The National tribune., 1902-10-16
The loss was so killed, 4s9 wounded and

73 missing. p. s- .-...|
The loss of the enemy was much
heavier; 642 Of their dead were counted
and buried by Gen. Logan's command OD
July 20. The bodies of many others were,
no doubt, carried from the field during the
battle. Among their wounded were Gems.
Stewart, Brown, LOring and Johnson.
Gen. Harrow's Division captured five
battlefags; between 1,5OO and 1000
muskets were left by the enemy on the
field of battle, and were picked up by the
Union soldiers; 179 prisoners were cap
tured.
If the Confederate wounded were in the
usual proportion to their dead, their total
loss of killed, wounded and prisoners must
have been about 5000. Southern news.
papers, commenting on the battle, stated
that the Confederate loss was very heavy,
and that the fighting was the most desper-
ate of the campaign.
During the night after the battle, Gen.
Logan caused a strong line of intrench-
ments to be thrown up; by morning the
Fifteenth Corps occupied well-fortifed
line.
This battle, known in the annals of the
war as Ezra Chapel, is the fifth of the
great series of battles fought around the
city of Atlanta. The method adopted was
the offensive defensive system of warfare.
Military operations were pushed against
the enemy with so much vigOr, and their
lines of communications were SO severely
threatened by hank movements that they
were finally forced to come out from be-
hind their skillfully constructed works and
give battle upon more equal terms. They
became the assailants, and relied upon
winning the day by making sudden and
fierce assaults.
Great advantages have often been
gained by such tactics in war, particularly
where there is an open field fight, and
superior force is suddenly thrown against
an important position; but in this case the
assaulting Confederate forces was faced
by veteran troops who were thoroughly
used to the. dangers of battle, who had
never met defeat; whose experience, cour-
age and coolness enabled them not to,
shoot at random, but to hold their fire un-
til the enemy was in easy range, and then
with deadly aim NOW down the ranks OF
the assaulting column. This was the
method of battle of the Union forces on
that terrible day. The writer has received
from the lips of Gen. Logan descrip-
tion of that fierce struggle. HIS line oc
cupied good position, fought on the de-
fensive; before the battle was an hour
old, his men were behind cover; when the
rebel force from time to time advanced,
they met deliberate fire. This sheet of
well-directed lead was more than human
nature could stand. No pare of the rebel
that day. ,-.t. sal4
Gen. Sherman apprehended that while
extending his line on his right, southwest
of Atlanta, that Gen. Hood might come
out Of his works and attack the moving
column, and decided to provide reserve
force. For this purpose he ordered Gen.
Davis's Division, of Gen. Palmer's Corps,
to move down to Turner'S Ferry, thence
toward White Hall, or East Point, to be
in position on the right Of the Army Of
the Tennessee, so, in case of an attack,
Gen. Davis could fall suddenly upon the
enemy's flank. Of course, Gen. Howard
| was informed Of the arrangement, and
| when the battle was on Gen. Sherman and
Gen. Howard, who were both present in
the rear Of the Fifteenth Corps, expected
| every moment to hear the guns of Gen.
Davis, but his division did not arrive
Gen. Morgan, who commanded the divi-
sion On that day, on account of the sick
ness of Gen. Davis, was delayed in the
movement by want of direct road, and
was compelled to take a circuit0us route
| In speaking of this matter, Gen. Sher-
man says: Il cannot attribute the failure
| to want of energy or intelligence, and must
charge it, like many other things in the
campaign, to the peculiar, tangled nature
of the forests and absence of roads that
would admit the rapid movement of
| troops"
Every officer and man of the army en-
gagged in the battle of Ezra Church has
a right to feel proud of the achievements
of that day. Gen. Logan demonstrated
the fact, which he had often done before,
| that his presence on the field of battle was
assurance of victory.
| CTo be cOntinued.)