Quote:
|
Originally Posted by johan_steele Driven from the field... I don't think that statement flies. |
17th Army Corps
"...the enemy again advanced from the direction of Atlanta, and at the same time attacked from the flank and rear, using his artillery loaded with grape and canister,and heavy musketry, rendering it necessary to abandon a large portion of the works which had been held by the Fourth Division and by part of the Third Division. A new line was now formed facing south and extending east from the crest of the bald hill..."
Report of Major General Frank P. Blair, jr. U. S. Army, commanding 17th Army Corps.
3rd Division
"...a heavy column (Cheatham's division, Hardee's corps) moved directly upon the left flank of the Fourth Division, which compelled it to change front and leave its works. As the approaching column advanced and reached to the vicinity of my left, I caused the Second Brigade of my command to follow the movements of the Fourth Division..."
Report of Brigadier General Mortimer D. Leggett, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division, 17th Army Corps
2nd Brigade, 3rd Div.
"...On the morning of the 22nd the enemy in heavy force turned the left flank of the Seventeenth Army Corps, and all the troops on the left of the Second Brigade were
driven from their position, which left us very much exposed. We continued fighting in this position from 11.30 a. m. until 5 p. m., when we changed front to the rear on the first battalion..."
Report of Lieutenant Colonel Greenberry F. Wiles, Seventy-eighth Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. Third Div., 17th Army Corps
1st Brigade, 4th Div.
"...About 1.20 p. m. of the 22nd instant the enemy attacked Colonel Hall's brigade with great impetuosity and turned his left flank. I was directed...to move my reserve regiment to the left of Colonel Hall's brigade and repel the enemy...but soon met an overwhelming force of the enemy, and after a severe fight of a few minutes were compelled to fall back to the works.
In a few moments after my brigade occupied the works it was attacked on the front, flank, and rear....I moved my brigade to the east of the line of works and formed it in the ravine below and advanced my line until I met a superior force of the enemy, and after a sharp engagement, lasting for a considerable time, I withdrew to the rifle-pits....where the brigade remained for the night.
Report of Colonel William L. Sanderson, Twenty-third Indiana Infantry, commanding First Brigade, Fourth Div., 17th Army Corps
3rd Brigade, 4th Div.
"...The fire again coming in rear and flank, the brigade again formed in rear of the works, but, owing to a severe fire of artillery and musketry on the flank, were finally compelled to retire to a line facing south and perpendicular to the line of works..."
Report of Colonel William Hall, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, Fourth Div., 17th Army Corps
~~~
HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, July 21 [22], 1864-4.30 p.m.
GENERAL: The enemy attacked this morning on our left and rear, and Generals Smith and Leggett have been fighting from both sides of the works thrown up last night, repulsing Hardee's corps with heavy loss. The enemy have become quiet, and if I had a fresh brigade I could recover
all that I have lost and drive the enemy easily.
FRANK P. BLAIR, JR.,
Major-General, Commanding.
They didn't.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Confederate Accounts
Report of Brig. Gen. Daniel C. Govan, C. S. Army, commanding brigade [of Cleburne's Division], of operations July 22, 1864
"...I directed the right to change direction to the left, in order to take them in flank and rear. This was promptly and opportunely done, and compelled the immediate surrender of all who did not take flight in the confusion. This timely success rescued those of the Second and Twenty-fourth Arkansas who had been entrapped, and the officers of this command now received the swords of their late captors....The First and Fifteenth Arkansas took the 2 guns which were placed upon the road. The whole affair was gallantly, brilliantly executed, and has never been excelled in dash and spirit by any previous action of these veteran soldiers....I can scarcely conceive how the left, being a very attenuated line, succeeded in gaining the works under the murderous fire to which they were exposed in passing the abatis. In some places the enemy were bayoneted in their trenches, so stubbornly did they resist my little band. With a single, unsupported line the work was done--a largely superior force, protected by formidable lines of intrenchments, had been routed and many hundred prisoners taken. The success was great and signal..."
Report of Brig. Gen. James A. Smith, C. S. Army, commanding brigade[of Cleburne's Division], of operations July 22, 1864
"...Owing to the long march the night before and the heavy fire it had been subjected to throughout the previous day, the brigade was much worn and exhausted when it went into action. After advancing in line for about a mile and a half through an almost impenetrable thicket of undergrowth, we struck the enemy, who, after a feeble resistance of a few minutes, fled in great confusion, abandoning his artillery, ordnance, and tool wagons and ambulances..."
Report of Capt. J. William Brown, Seventh Texas Infantry
"...22d, we attacked the enemy, driving him from his position, taking two sets of earth-works, capturing near 900 prisoners, and 10 or 19 pieces of cannon, of which 6 or 8 pieces were brought off the field with safety; also, a number of wagons and teams. The enemy were severely punished...."
Report of Maj. William A. Taylor, Twenty-fourth Texas Cavalry, Commanding Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted)
"...On the morning of the 22d instant this regiment took position upon the left of the brigade, and, after marching some distance, it was formed in line of battle, its left resting upon the right of General Govan's brigade, with orders to conform to the movements of that brigade. The country in front was broken and covered with very thick undergrowth, which made it difficult to march in line of battle with any regularity. After marching some distance, Govan's brigade became engaged with the enemy, and from the shouting I was led to believe he was driving the enemy in his front. Nothing could be seen in his front for the undergrowth. We still continued to advance for several hundred yards before meeting the enemy, crossing a very boggy marsh, fringed with thick bushes, which scattered the lines very much, entirely separating us from Govan's brigade upon the left. A short distance from this we came upon an outer line of the enemy's breast-works; drove him from them without difficulty, passing over a number of cannon, caissons, two wagons loaded with tools, and a second line of breast-works, capturing a large number of prisoners. The regiment, now almost become a line of skirmishers, still continued forward, passing over a small stream and deep ravine close to and under the breast-works of the enemy, which was their third line, capturing the battle and State flags of the Third Iowa Infantry...."
Official Records, Series 1, Volume 38, Part 3.
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Linear Mode
