USA > Iowa > A history of the Sixth Iowa infantry > Part 20
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Total: 7 killed, 3 mortally wounded, 19 wounded, 3 prisoners.
May 29th, was marked by brisk skirmish firing all along the front lines, rising to the roar of an engagement at times. The enemy made a demonstration during the night by loud cheering and furious musketry firing along the entire front lines of the 15th Corps, causing a sleep- less night in the Union trenches. No serious damage was done to either side and the whole affair was probably the result of a false alarm; but, nevertheless, occurring as it did in the still of the night, it was a worse hair rais- ing affair than was the real battle in the daytime.
Major Ennis assumed command of the regiment with Lieutenant Grimes Acting Adjutant. On May 30th, the Fourth Division started to march to the left, when the enemy attacked along the front with heavy firing and loud cheering and the troops quickly resumed their places in the trenches where they remained without further serious molestation. On May 31st, the situation re- mained substantially the same, with spirited skirmish firing and terrific artillery duels during the day. The marching and counter marching of large bodies of troops inside of the enemy's lines during the day had indicated that they were preparing for another assault, but night closed down over all without further demonstration.
On June 1, 1864, at the break of day, the withdrawal from the trenches by the Fourth Division was commenced again and successfully accomplished, with the enemy's skirmishers following close after the rear guard and skir- mishing briskly. The column moved to the left in the rear of the lines along the Pumpkin Vine road to the rear of General Hooker's 20th Corps, a distance of 6 miles,
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and relieved his troops, occupying the trenches vacated by them.
The position was in a dense woods of large trees with a rank growth of vegetation covering the whole surface, which had been trampled into the soft oozy ground and was fast decaying, under the influence of a June day sun. The small pools and sluggish streams of water in the vi- cinity were all filled with foul water drained from the surface occupied by the troops and animals connected with the army. The stench arising from a large number of dead horses and mules and many dead men, mostly ly- ing between the lines of contending forces, was sickening and almost intolerable. Both sides had fortified and con- tinued to hold their lines within a few yards of each other, barring all opportunity for burying the dead.
The skirmish firing was incessant, day and night, at short range, so that a head appearing above the works was almost certain to be pierced by a rifle ball, aimed by the vigilant sharpshooters in the enemy's advance rifle- pits.
Demonstrations were of frequent occurrence, day and night, started by both sides, when musketry and artil- lery firing would be furious, and last for an hour or more each time. During such actions the troops in the pits and trenches were usually safe from harm, but the effect had, among the thousands of animals, the headquarters and the hospitals in the rear of the lines, was totally demoralizing.
Fine showers of refreshing rain, on the 3rd and 4th, cooled the heated atmosphere and revived everybody. While the rain was cooling and refreshing at the time to the men in their cramped and dangerous position in the trenches, it also flooded the swampy ground occupied,
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making the position almost untenable, except to lie in mud and water. To get pure fresh water for drinking and cooking purposes the men went long distances to springs and unadulterated streams and carried it in their canteens.
Timothy Holmes, private in Company G, was shot through the head with a rifle ball and instantly killed, on the 4th, while on duty in the trenches. He was a charac- ter in the regiment, of generous disposition, kind hearted and gallant as a soldier. The expressions of sorrow by his comrades were sincere and heartfelt as they viewed his body lying in the muddy trench.
The 40th Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Barnhill commanding, returned from veteran furlough and joined the brigade on the 5th, where they were received with many expressions of hearty welcome.
At the break of day on the morning of June 5th, the enemy's works were found evacuated, except for a few men in the skirmish pits, who were captured. The Al- latoona Mountain position was secured and the army extended to the railroad south of that position. At S a. m., the Fourth Division and the 15th Army Corps started to the left, passed in the rear of the Army of the Cumberland, traveled 7 miles and camped for the night. The troops marched 8 miles on the 6th, passed through the village of Acworth, a station on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, and camped two miles south of town. The 15th Army Corps had been transferred from the ex- treme right flank of the army, at Dallas, to the new left, at Acworth, holding the railroad south of Allatoona.
The maneuver from Kingston to the right, and the bat- tles at New Hope Church and Dallas, had compelled the enemy to abandon the strong position in the Allatoona
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Mountains and take up a new one at Lost Mountain Pine Hill, and Kenesaw Mountain. Thus was success- fully completed the third stage of the campaign.
On the 8th of June, the 17th Army Corps, Major-Gen- eral F. P. Blair commanding, composed of General M. D. Leggett's and General W. Q. Gresham's divisions, joined the Army of the Tennessee at Acworth.
On June 9th, the Second Brigade supported General K. Garrard's division of cavalry and General J. T. Wild- er's brigade of mounted infantry on a reconnoissance to Big Shanty, 8 miles south on the railroad. The enemy's outpost of cavalry and artillery was found at that place and driven away by the cavalry and mounted infantry after a sharp fight, lasting an hour.
Standing at Big Shanty, the first view was had of Kenesaw Mountain, a bold and striking twin mountain, lying in the immediate front, with a range of rugged hills extending to the northeast beyond Noonday Creek and terminating at Brush Mountain. Pine Hill lying to the right and west, and still beyond it in the distance the dim outline of Lost Mountain could be seen, near the posi- tion occupied by the 15th Corps at Dallas.
The sharp conical crests of these mountains above the surrounding woodlands and cleared plantations marked the strategic points of the impending struggles in that vicinity. The vast and beautiful landscape was enchant- ing to behold, presenting a rural scene of quiet and beau- ty, soon to be rudely disturbed by the clash of arms. The brigade returned to Acworth at 7 p. m., having marched 16 miles.
The whole army moved forward on the 10th. The 15th Corps took position and fortified on the railroad one mile south of Big Shanty, with the Fourth Division in
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reserve at Big Shanty. The skirmishing was brisk dur- ing the day and ended in the evening with a spirited artil- lery duel, participated in by 100 guns, as the advance lines went into position and fortified.
The Fourth Division remained in camp at Big Shanty for four days, during which time it rained almost inces- santly, causing the narrow country roads to become im- passable for army transportation in wagons.
The army was in position on the new line as follows: Schofield on the right, at Lost Mountain; Thomas in the center, moving on Pine Hill; McPherson on the left, mov- ing down along the railroad in front of Kenesaw Moun- tain, his left flank extending east to Noonday Creek, which was protected by Garrard's division of cavalry. The Confederates were in position with their left rest- ing at Lost Mountain; their center covering Pine Moun- tain; and the right extending east across the railroad and covering Kenesaw Mountain. The length of the lines was fully 12 miles, with fortifications extending the entire dis- tance in front of both the Union and Confederate armies.
On the 14th, Lieutenant-General Polk was killed by a cannon ball, fired from a Union battery, which struck him while standing on Pine Hill, in company with other distinguished Confederate officers, observing the posi- tions of the Union forces. He was a distinguished mili- tary officer and a Christian man, beloved by his soldiers and trusted as a commander.
On June 15th, the Fourth Division moved to the left flank of the army, held by the 17th Army Corps, for the purpose of making a demonstration against the enemy's right flank resting on a wooded ridge beyond Noonday Creek. General Harrow reached the point indicated and
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disposed the division as follows: the Second Brigade, Colonel Walcutt commanding, in line of battle in front; the 103rd Illinois on the right; the 40th Illinois on the left; the 46th Ohio and the 6th Iowa filling the center; and the 97th Indiana deployed as skirmishers in front. The Third Brigade formed the second line, in line of battle, while the First Brigade was disposed to protect the left flank of the assaulting column.
The bugles sounded the advance and the men struggled forward through a thicket of tangled undergrowth, briars, and vines to an open field which lay sloping down to Noonday Creek, when the enemy opened fire from his rifle-pits along the creek and also from the fortified po- sition on the heights beyond, with musketry and artillery. The crackling fire of musketry, the crashing volleys of artillery, and loud cheering by the men in the assaulting lines, responded to with volleys and defiant yells by the enemy posted in his pits and breastworks, soon rose to the dignity of a battle.
When the charging line reached Noonday Creek - a narrow, deep stream with steep banks - the men plunged into it and climbed up the opposite bank, carrying the rifle-pits and capturing the 31st Alabama Regiment, in- cluding the Colonel, 20 officers, and 400 men. Without a halt the advance was continued and the heights and main works handsomely carried, routing the rest of General Pettus' brigade of Alabama troops. The broken frag- ments of the enemy's fleeing forces were pursued over the ridge, across a wide plantation field and into the tim- ber fully a mile beyond the position they had occupied. The affair was brilliant and eminently successful. The brigade held the captured position until evening, when it was relieved by other troops and returned with the divis-
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ion to a position in the rear of the 15th Army Corps lines.
The Sixth Iowa loss was as follows :
Killed: First-Lieutenant John T. Grimes, Acting Ad- jutant, shot from his horse while leading in the charge; Private John Hubler, Company D, shot through the heart; Private Oscar Bostrand, Company I, killed instant- ly.
Wounded: Private Albert J. Johnson, Company B, by a musket ball in the left thigh - permanently dis- abled; Corporal Abraham W. Morris, Company B, left leg amputated; Corporal John A. Miller, Company B, in left foot, bones broken and permanently disabled; First- Sergeant John H. Key, Company E, severely; Private John Spallman, Company H, in the breast.
The total casualties were 8 men. The brigade loss was reported at 63 killed and wounded.
The Fourth Division remained in reserve camp until the 25th of June, when it was ordered to the right and took position at the west base of Kenesaw Mountain, relieving Colonel John G. Mitchell's brigade of the 14th Army Corps. From the 16th to the 22nd of June, it rained al- most incessantly, both day and night, flooding the whole country and rendering the wagon roads mere mud gullies.
The enemy had abandoned the positions at Lost Moun- tain and Pine Hill and was concentrated at Kenesaw, the storm center. The crest of Kenesaw was occupied by the enemy's best batteries, securely intrenched. At even- ing, when relieved from the burning heat of the day, the batteries from their mountain height would open fire and precipitate a duel participated in by more than a hun- dred guns, which echoed far and wide over that beauti- ful southern section. The scene presented amid the roar of cannon was grand and beautiful to behold. The great
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cloud of white smoke rolling away from the enemy's guns on the crest of the mountain and the heavy fringe of smoke rising from the Union batteries at the base and floating away over the deep green of the forest covered hills, all tinged with the mellow glow of the setting sun, will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it, from either side. But slight harm ever came to either side by the great expenditure of ammunition.
The few days respite and inaction gave time for ser- iously considering war as a dispenser of wrath and death and woe. Its forefront, bright and fair and gay, was blazoned, with "quality and pride and pomp and circum- stance"; but, behind battles' pomp and glory, were wounds and groans and blood and death; and, in the far distant homes, were eyes that wept and hearts that were breaking. "Only for truth and right and land and home, do true and brave men war."
The campaign thus far had been a series of successful flanking operations, until it had become a fixed notion in the minds of men and officers that it was not necessary to charge strongly fortified positions, that General Sher- man's flanking strategy was sufficient to drive the enemy into the Gulf of Mexico; but coming events proved that such was not wholly the idea or tactics of the General commanding. The truc efficiency of soldiers is best test- ed by their ever being ready and willing to execute any plan or legitimate mode of warfare that promises success.
It is common to omit that particularity of description and detail, when describing incidents and matters to those familiar with them, but so necessary to a clear ap- preciation of the situation, by those not so familiar with the organization of the army and the duties and habits of soldier life; therefore, it is a matter to contemplate,
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that there was assembled in the vicinity of Kenesaw Mountain, in that rural neighborhood of Northern Geor- gia, nearly 200,000 men organized into regiments and brigades representing every State east of the Rocky Mountains, divided into two hostile armies arrayed against each other in a death grapple. The organiza- tion and discipline of the army was such that it worked like machinery, under the direction of one master mind. It was frequently stated, and it was substantially true, that General Sherman was so perfectly familiar with all the details of organization and administration in his army that he knew at all times just exactly the number of cartridges and crackers each soldier had in his posses- sion.
Men of intelligence composed the rank and file of the army and it was perfectly natural that they should de- sire to know where and how far they were to march, and whether to battle or to camp. The secrecy which usually shrouded military operations left the brave men in the ranks in helpless ignorance of pending movements of the army; but there had been such a marked activity at the front and in the rear bringing up ammunition, filling the artillery chests, inspecting cartridge boxes, supplying stretchers and cots at the field hospitals, filling the medi- cal chests, brightening up the surgeon's knives and saws, and marshaling the ambulances for duty, that all could understand that a conflict was pending.
A camp rumor was current for several days that an assault would be made by the whole army on the Kene- saw position, and the disposition shown by the enemy not to yield his stronghold added strength to the rumor. The fortifications abandoned by the enemy at New Hope Church and Resaca were skillfully constructed and of
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great strength. An assault on them would have been at- tended with great loss of life, even if they could have been carried at all. Prisoners described the Kenesaw works as being extra strong at all points and the rugged slopes of the mountain were in plain view, showing a position much more difficult to approach, than were the heights of Missionary Ridge. With such an array of stubborn facts as to the situation, rumors of a pending assault disturbed the usual serenity of the men and ex- cited their nerves to the highest tension, as they groped down in the narrow trenches seeking shelter from the ever hurtling shells exploding in mid-air at all hours of the day.
XIX
THE BATTLE OF KENESAW MOUNTAIN
On Monday, June 27, 1864, pursuant to special field or- ders already issued by General Sherman, directing that a general attack by the army should be made on the enemy's fortified position at an early hour in the day, the reveille sounded at 4 a. m., when all preparations and as- signments were at once made for the conflict. The bri- gades of General J. A. J. Lightburn, Giles A. Smith, and Colonel C. C. Walcutt were designated to compose the assaulting column from the Army of the Tennessee, with General Morgan L. Smith in command. The southwest end of the mountain, Little Kenesaw, was designated as the objective of the assaulting column. The lines were formed at a short distance in front of the works, occu- pied during the night by the command, with Lightburn on the right in two lines, numbering 2000 muskets, Giles A. Smith in the center, with the same formation and same strength, and Walcutt on the left with 1500 muskets, and the 46th Ohio deployed as skirmishers, covering the bri- gade front. General Lightburn was directed to assault to the right of the point, General Smith was to go direct- ly up the main spur, while Colonel Walcutt was to move directly for the gorge in the mountain and carry the works at that point.
At the sound of the bugles, Walcutt's brigade moved forward first and the enemy's fire, opening on his column, was the signal for the other brigades to advance. The assault commenced at 8:15 a. m., and the enemy at once
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opened with artillery from his works on the mountain and heavy musketry fire by his skirmishers, who were in- trenched in rifle-pits 400 yards in front of his lines. The enemy's outposts and skirmishers were driven back along the entire front, leaving their dead and wounded on the field and some prisoners. The ground advanced over proved to be worse than anticipated, part of the distance being over swampy ground densely covered by tangled brush and vines.
After passing through the tangled brush, over the swampy ground and capturing the first line of rifle-pits, the lines were rectified and with fixed bayonets moved steadily and rapidly forward against the enemy's main fortifications. The ascent of the mountain slope, leading up to the crest, was found to be steep and rugged, covered with brush and felled trees, ledges of rock, and an abatis ingeniously and firmly constructed, rendering the ad- vance in the line of battle entirely impracticable. The fire maintained by the enemy, with small arms and ar- tillery, was terrific and deadly, officers and men falling thick and fast all along the lines in the assaulting column.
The lines approached to within a few yards of the enemy's main works, which were found to be of great strength and filled with riffemen who commanded, with a deadly fire, the whole slope of the mountain. There was also poured in on the attacking force a cross-fire of mus- ketry and artillery, from oblique points on their lines, which it was impossible for troops to go against. The enemy's position on the mountain, a great natural bar- rier which was greatly strengthened by the skillful me- chanical obstructions devised to hinder approach by as- sailing forces, caused the lines to break into small columns and squads, some of whom nearly reached the works, but
20
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most of whom were shot down by the unerring aim of the riflemen in the main works. After repeated attempts to reach and carry the enemy's main works had failed the troops were withdrawn about 100 yards, where tem- porary. works were erected and held.
Great gallantry was displayed by officers and men, many of whom reached the works, where they crouched under the obstructions and ledges of rock until dark, when they crawled away. Most of those who were se- verely wounded were not cared for until after dark, when it was possible to bring them in without being fired upon by the enemy. There were many acts of personal gal- lantry performed and chivalric manhood displayed in all the commands, which showed a bond of sympathy and delicate friendship existing among the troops and be- tween the regiments, cherished only by men of noble courage and a will to perform the highest obligations and duties in life. After dark, the troops holding the lines established, were relieved by the First Division of the 15th Army Corps, and the Second Brigade returned to the position held by it in the morning.
The Sixth Iowa carried into action a fraction less than 300 muskets, and was led by Major Thomas J. Ennis with skill and great gallantry. The loss was 9 killed and 52 wounded, a total of 61 men. Lieutenant-Colonel Rigdon S. Barnhill, commanding the 40th Illinois, was killed within a few feet of the enemy's main works on the moun- tain, leading his regiment. He was a valiant officer and a noble man. Lieutenant-Colonel George W. Wright, commanding the 103rd Illinois, received a severe wound, which permanently disabled him. He was conspicuous for gallant bearing during the engagement. Seven of the commanders of regiments in General Smith's as-
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saulting column were stricken down, 2 being killed and 5 permanently disabled by wounds. The total casualties were 80 killed, 506 wounded, and 17 missing; aggregate, 603 men.
Words cannot describe the suffering occasioned by the intense heat of that June day sun to those who were severely wounded and to the others who were compelled to lie on the rugged slopes of Little Kenesaw, from 10 a. m. until dark brought relief.
The casualty list in the Sixth Iowa was as follows: -
COMPANY A
Killed: Private Devila Sleight.
Mortally Wounded: Sergeant William D. Hall, died July 5th, in the field hospital at Allatoona Pass.
Wounded: Sergeant William M. Harbeson, severely in the left knee joint; Corporal Henry A. Harris, in the head; Private Zachariah Hein, in the arm, severely; Lieutenant Albin L. Ingram, in the head, and right wrist, severely ; Private Eliakin S. Wilson, in the foot, severely.
COMPANY B
Killed: Private Newton J. Gordon - "Penny".
Wounded: Private Aquilla T. Charles, slightly; Pri- vate Andrew J. Egbert, in the right arm; Private Wm. C. Fitch, in both legs and arm; Private Jacob L. Miller, in left side; Private William Monnahan, in the arm, severe- ly.
COMPANY C
Killed: Private Hamilton Buckingham.
Mortally Wounded: Sergeant Joseph W. Travis, died July 17th, at the Marietta field hospital.
Wounded: Private Currency A. Gummere, by shell,
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bone out from shoulder half down to elbow; Private Robert Hoskins; Private Walter Haddock, toe amputated.
COMPANY D
Wounded: Corporal John B. Armstrong, musket ball in left lung and through left leg; Private William G. Crow, severely; Sergeant Thomas Foster, severely; Pri- vate Oliver S. Green, severely; Private James M. Pierce, slightly ; Private F. M. Sharp, severely, by bursting shell ; Corporal M. Westenhaver, in the face, severely.21
COMPANY E
Mortally Wounded: Private Thomas Hinton, died, July 28th, in the field hospital at Allatoona Pass.
Wounded: Sergeant Stephen J. Gahagan, slightly ; Private Elijah P. Bradley, in the leg, severely; Private Matthew W. Kemper, in the hip, severely ; Private James McGonegal, slightly; Color-Sergeant Henry Roberts, severely.
COMPANY F
Wounded: Corporal Joseph N. Ballou, musket ball through shoulder; Corporal Abraham C. Rarick; Private Abram S. Stark; Private Isaac B. Sharp; Private Felix Scachris, in the right arm, severely; Private Charles W. Wright; Private James H. Warthen, flesh wound in the leg.
COMPANY G
Wounded: Sergeant Robert Alexander, in the foot, severely; Corporal Thomas A. Clark, in the back and shoulder, severely; Private John A. Clark, in hand, fin-
21 The eighth member of Company D wounded at Kenesaw Mountain was Jacob Cox. - Report of the Adjutant General of Iowa, 1866-1867, Vol. I, p. 496.
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ger amputated; Private Robert W. Elliott, in the face, severely; Private George W. Ford, in hand, severely ; Captain James J. Jordan, slightly; Private George A. Miller, in the hand, accidentally, with his own gun; First- Sergeant Samuel J. Plymesser, concussion of brain by bursting shell, and sun-stroke; Sergeant-Major Andrew T. Samson, in the left arm, severely.
COMPANY H
Killed: Private Benjamin Bixby.
Wounded: Corporal Jesse L. Adkins, right arm am- putated; Sergeant O. C. Snyder, in shoulder, severely; Private John McClearnan, in leg, severely.
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