This section is from the book "Hill's Manual Of Social And Business Forms: A Guide To Correct Writing", by Thos. E. Hill. Also available from Amazon: Hill's Manual Of Social And Business Forms: The How-To-Do-Everything Book Of Victorian America.
Battle at Deep Bottom, Va. - Fought August 16, 1864, between the Federal forces and a superior number of Confederates, the former being obliged to retire, though without heavy losses.
Fights on the Weldon Railroad, Va.,
- August 18, 1864, the Unionists made an advance upon this road, in order to cut off the enemy's supplies, but were driven back by the Confederates. A sharp fight followed, and the lost ground retaken and fortified. Next day the fight was renewed and the Union lines were broken. This battle cost the Unionists about 3,000 men, a great proportion being taken prisoners. On the 21st the Confederates made another vigorous attempt to dislodge the Unionists from the road, but were repulsed with a severe loss; the Unionists suffered but slightly in comparison.
Battle of Ream's Station, Va. - Fought August 25, 1864, between the Union corps under Hancock and a heavy force of Early's Confederate army, the latter being the attacking party. Both sides fought desperately, and Hancock withdrew from Ream's station, having lost 9 cannon and 3.000 men killed, wounded and taken prisoners. The Confederates lost 1,500 killed and wounded. This battle gave the Confederates repossession of the Weldon railroad southward, although the track had previously been destroyed by the Unionists.
Kilpatrick's Raid in Georgia - General Kilpatrick, of Sherman's Union army, with 5,000 cavalry, August 18, 1864, broke the track of the
West Point railroad, near Fairburn, and then struck the Macon road, near Jonesboro. Here he encountered a heavy force of Confederates, under Ross, but maintained possession of the road for several hours. Finding himself likely to be overwhelmed by numbers, he retreated, made a circuit and again struck the road at Lovejoy's station. Here he was once more menaced by the Confederates. Making a charge upon them,' capturing 4 cannon and a number of prisoners, he retired to Decatur, without having very seriously broken up the Macon railroad.
Battle of Jonesboro, Ga. - Fought August 31, 1864, between a force under Howard, of Sherman's Union army, and a heavy force of Confederates from Hood's army, under Hardee, and Lee's command. The conflict in front of Jonesboro lasted two hours, when the Confederates withdrew to their fortifications. Their loss, as officially reported by Hood, was 1,400 killed and wounded. Union losses were comparatively light. On the first of September General Davis, with a body of Union cavalry, attacked the Confederate lines at Jonesboro, carrying their fortifications, and the Confederates effected their escape southward. In the meantime the Unionists were busily engaged in destroying the Macon railroad.
Raiders In Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky - The Confederate cavalry under Wheeler, after breaking the Union railroad and destroying property at Adairsville and Calhoun, Ga., August 14, 1864, demanded the surrender of Dalton, then occupied by less than 500 Unionists under Colonel Laibold. This was refused, and Wheeler sharply attacked Laibold's position, but the latter having been reinforced next morning, Wheeler was driven off. Wheeler then passed into Tennessee, and formed a Union with Forrest and other raiders; but the whole were driven from the State by the Union forces under Generals Rousseau, Steadman and Granger. September 4, 1864, the famous Confederate guerrilla, John Morgan, was surprised and killed near Greenville, Tenn., by a Union force under General Gillem, his band being dispersed or captured. • September 8, 1864, the Confederate raider, Jessie, and 100 of his men were captured at Ghent, in Kentucky.
Surrender of Atlanta, Ga. - The grand object of Sherman's Union expedition to Atlanta was achieved on the night of September 1, 1864, by the Confederate General Hood and his forces evacuating the city and its fortifications. Before leaving, he blew up seven trains of cars and destroyed other property. General Slocum, of the 20th Union Army corps, occupied the city September 2, and it then became the headquarters of the Federal army in Georgia. Hood withdrew to Macon.
Battle of Winchester, Va. - Fought September 19, 1864, between a heavy force of Confederates under Early, in position near Winchester, and Union troops under Averill and Sheridan. The fight lasted from noon until five o'clock in the evening, when the Confederates retreated, pursued by Sheridan's troops. Union loss 653 killed, 3,719 wounded, and 618 captured. Confederate loss, about 6,000 - 2,000 wounded were found in the hospitals at Winchester, and about 3,000 were taken prisoners.
Battle of Fisher's Hill, Va. - Fought September 22, 1864, between Sheridan's Union army and Early's Confederate troops, who were intrenched at that point. A flanking movement and a general charge along the Confederate lines compelled the latter to evacuate their fortifications, the Unionists pursuing them through the night. Early's loss was about 300 killed and wounded, and also 1,100 prisoners, 16 cannon, with his camp equipage, wagons, horses, small arms, and ammunition. Sheridan's loss was about 300 men. By the 29th of September, the Confederates had been driven from the Shenandoah valley.
Battle of Pilot Knob, Mo. - The Confederate General Price, with a force estimated at 10,000 men invaded Missouri, from Arkansas, September 23, 1864, raiding the country with apparently but little opposition. On the 26th Price attacked the little town of Pilot Knob, then occupied by a Union brigade under General Ewing, but was repulsed in all his attempts with severe losses. Price then occupying Shepherd's mountain, in that vicinity, Ewing blew up his magazine and retired to Harrison's station, where he intrenched. Price closely pursued him, breaking up the railroad, but Ewing finally escaped to Rolla, with little loss, from the dangers that surrounded him.
Price Defeated - During the month of October, 1864, the Confederate General Price committed various depredations in Missouri, although harassed and watched by Union forces under several commanders. October 25, when on the Fort Scott (Kas.) railroad, Price was beaten with serious loss. On the 26th, at Mine Creek, his Generals Marmaduke and Cabell, with a large number of their men, were captured; and he was defeated also at Des Cygnes, Kas., on the 27th, and on the 28th at Newtonia. This ended the invasion of Missouri. Price lost 10 cannon, a large number of small arms, 1,958 prisoners (besides his killed, wounded and deserters), and nearly all his trains and plunder. His defeat was caused by the exertions of 7,000 Union cavalry, whose total losses in killed, wounded and missing, were less than 350.
 
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