The National tribune., 1909-03-04

Inc Battle OF New Hope Churcn.
On May Is ale: the columns were w,
moving steafiiy SA Dallas, with Gen. len
Sherman riding, as usual, with the
Army of the Cumberland, along the
main road III the scenter Of the nhe.
The Army the Tennessee and DAVIS
Division We're inear Van Vert, with tne
what in the Fear Hooker had his three
divisions on Separate roads, all leading
toward Dalfas and as he approached
bridge across Pumpkin Vine Creek
he found itaa held by a cavalry force,
which was driven back. tho not until IL
had set fire to the bridge. Gearys Di-
vision followed the Confederate caValry
on road leading eastward toward MA
rietta, and about four miles from the
bridge struck a heavy infantry force
which Johnston had sent down from
Allatoona. The 5th Ohio was leading
the van, and deployed as skirmlshers,
when the enemy was encountered, anc.
| Candy's whole brigade was rushed up TO
assist that regiment. The brigade at
first drove back the enemy, but the
attack was renewed, and Gen: Geary
brought up Irefand's and Buschbeck' S
Brigades in support. Some prisoners
were taken, from whom 1t was ascer-
tanned that the whole of Hoods Corps
was in front, with Hardee not far OFT
in the direction of Dallas.
This made a highly critical situation,
as the enemy had a far stronger force
present than we had. Gen. Sherman
came up, and found that we were near
an important crossroad called New
Hope, from Methodist meeting house,
and he ordered Gen. Hooker to secure
it If possible before dark. Hooker put
his central division on hill. and di-
rected it to open 4 hot fire upon the
enemy while barricades were being con-
structed. He sent urgent orders to Will
liams and Butterfield to come up i'm
mediately, but they were several miles
distant, and could not get up for some
hours. AS soon as they could be formed
in line they were sent forward, with
GearY's Division in reserve. to drive
the enemy beyond New Hope Church
and secure the meeting point of the
Marietta, Dallas and Ackworth roads.
Williams's and Butterfield's Divisions
attacked with great impetuosity, and
drove the Confederates back thru the
woods and thick underbrush for one
and half miles to New Hope Church.
where they ran up against heavy line
of works well manned. Tho they at
tackled this line with great energy, sup
ported by Geary, they did not succeed
in effecting lodgment upon the strong
log barricades. which were well sup
Hooker's men assaulted. only to be
beaten back. Gen. Geary says that the
shell and canister were the heaviest of
any battle in the campaign.
A Gloomy Night Settles Down.
The last part of the fighting was in
the midst of singuIarly heavy thunder
storm, with cold, pelting rain, bring
ing on a night Of intense darkness. In
spite of this. the troops moved forward
thru these difficulties, and established
line in clese touch with the enemy,
which they Proceeded to barricade. Gen.
Thomas sent the Fourth Corps to the
assistance of Gen. Hooker. and it reach
ed him by nightfali and formed on his
left.
During the. night all of the troops
came up and, went into position, the
Army of the Tennessee moving toward
Dallas, within Garrards Cavalry on its
right flank. 55 D
Gen. Schofield was so badly injured
by being knocked from his horse in
the darkness of the night in the forest
that he was Unableoto exercise the COM
mand for several days, ard Gen. j. d.
Cox took his place.
The night9was one of indescribable,
turmoil, confusionf and fatigue. The
rain poured down in torrents, the dark
ness was 2llSzs Egypt. and no one could
have any secure rideaIof where. the line
was nor where his regiment, brigade or
division should form. The troops could
only press forward in a general direc-
tion until they became aware by the
muSltet shots, the sound of chOpping or
of the enemy's voices that they were
near the Confederate line. AS best they
could the Union lines were formed con-
fronting this, and the men went to
work, tired as they were, to construct
dot Rt-tsr Jtt.;us I.n
came inextricably mixed up, and any
attempt to rectify the formation fire.
quently resulted in confusion worse con-
founded. Gen. Sherman realized that
Johnston had fathomed his designs,
and, having the shorter line, was mass
ing his men in front of him. There was
a painful anxiety as to what the day
light would develop, and all felt certain
that bloody conflict would immediate
ly open as soon as the light enabled a
movement to be made.
Worn out at last by his anxieties and
fatigue, Sherman threw him
self down beside log under the pour
ing rain and slept till daybreak Every
other officer and man had about the
same lodgings.
May 26.
When daylight 1awned on May 26
the Union army saw a heavy line of
stretching along its entire
front. The, ,Confederates, having better
OF the ground, had disposed
of their troops to advantage and COW
cred them WELL Sherman realized that
Johnston had his whole army in front |
of him, and that-the movement on Ma
rietta would have to take a different
character. The thing to do now was to |
force him back still farther, so as to |
compel his abandonment of AIlatoona |
Pass and the railroad leading thru it. |
The morning was actively employed in |
the position of the troops |
and in getting the brigades and divi- |
sions together.
The much-feared attack upon some
portion of the line did not come John
ston was having as much trouble in COR
centrating his troops as Sherman was I,
AS soon as the latter was relieved from
the fear of one OF the usual Confeder- |
ate attacks in mass he began to threat |
en- Johnston's left flank, and Gen. Nc
Pherson, whose force had been in |
creased by Davis's Division, advanced |
to Dallas, with Sherman and Thomas
going over in that direction tc see what
success he would have.
The Army of the Ohio was advanced |
on the left to find and turn Johnston's
right flank, with Stoneman's Cavalry |
extending the lefts Both Howard and |
Schofield pushed UP so close to John
ston's main yne that there was a con.
stant lntercPhgelof musketry during |
most OF the dMy. zen. Thomas resumed |
command OF LAWNS Division, and sent |
IL TO Hi the gap. between the Army of |
Md