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Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div., 4TH Army Corps, Atlanta,
Ga.,
September
15, 1864
.
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Second
Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, from the
30th day of June, 1864, up to and including the capture of Atlanta:
On the
30th of June
Brig. Gen.
W.
C.
Whitaker
, having obtained leave of absence on account of ill health, took his departure for the rear, and I,
being senior officer
present, assumed command of the brigade.
On that date the brigade lay on the extreme right of the Fourth Corps,
connecting its right flank with
General
Jeff.
C.
Davis
' division, of the Fourteenth Corps, and its left with the Third
Brigade of this division.
The front line was pushed up to within seventyfive yards of the enemy's works, at the point where the brigades
of
Harker
and
McCook
made the assault on the
27th of June
.
This line was held by two regiments of my command, and was subjected to an incessant and fatally accurate fire
from the enemy.
The remaining regiments of the brigade were camped at a short distance in rear and were held to relieve the
regiments on the
front line, which was done at 8 p. m. each day. The position of the front line remained unchanged until the
morning of
July
3
, when the skirmishers of the Fortieth Ohio and Fifty-first Ohio being advanced, it was found the enemy had evacuated his works, which had
been rendered almost impregnable against assault.
The reserve regiments of the brigade were moved, in accordance with orders from
Major-General
Stanley
, on the night of the
2d instant
about one-half a mile to the left, and relieved
General
Kimball
's brigade, of
Newton
's division.
At early dawn on the
3d instant
, the enemy being gone, the brigade was assembled and massed in an open field and awaited orders for
pursuit.
At 7 a. m., pursuant to orders, the brigade took up the line of march, bringing up the rear of the division.
Leaving Marietta to the left, we proceeded down the Atlanta
railroad to a point
four miles
south of Marietta
, where the enemy was found intrenched.
Here the brigade was ordered to mass into column of regiments, and encamp for the night.
The Thirty-fifth Indiana was detailed to picket the brigade front.
Next morning, the
4th instant
, being ordered to strengthen and advance the line of skirmishers, I ordered the Forty-fifth Ohio to the support of the Thirty-fifth Indiana,
and immediately advanced the line.
The Thirty-fifth Indiana made a brilliant charge on the enemy's skirmish line
(which was nearly equal in strength to a line of battle), and, being
well supported by the Forty-fifth Ohio, carried the rifle-pits and held them,
although exposed to a galling flank fire, in consequence of the failure of troops
on the left to advance in conjunction with them.
The remaining regiments of the brigade were promptly advanced to within supporting distance of the skirmish
line, and a temporary
barricade erected.
On the morning of the
5th instant
it was found that the enemy had again fallen back, and, pursuant to orders, the brigade marched with the
division to Vining's Station, and went into camp along the north bank of the
Chattahoochee River.
The position of the brigade remained unchanged until the
10th instant
, when with the division it moved up the Chattahoochee and encamped near Powers' Ferry.
On the
12th instant
a crossing of the river was effected, and the brigade went into camp on the left of the division on a
high ridge protecting
the Powers' Ferry crossing.
On the
18th instant
the Thirty-fifth Indiana was detached from the brigade (pursuaiit to
orders from division headquarters) to guard the supply train of the corps, and
did not rejoin the brigade until the
30th of August
.
On the
18th instant
the brigade moved with the division to Buck Head, where
it remained until the afternoon of the
19th
, when orders were received to proceed on
Atlanta road
across the north fork of Peach Tree Creek, which was accomplished
before night-fall.
On going into camp three regiments were put into the front line and ordered to throw up temporary breast-works.
The remainder of the brigade was held in reserve, protected from the fire of the enemy by the nature of the
ground.
A brisk fire was kept up between our skirmishers and the skirmishers of the enemy.
Next morning the brigade was ordered to take the advance of the division and force a crossing of the south fork
of Peach Tree Creek, on the south bank of which the enemy was
found to be in force.
After moving in a southerly direction about two miles from the position held on the night of the
19th
, the road suddenly turned to the west, and we marched directly toward Atlanta.
The Twenty-first Kentucky was rapidly deployed as skirmishers and advanced
steadily, driving the skirmishers of the enemy before them until they gained
the creek.
The brigade was here brought to a temporary halt, in consequence of the destruction of the bridge across the
creek until another
could be constructed.
For better security, I ordered the Fortieth Ohio to the right as flankers for
the brigade, and brought the Forty-fifth Ohio and Ninetysixth Illinois into line, the former on the right and the latter on the
left of the road.
As soon as the pioneers had constructed a bridge the skirmishers, with proper supports, were ordered forward to
take possession
of the high ridge bordering the south bank of Peach Tree Creek,
but being considerably annoyed by the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, who were posted behind a cluster of log
cabins
on the crest of the ridge, one section of the Fifth Indiana Battery, under
command of
Lieutenant
Ellison
, was ordered into position, and by a few well-directed shots drove the rebels from their cover, and the
skirmishers advanced
over the hill, followed by the brigade in column.
On the crest of the hill I formed a line of battle, consisting of the Ninety-sixth
Illinois on the right, the Fifty-first Ohio in the center, and the
Forty-fifth Ohio on the left; the Eighty-fourth
Indiana was held in reserve.
I then directed the Fortieth Ohio.
which was deployed as flankers on the right, to move forward and extend the skirmish line by forming on the
right of the Twenty-first Kentucky.
These dispositions having been made the signal (eighteen guns) was given and the line moved forward, capturing
the skirmish pits of the enemy.
The main line of battle was halted about 100 yards beyond the captured pits of the enemy, and immediately
erected a line of breast-works.
The skirmishers advanced so close to the main rebel works, and were in such an exposed position that they were
unable to throw
up any protection for themselves, especially on the left of the line held by the Twenty-first Kentucky.
The Fortieth Ohio was relieved by the Fifty-first
Ohio at 5 p. m., but it was impossible to relieve the Twenty-first
Kentucky at that time without too much risk.
About two hours before dark the rebels advanced from their works in line of battle, and charged the skirmish
line with the intention of driving
it in. They were not only defeated in their object, but were repulsed with great loss.
Great praise is due to the officers and men of the Twentyfirst Kentucky and Fifty-first Ohio for the pertinacity with which they held their ground on this occasion.
After dark the Twenty-first Kentucky was relieved by the Ninety-sixth Illinois., The night was spent in building earth-works with timber revetments.
On the morning of the
21st instant
the Fortieth Ohio was sent to relieve the Fifty-first Ohio, and during the day the firing was incessant, killing and wounding a number
of my officers and men. The amount of firing
done by the skirmishers may be imagined by the fact that the Fortieth Ohio
alone expended 27,000 rounds of ammunition during the night and day of the
21st instant
.
At night the Twenty-first Kentucky was again ordered to the skirmish line to
relieve the Ninety-sixth Illinois.
At 3 a. m. of the
22d
our skirmishers pushed up to the enemy's works and found them evacuated.
They remained in the works until daylight, and gathered up about 25 rebel prisoners.
During the morning we marched up to the high ridge confronting the enemy's works east of Atlanta, and having been assigned a position in the line went to work with a will
in the construction of a line of intrenchments.
We were engaged in strengthening our works for several days, using every conceivable device to render our
position impregnable.
The timber was felled in our front for a distance of 200 yards, and an abatis consti ucted through which it was
impossible for a. line of battle to advance.
On the night of the
26th instant
(the Army of the Tennessee having marched from
our left flank around to the right.
thereby leaving our rear and left exposed) I was ordered to move my brigade to the rear about one and a half
miles and take position in the rebel works, abandoned by them on the night of the
21st instant
.
These we strengthened and held until the
1st of August
, when we were ordered to relieve a brigade of the Twenty-third
Corps, directly on the left of the position we had previously occupied before Atlanta.
Here the entire brigade, with the exception of the Fifty-first Ohio, which was
kept in reserve, was put into the front line of trenches, and remained there until the night of the
25th instant
.
During this time I was frequently ordered to make demonstrations on the enemy's line, which I did with as much
success as
was possible, considering the ground on which I had to operate.
On the
16th instant
, pursuant to orders from the major-general commanding the Department of the Cumberland, the Eighty-fourth Indiana was transferred from this to the Third
Brigade of the division.
Universal regret was felt throughout my command on parting with the noble regiment which had so long and so
honorably been
associated wit i this brigade, and it carried with it the best wishes of all. The Fifty-ninth Illinois was assigned to this brigade in place of the Eighty-fourth Indiana.
Its commanding officer,
Colonel
Post
, although the ranking officer, declined taking command of the brigade, as he expected soon to be
transferred to the Third Division of this corps.
On the
18th
orders for the transfer of the Fifty-ninth Illinois were received, and
on the
19th instant
it left the brigade, and was replaced by the Twenty-third Kentucky,
Lieut. Col.
G.
W.
Northup
commanding.
On the
25th instant
orders were received to withdraw from our works quietly at night-fall and fall in with the column in
rear of the First Brigade.
At 8 o'clock we retired, and with so little noise that our own pickets were not aware when we left.
All sick and convalescent men .and surplus wagons and horses having been sent off during the day the march was
rapidly accomplished,
and by 3 o'clock next morning we had crossed Proctor's Creek and
made a temporary halt to allow the men a few hours' rest.
Our pickets were withdrawn successfully at 12 o'clock that night by
Lieutenant-Colonel
Wood
, Fifty-first Ohio, brigade officer of the day. In the morning the
Twenty-third Kentucky was detailed for picket and did not afterward rejoin the
brigade until the next day. On the
26th
the brigade was detailed to guard the wagon train of the corps.
We reached camp at 6 p. m. and bivouacked for the night in the vicinity of Sandtown.
On the
27th
we marched to Mount Gilead Church and went into position and builta
line of works.
Here we met for the first time since the movement commenced a body of the enemy, and skirmishing in lively style
ensued between the opposing forces.
At noon on the 28th we marched in the direction of the West Point
railroad, and encamped at night near Red Oak Station.
On the
29th
I reported according to orders with my brigade to
Brigadier-General
Wood
for the purpose of assisting in the destruction of the railroad.
Under the direction of
General
Wood
I moved about two miles toward East Point, where I threw
the brigade into two lines on the left of the railroad, connecting with
Carlin
's brigade, of the Fourteenth Corps, which was formed
on the right of the road.
The Twenty-first Kentucky was deployed as skirmishers and the Fortieth Ohio as flankers.
We moved rapidly forward for a mile, driving before us a body of rebel cavalry, when by
General
Wood
's order I halted and held the enemy at bay while working parties destroyed the road.
When the work of destruction was completed, I about-faced the brigade, retiring it in line, with flankers out
and the skirmishers
bringing up the rear.
After passing inside the line of works I brought the brigade into column and returned to my former camp.
On the
30th
.
we crossed the West Point road and pushed out in the direction of
the Macon railroad.
The enemy appeared on our left several times during the day, but were kept off by the flankers.
On the
31st
we again struck out for the Macon railroad, this brigade
in advance.
We had not proceeded far when brisk skirmishing ensued, and we discovered a strong line of works in our front.
By order of
General
Kimball
I formed my brigade in line and commenced the construction of works.
Believing the enemy to be in weak force the skirmishers were ordered forward and soon drove the rebels from
their works, which
were found to be quite formidable.
I brought up the brigade and massed it in the field inside of the rebel works, and waited for
General
Wood
's division to pass, which here took the advance of the corps.
When he had got by I followed with the brigade, throwing the Fifty-first Ohio
on my left as flankers.
We marched some three or four miles and encamped at night in a position commanding the Macon railroad, and threw up a strong line of works.
At daylight on the
1st of September
we marched to the railroad and commenced its destruction, working southward.
Late in the afternoon we had reached a point
three miles from Jonesborough
, having destroyed the railroad thoroughly as we advanced.
Here we received orders to proceed toward Jonesborough and attack
the enemy.
This brigade being in rear of the division was held in reserve, and followed the movements of the division.
Two regiments, however, the Fortieth :Ohio and Twenty-third Kentucky, were
detached and sent to report to
General
Grose
, commanding Third Brigade, and were placed by him so as to protect his
left flank.
These regiments rejoined the brigade that night at 10 o'clock. At daylight the
2d instant
I was ordered to take position on the left of
General
Grose
's brigade, and attack the enemy in his works, but daylight disclosed the fact that the rebels
had gone, and the movement was not made.
We marched through Jonesborough and down the railroad until we
again found the enemy intrenched near Lovejoy's Station.
I was ordered to move on the left flank of
General
Grose
's brigade, which was deployed in line.
The Ninety-sixth Illinois,
Major
Hicks
commanding, was deployed as skirmishers on the left and in continuation of
Grose
's skirmish line, and moved in conjunction with them.
We moved forward, conforming to the movements of
Grose
's brigade; the Fortieth Ohio was in advance of the column.
While advancing across a marsh under a heavy fire, which swept the whole length of the column,
Captain
Matchett
, commanding Fortieth Ohio, was wounded so as to disable him, and the
command of that regiment devolved on
Captain
Kemper
.
On entering an open field near the enemy's position,
General
Wood
took the responsibility of directing me .to throw three regiments into line and ordering a charge to the
crest of the ridge in our front, which would give us a fine position, either
for offensive or defensive movements.
The charge was made under a storm of shot and shell, and a barricade was instantly thrown up on the crest of the
ridge out
of such materials as could be gathered on the ground.
In gaining and holding this ground we lost severely in killed and wounded, owing to our nearness to the rebel
works.
I should not omit to say that when the brigade advanced to this position the skirmishers of the Ninety sixth Illinois charged gallantly and drove the enemy's skirmishers from
their pits and occupied them.
On the night of the
5th instant
I was ordered to withdraw my brigade at 8 o'clock and move toward Jonesborough.
The night was rainy, and, except when the lightning flashed, it was impossible to see ten steps in advance.
Owing to the rains of the 3d, 4th, and
5th instant
, the roads were in a horrible condition, and the men actually waded for miles through mud knee-deep.
It was a terrible night march, and the men, overcome with fatigue, straggled considerably.
Near daylight in the morning we reached the position held on the night of the
1st instant
, and here the brigade encamped until the morning of the
7th
, when we marched in the direction and within eight miles of the city of Atlanta.
On the
8th
we marched through the streets of the city we had fought so hard and so long to possess, and proceeding
two miles out on the Augusta railroad, we formed our line
running parallel with it, facing south, and went into camp.
Subjoined is a list of casualties of the brigade since I assumed command of it; also a list of prisoners
captured.
It affords me pleasure to acknowledge the valuable assistance rendered me on all occasions in the execution of
orders and
in every movement we have made by the regimental, field, and line officers of this brigade.
My thanks are especially due to
Colonel
McClain
, Fifty-first Ohio Volunteers;
Lieutenant-Colonel
Evans
, commanding Twenty-first Kentucky Volunteers;
Lieutenant-Colonel
Northup
, commanding Twenty-third Kentucky Volunteers;
Lieutenant-Colonel
Tassin
, commanding Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteers;
Major
Hicks
, commanding Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteers;
Captain
Matchett
, commanding Fortieth Ohio Volunteers;
Captain
Humphrey
, commanding Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, and
Captain
Taylor
, commanding Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteers.
They have shown themselves amid hardships and dangers to be brave, firm, persevering, and efficient officers,
and deserve
to be gratefully remembered of their country.
The medical corps, under direction of
Dr.
J.
N.
Beach
, acting brigade surgeon, have been untiring in their endeavors to alleviate the sufferings of the
wounded.
To my staff-
Capt.
H.
F.
Temple
, acting assistant adjutant-general;
Capt.
John
North
, inspector-general;
Lieut.
J.
C.
Peck
, aidede-camp;
Lieut.
G.
W.
Pepoon
, provost-marshal, and
Lieut.
J.
R.
Dean
, controlling ambulances-my acknowledgments are due for their faithfulness and efficiency in the
discharge of their manifold
duties.
They have been tried on many a field and their gallantry and fearlessness well attested.
Very respectfully,
List of prisoners captured by the Second brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, during
the months of
July
and
August, 1864
.
Zzz
Report of casualties in Second brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, from
July
1, 1864
, to
September
9, 1864
.
Zzz
J. E. Taylor, Colonel, Commanding Brigade.