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Hdqrs. First Brig., Third Div., Fourth Corps, Near Atlanta, Ga.,
September
10, 1864
.
In obedience to orders, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade in the
late campaign,
commencing at McDonald's Station, near Chattanooga, Tenn.,on the
3d day of May
, and ending at Lovejoy's Station,
twenty-eight miles
south of Atlanta, Ga.
, on the evening of the
4th instant
, embracing a period of 123 days, and resulting in the constant defeat and pressing back of the rebel
army-first under
General
J.
E.
Johnston
, then
General
Hood
--from Tunnel Hill, a distance of 150 miles, and the
occupation of Atlanta, with the intervening country, by the U. S. forces:
This brigade at 12 m. on the
3d day of May
moved with the division, on a road leading through Catoosa
Springs, to Tunnel Hill, which point was reached about
12 m. of
May
6
, where the enemy was met in force, occupying a strong position on and about Rocky Face Ridge.
On the morning of
May
7
the brigade was put in position about 300 yards to the left of the railroad and formed in two lines,
with the Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry deployed as skirmishers.
The brigade was then moved forward down the hill across an open field and into the woods close to the foot of
the ridge, the
skirmishers meeting with stubborn resistance, but steadily pressing forward close up to the palisades of granite
on our right
(from twenty to fifty feet in height), which formation is peculiar to and forms the crown of this ridge, the
left of the line carrying and overlapping
the crest of the ridge, which position was held under a heavy fire from the enemy until relieved an hour later
by troops from
Harker
's brigade, of
General
Newton
's division.
Our line having been established along the northern slope of the ridge, the left rested on the crest of the same
and connected
with
General
Hazen
's (Second) brigade on the right.
It being impossible on account of the peculiar formation of the ridge, as before stated, to carry the same by
assault, this
position was maintained, we simply engaging the enemy on the crest of the ridge with our skirmishers, with no
particular movements
of the troops from their first position, until the evening of the
11th
, when, leaving the Forty-ninth Ohio on the skirmish line, the brigade
was moved with the division to the left about one mile and a half, and put into position on the left of
General
Newton
's (Second) division, to meet a reported movement of the enemy in force in that direction, where we
remained until the morning of the
12th
, when it was found the enemy had the night before evacuated his position in and about Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton.
The casualties at this point were: Killed, 5; wounded, 33; total, 38.
On the morning of the 13th the brigade, with the division, followed the enemy, passing through Dalton and moving on a road to the left and parallel to the railroad.
On the
14th
, the enemy having been found in force and intrenched at Resaca, covering the railroad crossing of the Oostenaula River, this brigade, about 11 a. m., was put into position on the left of
General
Newton
's division, being formed with the Forty-ninth Ohio on the
right and the Fifteenth Ohio on the left of the front line, the Thirty-second Indiana and. Eighty-ninth
Illinois, in line of battle, forming the second line, and the Thirty-fifth
Illinois and Fifteenth Wisconsin, in double column closed in mass, in
the third line, with two companies from each of the two leading regiments deployed as skirmishers, connecting on
the right with
Colonel
Sherman
's brigade, of
General
Newton
's division, and on the left with
General
Hazen
's brigade.
The brigade moved forward over very broken country, covered with a dense and almost impenetrable undergrowth.
After advancing about 600 yards, the enemy's skirmishers were encountered, driven in a gallant manner, and
pressed back with such vigor that they were unable
to offer serious resistance or rally until within their main line of works, our skirmishers (about 1 p. m.)
gaining and holding a commanding position on the crest of a ridge between their rifle-pits (or first line) and
main line of works ��� about 200 yards from the latter.
The Forty-ninth Ohio was at once thrown forward to this ridge, and with their
musketry fire silenced a battery of the enemy in their immediate
front, holding the same until dark, when a strong parapet was built.
The original front of the brigade having been reduced by the converging of the different columns moving into
position, the
Fifteenth Wisconsin and Fifteenth Ohio were
successively sent to the right to relieve a portion of
Colonel
Sherman
's brigade, which was occupying a part of the enemy's first line of works, which had been
previously carried by the Twenty-third Corps.
About 4 p. m. the Eighty-ninth Illinois was thrown forward to relieve a
portion of this line, which position it held until dark, when the left of the regiment was
thrown forward into closer connection with the right of the Thirty-fifth Illinois
Infantry (which had been put in position on the right of the Forty-ninth
Ohio) and strongly intrenched themselves on the line thus established.
We engaged the enemy with a brisk musketry fire and succeeded not only in silencing his battery, but in
completely commanding
his works in our front.
About 11 p. m. of the
15th
the enemy made a vigorous but ineffectual charge upon our position, which we repulsed with great loss to
him and but trifling
damage to us. The same night the entire rebel army evacuated its position, crossing the Oostenaula River and retreating toward Kingston.
On the afternoon of the 15th Brig.
Gen.
A.
Willich
, commanding this brigade, while observing the enemy from the parapet of the Thirty-fifth Illinois, was severely wounded in the arm and side by a rebel sharpshooter, and
the command of the brigade was assumed by
Col.
William
H.
Gibson
, Forty-ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteers.
Our casualties at this point were: Killed, 15; wounded, 72; total, 87.
On the
16th
about 9 a. m. this brigade, leading the division, followed the enemy, passing through his abandoned
works, crossing the Oostenaula River on the wagon bridge at Resaca Station, moving south along and on the line of the railroad, passing
through Calhoun toward Adairsville, where, on the evening of the
17th
, the enemy was met in considerable force, this brigade being put in position on the right of the
railroad, its right resting
on the same and connecting on the left with
General
Hazen
's brigade, to meet a threatened flank movement of the enemy, but did not become engaged, the
enemy having fallen back during the night.
The brigade continued its march with the division along the line of the railroad, passing through Adairsville on the 18th and Kingston on the
19th
, to a point about
one mile from Cassville
, when the enemy was met in force.
This brigade, being reserve for the division, was moved to different points that were threatened, but did not
become engaged.
The enemy having fallen back from this position on the night of the
19th
, the troops remained in camp, taking rest and receiving necessary supplies, until the afternoon of the
23d
, when, with twenty days rations in the supply train, it moved with the division and the entire army to
the right, with a view to turning the enemy's
position in the Allatoona Mountain, where he was strongly fortified.
Moving nearly due west about seven miles, and crossing the Etowah
River at Gillem's Bridge, thence moving on blind roads and over a
broken country in a southerly direction toward.
Dallas, Ga., crossing Euharlee Creek on the 23d and Pumpkin Vine
Creek on the
25th
, where heavy firing at the front was heard, caused by the enemy having hastily abandoned his position at
Allatoona Pass and by a hurried march thrown himself near Dallas upon the advance of
General
Hooker
's corps (the Twentieth), which was the leading column on this road, our troops were pressed
forward as rapidly as possible, the road being partially
obstructed by the troops of the Twentieth Corps, until 9 p. m., when
this brigade bivouacked on either side of the road, being within less than a mile of the enemy's works, the men
suffering
from a drenching rain, which commenced falling about night-fall.
May
26, the brigade moved at 4 a. m. to the front, and was put into position on the left of
General
Newton
's division and formed two lines, connected on the right with
Harker
's brigade, our left refused, and covered to a considerable distance with skirmishers, the front
being nearly due east.
In this position hasty but sufficient barricades were thrown up. The Thirty-second
Indiana being deployed as skirmishers, about 9 a. m. became smartly engaged, and, in obedience to
orders, advanced their left, making a wheel to the right of their entire line,
routing in a handsome manner the enemy's skirmishers and supports, and pressing them with great vigor back close
to their
main line of works, the left of the line crossing and overlapping Creek, ultimately halting on the crest of a
ridge at the
edge of an open field and within 300 yards of the enemy's works.
The brigade at the same time moved in its first formation in close supporting distance on the line thus
established, fronting a little east of south, and under a heavy fire
strong barricades were thrown up, the creek bridged for the passage of artillery, and possession was taken of
the commanding
crests secured by this advance.
The fire of the thus advanced artillery relieved the front of
General
Hazen
, and his brigade moved into position, connecting with our left at the creek.
This movement secured also for two batteries the commanding position in which our first line had been formed.
This division having been selected to develop the enemy to the left of the Twenty-third Corps, which was in position to the left and joining
General
Hazen
, this brigade was relieved about 9 a. m. from our works, which we had constructed the day and night
previous, by
General
Cruft
's brigade, of
General
Stanley
's division, of the Fourth Corps, and moved about one
mile to the left, where it was formed in two lines in rear and support of
General
Hazen
, with
Knefler
's brigade in rear of this, our formation being in two lines, with the Eighty-ninth Illinois on the right, Thirty-second Indiana on
the left, and Fifteenth Wisconsin in the center of the first line; the Fifteenth Ohio on the right, the Forty-ninth
Ohio on the left, and Thirty-fifth Illinois in the center of the
second line.
About 1 p. m. the brigade was put in motion, closely following
Hazen
's brigade.
Moving to the left and front successively for a distance of about two and a half miles to a point near Pickett's Mills, we arrived there about 2.30 p. m., finding the enemy in
considerable force, protected by barricades hastily but strongly built with logs on the crest of a
considerable ridge and supported by artillery, planted so as to enfilade the approaches and ravines in his
immediate front,
over and through which a force attempting to dislodge him would have to pass.
About 4 p. m.
Hazen
's brigade gallantly charged close up to the enemy's works, but being unable to carry them, in
obedience to orders, the first line of this brigade, closely followed by the second line, moved forward in fine
style and with its accustomed dash to his support, and we in turn by a portion of
Knefler
's brigade, but the enemy being unexpectedly found in force, comprising, according to his own
statement, the veteran troops of both
Cleburne
's and
Bate
's divisions, it was impossible to dislodge him. Our troops, however, stubbornly maintained
their position close up to his works, in some
places we occupying one side of his barricade and he the other, giving a heavy and effective fire and receiving
in return a heavy, direct, and enfilading
musketry and artillery fire until dark, when our troops, under orders, fell back.
This brigade being withdrawn, about 8 p. m. moved about 400 yards to the right, taking and strongly intrenching
a position about 250 yards from the enemy's Nworks, connecting on the right with
Knefler
's brigade and on the left with
Hazen
's brigade, our front being a little west of south.
On account of the constant heavy and effective firing of the enemy we were unable to bury our dead or bring off
all of our
wounded, consequently the dead and part of our wounded fell into his hands, together with a considerable number
of prisoners,
who were endeavoring during the darkness of the night to remove our wounded.
This position was substantially maintained, we engaging the enemy only with our skirmish line and artillery
until the morning
of
June
5
, when, the enemy having evacuated his position the night previous, we, at daybreak, occupied his works.
Our casualties at this point, particularly on the
27th
, were very large, being: Killed, 105; wounded, 484; missing, 114; total, 703.
On the morning of the 6th the brigade moved with the division in an easterly direction a distance of about nine
miles to near New Hope Church, where we went into camp (the
Twenty-fifth Illinois,
Colonel
Nodine
, rejoining us that day), remaining there with no particular movement of the troops until the morning of
the 10th.
At an early hour that morning the brigade marched with the division, moving south toward Marietta, near which place the enemy had taken a strong position, with his right
resting on Kenesaw Mountain, his center on Pine Mountain, and his left on Lost
Mountain, his line thus formed running nearly due east and west, fronting north.
This brigade, being in support of other troops, did not become engaged until near Pine Mountain, on the
14th
, where, having taken position the night previous (being formed in two lines, the right connecting with
General
Wagner
's brigade, of
General
Newton
's division, of the Fourth Corps, and on the left with
Colonel
Este
's brigade, of
General
Baird
's division, of the Fourteenth Corps), with the Thirty-second Indiana Infantry covering our front as skirmishers, the brigade
moved forward about 9 a. m., gradually obliquing to the left to keep our connection with
Colonel
Este
's brigade.
The enemy stubbornly resisted our advance, but we steadily pressed him back about three-fourths of a mile,
where, striking his first line of works on Pine Mountain, we
halted within 300 yards of the same and strongly intrenched the position thus obtained, our line facing south.
The enemy having abandoned his line of works on Pine Mountain
during the night of the
14th
, we took possession of the same at daylight on the
15th
.
At 12 m. of the same day our front was relieved by the divisions of
Generals
Stanley
and
Newton
, they taking the advance.
They established their line that night in front of the enemy's second line of works, about one mile and a half
due south from Pine Mountain.
This brigade being formed with the division in rear of and supporting these divisions, we did not become
engaged.
The enemy having abandoned his second line of works during the night of the
16th
, at an early hour on the morning of the 17th our division relieved the division of
General
Stanley
, then in the advance.
This brigade being formed in two lines, our right connected with
Knefler
's brigade, and our left with
Wagner
's brigade, of
General
Newton
's division, with the Eighty-ninth Illinois covering our front
asskirmishers, we moved slowly forward, the skirmishers immediately engaging those of the enemy, but steadily
driving them back for about one mile, where their infantry was found in considerable force on the opposite side
of an open field and protected by rifle-pits.
Our artillery having vigorously shelled their position for about half an hour, the Eighty-ninth Illinois gallantly charged across the open field which was here about 200 yards
wide, capturing their pits, with some prisoners, and pressed them back to their main line of works.
It now being dark, the troops were moved forward and our lines established within about 400 yards of the enemy's
third line of works, when, during the night, our first line built strong barricades, this position being about
one mile and a half from the enemy's second line of works.
The picket-firing on both sides during the night was very sharp, but inflicted no serious damage to us. At 4 a.
m. on the
18th
, the Thirty-second Indiana Infantry being on the skirmish line, that
regiment was advanced to within 200 yards of the enemy's works, which position was held, and during the day
barricades were built for our skirmishers under a heavy
fire from both his skirmishers and troops in his main line of works.
The enemy again falling back during the night of the
18th
, at daybreak of the 19th we occupied his works.
Advancing our skirmishers some distance, we captured 80 prisoners, including 2 commissioned officers-one man
(
Private
Peter
Cnpp
, H Company, of the Fifteenth Ohio) capturing alone and bringing in
with their arms 17 men and 2 commissioned officers.
At an early hour we were relieved by
Generals
Stanley
's and
Newton
's divisions, the former taking the advance and establishing their lines that night in front of
the enemy's fourth and last line of works, at the base of Kenesaw
Mountain, the line thus established being a little south of west of Kenesaw, the general front being east and about two and a half miles from the
enemy's third line of works at the point where we passed through in the morning.
Our division being in reserve, the brigade did not become engaged during the day. At an early hour on the 20th
this brigade relieved a brigade of the Twentieth Corps in the front
line,. connecting our right with
General
Harker
's brigade, of
Stanley
's [Newton's?] division.
The enemy here occupied, protected by riflepits, the crest of a bald knob in our immediate front, about 250
yards from our main line of works, from which his fire did us considerable damage.
About 2 p. m. the Fifteenth Ohio, at that time on the skirmish line, in
obedience to orders, charged and gallantly carried the position, capturing some prisoners
and losing 58 men killed and wounded.
The Forty-ninth Ohio being immediately sent to their assistance, promptly
formed on their right, and the two regiments advancing in concert drove the enemy into his main line of works,
we at once establishing and strongly fortifying
a line about 150 yards in advance of the bald knob, On the slope of a very considerable contiguous ridge, on the
crest of which, and about 300 yards distant, was the enemy's main line of works.
The capture of this knob by this brigade as a consequence relieved the front of the other divisions of the
corps, enabling
them to advance and establish their lines about 250 yards from the position assumed the night previous.
In this position the brigade (re-enforced on the 28th by the Eighth Kansas Veteran
Volunteer Infantry,
Col.
John
A.
Martin
) remained engaging the enemy only with skirmishers until the evening of
July
2
, when we moved with the division to the left to take the position of and relieve the Fifteenth Corps, this brigade relieving
General
Woods
' brigade, of
Osterhaus
' division.
The same night, the enemy having abandoned his position on and about Kenesaw Mountain and Marietta, at
daylight on the
3d
, our skirmishers occupied his works in our immediate front, and advancing as far as Marietta, secured 89 prisoners, including 3 commissioned officers.
Our casualties during these operations about Kenesaw were:
Killed, 35 wounded, 193; missing, 1; total, 229
July
3
, about 9 a. m. we marched with the division, moving toward Marietta on a road to the right of the railroad, passing through and to the south
of the same for about two miles, when we crossed the railroad, taking and continuing on a road to the left of
and parallel with it, passing through a line
of parapets, built but not used by the enemy, and camping that night near Neal Dow
Station, about
five miles
south of Marietta
.
Our division being a reserve, we did not become engaged this day. The enemy being found in force here in a
strongly fortified
position, about 12 m.
July
4
this brigade was moved forward and to the left a distance of about one mile, where we formed on the left
of
Knefler
's brigade, covering our front with skirmishers, connecting them on the left with
General
Garrard
's cavalry force, which was covering the left flank of the army.
The position thus taken being the extreme left of the army, our line was refused to that of the main line, our
front being
southeast, the general front south.
At 7 a. m.
July
5
we marched with and in rear of the division in close pursuit of the enemy, passing through his, works,
which he had abandoned
the night previous, falling back to his fortifications at the Chattahoochee River, where the railroad crosses the same, we moving along the
railroad to Vining's Station, where we turned directly to the left, going
into camp on the bank of the Chattahoochee River at Pace's Ferry, and about half a mile from the railroad, the enemy in our front
being on the opposite side of the river, and on our right
in his fortifications on our side of the river, confronted by the other corps of our army.
We remained in this position, simply picketing our front and flank, until 12 m.
July
10
, when we moved with the division about seven miles up the river, going into camp at Edwards Ferry, supporting the Twenty-third Corps,
who were in position on the opposite (Atlanta) side of the river.
July
12
, we moved with the division, this brigade being in the advance, about three miles down the river,
crossing the same on a pontoon bridge about 1 p. m., and going into position on the crest of a ridge one mile
from the ferry on the left of
General
Stanley
's division, where we built strong barricades and remained until 8 a. m. of the
13th
, when we moved about one mile and a half to the right, taking position onthe crest of avery considerable
ridge, our right nearly resting on the river, our left connected
with
General
Hazen
's brigade; this position we also barricaded and remained until the morning ,of
July
18
.
July
17
, without breaking up camp, this brigade (taking the advance) moved with the division to the right,
crossing Nancy's Creek, and covered the crossing of the Fourteenth Corps over the Chattahoochee River at Pace's Ferry.
This accomplished, we returned to camp about 6 p. m., having met with but little opposition and no loss and
taking a few prisoners.
July
18
, at 8.30 a. m. the brigade marched out in rear of the division, which followed the division of
General
Newton
on the Powers' Ferry and Atlanta road to Buck Head, a
distance of about seven miles, where, at 4 p. m., we went into camp.
At 6 a. m. on the 19th this brigade, following the brigade of
Colonel
Knefler
, which led the advance of the division, moved on the same road to Peach Tree Creek, a distance of about two miles, when the enemy was found in
considerable force on the opposite side, protected by a chain of rifle-pits and prepared to
make a determined resistance to our crossing.
The brigade was massed in the rear of and in support of
Colonel
Knefler
's brigade, which was in position on the right of the road.
Flankers from all the regiments were moved well out on our left and the Twenty-fifth
Illinois Infantry sent forward and deployed as skirmishers on the left of the
road, connecting their right with those of
Knefler
's brigade, advancing with them.
About 2 p. m. they succeeded in crossing the creek under a heavy fire from the enemy.
About 3 p. m. the Eighty-ninth Illinois, supported by the Eighth Kansas, relieved the Twenty-fifth Illinois, and
advancing drove the enemy from his riflepits on the left of the road, and established our line, with the left
(Eighty-ninth), resting on the creek (where it makes a bend, running nearly north and south), and the right
(Eighth Kansas), on the crest of the ridge, connecting at the road with
Knefler
, who had previously crossed his brigade, capturing the enemy's pits in his front, together with a number
of prisoners.
This position was at once barricaded under a sharp fire from the enemy and held until dark, when we were
relieved by
General
Hazen
's brigade and returned to our camp of the night previous at Buck Head.
Our losses at this point were: Killed, 4; wounded, 9; total, 13.
At 6 a. m.
July
20
we moved with the division to the left, crossing Peach Tree
Creek at a point about
two miles from the Powers' Ferry
and Atlanta road, and relieved the division of
General
Stanley
, which was in position on the south side of the creek, with his right resting near the same, our front
being about south.
Here we occupied an extended front, every regiment being in the first line, with considerable intervals between,
and each covering its front with skirmishers, leaving a large interval between
the divisions, occupied only with a skirmish line.
The skirmish fire on either side was unusually light during the day, until between 4 and 5 p. m., when the enemy
attacked with his whole force the troops on our right, including the division of
General
Newton
, of the Fourth Corps (occupying a position near the one we had
fortified), all of the Twentieth and part of the Fourteenth Corps, his
attack not extending far enough to the left to press the skirmishers occupying the interval referred to,
consequently
not finding the weak place in our extended lines which he was evidently in search of; on the contrary, he was
repulsed with
great loss.
The enemy having fallen back during the night, at 6 a. m. of the
21st
our skirmish line was advanced through the enemy's works and closely followed by the brigade, moving in
a southwesterly direction
for a distance of about one mile, when the enemy was found strongly intrenched in a position about three-fourths
of a mile from the Peach Tree road.
Here we took position 800 yards from the enemy's works, on the crest of a considerable ridge, and built strong
barricades, this brigade forming the right
of the division.
There being no connection on our right, our front was extended by putting all the regiments (except the Fifteenth Ohio) in one line, and deploying to the right all of the Thirty-second Indiana as skirmishers, and at 12 m. the Fifteenth Ohio was sent about one mile to the right to support
Bridges
' battery, which had taken a commanding position in an open field and within effective range of
the enemy.
In this day's operations we took 9 prisoners, but suffered no loss.
During the night of the
21st
, the enemy having again fallen back, our skirmishers at daylight occupied his works, capturing 9
prisoners, and at 6 a. m. the brigade moved forward without opposition on road, passing through the enemy's
works and striking the Peach Tree Creek road about three-fourths
of a mile beyond, near which point the Thirty-second Indiana was deployed as
skirmishers on either side of the road, along which we then advanced, meeting with but feeble resistance, until
arriving at-- house, when, at 8 a. m., in obedience to orders, we halted, and sending the Fortyninth Ohio Infantry to the left of the Thirty-second, it was deployed as skirmishers,
and pressing forward took position on the crest of the ridge, which later in the day was
occupied by this brigade.
This position was within one and three-fourths of a mile of the courthouse in Atlanta, and about 800 yards of the enemy's fortifications, consisting of detached
field-works for artillery, without any connecting curtains, and which
were apparently not held in strong force by him, he having massed his troops on his right, where, in the
afternoon, near the
Decatur road, he attacked our left wing, consisting of the Army of
the Tennessee, under
General
McPherson
, meeting with greater disaster than on the
20th
, when he attempted to break our center.
About 10 a. m., this brigade being relieved by the division of
General
Newton
(who established and fortified our vacated line and occupied it during the subsequent operations of our
troops before Atlanta), we moved to the left and rear and massed
in the rear of
Knefler
's brigade, who at that time joined the left of
Newton
's division.
At 2 p. m. we moved forward and to the right and relieved the first brigade of
General
Newton
, on the crest of a ridge about 600 yards from the enemy's works (the position occupied by the Forty-ninth Ohio in the morning), which position we strongly fortified and held,
with all the troops in a single line, during the stay of
our army before Atlanta, our line in this position forming a
crescent with the convex side toward the enemy, being somewhat in advance and on a greater
elevation than the lines on either side of us. As rapidly as possible we strengthened our works and made them
impregnable
to assault by the construction of three lines of rough but substantial chevaux-de-frise and the arranging of
abatis work 100 yards in width along our entire front, also constructed traverses at frequent intervals for the
protection of the men, our position
being such that at all points our works were enfiladed by the enemy's musketry and artillery fire.
Being ordered on the 28th to develop the enemy's force in our immediate front, and, if possible, carry and hold
his skirmish pits, the men on our skirmish
line, composed of detachments from the different regiments, and supported by the Eighty-ninth Illinois, at a given signal rushed forward without firing a gun, carrying the
enemy's pits and capturing 38 prisoners, including 4 commissioned officers, a few men on the right, from the
Eighth Kansas and Eighty-ninth Illinois
Infantry, advancing to within a few yards of the enemy's main line of works.
With the prompt assistance of the pioneers, the captured pits were at once converted to our own use and occupied
by our skirmishers,
giving them a position commanding the enemy's main line of works, and the ground in rear of the same, from which
we were enabled
to do the enemy much damage during the balance of the siege.
This comprises all operations, except occasional demonstrations made by re-enforcing our skirmish line and
giving a heavy
musketry fire for a short time during the siege.
At this place, on the
1st of August
, the Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry;
August
2
, the Thirtysecond Indiana Infantry, and on
August
25
, the Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, were relieved from duty with the
brigade and proceeded to the capitals of their respective States to be mustered out of
service, their terms of service having nearly expired.
August
25
,
Colonel
William
H.
Gibson
, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, commanding this brigade, after three years
of honorable and distinguished service in the field, was relieved from duty and proceeded to his home to be
mustered out of service, and the command of this brigade
was assumed by myself.
Our casualties at this point before Atlanta were: Killed, 24;
wounded, 125; missing, 3; total, 152.
Orders having been issued to move the entire army to the southwest of Atlanta, the same night, in concert with the other troops, we abandoned our works
at 10 p. m., leaving the skirmishers in their usual position until midnight, when we withdrew by regiments,
commencing on the left, and joined the division on the Peach Tree
road, in rear of
General
Newton
's division, and moved to the right and in rear of the Twentieth Corps, marching about four miles, and resting in bivouac at 4 a. m. in a
position near the railroad and in rear of the Sixteenth Corps, where
the men left on picket on our vacated lines joined us at daybreak.
This movement was executed without the enemy discovering our withdrawal until the next morning, when awaiting in
a defensive
position until 9 a. m. we moved with the division in a southwesterly direction, striking the Sandtown road, which we followed until 4 p. m., when we went into camp, having
marched about twelve miles. At 8 a. m. on the 27th we marched with the division, moving south on a neighborhood
road in the direction of the West Point railroad to a point
near Camp Creek,
6 miles from East Point
, where, the cavalry covering our movement meeting with considerable resistance, we halted for the night
and barricaded our
front.
At 6 p. m. on the 28th moved with the division on a road crossing Camp
Creek and intersecting the West Point railroad
near and north of Red Oak Station, bivouacking on both sides of the road,
having marched about three miles. On the
29th
, the Second and Third Brigades having been detached for the purpose of
assisting in the destruction of the West Point railroad,
this brigade took position on the left of
Newton
's division, our left refused, and built strong barricades.
Later in the day the Twentythird Corps came into position on our left.
August
30
, at 6 a. m. marched with the division, crossing the West
Point railroad near Red Oak Station and moving in an easterly
direction.
About 11 a. m. the brigade was detached from the division, for the purpose of guarding the corps' trains, which
were moving on a road to
the right leading toward the Fayetteville pike, rejoining and camping with the division that night at ���
Church, southwest of Rough and Ready and four miles from the Macon
railroad.
At 8 a. m.
August
31
marched with the division in an easterly direction, crossing Flint River at--
Mills
, where, striking a by-road to the right and south of the main road, we moved in the direction of the
Macon railroad, striking the same near Rough and Ready about 4
p. m. and assisted in its destruction.
Near night-fall we took position, fronting south, on the right of the road, throwing up temporary works.
Next morning at 7 a. m. marched with the division, following the main
Jon
esborough road to a point four miles from the town, when, leaving the road to the right, over by-roads,
we again struck the Macon road, and, following its line south to
a point about one mile from town, where we massed in an open field in rear of
General
Newton
's division, which, in connection with the Fourteenth
Corps on its right, had engaged the enemy toward night-fall, our division being in reserve, this
brigade did not become engaged.
The enemy having retreated during the night from his position at Jonesborough, early in the morning of the 2d we marched with the division,
following the line of railroad toward Lovejoy's Station, where the enemy
being found in force, this brigade, about 3 p. m., went into position on the left of the railroad, connecting
our right with
General
Wagner
's brigade, of
Newton
's division,
Colonel
Post
's brigade connecting with our left.
We advanced to within 300 yards of the enemy's barricades and threw up temporary works.
The campaign being ended, we retired to Jonesborough on the
4th
, rested there on the
5th
, and leisurely marched to the position we now occupy, passing through Atlanta, and arriving here the following day.
The total casualties in the brigade during this period have been: Commissioned officers-killed, 9; wounded, 44;
missing, 3; total, 56.
Enlisted men-killed, 171; wounded, 869; missing, 150; total, 1,190.
Total-killed, 180; wounded, 913; missing, 153.
Aggregate, 1,246.
For a detailed list I respectfully refer to the accompanying reports of regimental commanders.
During the same time we have taken 301 prisoners, including 13 commissioned officers.
The Twenty-fifth Illinois, Thirty-second
Indiana, and Thirty-fifth Illinois having been relieved from duty
before the close of the campaign, no reports were furnished by their commanding officers.
To
Col.
Frank
Askew
, commanding Fifteenth Ohio Veteran Volunteers;
Lieut. Col.
Samuel
F.
Gray
, commanding Forty-ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteers;
Lieut. Col.
William
D.
Williams
, commanding Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry;
Col.
Frank
Erdelmeyer
, commanding Thirty-second Indiana Infantry;
Col.
R.
H.
Nodine
, commanding Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry;
Lieut. Col.
W.
P.
Chandler
, commanding Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry;
Lieut. Col.
O.
C.
Johnson
and
Maj.
George
Wilson
, commanding Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry;
Col.
John
A.
Martin
and
Lieut. Col.
James
M.
Graham
.
commanding Eighth Kansas Veteran Volunteer Infantry, all brave and competent
officers, are due the thanks of their country.
To the brigade staff-
Lieut.
S.
Green
, assistant inspector-general;
Lieut.
C.
A.
Norton
, acting assistant adjutant-general;
Lieut.
J.
A.
Beeman
, topographical engineer;
Capt.
C.
H.
Askew
, provost-marshal;
Lieut.
Wallace
McGrath
, aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant-general;
Capt.
C.
Fouke
, commissary of subsistence;
Lieut.
T.
A.
Pesso
, acting assistant quartermaster; and
Lieuts.
V.
Koehler
and
L.
G.
Nelson
, aides-de-camp--I render my personal thanks for their valuable aid and cordial co-operation, and bear
cheerful testimony to their bravery,
industry, and the good judgment with which they performed, under the several commanders of the brigade, the
arduous and important
duties necessarily imposed upon them.
Having now submitted the customary details, based upon the best data at my command, I should regard the report
of operations
in so great a campaign as the one just closed as incomplete did I omit to bear tribute to the excellent esprit
de corps and veteran steadiness and bravery
of the officers and men in the gallant old First Brigade.
Tried on the fields of Shiloh, Stone's River, bloody Chickamauga,
and Mission Ridge, they could not fail, even when put to the
severer test of 123 days of active field duty, unrelieved by a consecutive night of secure rest; no maneuvers,
however self-evidently dangerous, have
called forth dissatisfaction or a spoken doubt; no murmurs have come from them of necessarily imposed, but
heavy, duty in
storm or sunshine; no officer or enlisted man mars the records of our courts-martial with a cowardly charge
against his name;
no flag has received a stain or been lost because its keepers shrunk in the hour of action; none of our brave
boys have fallen dishonorably or unregretted, and all our dead have received honorable
sepulture, even when in the hands of the enemy.
Once only has the old First Brigade met repulse in these 123 days--the sad,
yet glorious,
27th of May
-and the rude-made graves of 105 men'on the slope of
Cleburne
's parapets give silent testimony to the pith of the old First's regiments.
For a year past it has passed into a proverb with us that any battalion can fight itself, not that the officers
are lessened thereby in the scale of skill or bravery, but that the men are so disciplined as to preserve
the unit in battle or associated action in repulse or advantage: It is not for me to pass eulogy upon the First Brigade, of the Third Division.
I only ask justice for and mention honorably of its works; for, under the skillful and watchful eye of its
division commander,
it has performed all acts worthy of honorable mention, and I, in all trustworthiness and candor, leave the same
in his hands.
Believe me, captain, though the month of
September
, enjoyed in peace and glorious recollections in the empire city of the empire State of the South, finds
the battalions of the Fairst Brigade shorn of half their numbers, yet the old unconquerable spirit is in the
ranks, ready at all times and seasons to battle for
national liberty, national peace, national power, and the national unity of half a hemisphere.
Respectfully submitted.