The National tribune., 1909-05-13
,.,.troih. continued.y

miles northeast of Atlanta. about lot
Is, near the houses marked as Howard
| and Col Hooker
III. Mai. ..Geh. Schoneld, by the roeo
| leading from Dr. Powells to Atlantis.
iii. Maj.-0en. Mcpherson VIII foi-
low one or more roads direct from De-
catur to ATLANTA.
"Eacht armvB commander Will accept
battle on anything like fair terms put
If the army reach within cannon range
of the city without receiving artillery
or musketry Hre, he will halt, form
strong line with batteries in position,
and await orders. If fired on from the
forts or buildings of Atlanta. no con-
sideration will be paid to the fact that
they are occupied by families, put the
place must be cannonaded without the
formality Of demand.
1.-The General-in-Chief will be with
the center Of the army, viz, with or
near Gen. Schofield.
by order of Maj.-Gen. w. T. Sher-
man.
81. NJ. Dayton, Aid-de-Camp."
Crossing tire Creek.
The night of July II the Army of the
Cumberland was on Nancy's Creek, a
tributary Of Peach Tree Creek, having
pushed back the enemy's skirmishers
from the Chattahoochee. On the 18th
the army advanced until Paimer's right
rested in the Junction of fNancy's ana
Peach Tree Creeks, and Howard's Corps
was at Buckhead. Gen. Schofield was
in the neighborhood of Decatur, while
Gen. Mcpherson was on the Augusta
Railroad, a few miles east of Decatur.
The line was very long one, thin in
places and with intervals which were
dangerous. Gen. Sherman's field order
was intended to consolidate the line
and throw his whole force against john
lx- in
Woods Division, leading the Fourth
Corps. reached Peach Tree Creek, on
the Buckhead and Atlanta road. The
bridge was burned, and the enemy was
in heavy work on the high ground
beyond Wood was ordered to force
passage of the creek, and secure n lodg
ment on the other side. He commune
Gated bis orders to Col. Knefier, of the
Third Brigade, who Immediately pro-
ceeded to its execution. The average
width of the creek was about 80 feet
and the depth about five. Col. Knefler
detailed so picked men from the 18th
Ind. and like number from the 9th
KY, who were to rush across the creek,
depioy as skirmishers and drive the
enemy back. The brigade moved down
the stream to rayine, where they
were hidden from the view of the ene-
my. The pioneers were each given
pole about 30 feet long to make sleep
the 100 picked men took rail. When
all was ready the men moved rapidly
but quietly down the ravine, threw
down the sleeperS, crossed the creek.
each man rushed up with his rail and
laid it for bridge. and the whole 100
men We're soon over, actively engaging
the enemys skirmishers. The enemy
was taken by surprise. and as he fell
back the brigade rushed over the
bridge, deployed, moved to the left.
struck the flank of the enerny's in
and drove him out. captur-
ing some prisoners. This uncovered the
stream fer a considerable distance,
when the First Brigade threw a bridge
over and quickly joined Knefler'S Bri-
gade. A hline was formed and hastily
under a fire of artillery and
which our artillery on the
other bank kept down as much as pos
sible. Woods "a casualties were very
small, which was remarkable consider
ing the risks he took and the possibility
that he would have to encounter the
half of the Confederate army. Gen.
Brigade came up in the rear.
and at once began the construction of
a permanent bridge, which was COM
pleted early in the evening. Gen. Wood
very naturally. took much credit to his
men for ftheL brilliant passage Of the
stream, which, he, asserts, was as hand
some and artistic, piece of military
work as was performed on the cam
paign. Gen. Stanley crossed the north
fork of the creek some distance to the
left, meeting strong opposition. His
men rebuilt the bridges which had been
burned and he encamped on line
facing Atlanta.
Gen. Davis's Crossing.
July IS Gen. jeff G. Davis went into
camp on Peach Tree Creek, a short dis
day sent out Dilworth's Brigade in
search of crossing in the neighbor-
hood Of Greenbone Creek At the best
IL was found that the enemy
was in considerable force, and they
offered a strong resistance, but Dilworth
forced them back and crossed the creek,
but had hardly formed on the other
bank when brigade of the enemy sal |
lied out of the works and attacked him
The two forces We're about equal, and
a sharp action ensued with heavy loss
on both sides. The enemy was at last
repulsed, MitchelPs Brigade coming in |
at the close of the. fight to assist in Win
ming the victory. Baird's Division
crossed. and took position on Davis's |
left for the night. Geary's Division had |
a similar experience. but managed to |
cover the construction of its bridge with |
a heavy artillery fire, and then crossed |
to take up a strong line and repuIse |
the enemy In his efforts to recover it.
Each of the commands at once in
trenched itself strongly for the night |
These operations contracted the line a |
great deal, but there was still a gap of |
about two miles between Gen. Thomas,s
left and Gen. SchofelFs right Gen.
Thomas sent two divisions of the Fourth
Corps to fill up this gap, leaving only
Newton's at the crossing of the Buck-
head road, and separating Newton's Di-
vision, which was on the south side of
the creek, from the other two. which
we're on the north side Gen. Newton
had advanced and secured a good posi-
lion in open ground at the distance of
L divisions interval from Geary's left.
indicated the presence of
he enemy in strong force. and the
Union commanders made their djsposi-
lions accordingly. Gen. Johnston had
to attack Sherman in the con-
usion and lack of support involved i'm
,rossing the deep gorge of Peach Tree
Creek, and he had fully Informed Hood
Of these plans. Hood now saw the on
Dortunity that Johnston had mentioned
and II was more favorable than he had
The Army of the Cum
)erland was across Peach Tree Creek
out 1T was minus the two divisions SENT
20. the north side and which were be-
yond helping in case II was assatIed. /
Hood Thought he had an admirable
chance to roll up the Army of the Cum
Derland in the harrow ground between
Peach Tree Creek and the Chatta-
1oochee River, and deliver a crushing
blow uponsit; He decided to attempt it,
ind reSOrted to a rItsa to throyv tha |