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Hdqrs. Forty-Second Indiana Volunteers, Jonesborough, Ga.,
September
5, 1864
.
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command during the Georgia campaign,
beginning
May
7
and ending
September
2, 1864
:
The command was engaged in a brisk skirmish with the enemy at Buzzard
Roost on the
9th of May
while advancing our lines up the side and around the ,point of the .mountain, in which we lost 3 men
wounded.
Nothing of interest occurred until the
14th of May
, when we made an unsuccessful charge upon the enemy's works at Snake [Creek] Gap, losing 1 man killed
and 45 wounded. On the
15th
more or less skirmishing, but no casualties.
From this date to the 28th nothing worthy of note transpired, when we .took position on the extreme left of the
army and erected breast-works, and while
establishing the picket-line a brisk skirmish took place in which 1 man was wounded.
On Ithe 29th, 30th, and 31st skirmishing still continued, the enemy's lines in my :front being less than thirty
paces distant from my own. The loss of the regiment on these
three days was 3 killed and 11 wounded.
June
1
and
2
, both day and night, the regiment was under fire, losing 1 officer wounded.
From this date to the 17th we marched to the neighborhood of Kenesaw
Mountain, and on the latter day had a heavy skirmish, losing 1 man killed.
On the
18th
, while advancing the skirmish line, Company G, of this
regiment, under command of
Lieutenant
Palmer
, charged the rebel rifle-pits and captured 13 of the enemy, and put to flight a North Carolina regiment.
On the
22d
had 1 man killed, 2 severely and 1 mortally wounded by a shell.
The command was engaged in frequent skirmishes from this date till the
6th of July
, but no casualties occurred.
On the latter day lost 2 men wounded.
From this day to the 19th nothing outside of the usual skirmishing occurred, bringing us to Peach Tree Creek.
On the
20th
the command crossed the creek, and before the works were completed the enemy charged upon us but were
repulsed with heavy
loss.
The regiment lost I man killed and 2 wounded. On the
21st
1 man mortally wounded by a stray ball.
On the
22d
the command started to Atlanta, but found the enemy had
not evacuated the place.
A heavy skirmish occurred in which we lost 1 officer and 2 men killed, and 1 officer and 5 men wounded, while
advancing the skirmish line to the suburbs.
From this time to the close of
July
comparative quiet prevailed and no casualties occurred.
August
1
, heavy skirmishing all day but no casualties.
August
2
,
2
men wounded.
August
7
, the command charged the rebel lines, capturing their riflepits; lost 1 killed, I severely and 1
mortally wounded.
August
8
, still skirmishing; 3 men wounded.
August
9
,
1
man mortally and 1 slightly wounded by sharpshooters.
During the period between the latter date and our arrival at Jonesborough, with the exception of one or two light skirmishes with the loss of 3
men wounded, nothing important occurred.
It is but justice to say that owing to my absence on account of sickness the regiment was under the command of
Captain
Masters
from the 3d to the
22d of July
, when he was severely wounded, and the command fell into the hands of
Captain
Kellams
, who retained it until
August
23
.
I take great pleasure in saying that the latter-named officer has upon several different occasions distinguished
himself by
his coolness and bravery in times of danger.
The total number of casualties is 1 officer killed and 2 wounded; 14 men killed, 88 wounded, and 1 missing; 11
have since died.
Very respectfully, &c.,