The National tribune., 1909-02-11

Skirmishers were thrown well out, ana
the men intrenched during the night
The loss in my command. to in
clude this date. was 102 killed. 512
wounded and IA missing; aggregate,
62S. We captured 80 prisoners. The
loss of the enemy in my front in killed
and wounded is estimated at 1900"
The Fourteenth Corps took position
on McPherson's left, r. w. Johnson.
the First Division, moved
up about four miles in heavy line, driv-
ing the enemy thru the broken and
thickly-wooded stretch. but without
very serious fighting. The Second Di-
vision, commanded by Jeff C. Davis,
also moved forward until it came upon
the main line of the enemy, upon which
the division batteries opened with much
energy. but it was found best to send
Mitchelrs Brigade to the help of other
parts OF the line.
Gen. Baird's Division.
The Third Division, commanded by
Gen. Absalom Baird. moved forward
with general orders to swing on john
sons Division as pivot, and push
on until the enemy was encountered.
He had gained about three-fourths OF
a mile with his two brigades, command
ed by Col. Van Derveer and Gen. Tur-
chin. closed en- masse, when he re-
about to be made by Gen. Schofield.
There was no time to reconnoiter the
position, and it had to be discovered
as the troops advanced. narrow val
ley intersected by a boggy creek COW
cred for the width of a half mile with
dense growth Of brush had to be
passed. The obstacle would have SEEM
ed almost impossible for single in
dividual. but in some way Turchins
Brigade worked thru it, and reached
the crest, from which the enemy's
works could be distinctly seen.
Theyt were across another valley
about 800 yards distant. There
was not time to halt and form for
regular assault, because Schofields men
could be seen to the left Advancing
over the open ground, and Turchins S
Brigade had won an enviable reputa-
ton for the promptness with which 1t
attacked They rushed down the slope,
and at the bottom came upon a ire
at short range of artillery and mus
kerry. Then they struck bog, over
which they vainly strove to cross, with
only few succeeding. In spite of the
galiantry of the men the assault, which
was only an affair of few moments,
was soon seen to be hopeless. and most
of the command drifted back to the
shelter of the ridge, while a few re-
rnained at the edge of the creek until
nightfall Two officers and IA men
We're killed and seven officers and liz
men wounded.
Gen. StanIey's Report.
Gen. Stanley, commanding the First
Division, Fourth Corps. reports:
"At D. m. Wood advanced and
made connection with the right of this
division, and we advanced together un=
til stopped by the heavy fire of artillery
coming from the enemy's works. 1 re-
ceived about this time an order from
the General commanding the corps to
hold the Dalton road running by my
left flank. To do this / stationed
Cruft's Brigade upon the left of the
road, posting two of his regiments upon
round topped hill about 100 yards
from the road and directing them to
intrench themselves. These troops were
not vet in position when the enemy
was seen forming to attack them in
flank, and word was at once sent the
corps and department commanders OF
this fact. In the meantime Simonson's
Battery. which had been advanced, was,
as matter of caution, withdrawn and
| posted to sweep the open ground to the
rear of the threatened brigade. The
attack came about an hour before sun
down and perpendicular to my line.
| The 31st Ind, stationed upon the round
| topped hill, found itself fired into from
three directions. They did the best
| they could under the circumstances;
they got out of the way with such Or
| der as troops can hurrying thru a thick
| brush.
Directing their attack more to our
| rear than flank, the 101st Ohio and
| S1st Ind. were soon driven back, and
the enemy was bursting exultantly upon
| the open. field when Simonson opened
on them with canister. which soon
broke and dispersed that attack. The
enemy formed in the woods, and at
tempted to cross the open field again,
but met the same savage shower of
| canister. Robinson's Brigade of the
Twentieth Corps had also arrived, and
| formed facing the attack. The broken
regiments of the First Brigade had re-
| formed near the battery, and the enc
my was easily repulsed with very Sc
we're loss to him. The troops of the
| brigade did as well as could be expect
ed, situated as they were. Attacked in
| flank and greatly outnumbaPed, they
could only get out of the way as best
they could. Had it not been for the
timely aid of the battery it would have
gone hard with the brigade. Capt.
Simonson and the 9Th Ind. Battery
deserve great praise; their conduct was
splendid"
Gen. NiIliams'a Report.
Gen. Alpheus s Williams, command
ing the First Division, Twentieth Corps,
reported thus:
Scarcely was Robinson's Brigade in
line before numerous fugitives from
our own troops came pouring in con-
fusion over the open in front, followed
by the exultant enemy making conf
IDENTIFY for the battery After a fruit
less effort with my staff officers 20 rally
and organize the fugitives, / sent or
ders to them to clear the frolt, and
rode back to bring forward Robinson's
Brigade At the brigade / found Lieut.
Col. Perkins, Assistant AdjutaEt-Gen-
eral, with orders to move at once to
the open and support the battery. Rob-
inson moved with great promptness
down the steep wooded ridge side, cross
ing difficult creek at the foot, and,
changing front forward on his right
regiment in good order, he opened in
volley upon the astonished enemy. They
fed in greater haste than they had
advanced, and in Is minutes not a
rebel gun was heard in the valley
Orders were sent Ruger to advance his
brigade, so as to take the enemy in
flank, but before it could be done they
had fled. The division bivouacked for
the night on the plain fronting toward
Resaca. The brave and efficient con-
duct of Robinson's Brigade in this af-