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 OF 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 of James River; for what purpose is not yet clear.
A detachment of our forces has been defeated near Winchester, 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 into
Maryland. 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.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel
War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
253-5