Etowah Bridge, Monday, July 25. Had a very cold night. Suffered for want of bed clothes notwithstanding the days are very hot. Great anxiety felt for reliable news from the front. Chattanooga Gazette reports capture of Atlanta. Trains from the front deny it. Received two mails. Latest came in 4 P. M. I received three letters.
Friday, July 25, 2014
by John Beauchamp Jones
JULY 25TH.—It rained all night! Cloudy and windy to-day.
Gen. Hood corrects his dispatch of Saturday; we captured only 13 guns; but we captured some 18 stand of colors.
“HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA,
“July 23d, 1864.
“HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OE WAR.
“The enemy shifted his position on Peach Tree Creek last night, and Gen. Stewart’s and Cheatham’s corps formed line of battle around the city.
“Gen. Hardee’s corps made a night march, and attacked the enemy’s extreme left to-day. About 1 o’clock he drove him from his works, capturing artillery and colors. Gen. Cheatham attacked the enemy, capturing six pieces of artillery.
“During the engagement we captured about 2000 prisoners.
“Gen. Wheeler’s cavalry routed the enemy in the neighborhood of Decatur, to-day, capturing his camp.
“Our loss is not yet fully ascertained.
“Major-Gen. Walker was killed. Brig.-Gens. Smith, Gist, and Mercer were wounded.
“Prisoners report that Gen. McPherson was killed.
“Our troops fought with great gallantry.
“J. B. HOOD, General.”
It is certain that a considerable force of the enemy has crossed to the north side ofJames River; for what purpose is not yet clear.
A detachment of our forces has been defeated nearWinchester, by superior numbers, losing 4 guns.
The Dispatch of this morning says:
“All accounts received of the engagement at Snicker’s represent that the Yankees were badly whipped on that occasion. It is stated that some fifteen hundred of the enemy fell to rise no more, and only six were made prisoners. It is probable that a considerable number were drowned in their attempt to recross the Shenandoah.”
Gen. Beauregard wrote to the department a few days ago that the country in the rear of the enemy was filled with their deserters, and suggested that by proclamation or otherwise, desertion should be encouraged. They ought to be welcomed and subsisted, and transported to any point near their own country designated by them. On this the Secretary of War indorsed rather a cold negative. But he went too far—the country must be saved—and the President, while agreeing that no proclamation should be issued, indorsed an emphatic approval of any other means to encourage desertion from the enemy.
My cabbages and turnips (fall) are coming up already.
We had but 13,500 men and 44 pieces artillery in the recent march intoMaryland. The enemy say we had 40,000!
Letters are pouring in, denouncing the new schedule of prices, sanctioned by the Secretary, and demanding a prompt modification. The President wrote the Secretary to-day that immediate action is necessary.
Monday, 25th—It is hot and sultry. Lieutenant Carey died this morning here in the hospital, from his wounds, after suffering thirty-five days, he having been wounded on the skirmish line on the 15th of June. He was shot in the left thigh, the minie ball glancing from his hip and lodging near the spine. But the doctors were not able to locate it until after his death, when they removed it. I had not seen Lieutenant Carey from the time he was wounded until after he had died, being present when his body was dressed for burial. John Zitler came over to my ward and we went down together. We saw his clothing and other articles packed by the chaplain, who has charge of all the effects of the deceased soldiers, and they will be forwarded to Mrs. Carey at their home in Cedar County, Iowa. Lieutenant Carey’s body was buried in his uniform here at Rome, Georgia.
