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Hdqrs. Ninety-Sixth Regt.
Illinois Vol. Infty., Atlanta,
Ga.,
September
12, 1864
.
Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this regiment since the
21st day of June, 1864, on which day I assumed command of the regiment:
On the afternoon of the 21st the regiment acted in conjunction with the First
Brigade in assaulting the rebel position on our immediate right, and succeeded in dislodging the enemy,
with a loss to our regiment
of 10 men killed and wounded.
On the night of the 22d we were relieved, and were sent to the right, where we in turn relieved a portion of
Hooker
's corps.
On the
23d
we advanced our line, driving the enemy, with some loss, and gained an important position, which we
intrenched and held.
The regiment was not again actively engaged with the enemy until after crossing the Chattahoochee, though under
fire nearly every day until we reached the river.
July
18
, we bivouacked at Buck Head and moved forward the next
day toward Atlanta, encountering the enemy's skirmishers at
night.
On the
20th
we again advanced, and after crossing Peach Tree Creek
formed in line of battle.
This regiment was held in support of the Twenty-first Kentucky, which was
deployed as skirmishers.
When in the afternoon a vigorous assault was made upon the skirmish line, and the right of the Twenty-third Corps, which connected with us, gave way, this regiment was moved up to
re-enforce the skirmish line, and there fortified.
Our loss was but slight.
On the
22d of July
we advanced to within
two miles of Atlanta
and intrenched our position.
We held position in front of Atlanta, without being engaged in
battle as a regiment, until
August
19
.
On the afternoon of that day the regiment was ordered to re-enforce the picket-line, and advance with it against
the enemy.
At the given signal the regiment advanced, and proceeded to within from fifty to seventy-five yards of the rebel
pits, briskly engaging the enemy.
Finding that other portions of the line had not advanced, and that I was without support on either flank, I
withdrew the regiment
from its advanced position.
Our loss was 2 killed and 8 wounded. At night of
August
25
our works were abandoned, and we moved to the right, continuing the movement on the
26th
, 27th, and 28th, until we reached Red Oak. On the
29th
the regiment moved with the brigade toward East Point, to
protect troops who were destroying the West Point railroad.
On the
30th
we again moved to the right.
On the
31st
we were advancing upon the Macon road, when the enemy was
encountered, and line of battle was formed, but the enemy fled without engaging us. That night we
fortified our line near the Macon road, south of Rough and Ready.
September
1
, the regiment was detailed as guard for the ammunition train of the division, and was not engaged in the
battle of Jonesborough.
September
2
, in advancing toward
Lovejoy
's, the regiment occupied the skirmish line in front of the brigade.
We drove the rebels more than a mile, back into their well-constructed rifle-pits, when our advance was
temporarily checked.
Afterward, as troops moved with loud cheers to our support, our skirmishers again advanced and took possession
of the rebel
riflepits, from which the enemy hastily retreated.
We lost in this skirmish 2 killed and 4 wounded. On the
5th of September
we withdrew from
Lovejoy
's, and entered Atlanta on the
8th instant
.
I desire to acknowledge the uniform gallantry and soldier-like behavior of the officers and men of this regiment
while under
my command.
Not once did they flinch from the enemy, nor fail to advance as far and as fast as they were ordered.
To all of them I feel indebted for their cheerful and prompt obedience of every order.
While all are deserving of praise I have had occasion to make particular note of the gallant conduct of
Capt.
John
K.
Pollock
, Company C;
Capt.
Charles
E.
Rowan
, Company F;
First Lieut.
Halsey
H.
Richardson
, Company E;
Actg. Adjt.
C.
W.
Earle
, and
Sergt. Maj.
Charles
A.
Partridge
.
Herewith I append a complete list of our casualties during the campaign.
They sum up as follows: Killed, 19; wounded and since dead, 21; total, 40.
Wounded, not mortally, 81; missing, 9.
Grand total, 130.
This is somewhat less than the sum total of casualties mentioned in the partial reports which have been called
for from time
to time during the campaign, for the reason, that a number have been twice and thrice wounded, and so reported
each time,
but in this report they are accounted for but once.