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Hdqrs. Second Brig., Second Div.,
14TH Army Corps, Jonesborough,
Ga.,
September
4, 1864
.
Captain: Herewith please find a report of the operations of this command from
May
2, 1864
, to the occupation of Atlanta, Ga., on the
2d day of September, 1864
.
The following were the regiments, and their commanding officers, of my brigade: Thirty-fourth Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry,
Lieut. Col.
Oscar
Van
Tassell
commanding; Seventy-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
Col.
Carter
Van
Vleck
commanding; Ninetyeighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
Col.
John
S.
Pearce
commanding; One hundred and eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
Col.
George
T.
Limberg
commanding; One hundred and twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
Col.
Henry
B.
Banning
commanding; One hundred and thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
Lieut. Col.
D.
B.
Warner
commanding.
May
2
, marched from Rossville to Ringgold, Ga., and took position near the gap.
May
3
to 7, remained in camp unchanged.
May
7
, marched to Mill Creek Gap (Buzzard Roost) and formed line, connecting on my left with Fourth Army Corps.
May
8
, moved my command to the track of Atlantic and
Western Railroad, covered the front with double line of skirmishers, under command of
Colonel
Banning
, the Seventy-eighth Illinois and the One
hundred and thirteenth Ohio on the right and left of the front line, the remaining three regiments in
rear line.
With this disposition attacked and drove the enemy from the summit of the first spur of Rocky Face Ridge, which stood directly in the mouth of Mill Creek Gap.
The second spur, immediately in front of the first, was taken in the same manner by a strong skirmish line.
At the same time I deployed two companies, A and F, of the Thirty-fourth Illinois,
Captain
Ege
commanding, to occupy a hill on the right of the railroad, and to the right rear of the crest first
taken.
These men, in reaching this hill, were compelled to wade the backwater of Mill Creek, waist deep.
They plunged into the water, crossed, and scaling the hill at a point where it was so steep that they were
compelled to hold
on by the undergrowth, drove a battalion of the enemy from it, and held it antil the Ninety-eighth Ohio relieved them.
May
9
to 12, position unchanged; constant skirmishing.
May
12
, marched at 6 a. m. to mouth of Snake Creek Gap.
May
13
, marched through the gap.
May
14
, with the Ninety-eighth Ohio, One hundred
and eighth Ohio, and Thirty-fourth Illinois in front line, remaining
troops in rear line, I was ordered to occupy a position from which a brigade of the Twenty-third Corps had been driven, connecting on my left with the Second Division, Twenty-third Corps, and
the Third Division, Fourteenth
Corps, on my right.
The position assigned was in an open valley, at the base of a range of hills, directly facing and within easy
rifle-range
of an elevated intrenched position of the enemy.
My line moved down the hill and into the valley, when the enemy opened on it with ten pieces of artillery.
I pushed the men forward as quickly as possible, until their assigned position was reached, and then screened
them behind
a creek bank.
Our sharpshooters rendered it impossible for the gunners to work their pieces in their front.
For a short time, however, the cannonading was most terrific, and we lost some of our most accomplished officers
and men.
May
15
, relieved two brigades of Twentieth Army Corps, and held their
front.
May
16
, returned to Snake Creek Gap and took main road for Rome.
May
17
, placed Thirty-fourth Illinois in front as skirmishers, and
six miles from Rome
met the enemy's skirmishers; drove them rapidly, allowing no time for formation, until, when within one
mile of the city, they opened on us with artillery from a fort.
Formed my lines at once, and requested that Fifth Wisconsin Battery should be
sent to the front.
The battery was sent and placed in position.
Colonel
McCook
's brigade was on my left,
General
Morgan
's on the right, massed.
The enemy had advanced from his works and was rapidly coming toward us. The plan adopted was to draw back my
skirmish regiment
before the enemy's advance, the entire remaining force concealed, inducing him to think that regiment
constituted our entire
force.
When he had come sufficiently far to receive our fire from the front line he would have been enveloped on either
flank.
Colonel
McCook
asked and obtained permission to take a range of hills in his front, and in doing so wheeled to the
right, and struck the
enemy on the right flank, thus discovering to him some estimate of our force.
He fell back at once behind his works.
We intrenched our line and laid on our arms for the night.
May
18
, the skirmish line, under
Capt.
M.
B.
Clason
, of the One hundred and twenty-first Ohio, was advanced at daylight
and discovered the enemy's works evacuated.
I immediately ordered the One hundred and twenty-first Ohio to occupy North
Rome.
May
19
to 23, remained in camp near Rome.
May
23
, crossed at the mouth to the south side of the Etowah
River.
May
24
, marched toward Dallas.
May
25
, reached Dallas.
May
26
, no change.
May
27
, in forming line a gap of two and a half miles was discovered between
General
Hooker
's right and the left of
General
McPherson
.
Under orders, I detailed the Thirty-fourth Illinois to find the line and
complete the connection between these two wings of the army.
The dangerous duty was performed with eminent satisfaction, though the colonel, with a small squad of his men,
passed at one time through the enemy's picket-line.
By midnight the entire line was perfect.
May
28
,
29
, and
30
, position unchanged.
May
31
, relieved by brigade of
General
Sweeny
's division.
June
1
, relieved two brigades of Twenty-third Army Corps.
June
2
and
3
, occupied same position.
June
4
, relieved by
General
Whitaker
's brigade.
June
5
, relieved brigade of
General
Williams
' division.
June
6
, took up line two miles west of Big Shanty.
June
7
,
8
, and
9
, position unchanged.
June
10
, advanced line and faced due south.
June
11
, advanced line, and intrenched
one and a half miles
north of Kenesaw Mountain
.
June
12
, affairs unchanged; skirmishing constant.
June
13
, advanced skirmish line and captured prisoners.
June
14
, moved to the left and intrenched on the WTestern and Atlantic Railroad, my left connecting with Sixteenth Army Corps.
June
15
, advanced skirmish line one-half mile.
June
16
,
17
, and
18
, no important change.
June
19
, main line advanced and intrenched at the base of Kenesaw
Mountain.
June
20
,
21
,
22
,
23
, and
24
, position unchanged; all the time under a terrible fire of musketry and artillery; loss severe.
June
25
, relieved at midnight by a portion of
General
Harrow
's division, Fifteenth Army Corps; marched to our
right, and bivouacked at daylight.
June
26
, relained in camp.
June
27
, received orders to assault the enemy's works at 8 a. m. The ground over which the assaulting column was
to pass was hilly, with thick belts of trees interspersed, while the valleys
were low and marshy.
The distance to be passed was little less than one-half mile. The Thirty-fourth
Illinois was deployed as skirmishers, and ordered to advance to the enemy's main works.
The assaulting force was formed in column of regiments, the One hundred and
thirteenth Ohio in advance, my brigade on the right of
Colonel
McCook
's and the extreme right of the line.
The signa.l was given and the line sprang from the trenches at 8.30 a. m. The enemy's skirmishers were all
killed or captured, the first line of riflepits taken, and the column passed to the last thin belt of trees
separating us from the main works.
As the column reached this pointthe fire which had before been very heavy, now became terrific-it was subjected
to an enfilading
fire of artillery and musketry.
Still the column moved on, the summit of the hill was gained, the works were reached, but we could not pass
them.
A few of my men did get through the dense abatis, succeeded in scaling the works, and are now held as prisoners,
but no continuous
line could have done so. We fell back until covered by the crest of the hill, and with bayonets and tin cups
threw up a line
of works within forty paces of the enemy.
Our failure to succeed in this assault is owing to the following facts: First, the distance to be passed was too
great; second, the excessive heat; third, inadequate support on right flank.
Our loss was very heavy, especially in the two regiments in the front line, the One
hundred and twenty-first Ohio having deployed, as was ordered, to the right the moment the One hundred and thirteenth Ohio reached the works; these two regiments lost nearly
one-half of their force.
The conduct of
Col.
H.
B.
Banning
was particularly conspicuous during the entire day.
June
28
,
29
, and
30, July
I and 2, no material change in position.--Continued to advance my lines by system of gradual approaches,
keeping up constant firing;
were much annoyed by the enemy's sharpshooters.
July
3
, at 2 a. m. the enemy evacuated his works.
We followed and passed to the right of Marietta, near which point
the enemy had taken new lines.
July
4
, position unchanged.
July
5
, enemy evacuated last night; at daylight started in pursuit and at 2 p. m. came upon him, south of Marietta and
Atlanta road
; intrenched
nine and a half miles from Atlanta
, one-half mile south of Atlantic and Western
Railroad.
July
5
to 17, general features unchanged; constant skirmishing and artillery firing.
July
17
, at 5 a. m. crossed Chattahoochee River at Pace's Ferry, took position, and advanced skirmish line with but little
resistance to Nancy's Creek.
July
18
, advanced to Peach Tree Creek, right resting on the
Chattahoochee.
July
19
, ordered across Peach Tree Creek to support Third Brigade, which was being heavily pressed; crossed my command on logs and
rafts, threw forward the Thirty-fourth Illinois to check the enemy, attempting
to turn the left flank, and then moved the Seventyeighth Illinois
and Ninety-eighth Ohio to the left of the Third
Brigade main lines and intrenched them.
In this affair our loss was considerable.
July
20
, heavy firing all day from our main works, finally compelling the enemy to retire.
July
21
, made reconnaissance with One hundred and thirteenth Ohio to
Atlanta road
, within onehalf mile of Chattahoochee bridge; discovered enemy in strength.
July
22
, advanced at 12 m. to within two and one-fourth miles of Atlanta, crossed Proctor's Creek,
formed line parallel with
Turner's Ferry road
.
July
23
to 28, aspect unchanged; firing constant.
July
28
, made reconnaissance to Turner's Ferry and back to right of
General
Howard
's right; skirmishing heavy; loss slight.
July
29
, advanced to
White Hall road
; intrenched.
July
30
, moved one mile to the right and intrenched.
July
31
.
reconnaissance to Utoy Creek; enemy in force.
August
1
,
2
, and
3
, position unchanged.
August
4
, moved southeast one mile.
August
5
, advanced, bearing left and facing eastward; took position under heavy artillery fire.
August
6
, position unchanged; enemy's artillery enfilading my line entirely; number of men wounded.
August
7
, advanced skirmishers and captured lines of rifle-pits, prisoners, arms, &c.; during the night
strongly intrenched Seventy-eighth Illinois and
Barnett
's battery on picketline within 300 yards of the enemy's works.
August
8
,
9
,
10
, and
11
, general appearance unchanged; firing constant.
August
12
, moved to the right and relieved portion of Twenty-third Corps
east of
Sandtown road
.
August
13
to 19, unchanged.
August
19
and
20
, held entire division-front with my brigade, returning to our camp at night.
August
21
to 27, no material change; firing constant.
August
27
, moved south of Utoy Creek at 4 a. m.
August
28
, moved across the Montgomery railroad one mile to the southeast.
August
29
, assisted in destroying railroad.
August
30
, marched at 6 a. m.; went into camp half way between Jonesborough and Rough and Ready.
August
31
, marched to one and a half miles of Macon railroad.
September
1
, moved down the main
Jonesborough road
and formed line in center of division on range of hills north of the town.
The Ninety-eighth Ohio was deployed as skirmishers; the Seventy-eighth Illinois and One hundred and thirteenth Ohio
in the front, the Thirty-fourth Illinois and One
hundred and twenty-first Ohio in the rear line.
About 2 p. m. the line began to move; the ground was an open corn-field and hilly; we moved as steadily as men
ever moved directly upon
the enemy's works, under a galling fire from the batteries and the strongly intrenched infantry lines.
When within twenty yards of their works the last section of their artillery was discharged, sweeping away a
platoon of the Seventyeighth Illinois Regiment; the line closed more firmly to
the left, and in
one instant
more was over the works, capturing an entire battery of 12-pounder Napoleon guns, the commanding
officer, and almost his entire company, together with a large number of men in the works supporting the battery.
It being impossible to determine who was the captor of the Confederate general commanding, he is credited to the
division at large.
The rear lines and other portions of the captured line made repeated attempts to regain their position, but were
in each instance
repulsed.
A volunteer artillery company was improvised from my ranks,
and under the charge of
Sergt.
John
Woods
, One hundred and twenty-first Ohio, the captured guns were turned upon
the enemy with great effect.
The sergeant and his squad deserve special mention.
This success compelled the abandonment of the line, and on the
2d instant
our skirmishers entered Jonesborough.
At 11 o'clock the same day our forces occupied Atlanta.
The campaign has lasted four months. Fully three-fourths of that time this command has been under constant fire.
We participated in the engagements at Tunnel Hill, Mill Creek Gap, Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw
Mountain, Marietta, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, and Jonesborough.
The list of our losses, herewith forwarded, will tell more plainly than words can the price our success has
cost.
Each regiment in my command has lost one or more of its field officers.
Colonel
Van
Vleck
,
Lieutenant-Colonel
Shane
,
Major
Yager
,
Major
Lloyd
,
Captains
Williams
,
Patrick
,
Clason
,
Hostetter
,
Lieutenant
Platt
, and hundreds of other pure patriots and devoted soldiers who began the campaign with us fill soldier's
graves.
The loss of such men is a national calamity; their fellow soldiers crown their graves with cypress and their
memories with
laurel.
Your attention will be called and your aid asked in securing such public and substantial recognition of their
services as
is due some of the most meritorious officers and soldiers of my command.
I should be doing myself injustice in failing to speak of the gallant conduct and untiring devotion to duty of
the following-named
officers:
Col.
H.
B.
Banning
and
Maj.
A.
B.
Robinson
, One hundred and twenty-first Ohio;
Col.
John
S.
Pearce
, Ninety-eighth Ohio;
Lieutenant-Colonel
Van
Tassell
, Thirty-fourth Illinois;
Lieutenant-Colonel
Vernon
, Seventy-eighth Illinois, who succeeded
Colonel
Van
Vleck
, killed;
Maj.
G.
Green
, Seventy-eighth Illinois;
Lieut. Col.
D.
B.
Warner
, One hundred and thirteenth Ohio;
Major
Sullivant
and
Capt.
Toland
Jones
, One hundred and thirteenth Ohio, successively commanding regiment.
Capt.
John
A.
Norris
and
Capt.
David
E.
Roatch
, Ninety-eighth Ohio, successively commanding regiment; these officers
deserve the highest confidence of their superiors.
My warmest thanks are due the officers of my staff for their uniform bravery on the field and zeal in the
discharge of their
respective duties:
Maj.
T.
B.
Williams
, surgeon in chief;
Capt.
J.
S.
Wilson
, assistant adjutant-general;
Capt.
J.
Van
Brimer
, acting commissary of subsistence;
Capt.
J.
Swisher
, acting assistant quartermaster;
Capt.
G.
H.
Reynolds
, provost-marshal;
Lieut.
Wesley
J.
Williams
, ordnance officer;
Lieut.
W.
C.
Robinson
, aide-de-camp;
Capt.
Hiram
J.
Craft
, acting assistant inspectorgeneral.
The following is a tabular statement of the losses of my command during the campaign.
Accompanying, and marked A,
Omitted. please find the corresponding lists showing names, rank, &c., of those men referred to in this
statement:
Zzz
All of which is respectfully submitted.
I have the honor to remain, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,