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Hdqrs. Eighty-Ninth Illinois Infantry Vols., Near
Atlanta, Ga,
September
13, 1864
.
Sir: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to report the operations of the Eighty-ninth Regiment
Illinois Infantry Volunteers from
May
3
to
September
9, 1864
, embracing a period of more than four months, on a line of operations of more than 160 miles in length
directly in the heart of the enemy's country.
In obedience to orders from superior authority, the Eighty-ninth Regiment Illinois
Infantry Volunteers, under the command of
Col.
Charles
T.
Hotchkiss
, marched from McDonald's Station, on the East Tennessee railroad, in company with brigade,
division, and corps, on
Tuesday, May
3, 1864
, at 12 m. Arrived at Catoosa Springs and encamped for the
night.
Marched again on
May
7
, and arrived at Tunnel Hill
May
8
; encamped for the night.
May
9
, moved forward to near RockLy Face Ridge, and took position in
support of the Thirty-Second Indiana Infantry; same day the Eightyninth
relieved the Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry as skirmishers, and drove the
enemy's skirmishers up the hill called Rocky Face Ridge.
In this affair the Eighty-ninth Illinois lost 2 killed and 15 wounded. (For
names, rank, and character of wounds, see schedule, marked A,
Omitted. It shows an aggregate during the campaign of 40 killed, 130 wounded, and 68 captured or missing.
accompanying this report.)
May
10
, were relieved as skirmishers, and took position in reserve.
May
10
[11], again deployed as skirmishers in front of Rocky Face
Ridge; no casualties.
May
12
, marched to the left of Rocky Face Ridge, took position
and built breast-works.
May
13
, took up line of march in pursuit of the enemy (he having abandoned his intrenchments during the night
of the 12th), passing Dalton.
May
14
, took up position near Oostenaula River and built breast-works.
May
15
, enemy again abandoned their works and we took up line of march, followinghim southward.
May
16
, continued the march.
May
17
, still following the enemy.
May
18
, took up position in front of the enemy; during the night of the 18th the [enemy] abandoned his
intrenchments.
May
19
, took up line of march, passing through Kingston;
overtook the enemy near Cassville intrenched; took up position,
and built breastworks.
May
20
,
21
,
22
, remained in our works, the enemy in the mean time retreating southward; while remaining in our works
near Cassville replenished our stores of rations, reduced
baggage, and prepared to follow the enemy across the Etowah River
to his stronghold at Atlanta.
May
23
, took up line of march southward, crossed the Etowah
River.
May
24
, still going southward in pursuit.
May
25
, still in pursuit.
May
26
, deployed regiment as skirmishers; encountered the enemy's skirmishers.
Casualties, 1 man wounded, since dead (see schedule, marked A).
May
27
, were relieved as skirmishers and immediately ordered to move to the left to form part of a column of
attack on the enemy's
works.
We moved about five miles to the left to a place known as Pickett's
Mill; were formed in a column of attack ��� the Eightyninth forming part of the first or front line,
the Fifteenth Wisconsin and Thirty-second
Indiana on our left; nothing on our right.
Moved to the attack of the enemy's works at 5 p. m..; commenced the charge in fine order and good spirits; was
met with a destructive fire from the enemy of musketry and artillery;
advanced to within about twenty-five yards of the enemy's works up a steep hill; here the fire was so murderous
that the column paused, wavered, and sought such shelter
as they could find.
After sustaining this terrific fire for about an hour were recalled, but did not withdraw until after dark, then
withdrew
beyond range, re-formed, and after sending out details to pick up the wounded, retired a short distance to the
rear.
Our casualties were large, and attest the terrible character of the assault.
Killed, 16; wounded, 71; missing, 67; among them 4 commissioned officers,
Capt.
L.
F.
Dimick
, Company F;
Capt.
S.
C.
Comstock
, Company I;
Lieutenant
Arenschield
, Company F, and
Lieutenant
Wood
, Company B.
(For names, rank, and wounds, see schedule, marked A.) After retiring to the rear about 600 yards, built
breast-works, worked all night at them, and remained in them
May
28
and
29
, the enemy occasionally feeling our lines and eliciting spirited replies, which sent them speedily back
to their works.
May
30
, advanced the line 500 yards to front and right; built breast-works and remained in them
May
31, June
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
During the night of the 5th the enemy abandoned his works on our front.
June
6
, took up line of march in pursuit via Acworth.
June
7
,
8
,
9
, remained in camp waiting orders.
June
10
, marched forward three miles.
June
11
, took position in line of battle in front of Pine
Mountain.
June
12
,
13
, remained in position.
June
14
, advanced in line of battle and found the enemy's works on Pine
Mountain abandoned.
June
15
and
16
, remained within enemy's works on Pine Mountain.
June
17
, advanced, deployed as skirmishers, about two miles, encountered the enemy's skirmishers and steadily
drove them back to their rifle-pits on the south side of a large open field,
then charged across this field and drove the enemy from their rifle-pits, and occupied them with the
Eighty-ninth's skirmishers.
Casualties, killed, none; wounded, 7; 2 since dead.
(See schedule, marked A.) This skirmish was a very gallant and spirited affair, and particularly honorable to
the dash and
spirit of the Eighty-ninth Illinois.
It was then called Bald Mountain.
The Eighty-ninth feel entitled to claim they were the first to cross the open field and drive the enemy from
their admirably selected and wellconstructed rifle-pits.
This under the eye of the division commander.
June
18
, advanced about 600 yards and built breast-works.
During the night of the 18th the enemy abandoned their works, and we advanced.
and occupied them.
June
20
, advanced, deployed as skirmishers.
June
21
, advanced as support of Forty-ninth and Fifteenth Ohio, deployed as
skirmishers.
These gallant regiments drove the enemy from a position known as Bald Knob.
The Eighty-ninth relieved the Forty-ninth Ohio, which had taken an advanced
position in the wood to the right of the knob.
The enemy contested this advanced position with obstinacy, and our casualties were 2 killed and 14 wounded. (See
schedule, marked A.) Here fell
Lieut.
William
Harkness
, Company H, an energetic and brave officer, a sincere
Christian, and urbane gentleman.
June
22
to
July
2
, occupying alternately the first and second lines of breast-works with the Fifteenth Ohio.
During this time, from
June
22
to
July
2
,
eleven
days, our casualties were 5 killed, 13 wounded. (See schedule, marked A, for names, rank, &c.)
July
2
, at midnight moved to the extreme left of the army to a point opposite Little Kenesaw.
During the night of the 2d the enemy abandoned his intrenchments on our front, as well as all along the line of
the Kenesaw, and at daylight,
July
3
, we beheld with delight the Stars and Stripes
floating proudly and defiantly on the summit of Kenesaw Mountain.
July
3
, pursued the enemy southward, passing through Marietta,
and encamping three miles south, at or near Station Neal Dow.
July
4
, remained in camp.
During the night of the 4th the enemy retreated.
July
5
, advanced to the bank of the Chattahoochee River, and
encamped at Pace's Ferry.
Remained in [camp]
July
6
,
7
,
8
,
9
.
July
10
, took up line of march to the left of the army, as a support to the Twenty-third Corps, crossing the river.
July
11
, crossed the Chattahoochee River on pontoons at Edwards Ferry.
July
12
, remained in camp on south bank of the river.
July
13
, moved to the right about one mile and built breast-works and skirmished with the enemy.
Casualties, 1 man taken prisoner.
(See schedule, marked A.)
July
14
,
15
,
16
, remained in our works.
July
17
, advanced to the right, to cover the crossing of the Fourteenth Army
Corps at Pace's Ferry; built breast-works.
July
18
, moved forward in pursuit of the enemy.
July
19
, moved up to Peach Tree Creek, found the enemy at the
creek, advanced across the creek, and built breast-works under a hot fire from the enemy.
Skirmished all the afternoon with the enemy.
Casualties, 1 commissioned officer wounded,
Lieutenant
Street
, since dead.
(See schedule, marked A.)
July
20
, moved to the left, to relive the First Division, Fourth Army Corps.
July
21
, advanced about three miles and built breast-works.
During the night of 22d enemy abandoned his works; advanced and occupied them.
July
23
, advanced and found the enemy's works abandoned; advanced to within half a mile of the northern suburbs
of Atlanta; encountered the enemy's skirmishers, built
breast-works, and remained in them thirty-four days, or until the night of
August
25
, skirmishing every day with the enemy, and, during which time, drove the enemy from their front line of
rifle-pits, and occupied
them with our own skirmishers.
This carried our front line of riflepits to within 400 yards of the enemy's main line of works or forts.
Our casualties from
July
22
to
August
25
, inclusive, in front of Atlanta: Killed, 3; wounded, 21;
missing, 1-supposed to be killed in one of the many advances on the enemy's works.
(See schedule, marked A.) At 10 p. m.
August
25
moved toward the extreme right of the army; marched all night.
August
26
, marched to the right and southwest, and camped near Utoy
Creek.
August
27
, marched southward and west of Atlanta; built
breast-works.
28th, marched eastward toward West Point railroad. 29th,
remained inl camp.
August
30
.
marched eastward across West Point railroad toward Rough
and Ready; on Macon railroad.
August
31
, reached Macon railroad and built breast-works.
September
1
, detailed pioneers, who, with the pioneers of the brigade, under charge of
Major
Kidder
, of the Eighty-ninth, tore up and destroyed two miles of the Macon railroad; marched same day,
September
1
, for Jonesborough,
22 miles
south of Atlanta
, to participate in the expected battle at that point; reached there at 6 p. m., and went immediately
into position.
The enemy, having been severely handled and driven from their intrenchments by the Fourteenth Army Corps, retreated during the night'of
September
1
.
September
2
.
followed in pursuit, passing through Jonesborough, and overtook
the enemy intrenched on heights in and about
Lovejoy
's, a station on Macon railroad,
five miles
south of Jonesborough
.
Deployed the Eighty-ninth as skirmishers on left of the entire army; drove the enemy to his main works on the
heights.
September
3
, built breast-works.
September
4
, remained in our works.
September
5
, remained in our works until 8 p. m., then marched to the rear in company with brigade, division, and
corps; marched all night northward toward Atlanta.
September
6
, remained in camp near Jonesborough and picketed left
flank of division.
September
7
, marched northward.
September
8
, passed through Atlanta with colors flying and drums
beating; went into camp about three miles eastward of Atlanta,
where the Eighty-ninth is encamped at the date of this report.
I take the opportunity as the commanding officer of the Eightyninth to express my grateful acknowledgments to
the rank and file --of this regiment for their uncomplaining endurance and
devoted bravery during this long, laborious, and eventful campaign.
They have proved themselves patriots and soldiers of the highest type.
Such men go far toward redeeming the era in which we live from the charge of degeneracy.
If war is a frightful calamity it develops some of the noblest traits of manhood and humanity, and
Sherman
's Atlanta campaign will stand out conspicuously in the annals of our country's history for skill,
bravery, endurance, obedience, and unexampled
patriotism.
Where merit among the rank and file is so general, just discrimination is impossible.
Could the brave dead be resuscitated, their names should be pre-eminent.
Nor should the wounded, languishing in distant hospitals, be forgotten.
Let us hope our country will not forget them or begrudge to them the empty, but still highly prized, homage of a
nation's
gratitude.
Of the commissioned officers of the Eighty-ninth I can speak with pride and pleasure.
Not one of them ever faltered in his duty.
Ever foremost in the charge, the record of the Eighty-ninth's dead and wounded tells the story more eloquently
than tongue or pen. To the already illustrious dead can be added Lieut,
William
Harkness
,
Company H, and
Lieut.
N.
Street
, Company D.
To the wounded,
Capt.
L.
F.
Dimick
, Company F;
Capt.
S.
C.
Comstock
, Company I, and
Lieut.
O.
C.
Pease
, Company E.
Of the living and present I owe it to truth to say that whatever of credit may be due the Eighty-ninth for good
conduct in front of the enemy or elsewhere, is mainly due to the judicious advice and sound example of
Maj.
B.
H.
Kidder
;
Capt.
J.
M.
Farquhar
, Company B;
Capt.
F.
M.
Hobbs
, Company H;
Capt.
W.
A.
Sampson
, Company K;
Captain
Warren
, Company E;
Captain
Dimick
, Company F;
Captain
Howell
, Company G;
Captain
Comstock
, Company I;
Captain
Robinson
and
Captain
Rigney
, Company C, and
Lieutenants
Walker
,
Arenschield
,
Copp
,
Greenfield
,
Beecher
,
Wood
,
Pease
,
Tait
,
Miller
,
Swickard
,
Phelps
, and
Hale
, and last, but not least, Lieut. and
Adjt.
J.
M.
Grosh
and
Sergt. Maj.
B.
O'Connor
.
I cannot let the occasion pass without bearing testimony to the zeal and efficiency of
Surg.
H.
B.
Tuttle
and Assist.
Surg.
P.
R.
Thombs
, both of whom freely exposed their lives to assist the wounded and assuage the pains of the dying.
Surgeon
Tuttle
succumbed to the arduous toil and incessant devotion opposite Atlanta and is still sick in hospital.
Surgeon
Thombs
continued to the final end and has won a name (with the Eighty-ninth) for skill and humanity second to
none in the Army of the Cumberland.
I respectfully refer to the accompanying schedule, marked A, for all the particulars in reference to the names,
rank, &c.,
of the killed, wounded, and missing.
All of which is respectfully submitted by your obedient servant,
Lieut. W. McGRATH , A. A. A. G., First Brig., Third Div., 4th Army Corps.