USA > Illinois > History of the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion, 1862-1865 > Part 17
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Longstreet had moved out of East Tennessee, leaving only a corps of observation in the upper Holston Valley, and joined Lee in Virginia. Union troops occupied Bull's Gap, and had destroyed several miles of railroad beyond the pass, and East Tennessee was now comparatively free from danger of Con- federate invasion or raids.
The 9th Corps had been transferred from the Army of the Ohio to the Army of the Potomac, and was again in command of Maj. Gen. Burnside ; and the Army of the Ohio now com- prised only the 23d Corps, in command of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield. The corps consisted of three divisions of infantry -the 1st in command of Brig. Gen. A. P Hovey, the 2nd in command of Brig. Gen. Milo S. Hascall, and the 3d in com- mand of Brig. Gen. Cox-numbering about twelve thousand infantry, and about seventeen hundred cavahy, seven hundred artillery. aud twenty-eight guns. Two other divisions of the corps were left to garrison Kentucky and East Tennessee.
In June Gen. Hovey was relieved of his command, at his _own request, and the 1st Division was broken up and consoli- dated with the 2nd and 3d, and these were the only divisions of the corps in the field after that time. Gen. Schofield moy- ed out of East Tennessee with his three divisions and occupied Red Clay, on the state-line north of Dalton, on the 4th of May.
On the 6th the Army of the Cumberland occupied the center of the Union line near Ringgold, and the Army of the Tennes-
199
STRENGTH OF THE ARMIES.
see the right flank at Gordon's Mills, on Chickamauga Creek ; and generally, during the campaign, the Army of the Cumber- land, on account of its greater strength, occupied the center, and the two smaller armies the right and left of the line.
The aggregate strength of Sherman's army, as it confront- ed the Confederate army intrenched around Dalton, approxi- mated one hundred thousand men, with two hundred and fif- ty-four guns.
The Confederate army numbered about sixty thousand men, divided into two corps of infantry, under Hardee and Hood, and one corps of four thousand cavalry, under Wheeler, all in command of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. On the 11th of May Polk joined Johnston with a corps of infantry and artillery, which increased his aggregate strength to about seventy-five thousand men.
When it is considered, however, that in this campaign the enemy always had the choice of position, and was usually pro- tected by strong intrenchments ; that one man in defense is equal to three in attack, and one rifle in the trench worth five in front of it ; that, as Sherman's army advanced, it was con- stantly weakened, to garrison important posts and guard its lines of communication, while, as the enemy fell back, his gar- risons and guards were taken up and added to his effective strength ; and that slave labor was utilized in digging trench- es, building earth-works, and performing the drudgery of the rebel army ; when all these facts are considered, the disparity in the strength of the two armies was not as great as it seemed.
Sherman's grand army was stripped for work. All surplus baggage and unnecessary clothing were sent to the rear. Transportation was reduced to one wagon and one ambulance to each regiment, and one pack mule to each company. Tents were almost an unknown luxury. During the succeeding campaign Gen. Sherman himself frequently slept beside a log, with no bed but mother earth and no covering but the south- ern sky.
The following incident will illustrate his manner of work and sleeping : One hot day during the following summer the au- thor had put up a tent-fly as a protection against the broiling sun, and was busily engaged in making up regimental reports.
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Gen. Sherman and staff rode along the lines to the right, and on their return, an hour later, Sherman rode up to the fly and remarked to the occupant, "That's a mighty cool place -what are you doing?" "Making out regimental reports," was the reply "What regiment ?" "112th Illinois." "Haven't you room for one more in there?" "O, yes; come in." Giving the bridle to an orderly he dismounted and came in, his staff going on without him. He said he had not slept more than an hour at a time for three nights, and was "tired to death," an l it looked so cool and inviting in there he wanted to "lie down and take a nap." Some blankets were spread upon the grass and he was soon sound asleep. When he awoke he thanked the occupant of the fly as kindly and politely as if he had been a Major General instead of a lieutenant, and rode away refreshed for another night s work.
His example was contagious-every officer and soldier in the army would do anything, endure anything required of them, cheerfully and heartily, because he set them an exam- ple of hard work, endurance, exposure, and earnestness in conducting the campaign. He never flinched, and it taught them never to flinch.
Immediately upon the arrival of the 112th Illinois at Knox ville the regiment was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 31 Division, 23d Army Corps, consisting of the 100th and 104th Ohio, 11th and 16th Kentucky, 8th Tennessee and 112th Illinois regiments, commanded by Col. James W Reilly of the 104th Ohio. On the 8th of May, as soon as transportation could be obtained, the 112th took ears at Knoxville and moved by rail to Cleveland, and thence marched, in charge of a large ambulance train and an ordinance train of fifty wagons, to Tunnel Hill, where it arrived on the 10th, and at 5 :30 on the morning of the 11th joined the brigade in front of Dalton, and at once went into position on the extreme left of the army, and threw up heavy works. The regiment was now part of Sherman's grand Union army, and it is difficult to separate the history of any single regiment of the army from the history of the whole army, or of the campaign.
Gen. Sherman was now about to enter upon the ever-mem- orable Georgia campaign. Its first objective point was John-
201
THE GEORGIA CAMPAIGN.
ston's army of seventy-five thousand veteran troops ; its sec- ond, the City of Atlanta-the center of a great railway system, the site of extensive manufactures, the great distributing point for arms and munitions of war, provisions, clothing and other supplies, to the Confederate armies.
The Southern armies had been concentrated into two great armies, for a final and determined effort to uphold the rotten and wicked oligarchy of the South, and to defend it against the attacks of the Union armies-one in the East, in com- mand of Lee, one in the West, in command of Johnston. But Grant was now in supreme command, and while he personally directed the campaign against Lee, he at the same time planned the campaigns and directed the general movements of all the other Union armies-leaving the details to be carried out by his lieutenants. In the West Sherman was in supreme com- mand, subject only to the orders of his superior ; but so great was Grant's confidence in his judgment and ability that he seldom interfered with his plans. How well Sherman per- formed his part-his campaign against Atlanta, his triumph- al march to the sea, his progress through the Carolinas, his earnest devotion to the cause of his country, his implicit faitlı in and loyalty to Grant-all these achievements are written in history, and place his name high up on the pinnacle of fame and heroism, next to that of his faithful friend and su- perior officer-the Great Commander.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
FROM DALTON TO DALLAS AND NEW HOPE CHURCH-THE BATTLE OF RESACA-ACROSS THE OOSTANAULA AND THE ETOWAH. THE FIRST MONTH'S WORK.
Gen. MePherson, with the Army of the Tennessee, had mov ed down through Snake Creek Gap, and confronted the rebel force at Resaca ; and at three o clock on the morning of the 12th of May, the 23d Corps and 14th Corps were in motion, marching to the right, towards the same point. The country was rough and broken, and the command made but slow pro- gress. Bivouacked at night in the woods, having marched but fourteen miles. Reveille at one o'clock on the 13thi and mor- ed at two o'clock. Marched sixteen miles down through Snake Creek Gap, and joined McPherson in front of Resaca at noon.
This was Sherman s first great flank movement of the cam- paign, and it compelled Johnston to evacuate his works at Dal- ton and concentrate his army within their intrenchments at Resaca.
Gen. Hovey's division (1st of the 23d Corps) was left to guard the trains parked in Snake Creek Gap, and the 2d and 3d di- visions (Hascall's and Cox's) of the 23d Corps, marched across ravines, fording streams and climbing high hills, and formed in line of battle on the left, -Gen. Cox's division on the extreme left ; and that night the men slept on their arms.
203
KILLED AND WOUNDED AT RESACA.
It will not be expected that a work of this kind will give the details of the Battle of Resaca, or attempt to describe the movements of the several armies and corps. This information may be obtained elsewhere, and the author takes it for grant- ed that the reader is already familiar with the facts, or, if he is not, that he will read some other work detailing them, in connection with this.
At 6 o'clock on the morning of the 14th the Union lines were advanced. Cox's division moved forward about a mile by the flank, and then filed to the right, in two lines, Reilly's brig- ade in advance, and moved forward over rough and broken ground, through dense woods and thick underbrush, and reach- ed the enemy's skirmish line about noon. Here the command came to a front, and deployed skirmishers. The division again moved forward, in line of battle, driving the enemy's skirmishers. The order was given to change direction to the right, and in doing so the lines got badly mixed-the 112th Il- linois being crowded first to the right and then to the left, and finally wedged in between two lines,-but the advance contin- ued. The order was then given to charge, and the column moved forward on a double-quick, nearly a mile, driving the enemy's skirmishers pell mell, and after a fierce struggle car- ried and hield the enemy's first line of intrenchments.
The enemy fell back to a strongly fortified position, and the division was pushed forward to within two hundred yards of this line, but was unable to carry it. The 112th advanced to a hill fifty yards in front of their second line, when the enemy opened a severe fire with grape and canister and musketry. Our sharpshooters, however, picked off the gunners and near- ly silenced their batteries. The division lay there, giving and receiving hard blows, until about 4 o'clock, when its ammuni- tion was exhausted, and as the wagons could not cross the creek it was relieved, a brigade at a time and retired to the rear.
The casualties of the 112th Illinois in this engagement were as follows :
Killed-Co. A, Corporal John B. Heaps and Joseph S. Bare- more.
Co. D-Watson L. Andrews, William H. Collier and William W. Cowden.
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Co. C-John F Barney and William Follett.
Co. H -- First Serg. Abel M. Randall. Total, eight
Wounded :- Col. Thomas J Henderson, severely; Adjutant B. F Thompson, slightly.
Co. A-Patrick Cummings, slightly, and Philip J. Wintz, severely.
Co. F-Capt. William W Wright. mortally, (died June 24) ; Serg. John F Rhodes, severely : Corporal Levi Silliman : Wil- liam H. Barton, severely : William T. Essex, mortally, (died Sept. 18) ; Henry C. Hall, mortally, (died May 24), and George G. Stone.
Co. D-Capt. A. A. Dunn, slightly : George M. Dunkle, John Flansburg, Lewis W Jacobs ; Lemmel F Mathews, severely, and Joseph Weaver, severely
Co. I-Serg. Hugh Pound ; Frederick Baker, severely, and John G. White, severely.
Co. C-Corporal Joel C. Smith, mortally, (died June 24) ; Corporal Hanford Q. Edwards, severely; Thomas Duncan; George Maconnell, slightly, and Hiram F Williamson.
Co. H-Corporal A. T. W Chalmers, Jolm M. Ericson ; George H. McKee, mortally, (died June 10) ; David V Plants, (promoted on the field for bravery), and August T. Sniggs.
Co. E-Corporal Cyrus C. Snare ; Corporal Sydney D. But- ler, slightly ; Jerry H. Bailey ; and Thaddeus S. Thurston, se- verely
Co. G-Corporal William Watterson and Jolm Crowe.
Co. B-James A. Goodrich and John C. Leighton, both in- jured by the concussion of an exploding shell.
Total, thirty-eight, of whom one captain, one corporal and three privates were mortally wounded. Total loss of the regi- ment in killed and wounded, forty-six.
The lines had been extended to the left during the action, and the 23d Corps, which had gone into the engagement on the extreme left, at the close of the battle was in the center.
There was sharp skirmishing along the whole line during the morning of the 15th, and the lines were further extended to the left. The 23d Corps was withdrawn from the center and again moved to the extreme left. There was heavy fighting in the afternoon by Hooker's corps and several divisions of
205
THE FLANKING MOVEMENTS.
other corps, but the 112th Illinois was not engaged. Sherman was moving his forces to the left, contracting and strengthen- ing his lines, so as to withdraw part of his forces for a flank- ing movement south of the Oostanaula River. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the 3d Division of the 23d Corps advanced its lines and occupied a strong position, preparatory to a closer investment on the following day.
But Johnston was not to be caught by Sherman's flank movement, and during the night of the 15th withdrew his ar- my across the Oostanaula, burned the railroad bridge, and re- treated south.
Gen. Cox's division was ready for action at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 16th, but the enemy had escaped, and the troops were at once put in motion in pursuit.
The 23d Corps moved to the left and forded the Connasauga River at Fite's Ferry, the artillery and wagons being ferried over in a small flat-boat. The river was quite wide and the water about waist deep. Gen. Cox's division was in the ad- vance. The column halted on the bank of the river, came to a front face, stacked arms, and the men stripped to the skin, carrying their clothes on their heads or shoulders to keep them out of the water. Just as the column was prepared to enter the water Gen. Cox and his staff rode along the line, and the boys greeted him with cheer after cheer, and made great sport of their ludicrous appearance. But when the opposite bank of the river was reached the fun increased. The bank was steep and of a clay soil. Every man carried out a little water on his person, which dripped to the ground, and the bank soon became as slippery as a sheet of ice, and as difficult to climb, barefooted. Many a man would get half-way up the bank and go sprawling into the mud and roll down the embankment to the water, while those who had reached high ground cheered and laughed at his misfortune. Fortunately there was a pond of clear water near by in which the men could wash themselves before dressing.
After crossing the river the march was continued up the Coosawattee River to within four miles of Field's Mills, where the column halted and went into camp at dark.
The Coosawattee was too deep to ford, and as the corps had
206
HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
no pontoons at hand, a trestle foot-bridge was constructed for the infantry to cross on, and the artillery and wagons were ferried over in a flat-boat. Moved at 10 o'clock on the morn- ing of the 17th, but it was 10 o'clock at night before the col- umn had crossed the river-the 112th Illinois being near the rear. The column pushed forward in the darkness until three o'clock the next morning, when it reached Big Spring, on the Adairsville road, and halted for rest and sleep.
Moved at 6 on the morning of the 18th, on the Adairsville road, marched about twelve miles-delayed by 20th Corps trains, and cavalry passing the column-and went into bivou- ac at four o'clock in the afternoon.
The Confederate army occupied a strong position stretching along a chain of hills back of Cassville. On the 19th Johnston issued a general order, saying that he had retreated only for strategic purposes, that it had gone as far as was necessary, that the time had come for giving the enemy battle, and he proposed to fight it out in that position. They had reached the "last ditch," but ingloriously fled and left the ditch behind them, as soon as Sherman's army made its appearance.
The 23d Corps moved at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 19th, marched five miles and waited until noon, and then moved forward and formed in line of battle on the left of the Union line, close to the enemy's works. The other armies were al- ready in position, and as soon as Schofield had completed the line the Union batteries opened upon the rebel works. The Union army lay in line of battle that night, prepared to accept the rebel challenge for a general battle on the morrow, but during the night the rebel army folded its tents and stole away and retreated across the Etowah River.
Cox's division moved at daylight on the morning of the 29th and overtook the enemy's rear guard two miles below Cass- ville, and drove them, without serious resistance, nine miles, to the Etowah River, which they crossed, and burned the bridge behind them. Two brigades of the division (Reilly's and Casement's,) proceeded up the river a few miles and de- stroyed some factories and iron works, and then returned to Cartersville, near the Etowah, where the command went into
207
DEATH OF CAPTAIN WRIGHT.
camp, and paused a few days to take breath, repair the rail- road and accumulate supplies for another advance.
Since the battle of Resaca, Lieut. Col. Bond had been in command of the 112th Illinois, ably assisted by Major Dow. Col. Henderson's wound was a serious one -- a musket ball through the thigh-and required his retirement from duty un- til it should heal.
Capt. Wright's wound was still more serious, for it cost him his life. He was shot through the arm near the shoulder, and the nature of the wound required amputation at the shoul ler. He was taken to Nashville, and died there, in hospital, on the 24th of June. He was visited by wife and friends, but their care and prayers could not save him. His remains were taken home and buried in the cemetery af Toulon. Capt. Wright was a brave, generous, conscientious officer, devoted to his coun- try, never shrinking to go where duty called him. He was one of the very few who practiced his religion, in the army as well as at home, and was respected and honored as a christian soldier by all who knew him. His loss was regretted and sincerely mourned by the whole regiment. The vacancy was filled by the promotion of First Lieutenant James G. Arm- strong on the 14th of the following September.
On the 22nd the division trains were loaded with twenty days rations, and the army ordered to be ready to move on the following day, and early the next morning the columns were in motion.
The 23d Corps again moved to the left and reached Milam's Bridge, ten miles down the Etowah, at noon, but as Hooker's corps was using the pontoons, Schofield was obliged to wait until the 20th Corps was across and out of the way. The 23d Corps crossed at 6 o'clock the following morning, and proceed- ed rapidly toward Burnt Hickory-the cavalry in advance, en- gaged in severe skirmishing and driving the enemy before them.
The heat was intense and water scarce, and many of the men were prostrated by the burning sun, and compelled to fall out and seek shelter under the trees. Marched ten miles. At dark heavy cannonading was heard on the right, which con- tinued at intervals through the night.
208
HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Another flank movement was being made by Sherman, and this time Johnston fell back and selected a position near Dal- las-a portion of his army occupying strong intrenchments at New Hope Church, in the same vicinity.
On the 25th the 23d Corps rested near Burnt Hickory, while other divisions were swinging to the right, the cavalry, in the meantime, reconnoitering and scouring the roads to the left and front.
The country was rugged, mountainous and densely wooded. Even in the daytime it was difficult to see but a short distance ahead. At 6 o'clock in the morning the bugle sounded "atten- tion !" and the column again moved forward, but a tremen- dous thunder shower came up and it was as dark as night, so the troops could make but little headway. After groping along four hours, an order was given to halt, stack arms and wait until the storm had ceased. Waited until one o'clock in the morning of the 26th and again moved forward, marched seven miles, crossed Pumpkin-vine Creek and moved to the front. Breakfasted at seven and moved to the left. McPherson was moving up to Dallas on the right, Thomas was moving against the rebel center at New Hope Church, and the 23d Corps was moving to the left to turn the enemy's right. As the 3d Divis- ion of the 23d Corps (Cox s) was moving through the dense timber the enemy opened a heavy musketry fire upon the col- umn, and skirmishing continued until dark. The 16th Ken- tucky and 100th Ohio regiments, of the 1st brigade, lost sever- al men killed and wounded, but the 112th Illinois met with no casualties.
Heavy skirmishing commenced at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 27th, and continued with but slight intermission all day. The enemy made an assault on the left of the line, and the 100th Ohio and the 112th Illinois were moved to the left to re- inforce the line ; but the assault was repulsed without their assistance. Part of the 4th and 14th corps moved to the left and advanced their lines upon the enemy's flank. At dark the enemy opened a furious artillery fire along the whole line, but as our men were protected by heavy breast-works the cas- ualties were slight. John R. Jones of Co. B, of the 112th, was slightly wounded by a splinter from a head log, but remained
209
SKIRMISHING.
on duty. This was the only casualty in the regiment. Severe skirmishing continued during the night, which in -. creased at daybreak on the morning of the 28th, and was kept up all day. The position of the forces in our front remained unchanged. Prisoners reported Hardee's corps in tront, Polk's on the right and Hood's on the left.
Lieut. Homer Sherbondy of Co. C, of the 112th Illinois, was severely wounded on the skirmish line and sent to the field hospital in the rear.
During the following night the rebels made several attacks up- on our lines, but were repulsed each time without serious effort.
Heavy skirmishing commenced at daylight on the 29th and continued all day and the following night. During the night the enemy made an effort to dislodge McPherson on the right. The rebel batteries opened fire along the whole line from right to left, which were replied to by the Union batteries, and for two or three hours the cannonading was deafening.
A narrow valley, in many places only a ravine, separated the two lines ; and as far as the eye 'could see to the right and left. the flashing artillery and fiying, bursting, screaming shells made a magnificent but dangerous display of fireworks, in the. darkness of the night. The rebel skirmish lines were advanc- ed close up to our line of works but were driven back, and the morning found the position unchanged from the day before.
Heavy skirmishing and considerable artillery firing contin- ued on the 30th and 31st, day and night. The enemy made. an assault upon our lines at 10 o'clock in the morning, on the 31st, but were repulsed with heavy loss. The loss of the 1st Brigade was three killed and eight wounded, among the latter Sorg. John H. Bunnell, of Co. B, 112th Illinois, who was mior- tally wounded, and died at Nashville, Tenn., on the 12th of August, 1854.
This ended the first month's work ; and the entire Union army, from Gen. Sherman to the humblest private, was well pleased with the result.
Let us now go back a little. On the 24th of May, after the . Union anny had crossed the Etowah, Johnston being uncer -. tain a's to the movements of Sherman, sent a division of car-
-- 14.
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
alry, under Wheeler, across the Etowah, to push into Cass- ville and discover and report what was there. Wheeler found that the whole army had moved; but unfortunately he found part of the trains still at Cassville, with a small guard, and, swooping down on them, captured about seventy wagons and nearly two hundred prisoners. Among the latter were Lieut. George C. Alden, the Quartermaster of the regiment, and John W Adair of Co. A, James Lindsay of Co. D, Welcome B. French of Co. K and Lewis P Peterson of Co. G, of the 112th Illinois. Lieut. Alden remained a prisoner until the following March, suffering all the horrors of rebel prison life, and several times lying at the point of death, when he was paroled and entered our lines at Wilmington, N. C., where he found the regiment. After a visit home, to recover from the effects of prison fare and rebel cruelty, he returned and rejoined the regiment at Greensboro, N. C., about a month before it was mustered out of service.
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