This version of the website was created in 2025. See the Site Information Page for contact information, data downloads, and other details.
Hdqrs. Thirty-Eighth Indiana Veteran Vols., Jonesborough, Ga.,
September
5, 1864
.
Lieutenant: I have the honor to report the following as the part taken by the Thirty-eighth Regiment
Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry in the summer campaign of
1864
, in the State of Georgia:
May
3, 1864
, moved from Graysville, Ga., as part of Third Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps (
Col.
B.
F.
Scribner
, Thirty-eighth Indiana, commanding brigade), stopping at Ringgold until
May
7, 1864
, when the regiment participated in the advance on, and occupation of, Tunnel Hill, the enemy retiring to Buzzard Roost
Gap.
May
9
, advanced on Buzzard Roost with the brigade, driving the
enemy's skirmishers and occupying an advanced position under a heavy fire of artillery, losing
in this advance and position 2 enlisted men killed, 3 officers and 11 enlisted men wounded.
May
12
, marched from Buzzard Roost, passing through Snake Creek Gap, and participating with the brigade in the advance on Resaca,
May
14
and
15
, without loss.
May
16
, commenced pursuit of the enemy, passing through Calhoun,
Adairsville, and Kingston, crossing Etowah River at
Island Ford,
May
23
, taking position,
May
26
, in front of enemy's works near Dallas.
May
27
, moved with brigade and division, supporting
General
Wood
's division, Fourth Army Corps, passing to the front
and left, striking the enemy on Little Pumpkin Vine Creek, the brigade
advancing on the left of said division; the Thirty-eighth, with First Wisconsin
Infantry, was ordered to the left flank to occupy and hold a hill of some importance, which was done,
driving the enemy's skirmishers
and cavalry from it, with a loss to the Thirty-eighth of 2 privates wounded.
At midnight the command was withdrawn by order, building works on a new line; and from that date until
June
5
, when the enemy were forced to withdraw from their position, the regiment was under continuous fire of
both artillery and
musketry, losing 1 private killed and 2 wounded.
June
6
, participated in the pursuit, going into position some three miles in front of Kenesaw Mountain.
Here on the
17th of June
the Thirty-eighth was ordered to the front to advance the lines, and did so, charging the enemy's
skirmish pits, capturing 15 prisoners with their arms.
Early on the 18th again advanced the line, charged their pits, capturing 4 prisoners and driving the enemy in
our front to their main works near foot of Kenesaw Mountain, and
holding the position 600 yards therefrom under a heavy
artillery and musketry fire.
During these advances the regiment lost 2 killed and 5 wounded. The enemy again forced from his lines, the
regiment with brigade went into position near southwest end of Kenesaw; again moving on night of 22d about one and a half miles to right and
taking position on Bald Knob, 700 yards from enemy's main works, and from which the most vigorous shelling was
kept up daily on our lines, the regiment losing 1 killed and 3 wounded. Remained in this position until the
night of
July
2
, when the brigade moved to the left flank, only to find the enemy in retreat on the morning of
July
3
.
Followed in pursuit at once, passing through Marietta and forcing
the enemy,
July
5
, to near their main works on the Chattahoochee River.
On this date,
Colonel
Scribner
having been taken quite sick, the command of the brigade devolved upon
Colonel
Given
, Seventy-fourth Ohio Veteran Volunteers.
July
9
, the regiment supported the Twenty-first Ohio Veteran Volunteers in
advancing the skirmish line north of the Chattahoochee River,
where a spirited and gallant affair ensued, the Twentyfirst charging and carrying the enemy's rifle-pits, the
Thirty-eighth, as a reserve, losing 5 wounded during the affray.
July
15
,
Col.
M.
F.
Moore
, Sixty-ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, having been assigned to
the command of the brigade and subsequent operations of the regiment coming under your personal
observation, I shall be as brief as possible.
July
17
, crossed the Chattahoochee River near Vining's Station, .advancing and participating in the skirmish from that point to the crossing
of Nancy's and Peach Tree
Creeks.
On the
20th
was in the front line during the engagement of that day, losing 1 captain and 4 enlisted men wounded.
July
21
, the regiment was ordered on a reconnaissance, finding the enemy in force three-quarters of a mile to
the front.
Returned with loss of 1 killed and 1 wounded. Afternoon of 21st, as part of first line, supported
Lieutenant-Colonel
Brigham
, Sixty-ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, in his advance of skirmish line.
His regiment and line gallantly charged across open fields, driving and capturing many of the enemy.
The Thirty-eighth, with Twenty-first Ohio and Thirty-seventh Indiana following as support, pressed the lines to within 400 yards of enemy's
main works and occupied the same at 1:a. m., the enemy retreating on Atlanta.
In this advance the regiment lost 1 killed and 4 wounded.
July
22
, participated in advance on Atlanta, going into position
in front of their works, and about two miles from the city.
July
28
, moved with brigade to support the Army of the
Tennessee, then engaged with the enemy.
Went into position on the flank of said army, throwing up works, but did not become engaged.
From this date until
August
25
, p. m., the regiment participated in the skirmishes and advances made by the brigade in the vicinity of
Atlanta, taking with the brigade an advanced position in the
lines on
August
9
and
10
within 1,000 yards of enemy's main works.
Losses, though light, were of almost daily occurrence.
August
25
, 9 p. m., left position in front of Atlanta to take part
in the movements south of that point.
Joined division (from which the brigade had been temporarily detached) on the night of the 25th. ;
August
26
, fortified a flank line of works.
August
27
and
28
, moved southwesterly, striking Atlanta and
West Point Railroad
six miles
south of East Point
on the afternoon of 28th. 29th, assisted in destroying railroad, which was done effectively.
August
30
, moved in direction of Macon railroad, advancing to
within
four miles of Jonesborough
.
September
1
, commenced movement eastward toward railroad, Third Brigade in advance
of corps; moved out on the Rough and Ready and
Jonesborough road
, soon meeting the enemy's skirmishers; lines were formed, Second Brigade on
right, Third Brigade on left, advancing thus for about a mile through fields,
swamps, sloughs, and creeks, driving the enemy's skirmishers and
gaining the railroad about
two miles
north of Jonesborough
, there connecting with Fourth Army Corps; lines reformed about
4
p. m. in the same order, facing south, the left of Third Brigade resting on
railroad.
The Thirty-eighth, the right of second line, advanced through an immense thicket under fire of enemy's
skirmishers, who were driven by our skirmish line (of which
Company D,
Capt.
James
H.
Low
, formed a part) across an open field and into their works in woods beyond.
The first line of brigade followed closely, putting up light works in edge of timber, while the second line was
halted 100 yards in rear and also put up a light line of works.
The first line now advancing became hotly engaged in the woods, the fight extending to the right for some
distance with great fury.
The other regiments from second line were ordered forward to support the first, leaving the Thirty-eighth for
the time a spectator to the gallant charges of our comrades.
Soon, however, came an order for the Thirty-eighth to advance, and crossing the field was ordered to take, if
possible, the enemy's works.
Moving to the right of the brigade line the woods were entered; then deploying Company G,
Capt.
H.
F.
Perry
, and Company H,
Lieut.
David
H.
Patton
commanding, as skirmishers, the advance was given and acted upon with alacrity.
The men in the face of a terrible fire charging over the falling timber and abatis, struck the works and carried
them, then
swinging by a wheel to the left, advanced down the line toward the railroad, clearing the pits and traverses as
they passed,
hurrying the prisoners to the rear.
In a short time the brigade front was cleared, the railroad gained, and a rebel section of artillery and
infantry colors escaping
only by rapid running.
On the left of the railroad no advance seemed to be made, and the enfilading fire from there was such that
safety required
the left bank should be taken.
So across the railroad, down and up the sides of a ten-foot cut, did the men
charge, clearing the works for sixty yards beyond, until in fact they came under the fire of our men of the
Fourth Corps, who were 300 yards to the rear.
This caused a withdrawal toward the left bank of the railroad, which was held, together with the right bank and
rebel works
to the right.
The enemy's battery was now in its second position, not 400 yards down the railroad, and hurled the canister
directly against us. No advance being made by the troops on the left of the railroad,
the enemy rallied, advanced up their traversed line to within four rods of our position, and finally caused a
withdrawal from that side of the road, after losing
Major
Carter
, wounded,
Captains
Jenkins
and
Perry
, wounded, and
Lieutenant
Osborn
, killed, while enlisted men fell in proportion.
Having now withdrawn to right bank of railroad, still occupying the full brigade front of rebel works (the Seventy-fourth Ohio having taken position on the right), and seeing no prospect of
the advance of troops on the left of the railroad, and having
received notice that all the troops of our brigade were then in action, I deemed it but slaughter of the men who
had done
so gallantly to remain longer exposed to the terrible enfilading fire from the left, and consequently withdrew
about dusk
in good order to the open field in rear.
The enemy fought with the greatest desperation, and after first entering their works it was a continuous fight
along their line of traverses for each section, many not dropping their guns
until fired on or clubbed with the rifle.
The smallness of the command deterred me from sending prisoners to the rear under guard, although 41 were thus
disposed of, but I am certain the estimate is none too high when I say 100 at least were sent to the rear by the
regiment.
To both officers and men of the regiment I desire saying they did their every duty and did it well.
Major
Carter
was ever at his post until stricken down;
Captains
Jenkins
and
Perry
, and
Lieutenant
Osborn
were also struck while in the very front.
The color bearer (Lance
Sergt.
George
W.
Field
, Company C) was instantly killed as he planted his colors on
the railroad bank.
They were taken up and carried throughout the balance of the action by
Lieut.
Joseph
W.
Redding
, Company D, whom I would especially mention for his gallant
conduct.
The regimental color was carried safely through by
Sergeant
Owen
, Company I.
The losses in the engagement were 1 officer and 7 enlisted men killed, 3 officers and 25 enlisted men wounded,
and I enlisted man missing.
For recapitulation of casualties of the campaign, I respectfully refer you to accompanying sheet marked B.,
During the entire
campaign of four months, although exposed to almost continuous fire, hard labor, and marches, both officers and
men have at all times acted with
alacrity, energy, and cheerfulness.
Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
B.
List
of casualties in Thirty-eighth Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry,
during the campaign in Georgia, summer of
1864
.
Zzz
Colonel: I have the honor to report as follows as to the part taken by this command in the Georgia campaign between the date of July 5 and 13 :
July 5 , the regiment participated with the brigade in advancing the lines to near the north bank of the Chattahoochee River, late on the afternoon of the 5th , advancing and taking position in first line, losing 2 enlisted men wounded. July 9 , supported Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry in their advance of the skirmish line, in which spirited and gallant affair the Twenty-first charged and carried the enemy's rifle-pits, the Thirty-eighth, as reserve, advancing to their support, losing 5 enlisted men wounded in the affray. On the night of the 9th the enemy abandoned their main works north of Chattahoochee River, burning the railroad bridge. From July 10 until 15 the command lay in reserve on north side of river. Below I give list of casualties. Nominal list omitted.
Recapitulation: Killed, 1; wounded, 8; total, 9.
D. T. Griffin, Lieut. Col., Comdg . Thirty-eighth Indiana Vet. Vol. Infty. Col. Josiah given , Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.