USA > Iowa > History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, from October, 1861, to August, 1865, when disbanded at the end of the war > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
IRVING A. BUCK, Late Asst. Adjt. General, Cleburne's Division.
FROM GENERAL D. C. GOVAN'S REPORT.
Fortifications of Atlanta, July 30, 1864.
Extracts from it are as follows:
CAPTAIN :-- I have the honor to submit the following report of the action of my command in the engagement of the 22d inst., near Atlanta.
After being bivouacked about an hour within the intrenchments of Atlanta on the night of the 21st inst., I received an order to move at 12:30 upon the M'Donough road, and marched. accord- ingly . My men had been much wearied by the operations of the 20th, the subsequent moving and entrenching upon the Augusta railroad, and the fight of the 21st, and the loss of another night's rest was a heavy tax upon their powers of endurance. After halting for about two hours after daylight, and supplying twenty addi- tional rounds of ammunition, my command again moved with the
353
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
division, passing Cobb's Mill, until we reached the road leading in the direction of the Augusta railroad. In accordance with the directions of the division and corps commanders I formed my line of battle nearly perpendicular with this road, with my left regi- ment upon the west side, and with two regiments of cavalry to pro- tect that flank. The road ran somewhat west of north, and I was instructed to preserve the same relative position to it, and informed that the whole corps would conform to my movements. I was further told that moving thus, I would take in flank the works of the enemy facing Atlanta. The advance was begun at 11:40 A. M., and was attended with great difficulties, as the way lay through a forest having a dense and almost impassable under- growth. Frequent halts were necessary in order to correct the alignment, and to allow the troops upon my right, time to come up. After moving about a mile information was received that a train of 500 wagons was parked in an unprotected place in front of me, and I was directed to move forward rapidly in order to capture these. I accordingly instructed Lieutenant Colonel Brasher, 2d Arkansas regiment, commanding my skirmishers, to press on, and drive in the enemy's pickets without firing a gun, which was gal- lantly done. My line had now reached Roder's House, where it was again reformed and whence it moved forward without again halting. I did not encounter the regiment upon picket as was expected, nor did I find any traces of a wagon train. About this time the enemy opened a section of Napoleon guns from the road, but without effect. We now soon came upon our skirmishers who had halted under fire from the enemy's works, and the engagement began at 1 o'clock P. M.
The entrenchments of the enemy facing Atlanta extended along the road upon which we advanced. Contrary to our expectation and information we encountered other works almost perpendicular to these, and designed to protect him from the very movement we were then making. These consisted of two lines of breastworks,
354
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
the first about 200 yards in length, the second in its rear and reach- ing further to our right, each having in front an almost impassable abatis formed by cutting down the thick undergrowth of small oaks. A line of battle occupied the ground in front of my right upon the extension of the line works. The two Napoleon guns before alluded to were upon the right of the first work, and swept the road and the woods upon either side. My left the 1st and 15th, the 2d and 24th, and half of the 5th and 13th Arkansas regiments came full upon these formidable entrenchments. The men charged to within 30 paces of them, and sustained for fifteen to twenty minutes the withering fire which was poured upon them, at the same time making their way through the abatis of the enemy. At length the enemy ceased firing, and called upon my men to stop also, saying they surrendered, while some of them aimed their guns and were only prevented from firing by their comrades who preferred to end the fighting. At this juncture a portion of the 2d and 24th Arkansas advanced to the works to receive the surren- der, when the Federals who filled the trenches, seeing the fewness of their numbers, took them prisoners. The enemy made a dash upon my centre, and, for a moment, checked the advance, when Colonel Murray, 5th Arkansas, collected his men, and gallantly charged them back. Meanwhile, the right, consisting of half the 5th and 13th, Sth and 19th, and the 6th and 7th Arkansas regi- ments, had advanced beyond the flank of the enemy's works, and had driven before it the line there opposed, and the 6th and 7th, and the Sth and 19th, capturing a battery of six Napoleon guns, which before that time had been vigorously used against us.
Perceiving that the right had passed on, and that the work was not yet done upon the left, where my small force was liable to be overpowered by the large number whom they thought to capture, I directed the right to change direction to the left in order to take them in flank and rear. This was promptly and opportunely done, and compelled the immediate surrender of all who did not
355
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
take flight in the confusion . This timely success rescued those of the 2d and 24th Arkansas who had been entrapped, and the officers of this command now received the swords of their late captors. In making the movement to the left a portion of the 6th and 7th Arkansas swept around and reached the open field, across which the brigade charged later in the evening. The 1st and 15th Ar- kansas took the two guns which were placed upon the road.
There fell many whose services were invaluable. First among these was Jno. E. Murray, Colonel of the 5th Arks. Regiment. than whom I think there was no more gallant and promising young officer. He had just attained his majority, and was brave and chivalrous, of a high order of intelligence, and of fine capa- city for command. Had he been spared, he would doubtless soon have attested his very superior military qualifications in a higher sphere of usefulness. His loss is irreparable, and has cast a gloom over the whole command, where he was universally be- loved. So to with Lieutenant Colonel Anderson Watkins, Sth Arks. Regiment, who was stricken down, sword in hand, very near the enemy's works. Also quite young, he was a true soldier, a gifted and valuable officer, possessed of great courage, and having a high sense of duty. In this attack were wounded Colonel Col- quitt, and Lieutenant Colonel Martin, 1st Arks, both severely; Colonel Warfield and Lieutenant Colonel Brasher, 2d Arks., Col. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron and Major Douglass, 6th Arks., Lieutenant Colonel Hutchinson, 19th Arks., and Captains White and Washington, 5th Arks., both dangerously; besides many other brave and valuable officers, whom I cannot name in so condensed a report.
When the men gained the works, they were much scattered and mingled, in consequence of having passed through the woods and abatis, and with the assistance of my officers, I at once set about reforming my line. The regiments, much reduced, were drawn up along the enemy's second work. At about 5 P. M. the Major
356
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
General Commanding directed me to move forward again. The order was given, and the men passed the works and moved on with alacrity, notwithstanding their thinned ranks and exhausted condi- tion. Passing through the woods for about 500 yards, the com_ mand reached an open field sloping upward and forward, on the west side of which extended the continuation of the works that had been carried. We were now in the rear of them as they fronted Atlanta, but the enemy had faced about and constructed a second and parallel line alongside the former, being thus protected both in flank and rear. He had also thrown up a work at an angle with this, with its left thrown back, which commanded the field above referred to and from which he kept up a heavy and con- stant flank fire upon my men. Undaunted, however, my command gallantly charged across the open field, at the same time changing direction to the left, on which flank the enemy was nearest, and carried the entrenchments at about the same time that a force from Cheatham's Division, upon the opposite side, took them upon my left. With this force were the skirmishers of this Division, which had just arrived from their late position upon the Augusta railroad, under command of Colonel Brucum, Sth Arks. Regiment of my Brigade, who was dangerously wounded in the charge. This position had been several times unsuccessfully attacked, if I am
not misinformed, and to carry it required the most determined , bravery and spirit.
"We now held the most advanced portion of the works that had been carried, with our right extended away towards the enemy and within 25 or 30 yards of him and having our front and rear flank exposed to an unintermitting fire. Operations ceased with the approach of night and my troops lay in this exposed position, under fire, until about 2 o'clock next morning, when, upon my represent. ing that it would be extremely. hazardous to remain there after daylight, I was directed to retire my command to the second work taken from the enemy. This I at once proceeded to extend and
357
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
accommodate to my defense, using for this purpose tools captured from the enemy. Brigadier General Lowrey was placed upon my right, while the Texas Brigade, having lost its commander, was reported to me and stationed in the enemy's first work, in my rear."
Next is the report of General M. P. Lowrey, who commanded the brigade with which the 45th Alabama was connected, and which attacked us when the 11th, 13th and 15th Iowa were on the reverse side of the works. His report is as follows:
Headquarters, Lowrey's Brigade, - Atlanta, Ga., July 29, 1864.
CAPTAIN I. A. BUCK, A. A. Gen'l:
Sir :- I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my command in the engagement of the 22d inst. My line was formed in the rear of Smith's Brigade, on the East Point and Decatur road, with the regiments arranged in the fol- lowing order from right to left: 1st, 33d, Ala., Lt. Col. R. F. Crittenden, and 2d, 32d Miss., Col. W. H. H. Tison; 3d, 16th Ala., Lt. Col. F. A. Ashford; 4th, 5th Miss., Lieut. Col. John B. Herring; 5th, 3d Miss. Battallion, Lieut. Col. J. D. Williams; 6th, 45th Ala. Regt., Col. H. D. Lampley; 7th, Sth Miss., Col. John C. Wilkinson. I was ordered to follow Smith's Brigade, 500 yards in the rear. The whole country through which we passed was one vast, densely set thicket; so much so that it was found very difficult either to follow Smith's Brigade, or keep the proper interval; as a line of battle could not be seen 50 yards. The advance line soon seemed to have had much difficulty in keep- ing the proper direction, soon moved by the right flank, then for- ward, then by the right flank again, then forward, then by the left flank. The difficulty of following the movements in such dense woods, can scarcely be imagined. And. to add to the difficulty, a part of General Manney's command which I had been informed was to remain 300 yards in my rear, soon passed through my line,
358
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
creating great confusion, which required a considerable amount of time to repair. That line then halted and I passed through it, and was reforming in front of it when I received an order from Major General Cleburne to move up rapidly. I then started forwards as rapidly as possible, but soon received an order from Lieutenant General Hardee to move rapidly to the support of General Govan, who was on the left of Smith. To do this I must again move by the left flank, which I began at once to do. But I soon received an order from Major General Cleburne, to move rapidly to the front and charge the works, that no time must be lost. I then halted, rectified the line, and gave notice to each regiment what they were expected to do, and moved forward without delay, being then about 500 yards of the breastworks. The right wing of my brigade had to cross a glade which was very miry; and then, before ad- vancing far, encountered Smith's Brigade which had been repulsed and was reforming. Then, unforseen obstacles threw them into confusion, and separated them entirely from the left, the. woods being so thick that I could not see 100 yards. of line at one time; the derangement was not discovered by me until it was too late to rectify it. To add to the difficulties my men had neither sleep nor rest for two days and nights under the rapid maneuvering above mentioned, and under the oppressive heat, many good men fell completely exhausted, and could go no farther. But notwithstand- ing the great disorder, the line, though scattered and thin, rushed forward with great impetuosity as though they bade defiance to Yankee breastworks. The 8th Mississippi lost their gallant Colonel, Adjutant and many other valuable officers and men near the works. The 45th Alabama rushed forward, the gallant Colonel Lampley leading the charge, who was wounded and cap- tured on the works; and Major George C. French was wounded in ten paces of the works and captured; three color bearers were shot down in rapid succession, one killed and the other two wounded. The 16th Alabama captured two Yankee flags which
359
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
were left by the retreating foe in front of their works. The 32d Mississippi rushed forward almost to the works, when one-third of the command fell at one volley; and two color-bearers were killed in quick succession. All the regiments acted well. Taking the brigade altogether, I never saw a greater display of gallantry. But they failed to take the works simply because the thing attempted was impossible for a thin line of exhausted men to accomplish. It was a direct attack by exhausted men, against double their number behind strong breastworks. The history of this war can show no instance of success under such circumstances. I lost in killed and wounded and captured about one-half the men that were in the charge-180 men with their officers being absent on picket detail, besides those who had fallen out in the fatiguing march. My loss, as will be seen from the accompanying report of causalties was (578) five hundred and seventy-eight killed, wounded and missing. Many of the captured were first wounded; but also some charged over the breastworks and were captured, while others went to the works and could not get away. The staff officers with me were Captains O. S. Palmer, J. Y. Cannack and Lieutenants A. J. Hall and W. J. Milner. All these officers acted with coolness and gal- lantry as they had done on every field.
Captain Cannack was wounded and captured, Captain Palmer and Lieutenant Hall each hada horse killed under him while near the enemy's works. I re- formed my command and brought it up to the support of Mercer's Brigade in a charge later in the evening, but they were not again engaged. I herewith submit a report of the casualties of my brigade on the 22d instant:
Killed.
Wounded
Captured.
Aggregate
Capt. J. Y. Cannack
. 1 .. 1
.. 2
3d Mississippi Battalion
2
. 33 . . 2
.. 37
5th Mississippi Regiment.
.11
44
.. 11
.. 66
8th Mississippi Regiment.
13
.. 71 . 3
.. 87-
32d Mississippi Regiment.
.18 .. 45 .23
86
16th Alabama Regiment.
5 .. 56 .. 30.
.91
33d Alabama Regiment ..
.. 38 .. 34
.79
45 Alabama Regiment.
.27 .. 72
.32
131
Lowrey's Brigade lost
.83 .360
.136
.579
Govan's Brigade lost
.861.322
.91
499
Smith's Texas Brigade lost.
.19
.107
.185 311
Cleburne's Division, Total
1.188 .789 .412 .1389
360
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
From these reports and letters you will observe that the brigade had the respect of its opponents, and their words confirm our own belief and knowledge of your heroic conduct and the severe fight- ing of that day .
General A. Hickenlooper, our last brigade commander, writes: " Swiftly changing your position to the extreme left, you were once more upon the enemy's flank; and by moving cautiously, fighting continuously and gallantly assisting in carrying " Bald Hill" with a loss of two hundred and twenty-six in killed and wounded (in the brigade ); on the morning of that ever memorable 22d of July, you looked down upon the streets of Atlanta and believed that at last the prize had been won; when suddenly, far to the rear were heard the dropping shots of the advancing foe, followed by the crash of well delivered volleys and the deep bellowing of the batteries, which indicated serious battle. While Cheatham's Corps moved to the assault from the smoke-veiled front of Atlanta, Hardee's-the flower of the Confederate army -again and again assaulted your position on flank and rear. From noon until night cast its dark mantle over this scene of carnage, the contest waged with relentless fury. Fighting first upon one side, and then upon the other of your hastily prepared entrenchments, with swords fre- quently crossed, bayonets locked and muskets clubbed, you clung with desperation to the lines you were ordered to hold, until the battle was won.
While the ground in front of your lines was literally strewn with rebel dead, fully one-half your brigade was either killed, wounded or captured, and your idolized McPherson lay a mangled corpse . With a form the very embodiment of physical vigor, the courage of a lion, and modesty of a maiden: possessing the love and devotion of his staff, the affection and confidence of an army, and the respect and admiration of a nation; fate decreed that solely to a private soldier of this Brigade should be entrusted the sad and sacred duty of ministering to the last wants of the dying hero;
JAMES B. ME PHERSON MAJOR GEN'L.COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
361
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
there, with but this companionship, while the sounds of battle still lingered in his ears, and the soft southern winds were singing a mournful requiem through the Georgia pines, the soul of our gal- lant leader passed to the other shore.
Never before were the banners of a victorious army so heavily shrouded in black, or feelings more depressed by the beat of muf- fled drums."
As conflicting statements have been made as to the command, first attack and the locality where the battle of July 22d, 1864, began, the following letter from Captain Irving A. Buck, Adjutant General for General Pat. Cleburne, of Hardee's Corps, settles the ques- tion :
Baltimore, Dec. 14, 1886.
GEN. W. W. BELKNAP, Washington, D. C .:
Dear General :-- In reply to yours of the 9th inst., would say, speaking entirely from memory, that the attack on the 22d of July, 1864, near Atlanta, commenced between 11 and 12 o'clock, prob- ably nearer the latter than the former. The first on our side to get into it was Govan's Brigade of Cleburne's Division, striking a short earth-work across the rear, ( McDonough) which was occu- pied by the 16th Iowa. The fight was rapidly taken up by Cle- burne's other brigade, to the right, (Govan being the left) until it embraced all his troops.
I have always understood that the troops in our front were the Iowa brigade of Giles A. Smith's Division. The 16th Iowa was in part captured by Govan. This should settle beyond dispute, as to which they were. Respectfully yours,
IRVING A. BUCK.
CADET JAMES B. McPHERSON.
The list of candidates, in the year 1849, for admission to the United States Military Academy, bears the name of James B. Mc- Pherson, of Green Creek, Sandusky County, Ohio, Sixth Congres-
27
362
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
sional District. He was nominated by the Hon. R. Dickenson, M. C., and admitted, as a cadet, July 1, 1849, at the age of twenty years and seven months.
The class of candidates numbered 89. At the examinations for admission and in January and June, 1850, it was reduced to 62 members. Forty-four (44) members, of whom *27 are now liv- ing, were graduated in 1853. The first class, proper, of 1853 graduated 52.
The first and usual alphabetical arrangement of the class for studies, fixed his class standing No. 54: but he advanced rapidly, so that after the first annual examination in 1850, he stood second. In 1851, 1852 and 1853 he stood first.
In the Corps of Cadets he was promoted as follows, from Cadet Private:
June 17, 1850, to Cadet Corporal.
June 17, 1851, to Cadet Sergeant, and
June 16, 1852, to Cadet Captain.
In addition, August 24, 1852, he was appointed Sergeant in the Department of Cavalry.
For the academical year of 1852 and 1853 he was elected Presi- dent of the Dialectic Society. In that sphere he gave high evi- dence of his fitness for the position of presiding officer, or one in authority over a civil body. As a member of the society he is re- called, through his efforts before it, as eminent in the rules and modes of reasoning, and the appreciation of logical principles.
During the four years of his cadet life he stands charged with only nineteen delinquencies. Among them are three for being in bed between 6 and 7 A. M., and one for "asleep on bed 31/4 P, M .; " thus indicating that his military instincts and studious habits did not always intervene to prevent him from seeking the forbidden sleep, which was, as the Commandant of Cadets was wont to say, "all very well if 'twas only permitted."
*26 at this date .- August 27, '87.
363
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
Once his shoes were found "out of place at inspection"; twice his tent walls were "not raised at drill"; once he failed to put the hand-spike in proper place at drill" and once he was detected with "no coat on at 9 and 91/2 P. M."
The great military mistake of his cadet life was in permitting a section of his class to ride, in an omnibus, to practical engineering drill. For this, August 26, 1852, he was reported for "gross ne- glect of duty as squad marcher, not marching his section properly." The neglect lost him his captaincy, and caused reduction to the grade of lieutenant and quartermaster, as promulgated in the fol- lowing order:
SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 150. EXTRACT. Headquarters, Military Academy, West Point, New York, September 27, 1852. 5
The appointment of Commissioned Officers and Corporals exist- ing in the Battalion of Cadets are made null and void from and after reveille to-morrow, at which time the following appointments will take effect:
*
McPherson to be Lieutenant and Quartermaster.
*
By Order of Colonel Lee .*
* [Signed ]
J. M. JONES.
1st Lt. 7th Infy. Act'g Adjt.
The offense, it will be observed, is not recited in the order, and it may be inferred that the Superintendent of the Academy felt that the punishment was, without the recital, sufficiently severe.
That the authorities of the Academy hesitated, as to the reduction, would seem from their permitting a month to intervene between the offense and the promulgation and the punishment.
*Brevet Colonel R. E. Lee, U. S. Engineers, subsequently General of the Confederate Army.
364
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
His classmates will recall the merriment once caused while under recitation in philosophy, when General W. B. Franklin- then Lieutenant Franklin, of the Engineers,-asked him: "What is a felly"? McPherson, in response, as was expected, found the true elements of the subject intended to be illustrated; but he went far around to find the rim of the wheel. No one more than him- self enjoyed the circumlocutional effect.
He stood prominent in intellectual energy, unaffected simplicity, honesty of principles and purposes, intuitive penetration; and withal, his large heart was ever open to all the refined and noble sensibilities. Never was he flushed with anger, -- instead, the crowning virtue of moderation, coupled with patience, was ever the director. The high injunction: "Establish thy reign in truth, in sweetness, and in justice," was ever before his eyes. His merit was measured by greatness of soul .
The present Superintendent of the Academy-Major General Schofield,-his classmate, in a letter to the undersigned, has said of him: "It is not easy to specify notable incidents in the cadet life of such a man as McPherson. His career was one uniform exem- plification of his remarkable character. An equably developed and thoroughly balanced mind, regular, industrious, and studious habits; scrupulous neatness and good order in person and surround- ings; comparatively mature years, and great manly development made him a model of excellence in all that gives high academic and military standing at the Academy.
Great as were these mental and physical qualities, they were even excelled by the noble generosity of his nature. I recollect well when Sill,* by a mere accident, lost his record as first in one subject, leaving McPherson head in, that, as in most all others, the latter expressed his regret with the most evident sincerity: said it was not right but that Sill deserved to be first in that branch of study. So, in general, McPherson never failed to concede to his
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.