Joseph T. Derry , A. M. , Author of School History of the United States; Story of the Confederate War, etc., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 6, Georgia
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[326] Federal line was partly intrenched with rails and logs, and his vigorous assault soon alarmed Thomas, who, being yet behind Peachtree creek, used his reserve batteries so effectively that he forced Walker back. Maney and Cleburne were ordered to renew the assault in Walker's place, but the orders were withdrawn and the contest abandoned. On the extreme left another division, French's gallant men, had had no opportunity to engage in the fight, except a little skirmishing.

Schofield's army during this time had come up on the northeast of the city, and though opposed by brisk skirmishing, took position on the 21st near the Howard house on the hills in that vicinity.

General Wheeler, meanwhile, was making a heroic resistance against the advance of McPherson. The latter, leaving a brigade of infantry at Decatur, and sending his cavalry on a raid to Covington, was slowly moving toward Atlanta from the east. Wheeler's men fought dismounted ‘behind successive lines of breastworks, inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy, and repulsing several assaults of the skirmish lines, which were almost dense enough to make them lines of battle and were always strongly supported.’ On the 19th and 20th he was so strongly pressed as to be obliged to call for reinforcements, but none could be spared him. Behind Wheeler, occupying trenches north and south of the Georgia railroad, supporting artillery, was Gen. G. W. Smith with about 700 Georgia militia. Cleburne, who had been withdrawn from Peachtree creek, reached Bald hill on the morning of the 21st, and while he was occupying Wheeler's line, in order that the latter might extend to the south, the divisions of Gresham and Leggett attacked. On the right General Ferguson gave way in some confusion, exposing the right of Allen's brigade, which, with the. Georgia brigade, nevertheless fought brilliantly, repulsing a desperate assault by hand-to-hand fighting. On the enemy's second assault both the Georgia and Alabama