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 32
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I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. W. BELKNAP, Col. 15th Iowa Inf'y, Vet. Vols., Commanding.
LIST OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED,
IN RE-ENFORCING LIGHTBURN'S BRIGADE, GENERAL M. L.
SMITH'S DIVISION, 15TH ARMY CORPS, JULY 28, 1864.
Killed: A Company: Corporals William Majors, Erastus H. Nordyke.
B Company : Private Thomas Lenehan.
Wounded: C Company : Privates, Lewis Crowder, left shoulder severely ; Rezin T. Spaits, left hand.
D Company : Private Thomas J. Palmer, in head.
E Company : Corporal George Harbaugh, head severely; Pri- vates, William H. Harryman, side; James H. Rose, knee.
F Company : Captain Job Throckmorton in face; Private George . Kearnes, hand.
G Company: Sergeant Charles W. Kitchell, right arm; Pri- vate Samuel L. Roberts, right arm severely.
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H Company : Private Stephen Forman, head severely .
I Company : 2d Lieutenant Henry Scheevers, in face; Privates, David Goldsmith, shoulder; James F. Nelson, -.
Captured : F Company : Private George Kearnes.
Recapitulation: Killed, 3; wounded, 14; captured, 1. Total casualties, 18.
THANKED BY BRIG. GEN. M. L. SMITH, COMMAND. ING DIVISION.
Headquarters 2d Division, 15th Army Corps, Near Atlanta, Ga., July 29, 1864.
BRIG. GEN. GILES A. SMITH, Commanding 4th Division, 17th Army Corps :
The General commanding thanks you for the assistance ren- dered him yesterday, by sending to his support the 15th Iowa and 32d Ohio Regiments under command of Colonel William W. Belknap.
The General also thanks Colonel Belknap and his brave men for the efficient manner in which they performed their duty .
By order of
BRIG. GEN. M. L. SMITH.
G. LAFLAND, A. A. General.
A RECOLLECTION OF THE BATTLE.
Twenty-one years ago to-day, July 28, 1864, the sanguinary battle of Ezra Church took place before Atlanta, Georgia. To- day the weather is oppressively hot, like it was on that day, and the 15th Iowa Veteran Infantry was the only regiment of our brigade engaged in that battle. We were ordered to re-inforce General Morgan L. Smith's 2d Division 15th Army Corps, and on arriving on the field, our regiment, Colonel Belknap commanding, was ordered from where it was stationed at the foot of a long ridge or hill, to the crest of the ridge to where the main line of our
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troops were stationed, and under a terrific fire from the enemy ad- vanced and relieved the 6th Missouri Infantry. Before we ad- vanced, I recollect of seeing at the foot of the hill, General Mor- gan L. Smith, Captain C. F. Conn of his staff, and General Giles A. Smith, brother of Morgan L., who commanded our division. The two Generals are both dead. Morgan L. was found dead in his bed at Jersey City, N. J., and Giles A. died of consumption in California. They were both gallant officers. Morgan L. could out-swear the army in Flanders. The 6th Missouri Infantry were in a hot place behind hastily improvised works built from old logs, dirt and rails, and had been engaged from the beginning of the battle. Their faces were literally begrimed with powder and covered with perspiration, and their muskets so hot from repeated firing they could scarcely handle them, (and before long we were in same condition ) . When we took their places they retired. General M. L. Smith to deceive the enemy and lead them to be- lieve he was receiving large re-enforcements, had every flag and banner put on the works, having part of our force countermach under the hill and then return as if they were new arrivals. The 15th Iowa, 35th New Jersey and 64th Illinois ( Yates' Sharp- shooters), armed with breech loading rifles, (sixteen shooters), were engaged in our part of the line. The firing was terrific. The Confederate forces were formed in column on the crest of a hill; behind them, on a more elevated spot, was a battery of artil- lery. At the foot of the hill in their front and parallel with their line of battle was a long string of rail fence between them and us. The distance between our two hill top positions being sepa- rated by a valley, or open field without timber, was about three- quarters of a mile. The Colonel of the sharpshooters picked out a squad of his best marksmen and directed them to pick off the artillerymen manning the Confederate battery, which they did so effectively that it was seon silenced. The Confederate forces formed in column on the hill made a grand display as they took
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up their line of march down the hill, marching as coolly and as deliberately as if they were going out on battalion or grand re- view, till they were full half way to the fence when from our fire they commenced falling, being killed or wounded, but they never wavered, but closed up and came steadily on towards our works.
A gallant and handsome general, a magnificent horseman, mounted on a large, fiery, dappled gray horse, which made him conspicuous, led them with drawn saber, who I learned from General Govan, of Arkansas, was General E. C. Walthall, of Grenada, Miss., a very distinguished lawyer, now United States Senator from that state. Three times he led that grand veteran column, as it were into the jaws of death, to charge upon our works and three times they were repulsed-it seemed as if half the army were firing at the General. I took seven shots at him myself as fast as a musket could be loaded for me. It is not strange that I did not hit him, but I have often wondered how he escaped, as I learn he and his horse also did, unhurt, with all those sharpshooters after his scalp.
I have seen many mounted officers under fire and in battle but never saw any man bear himself with more heroic daring in the face of death on every side than he did on that day. He won the admiration of his enemies. The officer killed nearest up to our works, within five rods of them, as he led the charge, was Captain T. I. Sharp, of the 10th Regiment Mississippi Infantry. He was a handsome, finely formed gentleman, with dark hair and eyes, his eyes wide open and glowing with excitement. His name was on his clothing and his initials on his sword which a soldier took from his hand, which still grasped the hilt, and gave to me, as I then had no sword, having had mine shot away from my side on the day of the battle of the 22d of July, before Atlanta, the day General Mc- Pherson was killed, and the same day General Govan's Brigade captured the 16th Iowa, of our brigade, and its gallant commander Add. H. Sanders.
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The battle of Ezra Church lasted while we were engaged, from noon until nearly night. Some stragglers who were cut off from the main body and could not rejoin their command after the last charge, wearing butternut uniforms, were brought in as prisoners by some of our men, who found them well supplied with tobacco, which just then was in great demand; so our fellows were liberal with them, traded them something else for their tobacco and they were good humored, contented and happy to take a rest. Next day I was out viewing the battle-field, and counted 300 dead Con- federate soldiers lying along the fence I spoke of at the foot of the hill, and this was a small portion of their casualties in killed, wounded and captured. Conspicuous, from his large size and fine proportions, was the body of Captain John R. Jones, of the 2d Tennessee, who was killed leading his regiment and fell at a place where there was a gap in the fence. He appeared to be six feet and three or four inches in height, must have weighed 250 pounds, had a handsome, intellectual face, very dark hair and eyes, and bronzed complexion. He led his regiment on foot; his rank was designated on the collar of his uniform, which was perfectly new and very white homespun flannel of the finest material. Our sol- diers cut all the buttons from his coat as mementoes of the battle. Keokuk, July 28, 1885. J. M. REID.
MOST REMARKABLE LOT ON RECORD.
IN A CARLOAD OF SOLDIERS NOT ONE IS HUNGRY, SO THEY DE- CLINE A FEAST WITH THANKS.
About 10 or 11 o'clock, Tuesday night, after the memorable Friday, July 22d, 1864, a train load of wounded men, some rebels, but most of them our men, on our way to Macon, stopped at a station, I think Griffin. Soon a lady appeared with a servant carrying a basket, at the door of our box car, and said, " Anything I can do for these men." Some asked for water, which was given
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them. " Anything to eat, she enquired." Thank you, we have all had a good supper was the reply.
She stood a moment apparently at a loss what to do, when one of Sherman's veterans near the door said, Madam, you are very kind to take so much pains to assist us prisoners.
Dropping her head an instant, she spoke in a tone at first very mild, but gradually increasing to the vehemence of a woman with a will, saying, " Our people tell me that I should not do so, but I have a brother that was a prisoner up north once, and he tells me that he was treated just as well as he could have been among his own friends, and I am trying to pay for it just as well as I can, they may say what they have a mind to."
LOGAN CRAWFORD.
July 30th, upon the recommendation of Major General Frank P. Blair, commanding 17th Army Corps, Colonel W. W. Bel- knap was appointed Brigadier General, and assigned to command the 3d Brigade. Colonel Hall, heretofore in command of the bri- gade, tendered his resignation and the same was accepted .
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 12.
Headquarters 15th Iowa Infantry Vet. Vols., Before Atlanta, Ga., July 31, 1864.
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The undersigned relinquishes the command of this regiment with regret, sharing with its members the pleasure of camp life and the toils of the Field from the first, I have now no memories of the past except those that are pleasant.
Your few errors I forgive, as I hope for my many short-comings to be by you forgiven. Proud of your history, I will always de- fend your fame, will ever reverence the memory of your gallant comrades who have fallen in action, and will always be a friend to the officers and men of the 15th Iowa.
WM. W. BELKNAP, Colonel 15th Iowa Vet. Vols.
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Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
Headquarters 17th Army Corps, Dept. of Tenn., Provost Marshal's Office, Before Atla., Ga., July 31, '64. 5 LIEUT. COL. A. J. ALEXANDER, Asst. Adjt. Gen. and Chief of Staff, 17th A. C .:
COLONEL :-- By the well merited promotion of Colonel Wm. W. Belknap, 15th Iowa Veteran Infantry, to the rank of Brigadier General of Volunteers, that regiment will be left without a field officer, as soon as the order of appointment shall have been issued, Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Hedrick, of same regiment, having been severely wounded in the engagement of the 22d inst.
While I fully and gratefully appreciate the honor of serving on the staff of the Major General commanding this army corps, I deem it my duty to make application for the purpose of being re- licved from my present duty as Provost Marshal of this corps, and being allowed to rejoin my regiment.
I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE POMUTZ, Major 15th Iowa Inf., Provost Marshal 17th A. C.
SPECIAL ORDERS, NO. 188.
Headquarters 17th Army Corps, Dept. of Tenn., Before Atlanta, Ga., July 31, 1864. VI. At his own request Major George Pomutz, 15th Iowa Infantry Volunteers, is relieved from duty as Provost Marshal of this Corps, and returned to duty with his regiment.
The Major General commanding regrets that the interests of the service require him to lose the valuable services of this officer on his staff, and he takes this occasion to testify to the zeal, activity and ability with which Major Pomutz has performed the laborious duties of his office.
By command of
MAJOR GENERAL F. P. BLAIR.
ROWLAND COX, A. A. Gen.
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GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 13.
Headquarters 15th Iowa Infantry Vet. Vols., Before Atlanta, Ga., August 1, 1864. 5
In consequence of the well merited appointment by the Presi- dent of the United States, of Colonel Wm. W. Belknap, com- manding this regiment, to the rank of Brigadier General, I have applied to be relieved from detached duty as Provost Marshal of the 17th Corps, and hereby assume command of this regiment. It is due to the officers and men of the regiment to say that I fully appreciate and am proud of the bright name the regiment has won in the several battles of this memorable campaign. That name must and will be maintained under all circumstances that may arise, until the enemies of this first and best government on earth will receive their final blow. I appeal to the undying patriotism and tried valor of the officers and men to continue in their brave work, and to stand to their colors as they have hertofore, as I will stand by it and them. All standing orders will remain in force.
GEORGE POMUTZ, Major Commanding 15th lowa Infantry.
The attacks of the enemy on the 28th of July closed the series of offensive operations of General Hood. He first fell upon the Army of the Cumberland along the banks of Peach Tree Creek, July 18th, when that army was the extreme right and nearest wing of Sherman's army south of the Chattahoochie river, and met with a bloody repulse. He next massed the bulk of his best forces against the extreme left of the Army of the Tennessee, 17th Corps, on the 22d of July, while it was going into position, at- tacking the same in front, flank and rear, and after the heaviest efforts displayed during the campaign, he had to order his "beaten braves" to withdraw from the field of carnage. Third and last, he fell with furious onset upon the 15th Corps, while it was form- ing in its new position near Ezra Church, July 28th, on the right of the 17th Corps, south, southwest of Atlanta, and was beaten
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back at all points, leaving his dead and wounded on the field. These attacks resulted for him in an aggregate loss of nearly one- third of his entire army without having gained a single advantage towards raising the siege of Atlanta. Henceforth he confined himself, almost without any exception, to defensive warfare, in which he had the advantage of a circle of interior lines, of a per- fect knowledge of the ground, and of the broken and hilly nature of the surrounding timbered country, culminating in the high plateau, on which, the besieged city was encircled with massive and well constructed first-class works, which were rendered more com- plete by a well devised and finely executed system of abatis, ditches and chevaux-de-frise.
The position of the 17th corps, on the right of the 16th, having been extended further to the right, the 4th division, under General Giles A. Smith, was assigned position on the right of Ezra Church, having the 15th corps on its immediate right and somewhat to the rear. The line of the division was advanced to the front of the church running in a southwesterly direction. The position of the 15th Iowa was in the reserve line of works, some 250 yards in rear of the first line; that of the 3d brigade, Brigadier-General Bel- knap commanding, being on the left of the 4th division, on the right of the 1st Minnesota battery .
August 2d General Wm. W. Belknap was presented by the officers of the 15th Iowa with a magnificent sword, saddle and equipments, all of which were brought by Lieutenant-Colonel Hed- rick on his return from Baltimore, and had arrived in camp some
* A letter from Atlanta says: "The old land-marks of the war are fast disappearing. The earth-works on the battle-field of July 22d are almost entirely destroyed, and what is known as Higley Hill, (Bald Hill ? ), has a large brick house directly over the earth-works. The city is building over that field, and lots, where the 13th and 15th Iowa charged the rebel works, are worth $500 per lot, 50x150 fect. The spot where General McPherson fell is marked by a large cannon, upright, resting on a large stone with a cannon ball on the muzzle, the whole surrounded with an iron fence made of musket barrels. The battle of Ezra Church was nearly four miles west of the city. About half of the field is now used as a city cemetery. Some of the earth-works are still standing, but the old Church is obliterated. Land is worth from $500 to $1,000 per acre. The old timber has been cut down, and a young growth of trees have sprung up, and makes it much harder to find the field."
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time before. After the presentation speech by Major Pomutz, and ยท a "well-worded" answer of acceptance, a general happy feeling prevailed, and our new brigade commander was serenaded by the splendid silver cornet band of Colonel Potts' 1st brigade (4th divi- sion) next on the right. The General's tents, however, being pitched in the immediate rear of, and close to the reserve line of breast-works on high ground, the lights in and around the tents could be plainly seen by the enemy, then only three-fourths of a mile beyond the Union advance position and the skirmish line in front. The sweet strains of music in the stillness of midnight, having "sufficiently enchanted" the General and his guests, at the same time awakened and moved the tender attentions of the enemy. Scarcely had the band executed its last piece, after playing half an hour, and while it was moving off, the sound of one of the enemy's guns was heard, and in another instant a traveling rebel messenger, in the form of an interesting ten-pound parrott shell, was located in the next traverse of the works, thirty or forty yards from the Gen- eral's tent to the right, where it exploded and wounded two men of the 3d Iowa, 1st brigade. Some one contended that the messen- ger's language conveyed a plain order from the rebel officer of the day to have the lights put out near the General's tent. Accord- ingly, at once, by unanimous consent, the lights were out, darkness followed, and quiet reigned for the remainder of the night.
The Army of the Ohio, (Schofield's 23d Corps), having arrived from the left of the Cumberland Army, on the night of the 2d, took position on the extreme right August 3d, connecting with the right of the 15th corps; thus the 17th corps became the centre of the Army of the Military Division. The musketry and artillery fire first commenced on the extreme right, was continued along the 15th corps, and broke out in front of the 17th, during which the skirmish line of the 4th division and of the whole corps was ad- vanced across an open field to the edge of the timber in front.
The 15th Iowa was ordered, in the evening of August 3d, to
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take a new position in front of the former first line, four hundred yards in advance, on the ridge of an elevated ground in an open field, facing an extended valley, some one hundred and fifty yards behind the skirmish line. The position was promptly taken, amidst a constant fire from the rebel skirmish line, fortified during the night. Next day, early in the morning, the new line was at- tacked by the enemy beyond the left of the regiment, (3d division ), but the line held and completed with breast-works for the infantry and solid fortifications for the artillery .
The 1st Minnesota battery was on the right of the 15th Iowa. By this advance the direction of the brigade line was changed from a southwestern to a due southern course.
From the 3d of August to the 23d the regiment was kept in the front line, changing its position to the front and advance five times up to Aug. 16th, when its last position was three hundred yards from the rebel skirmish line, six hundred yards from the first line of rebel breast-works, and three-fourths of a mile from the main heavy fortifications and detached forts of the enemy, running in a general southerly direction. In all of these positions heavy skir- mishing was constant day and night, several times mingled with a furious artillery fire from both sides, throwing solid shot, shell, grape and canister upon the opposite lines; the latter being espec- ially the case where any of our lines were advanced and during night were being fortified, the enemy trying to drive our men away before the new line could be so fortified as to resist any attack the next day. At all such demonstrations on any part of our division front, the line of battle was promptly formed, without any order being issued, each and every man springing to his post, however often during day or night the alarm of rapid volleys was given by the skirmishers.
*The 15th Iowa were the first to place heavy logs from and under head-logs to the ground in rear, so that when head-logs were knocked out of position by shot of shell, they would not drop into the ditch and mash us, but rolled down over the boys.
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The siege during this month was a constant drawn battle, as the lines were from day to day thrown forward, or the skirmishers ad- vanced principally at night, nearer, closer to the main works of the enemy. At the same time they were steadily extending towards the right, by forming in one line without any reserves in their rear, so as to enable the right wing, ( Schofield ), to approach and besiege the line of railroad south, southwest of Atlanta.
The last position of the 15th Iowa, and that of the 3d brigade, was exposed, besides on the front, to an annoying and destructive cross-fire from the right flank, owing to a curve in the line follow- ing the ridges of elevated ground. Men were killed or wounded + while sitting on the ground immediately in rear of the line of breast-works, and also a mile in the rear of their works.
Assistant Surgeon H. Fisk, of the 15th Iowa, was the only med- ical officer in the division who was known to come out to the front every morning and attend personally to the men of the command, who needed his professional assistance during the exhausting, ex- treme heat and constant severe exposures at this period of the siege. While he daily attended the Surgeon's call, [still alarm ], in front of the commanding officer's shebang, [tent fly on poles ], the rebel skirmishers' rifle balls were very often whizzing and zipping all around him, and in several instances balls passed between him and the patient whose hand he held while studying the pulse. On August 17th, while in the rear of three lines of fortifications ( which were occupied on August 1st) at what was thought to be a fitting place for his primary hospital, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon he was shot, the ball entering through his left shoulder, passing through the sixth rib, and lodging in the sacrum. Medical assistance was of no avail, and he died on the 19th. No better man nor one who attended his duties more conscientiously can be found in the list
+Lock, of E Company, while engaged in a friendly bout with a comrade, was shot in the head. Vincent, of H Company, when enjoying a quiet game of Hi, Low, Jack, was struck in the hip by a rifle ball, and Murphy, of C Company, who was frying Sowbosom, waited to brown it a little too long, when a piece of shell cut one foot nearly off, and many others were wounded.
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of the officers of the army. The Lieutenant commanding the 1st Minnesota Battery, (just on the right of the 15th Iowa), while sit- ting on the ground behind his works, asked for water, and had scarcely uttered his request when a musket ball from the right flank struck him in the left arm passing through his body and right arm killing him instantly, and wounded a soldier standing by.
No better evidence of the patriotism and real worth, as men and soldiers of the officers and men of the regiment and of the brigade need be adduced than the fact that they bore the hardships of this memorable siege readily, endured hunger, thirst and absence of rest or sleep often for several days in succession when circum- stances so required; that although, on account of their thinned ranks, their detail for the skirmish line came on every other day, when relieved they were ready to sacrifice their rest and go to work, digging, fortifying and chopping abatis, etc .; and all this cheerfully, in order to accomplish the great object of the cam- paign.
The 15th Iowa had only 263 fighting men, able for active duty, during August. Out of ten line officers present for duty one was acting as adjutant vice Adjutant King, who was dangerously sick. The detail for the skirmish line took daily from 100 to 140 men under three or more commissioned officers, most of the rest being almost constantly ordered out as working parties, digging trenches and approaches to the front, cutting abatis, and strengthening the works, etc. At the same time each of these men had his gun and accoutrements (with a full ration of " forty rounds " therein ) near at hand to " Fall in" at once to his assigned position, as often as the alarm of heavy firing was given by the skirmish line, usually but a short distance in front, which happened five to seven times each day, and as many and even more often at night; and in all cases with or without any alarm. The command was in line of battle just before daybreak and standing to arms till daylight, no officer or man excepted during the entire siege.
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