By this time the sound of cannon and musketry denoted a severe battle as in progress, which began seriously at 11.30 a.m., and ended substantially by 4 p.m.  It was a fierce attack by the enemy on our extreme right flank, well posted and partially covered.  The most authentic account of the battle is given by General Logan, who commanded the Fifteenth Corps, in his official report to the Adjutant-General of the Army of the Tennessee, thus: 

HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS BEFORE ATLANTA, GEORGIA, July 29, 1864

Lieutenant-Colonel WILLIAM T. CLARK, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Tennessee, present.

COLONEL:  I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of orders, I moved my command into position on the right of the Seventeenth Corps, which was the extreme right of the army in the field, during the night of the 27th and morning of the 28th; and, while advancing in line of battle to a more favorable position, we were met by the rebel infantry of Hardee’s and Lee’s corps, who made a determined and desperate attack on us at 11 A.M. of the 28th (yesterday).

My lines were only protected by logs and rails, hastily thrown up in front of them.

The first onset was received and checked, and the battle commenced and lasted until about three o’clock in the evening.  During that time six successive charges were made, which were six times gallantly repulsed, each time with fearful loss to the enemy.

Later in the evening my lines were several times assaulted vigorously, but each time with like result.  The worst of the fighting occurred on General Harrow’s and Morgan L. Smith’s fronts, which formed the centre and right of the corps.  The troops could not have displayed greater courage, nor greater determination not to give ground; had they shown less, they would have been driven from their position.

Brigadier-Generals C. R. Woods, Harrow, and Morgan L. Smith, division commanders, are entitled to equal credit for gallant conduct and skill in repelling the assault.  My thanks are due to Major-Generals Blair and Dodge for sending me reenforeements at a time when they were much needed.  My losses were fifty killed, four hundred and forty-nine wounded, and seventy-three missing:  aggregate, five hundred and seventy-two.

The division of General Harrow captured five battle-flags.  There were about fifteen hundred or two thousand muskets left on the ground.  One hundred and six prisoners were captured, exclusive of seventy-three wounded, who were sent to our hospital, and are being cared for by our surgeons.  Five hundred and sixty-five rebels have up to this time been buried, and about two hundred are supposed to be yet unburied.  A large number of their wounded were undoubtedly carried away in the night, as the enemy did not withdraw till near daylight.  The enemy’s loss could not have been less than six or seven thousand men.  A more detailed report will hereafter be made.