View attachment 412675
To the right of Lowrey's brigade, General Brown led Bate's division forward and commenced his right wheel as instructed. After marching only a few hundred yards, his brigades found themselves funneled into a deep ravine that caused his forces to become bogged down in a tributary to Flint River. This was a ravine that dropped in elevation more than thirty feet and rose again for more than fifty feet within a one-hundred and fifty yard distance. For those of Brown's division that may have made it to the opposite hilltop, they were confronted by strong breastworks and a storm of lead hurled at their heads as the broke the crest of the enemy hill. Brown's division came to a standstill in the ravine. Carter's brigade and the remainder of Cheatham's division under Maney—minus Strahl's brigade that supported Brown's advance—took position on a hill about four-hundred yards in rear or east of Brown's troops. The attack fared no better in front of Lee's corps, and his two divisions were shot to pieces as they advanced against the well-entrenched enemy positions across extremely rugged terrain. With any success clearly out of reach, both Cleburne and Hardee were reluctant to commit the only reserve simply to reinforce failure; thus, Cheatham's division retained its position on the hill to prevent an enemy counter-attack until nightfall. Slowly, the remnants of Bate's division and Strahl's brigade straggled back through Cheatham's lines and reorganized in their rear. The fight had been short, but not particularly bloody for Cleburne's corps. The same couldn't be said for Lee's two divisions that were already desperately low in morale. Aside from Strahl's brigade, only a few casualties were suffered by the remainder of Cheatham's division from stray rifle balls or exploding shells.
Neat pictures and map. Below is a letter by Captain Robert B. Smith of Company K, 7th Florida Volunteers; with Finley's Florida Brigade, Bates' Division regarding the attack at Jonesboro...
Camps near Jonesboro Sept 23th 64
Tuesday Morning 7 O'clock A.M.
My Very Dear Anna,
Although I mailed a letter to you only the other day yet having recd one from you late last night I shall commence early this morning to answer it. That famous letter was dated Tuesday August ___ but the note had Monday Sept 5th & I concluded that Tuesday must have been the 30th of August the day before our very hard two days fighting.
The 31st was a very eventful day for us & the 1st inst a little more so.
The 7th Fla. lost 46 men on the 31st in a charge upon the enemy's breast works also called fortifications, rifle pits, & many other names.
They are made by digging a ditch two or three feet deep & three or four feet wide & all the dirt is thrown forward until it is as high as a man's shoulder standing in the ditch or trench. We then smooth it off and dig a ditch on the outside until we make this bank of earth 8 or 10 feet thick so as to resist cannon balls & shell. And having made it level on top we place a large log resting on small crosspieces on top of this embankment leaving 4 or 6 inches of an opening between the dirt l& log, thought which we shoot. The log is called "a head log" & protects the head from the balls of the enemy. When all that is completed we go in front of this breastworks 40 or 50 yds & drive sharp sticks into the ground very fast & then sharpen the points. The sticks are called Abattis (pronounced abatie) and if we have the time are placed in rows like the teeth of a common harrow. The abattis must be destroyed before the breast-works can be reached and done too while the men in the breastworks are shooting them down. It is a terrible task especially when the cannons and howitzers are vomiting forth grapes and canister by the bushel right into one's face.
Now just such works as the above we had to charge on the 31st of August only a little worse for the Yanks had a fort of huge dimensions on a little hill just to our right which contained 8 cannon & they kept up a continual fire upon us with them & right in our front the breast works seemed one solid sheet of flame caused by the murderous rifle. The regt lost nearly ½ of our entire force before we got near the abattis for we had a large corn field to go through where we were exposed to a galling fire. But onward was the command and on we went until every field officer but one was either killed or wounded and none knew what to do.
When all hope of reaching the enemy's works had departed some one gave the orders to "retreat" & away went the gallant little brigade with their backs to their foe fleeing for dear life & the Yanks assisting their speed by another murderous fire as they passed through that same corn field and their loud huzzahs might be heard for miles. Your humble servant did not have that running to do for Genl. Finley placed me in command of the skirmishers & I met with good success. The enemy had two pieces of artillery on their skirmish line which was doing terrible execution which I soon perceived & ordered my boys to charge it which they did in gallant style & soon had the satisfaction of seeing it leave at full gallop but the boys had no idea of letting it off so easily, gave chase & soon over took it but the rascally Yanks had cut out all their horses & left.
That race took me a good half mile to the left of my brigade & I could not get back in time for the fight I knew so I rallied my men & pressed forward in front of my new position supported by Mercer's brigade. After going though a thick swamp I struck the head of Flint River but at first could not cross the water being waist deep but by going up the river a short distance I crossed & after deploying my line again advanced hoping to meet up with some thing worthy of our powder & lead but did not. The Yankee Cavalry (something like our own) would not stand. I continued to pursue them until I heard the firing getting around to my right & rear & then I quickly perceived we had gotten to the enemy's rear. I stopped called a council of war to determine what was best to be done. I knew I had a good chance to do something but had only a handful of men & was fearful of being captured & the rest of the officers were of my opinion of course & advised a retreat.
Well Anna, as I failed to get done in time for the mail I shall make this letter a little longer.
This is Friday the 23rd and rainy at that. I have a cozy little tent made of a few yds. of homespun cloth that one of the men stole from the Hospital. It keeps out some of the rain, but when it rains hard it spatters through like an old umbrella and makes things sort of damp. [Lt. W.C.] Maloney frequently speaks of your "honest young man" and sometimes has the audacity to claim that he possesses that noble quality but I can easily prove to him they contrary, for though the has not stolen anything himself: yet he has eaten heartily of that which was stolen, and I argue that that makes him a partner in the crime. Yesterday he was making his boast and today, I had a nice piece of roast pork & invited him to take dinner with me. He asked where we got the pork, My Sergt who stole it said, "We selled eggs & bid it" which means among the soldiers we pressed it. After eating very heartily, I told him not to claim that he was honest any more, but just own up the con. I have him now & tease him terribly.
We are still here on the West Point RR building breast works. No change since the 20th.
The report that Sherman has seized our ambulances & wagons has not been confirmed.
Sherman exchanged 2000 prisoners whom he captured on the 1st inst for an equal number of Yankees. 23 of our regt returned. They report that they were well treated. They also say that the Yanks are tearing down all the frame houses in & around Atlanta and are building winter quarters.
They also say that out of 2300 of Conderte prisoners 1200 took the oath of allegiance & among them a great many Georgians. The enemy are also forming a reg't of Cavalry of these Georgians to be called the 1st Geo Regt U.S. Cavalry & have 600 already. They give each recruit a horse, bridle, saddle, a 16 shooting rifle, 2 ____ repeaters & $400 in green backs.
It is awful to think that over ½ took the oath & hundreds were Georgians & natives at that. 21 went from the 30th Ga & that regt belongs to this Division. They live on the west side of the Chattahoochee. Poor deluded creatures. They certainly do not stop to think that they not only ruin themselves but all their friends & relations by that base act. I'm glad to see that you are not "whipped yet." I'm not either. Although I looked upon the war as at first waged; as totally wrong, but after Lincoln's manifestoes I saw there was no other resort, but to arms. I was a Union man until Virginia went out & then I saw it was the only safe course left us. I've since regretted being a Union man. I believe in moderation & I did not wish to accuse myself of bringing on the bloodshed. My skirts are clear. I feel that I did all I could __avert it & now I wish to be the last to give it up.
Give it up!! No never until we either have our independence or until God shall show us what is best. I'm willing to submit it & our institutions into his hands. Amen.
Just recd an invitation to take supper with W. C. He has some sweet potatoes. La Me!! Can a soldier be honest and eat such good grub? Well Anna I think by the time you read all this long epistle you will have to borrow your Ma's specks & wear them for 6 weeks to come. Walter C. is now sitting by my side and says I must not close before putting in a word for him. Goodbye Dear Anna. I thank you we both thank you for your prayers & kind remembrances and now please write as often as you can make it convenient.
Your devoted friend,
Robt.B
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