USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 40
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 40
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On the 19th the enemy, holding on to Kenesaw mountain, con- tracted his flanks to cover more completely Marietta and the railroad ; and the right wing moved forward in another grand swing eastwardly, our own division, and perhaps others, executing a variety of perplex- ing maneuvers through the dense pines, and under conflicting orders. The 102d was refused on the extreme right of the corps, and company C held the skirmish line this and the following day. The men worked till midnight building breastworks. To work the whole night was a common occurrence. Rains continued frequent and excessive.
On the night of the 20th the men had scarcely fallen to sleep when they were roused up and ordered to move. This time it was but a short distance and only to straighten the line. Again were the soldiers building breastworks until midnight ; before they were finished orders came to cease using the axes and to be ready to march at six in the morning. The forenoon of the 21st was spent waiting in the rain for the order to move ; finally Gen. Hooker directed that the men be set to strengthening the works.
From eleven o'clock of the 22d the day was full of surprises and lively operations, and tremulous throughout with impending battle, which fell just at evening upon the first division (Williams'). At the former hour the brigade was formed for the support of the third brigade, Col. Wood, and we were under a chafing fire for several hours ; and in the meantime double-quicking across a plowed field to the timber, where we threw up a parapet of rails just behind Wood's men. The afternoon was passed in moving short intervals to the right and making barricades and traverses each time. The last one was finished at one o'clock next morning ; at four the command was relieved and soon moved a mile to the right ; at noon it moved still farther to the immediate vicinity of the Kulp house, some three miles due west from Marietta. Casualties in the 102 on the 20th and the 22d were one killed and four wounded.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
We lay here a little retired from the main line until nightfall of the 26th. At that time the brigade relieved the front line and held it till the evening of the 29th, when it withdrew to the third line for rest, and its place was taken by Wood's brigade. Gen. Butterfield was relieved this day and Gen. Ward succeeded to the command of the division. Col. Harrison assumed command of the brigade.
We have reached the end of the month during which copious rains have scarcely intermitted for twenty-four hours at a time.
At dark on the first of July we exchanged places with the second brigade, which was on the second line.
The rebel chieftain having detected Gen. Sherman in the first stage of a movement for the possession of Kenesaw mountain and Marietta, similar to the one which gave him Atlanta, fell back sud- denly during the night of the 2d of July within his defenses on the north bank of the Chattahoochee. The commanding general had so well calculated the effect of his strategy that he was expecting the retreat and had issued orders, which were received that night, for the troops to be ready to march at daylight. Starting out in the morning, Capt. Sedwiek in advance with companies E, F, G and B, as skirm- ishers, we took the road leading, to Marietta, and struck the enemy's rear-guard of cavalry a mile from the town. Capt. S. directed the movements of his command with his accustomed prudence, and kept up a running attack until he had driven them through the town, which he occupied an hour in advance of any other troops. From this time till the 6th we moved leisurly toward the Chattahoochee. We stopped that day within two miles of the river, and on the Sth began policing our camp under orders from brigade headquarters. At this place we got first sight of the church spires in Atlanta. By climbing trees we could see them plainly in the distance, and we strained our eyes for the largest view.
The last of the enemy's forces crossed in the night of the 9th, and thenceforward the contending pickets were on opposite banks of the river. In front of our division the murderous fire between them ceased by mutual agreement. The foes basked within a stone's throw of one another; occasionally they talked across, and always mani- fested the best of feeling. Swimming across from one to the other got to be a practice ; papers were exchanged, and traffic in coffee and tobacco was carried on. The "Yanks" had the coffee and the "rebs ". the "weed." Gen. Ward, distrustful of. this familiarity, forbade it in a special order. But the boys, tired of the constant strain, did not renew the firing.
On the evening of the 17th we crossed the river at Paice's ferry
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and camped three miles on the other side. Next day we went two and a half miles farther south, and at three on the morning of the 19th threw up breastworks. Having orders to occupy the range of hills south of Peach Tree creek, the brigade moved on the 20th, and a little after noon it filed along the northern base, the line of march for some distance being swept by the severe fire of the rebel skir- mishers. At length a halt was made, and the men threw themselves on the side of the hill under the scorching sun for a rest, and the cooks engaged in making coffee on the creek bottom.
This was our situation when, at half-past three, the order was given to fall in. In a few minutes word came from those at the top of the hill that the rebels were coming. At that instant a rider was seen coming down from the right, in rear of the line, at full speed, brandishing his sword. It was discovered to be Col. Harrison, and in a moment more was caught the command, "Forward !" It was a magnificent sight to those who saw the "Old Iron Brigade" go up the hill that day in a counter onset.
The engagement was fought mainly by the 20th corps. The forma- tion of the line on which the shock fell was in the following order beginning on the left: Newton's division, 4th corps ; Ward's, Geary's, and Williams' divisions, 20th corps; and one brigade of Johnson's division, 14th corps. The 20th corps met the enemy without protec- tion of any kind; the other commands fought behind light parapets. The former also had not established its line, and was caught without a premonition while in the act of change; the second (Geary's) division was but partly deployed, some of the regiments were closed en masse, drawing rations and cooking. The first (Harrison's) brigade was en- tirely on open ground, the right and left flanks resting against wooded eminences. It was on the right of the divison and was arranged with the 102d on the right, and the 79th Ohio and the 129th Illinois in suc- cession toward the left. The 105th Illinois and the 70th Indiana were in the rear, but when the left of the brigade was hotly engaged they advanced and took part in the hand-to-hand combat, On the right of the 102d was a battery which opened the battle in our front as soon as the enemy debouched from the woods, and before the main line reached the summit. When the column halted on the ridge there was a sudden and tumultuous roar as if it had been the crack of doom. The open vista was swarming with the enemy advancing steadily with- out skirmishers, in the Russian style, in deep masses, and in easy musket range. In front of the 102d was a clump of trees and a stream ; the latter bent north across our line, forming a ravine having long slop- ing sides. The brigade lay across this ravine with its flanks resting
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
above and overlooking the center. The stream turned the rebels off from the immediate front of the 102d, and this regiment was free to take an oblique and enfilading fire which was directed to the left upon the crowded columns pressing the brigade in that quarter. The 79th Ohio, on the left and the battery on the right, were obliged to concen- trate theirs on the same ground. The effect of this converging fire was appalling. The rebels went down by scores. Ragged gaps were torn through their ranks faster than the men could close up. They fire as they come bending down to catch the least of the storm and looking toward the torrent that comes from the Spencer rifles. Their flag bearers crowd to the front and press forward, waving their colors defiantly to encourage and animate men who move amidst rampant slaughter as if they had come to die. As flags go down they are picked up by new carriers who flaunt them and urge on with marvel- ous fortitude. The battery, the 102d and the 79th have wrapped the hill whereon they stand in lambent flame. With desperate energy the whole brigade is gathering the largest advantage on the first equal field. But what can check that surging, resistless assault? The col- umn has passed the line and the ordeal of our enfilading and plunging fire rolls on wildly to dash itself against the unsupported ranks of the 70th, the 105th, and the 129th. The shock would have overborne these regiments but for the terrible reduction of the enemy's numbers before the commingled encounter. At lengthi, forced to yield the field, the bleeding, decimated remnant returns in precipitate disorder only to run again the gauntlet of that withering fire which broke the rebels' strength but could not daunt their courage.
While the events we have described were taking place on the left, a threatening situation was developed on our right. Geary's division being unexpectedly assailed before it was well in position, the brigade connecting with Ward's division was forced back, and the rebels came upon our right flank, enfilading the line, momentarily capturing the battery at the head of the 102d, and firing one or two ineffectual shots down our ranks. They were evidently about to fall upon our rear when an aid dashed up to Capt. Wilson who was commanding the regi- ment (Lieut. Col. Mannon being sick but on the field), and told him that if he remained in that position his command would be captured in less than five minutes. But no heed was given to this, and in a few minutes more the brigade that had given way was rallied and recovered its ground. The battery at one time in the hands of the foe, was taken down the hill under whip and spur, but was brought back to remain.
The heavy work of this battle was done in an hour. Hood's and Hardee's corps were the assailing force. The carnage was frightful.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Taking into account the time and number engaged, and the number put hors de combat, it was the most sanguinary battle of the campaign .. The field on our left front was covered with the slain, and it would have been no trouble to walk over it without stepping upon the ground. Gen. Sherman reported 500 rebels dead. In the hospital of the third division were over 600 wounded rebels, and most of them bore more than a single wound. The enemy's loss was estimated by Gen. Hooker at 6,000; our own loss was 1,907. The favorable position of the 102d shielded it from heavy loss. Two were killed and nine wounded. But it had done unexampled execution ; 5,000 rounds of Spencer ammunition alone were estimated to have been used. The brigade captured three stands of colors. As soon as the fighting was over, Gen. Hooker sent word that the third division had saved the day, and thanked the first brigade for its gallant behavior.
After the battle, when prisoners were taken and asked how many were left in their army, their sad answer was : "Enough for another killing."
Hood having fallen back to Atlanta, on the 22d our lines were advanced and contracted around the devoted city, the first brigade occupying a place three-fourths of a mile east of the railroad. The 102d was warmly shelled until the evening of the 25th, and had two wounded. Advancing a hundred yards it was under fire twenty-four hours and one severely wounded. It then moved to the rear and right, taking a place in the second line, where it was shelled more vigorously than ever. During the progress of the battle on the 28th the division was ordered to the support of those engaged ; but this was countermanded and the troops marched back, the first brigade going into cainp east of the railroad. On the following morning the division marched to the extreme right of the army and formed a line perpendicular to the rear to protect the flank. On the 2d of August, being relieved, it marched back, and next day was assigned a position on the left of the 14th corps and just west of the railroad. The line was advanced a short distance on the 5th and the 13th. Col. Smith rejoined the regiment on the 10th.
On the 25th orders looking to the placing of the main body of the army south of Atlanta and directly upon Hood's communications were received, the defense of the Chattahoochee being assigned to the 20th corps. The signal for withdrawal, previously arranged, was for the field-bands to begin playing, as usual, about twilight, and close the evening performance with Yankee Doodle precisely at eight, when the columns were to move noiselessly out of the intrechments. The bugles sounded "retreat " at the customary hour of eight, and half
WILLIAM HANNA.
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an hour later "tattoo." How impressive and tremulous those long strains ! Our brigade moved a mile to the rear and lay there till half past two in the morning. The pickets remained at their posts till near daylight. We reached the river just as day broke forth.
In the afternoon of the 27th our brigade crossed to the north side of the river, and was separately disposed, the 102d being stationed behind a light parapet which the rebels once threw up on the heights. On the night of the 1st of September we lie in our bunks listening to the explosions in Atlanta. They tell their story. Next day the city is formally surrendered to Gen. Ward ; and "Atlanta is ours and fairly won."
The following from Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, the ablest com- mander in the confederacy, will be interesting to those who toiled and fought so valiantly against his consummate generalship; and none who were arrayed against his own men will doubt the justness of his tribute to their military virtues. Alluding to the Atlanta campaign, he is reported to have said : "There is nothing in the history of war that can equal many of the maneuvers of that important campaign. History does not record such marvelous ability to overcome obstacles and prepare the pathway for any army as were exhibited on many occasions by Gen. Sherman's engineers. It was just four days from the time they reached the Chattahoochee river and pointed out the standing timber to the vigorous axmen, before they had trains moving across the river over a substantial bridge several hundred feet long [and nearly a hundred feet high], but of unhewn timber. Again, in North Carolina, they marched nine miles a day and corduroyed every foot of the road, a feat never before approached in the history of army movements. Gen. Hampton came to me one day and said he had obstructed a cut in the North Carolina railroad in such a manner as to prevent Sherman's advance some week's ; but we were never able to discern that it any way interfered with his progress. I look upon the ability of the army under my command with its meager resources of everything to make successful warfare, to resist Sherman's march as well as it did, as an achievement worthy of their matchless valor and endurance. No soldiers ever suffered and endured more for their homes and country ; none ever fought harder or with greater bravery."
We have already exceeded the space allotted to this sketch, and while aware that it is only an outline of the history of the regiment, can barely skeletonize the remainder.
On the 16th of September the brigade marched to Atlanta and camped one mile south of the city. From here Col. Harrison obtained
24
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
leave of absence and Col. Smith succeeded to the command of the brigade. Lieut. Col. Mannon having a short time before resigned on account of disability, Capt. W. A. Wilson, being the ranking line officer, assumed command of the regiment until he resigned in Octo- ber. Capt. H. H. Clay, of company D, succeeded, and was finally commissioned and mustered as major.
On the 1st of October the brigade marched back to the Chatta- hoochee, where it lay cantoned until the 14th of November. The railroad north of the river was destroyed on the 12th, and the next day it was torn up on the south side. On the evening of the 13th and the morning of the 14th the brigade was pulled into the river. At . ten o'clock on the last day the command took up the march for Atlanta to plunge, on the morrow, into the unknown destinies. The soldiers felt that the destination was to be Savannah or Mobile ; but when our column pointed in the direction of Stone mountain about noon of the 15th, "Savannah " was the watchword ; though at this time the objective, owing to the contingencies of war, was not certainly fixed in the mind of the commanding general. There was a magical fascination in it, for all were sure that this expe- dition would be one of the renowned achievements of the war.
We marched almost continuously until after dark on the 16th, the brigade being on detail the first day and night as train-guard. The 102d was in advance of the division on the 17th, and moved at day- light. Impressment of stock and provisions began by regular foraging parties. We marched on the 18th through the quiet, pleasant country village of Social Circle, and the railroad hamlet called Rutledge, and went into camp after dark. On the 19th Madison, county seat of Morgan county, was passed; and on the 20th the command started before daylight, the 102d in the advance. We camped at half-past three o'clock two miles north of Eatonton. We marched through this place next morning. It had rained the two previous nights, and rained all this day;" the roads were very heavy; still, no hardship in that; the soldiers were living off the country! Every man is now a traveling commissariat, carrying flour, meal, yams, preserves, molasses, fowls, mutton, choice cuts of undressed pork, etc. The men dash into houses hunting for soda, flour, meal, and choicer edibles. It would be an error to suppose that all the troops ran helter-skelter; but then there were enough who went in this manner to get all the provisions that were needed.
The 22d was a bleak, chilly day. Starting at ten o'clock, our column, at four in the afternoon, marched into the sleepy town of Milledgeville. The whites had mostly left, and the capital was in the
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hands of the colored people. Sullen composure reigned. The army rested here the 23d. Officers, for a prank, collected in the hall of representatives, repealed the ordinance of secession, and solemnly declared the " sovereign " State of Georgia back in the union. Cross- ing the Oconee river on the morning of the 24th, we at once left the high, rolling country for the level, sandy, swampy region which stretches. hence to the coast. Camp was pitched at midnight. The division guarded the wagon-train on the 25th. Roads were execrable; teams stalled in the mire ; progress was very slow. A burned bridge cansed the train to park and the division to encamp only five miles forward from the bivouac of the night before. Skirmishing in front with Wheeler's cavalry. Some skirmishing on the 26th. The command halted early at night at Sandersville. The following of contrabands was becoming numerous. At sundown on the 27th the column was at Davisboro. Some light skirmishing was done, and a part of the corps was engaged in destroying the Georgia Central railroad. Soldiers in jubilant spirits. The march was resumed at eleven on the 28th, and the troops went into camp at night near the Ogeechee river. The 14th corps crossed that night on our road. Lying in camp on the 29th till two in the afternoon, the command crossed the river on a pontoon bridge; march- ing five miles it bivouacked at the county-town of Louisville. The first and second divisions were tearing up the railroad, and our division was with the wagon-train. The 30th was passed in camp. December 1 the column moved five or six miles. A party of foragers had a running fight with the rebel cavalry, and three of the 102d were taken prisoners. On the 2d the first brigade was in the rear, and the troops had a night march of several hours. Millen, one of the rebel starving- pens for union prisoners, was left to the right on the 3d. Tearing up of the Savannah & Augusta railroad gave employment to a number of brigades this day. The famous cypress swamps are reached. The 4th passed without incident, the column marching ten miles and halting after dark. The third division had the advance on the 5th, moved eight miles, and camped early in the afternoon. The rebels amused themselves felling trees across the road on the 6th. Full of the inspi- ration of our great leader, we marched 'round them. Found camp just as the bugle was blowing "retreat." On the 7th the column, with the 102d in advance, moved on Springfield, county seat of Effingham county, which was reached without other opposition than the barricad- ing of roads. The brigade halted in the town, where it lay over all the next day. The forward movement was resumed after dark the Sth, the brigade taking the rear. The comniand was under motion during the night and the next day until eight in the evening, and proceeded
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
eighteen miles. On the 10th the 102d was again the advance. A little after noon we came up against the defenses of Savannah, and bivouacked on the line of investment four and a half miles from the city. The line was corrected and permanently located on the 11th.
The two things to absorb thought and energy now were subsistence and a passage for attack over the swamp in front. Vast quantities of rice were stored on the river. Mills were put in operation, the negroes set to work, soldiers taking a hand with them. Company I was sent seven miles up the Savannah river to an island called Red Knoll, where several days were spent grinding corn and threshing rice. "Hard- tack " was issued on the 20th ; rice was almost the sole article of diet for ten days.
The experiment of bridging the swamp was engaged in day and night, with the water from two to four feet deep, full of every obstruc- tion that could accumulate in a forest, and all underlain with a black, sticky mud. Working in the water at this season, and under the rebel guns, which "went hunting " for the boys with exasperating diligence, was hardly comfortable employment. It is scarcely worth the while to say that this was a practical failure. Some members of the regiment waded the swamp in the daytime and made an inspection of the rebel breastworks.
On the morning of the 21st the 20th corps hoisted the stars and stripes over the city hall in Savannah; and the holidays were bright and happy at loyal firesides when tidings of this "Christmas gift" thrilled the great heart of the north.
A short rest at Savannah, and our eagles point northward.
The first foothold gained in South Carolina was obtained by cross- ing directly from the city. The 102d accomplished the initial move- ment on January 1, 1865. A halt was made at Cheves' plantation five miles north of the river, until the 4th, when the brigade moved forward a mile, establishing itself at the Hardee farm, known to some as Black Mingo. The road having been corduroyed out from the river, on the 17th the command moved from Hardeeville, twelve miles, and occupied a position on the Charleston & Savannah railroad. On the 29th this place in turn was left behind, and on the following day we arrived at Robertsville, twenty-five miles farther inland. At this place on the 2d of February, as a part of the great army, we severed our communication with the outside world.
From this date to our arrival at Goldsboro', March 24th, there is a hiatus in our own notes, and we depend exclusively on the reliable history of the 102d by our old comrade, sergeant major S. F. Fleharty, with what little aid our recollection can furnish.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
On the departure from Robertsville the first brigade had the advance, the 105th Ill. leading. On approaching Lawtonville in the afternoon, and when within a mile of the town, the enemy, holding a strip of timber, disputed our progress. The 70th, the 102d, and the 105th were formed in line of battle, while the 79th and the 129th were sent on a detour to the left, when the rebels were shortly routed. The 102d lost one man killed and two wounded. Moving from this place next day, we marched urgently until the morning of the 6th, when we crossed the Salkehatchie at Beaufort bridge, which was defended by a strong earthwork, from which the enemy had retired when routed by the 15th corps at Rivers' bridge below. The Charleston & Augusta railroad was the point of junction for the whole army, the two wings having set out from different bases, and our column was urged forward with spirit to make timely connection with the army of the Tennessee. The 7th was cold, rainy, cheerless; the troops corduroyed, crossed swamps, built bridges, and late in the evening struck the railroad at Graham. During the 8th, 9th, and 10th we were destroying the road, and our brigade worked at different points from Graham to Williston, fifteen miles apart, Blackville being intermediate, and the command entering all three of the places.
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