Part I - Don's Metal Detecting Forum

file:///I|/civil war books/war of rebellion/38a.txt
nearly all united now, making a continuous line.) As soon as
this advance commenced the enemy was observed to bring np troops
from the sear and place them in his main works, and also to re-enforce
his skirmishers by men taken from the main works. His (the
enemy’s) skirmish pits have been materially strengthened within
the past two or three days. By our advance our skirmishers also
discovered that the enemy’s main lines of works have also been
strengthened, and they have placed in many places in front of the
same triple rows of sharpened stakes; this in addition to their abatis.
We did not find a place where it was possible to make a lodgment in
the enemy’s main works with one single hue of battle (the whole
corps is now stretched out in one line), or even where the strongest
column could successfully assault them, if held by any considerable
force. After skirmishing with the enemy until dark, our skirmishers
were withdrawn to the positions we left when we advanced
against the enemy. Did not try to take the enemy’s skirmish riflepits.
We had abont 12 men killed and wounded only. Day very
hot and clear in the morning, with few clouds and little rain late in
the afteruqon. We succeeded in holding the enemy in his works
to-day, and also in making him re-enforce the troops therein—the
object of thq demonstration. 8.45 p. in., directed General Newton to
keep up a demonstration against the enemy to-morrow, as he did
to-day, by engaging the enemy’s skirmishers, in favor of General
Kilpatrick. To assist and favor General Kilpatrick the following
demonstrations are to be made to-morrow, ~0th: 8.45 p. in., ordered
General Wood to engage the enemy’s skirmishers to-morrow and to
send two regiments at 3 o’clock in the morning to report to General
Kimball, for the purpose of strengthening his left. 9.10 p. in.,
ordered General Kimball to station three regiments at daylight tomorrow
so as to cover the ravine between his left flank and the
burnt house on the railroad, and to put these regiments behind the
abandoned earth-works on the battle-field of July 22; also to’ make
a reconnaissance with a brigade at daylight toward the position
where we supposed the enemy’s right flank to rest to-day, and to
maneuver so as to lead the enemy to believe that we are hunting for
his right and trying to turn him. This, it is supposed, would make
the enemy throw a force in that direction and hold it there all day,
thus preventing him from sending troops off after Kilpatrick.
August 20.—At daylight this morning General Wood’s two regiments
that were sent to our left reported to General Kimball, and
at the same time General Kimball commenced to make his reconnaissance
toward the enemy’s right—that is, toward the right of his
infantry. The reconnaissance was made, under General Kimball’s
direction, by General Grose, with six regiments of his brigade, and
with three regiments of Colonel Opdycke’s brigade supporting his
left. From the burnt brick house on the Augusta railroad the
course of march was nearly due south. Near this house the rebel
skirmishers were met, and they were driven about one mile back to
924 TIlE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. [Ciar. Ii.
their works. These works are at the angle that was occupied by the
Seventeenth Corps about 20th of July. After considerable skirmishing
with the enemy, during which we lost a few men and captured 8
prisoners, our troops were withdrawn without attacking the enemy’s
works. There was no intention of doing this. It was not thought
prudent to keep them so far out from our main body of troops
without support any longer, especially as the object of the reconnaissance
had been accomplished. By this reconnaissance we discovered
the point where the right of the enemy’s infantry rests;
that Strahl’s brigade, of Cheatham’s division, is on their right, and
on the right of this are but two regiments of cavalry. Ferguson’s
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