A few accounts of the battle for the anniversary....
Report of Brig. Gen. James A. Smith commanding what is best known as Granbury's Texas Brigade in Cleburne's Division:
Macon, Ga., August 5, 1864.
I have the honor to report as follows concerning the part taken by my brigade in the action on 21st of July, 1864, near Atlanta, Ga.:
The brigade was moved into position on the extreme right of the army, about a mile south of the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad, at daylight, relieving some cavalry who occupied the position previous to the arrival of my brigade. I immediately proceeded to construct such works.for protection as the limited means at my disposal would permit. Owing, however, to the position being much exposed and the close proximity of the enemy, who occupied a strongly intrenched position, our progress was slow. About 7 o’clock he opened a battery on my left, about 800 yards distant, which swept my line from left to right, committing dreadful havoc in the ranks. I have never before witnessed such accurate and destructive cannonading. In a few minutes 40 men were killed and over 100 wounded by this battery alone. In the Eighteenth Texas Cavalry Regiment (dismounted) 17 of the 18 men composing one company were placed hors de combat by one shot alone. When the cannonading ceased the enemy’s infantry moved on our front in heavy force, and succeeded in driving the cavalry on my right in confusion from its position, thereby causing the right regiment of my brigade to give way. This regiment, the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted), was soon rallied and in turn drove back the enemy with heavy loss, regaining its position in the line.
During the fearful cannonading on our flank and rear both officers and men demeaned themselves with marked coolness and courage. Not a man left his post, but quietly awaited the coming charge, which was repulsed with heavy loss, the enemy leaving a number of his killed and wounded in our hands.
The loss of the brigade in this affair was 47 killed, 120 wounded, and 19 captured. Among the wounded were Lieutenant-Colonel Neyland, commanding the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted); Captain Fisher, commanding the Sixth and Fifteenth Texas Regiments, and Captain Houston, who succeeded him in the command of the regiment. Among the killed was Captain Bennett, of the Tenth Texas Regiment, a most gallant and meritorious officer.
J. A. SMITH,
Brigadier- General.
Capt. I. A. Buck,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Cleburne’s Division.
Diary entry of Capt. Samuel T. Foster, Co. H, 24th Texas Cavalry (dismounted):
July 21st
Made breastworks of logs, and by nine Oclock a.m. the Yanks artillery open on us from our left, their shell enfalading our lines. They have heard us chopping down trees and building our works and have our range—and the woods are so thick we can’t see them. Their artillery are killing our men very fast—One company just to my left after finishing their works sat down to rest in a little ditch they had dug, when a shell came and took them at one end and killed and crippled every man in the ditch. Knocked one man in a hundred piece—one hand and arm went over the works and his cartridge box was ten feet up in a tree.
My Company had completed their works when as I was lying down resting on my elbow—and another man in about the same position with our heads about two feet apart and our feet in opposite directions, a shell (schrapnell) exploded just between us—blowing me one way and him the other hurting neither one of us but killing three men about 10 ft. from us eating their breakfast.
About the middle of the day the small arms open on us in front of us and as soon as our pickets came in a general fight opens along our line.
There are some dismounted cavalry to our right making our line longer and when the Yanks make the charge the cavalry shoot their guns off as fast as possible, while our pickets are getting in front of them. The pickets could do nothing but lie down and be captured by the Yanks—I lost three thus. As soon as the cavalry discharge their guns they all break and run like good fellows which leaves our right exposed and the Yanks following the cavalry pass by the right end of our line while those in front of us are held back by us.
Our Regt. which is on the right are taken out of the works and form a line at a double quick behind our works and perpendicular to it, which puts the left of the regt at the works—while the right is the length of the regt. off—We go forward quick time and drive the Yanks out in short order, and swing around and occupy our line again—then we are put in single file so as to cover the ground that had been occupied by the cavalry.
Here is where Lt Boerner of Capt Flys Co and Bud Martin same company were killed—both shot in the head, and while we were driving the Yanks out from our rear, one man (Joe Harrison) of my Co. ran up to a Yank, that was cursing a wounded Confed, put the muzzle of his gun to his back and blew him up.
I lost today out of my Company Sergt [ ] Chas Pepper and John Sutton killed—Thos Fisher wounded; and three captured on the picket line.
I am put in charge of the Picket line today to bring off the Pickets tonight—Our whole corps (Hardees) will move tonight some where, and the Yanks are so close to us in front that it is a dangerous maneuver—and requires considerable skill.
(
One of Cleburne's Command: The Civil War Reminiscences And Diary of Captain Samuel T. Foster)