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Hdqrs. Artillery brigade, Fourth Army Corps, Atlanta, Ga.,
September
9, 1864
.
Colonel: In accordance with your order of the
4th instant
, I have the honor to forward the following report of the operations of the artillery of this corps
during the campaign from
Chattanooga.
and Cleveland, Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga.:
The assignment of the artillery on
May
3
ultimo, at the commencement of the campaign, was as follows: First
Division (
Major-General
Stanley
)-Fifth Indiana Light Battery,
Lieut.
A.
Morrison
commanding;
Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery,
Capt.
S.
M.
McDowell
commanding;
Capt.
Peter
Simonson
, Fifth Indiana Light Battery, chief of artillery. Second Division (
Brig. Gen.
John
Newton
)-Battery A, First Ohio Light
Artillery,
Capt.
W.
F.
Goodspeed
commanding; Battery M, First
Illinois Light Artillery,
Capt.
George
W.
Spencer
commanding;
Capt.
C.
C.
Aleshire
, Eighteenth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery. Third Division (
Brig. Gen.
T.
J.
Wood
)-
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery,
Capt.
Lyman
Bridges
commanding; Sixth Ohio Light Battery,
Lieut.
O.
H.
P.
Ayres
commanding;
Capt.
Cullen
Bradley
, Sixth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery.
On
May
3
the batteries moved with their respective divisions, the Fifth Indiana
and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Batteries, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, marched
via Red Clay to Catoosa
Springs.
Bridges
' Battery and Sixth Ohio Light Battery marched via Ooltewah to Catoosa
Springs. Battery A, First Ohio
Light Artillery, joined the Second Division for duty
May
6
.
On
May
7
the batteries marched with their respective divisions to Tunnel
Hill, the Fifth Indiana being the only battery engaged on that day.
May
8
, the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania Batteries shelled the enemy upon Rocky Face
Ridge.
May
9
, the Fifth Indiana, Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania, and
Bridges
' Battery were placed in position on a small ridge between Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face Ridge,
and engaged the enemy's batteries and lines, silencing his batteries.
On the same day Battery M, First Illinois
Light Artillery, placed a section on the top of Rocky Face
Ridge and opened an enfilading fire down the ridge.
May
10
, the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania,
Bridges
' Battery, and Battery M, First, Illinois Light Artillery, were engaged in shelling the enemy upon Rocky Face Ridge.
The Sixth Ohio Light Battery was placed in position in front of Rocky Face Ridge, but was not engaged.
At 4 p. m.
two sections of
Bridges
' Battery were placed in position two miles to the left of Tunnel Hill, by order of
Major-General
Howard
.
May
11
and
12
, no particular demonstrations were made by any of the batteries.
May
13
, the artillery moved with the corps through Dalton to
Resaca, Ga.
May
14
, the Fifth Indiana, Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, were engaged; the Fifth
Indiana was charged, and repulsed the enemy in the most gallant manner.
May
15
, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery, Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery; Battery M, First Illinois Light
Artillery; Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania and Fifth Indiana Batteries were engaged.
May
16
, the enemy having evacuated Resaca, the artillery crossed
the Coosa River and marched with their divisions to Adairsville, when, on
May
17
, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery was placed in position near the Adairsville and Resaca
road, and
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position
one mile to the right and front on
General
Wood
's division front, each doing good execution.
May
20
, the Fifth Indiana Light Battery,
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Battery were engaged with
General
Hardee
's corps, C. S. Army.
The corps camped near Cassville
three days, at which place
Lieut.
George
W.
Freeman
, inspector of artillery and ordnance officer, and acting chief of artillery, was relieved by reason of
the expiration of
his term of service, and I was appointed, by order of
Major-General
Howard
, acting chief of artillery in the absence of
Maj.
T.
W.
Osborn
, absent 31 R R-Vol XXXVIII, Pt I wounded.
May
23
, the corps moved to Dallas via Euharlee and Raccoon Creek and Pumpkin Vine
Creek.
May
26
, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery and Fifth
Indiana Light Battery and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, were engaged in front of New Hope Church.
May
27
, all the batteries of the corps were placed upon the front main line of works, in the positions assigned
and prepared for
them by order of
Major-General
Howard
, where they remained, changing positions with their divisions until
June
6
, when they marched to Morris' Hill Church, Ga., and remained in camp
from
June
7
until
June
10
, when the corps marched toward Pine Mountain.
The enemy having been met in force at that place, by
General
Howard
's [order] the Fifth Indiana Battery and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery were placed in position near the Marietta road.
June
11
, Battery M, First Illinois Light
Artillery, was placed in position upon the left front of
General
Newton
's division.
General
Wood
's division being in reserve his batteries were not engaged.
June
14
, by order of
Major-General
Howard
, the Fifth Indiana, Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, opened fire upon Pine
Mountain at 11 a. m.
June
15
, the enemy having evacuated Pine Mountain,
Major-General
Stanley
's division occupied it, placing one section of the Fifth Indiana
Battery in position upon Pine Mountain, the remaining
two sections and Battery A, First Ohio
Light Artillery, upon a ridge, midway between Pine and Kenesaw
Mountains.
June
16
, the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania were placed in position in front line of
General
Stanley
's division; Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Battery A,
First Ohio Light Artillery, in front line of
General
Newton
's division.
Capt.
Peter
Simonson
, chief of artillery, First Division, was killed while
placing a battery in position in front of his division.
June
17
, the enemy having evacuated their position,
General
Wood
's division advanced one mile, by order of
Major-General
Howard
.
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position at
8 a. m. on a commanding position, on the left of the Marietta
road, and shelled the enemy.
At 4 p. m.
Battery A, First Ohio Light
Artillery; Battery M, First
Illinois Light Artillery; Sixth Ohio Light Battery; Fifth Indiana Battery, and
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, were placed in position,
and, by order of
Major-General
Howard
, at 5 p. m. concentrated their fire upon the enemy's works and lines in front of
General
Wood
's left and
General
Newton
's right front for one-half hour, after which our lines advanced across a large open field and secured a
lodgment within the enemy's first line of works, which line was strengthened and turned upon the enemy during
the night.
June
18
, Battery A, First Ohio Light
Artillery;
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery; Sixth Ohio Light Artillery; Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Twenty-Sixth
Pennsylvania Light Artillery were advanced from 600 to 700 yards in their respective fronts, occupying
some hastily-constructed works, and were each engaged.
Captain
McDowell
, with the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery without works,
placed a section of his battery within 250 yards of the enemy's works, and assisted very materially in driving
the enemy from
General
Kimball
's right front.
During the night
Capt.
George
W.
Spencer
, with the pioneers of
General
Harker
's brigade and his command, constructed works upon the line of works captured from the enemy the
day before for four guns of Battery M,
First Illinois Light Artillery, and placed them in position so as to enfilade
the enemy's line for nearly a mile.
June
19
, the enemy having evacuated their line, the batteries marched with their divisions to a small ridge in
front of Kenesaw Mountain.
By
General
Howard
's order Battery A, First
Ohio;
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery; Sixth Ohio Light Battery; Fifth Indiana Light Battery; Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, were
placed in position and engaged in driving the enemy to Kenesaw
Mountain.
June
20
, by command of
Brigadier-General
Brannan
, chief of artillery, Department of the
Cumberland, at 2 p. m. the artillery of the corps concentrated their fire upon the right of Kenesaw Mountain, silencing the enemy's batteries at that point.
The batteries of the Second Division were relieved at dusk by the
Fourteenth Army Corps, and marched with their division two miles to
the right of their former position.
June
21
,
four
guns of
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and four guns of Sixth Ohio Light Battery, and Battery
A, First Ohio Light Artillery, were placed in position in
General
Wood
's front line, and Battery M, First
Illinois Light Artillery, in
General
Newton
's left front, all bearing upon two rebel batteries in
General
Wood
's left and
General
Stanley
's right front, which were doing much damage to each of the last-named divisions.
By
Major-General
Howard
's order these batteries opened upon the two rebel batteries and the advance line of the enemy while
Colonel
Kirby
's brigade, of
General
Stanley
's division, secured a position in advance of the one then occupied.
Major-General
Howard
pronounced the firing the most accurate and effective he ever witnessed.
June
22
,
General
Howard
having received a communication from
Major-General
Hooker
that the enemy was pressing him and requesting assistance, the Fifth Indiana
Light Battery and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery marched
with
Major-General
Stanley
's division and relieved the batteries of
Major-General
Butterfield
's division, Twentieth Army Corps. Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, was
placed in position in open field on right of
Marietta road
.
June
23
, in accordance with orders from
Major-General
Howard
, all the artillery of the corps was placed in position, and at 4 p. m. opened fire for twenty minutes
upon the enemy's batteries and lines, after which
General
Wood
's division made a feint and
General
Stanley
's division advanced and occupied an advance ridge.
In accordance with orders received from
Brigadier-General
Brannan
, there was no more artillery firing until
June
26
, on account of the small supply of ammunition.
Battery M, First Illinois Light
Artillery, was placed in park in rear of the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania
Battery.
June
27
, by order of
Major-General
Howard
, all the batteries of the corps opened fire upon the enemy for fifteen minutes at 8 a. m., after which
the corps charged the enemy's works, led by
General
Newton
's division, supported by
General
Wood
's division.
July
1
, in accordance with orders received from
Major-General
Thomas
, the artillery of the corps opened fire upon the enemy at 6 p. m., and resumed firing one-half hour at 6
a.m.
July
2
.
July
3
, the enemy having evacuated Kenesaw Mountain, the
batteries marched with their divisions through Marietta to Neal Dow Station, where the Fifth Indiana and
Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Batteries were placed in position on the left of the
railroad and engaged the enemy.
July
4
, the Fifth Indiana Light Battery, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania
Light Battery, Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Battery
A, First Ohio Light Artillery, were engaged with two of the enemy's
batteries.
July
5
, all the artillery marched on the right and parallel with the railroad to the Chattahoochee River, and was placed in position upon the north bank of the river in
intrenched positions commanding the ferry near Vining's Station and the
pontoon bridge captured from the enemy by
Brigadier-General
Hazen
.
July
7
, by order of
Major-General
Howard
, the range of the enemy's works and batteries was obtained from all the batteries of the corps, and at 8
p. m. opened fire from all the artillery of the corps for half an hour as a demonstration in favor of
General
Wood
, who secured the rebel pontoon bridge the same night.
July
9
, at 12 m.
Battery M, First Illinois Light
Artillery;
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and Sixth Ohio Light Battery, silenced the enemy's batteries in
General
Wood
's front.
July
10
, corps moved to Powers' Ferry,
eight miles above Vining's Station
; First Division crossed the Chattahoochee River; the artillery was placed in position near Powers' Ferry.
July
12
,
Generals
Wood
's and
Newton
's divisions crossed the river, and all the artillery but Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, was
placed in position.
July
18
, corps marched to Buck Head in the advance.
One section of Battery M, First Illinois
Light Artillery, in command of
Lieutenant
Burton
, was engaged in three skirmishes, with credit to the lieutenant commanding.
July
19
, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery and
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, engaged the enemy upon
the Atlanta and Buck
Head road, driving a battery from two positions.
At sundown Battery A, First Ohio Light
Artillery, and Battery M, First
Illinois Light Artillery, were placed in position on the left of the Atlanta and Buck Head road.
July
20
, the Fifth Indiana Battery was engaged on the Roswell and Atlanta road.
Battery A, First Ohio Light
Artillery, and Battery M, First
Illinois Light Artillery, marched with the Second Division
on the main
Atlanta road
, when that division was charged by the enemy.
Both batteries acquitted themselves in the most prompt and creditable manner.
July
21
, by
General
Howard
's order,
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position
one and a half miles to the right of the Fourth Army Corps, and played
upon a column of the enemy then passing.
July
22
, the enemy having retired within his works immediately around the city, the corps advanced, and all the
artillery was placed
in position and intrenched.
July
23
, by order of
Major-General
Howard
, the rifled batteries of the corps opened fire upon Atlanta at 2 p. m.
Battery M, First Ohio Light
Artillery,
Captain
Schultz
, reported for duty.
July
25
, Maj. .
W.
Osborn
, chief of artillery, reported for duty.
July
26
, the artillery was organized into an artillery
brigade, in accordance with General Orders, No.--,
July
18
, headquarters Department of the
Cumberland.
July
28
and
29
, the range and distance having been given each battery from actual survey, in accordance with orders
received from
Major-General
Stanley
, commanding Fourth Army Corps, the rifled batteries opened fire
upon Atlanta.
July
29
, the following assignment of artillery officers was made:
Maj.
T.
W.
Osborn
, First New York Light Artillery, as chief of artillery;
Capt.
Lyman
Bridges
,
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, as assistant chief of
artillery;
Capt.
Theodore
S.
Thomasson
, First Kentucky Light Battery, inspector of artillery.
July
30
,
Major
Osborn
was relieved and I was appointed
chief of artillery of the corps.
July
31
, Battery M, First Ohio Light
Artillery, was placed in position on
General
Newton
's left front.
August
2
,
one
section of the Fifth Indiana Light Battery was placed in position on
line formerly held by
General
Schofield
near the Howard house.
Opened fire upon Atlanta by order of
Major- General
Stanley
.
August
3
, the two remaining sections of the Fifth Indiana Light Battery were
placed in position near the Howard house.
August
5
, by order of
Major-General
Stanley
, all the batteries fired into Atlanta once every 15
minutes from meridian until sundown.
August
6
, by order of
Major-General
Thomas
, the batteries of the corps opened fire upon Atlanta at
4 p. m
August
10
, the artillery in front of the Third Division was advanced
to more commanding positions and thoroughly intrenched.
August
13
, in accordance with orders received from
Brigadier-General
Brannan
, chief of artillery, Department of the
Cumberland, all the artillery .of the corps fired into Atlanta from
4 p. m until daylight
August
14
.
Signal stations having been established in front of each division the effect of the firing was seen, as nearly
every shot
was fired.
August
25
, the artillery of this command was withdrawn from the lines between the Augusta railroad and Peach Tree
Creek and placed in position near Proctor's Creek.
August
26
, all the artillery of the corps marched at 6 a. m. to Utoy
Creek, except
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, reported to
General
Wood
, and Battery A, First Ohio Light
Artillery, reported to
General
Kimball
, and marched with their divisions, covering the retiring from Proctor's Creek.
August
27
, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery and
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, marched with the advanced
division (
General
Wood
's) on
Sandtown road
, and took position on right of Mount Gilead Church. Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, was placed
in position in
General
Kimball
's front.
August
28
, Battery M, First Ohio Light
Artillery, Battery M, First
Illinois Light Artillery, and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light
Battery, marched with advance to Red Oak.
August
29
,
one
section of Sixth Ohio Light Battery and one section of
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, marched with
General
Wood
's division to Bacon, Ga., on the East Point and West Point Railroad, destroying
the railroad.
August
30
, marched from Red Oak, on
Jonesborough road
, to
Widow
Long
's house, some eight miles. All the artillery of the corps was placed in position.
August
31
, Battery M, First Ohio Light
Artillery, was placed in position near Cobb's Mills, and opened
fire upon the enemy, who fell back to the Macon railroad.
All the artillery was placed in position near Cobb's Mills.
September
I, Battery M, First Ohio Light
Artillery; Fifth Indiana Light Battery, and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, marched with
First and Second
Divisions on Macon railroad south, destroying the
railroad within
two miles of Jonesborough
.
At 4 p. m.
Battery M, First Ohio Light
Artillery, and one section of the Fifth Indiana Light Battery were
placed in position on
General
Kimball
's front, and advanced with his division, occupying several positions, punishing the enemy severely.
September
2
, the artillery marched through Jonesborough to near Lovejoy's Station, where the Sixth Ohio Light
Battery, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery,
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, were
placed in position.
September
3
, Battery M, First Ohio Light
Artillery, was placed in position one mile to the left of First
Division front; one section of
Bridges
' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and one
section of the Sixth Ohio Light Battery, upon the advance line of the Third Division, three-fourths of a mile in advance of their former
position.
September
5
, in accordance with orders received from
Major-General
Stanley
, all the artillery of the corps was withdrawn from the front, and marched at sundown to a position
two miles
north of Jonesborough
.
September
7
, marched at 3 a m. to Rough and Ready, seven miles.
September
8
, command marched from Rough and Ready, arriving at the city of Atlanta at 12 m.
In conclusion, I have the honor to state that there has been no loss of guns, carriages, or material upon this
campaign.
The animals have been furnished with half forage a good portion of the time, and but for the indefatigable
efforts of the
division chiefs of artillery and battery commanders to procure forage from the country, and the timely reception
of two small installments of artillery horses from
Brigadier-General
Brannan
, chief of artillery, Department of the
Cumberland, to replace those lost in action, our efforts in this particular might not have been as
successful.
Capt.
Peter
Simonson
, Fifth Indiana Light Battery, chief of artillery, First Division, who lost his life while placing a battery in position, was untiring
in securing everything possible, and the best and most
commanding positions for his command.
Capt.
S.
M.
McDowell
, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery,!
Captain
Simonson
's successor, was equally brave and energetic, and lost his life at his guns upon the morning of
June
27
, in the terrible charge upon the enemy's works at Kenesaw
Mountain.
Lieut.
O.
H.
P.
Ayres
, commanding Sixth Ohio Light Battery, who was killed while
reconnoitering in front of his position
July
6
, was a valuable officer, and lost his life while endeavoring to obtain all the information possible
bearing upon his position.
Capt.
Theodore
S.
Thomasson
, First Kentucky Light Battery, succeeded
Captain
McDowell
as chief of artillery of First Division,
June
27
, and has proved a valuable and thorough officer.
Capt.
C.
C.
Aleshire
, Eighteenth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery, Second Division, was relieved by
Capt.
W.
F.
Goodspeed
June
--ultimo, who, while in command of the artillery at Peach Tree
Creek,
July
20
ultimo, placed the two batteries of his command and one battery of the Twentieth Army Corps in position, and repulsed the enemy in his attempt to turn the
flank of the Second Division.
Capt.
Cullen
Bradley
, Sixth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery, Third Division, also procured all supplies possible for his command, and discharged
his duties as chief of artillery to the entire satisfaction
of his commanding general, until the organization of the Artillery Brigade,
when he returned to the command of his battery.
To
Capt.
T.
S.
Thomasson
, First Kentucky Light Battery, inspector and assistant chief of
artillery, and
Lieut.
L.
D.
Immell
, Battery G, First Missouri Light
Artillery, acting assistant adjutant-general of this brigade, I have the honor to acknowledge repeated
and timely assistance in the discharge of their respective duties.
The organization of the Artillery Brigade has been an era for good in this
corps; although organized upon an active campaign good results have already resulted.
The batteries can be more promptly equipped and supplied, all unnecessary marches avoided, the labor equally
distributed,
and all the artillery of the corps used to advantage.
The animals of the batteries are in much better condition than when the brigade was organized.
Below is the amount and kinds of ammunition expended by each battery in this command during the campaign.
Also the casualties in each battery in this command during the campaign :
Zzz
The Dyer projectile has proved a failure whenever used, and the
Hotchkiss projectile a complete success in every engagement, especially with the percussion-shells.
The ammunition furnished from the Alleghany Arsenal has proved the best.
Zzz
Annexed are the reports of the several battery commanders of the part taken by their commands during the
campaign.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,