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Hdqrs. Thirty-First Ohio Vet. Vol. Infantry,
Near Atlanta, Ga.,
August
17, 1864
.
Captain: In compliance with orders from the colonel commanding the brigade, the subjoined report of the part
taken by the Thirtyfirst Ohio Veteran Volunteers during the campaign
commencing
May
7
up to the
5th instant
is respectfully submitted.
As the regiment was commanded by
Col.
M.
B.
Walker
for the greater part of the time for which the report is required, I am unable to furnish more than a
mere outline of operations.
The regiment marched from Ringgold on the
7th of May
and was ordered on picket in the vicinity of Tunnel Hill.
On the
8th
arrived in front of Buzzard Roost Gap and remained in position until
the 12th, when it marched to Snake Creek Gap, some miles east of its former
position.
On the
14th
the regiment was deployed on the right of the front line of the brigade, and, being ordered to send out
skirmishers, details
of veterans from each company, under command of
Capt.
W.
H.
Wade
, were advanced onto a ridge in front of the open field, then occupied by the brigade.
The skirmishers were soon engaged, and soon after the whole line was ordered to advance.
Upon reaching the crest of the second ridge a line of troops, said to belong to
Hascall
's brigade, of
Judah
's division, Army of the Ohio, advanced from
the woods in our rear, and passing our front line, advanced some paces in its front.
The regiment being then ordered forward, upon reaching the crest of a third
ridge, it was exposed to a heavy fire of artillery from batteries planted upon hills on the opposite side of a
valley and
distant about 500 yards. The word being still forward, the regiment rushed down a nearly precipitous declivity
and advanced to the edge of a creek, over which the front line had
already struggled.
The enemy here opened with musketry and two batteries, but the regiment gallantly dashed into the creek and was
emerging from it when the first line (
Hascall
's troops), unable to maintain their advance under so murderous a fire, fell back, and a portion of it
passed through and
over the right wing of the regiment, which was not protected by the
banks of the creek, which on the left were high and the water deep.
A portion of the regiment regained the ridge and there reformed.
The remainder were, by order of the colonel commanding, engaged in keeping up a fire on the enemy's works, under
cover of
which the men retired singly or in small squads and rejoined that portion of the brigade which had been halted
on the ridge.
After remaining in support of batteries which were then brought up to the front until the following morning the
brigade was
moved to position on the right and in reserve, and remained there until the occupation of Resaca by the army.
On the
16th
crossed the Oostenaula River, passing through Calhoun toward Adairsville.
Marched on the 17th and 18th.
On 19th encamped
four miles from Kingston
.
On the
23d
forded the Etowah River.
On the
26th
were ordered to escort train to Kingston.
Returned with it to Burnt Hickory on the 29th and encamped on Pumpkin Vine Creek.
Guarded the trains of Fourteenth Corps until the
1st of June
, when the regiment marched to a position
three miles from Burnt Hickory
.
On the
5th
camped
eight miles from Acworth
.
On the
8th
the regiment was detached from the brigade and sent as escort to Cartersville.
On the
15th
rejoined the brigade, which was then in position in line.
On the night of the 16th
six companies were ordered to build works for a battery on the skirmish line, which were executed by daylight.
On the
18th
moved up to within 200 yards of the enemy's works and sent out 100 men as skirmishers, who, in
conjunction with details from other regiments, ultimately drove the enemy from their works.
On the
19th
moved through the enemy's abandoned position and formed in front of Kenesaw Mountain.
Skirmishers being ordered to the front, two companies, under the command of
Captains
Wade
and
Stone
, advanced to the edge of a piece of woods and soon became engaged with the enemy's skirmishers.
The regiment was ordered to support them, and four companies were advanced to the edge of an open field, in
which the deployed line had been very imprudently halted by an officer
and the inspector of the Second Brigade.
So dangerous did their position become that it was only by the personal gallantry of
Captain
Stone
that his men could be supplied with ammunition.
It was not deemed prudent to relieve the company until after dark.
On the
20th
camped in the second line of the brigade.
On the night of the 22d was placed in the front line, where it remained under a perpetual fire until the 26th,
when it marched to a position on the right of the corps and bivouacked for the night.
On the
27th
formed at the base of a hill under a very heavy fire of artillery, under which it ascended the hill and
was ordered behind
works constructed by the Twentieth Corps.
Remained there until the 30th; was then advanced to relieve
General
Geary
's division.
Remained there until the
3d of July
, when, Marietta having been evacuated, the brigade moved
forward and took up a position south of the town.
On the
5th
fortified strongly on the railroad about
ten miles from Atlanta
.
On the
9th
advanced a quarter of a mile and fortified strongly.
On the
10th
marched to Pace's Ferry, on the Chattahoochee River; remained in camp until the 17th; crossed the river on pontoons
and camped in reserve.
On the
19th
was ordered out, stripped for action; advanced on Peach Tree
Creek and reconnoitered for a crossing; in the evening was ordered to cross the creek, following the
Eighty-ninth Ohio and Eighty-second Indiana;
crossed without loss and fortified during the night.
On the
20th
advanced to the crest of the hill, and on the 21st the regiment was ordered to ascertain the position
and strength of the enemy.
Companies K and G, under
the command of
Captains
Wade
and
Stone
(who, although acting as field officers, gallantly led their own companies), were ordered forward as
skirmishers, and soon
developed the enemy's position.
Companies F,
Lieutenant
Carlile
, and H,
Captain
Wilkin
, were ordered forward in support.
Several casualties occurred during this reconnaissance, and the regiment was relieved by the Twenty-third Missouri.
On the
22d
moved forward on Atlanta and formed in line opposite some
heavy works in front of the city; fortified in the third line of the brigade.
On the
24th
was detached with Eighty-ninth Ohio,
Colonel
Carlton
commanding, in support of
General
King
's brigade, of
Johnson
's division; constructed works on the second line, and had orders to re-enforce any attacked
point; was exposed to heavy artillery fire from the 23d to the
30th, the 64and 20 pounders having a perfect range on the camp.
On the
3d of August
marched to the right ��� of the Army of the
Tennessee; in the evening crossed Utoy Creek; advanced
through thick brush and woods, and at night-fall commenced fortifying; completed works by daylight.
On the
4th
moved in support of a portion of the brigade; ordered to advance skirmish line; returned to former
position at night.
On the morning of the
5th
, the skirmish line being ordered to advance and endeavor to capture the enemy's rifle-pits, was
strengthened to 150 men.
Captain
Stone
, brigade officer of the day, having arranged a plan of attack, moved forward his line until within 100
yards of the enemy, and, at the bugle-call, in conjunction with the skirmishers of the other brigades of the
Third Division, dashed into the rifle-pits and captured nearly the
enemy's entire line.
The detail from the regiment brought in 2 commissioned officers and 54 enlisted men, with a loss of but 1 killed
and 3 wounded, a result mainly owing to the skill, coolness, and, when necessary, daring bravery of the officer
in charge of the line.
I am happy to be able to express my satisfaction with the regiment during the time I have had the honor to
command it. Recruits
have vied with veterans in uncomplaining endurance of the privations of this trying campaign, and have in most
cases emulated
them on the battle-field.
I have to deplore the loss of
Captain
Cahill
, who was instantly killed by a sharpshooter on the
23d of June
.
The service has lost a fine officer and his comrades a courteous gentleman and true friend.
I cannot close without making mention of the services of
Captains
Wade
and
Stone
, respectively acting lieutenant-colonel and major.
Ever ready in time of danger, their skill, coolness, and courage render them valuable officers upon all
occasions when those
qualities are most wanting.
Accompanying will be found a list of casualties
Reports 1 officer and 8 men killed and 1 officer and 51 men wounded. during the campaign to the
5th instant
.
I am, captain, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Captain: In compliance with orders from brigade headquarters, I beg to submit the following supplemental report
of the operations
in which my regiment took part from the
5th ultimo
to the close of the campaign.
August
6
, regiment took up position on the right of First Division in
the second line.
7th, was ordered to form on the right of First Division in advanced
position, and fortified during the night.
The position was one of great danger, and several valuable lives were lost and many men wounded before the
regiment was relieved from the line.
During the night the enemy came out of their works to attack, but were soon driven back.
Remained in first works until the night of the
11th
, when regiment occupied works built by part of Second
Division.
Remained in that position until the evening of the 26th.
During this interval of comparative quiet the men benefited by the rest; the enemy shell the camps occasionally,
but do no
injury; picket-firing almost entirely ceased, and desertions from the enemy were numerous.
At 7 p. m. received orders to march at any moment.
The enemy having intimation of the movement open fire upon us with shell and case-shot, throwing them with great
accuracy,
but the men, being well protected, were unhurt.
Marched at 3 a. m.
August
27; camped as guard to the train.
28th, rejoined division; cross West Point railroad, and
camp in rear of Second Brigade. 30th, marched at 7 a. m. and took up position
about
three miles from Flint Creek
; threw up works.
31st, advanced a mile; threw up works; at 1 p. m. cross Flint
River and threw, up works in woods in view of roads on which enemy's columns were passing; at 6 p. m.
the regiment, with the Eighty-second Indiana, move out on the railroad to
Morrow's Station, to re-enforce Eighty-ninth Ohio; build works during the night on the railroad and prepare to hold them
against any force; the energy displayed by both officers
and men in constructing works, and general soldierly bearing of the entire command, was praiseworthy in the
highest degree.
At 10 a m. on the
1st of September
ordered to abandon the works and rejoin the brigade, and at 3 p. m. march in rear of the division as
guard to hospital train; encamped three miles from railroad as guard to hospitals.
Rejoin the brigade at 10 a. m. on the 2d and take position near railroad and about
one mile from Jonesborough
.
Remained until the 6th, when the command marched as rear guard on
its return toward Atlanta.
The regiment has, during this campaign, had to contend with many difficulties.
The short time which elapsed between the reorganization of the Thirty-first Ohio
Volunteers and the commencement of the campaign gave but little opportunity to drill and discipline the
recruits; nevertheless they
have vied with the veterans in endurance and gallantry, and give great promise for the future.
The casualties extending over the whole period of active operations fully equal those of a general engagement.
I have in my previous report made mention of such officers as distinguished themselves, and with one solitary
exception, already reported, the line officers have sustained their former reputations.
Assistant Surgeons
Varney
and
Chapel
have labored faithfully whilst with the regiment.
Nominal list of casualties accompanying this report shows 3 men killed and a officers and 13 men wounded.
I have the honor to be, captain, respectfully, your obedient servant,