USA > Iowa > A history of the Sixth Iowa infantry > Part 19
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May 8th, the regiment broke camp at 9 a. m., passed through the pretty little county seat town of La Fayette, Georgia, and camped for the night at the village of Villa- now, on Taylor's Ridge, at the west end of Snake Creek Gap. The oppressive heat during the daytime, coupled with the dusty roads, and blockading columns of march- ing troops and long wagon trains, caused the progress to be tedious and very fatiguing for the men. The con- tinued roar of artillery during the day to the left had
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marked the progress of the battle between the main armies at Dalton.
Within the past ten days, the reënlisted veterans of the regiment had been transferred from the scenes of home and friends in Iowa to the top of a Georgia moun- tain in the midst of raging war. The pretty trinkets and decorations of personal adornment, accumulated dur- ing the happy days at home - so appropriate and be- coming at balls and receptions -- were soon discarded; and, under the strain of hard marching and with a gnaw- ing appetite, the men began to relish raw bacon, hardtack, and strong coffee.
The troops marched through Snake Creek Gap, on the 9th, and camped in Sugar Valley, a distance of 10 miles from the gap. It seems incredible that a large army could pass, as it did, over the dim country road that leads through the pass and down the little valley, lying between the rugged mountains, so quickly, with foot, horse, and supply trains.
The small division of cavalry, commanded by General Kilpatrick, had preceded the infantry column and had opened the engagement in the vicinity of Resaca, by brisk skirmishing. In one of the skirmishes the general was severely wounded.
On May 11th, the division fortified, by constructing a line of field works across Sugar Valley, covering its front. Pickets and scouts, stationed on the high ridges to the left, looking up the valley towards Dalton, wit- nessed the enemy's marching columns of troops, with their long trains of wagons and immense herds of beef cattle, all moving south in the direction of Resaca -a station on the Atlantic and Western Railroad, where it crosses the Oostanaula River. The lines were advanced
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and the new lines of earthworks and rifle-pits construct- ed in the midst of a refreshing rain and spirited skir- mishing by the advance forces.
On May 13th, General Harrow's Fourth Division was formed on the left in the line of the 15th Corps, with the First Brigade deployed in front, followed closely by the Second Brigade in line of battle, and the Third Brigade in reserve, in column of regiments.
The 100th Indiana was deployed as skirmishers, with Major Ruel M. Johnson in command, who pushed rapidly forward, engaging and driving the enemy from their po- sition on a commanding ridge. The First Brigade was hotly engaged for several hours, with musketry and ar- tillery, driving in the enemy's outposts. At 4:30 p. m., the Second Brigade relieved the front line and was placed in position on the crest of the ridge running parallel with the position and works occupied by the enemy, at a dis- tance of 300 yards.
Major A. Willison, 103rd Illinois, was severely wound- ed and his horse killed by a bursting shell, while directing the advance of his command. There were many men in the brigade who had always felt the lack of proper lang- uage to express their feelings on certain occasions; but none, ever after that day, had a doubt but what the major could do the subject justice, on any and all occasions.
The enemy was found in heavy force, occupying a for- midable position along the crest of a ridge or range of hills, with lines of rifle-pits on the slopes and along the banks of Camp Creek, a deep stream of water meander- ing the valley between the lines.
The Sixth Iowa formed the right of the brigade line, connecting with the First Division, while the left of the
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brigade line made connection with the 20th Army Corps, commanded by General Joseph Hooker. Companies F and I were advanced as skirmishers, taking and holding the spur of a hill in the front, about 100 yards from the enemy's works. The advance was gallantly made under a severe fire of musketry and artillery.
Casualties during the day were as follows: killed - Private David Shearer, Company F; mortally wounded - Private Samuel Hart, Company F, died, May 24th; wounded - Private Coleman Barber, Company F, leg amputated; Private Harlan M. Stewart, Company F, slightly; Corporal James Buchanan, Company C, in the head, severely.
The Confederate army had abandoned the strong position at Dalton and taken up a new one at Resaca to meet the Army of the Tennessee's flank movement. The whole force of the Union army had closed in on them, and was pressing the siege at every point.
At an early hour, on May 14th, companies F and H drove the enemy back again and opened an effective fire on their main line of fortifications, preventing the use of artillery along their front.
At 2 p. m., Major Ennis went forward with companies B, G, and K, and at the signal by the bugle, the line charged gallantly forward, B and K through an open field, under a galling fire of musketry and canister shot, driving the enemy from a strong position along a creek- bed, which was held. Major Ennis and Captain George W. Holmes, Company K, were mentioned in reports for the gallant manner in which they had led in the affair.
There was severe fighting all along the lines through- out the day, and at many points charges and counter- charges -- in large force - were precipitated, all result-
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ing in the steady advance of the Union lines. At even- ing companies C, D, and E, together with companies F and G, already on duty, occupied the skirmish line. They were furnished with intrenching tools and at once fortified on the banks of the small creek, along which the line extended. The other five companies of the regiment were moved during the evening, along with the Second Brigade, by the right flank to the support of the First Division, which had charged and captured a strong po- sition.
Casualties during the day were as follows: killed - Private Uriah M. Davis, Company K; mortally wounded - William D. Tull, Company B- who died on the bat- tlefield; wounded - Sergeant Charles A. Huston, Com- pany A, severely; privates John Campbell, two fingers on right hand; William J. Hamilton, Company B, in the left thigh, severely; Samuel G. Musselman, Company B, in the left hip and abdomen, severely; Private Jesse W. Adams, Company D, in the arm, severely; Lieutenant Edward A. Canning, Company E, ruptured while building fortifications; Corporal Charles Bilka, Company G, in the foot, severely; Private Henry Gould, Company G, slightly ; privates Jolm Lawler, in the hand, severely, and William H. Moore, Company H, in the hand, severely ; Corporal John C. Ferree, Company K, in the left foot, severely; Private Alexander R. Savage, Company K, in the head, slightly; Private Macon C. Van Hook, Com- pany K, in the side, severely.
On May 15th, the battle raged all along the ten miles of trenches, occupied by the contending armies. The Sixth Iowa skirmishers, being well covered by rifle-pits, kept up a brisk fire during the day, keeping the enemy close inside of his fortifications. Companies D and G
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were relieved at evening and joined the main part of the regiment, supporting a battery on the line of the First Division, where an artillery duel was carried on for an hour, with great fury. One casualty occurred, Private Albert H. Callen, Company D, being killed.
The enemy evacuated the position during the night, crossing the army and all material to the south side of the Oostanaula River, before daylight. The casualties in the regiment for the three days were : killed, 3; died of wounds, 2; wounded, 16; total, 21 men.
Colonel Walcutt commanding the brigade, mentioned Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Miller and Lieutenant John T. Grimes, for the efficient manner in which they discharged their duties, and, of the men, he said :
There had been no brilliant general engagement; nothing done to put the test to the men, but in all my campaigns I never saw men in such excellent condition or exhibit a greater eagerness to do anything required of them.
The pursuit was commenced at once and the Army of the Tennessee crossed the Oostanaula River at Lay's Ferry on a pontoon bridge put in by the 16th Corps and went into camp on the field, where the Second and Sev- enth Iowa regiments and other troops had been heavily engaged with the enemy, at the time the crossing was effected at the ferry. At 10 p. m., a furious rainstorm broke over the camp, accompanied by vivid lightning and crashing thunder, more deafening than had been the terrific artillery firing along the Resaca hills.
On the 17th, the pursuit was pressed with vigor, caus- ing heavy skirmishing and some artillery firing in the evening. On the 18th, the column passed through Adairs- ville and camped 3 miles south of town, on an elegant
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plantation owned by an Englishman. The heavy firing, kept up during the day, on the 19th, along the front of all the pursuing columns, was the evidence that the enemy would be found at bay, before crossing another river. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed among the troops, inspired by the brilliant success had in the first stage of the campaign.
In an address to his army, General Johnston told them that their communications were now secure and that the army would turn upon the advancing columns of the enemy and give him battle. His army was found posted on the hills about the county seat town of Cassville, in full battle array. The Union columns had rapidly closed up and adjusted their lines, conforming generally with the Confederate position.
The open plantations and gently sloping hills in the vicinity of Cassville formed an ideal theatre for action and maneuver by two great hostile armies, and the pros- pect of the approaching conflict was equally inspiring to the men in the ranks of both armies. The skirmishing during the afternoon, while taking position and adjust- ing the lines, was spirited and at several points rose to the importance of a battle. The artillery on both sides engaged with great spirit during the evening, displaying wonderful accuracy in their firing. Night closed down over both of the great armies skillfully posted in battle array, when all hostile demonstrations ceased and the tired soldiers slept.
On account of a disagreement among the army com- manders on the Confederate side, the position and plans for a battle were abandoned and the wily Confederate commander slipped away, during the night, with his
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whole army and took up a new position in the Allatoona Mountains, on the south side of the Etowah River.
The Fourth Division of the 15th Army Corps occupied a position in the lines formed near the village of Kings- ton, at the junction of the Rome Railroad with the West- ern and Atlantic, leading to Atlanta. Here it remained in camp during the next three days. The second stage of the campaign had been successfully accomplished, with- out a pitched battle by the two great armies.
It was while recuperating in the camp at Kingston that Lieutenant E. F. Alden brought the news of the death of Lieutenant Cyrus P. Wright, at the field hospital, near Resaca, on May 16th, at 11 p. m., of small pox. He was stricken with the dread disease while commanding his company in the engagement at Resaca. There, also, died at the same hospital, of the same dread disease, Private Michael Picket, Company D, on May 19th, and Private Antoine Lamott, Company H, on May 21st.
The troops had stripped themselves to just the clothes they had on, viz: hat, blouse, shirt, pants, shoes, socks, a wool or rubber blanket, canteen, haversack, gun, and cart- ridge box. These articles were absolutely necessary for an outfit and nothing else was permitted or desired. Each man provided himself with a tin cup or can, and in it he boiled his coffee. A 30 minute halt of the column in dry weather was sufficient time to prepare and dispose of a full meal.
The troops readily and cheerfully submitted to the hardships of the service and the scanty supply of rations that was sometimes issued, when they saw the example set by the commanding General halted at the roadside munching hardtack and raw bacon or sleeping on the bare ground with only his saddle for a pillow and no covering
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save a small cotton tent fly stretched over a pole or a rail. A large majority of the enlisted men, the private soldiers in the ranks, were close and intelligent observers of every sound and sign that would indicate the positions and movements of the forces, and were generally as well in- formed as the officers of rank, who had immediate com- mand of them. The eminent success, which had attended all of the operations of the campaign, had increased the confidence the men had in their commanding officers, so that they had come to fairly idolize General Sherman, and believed him supreme and equal to any emergency. The whistle of the locomotive on the repaired railroad was greeted by the troops with loud demonstrations of joy, being evidence that those who were charged with supplying the army were almost keeping pace with the skirmish line.
All previous operations by the Army of the Tennessee had been along the Mississippi River and other navigable streams, where all necessary provisions for hospitals and the care of sick and wounded existed, but the medical staff of the army was soon overwhelmed in the hills and mountains of Georgia, far away from the great floating hospitals.
The county seat town of Rome, Georgia, situated at the junction of the Oostanaula and Ttowah, forming the Coosa River, and the terminus of the branch railroad leading out from Kingston, was seized and occupied by a division of the Union forces. Measures were at once adopted and the general field hospitals of the Army of the Tennessee established at Rome, General Sherman giving positive assurance that it would be held and pro- tected. It was the metropolis for a large section of rich plantation country; the inhabitants composed the best
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element of culture and refinement in the State, and it was justly celebrated for its salubrity.
General Thomas' army was bivouacked about Cass- ville, General Schofield's at Cassfield Depot, and General McPherson's at Kingston, occupying the rich and popu- lous country about the Etowah River. The three days rest had been highly beneficial to the troops, giving an opportunity to wash and recuperate generally, ready for the next stage of the campaign.
The troops broke camp on May 23rd, crossed the Eto- wah River at Wooley's bridge, which had been spared by the enemy, marched 20 miles southwest in the direction of Van Wert, and camped at night on Euharlee Creek. The day was extremely hot, and the roads very dusty.
In the general movement against the enemy's position in the Allatoona Mountains, located on the line of the Pumpkin Vine Creek, the Army of the Tennessee was again assigned to the right flank and designated to lead the turning column in the grand maneuver for dislodg- ing the enemy in the third stage of the campaign. Twen- ty days supplies for the army had been loaded on the wagon trains, consisting of hard bread, bacon, sugar, coffee, and salt, which were closely guarded by the troops in the marching columns.
The almost perfect system and order had in marching the heavy columns of troops and trains over a wooded and rough country, intersected by deep and rapid flow- ing streams, was the pride of the commanding officers and the means which had established that abiding confidence in the ranks of the army. The morale of the army was at the highest state of perfection and the men were buoy- ant in spirit.
The army marched 8 miles towards Dallas, on May
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24th, and camped at 1 p. m., in the midst of a refreshing shower of rain. The enemy was found during the day making dispositions to meet and resist the flank move- ment, now fully developed. At 4:30 p. m., the 20th Army Corps, commanded by General Joseph Hooker, made a vigorous assault on the enemy's position at New Hope Church, defended by General Hood's Army Corps, where the bloody engagement was prolonged far into the night, without gaining any substantial advantage. The affair closed with a terrific artillery duel, lasting until a late hour at night.
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DALLAS: NEW HOPE CHURCH: BIG SHANTY
On May 26th, the Fourth Division marched to a position 2 miles west of Dallas and camped in line of battle, form- ing the right flank of the general line of battle.
During the forenoon of May 27th, the Fourth Divis- ion passed through the county seat town of Dallas and took position on the right of the Second Division of the 15th Corps, across the Dallas and Villa Rica road. The Third Brigade was on the left, the Second Brigade in the center, and the First Brigade on the right, formed at nearly right angles with the road, and being the extreme right flank of the army. The Second Brigade, composed of the 46th Ohio, under Major Giesy; the 103rd Illinois under Colonel Dickerman; the 97th Indiana under Colo- nel Catterson; and the 6th Iowa under Lieutenant-Colo- nel Miller, occupied the crest of a ridge in front on the Villa Rica road and connected with the general line to the left.
Skirmishers were advanced and soon became hotly engaged with the enemy, driving them in to the protec- tion of their main line of earthworks. These were in plain view on the opposite side of a wooded valley, at a distance of about 600 yards, with artillery in position. The remainder of the 15th Army Corps was disposed in line of battle to the left of the Fourth Division, the Sec- ond Division in the center and the First Division on the left, connecting with the right of the 16th Corps.
At one p. m., the enemy commenced a terrific shelling
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of the 15th Corps' position, lasting for more than an hour, when their infantry was formed and assaulted the Union position with great fury. The attack was per- sisted in for an hour, directed chiefly against the position held by the Second Brigade, with the evident purpose of securing the ridge and the Villa Rica road. Owing to the sudden attack and its location in the line, it became necessary for the 6th Iowa to advance, which it did most gallantly, meeting the enemy with bayonets fixed. The assault failed and the enemy retired to his line of works, leaving his dead and severely wounded on the field, and a large number of prisoners.
General Walker's division of General Hardee's corps made the assault, and it was the 8th Mississippi that came in contact with the 6th Iowa, and was repulsed, leaving their dead and wounded and some prisoners. During the evening De Gress' Illinois battery of Parrott guns was planted on the high hill at the left of the brigade, occu- pied by the 97th Indiana. Incessant fighting had marked the days proceedings all along the lines, without any de- cided advantage gained by either side.
The day dawned bright and clear, on May 28th, with brisk skirmishing extending along the entire front. Early in the morning, while inspecting the skirmish line in company with Colonel Miller, Adjutant Newby Chase, of the 6th Iowa, was mortally wounded by a musket ball fired by a sharpshooter posted behind a large tree on the enemy's skirmish line. The ball passed through his neck, severing the windpipe, from the effect of which he died, on the 30th day of May, 1864. He was a very gallant and most efficient officer.
The skirmish firing was maintained during the day on both sides with great spirit, and at 3:30 p. m., the 15th
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Army Corps' artillery opened a rapid fire with shot and shell, which was promptly and vigorously responded to by the enemy's guns. Three guns of the First Iowa bat- tery were run out along the Villa Rica road to the skir- mish line and opened fire on the enemy's main works with great spirit. At almost the same instant that the guns commenced firing, a second assault, in greater force and with more determination than the day before, was made on the position of the Second Brigade, and also involv- ing the brigades on the right and left. The struggle was maintained with great spirit and determination by the enemy for two hours, when they abandoned the field in defeat.
In his report of the engagement, General Logan said:
The 28th opened with rapid skirmishing which continued un- til 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon, when . [Hardee's Corps] made determined assaults in columns of regiments. with the utmost dash and confidence. . . . The fighting at this point was close and deadly. As line up- on line of the enemy debouched upon the plateau, within eighty yards of our works, they were met by a front and flank fire from brave men, who stood unflinchingly to their guns, under the orders of their efficient officers. Colonel Walcutt, com- manding the brigade engaged, stood on the parapet, amid the storm of bullets, ruling the fight. Line after line was sent back broken to their works, and in half an hour the assault was over, their dead and wounded only occupying the ground on which they advanced.
The enemy, to cover the withdrawal of his discomfited and shattered battalions and guard against a counter- charge, opened a most terrific shelling of the lines with more than 40 pieces of field artillery, which was replied to with vigor by De Gress' rifled guns and all the other
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batteries on the line, the duel lasting nearly an hour and producing sad havoc with the frail works and tearing the timber into shreds.
The men of the Sixth Iowa, who were on the skirmish line, had joined the Iowa batterymen in a heroic effort to remove the three guns back to the works, but they had been temporarily abandoned to the enemy. The men of the Second Brigade pursued the enemy's retreating lines, with shouts of victory and volleys of musketry, until all the guns were recovered and the outposts reestablished.
Glorious victory as it was, and severe as the punish- ment was to the enemy, it cost many precious lives in the Second Brigade to accomplish it. Colonel Willard A. Dickerman, commanding the 103rd Illinois, and Major Henry H. Giesy, commanding the 46th Ohio, were both killed during the heat of the engagement, while directing and encouraging their men. Lieutenant-Colonel Alex- ander J. Miller, commanding the 6th Iowa, was severely wounded, while gallantly leading his men, and was borne from the field.
General W. B. Bates' division of General Hardee's corps led the assault on the second day supported by W. H. T. Walker's, B. F. Cheatham's, and P. R. Cleburne's divisions, and H. R. Jackson's cavalry division. The Florida Brigade, composed of five regiments of infantry and one of dismounted cavalry, assailed the position oc- cupied by the Second Brigade and lost heavily in killed and wounded. A captain of cavalry was killed a few feet in front of the rifle-pits occupied by the Sixth Iowa.
The following are the casualties sustained in the Sixth Iowa for both days: -
Killed: First-Lieutenant Francis F. Baldwin, Com- pany C; privates Robert H. Osborn, John M. C. Potts,
DALLAS: NEW HOPE CHURCH: BIG SHANTY 279
and George F. Scott, Company C; Private George Black, Company D; Private George W. Babington, Company F; Private John Bigham, Company K.
Mortally Wounded: Private Anthony W. Surle, Com- pany C, died June 7th, in the general hospital at Chatta- nooga; Private John Rogers, Company F, died June 15th, at the Allatoona Pass hospital; Adjutant Newby Chase, died May 30th.
Wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander J. Miller, in the arm, severely; Company A, Corporal Lemuel Bald- win, skull fractured; First-Lieutenant Rodney F. Barker, in the left breast and arm by a musket ball; Company B, Sergeant William Cowden, in the right arm, severely -- permanently disabling him; Company D, Sergeant Thom- as Foster, in the head, severely by grapeshot; Company E, Private Calvin Barnard, left arm amputated; Private William J. Collett, severely in the left leg just above the knee; Private George W. Hibbard, in the right arm, slightly; Private James P. Spinks, severely in the right hand -- two fingers off ; Company F, Private Isaac Gregg, severely; Sergeant Jeremiah Rhodes, slightly; Company H, Private Daniel Fitz-Henry, in the shoulder, severely ; Sergeant James Swan, in the hand, severely; Private Isaiah Ware, in left hip, severely; Company I, First- Lieutenant George W. Clark, concussion by shell, result- ing in serious deafness; Corporal Samuel Smith, severe- ly; Private John A. G. Sala, slightly; Company K, First- Lieutenant William K. Arnold, in the shoulder, slightly ; Private John A. McKernan, arm amputated.
Prisoners: Company D, Private George Trussell, died in Andersonville, September 10, 1864; Company F, Pri- vate Thomas W. Garner, paroled May 6, 1865; Private Henry Terry, released in December, 1864.
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