No. 170. report of Capt. Charles M. Barnett , Battery I, Second Illinois Light artillery.

Hdqrs. Battery I, Second Illinois Light Arty., Jonesborough, Ga., September 6, 1864 .

Major: I have the honor to tender the following report of the operations of this battery during the campaign in Georgia of 1864 :

On the 2d of May, 1864, I marched from Rossville, Ga. (attached to the Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Brig. Gen. J. C. Davis commanding), to Ringgold, Ga. On the 5th marched for Cherokee Springs. 7th, marched at daylight for Tunnel Hill, arriving there at 11 a. m.; fired sixty rounds at a rebel battery, which retired. 9th, worked all night, placing three guns in position on a hill fronting Rocky Face Ridge, and relieved three guns on the left of the railroad with the other three. 10th, fired 196 rounds at the enemy; at night fell back, and took the harness off for the first time in thirty-six hours. 11th, placed three pieces in the gap on the railroad and fired forty rounds. 12th, marched at 6 a. m. for Snake [Creek] Gap, arriving in camp at 2 a. m. on the 13th . 13th, formed line of battle in front of Resaca, Ga. 15th, went into position and kept up a steady fire all day; at night the enemy opened with musketry in our front, when, supposing they were advancing, I fired a few rounds; in half an hour all was quiet. 16th, marched for Rome, Ga., under General Davis . 17th, arrived at 5 p. m. within two miles of Rome , where we had a sharp fight, and drove the enemy across the river into the town. 18th, in position to shell the city, when a rebel battery opened on us; returned their fire and silenced them. At noon our division had the town. 21st, moved into Rome. 24th and 25th, marched in a southeasterly direction twenty-five miles. 26th, arrived at Dallas, Ga., at 5 p. m. 27th to 31st, in position fronting west. June 1 , moved to our left. 4th, in position on a hill named Stoneman 's. 6th, marched and camped close to Acworth, Ga. 11th, marched toward Kenesaw Mountain, enemy holding strong position around the base of the mountain. 15th, moved into some bastions I built the night before, and shelled the enemy all day. 16th, continued shelling; 2 horses wounded by the enemy's musketry. 18th, moved forward about a quarter of a mile and built works. 19th, at 8 a. m. enemy falling back; brought up a section and shelled them on the crest of Kenesaw Mountain; 9 a. m. placed the whole battery in position; fired 600 rounds. 20th, moved within 1,400 yards of Kenesaw Mountain , and expended 702 rounds ammunition. 22d, enemy opened from crest of the mountain with artillery; at night I built bastions for the battery within 1,400 yards of the crest of the mountain. 23d, returned the enemy's fire when they opened on us, and a sharp artillery duel ensued, but having built small magazines for my ammunition and sent my horses to the rear, I did not receive any damage. From June 23 to July 2 , in the same position and keeping up a constant firing on the enemy's batteries on the crest of the mountain. On the night of the 2d joined Second Division, about four miles southwest of Kenesaw . 3d, marched through Marietta, Ga., after the enemy. 4th, opened on the enemy who were strongly intrenched about six miles south of Marietta . 5th, pursued the enemy, who had evacuated during the night; came up with them at Chattahoochee River by the railroad bridge and shelled them for two hours. 9th, in position shelling the enemy. 11th, enemy evacuated and retreated across the river; followed them up with a section, shelling them. In camp up to the 17th; then marched, crossing the Chattahoochee River about five miles above the railroad bridge; constant skirmishing. 19th, in position in front of Peach Tree Creek and fired a few rounds. 22d, marched about five miles and found the enemy strongly intrenched around Atlanta; went into position on the west of the town and threw a few shells into it. 23d, built works for my guns. 30th, moved to our right. August 7 , built works for the guns, about eight miles southwest of Atlanta , and was engaged every day up to the 26th, having 2 men killed, 8 wounded, and 1 horse killed. 27th, at 2 a. m. moved toward East Point some three miles and camped. September 1 , after marching and countermarching from August 27 , found the enemy in front of Jonesborough, Ga., covering the Macon railroad and fronting west; placed my battery in position and fired a few rounds, when the First and Second Divisions, Fourteenth Army Corps, charged, driving the enemy from their works and capturing 8 guns. 2d, marched for Jonesborough, Ga., where we are now encamped. All through the campaign my officers and men have done their duty willingly.

I am your obedient servant,

Chas. M. Barnett, Captain, Commanding Battery. [ Maj. Charles Houghtaling , Chief of Artillery.]