Battle of Jonesborough.

On arriving near the creek, two miles north of Jonesborough , I met Major-General Thomas , and was informed that Brigadier-General Morgan had already formed beyond the creek, connecting with the left of the Army of the Tennessee, that Brigadier-General Carlin had also crossed, and was forming to the left of Brigadier-General Morgan , and I was expected to go into line on the left of Carlin . Morgan 's skirmishers were then engaged with those of the enemy, but Carlin 's had not yet struck them. I at once turned to the left, leaving the high road, to march toward my position, and as the head of my column passed the creek, I met one of my staff officers, whom I had sent out in advance, bringing orders from General Davis . He directed me to post my division in rear of an interval between Brigadier-Generals Morgan and Carlin , through which he was fearful that the enemy would pass, and the precise ground on which it was desired that I should form was pointed out. General Davis , coming up immediately after, confirmed the correctness of the disposition. Before, however, this order could be executed, I received another, directing this division to form on Brigadier-General Carlin and prolong his line to the left. My column was at once turned in that direction, and I rode forward along the intrenchments which Brigadier-General Carlin 's men had thrown up to find the point at wh'ch my right would rest. Finding this point I also found that division just put in motion, marching toward the right and front, and I followed a short distance to discover the direction which I would have to take, and the best route for getting into position. My column followed closely in rear of the First Division, and by the time that it had become stationary, and was formed, was close up in rear of the left flank. Not one moment was lost by this division, for at the very moment that the point where it was to rest became determined it was on the spot. Brigadier-General Carlin 's left reached just to the railroad, and then joined the head of Major-General Stanley 's column, the Fourth Corps, which had arrived. I accordingly caused my troops to be massed in rear of Brigadier-General Carlin 's left. Having seen Major-General Stanley , and finding that he was willing to make way for me, and understanding it to be the intention of Major-General Thomas ' order that our line should be prolonged beyond the railroad in case it should reach that far, I rode forward to examine the ground. I passed along the east side of the road some distance beyond our lines without meeting with opposition, and, having discovered an advantageous position, was about to bring my division up to it. I had given the order, and the troops were about to march, when I received contrary instructions requiring me to hold my division west of the road as a reserve to support the other two. Soon after that, at near 4 o'clock, Brigadier-General Carlin 's line moved forward and, by direction of General Davis , I moved Colonel Este 's brigade in line of battle behind General Carlin 's left brigade, the left flank of both keeping along the railroad. My other two brigades moved in column on the road leading along the right of the railway. The deployed lines of my Third Brigade had to work their way through a thick wood, nearly a third of a mile in width, before reaching the open ground stretching in front of the wood in which were the rebel works, and having put this brigade in motion, I moved forward with the other two. On reaching a cabin beyond the woods, marked on the accompanying map, See p. 756. I met General Davis , who informed me that he had sent Colonel Este 's brigade, which came up in advance of me, to support the right brigade of Brigadier-General Carlin , which had been severely handled in an attempt to advance upon the rebel works. A staff officer arriving at the same moment with a message from Brigadier-General Carlin created the impression that there was some misunderstanding of their respective relations between that officer and Colonel Este , whereupon General Davis sent word to Colonel Este that he was to report to General Carlin and be subject to his orders. Fearful that some ill result might arise should the orders still not be understood, and notwithstanding that the brigade was thus placed under the control of another division commander, I volunteered to go myself and give personal supervision to the execution of all orders. General Davis told me as I started that he wished Colonel Este to replace the right brigade of Brigadier-General Carlin , the regular brigade, and then to advance upon the enemy along with the other troops on the right and left when they advanced. As I passed to the right I had an opportunity for a hasty glance at the ground constituting the field of fight, and the rough map which is attached to this report, made from actual bearings and distances taken by myself, gives the most accurate representation of it that I have seen. It represents the rebel works and the position of my three brigades quite accurately, and that of Brigadier-General Carlin 's two brigades approximately, at the moment when Colonel Este began to move forward.

Our troops were in open ground, which was bordered on the south by a very regular line of woodland, running due east and west, and extending from near the railroad to the west a distance of 620 yards or steps. The line of woods then turned and ran south, facing westward upon another field in which were the troops of Brigadier-General Morgan . The rebel works lay within the wood, and were entirely concealed from view. They approached at the nearest point to within fifteen yards of the open ground, but at others were 60, 80, or 100 yards back in the woods. From the northwest angle of the woods ran northerly a kind of ravine and thicket, apparently an old fence line, which separated the field in which the Second Division lay from that occupied by the First and Third Divisions. I found Colonel Moore 's brigade, of the First Division, formed in two lines, the one near the cabin, and the other intrenched along the edge of the woods, its left on the railroad. Apparently the regular brigade had endeavored to take up a position on the same line in the edge of the woods, but the rebel works in their front approaching so much nearer to the open ground, it was, of course, impossible, without first taking the works in the woods. It was in this way, doubtless, that it lost so heavily before my men came up. I found it to the right of the other brigade of the First Division, and some 200 yards back in the open field partially covered by an undulation of the ground in front. Colonel Este 's brigade, when it came up, was formed in the position represented on the map, fifty yards in rear of the regular brigade, in two lines of battle. The Tenth Kentucky and the Thirty-eighth Ohio in the first line, the Tenth Kentucky on the right, and the Seventy-fourth Indiana and the Fourteenth Ohio in the second line, the Seventy-fourth Indiana on the right. Colonel Walker 's and Colonel Gleason 's brigades were in reserve, and then just coming up to take position. Seeing that to relieve Major Edie 's brigade required Colonel Este to pass to the front of it, and that to come into line with Colonel Moore , so as to advance at the same time with the other troops might involve a serious assault of works hidden in the woods, I directed the men to unsling and pile their knapsacks, and fix bayonets, so as to be ready for heavy work. Our uncertainty with regard to the works we might encounter was increased from having been told that the rebels had two lines, one of which had been taken by our men, some of whom remained in them, allof which turned out to be a delusion. The order to move forward was given at 4.45 p. m., when the lines moved off handsomely. Attended by a single staff officer, Captain Acheson , assistant adjutant-general, and two orderlies, I accompanied Colonel Este , so as to be ready to give him any assistance which he might require. Our men passing over the lines of the regular brigade soon reached the crest in front, and at about 100 yards from the works began to receive a murderous fire of musketry and canister. They were immediately put at the charge, and without faltering the whole line moved splendidly into the woods. On the right the success was immediate and complete. The Tenth Kentucky, followed by the Seventy-fourth Indiana, struck upon the short projecting point of rifle-pit called the first line and carried it, as well as the main line. extending thence to the right. A single dash, after entering the woods, gave them the victory. The rebel troops, confident in themselves and in their ability to hold their works, were totally unprepared for a charge of this kind, and were taken completely by surprise. They delivered a single volley, and before they could reload found our men in the trenches with them, bayoneting all who did not surrender.

Three companies on the right of the Seventy-fourth Indiana,which overlapped the Tenth Kentucky, obliquing to the right, entered the woods at the east end of the battery of four guns on the angle, and driving the enemy out took possession of the guns. They belonged to a battery of the consolidated Eighth and Nineteenth Arkansas Regiments, and Lieutenant Kuder , of the Seventy-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, capturing the battery flag, brought it away with him. After holding this battery for some minutes, until the troops of the next brigade on the right came up in the rear and entered it, these companies closed to the left on their own regiment, leaving the guns with the newcomers. As the only material evidence of the capture brought away was the flag, the guns themselves being left with the Second Division, Colonel Este has procured statements from several of his officers and men who were present, and forwards them with his report. On the left our men were not immediately so successful. The Thirty-eighth and Fourteenth Ohio Regiments, after entering the woods, formed a line extending from the short projecting work to the left, but the distance to the rebel main work being greater than on the right, and the approach to it more obstructed by fallen trees, they could not at once reach it. They remained in this position, subjected to a most terrible fire coming obliquely down the works from the rebel right, for some minutes after the right wing had achieved its success. Colonel Este , who was at this point of the line, finding that the troops on our left did not or could not move forward with us as we had been led to expect that they would, began to fear that his men could not hold on where they were, and sent for re-enforcements. Seeing at the same time a regiment of Brigadier-General Morgan 's left brigade, the Seventeenth New York, marching up to go into place in rear of our right, where it was no longer needed, Colonel Este appealed to the commanding officer, requesting him to put in his regiment on our left where it could be most useful, and guided him to the place. The fire of the enemy at this point was most destructive, yet the gallant Colonel [Grower] carried his regiment into position with a heroic bravery challenging the highest admiration, and was himself almost the first to fall before it. The regiment seeing this, for a moment faltered, but was at once reassured, and the order to charge being given, rushed forward along with the Fourteenth and Thirtyeighth Ohio, and captured not only the works, but nearly all in them. This ended the battle, as all that followed was desultory firing or shots from distant artillery. This charge of my Third Brigade-one of the most magnificent on record, and the first during this campaign in which works upon either side have been assaulted and carried ��� was productive of the greatest results in opening the way for the advance of the troops on our right and left, and destroying the morale of the boldest and most confident troops in the rebel army. The losses sustained attest the severity of the struggle. Out of 1,100 officers and men who went into the action 75 were killed and 255 wounded; nearly 1 out of every 3 being hit, and all in a space of thirty minutes time. Among those who fell was the gallant Colonel Choate , of the Thirty-eighth Ohio, who has since died of his wounds. Major Wilson , commanding the Fourteenth Ohio, lost his leg, and numerous others of our best officers and men on this glorious occasion sacrificed themselves upon the altar of their country. For the names of those who particularly distinguished themselves, I refer to reports of brigades and regiments. On no occasion within my own knowledge has the use of the bayonet been so general or so well authenticated. Three brothers named Noe , of the Tenth Kentucky, went over the rebel parapet together, and two of them pinned their adversaries to the ground with the bayonet, and as an officer of the Seventy-fourth Indiana was about to be bayoneted by a rebel, a soldier warded off the blow, and, after some moments of fencing, transfixed his antagonist. These, as the wounded rebels show, are but isolated instances.

The brigade captured 426 prisoners, including 55 officers from the rank of colonel down. They were from the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth Kentucky; the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Arkansas; the Twenty-eighth, Thirty-fourth, and Forty-sixth Alabama; the Twenty-fourth South Carolina, and the Sixty-third Virginia Regiments. It also captured the battle-flags of the Sixth and Seventh Arkansas Regiments, and the battery flag heretofore spoken of. In closing the report of this battle, and while testifying to the heroic conduct of all officers and men of the brigade, I cannot overlook the splendid gallantry of Colonel Este , commanding it. His horse was shot under him and his clothing torn with bullets, yet he retained the utmost coolness and managed his command with a high degree of judgment and skill. I hope that he will receive the reward which his service merits. I must also make honorable mention of the bravery of Capt. J. W. Acheson , the only staff officer I had with me, who was wounded while riding with me in the charge. My First and Second Brigades were not actively engaged in this battle, but held themselves close in reserve. After dark Colonel Walker relieved Colonel Este 's brigade on the line, and remained in that position during the night. Colonel Gleason remained in reserve. Both of these brigades sustained slight losses. September 2 , the enemy having evacuated Jonesborough during the night and fallen back on the Macon road, our army pursued. The Fourteenth Corps, however, was left behind as the rear guard of the grand army. September 3 , it was announced that Atlanta had been evacuated, and our campaign was at an end. In this long, remarkable, and glorious campaign the soldiers of this army have endured fatigues, sufferings, and privations which will never be known or related.

The quiet and heroic patience with which all has been undergone, and duty performed, whilst establishing for them the highest reputation as soldiers, will still tend to cause their hardships to be forgotten. Starting without transportation and with only the supplies for an expedition of three or six weeks, these things have been required to last for four months, so that often our officers, lying in the dirt and rain for days without shelter, have been unable to preserve the ordinary cleanliness which is essential to health, and many have broken down for want of proper food. During the greater part of the time our men have lain constantly under the enemy's fire, at every moment liable to be picked off, whilst the sound, not of distant artillery and musketry, but of the closely whistling bullet and bursting shell, has seldom been out of their ears. The rest which they have experienced by the simple cessation of these noises has been great. Our losses, in the slow operations of the trench, on picket, on daily and nightly skirmishes, as well as in battle, although distributed over a great length of time, yet equal in the aggregate the casualties of the greatest battles. The following report exhibits the total loss of the division in killed and wounded during the campaign from the 7th of May to the 7th of September : Zzz

This loss of 1,225 officers and men is to be compared not with the aggregate effective force of 8,460 men with which we entered upon the campaign, but with a much smaller average in the field, as the time of many regiments soon expired, reducing our strength at the end of the campaign to an aggregate of 4,840 officers and men. The following table of effective force, made since the close of the campaign, may be profitably compared with that of the 7th of May :

Effective force of the Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, September 2, 1864 .

Zzz

The division captured during the four months 908 men, including 61 officers. One hundred and forty-seven of these desired to be sent to the rear and classed as deserters, the rest as prisoners of war. It will be seen by this that while the division has not lost in all 20 prisoners, that it has taken from the rebel army, independent of those killed and wounded, almost as many men as it has lost in battle. Some flags have been captured but not all turned over to me. Of material trophies, however, we have obtained little except arms of no great value to our army. This long record would be incomplete should I fail to mention especially the five officers who, as brigade commanders, have been my chief assistants in the campaign- Brig. Gen. J. B. Turchin , one of the most thoroughly educated and scientific soldiers in the country, and a more devoted patriot than most of those born upon our soil, commanded the First Brigade with distinguished ability during the first half of the campaign. He was then, by a failure of health, compelled to resign, thus inflicting a great loss upon the service. Col. F. Van Derveer , Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, the brave and accomplished commander of the Second Brigade at Chickamauga and at Mission Ridge, remained with the command until the end of June . He also has, by expiration of service, been returned to civil life. Col. George P. Este , who has commanded the Third Brigade during the campaign; Col. N. Gleason , who has succeeded Colonel Van Derveer in command of the Second Brigade, and Col. M. B. Walker , who has succeeded Brigadier-General Turchin , have all exhibited a high degree of capacity. Their devotion to duty, their bravery in action, and their distinguished services throughout the campaign, merit reward, and I recommend them for promotion or brevets. To the officers of my staff my own thanks and the gratitude of the command are due for the efficient manner in which their duties have been performed, and the promptness with which we have been kept supplied. Those who have remained with me in the field, sharing all the hardships, privations, and dangers of the campaign are deserving of special honorable mention. They are- Maj. J. A. Lowrie , assistant adjutant-general; Maj. J. A. Connolly , One hundred and twenty-third Illinois Volunteers, assistant inspector-general; Capt. John Moulton , Second Minnesota Volunteers, provost-marshal; Capt. E. K. Buttrick , Thirty-first Wisconsin Volunteers: Capt. John W. Acheson , assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. I. C. Lawyer , Ninety-second Illinois Volunteers, aide-de-camp; Lieut. George K. Sanderson , Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, assistant commissary of musters and acting aide-de-camp, and Surg. F. Lloyd , U. S. Volunteers, medical director. I commend these officers to the favorable notice of any commanders with whom they may hereafter serve.

Respectfully submitted.

A. Baird, Brigadier-General, Commanding Divisiono Capt. A. C. Mcclurg , Assistant Adjutant-General.