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Hdqrs. Thirty-Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp near Atlanta, Ga.,
August
15, 1864
.
Captain: In compliance with the order of the colonel commanding the brigade, I have the honor to submit the
following report in brief
of the operations of the Thirty-eighth Regiment
Ohio Volunteers during the present campaign:
On the
10th day of May, 1864, left Ringgold, Ga., in pursuance
of an order from brigade headquarters, and took up our line of march, with the balance of the brigade, for
the front, where we arrived same evening, and moved into position directly in front of Buzzard Roost, the Thirty-eighth having the left of the front line.
Remained in same position until the l2th, when we marched with the brigade as train escort to Villanow, where we went into camp for the night.
On the
13th
moved through Snake Creek Gap, a distance of seven miles, and went
into camp for the night, and on the morning of the 14th joined our division, moving up during the day to the
support of troops which engaged the enemy's forces.
On the morning of the 15th moved to the right and went into position on the left of the front line of the
brigade.
The enemy evacuating their works in and around Resaca during the
night of the
15th
, the regiment was among the first to enter the town on the morning of the 16th.
On the
17th
and 18th took part in the pursuit of the enemy.
On the
19th
was detailed as train guard, joining the brigade late at night in their camp south of Kingston.
The 20th, 21st, and 22d were spent in camp.
On the morning of the 23d broke up camp, moved in the direction of Dallas; during the day forded the River
Etowah, making altogether one of the hardest marches of the
campaign.
On the
24th
moved out of camp, returned, pitched tents, and remained until the morning of the
26th
, when we again took up the line of march, going into camp near Burnt
Hickory.
Passed the 27th in camp.
Moved three miles to the front on the
28th
; returned again to a position near Burnt Hickory; went into camp,
remaining in same camp until
1st of June
, supposed to be guarding during the time the army transportation.
On the
1st of June
moved to the front line near Dallas, and on the 2d went
into position on the extreme front.
From the 2d until the morning of the 5th took part with the brigade in building works and the skirmishing which
resulted from advancing our lines, which led to the
abandonment by the enemy of their works.
The nights of the 4th and 5th were spent in camp.
The 6th we marched to a position near Acworth and went into camp,
where we rested until the 10th, when we again moved out to engage the enemy, which we found in strong position
about four miles from camp.
The regiment took part with the brigade in the various marches, countermarches, advance moves from right to left
and left
to right, the digging of intrenchments, and the various skirmishes embracing the time from the 10th until the
night of the
19th
, when the enemy again fell back to a strong position, their flanks extending to the right and left of
Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta being covered by their center.
On the
19th
moved up with the brigade in front of Kenesaw Mountain.
The brigade was held in reserve the 20th, 21st, and 22d.
On the
22d
, it might not be improperly noticed, a rebel shell wounded 2 commissioned officers and 5 enlisted men, 2
of the enlisted men receiving mortal wounds.
On the night of the 22d moved up on to the front line in front of the mountain, where we remained until the
night of the
26th
, when we moved to the right.
On the
27th
, with the division, supported
Davis
, of our corps, and his assault upon the enemy's works.
Remained in position in rear of
Davis
until the night of the
30th
, when we again moved to the right, relieving the division commanded by
General
Geary
, of the Twentieth Corps.
Moved into position behind works and there remained without change until the morning of the
3d
, when it was found that the rebels had again beat an inglorious retreat.
Took part in the pursuit of the 3d, camped in sight of the enemy for the night, and spent the anniversary of
American Independence in front of the rebel intrenchments,
the rebels being inclined to make another stand before falling back to their line of defenses on the north bank
of the Chattahoochee.
On the morning of the
5th
, however, to our surprise, the enemy had disappeared from our front; moved in pursuit with brigade and
went into position near the railroad south of Vining's Station.
From the 5th to the 8th took part in the various movements of the brigade, which developed the enemy's position
and forced him to cross the river
precipitately during the night of the 9th.
The 10th we moved camp to the left and front of Vining's Station, where we
remained until the
17th of July
.
During the time from
July
10
to the 17th the regiment was supplied with clothing and had ample opportunities, which were not
neglected, to clean up. The regiment
also, to a very great extent, recovered from its fatigue which the hardships of the campaign had produced;
especially were
the recruits of the regiment, in a worn and exhausted condition, benefited by the rest.
On the
17th of July
crossed the Chattahoochee River with brigade, it being in
rear of division and corps, and on the evening of the 19th advanced to a position on the south bank of Peach Tree Creek.
From the 19th to the 22d took a prominent part in the movements of the brigade and army, which brought on the
battle of the 20th and led to the advancement of the line to within easy range of the enemy's works, which they
abandoned on the night of the
21st and fell back to their works in the immediate vicinity of Atlanta.
Moved up on the 22d to a position in the direct front of Atlanta,
where we built works and remained until the
2d instant
, when, under orders, we moved with the brigade to the extreme right and went into position.
From the 3d to. the 6th it is unnecessary to detail operations, for they are familiar to the commanding officer
of the brigade.
It might, however, be mentioned that we supported the skirmishers on the advancement of the line on the
5th instant
, and in so doing met with quite serious loss, both in commissioned officers and enlisted men. It is
presumed that this report
is intended to be but a brief summary or memoranda of this regiment during the campaign, hence details have not
been entered
into, nor the operations mentioned enlarged upon.
Copious extracts might be furnished from the journals of the regiment showing the character and diversity of
country over
which we had passed, and full and accurate descriptions given of the various skirmishes and battles in which
this regiment
has taken part, either directly or in the way of support; nor is it presumed that it is expected that
distinctions will be
made as between meritorious officers, or enlisted men, all of whom, I am only too proud to say, behaved with
great gallantry
under all circumstances during this campaign and bore up under the exposures and hardships incident thereto with
commendable
fortitude.
It is believed that the heroism displayed by our soldiers in this ever-tobe-memorable campaign is unequaled in
the history
of the world, and is of a higher type than has yet been displayed in our efforts to crush out this great
rebellion, which
seeks to overthrow the best Government the world ever saw. The losses of our regiment have been as follows, to
wit: In front
of Resaca, 1 killed, 2 wounded; near Dallas, I killed, 6 wounded; Kenesaw
Mountain, 1 killed, 16 wounded; near Chattahoochee
River, 6 wounded, 1 missing; south of Peach Tree Creek,
2 wounded; near railroad in front of Atlanta, 1 killed, 5
wounded; on right wing of army near Atlanta, 4 killed, 41 wounded, making an aggregate of 87, 8 of whom were killed and
78 wounded and 1 missing. Of the above 5 were commissioned officers wounded, among whom were
Major
Irving
, severely, and
Captain
Gilbert
and
Lieutenant
McQuillen
, severely.
The total loss of regiment to date has been 121 killed and wounded, but the losses to
6th instant
are as above stated.
In closing this report I must be allowed to express my thanks to the colonel commanding the brigade and his
staff for the
uniform courtesy and kindness with which they have not only treated myself, but also the officers and men of my
command, during
the entire campaign, extending now over a period of 100 days.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,