Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[210] on the right, and marching them quietly through the woods to new positions on the left. But as the rebels continually followed this up, it was found that it would accomplish nothing, except a parallel extension of the lines indefinitely; so the movement was made more rapid, and, at the same time, our line, which was enabled to be always a little in advance of that of the rebels, was made to bear hard upon them, thus crowding them slowly back. A few miles passed over in this manner showed the rebels that we would inevitably reach the level ground, where the two armies would stand on an equality, and that they were slowly sliding out from the cover of their works, abandoned their position in despair, and have taken up the one they at present occupy. Thus the whole of the range was gained, and, in doing it, our forces had, at the same time, accomplished another desirable object, the reoccupation of the railroad and the reopening of communication, which, by this time, was highly necessary, in order to procure supplies.

The continued rain that has been pouring for the past few days, and made it an absolute impossibility to execute any movement of large bodies of troops, ceased yesterday. Still the time that the clerk of the weather gave the troops for rest, was not unimproved. The men were moved into position, and dispositions were made that any time must be made. The troops, too, had time to become acquainted with the ground; and, speaking of the necessities, I should have been glad to have had some of the fairest of the fair (the late Sanitary) for visitors to the little bark shanties, the homes pro tern of the “brave and the free.” There sat the bold warrior, some busy writing, may be to the loved ones at home, or may be his diary, for these soldiers are savage critics, and will think for themselves. “Now, then, Frank,” quoth one, as I sat chatting with a brave, who, sans trowsers, sat with the before-mentioned article not-bementioned, across his knee, darning a rent that seemed large even to a poor slave of the quill, and you know-oh I but I am telling the secrets of Bohemia--“Frank, I says!” Well? What a man Logan is, I've just been writing here about the Dallas fight. Listen. We had just gotten the rebs where we wanted them, and were just making them hop, when along came Logan on horseback calling to us, “give it to 'em, boys, and when they waver, go for them.” Now my idea is that the General has just got no right to be doing those scrapes all the time. “Say, Mr. Man, what do you think about it? If you are all right and ain't that man that wrote that, what's name, about Dodge doing all the fighting at Dallas? Why here is your coffee and tax (on the boys).”

Enough of this. The men were in splendid trim when they were this morning made to expect a little fight, for a change of position.

General Logan this morning received orders to make a demonstration on the enemy's right. At eleven o'clock Harrow's division was moved into position on the left of our line.

The brigade of Colonel Williams was placed in such a position as to be able to gain the enemy's flank. Walcott, as gallant a soldier as we have, had in his pocket the order to carry the crest of the hill, more than a thousand yards distant, and had for his support as good troops as the country holds, to wear the national blue for three years, or for the war. Those with Harrow were the men who were made to waver at Dallas by some knight of the quill, who was not there. But I go from my story to go at a luckless reporter.

The troops moved forward splendidly, with skirmishers in advance, until the timber that skirted the base of the ridge was reached, when the skirmishers were drawn in, and the charge ordered. Forward they threw themselves, Walcott leading the men, who seemed to feel his determined bravery as a challenge to them to stand up to their work. There, then, seemed no need of fear. The men rushed up the steep hill, with cheer after cheer, carrying the crest, and dashed over the rebel line, heedless of the fire that was poured into their ranks.

Some of our men were burned by the discharge of the rebel muskets. Soon the firing ceased, and the next scene that our eyes were greeted with was the marching of a line of men, clad in dirt colored raiment, towards us, which, when resolved into name, was discovered as portions of the Thirty-first and Fortieth Alabama regiments, to the number of over three hundred men. Our loss was forty-five men killed and wounded.

Just as General Harrow advanced, a gallant charge was made by a portion of General Osterhaus' division, led by the General himself, and the works in his front were carried, after a short but sharp skirmish.

The batteries in General Blair's front were served with good effect, and, the boys say, “made some of the graybacks git from the rail piles in a hurry.” To-night, as I write, the soldiers about me are, to judge from their conversation, satisfied that if the affair had been an attack instead of a demonstration, they could have carried the “lookouts” in their front, Kinesaw and Brushy Mountains.

At the invitation of a friend, and while in Pulaski on business, the writer sat at meat, not only with republicans and sinners, but also with rebels. A young lady did the honors of the table most gracefully, taking great pains in pouring out the essence of Java into cups of china to display to good advantage the daintiest taper fingers in the world. Withal she was very pretty.

The usual table talk began, when my friend, who well understood her secession proclivities, turned to her, and pleasantly remarked: