No. 106. report of Capt. George W. Smith , Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, of operations May 3 - July 17 .

Atlanta, Ga., September 8, 1864 .

Sir: I have the honor herewith to report, in the form of a diary, the operations of the troops under my command during the early portion of the Georgia campaign. My command consisted of the detachment Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, composed of six companies of the First Battalion, eight companies of the Second Battalion, and two companies of the Third Battalion serving with the First, the Second Battalion under the immediate command of Capt. William J. Fetterman . The officers serving with the command were Capt. G. W. Smith , commanding detachment and First Battalion; Capt. W. J. Fetterman , commanding Second Battalion; Capts. R. B. Hull , A. B. Denton , Anson Mills , A. S. Burt , M. L. Ogden , R. L. Morris, Jr. , and P. R. Forney (in arrest during the campaign); Lieuts. James Powell , Frederick Phisterer , adjutant detachment and Second Battalion; D. W. Benham , quartermaster First Battalion; Frederick H. Brown , quartermaster Second Battalion; James S. Ostrander , Orrin E. Davis , John S. Lind , J. I. Adair , Alfred Townsend , E. N. Wilcox , and J. U. Gill , acting adjutant First Battalion.

May 3 , the command left Graysville and marched to Ringgold, Ga., where it remained until the 7th of May , when it marched to Tunnel Hill; on the 8th to Buzzard Roost, where it remained three days under fire, and then marched to Snake Creek Gap, flanking Buzzard Roost by the left. On the 13th the detachment led in the column and skirmished the latter part of the day, driving the rebels. On the 14th skirmished all day heavily, driving the rebels to their outer works at Resaca, Ga. 15th, skirmishing all day. On the 16th the enemy abandoned his position at Resaca, and the command marched in. Capt. Anson Mills having been ordered out with a small force, returned in a short time with 20 prisoners. The command marched on the 17th , crossing the Connesauga River, and camped twelve miles from Resaca; on the 18th eight miles to Adairsville . I should have mentioned that Lieut. E. N. Wilcox was compelled to return to Chattanooga for medical treatment. Lieut. W. H. Bisbee joined at Resaca. On the 19th through Kingston to Etowah bridge. On the 20th to Cass Station, where a rest took place until the 23d, all baggage of officers being sent to the rear. On the 24th crossed Etowah River at Island Ford; 26th, to Burnt Hickory, and in the evening to Pickett's Mills, where the night was spent in intrenching. From the 27th of May to the 5th day of June the command was constantly engaged in watching and fighting. Many lives were lost and the duty in the trenches was very severe, and the enemy's fire constant and murderous. The conduct of Captain Fetterman , in command of his battalion, in throwing up a salient and maintaining his position against repeated attempts to dislodge him by the enemy, is worthy of particular notice. Here 2 valuable officers were lost to the command, Capt. M. L. Ogden and Lieut. J. 1. Adair , the former from disease caused by exposure and the latter by a wound in the neck. Lieutenant Burrowes joined. On the 6th of June the command marched toward Big Shanty, near which point Capt. P. R. Forney (sick) was permitted to go to the rear to await the acceptance of his resignation.

On the 10th of June the command marched five miles and rested until the 14th, when it marched two miles. Capt. L. M. Kellogg joined and assumed command, I retaining the command of the First Battalion. From the 14th to the 20tfi was spent intrenching and skirmishing on the left of Kenesaw Mountain. On the 22d the battalion relieved a regiment of General Whitaker 's brigade. SNo other changes than those of alternating from first to second line were made until the 2d of July ; a slight advance. On the 3d marched through Marietta. On the 4th I was placed in command of four companies Eighteenth Infantry, five companies Eleventh Michigan Volunteers, and three of the Nineteenth Infantry, to form a strong skirmish line to take some rifle-pits in a position near the railroad. The position was taken with slight loss, and the command maintained all the ground under a heavy cannonade lasting several hours. Captain Fetterman 's command marched to my assistance with great promptness at an opportune moment. Capt. Hubert Dilger 's battery (I, First Ohio), under the command of himself, came up in splendid style and did great execution. On the 5th of July an advance was made of a few miles, and the corps rested until the 17th. Here the command was consolidated to one battalion, under command of Captain Kellogg , and I took command of my company. I cannot close this report without alluding to the unflinching devotion of officers and men to their arduous duties during this campaign. The non-commissioned officers behaved with great gallantry, and without an exception did their duty nobly. Color Sergts. R. W. Evans and Willis G. C. Hickman distinguished themselves. Sergealit Crandall , Company G, First Battalion, always faithful, died a hero's death inside the enemy's works, in a charge. First Sergt. W. W. Bell , Company H (First), deserves promotion for gallantry and good conduct.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. W. Smith, Captain, Eighteenth U S., Infantry. Capt. William J. Fetterman , Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 2d Brig., 1st Div., 14th A-rmy Corps.