THE CONFEDERATE ATTACK

On July 20th, Hood ordered the attack to begin at 1:00 P.M. Hardee and Stewart were to advance, drive the enemy back to the creek, and then west into the angle formed by the creek and the river; but events east of Atlanta caused the line to be shifted about a mile to the east, delaying the attack until all but Ward's division of the enemy had occupied strong ground in line of battle. Bate's division (Hardee's right) halted with its right at Clear Creek and its left reaching Walker's right near Peachtree and Spring streets. Walker's left met Maney's right near Brookwood Station. Maney's left joined the right of Loring's division (Stewart's right) which now occupied Loring Heights. Loring's left extended to meet Walthall's right near Northside Drive and Bellemeade Avenue. Walthall's left regiments halted west of Howell Mill Road. About 3:30, Hardee moved forward, Stewart a half hour later. Walker's advance, astride Peachtree Road, was impeded by uncut forest growth, Maney's by a miry creek bottom and steep hills, Bate's by the swampy den-thicketed bottoms of Clear Creek. At Collier Road, Walker's charging men met a withering fire of musketry and canister from Newton's lines. Although they fought desperately, heavy losses forced them back. On their left, Maney's men also met defeat. In the creek bottoms, Bate swung around Newton's left flank to attack his rear; but Bradley's men, massed along the road overlooking the creek, met them with musketry. At the Peachtree Creek bridge, Thomas in person emplaced Ward's two batteries on the high ground along Peachtree Hills Avenue. Canister from these guns shattered Bate's right. Already, suffering from Bradley's musketry, his men fell back. Having no reserves, Hardee could not renew the attack so he withdrew. About 4:00, Stewart's corps attacked. Loring moved forward with Featherston's brigade on the right, Scott's on the left. Featherston's men crossed Tanyard Branch and moved through dense woods into a wide clearing. They reformed their lines (astride Dellwood Drive) under fire from Geary's batteries, firing from their left. Sweeping back, the Federal picket line barricaded along it, they charged over Collier Road and into the gap between Newton's right and Geary's left; but a cross fire of musketry from those positions, together with Ward's arrival, drove them back with severe losses. Ward's men took position along Collier Road.

GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION

GEORGIA CIVIL WAR CENTENNIAL COMMISSION