This version of the website was created in 2025. See the Site Information Page for contact information, data downloads, and other details.
Atlanta, Ga.,
September
11, 1864
.
Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Fifty-ninth Regiment
Illinois Infantry while under my command in the campaign which has closed by
our triumphant entry into Atlanta:
On the
3d day of May
we left our camp at Blue Springs, Tenn., and on the 7th
developed the enemy at Tunnel Hill, which they soon abandoned.
From the 8th to the
12th of May
the regiment was posted in front of Rocky Face Ridge,
skirmishing with the enemy and constructing rifle-pits, and joined in the pursuit on the morning of the
13th
, marching through Dalton.
On the
14th
we went into position before the enemy's works at Resaca,
under a withering fire of both artillery and musketry, and remained within a few hundred yards of the enemy's
works until the morning of the
16th
, when we took possession of them.
Again joining in pursuit of the retreating foe we crossed the Oostenaula
River and came up with him in the evening at Adairsville.
During the night he disappeared and we followed and found him at Kingston on the
19th
.
The Fifty-ninth Regiment, the advance of the corps, skirmished with the enemy
in strong force on the road.
from Kingston to Cassville until night.
During the night he again retreated.
On the
23d
we marched from Cassville, crossed the Etowah River, and on the 25th we again confronted the enemy near
Dallas.
Until the night of the
5th of June
we were building works and skirmishing constantly in the presence of the enemy, when he again abandoned
his position.
On the
6th
we moved to Acworth, and on the 10th moved forward untii the
enemy was found strongly posted on Pine Top, in front of which the regiment threw up rifle-pits.
On the
15th
the enemy abandoned Pine Top, which we immediately occupied.
The regiment worked all the night of the
16th
, under a furious fire from the enemy, building rifle-pits close to his works, but when day broke he
again fell back.
We followed him up and soon developed him in another line of works.
On the evening of the 20th the regiment constructed works within 300 yards of the enemy's line, under a heavy
fire, the enemy having driven away the troops of the brigade on our right, and during
the 21st and 22d we lay at that place under a continual fire of artillery and musketry.
Having been ordered to move to the right on the
23d
, we occupied a position in the immediate front of the enemy until the
3d of July
, when he abandoned the line of the Kenesaw Mountain.
The Fifty-ninth taking the advance threw out companies as skirmishers and pursued, driving the enemy's cavalry
out of Marietta, and were the first Federal troops to enter that
place.
Leaving Marietta we pursued the foe five miles, to Ruff's Station, where we again came upon him in force, intrenched.
On the
4th day of July
, in accordance with orders received, the Fifty-ninth charged across the open field on the left of the
railroad, driving the enemy from his rifle-pits, and permanently held them,
with a loss of 4 killed and 16 wounded, including
Adjutant
Clark
and
Lieutenant
Korhammer
, of Company I, who was shot through the body while gallantly
leading forward the skirmish line.
The day was extremely hot and the men suffered dreadfully from thirst and exposure to the sweltering sun on that
open field,
but the position was held, and during the night the foe again fled.
The next morning we moved to Vining's Station, where we lay in camp until
the 9th, when the regiment was ordered to Powers' Ferry to observe the
enemy.
On the
12th
we crossed the Chattahoochee and camped on the south side of the river near Powers' Ferry, where we lay until the 18th, when we moved forward to Buck Head.
On the
19th
, crossing Peach Tree Creek, we engaged in a lively
skirmish and threw up works.
On the
20th
we moved toward Atlanta, encountered the enemy, and
skirmished with him until he was driven within his permanent works about Atlanta on the
22d
.
Here we constructed substantial works, with carefully arranged abatis, and prepared for the final struggle for
the possession
of Atlanta.
On the
27th of July
I assumed command of the brigade, and the command of the regiment devolved upon
Lieutenant-Colonel
Hale
.
The conduct of the officers and men of the regiment during this arduous campaign is deserving of the highest
commendation;
fearless in confronting the foe, energetic and cheerful in the laborious preparations of defenses, patient and
persevering
in their efforts to dislodge the enemy, they have at all times shown the highest qualities as soldiers and merit
the thanks
of their fellow-countrymen.
All the officers faithfully and intelligently executed my orders.
From
Lieutenant-Colonel
Hale
and
Adjutant
Clark
I ever received prompt and reliable support.
The soldierly bearing of
Capt.
D.
W.
Henderson
, so conspicuously displayed on many of the battle-fields in which the regiment has been engaged
throughout the several skirmishes
and affairs of this campaign, demands special mention.
The loss sustained by the regiment while under my command was 14 killed and 46 wounded. Among the killed we
mourn some of the most honored non-commissioned officers and privates in the regiment.
I accompany this report with a list
Omitted. of the killed and wounded.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Captain Brinton , Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.