USA > Iowa > A history of the Sixth Iowa infantry > Part 25
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On November 13th, the First Division marched to At- lanta, crossed the Chattahoochee River on the pontoon bridge, passed through the city and went into camp at White Hall, two miles west of town.
The four divisions of the 15th Army Corps were united at Atlanta and had an effective strength of : infantry -- First Division, Brigadier-General Charles R. Woods commanding, 4376 men; Second Division, Brigadier-Gen- eral William B. Hazen commanding, 380S men; Third Division, Brigadier-General John E. Smith commanding, 3659; Fourth Division, Brigadier-General John M. Corse commanding, 3710 men; total infantry, 15,553 men; ar- tillery - Captain De Gress' four twenty-pounder Par- rotts; Captain Zickerick's four light twelve-pounders; Captain Arndt's four three-inch Rodmans; Captain Welker's six light twelve-pounders; total guns, 18.
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Major-General Peter J. Osterhaus commanded the corps.
The campaign of 350 miles through North Georgia and Alabama in pursuit of Hood's army was a positive ad- vantage to the army, for both troops and animals were in better condition for future operations at the end than they were at the beginning.
Preparatory to the complete abandonment of Central Georgia by the Union forces, all railroads and property belonging thereto, all store houses, machine shops, mills, factories, and business blocks in the city of Atlanta were completely and effectually destroyed pursuant to orders, under the direction of the engineer officers of the army.
XXII THE BATTLE OF GRISWOLDVILLE
On the morning of November 15, 1864, General W. T. Sherman had his army concentrated at Atlanta ready to start on the famous campaign through Georgia. The army was composed of four infantry corps. The Fif- teenth, 15,894 men, commanded by Major-General Peter J. Osterhaus; and the Seventeenth, 11,732 men, com- manded by Major-General Frank P. Blair, constituted the right wing of the army which was commanded by Major- General O. O. Howard. The Fourteenth, 13,962 men, commanded by Major-General Jefferson C. Davis; and the Twentieth, 13,741 men, commanded by Brigadier- General A. S. Williams, constituted the left wing of the army which was commanded by Major-General H. W. Slocum. The artillery, 1812 men and 65 guns; and the cavalry, one division, 5063 men, were commanded by Brigadier-General Judson Kilpatrick. The aggregate strength of the army was 62,204 men.
The Fifteenth Army Corps embraced four divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Charles R. Woods, William B. Hazen, John E. Smith, and John M. Corse. The First Division had three brigades - the First, com- manded by Colonel Milo Smith, 26th Iowa; the Second, by Brigadier-General Charles C. Walcutt; and the Third, by Colonel James A. Williamson, 4th Iowa. The Second Brigade was composed of seven regiments of infantry as follows: the 46th Ohio, under Lieutenant-Colonel I. N. Alexander; the 40th Illinois under Lieutenant-Colonel H.
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W. Hall; the 6th Jowa under Major W. H. Clune; the 103rd Illinois under Major A. Willison; the 97th Indiana, under Colonel Robert F. Catterson; the 100th Indiana, under Major Ruel M. Johnson; and the 26th Illinois, under Captain George H. Reed. All the rest of the bri- gades, divisions and corps were organized in the same manner and each regiment was composed of ten com- panies each - the company being the unit of organiza- tion.
Special field orders were issued by the general com- manding the army, and also by department, corps, and division commanders, setting out explicit directions for the government and discipline of the army and detailed instructions for the order of marching and the manner of foraging in the country for supplies, while en route.
General Sherman gave directions for the first stage of the march as follows: the right wing to move via Mc- Donough and Monticello to Gordon; the left wing via Covington, Social Circle, and Madison to Milledgeville, the capital of the State, the cavalry in concert with the right wing feigning strong in the direction of Macon, and each column to reach its destination, Gordon and Mill- edgeville, on the seventh days march.
The 15th Army Corps was assigned to the right flank of the army in its advance. At 6:30 a. m., November 15th, the First Division broke camp at White Hall and moved out on the Rough and Ready road as the advance of the corps column. The following order was observed: first, the Second Brigade as advance guard for the corps column, each regiment followed by one ambulance; sec- ond, a battery of artillery, without caissons or battery wagon, followed by one regiment of the Second Brigade ; third, pioneers; fourth, the brigade tool wagon and regi-
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mental wagons; fifth, the First Brigade, each regiment followed by one ambulance, the regimental wagon, and one wagon infantry ammunition; sixth, one-half of the division supply train, followed by five wagons infantry ammunition, guarded by one regiment from the First Bri- gade distributed by companies along the train; seventh, the Third Brigade, each regiment followed by one am- bulance, the regimental wagon, and one wagon infantry ammunition; eighth, the headquarter trains of the 15th Army Corps, the First Division, and the three brigade trains, followed by the ambulance train and medical wagons, and the remaining half of the division supply train, guarded by one regiment of the Third Brigade, marching by companies distributed along the column; ninth, the rear guard of one regiment from the Third Brigade; two companies of which were sent forward to the head of column, to be posted as guards for the houses, while the divisions were passing.
That the burdens of the march might be equally dis- tributed, it was arranged that divisions alternate, from day to day, in leading the corps column, and that the same rule be followed by the brigades in the divisions, the regi- ments in the brigades and the companies in the regiments.
The bugles and drums sounded the reveille at 4 a. m., on that eventful morning, calling from their bivouac 65,000 soldiers, who were ready for the initial days march that inaugurated a campaign which is embalmed in the history of the country, has been told in story to admir- ing thousands, sung in songs and set to music, thrilling millions of hearts with the inspiring strains of "March- ing through Georgia".
The organization and equipment of the army was in the highest state of perfection, while the troops, two-
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thirds of whom were two and three year veterans, were all in superb physical condition, joyful and buoyant spirits, full of confidence and hopeful reliance on their commanders to lead them forward to new and greater victories.
The day was bright and clear, the air bracing, and the whole surrounding country resounded with the music of bands, drum corps, and the merry cheering of the sold- iers. The long trains of army wagons, with their white canvas covers; the long columns of field artillery, with eight horses to each gun and caisson; the swift moving columns of cavalry, pushing to the front; the blue thread- like lines of marching infantry; and the immense herds of beef cattle, filled all the roads leading south and east from the city, and, in many places, spread out over the abandoned plantations, which made a scene of martial splendor ever to be remembered by the participants.
General Kilpatrick's cavalry commenced to skirmish with the enemy early in the morning and continued throughout the day, driving General Wheeler's cavalry and the Georgia Militia from Rough and Ready and Jonesborough. General Kilpatrick used his artillery vigorously and routed the enemy at all points.
The corps marched 18 miles and camped five miles east of Jonesborough. On Wednesday, November 16th, the column moved out at 8 a. m., in the same order, the men all chipper and cheerful, despite the hard march of the day before. The roads were good and, for the most part of the way, through a level and rich farming section. In compliance with the general orders details were made in each regiment consisting of an officer and 15 to 20 en- listed men to serve as foragers for procuring supplies from the plantations. Horses and mules were quickly
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found on the plantations and all the foragers, if not sup- erbly, were at least efficiently mounted. These parties gathered from the rich plantations, near the route trav- eled, corn and forage for the animals, and meal, meat, po- tatoes, and poultry for the troops - usually coming in at evening well laden.
The scenes in and about the camps at evening were interesting and inspiring, while the men were engaged around hundreds of campfires preparing the evening meal of fresh pork, sweet potatoes, chickens, pancakes, and coffee. The tired and hungry soldiers relished with keen appetites the frugal meal thus prepared on an open fire built in the woods. While seated on the ground around the mess board, problems of the campaign were discussed with a knowledge and intelligence that would have interested those who were burdened with the re- sponsibilities of high command. There were different opinions as to the probable objective of the campaign. Some said Savannah, others Charleston, others Mobile, and not a few thought Richmond itself was the prize, but all were decided and united on one point -to go where General Sherman led.
The column marched 16 miles and camped four miles out of MeDonough, where all four of the divisions com- posing the 15th Army Corps were for the first time united and camped together in position. On November 17th, the First Division remained in camp until one p. m., while the Third and Fourth divisions passed to the front. Then the First Division followed and the Second Divi- sion brought up the rear of the corps column, all cover- ing a distance of 13 miles and camping at 10 p. m., tired and supperless. Night marching puts to the test the patience and endurance of soldiers.
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The enemy so far had shown only feeble resistance, not enough to retard or hinder the advance of the infantry columns. The cavalry had found them in some force at Lovejoy's and Forsyth on the Macon Railroad, but had no serious difficulty in clearing the way for the advanc- ing columns. November 18th, a few hours rest was ob- tained and the reveille was sounded by bugles and drums, calling the troops up for another days march. Breakfast was hastily prepared before daylight and dispatched in time for the column to form and march out at the first peep of daylight in the regular order prescribed for marching, with the Fourth Division in front. The troops marched 6 miles to the village of Indian Springs and camped for the remainder of the day and the night.
The village of Indian Springs is situated in the beau- tiful pine-clad hills bordering on the Ocmulgee River and had become quite prominent as a resort for wealthy planters and their families during the summer months, when the chivalry and aristocracy of the South would gather there to enjoy the celebrated springs, the water of which gushes out from the hills all around the place.
The troops were mostly occupied during the remain- der of the day with cooking and eating, while some with more inquiring minds scouted about over the adjacent hills viewing the beautiful scenery so bountifully pro- vided by nature. Others entered into interesting conver- sation with the inhabitants of the village and those who had fled from the cities and towns to this far inland re- sort, hoping to escape the dread coming of Sherman's army.
One of the incidents - among the many amusing ones that occurred during the stay at the place - was the mis- fortune that overtook a wedding party from Macon, com-
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posed of the bride and groom, the bride's sister and her gentleman escort. They arrived there on the same day as the army, and, by force of circumstances, remained all night. At an early hour in the morning, by the grac- ious and courteous permission of the General command- ing, the wedding party was allowed to take their depart- ure for Macon in their carriage, which was drawn by two slick fat horses. Their journey was soon interrupted by an artillery officer, who proceeded to trade teams with them, exchanging a poor dilapidated artillery team for their nice fat horses. The artillery horses balked stark still, when the attempt was made to proceed with them. The scene was made ludicrous and most painfully dis- tressing to the occupants of the carriage by a large crowd of jeering soldiers. But the tears of the gentle women melted the hearts of the soldiers, who lent a helping hand and the party was soon beyond the lines, and on the road to home and friends.
November 19th, the troops marched 6 miles and crossed the Ocmulgee River on a pontoon bridge laid near the Planter's Factory, a valuable property that was burned and completely destroyed. The troops of the First Divi- sion were halted one mile beyond the crossing, where they remained until evening, while the wagon trains and ar- tillery were crossing the river and going forward. A cold drizzling rain set in during the afternoon, which soon made the roads muddy and caused the marching to be very disagreeable. It was late in the evening when the troops took up the line of march again, which was continued in almost Egyptian darkness, the men flound- ering through the mud and water, slipping and stumbling, causing heads to be cracked by the muskets of those prostrated in the mud.
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A halt was made at 2 o'clock in the night, and, though everybody was tired and hungry, the ground wet, muddy, and cold, each man constructed a bed with two rails and sought the sweet rest that is only known to and appre- ciated by a tired and weary soldier. The distance trav- eled during the day and night was 15 miles. The rain continued to pour down during the night and all attempts to make fires for the preparation of a morning meal were drowned out. At the first break of day the bugles sound- ed the forward and in the midst of all the discomforts of the disagreeable surroundings a triumphant shout by the men rang out heartily and cheerfully from one end of the column to the other.
The route of march for the day was through the nice little village of Hillsborough and the whole division camped in the vicinity of Clinton, at 9 p. m., wet, tired, and hungry. The rain had been incessant during the day. The Sixth Iowa had been detailed as flankers to the marching column and had performed that most trying and laborious duty from early morning until the column halted late at night. They had marched in single file at intervals of ten to thirty steps on the flank of the march- ing column of troops and trains at a varying distance from it of one hundred yards to a half mile; and had traveled through woods and cultivated fields, up and down steep hills, had waded swollen streams, and had been drenched to the skin from head to foot. All this put to the test the patience and endurance of the strong- est veterans.
The narrow country roads were soon torn and churned into sloughs of impassable mud by the long trains of army wagons and heavy artillery carriages. Despite the mud and rain the whole column covered a distance of 19
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miles. Captain O. M. Poe, General Sherman's Chief Engineer, had the direction of the engineer troops, the skilled mechanics, pontooniers, and the pioneer corps of the army, aggregating a force of 4575 men. At the head of each division of troops there marched a pioneer corps, composed of 100 white soldiers and 70 negroes, equipped for building and repairing the roads and bridges. A pontoon train carrying forty canvas boats and their equipment, traveled with each wing of the army. The bad roads caused by the recent rains had put to the test the skill and endurance of this force.
November 21st, the rain having ceased during the night, the morning was cold, with a dense fog, almost totally obscuring everything. The column passed through the county seat town of Clinton during the forenoon. It showed evidence of having been a flourishing little city, but it had been almost entirely abandoned by its in- habitants, they having departed in precipitate flight, on the approach of the army. Under cover of the heavy fog a small squad of the enemy's cavalry, General Wheeler's personal escort, dashed into the town and captured one man, who was on duty at corps headquar- ters. The column was halted at noon, where three days rations of crackers, coffee, sugar, and salt were issued, and the march was then continued to the Macon and Savannah Railroad, at a point 12 miles east of Macon, where the Second Brigade camped on the south side of the railroad. A distance of 15 miles was marched dur- ing the day.
On November 22nd, at daylight, the Second Brigade moved out about two miles on the Macon road and formed in a large field in close column of regiments to the left of
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the road. From this position could be seen, at the far side of the field, a hugh swamp thickly matted with brush and timber, where the advance cavalry patrols were exchanging shots with the enemy, who was guard- ing the road leading into the city of Macon. The weath- er was cloudy and crispy cold with spitting snow, the little round crystals rattling in the dead pine leaves, covering the ground everywhere in the timber.
The 14th and 20th army corps, composing the left wing of the army, were at Milledgeville in possession of the Georgia State capital; the 17th Army Corps was at Gordon Station on the Macon railroad; the Second and Third divisions of the 15th Army Corps were along the line of the railroad extending east to Gordon; the Fourth Division, General Corse commanding, was bringing up the supply trains and the pontoon train from the Ocmul- gee River; while the First Division, General Charles R. Woods commanding, was supporting the cavalry and guarding the roads leading out of Macon, where the ene- my was supposed to be concentrated in considerable force. All the troops on the line of the railroad were engaged at destroying the track to and beyond Gordon.
The Second Brigade, Brigadier-General Charles C. Walcutt commanding, with six regiments present as fol- lows-40th Illinois, 206 men; 46th Ohio, 218 men; 6th Towa, 177 men; 103rd Illinois, 219 men; 97th Indiana, 366 men; 100th Indiana, 327 men; total present, 1513; one section of Battery B, First Michigan Artillery, Cap- tain Arndt commanding, was in the advance and ready to support the cavalry, contending at the crossing of the big swamp. The 26th Illinois was guarding the divi- sion trains then struggling through the deep mud far in the rear. The Union cavalry was soon briskly engaged
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with the advancing forces of General Wheeler's Con- federate cavalry at the far side of the swamp, but soon broke and stampeded to the rear, passing the brigade in a demoralized condition.
General Walcutt at once deployed the brigade in line of battle and sent forward a line of skirmishers from the 97th Indiana and 103rd Illinois, to meet the advancing enemy. The sharp crackling reports of the Spring- fields and Spencer rifles were the announcement that the skirmishers had found the foe. The brigade moved forward, drove the enemy from the swamp and back on the Macon road for a distance of two miles, where the line was halted and the men commenced building rail barricades. The skirmish line continued to advance, supported by the 46th Ohio, driving the enemy out of and beyond the village of Griswoldville. The object of the demonstration being accomplished the skirmishers and supporting forces were withdrawn and joined the rest of the brigade in the edge of the timber skirting the east side of the Duncan farm. A fresh detail relieved the skirmishers, who had served since early morning, and were posted in the timber beyond the open fields in front of the brigade lines. The barricades being partially com- pleted at noon, the men hastily prepared hot coffee and ate their dinner of raw bacon, hardtack and coffee.
At one p. m., firing was renewed at the front, when the skirmishers came running back across the fields, hats off and shouting, "they are coming, they are coming". The bugles sounded the assembly and the regiments formed in their places along the line and the work of strengthening the barricades commenced in earnest. The brigade thus posted behind light barricades, with its flanks protected by swamps and an open field in
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front, the men anxiously awaited the appearance of the approaching forces of the enemy.
The position of the Sixth Iowa in the line was near the center and just to the right of the Macon wagon road, with the 103rd Illinois and 97th Indiana extending the line to the right nearly to the railroad, while the artillery was posted in the wagon road near the log cabins, which were mostly torn down and utilized in building the barri- cades. The 100th Indiana, 40th Illinois, and 46th Ohio, in that order, extended the line from the battery to the swamp, on the left.
The enemy's forces marched out of the timber into the open field with three lines of infantry, either one of which more than covered the brigade front. Their lines were pushed boldly forward, with colors flying and loud cheering by the men, presenting a battle array calculated to appall the stoutest hearts. Captain Arndt opened fire on them with his two guns and was replied to sharply by four guns of the enemy posted in the open field at a distance of 700 or 800 yards, with great accuracy of fire, the first shot striking and destroying one of the two caissons.
On and on came the advancing lines across the field until they reached a shallow ravine or swampy marsh filled with a dense growth of short bushes and brush, which ran parallel to and 75 to 100 yards in front of the brigade line. The musketry fire poured in by the bri- gade was so terribly effective that the advance line took advantage of the depression and halted under cover of the brush, not, however, until many of their number were stretched upon the field, killed or wounded. The second and third lines followed the first successively, some of the men reaching the ravine, while many remained out
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in the open field exposed to the murderous fire from the men behind the barricades. The battle raged for two hours with great fury, the most stubborn determination being exhibited by both sides, without material advan- tage to either. The enemy reformed their lines in the ravine from which position they made three assaults, but met each time with a bloody repulse. Their com- manding officers were seen to fall while leading and mak- ing gallant and determined efforts to urge their troops forward.
The enemy's well served artillery continued to do ser- ious damage along the entire line of the brigade and succeeded in killing most of the horses, disabling the guns, and wounding several of Captain Arndt's battery- men, compelling him to withdraw from the front and re- tire from the engagement. The ammunition wagons were ordered to the front, the teams being urged up to the firing line, where many of the mules were shot and crippled. There was issued to the men a fresh supply of cartridges, when the musketry fire was renewed with great vigor.
The incessant roar of artillery and musketry, accom- panied by the loud cheering and yelling of the men on both sides, combined to present a scene of intense battle and caused great carnage in human life. In the midst of the engagement Brigadier-General Charles C. Wal- cutt, while commanding, was severely wounded in the leg below the knee which caused him to retire from the field when Colonel Robert F. Catterson, 97th Indiana, assumed command of the brigade. The fighting had been at close range from one p. m. until sundown, when the enemy gave up the struggle and retired in the direction of Macon, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.
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The forces of the enemy engaged were mostly composed of Georgia Militia and Georgia State Line troops, who fought with dogged desperation to the last, but were al- most helpless after their appearance in the open field, where they were easy marks for the veterans of the Second Brigade, with their Springfield and Spencer rifles, and were slain by hundreds. The enemy's excel- lent artillery fire had caused the most of the casualties in the Sixth Iowa. A single shell that struck and ex- ploded in the rail and log barricade at the point where the regimental colors were waving, killed Color-Ser- geant [Bearer ?] Robert F. Stewart, blowing the top of his head off and saturating the colors with his blood, and severely wounded eight more men of the regiment. The effect of a twelve-pounder shell striking and exploding in the barricades was to cause the rails to fly in all direc- tions, inflicting many casualties.
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