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Hdqrs. Forty-First Regt. Ohio Veteran Infantry, Atlanta, Ga.,
September
9, 1864
.
Captain: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the Forty-first Regiment
Ohio Veteran Infantry during the campaign just closed.
I have also to include the services of the First Ohio Volunteer Infantry from
the
6th of May
to the
21st of July
, during which time that regiment was consolidated with my own under my command:
At 12 m.
May
3
the battalion broke camp at McDonald's Station, Tenn.,
and marched for Catoosa Springs, reaching that place on the
4th
.
On the morning of the 9th.
the command having moved upon the enemy's position at Buzzard
Roost, a picket detail of four companies of the Forty-first Regiment
became engaged with the enemy's skirmishers, but without casualty.
At 3 p. m. of the same day the battalion in moving across an open field in close column, lost 1 officer and 9
men by the enemy's fire from the summit of Rocky Face Ridge.
On the
10th
and 11th the battalion lay under the eneiny's fire, but lost only 2 men. At noon of
May
13
, the enemy having abandoned his position at Buzzard
Roost, the command moved toward Resaca, and at 11 a. m.
of the
14th
advanced upon the enemy's position covering that place.
This battalion formed the right of the first line of the brigade, and after moving a mile came upon the enemy's
works.
The battalion was ordered to protect the right of the left battalion, which had gained an advanced position, and
by a charge
secured a crest within 100 yards of a salient in the enemy's line.
By using a fence upon the crest as a barricade, the battalion was enabled to maintain this position, and
prevented entirely
the use of the enemy's artillery on that front.
This position was strengthened at night and held by the battalion until the withdrawal of the enemy.
Shortly after gaining the crest, a gallant effort was made by
Major
Stafford
, First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with about 100 men to carry the
enemy's works at the salient point, but it was not successful.
On the
15th
orders were received for a general assault of the
enemy's works, and at 1 p. m., in obedience to signal, the battalion moved to the attack.
The direction of our line on each flank was such that its fire swept the ground over which this battalion was to
move, and
as the troops on the right and left did not advance, but opened a furious fire from their works, the assault was
an utter
failure, the battalion being driven back by the musketry of our own troops.
During the night following the enemy abandoned the position, and at 5 a. m. of the
16th
the Forty-first Regiment made a reconnaissance, going as far as the
Oostenaula River, securing a few prisoners, but finding no enemy in force.
During the operations at this [place] the battalion sustained a loss of 2 officers and nearly 50 men. On the
17th
the army being in pursuit of the enemy, the battalion was detached at Calhoun to follow the railroad to Adairsville, the main columns moving on parallel roads on each flank.
The enemy was met after moving two miles, and, although taking advantage of the ground at every favorable point,
were driven steadily backward along the road to within
a mile of Adairsville, where he suddenly showed heavy lines of
infantry, within 500 yards of our skirmishers, advancing toward us. His advance proved to be only a movement
into position, but no farther progress
was attempted.
Both regiments of the battalion were engaged as skirmishers during the day, and the service, from the
persistency of the enemy's
resistance, and the distance marched, was excessively fatiguing.
The casualties were limited to half a dozen wounded.
On the
19th
, the enemy having been found in front of Cassville, the
skirmish line of the battalion became sharply engaged, but without loss.
On the
26th
, the command having moved from Cassville to the vicinity
of Dallas, the battalion moved into position 500 yards from the
enemy's works near Pickett's Mills.
On the
27th
the division was relieved from the line to attack the enemy's right flank, and was formed in column with
a front of two battalions, this battalion having the right of the first line.
The movement commenced at noon, the column marching two miles to the left of the Federal lines, encountering
only the cavalry of the enemy.
At 4 the attack was made.
This battalion moved through an open wood, the right flank passing along the side of an open field, across
which, at a distance
of 400 yards, were the enemy's works.
A deep ravine was soon encountered, the opposite bank covered with an almost impenetrable undergrowth of oak.
The skirmish
line was stopped by the enemy's fire as it ascended from the ravine, and the battalion closed upon it. The line
was here rectified
and the ranks closed, when I ordered the charge.
The battalion had advanced hardly a half a dozen paces when it was struck by a withering volley of musketry from
the thicket in front and from the right.
The enemy's fire was sustained in greater severity than would be possible for a single line, and in advancing
twenty paces nearly one-third of the battalion was stricken down.
The line was within twenty-five paces of the slight barricade behind which the enemy's lines were posted, but it
was impossible to carry the position, the
line being too much broken and no shelter under which to reform.
The battalion was held in this position, the men availing themselves of what shelter was offered by trees, logs,
and the conformation
of the ground, and opened a rapid fire upon the enemy, the effect of which could be plainly seen, while I
dispatched a staff
officer to hasten up the second line, hoping to be able with its aid to carry the position.
This officer,
First Lieutenant
Homan
, adjutant of the First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was shot
while going back, and a second messenger was sent, but failed to find the proper officer or bring forward the
second line.
In the mean time the enemy formed a regiment upon our right flank, and opened a battery from the same direction.
Their fire was very severe, but the orders having been for an attack in column, I deemed it my duty to hold my
battalion (the
head of the column) as long as possible.
Twice the enemy tried to charge from his works, but was stopped at the outset.
Finally he closed upon our right, doubling it back.
By strenuous efforts this was restored, but only to be again crushed by a more vigorous advance of the enemy,
when, seeing
it was impossible to hold the shattered line longer in the position, I ordered the battalion to fall back to the
hill in rear.
This, except in the case of the three right companies, which the enemy nearly enveloped and pressed with great
vigor, was effected in order, and without the loss
of a man, but it was impossible to bring off all the wounded.
A hundred yards in rear the battalion in its retreat met one of the supporting brigades advancing, behind which
it reformed, but was not again engaged.
The attack had continued for more than an hour and failed, but it was an honest effort to execute an order,
without hesitating
to calculate the chances of success, which all who took part in may be proud of. I cannot speak too highly of
the conduct
of the officers and men under my command in this affair.
I saw not a single instance of hesitancy when the order was given to charge, and if devoted gallantry could have
won success
these men would have had it. The battalion went into position near the battle-field, and, except to repulse a
feeble effort of the enemy to feel the line with their skirmishers, was not again engaged.
On the morning of
June
5
, being ordered to ascertain if the enemy had left his position, I moved the Forty-first Regiment as skirmishers upon his works and found them occupied.
On the
6th
the command moved to the vicinity of Acworth, and on the
10th advanced upon the enemy's position in front of Kenesaw
Mountain.
On the
17th
the First Regiment was severely engaged as skirmishers, and three
companies of the Forty-first Regiment charged the enemy's skirmishers,
strongly posted in the outbuildings of a farm-house and carried the position.
On the
20th
, the enemy having fallen back to his last line in front of Marietta, the skirmishers of the Forty-first
Regiment were advanced, driving the enemy's skirmishers back upon their works.
The battalion was moved up in support of the skirmishers, and the main line established 500 yards from the
enemy's works.
Except constant picket-firing the battalion was not afterwards engaged until after the enemy evacuated the
position at Kenesaw Mountain and fell back to the Chattahoochee River.
In the advance to the Chattahoochee the battalion was detached to make a detour to the left, strike a pontoon
bridge, and endeavor to come upon some of the enemy's
trains.
The battalion left the column
two miles from Vining's Station
, and moving to the left, drove a small force of cavalry before it, and struck the river
one and a half miles above
Vining
's. Moving down the river the battalion succeeded in reaching the enemy's pontoon bridge at the
instant it had been cut loose
from the north bank of the river.
The enemy was in force upon the opposite bank, but the battalion deployed as skirmishers along the river
maintained its position
with some loss, and prevented the enemy from taking up his pontoon.
The casualties were few in number, but among them was
Major
Williston
, Forty-first Regiment, whose faithful services the regiment could ill
afford to lose.
On the
17th
, having crossed the Chattahoochee above Vining's Station, the
division moved down the river to drive the enemy from the bank opposite
Vining
's, the First Regiment encountering their skirmishers during the
movement, and on arrival at the point of destination, the Forty-first Regiment
was advanced on the road toward Peach Tree Creek, dislodging a
small cavalry force.
On the morning of the 20th the skirmishers of the battalion were engaged at Peach Tree Creek, with several casualties, and again on the 21st and 22d, when the
final position before Atlanta was taken up. On the
26th
the First Regiment was ordered to Chattanooga.
July
28
, the Forty-first Regiment, with the Sixth
Regiment
Kentucky Volunteers as support, was ordered to take the enemy's rifle-pits in
front of the brigade.
Three companies were deployed as skirmishers, and charged the enemy's line of skirmishers, driving them easily
from their pits
ard capturing several prisoners, with a loss of but 2 men. From
July
28
to
August
25
the command remained in position before Atlanta,
frequently under fire, but sustaining trifling loss.
On the
25th of August
the regiment moved with the army to the south of Atlanta,
but was not engaged with the enemy, except as skirmishers on the
3d of September
in the position
seven miles below Jonesborough
.
The regiment reached its present camp on the
8th instant
.
I respectfully call your attention to the accompanying tabular statement of casualties, and commend to the
gratitude of their
commanders and their country the surviving officers and men who have endured without murmur excessive hardships
of a four months campaign.
My own thanks are due for the zealous and efficient services of
Maj.
J.
A.
Stafford
, First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, while that regiment was part of my
command; to
Maj.
J.
H.
Williston
, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and to the subordinate officers
of the command generally.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Zzz
Reports of effective force :
May
3
-effective aggregate, 333.
Engaged
May
27
-commissioned officers, 10; enlisted men, 261.
Engaged
September
8
-commissioned officers, 13; enlisted men, 187.
Average effective force during campaign, 240.
Report of casualties in Forty-first regiment
Ohio Veteran Infantry during the campaign commencing
May
7
and ending
September
5, 1864
.