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Hdqrs. Twenty-First Wisconsin Vol. Infantry, Near
Jonesborough, Ga.,
September
5, 1864
.
Captain: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this regiment during the campaign
commencing
May
7
, at Ringgold, Ga., and ending
September
8, 1864
, at Atlanta, Ga.:
May
7
, moved south toward Buzzard Roost and at Tunnel Hill formed line of battle, but met with no enemy.
May
9
, by order of
General
Carlin
, this regiment and the Thirty-third Ohio,
Lieutenant-Colonel
Montgomery
, both under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel
Hobart
, made a reconnaissance of the western face of Rocky Face
Ridge south of the gap for the purpose of gaining the crest.
After passing with much caution along the base of the ridge for a mile skirmishers from both regiments were
deployed, and
the ascent began.
The regiment advanced behind the skirmishers and halted when the latter had gained the foot of an almost
perpendicular crest
on the upper edge of which the rebel skirmishers were posted.
The ascent being there found impracticable, the detachment was ordered back by
General
Carlin
.
Several shots were exchanged, and 1 rebel hit; no casualties to this regiment.
May
12
, moved through Snake Creek Gap toward Resaca, and on the
14th
, brigade being formed in two lines near Resaca, the
Twenty-first being the third regiment in the front line, at 10 a. m. the
movement against the enemy began.
One company (K) was on the skirmish line and skirmished very heavily with the enemy for about half a mile
through thick undergrowth
and in very hilly woods.
The enemy's skirmishers were driven from the woods and across an open field beyond a tortuous creek into their
main line of
works.
This regiment with the others in the brigade were formed near the edge of the wood, on a high bank of the creek,
in the same
order in which they had advanced, and, by order of
General
Carlin
, commanding brigade, charged through the creek and across the open field upon the enemy's works, which
were distant about
300 yards. The creek in many places was waist deep to the men, and in moving through the ranks were very much
broken.
In this broken condition it emerged into the open field under a most galling fire from the enemy, in which it
was impossible
to again reform.
In the impetuosity of the charge many of the men were ahead of the regiment, but were compelled to take shelter
after advancing
about half-way across the field, where they encountered another branch, and those behind, seeing the
hopelessness of gaining
the enemy's works, took shelter behind stumps and whatever offered protection.
The most of the regiment during the afternoon fell back to the creek and remained there under the shelter of
temporary works,
from which they kept up a fire upon the enemy that kept them close under their works until after dark, when
those yet in the
open field joined them, and the regiment was relieved and retired with the balance of the brigade to the rear to
bivouac during
the night.
In the engagement the regiment lost in killed 9 men, and wounded 2 officers,
Second Lieutenants
Harding
and
Fargo
(both commanding companies), and 36 men. The enemy having evacuated Resaca on the night of the
15th
May
, the regiment moved with the brigade in all its marches and went into position with it on Pumpkin Vine Creek, near Dallas,
Ga.,
May
27
.
May
28
,
two
companies of this regiment, under
Captains
Weisbrod
and
Edwards
, drove the enemy's skirmishers from a very strong position on a wooded ridge and established our
skirmish line 200 yards in advance, and within that distance of the enemy's main line.
The regiment took position on the ridge from which the enemy's skirmishers had been driven.
May
30
, about 6 p. m. that part of the line on which the Twentyfirst was posted was attacked by part of
Hood
's corps, which advanced from their main works in line of battle.
The skirmish line drove them back, and those of this regiment took 1 wounded prisoner.
Three dead rebels were left in front of the skirmish line of the regiment.
This position was held until
June
2
, when the regiment was relieved by the One hundred and fifth Ohio, of
a brigade from
General
Baird
's division, having been constantly skirmishing with the enemy for six days, and much of the
time the rebels and ours occupying the summit of the same ridge within 30 yards of each other, firing constanly.
During these six days skirmishing lost 4 men killed and 24 wounded.
June
6
, marched within
three miles of Acworth
and changed position from day to day with the brigade.
When near Big Shanty,
June
17
, the skirmish line of the brigade became again heavily engaged with the enemy, driving him about a half
mile.
June
18
, the skirmish line of the brigade, of which fifty men from this regiment formed a part, charged upon the
enemy's rifle-pits and drove his skirmishers into the main line, capturing
13 prisoners, of whom the skirmishers of the Twenty-first took 7.
The enemy that night abandoned his position and fell back to Kenesaw
Mountain, and the regiment moved up and took position at that place.
Here the movements are identical with those of the brigade, changing position as ordered from one part of the
line of the army to another, constantly under the fire from the enemy's artillery, and a part of the regiment
nearly every day on the skirmish line.
In the night of
July
2, 1864
, the enemy again evacuated his position; during this engagement lost 3 killed and 3 wounded.
July
3
, marched through Marietta, Ga., and went into camp about
three miles south of that place.
July
4
, this regiment was deployed as skirmishers, covering the brigade, and advanced ��� about one mile south,
where they came upon the enemy's works and became sharply engaged with his skirmishers, driving them.
July
5
, the enemy fell back to the Chattahoochee and the brigade followed.
Having advanced about two miles this regiment, under
Maj.
M.
H.
Fitch
, and the Tenth Wisconsin Infantry, under
Captain
Roby
(the detachment being commanded by the former officer), were sent by order of
Colonel
IVicCook
, commanding brigade, on a road leading to the right from the main column for the purpose of opening
communication with
General
McPherson
's column, which was moving south parallel with the column and west of it; the detachment,
preceded by skirmishers, advanced about
two miles, when it came upon a part of the line of rebel works at the Chattahoochee River, behind which the enemy was posted in force.
The road upon which it had moved is the main thoroughfare from Marietta to Atlanta.
The rebel skirmishers were driven during the whole march; the detach ment took position at the forks of a road
nine and a half miles
from Atlanta, and being relieved about 3 p. m. by
General
Davis
' division, joined the brigade in position east of it about one mile, having killed 2 rebels and
taken 2 prisoners; no casualties occurred to the detachment.
July
17
, advanced across the Chattahoochee River, skirmishers
from the regiment engaging and driving those of the enemy every day until the
20th of July
, when the regiment, lying in the second line of the brigade on the crest of a hill near Peach Tree Creek, was ordered by
Colonel
McCook
, commanding brigade, and
Lieutenant-Colonel
Hobart
, commanding second line, to move down the hill into the ravine and take position.
At this time, about 4 p. m., a rebel line of battle had attacked most furiously the One hundred and fourth Illinois on the northern face of the hill beyond the ravine into which
the Twenty-first was ordered, but the order not having been given to the commanding officer of this regiment,
and he supposing the order was to move in support of the One-hundred and fourth
Illinois against the rebels, charged upon the double-quick up the hill to the right of that regiment,
the rebels falling back at the
beginning of the movement, before the Twenty-first reached the position, leaving their dead and wounded on the
field.
In this affair the regiment lost 3 wounded.
July
21
, at 7 p. m. moved south one mile and threw up heavy earthworks, but
July
22
, the rebels having again fallen back, at daylight, we advanced to Atlanta and took position on the north side of that city.
August
7
, the regiment, in the mean time, having moved toward the right of the position of our army, about 4 p.
m.
General
Carlin
ordered two companies of this regiment to be deployed against the rifle-pits occupied by the enemy's
skirmishers.
The first division of the regiment, commanded by
Capt.
Henry
Turner
, was moved forward, and they were supported in a few minutes by the second division, under
Captain
Edwards
.
These two divisions moved gallantly, but met with such stubborn resistance that the remaining six companies were
thrown forward upon the charge, when the rebel pits were carried and several prisoners taken, among whom was
a rebel captain.
The regiment lost 13 wounded, among whom was
Captain
Turner
, of Company D.
This movement gave a good position for the main line to occupy within 150 yards of the enemy's works, which was
held until
August
21
, at 8 p. m., when the regiment moved with the brigade around the left flank of the rebel army.
August
28
, came to the Montgomery railroad.
six miles
west of East Point
.
August
29
, deployed as skirmishers in front of the brigade; moved east upon the Montgomery railroad, driving rebel
cavalry about two miles, and moved back same day to point of departure.
From that date until the present our movements have been merely marches, with the single exception.
of the retreat in the face of the enemy and in line of battle on
September
6
, when our skirmishers were engaged with the enemy, and 1 man was reported missing.
The total casualties to the regiment during the campaign are as follows: Killed, 19; wounded, 90; taken
prisoners, 3; total, 112.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,