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

[319] of government, the United States had certain rights in Georgia, which have never been relinquished. and never will be; that the South began war by seizing forts, arsenals, mints, custom-houses, etc., long before Lincoln was installed, and before the South had one jot or little of provocation. I, myself, have seen in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, hundreds and thousands of women and children fleeing from your armies and desperadoes, hungry. and with bleeding feet. In Memphis, Vicksburg, and Mississippi, we fed thousands upon thousands of the families of rebel soldiers left on our hands, and whom we could not see starve. Now that war comes home to you, you feel very different — you deprecate its horrors, but did not feel them when you sent carloads of soldiers and ammunition, and moulded shells and shot to carry war into Kentucky and Tennessee, and desolate the homes of hundreds and thousands of good-people, who only ask to live in peace at their old homes, and under the government of their inheritance. But these comparisons are idle. I want peace, and believe it can only be reached through Union and war, and I will ever conduct war purely with a view to perfect an early success.

But, my dear sirs, when that peace does come you may call on me for anything. Then will I share with you the last cracker, and watch with you to shield your homes and families against danger from any quarter. Now, you must go, and take with you the old and feeble; feed and nurse them, and build for them in more quiet places proper habitations to shield them against the weather, until the mad passions of men cool down and allow the Union and peace once more to settle on your old homes at Atlanta.

Yours in haste,

General: I have the honor to report the following summary of the result of the battle of the twenty-second ult:

Total loss in killed, wounded and missing, three thousand five hundred and twenty-one, and ten pieces of artillery. We have buried and delivered to the enemy under a flag of truce sent in by them, in front of the Seventeenth Army Corps, one thousand of their killed; the number of their dead in front of the Fourth division of the same corps, including those on ground not now occupied by our troops General Blair reports will swell the number of their dead on his front to two thousand. The number of dead buried in front of the Fifteenth corps, up to this hour, is three hundred and sixty; and the commanding officer reports at least as many more are unburied. The number of dead buried in front of the Sixteenth corps was four hundred and twenty-two. We have over one thousand of their wounded in our hands — a larger number of wounded having been carried off during the night, after the engagement,by them. We captured eighteen stands of colors, and have them now ; also captured five thousand stand arms. The attack was made on our line seven times, and was seven times repulsed. Hood's, Hardee's corps and Wheeler's cavalry engaged us. We have sent to the rear one thousand prisoners, including thirty-three commissioned officers of high rank. We still occupy the field, and the troops are in fine spirits.

Our total loss is 3,521; the enemy's dead, thus far reported, buried or delivered to them 3,220; total prisoners sent north, 1,017; total prisoners wounded in our hands, 1,000; estimated loss of enemy, at least 10,000.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Colonel: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of orders, I moved my command in position on the right of the Seventeenth Army Corps, which was the extreme right of the army in the field, on the night and morning of the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth instant, and during my advance in line of battle to a more desirable position we were met by the rebel infantry from Hardee's and Lee's corps, who made a desperate and determined attack at half-past 11 o'clock A. M., on the twenty-eighth.

My lines were only protected by logs and rails, hastily thrown in front of them. The first onset was received and checked, and the battle commenced, and lasted until about three o'clock in the afternoon. During that time six successive charges were made, which were six times gallantly repulsed, each time with fearful loss to the enemy.

Later in the evening my lines were several times assaulted vigorously, but each time with like result. The most of the fighting occurred on Generals Harrow's and Smith's fronts, which formed the centre and right of the command. The troops could not have displayed more courage nor greater determination not to yield. Had they shown less they would have been driven from their position. Brigadier-Generals Wood's, Harrow's, and Smith's division commands are entitled to equal credit for gallant conduct and skill in repelling the assaults. My thanks are due to Major-Generals Blair and Dodge for sending me reinforcements at a time when they were much needed.

My losses are fifty killed, four hundred and thirty-nine wounded, and fifty-three missing; aggregate, five hundred and seventy-two.