General Joseph E. Johnston, Narrative of Military Operations During the Civil War

[332] numbers, exposed at least as long to a much heavier fire, suffered greater losses. Stewart had, also, the advantage of less uneven ground before him, which must have greatly increased the effect of his fire both of musketry and artillery.

The changes of disposition, made in this action of the 27th, extended our right and the Federal left to Little Pumpkin-Vine Creek.

Major-General Lovell, whose assignment to the Army of Tennessee, as a corps commander, I had earnestly asked in the preceding winter, joined it at this time as a volunteer, prompted by a zeal in the cause which made him regardless of the claims of his rank. He was immediately requested to examine the fords and ferries of the Chattahoochee, and to dispose the available State troops, including some artillery, to guard them against any bodies of Federal cavalry that might attempt to surprise Atlanta, for the purpose of destroying our depots there.

As circumstances indicated that many troops had been withdrawn from the intrenchments of the Federal right, in front of Dallas, Major-General Bate, whose division then formed the left of the Confederate army, was instructed, on the morning of the 28th, to ascertain, by a forced reconnaissance, if those intrenchments were still held by adequate forces. General Bate determined to seize those works if it should 1e found that they were occupied, but only feebly. He therefore directed the commanders of his three brigades to form their troops and keep them under arms, and, if an explained signal should be given, to advance rapidly against the enemy before them. General Armstrong, whose brigade of cavalry was