USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 24
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By order of
Lieut. Col. WM. HANNA.
L. W. BLYSTOXE,
Lieut. and Acting Adjutant.
15th. Pleasant. Lively times at the front and in camp. Two foraging parties were out. The one on the Van Wert road was surrounded and had to cut its way through, and nearly all were wounded. The AAlabama cavalry, on the Cave Spring road, met a strong force and were driven in. At noon the long roll was beaten in the camp of the 7th, which assem- bling marched at once. The 89th Jowa, Fiftieth and 57th IHi-
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nois fell in ready to move when called. The cavalry and 7th drove the enemy more than a mile when they met an obstacle in the shape of two pieces of artillery. After a sharp skirmish the 7th, with the cavalry, withdrew. A heavy force being re- ported across the Ostenaula, the forts around Rome were man- ned by the 1100 convalescents at present in hospital, being arm- ed from military stores on hand.
16th. Pleasant and cool. We began building shanties, expecting to stay. It was reported that a flag of truce from the enemy appeared on our picket line on the Cave Springs road.
17th. Lieut. C. H. Floyd, A. D. C. to Colonel Rowett, went out on the Cave Springs road with a flag of truce relative to the dead and wounded of the skirmish of the 15th, but was met by the enemy and turned back. Rumors of an attack by the enemy were fiying in camp, and the 7th Illinois with one piece of artillery, moved out on a reconnaisance, returning without seeing the enemy.
18th. Four companies of the Fiftieth went out on a scout over and beyond the Etowah, returning with like result. Resignations accepted of Captains Cramer of A, Chas. Fee of F, and King of G, and Lieuts. Harbison of B, Weakly of F, Lock- wood of E, and White of K. Soon the "non-vets" will leave us. Many of the officers are now leaving, their terms of service having expired.
20th. Sergeant Major James DeVaney was detailed to recruit a company for the 1st Alabama cavalry, and Private C. F. Hubert of company D. assigned to duty, temporarily, as Ser- geant Major of the regiment. Captain Fee and Lieut. Weakly started for home.
21st. Antoine Mutz, company E, detailed as orderly. Col. Bane returned from Illinois and called at headquarters of the U. S. forces; his brother, Dr. Bane, visiting the regiment for the night.
23rd. Guard mounting for the first time by the new Sergeant Major. The resignation of Lieut. Bissell, company A, accepted. Lieut. Harbison, late of B, started for home. Notice under flag of truce was received during the day from the onemy.
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to move out the women, children and non-combattants, as they proposed to attack.
Polities were under discussion and much interest was manifested by the boys concerning the election. Indicative as to the general feeling of the troops, extracts are given from a letter written home under date of September 23rd, '64. Among other things, writing to his father, he said :
"Now Father, I want to write a line relative to the com- ing presidential election and its great importance, I want-to know who you are going to vote for. Now I know you want the war to stop as well as any of us; also that you see in the papers letters, purporting to be from the Union soldiers, saying that Gen. McClellan is the man for the soldier. Now, Father. Iwant you to notice that to every single note of this kind, you never saw the soldier's name. Now, Father, I don't say that there are no copperhead soldiers in the army. for we have a few in our regiment, (soon going home), but the chief cause of their failing is not the nigger, no sir, but it is their copperhead friends of the north, that's who it is.
"When you see a letter from a Union soldier he is not afraid to put his name to it.
"Now. Father, do not, if you love your country, your God and your children, have anything to do with destroying this glorious Union, which your sous have, and are, periling their lives to protect. Shun all disloyal company and do not vote . the copperhead ticket. no matter who may say it is right. For there are too many traitors in the north now."
27th. Mustering officer in camp and the "stoten-bottles" are mustered out and ready for home, but were compelled to re- main over night as there was no train for them. Under orders heretofore issued, the 2nd division is made a part of the 15th . A. C., under the name of the 4th division, General J. M. Corse, commanding.
29th. The "stoten-bottles" left for home. We were sor- ry to part with them but they have done good service. and de- serve the praise of all good, loyal people. As there was no train
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for them they marched to Kingston, twelve miles. Two wagons were allowed them to haul their baggage.
Oct. 1st. Under Regimental Order No. 5, company com- manders are ordered to daily drill their companies in company and skirmish drill, excepting on Sunday.
2nd. General Corse arrived and assumed command. Establishing his headquarters his first act was to hang a large flag out over the street for all to pass under.
C
GENERAL JOHN M. CORSE.
៛
CHAPTER XVII.
ALLATOONA.
T HE battle of Allatoona will go down in history as one of the most notable of the lesser engagements of the war of rebellion. The fierceness of the attack and the stubborn heroism manifested in the defense, will ever redound to the name and fame of not only the rebels, but in a higher sense will crown the gallant defenders of the Union with an honor as glo- rious as it will prove to be imperishable. Allatoona was a most important post on the line of communication with General Sherman's rear, It was fairly well fortified, and stood guard, not only over the railroad, but as well over a large amount of provisions and other munitions of war. On the first day of October, 1864. the position was held by a garrison consisting of three regiments of infantry, a detachment of the 5th Ohio cav- alry and the 12th Wisconsin battery, numbering in round num- bers, 965, of which 185 were raw recruits but just received by the 4th Minnesota.
With the capture of Atlanta, by General Sherman, came new dispositions of troops in pursuance of the plans and pur- poses for a newer and grander campaign than before organized, For General Sherman was then in full meditation of the scheme to cut loose from his connection with his rear, leaving his lines in that direction open to the designs of the enemy, trusting to the skill and bravery of General Thomas and his officers and mon, with which the enemy might be successfully resisted in
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his march to the rear. Whether or not Hood would avail him- self of the tempting opportunity through which he was invited to seize and hold Sherman's communication with Chattanooga and Nashville, was a problem which he, Hood, had apparently studied with care, while yet silent as to solution. On the 29th of September he crossed the Chattahoochie and though spies and scouts were sent out, and frequent reconnaisances made in every direction by the Union troops, Hood so concealed the ob- jective of his movement as to leave Sherman and his Generals in constant doubt as to his intentions. But on the 3rd of Oc- tober his cavalry destroyed the road near Big Shanty. On the , same day a train was captured near Acworth and the road torn up for three miles south of Allatoona, and his plans had be- came so developed as to leave but little doubt that he had his eye fixed upon the rich prize at Allatoona. Sherman, from now on, never lost sight of his wily enemy. He had now become so assured of Hood's intention that on the 3rd of October he or- dered General Corse, at Rome, to suspend a movement then un- der contemplation and to hold himself in readiness for imme- diate action.
By noon on the 4th General Sherman was completely satisfied as to Hood's intention and he therefore signalled Gen- eral Corse from Kennesaw that Hood was moving upon Allatoo- na, shortly followed by another dispatch directing him to march at once to the relief of the garrison at that point.
At 7 p. m. on the 4th, Colonel Rowett's brigade, consist- ing of eight companies, A, B, C, D, F, G, H and I, of the Fiftieth Illinois, 264 men, Lieut. Col. Hanna commanding, eight companies 39th Iowa, 280 men, 7th Ilis, 267 men, two companies 57th Ills, 61 men, and a detachment of the 12th Ills, 155 men, with 60 rounds per man; total, 1054, with 165,000 rounds of ammunition, were loaded upon a train and at 8:30 p. m., left for Allatoona, arriving there at 1 o'clock a. m. of the 5th, the train returning at once for the rest of the brigade, and as many of the other troops as possible, expecting to return by daylight, ,
but, unfortunately, meeting with an accident, the train did not arrive until about 9 o'clock p. m., on the evening of the 5th.
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The troops now landed at Allatoona, as well as the garrison. under Lieut, Col. Tourtellotte, were now under the command of Brigadier General John M. Corse. As early as two a. m. the skirmishing along the picket line was so marked in character as to justify the sending of the 18th Wisconsin to reinforce the outposts; this was followed, near morning, by a battallion of the 7th Illinois as a support ; the enemy pressing at all points. and heavily from the south toward the railroad depot.
3
In
View of Allatoona Pass and Star Fort from the South.
At daylight the lines were strengthened by the with- drawal of the forces in the town to the summit of the ridges on either side of the railroad cut. About 6 a. m. the troops were in the following position, viz: The 7th Illinois and 39th Iowa in line of battle facing west on a spur that covered the redoubt on the hill immediately over the cut ; one battallion of the 93rd Illinois in reserve, the other in line of skirmishers moving along the ridge in a westerly direction feeling for . the enemy, who were endeavoring to push a force around our right flank. The. 4th Minnesota, Fiftieth and 12th Illinois were in the works on the hill east of the railroad out ; the balance of the command
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
were engaged in skirmish and outpost duty. The contest early assumed all the proportions and incidents related to a battle. The assaults of the enemy were not only skillfully planned but is excellently carried out. The cannonading and musketry was -were upon both sides; finally, at 8: 15 a. m., the battle quieted somewhat, when a flag of truce was seen approaching from the north-west, borne by Major Sanders. Adjutant General on the staff of Maj. Gen'l S. G. French, commanding the rebel forces. Major Sanders was accompanied by an escort of sixteen men from a North Carolina regiment, under the command of Lieut. E. T. Freeman, Assistant Inspector General, C. S. A.
Major Sanders, upon approaching our lines, was halted and his business being made known, a communication addressed to the commander of the Union forces was delivered to an offi- cer at the west line of works, who at once went in search of General Corse, who was reported to be on the east side, but who had passed to the west side, where he was soon found, and the following communication delivered to him :
AROUND ALLATOONA, October 5th, 1864.
COMMANDING OFFICER U. S. FORCES,
Sir: Allatoona :
I have placed the forces under my command in such po- sition that you are surrounded, and to avoid a needless eifu- Son of blood, I call on you to surrender your forces at once and unconditionally. Five minutes will be allowed you to decide.
Should you accede to this, you will be treated in the most honorable manner as prisoners of war.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully yours, S. G. FRENCH, Major General Commanding C. S. Forces.
After noting the same, the General seated himself upon a'stump and wrote the following reply :
(19)
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HEADQUARTERS 4TH DIVISION, 15TH A. C., Allatoona, Ga., Oct. 5th, 1864, 8:30 a. m.
MAJ. GEN. S. G. FRENCH,
C. S. Army, &c. :
Your communication demanding surrender of my com- mand, I acknowledge receipt of, and would respectfully reply that we are prepared for the "needless effusion of blood" when- ever it is agreeable to you.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN M. CORSE, Brigadier General Commanding U. S. Forces.
The message transmitted, the General hastened to his different commands and informed them of the object of the flag and of his answer, and of the importance of their prepar- ing for hard fighting. Colonel Rowett was directed to hold the spur on which the 39th Iowa and 7th Illinois were formed while Colonel Tourtellotte was sent over to the east hill, with orders to hold it to the last, calling for reinforcements if needed, Two companies of the 93rd Illinois were sent down a spur par- allel with the railroad, and along the brink, and so disposed as to hold the north side as long as possible. Three companies of the 93rd which had been driven in from the west end of the ridge, were distributed in the ditch south of the redoubt, with instructions to keep the town well covered by their fire, and to . watch the devot where were stored over a million rations. The remaining battallion, under Major Fisher, lay between the re- doubt and Rowett's line, ready to reinforce where most needed. (At this time the Fiftieth and 12th, lying along the crest of the ridge, on the east side, facing south, were ordered to change front to the rear, which was quickly executed, and were disposed along the crest facing north aud west. ) Hardly had these pre- parations been made when the storm broke, in all its fury, on the 39th Iowa and 7th Illinois. Cockerell's brigade, 1900 strong. had gained the west end of the ridge and moved with great im- petuosity along its crest until it struck Rowett's command, where they received a severe check, but, undaunted, they came
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again and again. General Corse, in his report, thus depicts the battle scene :
"Rowett, reinforced by the 93rd Illinois and aided by the gallant Redfield, encouraged me to hope we were all safe here, when I observed a brigade of the enemy, under command of General Sears, moving from the north, its left extending across the railroad. I rushed to the two companies of the 93rd Illi- nois which were on the brink of the cut running north from the redoubt, and parallel with the railroad, they having been rein- foreed by the retreating piekets, and urged them to hold on to the spur, but it was of no avail. The enemy's line of battle swept us back like so much chaff, and struck the 39th Iowa in flank, threatening to engulf our little band without further ado. Fortunately for us, Colonel Tourtellotte's fire caught Sears in the flank and broke him so bad as to enable me to get a staff officer over the cut with orders to bring the Fiftieth Ills. over to reinforce Rowett, who had lost very heavily. However, before the regiment sent for could arrive, Sears and Young both rallied and made their assaults in front and on the flank with so much vigor and in such force as to break Rowett's line, and had not the 39th Iowa fought with the desperation it did, I never would have been able to have brought a man back into the redoubt. As it was, their hand to hand struggle, and stub- born stand, broke the enemy, to that extent, he must stop to reform before undertaking tho assault on the fort. Under cover of the blow they gave the enemy, the 7th and 93rd Illinois and what remained of the 39th Iowa, fell back into the fort. The fighting, up to this time, (about 11 a. m.), was of a most extra- ordinary character; attacked from the north, from the west and from the south, these three regiments, (39th Iowa, 7th and 93rd Illinois), held Young's and a portion of Sears and Cockrell's brigades at bay for nearly two hours and a half. The gallant Colonel Redfield of the 39th Iowa, fell, shot in four places, and the extraordinary valor of the men and officers of this regiment and the 7th Illinois, saved to us Allatoona.
"So completely disorganized were the enemy that no reg- ular assaults could be made on the fort till I had the trenches
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شدعلى صندى
HISTORY OF THE
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filled and the parapets lined with men. The 12th and Fiftieth Illinois arriving from the east side enabled us to occupy every foot of trench and keep up a line of fire that, as long as our ammunition lasted, would render our little fort impregnable. The broken pieces of the enemy enabled them to fill every hol- low and take advantage of the rough ground surrounding the fort, filling every hole and trench, seeking shelter behind every stump and log that lay within musket range of the fort. We received fire from the north, south and west face of the redoubt, completely enfilading our ditches and rendering it almost im- practicable for a man to expose his person above the parapet. An effort was made to carry our works by assault, but the bat- tery, (12th Wisconsin), was so ably managed and so gallantly fought as to render it impossible for a column to live within 100 yards of the works.
"Officers labored constantly to stimulate the men to ex- ertion, and most all that were killed or wounded in the fort met this fate while trying to get the men to expose them- selves above the parapet, and nobly setting. them the example. The enemy kept up a constant and intenso fire, gradually clos- ing around us, and rapidly filling our little fort with the dead and dying. About 1 p. m. I was wounded by a rifle ball, which rendered me insensible for some thirty or forty minutes, but managed to rally upon hearing some person or persons cry "Cease firing," which conveyed to me the impression they were trying to surrender the fort. Again I urged my staff, the few officers left unhurt, and the men around me to renewed exer- tion, assuring them that Sherman would soon be there with re- inforcements ; the gallant fellows struggled to keep their heads above the ditch and parapet in the face of the murderous fire of the enemy now concentrated upon us. The artillery was silent for want of ammunition, and a brave fellow, whose name I re- gret to have forgotten, volunteered to cross the cut, which was under fire of the enemy, and go to the fort on the east hill and procure ammunition. Having executed his mission successfully he returned in a short time with an arm-load of canister and case-shot. Abour 2:30 p. m. the enemy were observed massing
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a force behind a small house and the ridge on which the house . was located, distant north-west from the fort about 150 yards. The dead and wounded were moved aside so as to enable us to move a piece of artillery to an embrasure commanding the house and ridge. A few shots from the gun threw the enemy's column into great confusion, which being observed by our men, caused them to rush to the parapet and open such a heavy and continuous fire that it was impossible for the enemy to rally. From this time until near 4 p. m. we had the advantage, and maintained it with such success that they were driven from ev- ery position and finally fled in great confusion, leaving their dead and wounded and our little garrison in possession of the field.
* *
"We buried 281 rebel dead and captured 411 prisoners, 8 stand of colors and about 800 stand of arms. Among the pris- oners brought in was Brigadier General Young, who estimated the enemy's loss at 2000 killed, wounded and missing."
The story of this magnificent contest and victory passes now from the general account to the more special relation of the part taken by the Fiftieth. The details of the coming from Rome have already been given. Upon the arrival of the train, the troops having disembarked, the regiment formed in line of battle and moved to the front, on the east side of the railroad, two hundred yards, to where a barricade had been erected in a continuous line, running east, out of wagons placed end to end, from which the wheels had been taken and placed against the side. To the front could be seen, now and then, the flash of a musket, which lighted up the darkness for a moment, showing where the picket line had been established, and immediately would come the response from the rebels, sending their leaden compliments uncomfortably close to the line behind the barri- cade. It was learned that a considerable body of rebel troops were in close investment of the place, and it was confidently expected that an attack would be made in the morning. The night was so uncomfortable that daylight was welcomed regard- less of what might follow. In the early morning hours, the
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
sound of troops marching, and artillery moving, lent strength to the expectation that the assault would come from the right, and that it would be determined and bloody. Daylight dis- closed a six gun battery in position across the valley, so as not only to sweep' the cut, but the whole south front of the Alla- toona ridge, Orders having been received to destroy the barri- cade, as quickly as possible, the wheels wore rolled away so as not to be made available, and the wagon beds turned endwise to the enemy, the end-boards taken out or broken, thus leaving as little shelter for the enemy as possible, then the regiment by columns of companies to the rear, marched up the hill into the works at the top. As soon as the movement began, which was about 7a. m., the rebel battery across the valley opened, and sev- eral of the regiment were knocked down by the shock of the projectiles striking the hill-side, and a number were slightly in- jured by flying gravel; with these exceptions, the assent was safely made, and the north slope occupied, in which the regi- ment, for the time being, was protected from the rebel fire. The enemy endeavored, however, to reach the line thus taken, and elevated its artillery fire, but without effect, save that several were slightly injured by bursting shell, notably, Wm. S. Davis, Jacob Thomas and Isaac J. Ogle of D company, who were knock- ed down from the concussion of a shell, as was also Captain Horn of B, who was supposed to be dangerously burt. Davis was borne, unconscious, to where the hospital was located and, after a time, having revived asked "what's the matter?" and being informed, returned to the ranks.
The detachment of the 12th Illinois under command of Captain Robert Koehler, at daylight were in line of battle in rear of the Fiftieth, and being left in this position at the foot of the hill, and exposed to the severe shelling from the battery in our front, were ordered to report to Lieut. Col. Hanna, then on the hill in rear of the fort. Moving his command by de- tachments through the cut he ascended the ridge on the north side, and reporting, was placed in position on the right of the Fiftieth.
The signal corps was now in position at the left of the
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Fiftieth, endeavoring to communicate with Kennesaw, and it was with great satisfaction that we learned that Gen. Vandever, at Kennesaw, had, under instructions from General Sherman, sent the previous day, the following messages :
KENNESAW MOUNTAIN, Oct. 4, 1864-2 p. m.
Commanding Officer, Allatoona:
Sherman is moving in force. Hokl out. VANDEVER, General. And again :
KENNESAW MOUNTAIN, Oct. 4, 1864-6:30 p. m.
Commanding Officer. Allatoona:
General Sherman says hold fast, we are coming. VANDEVER, General. At this time, near 8 o'clock, a. m., great efforts were made by the corps to communicate with Kennesaw mountain in answer to a request for news-but the efforts were fruitless on account of the dense smoke. Still it was a source of great sat- isfaction to us to know that our commanders had knowledge of our situation and were moving to our assistance.
The rebels seemed somewhat slow in forming for attack, and Captain Horn with his company, B, was sent out as skir- mishers on the north side near the creek. By this time Gen. French, commanding the rebels, had sent his demand for the surrender of the Union forces, and 9 o'clock was now at hand and the enemy moving to the attack. His first blow was against . the 7th Illinois and 39th Iowa, which formed a line facing south and west, on the right of the railroad. The sixteen shooting Henry rifles of the 7th began to rattle and, with the sharp crack of the muskets of the 39th, gave evidence that the struggle had begun. Their determined fire proved very effective and, al- though the rebels numbered six to one, and their attack was de- livered with great bravery and force, they could not drive the two gallant regiments from their position, and were compelled to fall back and re-form. While the 7th Illinois and 39th Iowa were engaged in their terrific fight with Cockerell's and Young's brigades, and exhausted with the agony of battle, a new danger
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threatened them with destruction, positive and overwhelming. Svar's rebel brigade, composed of five Mississippi regiments, was discovered approaching from the north. Availing himself of this most opportune moment, General Corse ordered his troops into the little fort and trenches surrounding it.
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