thdraw in confusion. After this, at some points, six or seven
successive efforts were made to carry our works, but all of them proved
futile.

Had our division not been delayed by causes beyond control, what was
simply a complete repulse of the enemy would have been a disastrous
rout. The rebel slain in this day's fight was enormous. Dead men never
lay in greater numbers on the same sized piece of ground. Our men
buried 2,840, exclusive of those carried off by their own men.

Late in the evening of the 28th, or rather, early on the morning of the
29th, after a most fatiguing tramp, our division reached the main line.
In the afternoon of the 29th, the division advanced the lines of battle
and took position; and again, on the 30th, it moved to the right and
advancing the lines took up position. On the 31st, it left its works
and marched still further to the right, on a reconnoissance, returning
to its works the same day. On this reconnoissance we got a fine
ducking, having left our rubbers in camp.

On the 4th of August, the division was again moved to the right, and
advancing the lines at least one mile, after several halts, built works
under a severe cannonade from the enemy's batteries. After some hard
skirmishing and changing about, the 3rd division of the 14th Corps
relieved General Morgan's command; it moved further to the right and
front, on the 12th, relieving a command of raw troops of the 23rd
Corps.

Here we found breastworks and were not constrained to labor as much as
usual on such occasions. The command remained in this last position
without any unusual occurrences only the spirited bombardment of the
city of Atlanta by our batteries of heavy guns, being kept up at
regular intervals night and day. The skirmish firing was also kept up
with animation on both sides and along the entire lines. Now and then
the monotony was broken by a conversation or trade, but never to last a
great while, the foe not allowing their men such liberties when it
could be helped, for they would not unfrequently take advantage of
these occasions to desert.

However, on the 19th of August, our brigade was marched several miles
to the right, in support of the 23rd Corps, as it was thought the enemy
would charge its lines on that occasion, but the supposition did not
prove a reality. The brigade returned the same day without adventure to
its former camp. Then again, on the succeeding day, the division was
moved off in the same dir