The National tribune., 1902-09-11

stiHls Uu JUty Neu I1OCu at
took steps to meet an advance of Sher-
mans army from the northeast. He
formed Il line of battle, with Gen.
Cheatham's Corps on the right, covering
Atlanta; Gen. Hardees Corps in the cell
ter and Gen. Stewart'S Corps on the left.
Stewards Corps had been posted SO as to
confront Thomas's army while it was cn
camEed on the opposite side of the river.
StewaIts left rested at the railroad Gloss
ing of the Chattahoochee. His troops
We're intrenChed in two lines. extending up
the river five miles to the mouth of Peach
Tree Greek, and up and parallel with that
stream to the PAGES Ferry road. His
infantry were posted from left TO right
as follows: Gems Ector, Adams, and Rey-
nolds with their brigades occupied the
front line; Gen. Sears, Col. Barry and
Gen. Cockrell with their brigades occu-
pied the second line; Reynolds was posted
to defend the crossing of Peach Tree
Greek, on the PAGES Ferry road, but on
the morning of July 10 he was relieved
by Gen. Gist's Brigade of Gen. Hardee's
Corps, Reynolds moving down the creek
to strengthen the line. The other brigades
of Stewards Corps were posted in sup
porting distance of the advance.
Gen. Hood also set himself the task of
definitely locating the positions of Gen.
Sherman's army. His cavalry was very
active, and its commanders were able to
report from hour to hour the military
situation in their front.
Gen. Hood received definite informa-
tion of the movement of Gen. Mcpherson
against the railroad, his destruction of the
track, and his arrival at Decatur. He
also learned of the movement of Gen.
Schofeld's column and of the broad in
terval between his right and Gen.
Thomas's troops. He found that the
Army of the Cumberland under Gen.
Thomas was advancing upon several
roads leading to Atlanta. ard that his
route lay across Peach Tree Greek and
its numerous tributaries.
THOMAS CROSSES PEACH TREE CREEK
The advance of Gen. Thomas on July
IS brought him in the neishborhood of
Peach Tree Greek. Some of the Confed-
crate cavalry had been driven across that
stream. The whole of the Army of the
Cumberland bivouacked that night north
of the creek. Peach Tree Greek flows
northwest and empties into the Chatta-
hoochee River Rear the railroad crossing.
This stream is too deep to be forded, and
formed considerable obstacle to
Thomas's forward movement.
On the morning of July ID, Gen. Sher-
mans whole army renewed the forward
movement at an early hour. Gen. Me
Pherson with the Army of the Tennessee
moved along the railroad toward Decatur,
destroying the railroad as he advanced.
Gen. Sch0feld took a road towards At
lanta somewhat north of the railroad.
Thomas's army advanced toward Peach
Tree Creek along his extended front Gen.
Davis with his division had the right of
Thomas's command. with Dilworths Bri-
gade holding the right of the line On
the morning Of July 10, by the direction of
Gen. Thomas. Dilworth's Brigade moved
down Green Bone Greek to its junction
with Peach Tree Greek in search of a
crossing. A suitable place to cross the
creek was found. but it was strongly
guarded by the enemy, who were posted
on ridge some 300 yards from the creek
with a farm house and outbuildings as
their center. The creek was fringed with
trees and bushes; the bottom between
creek and ridge was a field covered with
full-grown corn. 1t was decided to cross
the creek and attack this force.
The sd Ohio. Lieut.-Col. Charles w.
Clancey commanding, was given the ad-
vance.
A sheltered spot was selected for the
crossing. A footbridge made of two small
logs was promptly provided; over this the
troops crossed. Maj. J. T. Holmes, with
five companies rs skirmishers, led the
way. These men as they crossed the creek
deplOyed to the right at proper distance,
IIiOneutdTiIy tdhluS SueIteT III Inp DuSueS.
Maj. Holmes led the skirmish line for
ward at once into the field of corn. As
his men advanced the tall corn sheltered
them from view, but as they rushed for
ward they shook the corn so as to advise
the enemy of their presence: they were
greeted by a CALLING fire, but they ad-
vanced boldly, and deceived the enemy as
to their number by the audacity of their
charge. As Mai. Holiness line approach
ad fha fba hill tho rctJred
to their reserve line. Maj. Holmes rushed
with his men up the hill and gained pos
session of the houses. While Maj. Holiness
skirmish line was advancing a steady
stream of men hurried across the foot
bridge and pushed forward to reinforce
the skirmishers. The Confederate brigade
close at hand advanced with largely su-
perior force against Maj. Holiness line,
bent upon recovering the houses and the
ridge, but reinforcements were increas-
ing every moment, and took mp the fight.
Lieut.-Coi. Clancey mounted the ridge
with five companies of his regiment, and
formed on the right, where he was at
once hotly engaged-the Seth ILL.,. led by
Maj. Rider, rushed up the hill and formed
on the left of the SD Ohio; these two
regiments for time held their line against
three times their number. but in good
time all the other regiments of Col Dill
worth's Brigade-the 22d Ind, the Seth,
10th and the 125th Ill.-appeared upon
the scene.
The fighting was sharp and continued
some time with heavy losses on both sides
AT last the enemy gave way, and the hill
was in the undisputed possession of Dill
worths Brigade. They held and in
frenched the position.
Lieut.-Col McClancey and 25 men Of
the SD Ohio were captured.
This affair rose to the dignity of bat
tie. The enterprise and courage displayed
were never excelled. The total loss of
the brigade in the fight was 245 killed,
wounded and missing. Lieut. Col. James
w. Langley, who succeeded to the COM
mand OF the brigade when Col Dilworth
was wounded, has this to say in his re-
port:
''As the 18th of July was an eventful
day in the history of this brigade. choose
to incorporate in this report the minutes
made by Col. Dilworth at the time:
This morning / was ordered to form
my lines in rear OF skirmish line and push
across Peach Tree Creek This was done
by placing the SD Ohio in advance. cross
ing the creek on n log and moving ont
across the field and on the hill. Here we
found an entire brigade of rebels and n
portion of another. The balance of our
brigade crossed. first. S5th ILL.,. and went
to the assistance of the SD Ohio, on the
left. and found heavy force; next came
the 125th ILL.,, and moved forward to the
crest Of the hill; next the Seth Ill. and
formed on the left. The 22d Ind. at the