es, and the next position of our
division was eight miles to the left of its former one, and still on
the left of the Fourth Corps, remaining there two days, skirmishing
continually with the enemy until it was relieved and marched further to
the left, joining its corps, the Fourteenth; they having been separated
since Resaca. Here the boys received a mail, the first for a long
while. The corps remained in its position here one day after our
division joined it, the enemy evacuating his works on the night of the
5th of June, having been flanked therefrom.

Our forces followed a short distance on the morning of the 6th, but
before night took up position, and camped near Ackworth, on the
railroad, until the 9th, when they were again set on the move.

After its advance from Ackworth, our army was not long in finding the
rebels in another entrenched position.

About this time, General Blair arrived at Ackworth, with two divisions
of the Seventeenth Corps and a brigade of cavalry--a reinforcement that
amply compensated for our losses in battle, and troops left in garrison
at Resaca, Rome, Kingston and Altoona.

On the morning of the 9th, the entire army moved forward to Big Shanty,
the next station on the railroad. Here, we found ourselves surrounded
by scenery of peculiar and lofty beauty. To our left, and on the east
of the railroad, were Sweet mountain and Black Jack, while to the
westward, and nearly in front, rose the bold and striking Kenesaw. To
the right was Pine mountain, and more distinctly to the right was Lost
mountain.

Here we found the rebel General Johnston, strongly fortified on the
northern slopes of Pine, Kenesaw and Lost mountains. General Sherman
says, in his official report: "The scene was enchanting; too beautiful
to be disturbed by the harsh clamors of war; but the Chattahouchie lay
beyond, and I had to reach it."

At this place, our division took a position at right angles with the
railroad and a few miles south of Big Shanty, where it threw up
substantial breastworks, and remained until the 14th, when the lines
were advanced and another line of works thrown up. In front of these
works there was a deal of skirmishing carried on, creating undue
excitement in the lines of battle, for it was thought the Johnnies
would make a trial on our strength and position.

About this time there was an incessant roar of artillery on the extreme
right of our lines, despite the heavy rains that fell, which after