhatchee and
Yellow Rivers, to tear up the railroad,
TO damage it as much as possible from
Stone Mountain eastward, and to be
gone four days, so that Mcpherson had
no cavalry in hand to guard that flank.
The enemy was therefore enabled,
under cover of the forest, to
APPROACH QUITE NEAR BEFORE HE WAS
DISCOVERED;
indeed, his skirmish-line had worked
through the timber and got into the
field to the rear of Giles A. Smiths
Division of The Seventeenth Corps un-
seen, had captured Murray's battery of
Regular artillery, moving through these
woods entirely unguarded, and had got
possession of several of the hospital
camps. The right of this rebel line
struck Dodge's troops in motion; but
fortunately this corps (Sixteenth) had
only to halt, face to the left, and was in
iine-ofbattle; and this corps not only
held in check the enemy, but drove him
back through the woods.
About the same time this same force
had struck Gen. Giles A. Smiths left
flank, doubled it back, captured four guns
in position and the party engaged in build
ing the very battery which was the spe-
cial object of McPherson's visit to me,
and almost enveloped the entire left
flank. The men, however, were skillful
and brave, and fought for a time with
their backs to Atlanta. They gradually
fell back, COMPRISING their own line,
and gaining strength by making juno
ton with Leggett's Division of the Sew
enth Corps, well and strongly posted on
the HILL One or two brigades of the
Fifteenth Corps, ordered by Mcpherson,
came rapidly across the open field to the
rear, from the direction Of the railroad,
filed up the gap from Blair's new left
to the head of Dodge's column,-now
facing to the general left,-thus forming
a strong left flank at right-angles to the
original line-ofbattle. The enemy at
tackled, boldly and repeatedly, the whole
of this flank, but met an qually-ferce
resistance: and ON that ground bloody
battle ragged from little after noon till
into the night. A part of Hoods plan
of action was to sally from Atlanta
at the same moment; but this sally
was not, for some reason, simultane-
Gus, for the first attack on our extreme
left flank had been checked and repulsed
before the sally came from the direction
of Atlanta. Meantime Col. Sprague, in
Decatur, had got his teams harnessed up
and safely conducted his train to the
rear Of Scho6eld's position, holding in
check Wheeler's cavalry till he had got
off all his trains, with the exception of
three or four wagons. / remained near
the Howard House, receiving reports and
sending orders, urging Gems. Thomas
and Schofield to take advantage of the
absence from their front of SO consider
able a body as was evidently engaged
on our left, and, if possible, to make
lodgment in Atlanta itself; but they
reported that the lines to their front, at
all accessible points, were strong by
nature and by art, and were fully
manned.
ITO be continued
-e-------
Is usumpffon Coufa~jo