Sherman began his flanking when he raised the siege of
Atlanta (q. v.), on the night of Aug. 25, 1864.
General Slocum, with the 20th Corps, proceeded to the protection of the sick, wounded, and stores near the
Chattahoochee, and
Howard and the rest of the army moved for the West Point Railway.
General Stanley's corps was on the extreme left, and the armies of
Howard,
Thomas, and
Schofield pressed forward so secretly that
Hood was not informed of the movement until the Nationals were destroying that road.
This was done, Aug. 28, for 12 miles, and the next day they struck the
Macon road.
Schofield reached the road at Rough-and-Ready Station, 10 miles from
Atlanta.
Thomas struck it at
Couch's; and
Howard, crossing the
Flint River half a mile from
Jonesboro, approached it at that point.
There he was met by one-half of
Hood's army, under
Hardee.
With the remainder
Hood was holding the defences of
Atlanta, but he was too weak to attempt to strike
Schofield.
There was a severe fight at the passage of the
Flint River, on the morning of Aug. 31, between the forces of
Howard and
Hardee.
Howard's army was disposed with
Blair's corps in the centre, and rude breastworks were cast up. The contest was renewed very soon, when
Hardee attempted to crush
Howard before he could receive reinforcements.
He failed.
The
Nationals thus attacked were veterans.
For two hours there was a desperate strife for victory, which was won by
Howard.
Hardee recoiled, and in his hasty retreat left 400 of his dead on the field and 300 of his badly wounded at
Jonesboro.
His loss was estimated at 2,500 men.
Howard's loss was about 500.
Meanwhile
Sherman had sent relief to
Howard.
Kilpatrick and
Garrard were very active, and
General Davis's corps soon touched
Howard's left.
At four o'clock in the afternoon
Davis charged and carried the
Confederate works covering
Jonesboro on the north, and captured
General Govan and a greater part of his brigade.
In the morning
Hardee had fled, pursued by the Nationals to
Lovejoy's.
