The National tribune., 1902-02-13

we were moved AWAY lTOLi lltLl JulH
at noon, half mile to our right, whc
our brigade formed in rear of a newly-e
tablished line. We were relieved by
portion of the Fifteenth Corps from Il
left.
SkirInishing continued as usual, al
stray shots reached our position.
What with skirmishing ali day m
building Notifications by night and movin
from point to point through heat and dus
we were wCll-nigh exhausted.
We were notified the morning of Jul
81 that we should probably remain in on
present position several days, and Will
we were congratulating each other on tn
prospect of 4 day of rest, so much needle,
our hopes were suddenly dashed by n
order to be ready to move at bugic cal
and few minutes later ASSEMBLY wa
sounded. Our tents came down and wcr
packed Just in time for 4 new order I
leave baggage, which we did, and marche
out through a very heavy rain. belicvin
that something very serious was about I
happen.
We found our division in line. with tn
First Brigade in advance, which imme
diately began skirmishing. and drove bacl
the ConfedcrateS into their main works
from which they opened on us with a bat
terry actively and spitefully. There wa
also a show of infantry waiting behint
the works for us to make charge, if tha
should be our purpose; but it was not, 81
we retired to our former camp to make
our report of the result of our recOnnOis
sance in force.
We replaced our tents and crawled into
them for protection from the rain, which
continued to fall the remainder of the day
Much to our relief our brigade was per
mitted to remain quietly in reserve Aug
1. although the active movement of OuI
forces to the right still continued in the
hope of reaching the railroad, but as far
as we 90 in that direction formidable
works still defy our approach TO that all,
important line Of communication. We can
hear the whistling and rumbling of trains
passing along our front. At such times
a battery planted near us humps itself
with a prodiEious effort TO reach the train
with solid shot and shell.
"UNcLE BILLY SHERMAN.
"Old Billy rode slowly along our line
Aug. 1, followed at a distance of about 80
yards by an Aid and Orderly. His head
was bent over until his long nose almost
rested between his horses ears. while his
countenance betrayed the deep thought in
which he was absorbed TO the exclusion,
apparently, of everything about him.
At sight of him hush pervadcd our
ranks in sympathy with his mood We
realized what a load of responsibility rests
on his shoulders. We have forgiven him
for the only mistake he has made, in our
estimation-the Inflated assault on Ken
esaw-and offer him our unbOunded con-
fdence. In explanation Of that order he
has made this statement:
1.-THE assault on Kenesaw was not n
mistake. / had to do it. The enemy and
our own army and officers had settled
down into the conviction that the assault
of lines formed no part of my game, and
the moment the enemy was found behind
anything like parapet, why, everybody
would deplOy, throw up counterworks and
take it easy, leaving it to the old Man
to turn the position"
ARRIVAL OF ARMY OF THE OHIO.
During the night Schofield's Army Of
the Ohio arrived from the extreme left.
and during Aug. 2 was actively engaged
in extending its line to the right of our
division, which previously held the ex-
treme right, and, being separated from the
remainder of the corps, we were placed
under temporary command of Gen. Scho-
field.
AS far as our lines are extended TO the
right we find the enemy's heavy intrench-
ments covering our approach TO the rail-
road.
CROSSING UToY CREEK
Aug. 3 the remainder Of our corps
moved to the right of SchOfeld and prep
arations were made that our wing should
force the crossing of UtOy Greek, and one
of SchOfeld's Divisions did cross; but we
did not move, because our corps com
mander, Gen. Palmer would not recog-
nize the authority of Gen. Schofeld.
Gen. Sherman then came in person and
conducted one Of our divisions across the
creek to support that of Schofeld, already
IN position.
Cox's Division. of Schofeld's command.
crossed the creek the morning Of Aug. 4,
and formed in rear of Bairds Division.
of our corps, which was ordered to attack
the enemy in front, while our division and
Johnson's crossed the creek still farther to
the right. in cooperation with the move
ment. But no general attack was made
although one Of Bard's Brigade made n
reconnaissance and lost % men,
Sherman ordered an attack the morning
Of Aug. by Baird's Division directly
upon the enemy's works in front. cur di-
vision to support it on the left and John
sons on the right
Baird's men rushed upon the enemy's
rife-pits, capturing about 100 prisoners
and losing about 100 men, killed and
wounded.
Our division then moved forward to-
Baird's left, and Johnson's formed on our
IiSIlt- bAt SUM dlitl dNNdLttl 10 Il IlNee
on the bank of a little stream tributary
70 UtOy Creek. Cox's Division joined
JohnsOn's in this movement which was
not contested by the enemy.
Our dilatoTy tactics Of the last three
days were the result Of controversy by
Gen. Palmer as to the right of Gen. Scho-
field to give orders TO our corps; so. in
stead Of aggressive attack by the Four
teenth and Twenty-third Corps. as Sher-
man intended, we merely indicated dur
purpose TO the enemy, who proceeded TO
strengthen his line in our front During
the still hours of the night we heard the
chOpping Of many axes which we knew
was converting timber and brush into
"abatis" against our expected assaults.
Such was the condition developed by
Cox's Division Immediately on our right
when it moved forward 10 reconnoiter on
Aug. 6. After driving back the skirmish-
ers the main line Of intrenchmcnts was
discovered along the SandtOwn road. well
protected by network of tangled brush.
skillfully cut TO afford the greatest OBJ
etructiOn.
During Aug. and our corps and
SChohelds, constituting the right wing
"fapped' vigorously.
First our corps made n rush upon the
enemy's ritle-pits. capturing them and
few prisoners. Then SchOfield swung his
extreme right, and gained new ground on
the south bank of Utoy Creek. While the
eDemy's main works, we are still on the
wrong side Of the mud fence" and find
no openings TO crawl through. The only
Ee - al. 4.