USA > Iowa > History of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry Volunteers : giving a complete record of the movements of the regiment from its organization until mustered out > Part 9
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
85
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
doubts with curtains, strengthened by riffe trenches, abbatis and chevaux-de-fris. General MePherson, who had advanced from Decatur, continued to follow, substantially, the railroad, the 15th corps General Logan; the 17th General Blair, on its left, and the 16th, General Dodge, on its right, but as the general advance of all the armies contracted the circle, the 16th corps was thrown out of line, by the 15th, connecting on the right with General Schofield. General McPherson, the night before, had gained a high hill to the south and the east of the railroad, where the 17th corps had, after a severe fight, driven the enemy, and it gave him a most com- manding position within easy view of the very heart of the city. He had thrown working parties to it, and was making preparation to occupy it in strength with batteries. The 16th corps, General Dodge, was ordered from right to left to occupy this position and make it a strong general left flank. General Dodge was moving by a diagonal path of wagon track, leading from the Decatur road in the direction of General Blair's left flank.
About 10 a. m. I was in person with General Schofield examining the appearance of the enemy's lines opposite the artillery, where we attracted enough of the enemy's fire of artillery and musketry, to satisfy me that the enemy was in Atlanta in force, and meant to fight, and had gone to a large dwelling house close by, known as the Howard house, where General McPherson joined them. He described the condition of things on his flank and the disposi- tion of his troops. I explained to him that if we met serious resistance in Atlanta, as present appearances indicated, instead of operating against it from the left, I would again extend to the right, and I did not want him to gain much distance to the left. He then described "the hill occupied by Leggett's division of General Blair's corps as essential to the occupation of any ground to the east and south of the Augusta railroad on account of its commanding nature. I therefore ratified his disposition of troops, and modified a previous order I had sent him in writing, to use General Dodge's corps, and I sanctioned its going, as already ordered by General McPherson, to his left to hold and fortify that position. The General remained with me until near noon, when some reports reaching us that in- dicated the movement of the enemy on that flank, he mounted and rode away with his staff.
Soon after General MePherson left me, I heard the sound of mus- ketry to our left rear. At first mere pattering shots, but soon they grew in volume, accompanied by artillery, and, about the same time, the sound of guns were heard in the direction of Decatur.
1
T
86
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
No doubt could longer be entertained of the enemy's plan of action which was to throw a superior force on our left flank, . while he hold us with his forts in front, the only question being as to the amount of force he could employ at that point. I hastily transmit- ted orders to all points on our center and right to press forward and give full employment to all the enemy in his lines, and for General Schofield to hold as large a force in reserve as possible, awaiting developments.
Not more than half an hour after General MePherson had left me, viz: about 12:30 p. m., of the 22nd, the Adjutant General Lieu- tenant Clark, road up and reported that General MePherson was either dead or a prisoner. That he had ridden from General Dodge's column, moving as heretofore described, and had sent nearly all his staff and orderlies on various errands, and himself had passed into a narrow path or road that led to the left, and to the rear of General Giles A. Smith's division, which was General Blair's extreme left; that a few minutes after he had entered the woods a sharp volley was heard in that direction, and his horse had come out riderless, having two wounds. The suddenness of this terrible calamity would have overwhelmed me with grief, but the living demanded my whole thoughts. 1 instantly dispatched the staff officer to General John A. Logan, commanding the 15th corps, to tell him what had happened; that he must assume com- mand of the Army of the Tennessee, and hold stubbornly the ground already chosen, more specially the hill gained by General Leggett the night before. Already the whole line was engaged in battle. Hardee's corps had sallied from Atlanta, and by a wide circuit to the east, had strnek General Blair's left flank, enveloped it, and his right had swung around until it had hit General Dodge in motion. General Blair's line was substantially along the old line of the rebel trench, but it was fashioned to a fight outwards. A space of wooded ground of near half a mile intervened between the head of General Dodge's column and General Blair's line, through which the enemy had poured, but the last order ever giv- en by General MePherson was to hurl a brigade (Colonel Wang- lein's) of the 15th corps, across from the railroad to occupy this gap. It came across on the double quick and checked the enemy. While Hardee attacked in flank. Steward's corps was to attack in front directly out from the main works, but fortunately their at- tacks were not simultaneous, The enemy swept across the hill which our men were then fortifying, and captured the pioneer company, its tools and almost the entire working party, and bore
0
87
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
down on our left until he encountered General Giles A. Smith's. division of the 17th corps, who was somewhat "in air" and forced to fight first from one side of the old rifle parapet and then from the other, gradually withdrawing regiment by regiment, so as to form a flank to General Leggett's division, which hell the apex of the hill, which was the only part that was deemed essential to our fu- ture plans. General Dodge had caught and held well in check the enemy's right, and punished him severely, capturing many prison- ers. General Giles A. Smith had gradually given back with the extreme extremity of his line, and formed a new line whose right connected with General Leggett's and his left refused, facing south- east.
On this ground and in this order the men fought desperate- ly for more than four hours checking and repulsing all the ene- my's attacks. The execution of the enemy's flanks at the angle, wasterrible, and great credit is due to both Generals Leggett and Smith, and their men for their stubborn fighting. The enemy made no father progress on that flank and by 4 p. m. had almost given up the attempt.
The battle of the 22nd cost us 3,722 killed, wounded and prison- ers. Among the dead was Major General McPherson, whose body was recovered and brought to me during the heat of battle, and I had it sent in charge of his personal staff, back to Marietta on its way to his northern home. He was a noble youth of striking personal appearance, of the highest professional capacity, and with a heart abounding in kindness that drew to him the affections of all men. His sudden death devolved the command of the Army of the Tennessee on the no less brave and gallant General Logan, who nobly sustained his reputation and that of his veteran army and avenged the death of his comrade and commander. The en- emy left on the field his dead and wounded and about 1000 well prisoners. His dead alone are computed by General Logan at 3,210 of which number 2,200 were from actual count, and of these he delivered to the enemy, under a flag of truce, sent in by him (the enemy) 800 bodies. I entertain no doubt that in the battle of July 22nd, the enemy sustained an, aggregate loss of fully 8, 000 men.
-
H
88
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
THE SECOND BATTLE OF ATLANTA.
The following account of the battle is taken from a book writ- ten by General John A. Logan, entitled, "The Volunteer Soldier of America:"
Rain poured down in torrents as the army took up its position upon that day, and it was late in the evening before the troops were. all deployed. Again the Army of the Tennessee, was by its right flank, "in air." The enemy was again discovered, late in the day, upon that flank, and as the Army of the Tennessee could not reach so as to secure a position not easily turned, General Sherman ordered General Jeff. C. Davis, with his division, to move at once to support the right flank.
The morning of the 28th found the Army of the Tennessee again confronting the enemy. Hardly had the 15th corps thrown up their earthworks with logs and rails covering the front, when Hood came at us again. By eleven o'clock the fighting became gon- eral along the entire line, and then there ocenrred another desper- ate battle in which my brave 15th corps was exclusively engaged for, though two or three brigades from the 17th corps had been ordered to its support, circumstances rendered it unnecessary for the latter to take any part in the general engagement. Six times did the enemy deploy from the woods in our front; six times, with words of encouragement and threats from their commanding of- ficer, did they march up to receive the deadly fire of the 15th corps, and as many times were they repulsed. Perhaps, in the history of the war there was never more persistant and desperate gallantry displayed upon the part of the rebels. Their defeat was complete, and the reports of the fight show that the gallant 15th corps was chiefly entitled to the credit of the victory of July 28th.
The following is Logan's official report of the battle:
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, BEFORE ATLANTA, GA., July 20, 1861.
COLONEL:
I have the honor to report that in pursuance of orders 1 moved my command into position on the right of the Lith army corps, which was the extreme right of the army in the field on the night and morning of the 27th and 28th inst., and during my ad- vance in line of battle, to a more desirable position we were met by the rebel infantry from Hood and Lee's corps, who made a
89
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
desperate and determined attack at half past eleven o'clock of the morning of the 28th.
My lines were only protected by logs and rails hastily thrown in front of them. The first onset was received and checked, and the battle commenced and lasted until about three o'clock in the afternoon. During that time, six successive attacks were made, which were six times gallantly repulsed, and each time with fear- ful loss to the enemy. Later in the evening my lines were several times assaulted vigorously, but each assault terminated with like result. The most of the fighting occurred on Generals Harrow and Smith's fronts, which formed the center and right of the line. The troops could not have displayed more courage nor greater de- termination not to yield. Had they shown less, they would have been driven from their position. Brigadier General Wood, Har- row and Smith's division commands are entitled to great credit for gallant conduct and skill in repelling the assaults. My thanks are due to Major Generals Blair and Dodge for sending me reinforce- ments at a time when they were much needed. My loss was 50 killed, 439 wounded and 83 missing -aggregate, 572.
The division of General Harrow captured five battle flags. There were about 1, 500 or 2000 muskets captured; 106 prisoners were tak- en, exclusive of 73 wounded who have been removed to hospitals and have been taken care of by our surgeons. 565 rebels, up to this time have been buried, and about 200 are supposed to be yet unburied. Large numbers were undoubtedly carried away dur- ing the night, as the enemy did not retire until nearly daylight. The enemy's loss conld not have been, in my judgment, less than six or seven thousand.
I am very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Major General Commanding Fifteenth Army Corps. To Lieutenant Colonel W. T. Clark, Assistant Adjutant General.
The endorsement upon the report is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, BEFORE ATLANTA, GA., July 29, 1861.
In forwarding the within report I wish to express my high grat ification with the conduct of the troops engaged. I never saw bet- ter conduct in battle.
The general commanding the 15th army corps, though ill and
90
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
much worn out, was indefatigable, and the success of the day is as much attributed to him as to any one man. His officers, and in fact, all the officers of his army that commanded my observation, cooperated promptly and heartily with me.
O. O. HOWARD, Major General.
General Logan issued the following congratulatory order to his corps :.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, EAST POINT, GA., September 11th, 1861. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS:
You have borne your part in the accomplishment of the ob- ject of this campaign, a part well and faithfully done. On the first day of May, 1864, from Huntsville, Alabama and vicinity, you commenced the march. The marches and labors performed by you during this campaign will hardly find a parallel in the his- tory of the war. The proud name heretofore acquired by the 15th corps for soldierly bearing and daring deeds remain untarnished -its luster undimmed. During the campaign you constituted the main portion of the flanking column of the whole army. Your first move against the enemy was around the right of the army at Resaca, where by your gallantry, the enemy was driven from the hills and his works on the main road from Villanow to Resaca. On the retreat of the enemy, you moved on the right flank of the army by a circuitous route to Adairsville, in the same manner from there to Kingston and Dallas, where, on the 28th day of May, you met the veteran corps of Hardee, and in a severe and bloody contest, you hurled him back, killing and wounding over two thousand, besides capturing a large number of prisoners. You then moved around to the left of the army, by way of Acworth to Ken- esaw mountain, where again you met the enemy, driving him from three lines of works, capturing over three hundred prisoners. Dur- ing your stay in front of Kenesaw mountain, on the 27th of June, you made one of the most daring, bold and heroic charges of the war, against the almost impregnable position of the enemy on Little Kenesaw. You were then moved by way of Marietta, to Nicka jack creek, on the right of the army; theuce back to the extreme left by way of Marietta and Roswell. to the Augusta Railroad. near Stone Mountain, a distant of fifty miles, and after effectually destroying the railroad at this point, you moved by way of Deca-
-
91
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
tur to the immediate front of the rebel stronghold, Atlanta. Here on the 22nd of July, you again performed your duty nobly "as patriots and soldiers," in one of the most severe and sanguinary conflicts of the campaign. 'With hardly time to recover your al- most exhausted energies, you were moved around again to the right of the army, only to encounter the same troops against whom you had so recently contended, and the battle of the 28th of July, at Ezra Chapel, will long be remembered by the officers and soldiers of this command. On that day it was that the 15th corps, al. most unaided and alone, for four hours contested the field against the corps of Hardee and Lee. You drove them discomfited from the field, causing them to leave their dead and many of their wounded in your hands. The many noble and gallant deeds per- formed by you on that day will be remembered among the proud- est acts of our nations history. After pressing the enemy closely for several days, you again moved to the right of the army, to the West Point Railroad, near Fairburn. After completely destroying the road for some distance, you marched to Jonesboro', driving the enemy before you, from Pond Creek, a distance of ten miles. At this point you again met the enemy, composed of Lee and Hardee's corps, on the 31st of August, and punished them severely, driving them in confusion from the field, with their dead and many wound- ed and prisoners left in your hands. Here again by your skill and true courage you kept sacred the reputation you have so long maintained, viz .: "The 15th corps never meets the enemy but to strike and defeat him." On the 1st of September, the 14th corps attacked Hardee; you at once opened fire on him, and by your co- operation his defeat became a rout. Hood, hearing the news, blew . up his ammunition trains, retreated, and Atlanta was ours.
You have marched, during the campaign, in your windings, the distance of four hundred miles. You have put "hors de combat" more of the enemy than your corps ninubers, have captured twelve stands of colors, 2, 450 prisoners, and 210 deserters.
The course of your march is marked by the graves of patriotic heroes who have fallen by your side; but at the same time it is more plainly marked by the blood of traitors who have defied the con- stitution and laws, and insulted and trampled under foot the glor- jous flag of our country.
We deeply sympathize with the friends of those of our comrades- in-arms who have fallen; our sorrows are only appeased by the knowledge that they fell as brave men, battling for the preserva- tion and perpetnation of one of the great governments of earth.
1
92
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY
"Peace be to their ashes." You now rest for a short time from your labors. During the respite prepare for future action. Let your country see at all times by your conduct, that you love the cause you have espoused; that youhave no sympathy with any who would, by word or deed assist" vile traitors in dismembering our mighty Republic, or trailing in the dust the emblem of our nation- al greatness and glory. You are the defenders of a goverment that has blessed you heretofore with peace, happiness and prosper- ity. Its perpetuity depends upon your heroism, faithfulness and devotion.
When the time shall come to go forward again, let us go with the determination to save our nation from threatened wreck and hopeless ruin, not forgettiing the appeal from widows and orphans that is born to us upon every breeze to avenge the loss of their loved ones who have fallen in defense of their country. Be pa- tient, obedient and earnest, and the day is not far distant when you can return to your homes with the proud consolation that you have assisted in causing the old banner to again wave from every mountain's top and over every town and hamlet of our once happy land, and hear the shouts of triumph ascend from a grateful peo- ple, proclaiming that once more we have one flag and one country. JOHN A. LOGAN, Major General Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, September 12th, 1861.
MAJOR GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
COMMANDING MHATARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI. GENERAL:
I send Lieutenant Colonel Horace Porter of my staff with this. Colonel Porter will explain to you the exact condition of af- fairs here better than I can do in the limits of a letter. Although 1 feel myself strong enough now for offensive operation, Iam hold- ing on quietly to get advantage of the troops and convalescents, who are coming forward very rapidly. My lines are necessarily very long, extending from Deep Bottom, north of the James, across the river to the peninsula formed by the Appomattox and the James, and south of the Appomattox to the Weldon road. This line is very strongly fortified, and can be held with com- paratively few men, but from its great length necessarily takes
93
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
many in the aggregate. I propose, when I do move, to extend my left so as to control what is known as the south side, or Lynchburg and Petersburg road; then, if possible, to keep the Danville road cut. At the same time this move is made, I want to send a force of from six to ten thousand men against Wilmington. The way 1 propose to do this is to land the men north of Port Fisher, and hold that point. At the same time a large naval fleet will be as- sembled there, and the iron clads will run the batteries as they did at Mobile. This will give us the same control of the harbor of Wilmington that we now have of the harbor of Mobile. What you are to do with the forces at your command, Ido not exact- ly see. The difficulties of supplying your armies, except . when they are constantly moving, beyond where we are, I plainly see. If it had not been for Price's movements, Canby could have sent twelve thousand men to Mobile. From your command on the Mississippi an equal munber could have been taken. With these forces my idea would have been to divide them, send- ing half to Mobile and the other half to Savannah.
You could have then moved as proposed in your telegram so'as to threaten Macon and Augusta equally. Which ever one should be abandoned by the enemy, you could take and open up a new base of supplies. My object now in sending a staff officer to you is not so much to suggest operations for you as to get your views, and to have plans matured by the time everything can be got ready. It would be the 5th of October, before any of the plans here indicated will be executed. If you have any promotions to recommend send the names forward and I will approve them.
In conclusion it is hardly necessary for me to say that I feel you have accomplished the most gigantic undertaking given to any general during this war, and with a skill and ability that will be acknowledged in history as unsurpassed, if not unequalled. It gives me as much pleasure to record this in your favor as it would in favor of any living man, myself included.
Truly yours, U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
The following is General Sherman's official report of the Chatta nooga and Knoxville campaign, during the fall of 1863:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE. BRIDGEPORT, ALABAMA, December 19, 1864.
BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN A. RAWLINS,
CHIEF OF STAFF TO GENERAL GRANT, CHATTANOOGAA:
9.1
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY
GENERAL:
For the first time Iam now at leisure to make an official record of events with which the troops under my command have been connected during the eventful campaign which has just closed.
During the month of September last, the fifteenth army corps which I had the honor to command, lay in camp along the Big Black, about twenty miles east of Vicksburg, Miss. It consisted of four divisions. The first, commanded by Brigadier General P. J. Osterhaus, was composed of two brigades, led by Brigadier General C. R. Wood, and Colonel J. A. Williamson, of the fourth lowa.
The Second, commanded by Brigadier General Morgan L. Smith, was composed of two brigades, led by Brigadier Generals Giles A. Smith and J. A. J. Lightburn.
The Third, commanded by Brigadier General J. M. Tuttle, was composed of three brigades, led by Brigadier-Generals J. A. Mower and R. P. Buckland, and Colonel J. J. Wood, of the 12th lowa.
The Fourth, commanded by Brigadier General Hugh Ewing, was composed of three brigades, led by Brigadier General J. M. Corse, Colonel Loomis, of the twenty-sixth Illinois, and Colonel J. R. Cockerill, of the seventieth Ohio.
On the 22nd day of September I received a telegraphie dispatch from General Grant, then at Vicksburg, commanding the depart ment of the Tennessee, requiring me to detatch one of my divi- sions to march to Vicksburg, there to embark for Memphis, where it was to form a part of an army to be sent to Chattanooga, to re- enforeo General Rosecrans. I designated the First Division, and at 4 p. m. the same day it marched for Vicksburg, and embarked the next day.
On the 23rd of September I was summoned to Vicksburg by the general commanding, who showed me several dispatches from the general-in-chief, which led him to suppose he would have to send me and my whole corps to Memphis and eastward, and I was in- structed to prepare for such orders. It was explained to me that, in consequence of the low stage of water in the Mississippi, boats had arrived irregularly, and had brought dispatches that seemed to conflict in their meaning, and that General John E. Smith's di vision (of General MePherson's corps) had been ordered up to Memphis, and that I should take that division and leave one of my own in its stead, to hold the line of the Big Black. I detailed my third division (General Tuttle) to remain and report to Major Gen- eral McPherson, commanding the 17th corps, at Vicksburg; and
1
١٠
95
HISTORY OF THE THIRTIETH IOWA INFANTRY.
that of General John E. Smith, already started for Memphis, was styled the third division, fifteenth corps, though it still belongs to the seventeenth army corps. This division is also composed of three brigades, commanded by General Matthias, Colonel JJ. B. Raum (of the Fifty-sixth Illinois), and Colonel J. I. Alexander (of the Fifty-ninth Indiana).
The second and fourth divisions were started for Vicksburg the moment I was notified that boats were in readiness, and on the 27th of September I embarked in person in the steamer Atlantic, for Memphis, followed by a fleet of boats conveying these two divisions. Our progress was slow, on account of the unprecedentedly low water in the Mississippi, and the scarcity of coal and wood. We were compelled at places to gather fence rails, and to land wagons and haul wood from the interior to the boats; but I reached Memphis during the night of the 2nd of October, and the other boats came in on the 3rd and 4th.
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.