USA > Illinois > History of the Thirty-fourth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry. September 7 1861. July 12, 1965 > Part 14
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I cannot close without adverting to the very superior man- ner in which Dr. John L. Hostetter has performed the duties of his office. His care and attention for the wounded, as well as
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that of Chaplain Michael Decker, is worthy of all praise. My heartfelt thanks are due to the officers and men of this regiment for their bravery, fidelity and prompt discharge of duty, and especially to Capt. D. C. Wagner, who, though in feeble health, rendered efficient service at the battle of Kenesaw and in other trying places, during the absence of Maj. Miller. My hearty acknowledgements are due to Adjt. H. D. Wood for his earnest application to duty all through this arduous campaign; his coolness and efficiency in action deserves earnest commendation. Respectfully submitted, OSCAR VAN TASSELL,
Lieut. Col. Commanding Thirty- Fourth Illinois Vet. Vols. To Capt. J. S. Wilson,
Assistant Adjt. Gen. Second Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Confederate army under Gen. Hood, about the 20th of September, moved from the vicinity of Lovejoy Station and crossed the Chattahoochie river into Alabama. Gen. Sherman sent Gen. Newton's Division of the Fourth Corps by rail to Chattanooga, and Gen. Corse's Division of the Seventeenth Corps to Rome. On the morning of the 29th of September, the Second Division, now under command of Gen. James D. Mor- gan, broke camp and marched into Atlanta, and in the evening took "box-cars," and in these luxurious sleepers proceeded northward, passing through Chattanooga about noon the follow- ing day, and passing on to Stevenson, remained there in the cars all night.
From and after the first day of September, 1864, the writer is dependent upon the diaries of various comrades for the material from which to compile that which from courtesy may be called a history of the regiment. Some portions of these diaries are so concise and sufficiently complete as to warrant a literal tran- scribing of them. Sergt. William H. H. Enderton, of Company A, made a faithful record of nearly every day's experiences from the beginning of the Atlanta campaign to the close of the war. The diary kept by him will be copied here for a number of days, beginning at Stevenson, Alabama, with the Second Division on the cars.
Oct. 1 .- Left at 10 a. m. on the Memphis railroad, and found the track torn up near Bellefonte and also near Hunts- ville, but the trains were delayed only a few hours. Arrived at Huntsville at 9 p. m. The rebel cavalry had been threatening the place. Roddy had demanded its surrender, but they fled at the approach of our Division. The Thirty-Fourth slept in a large building.
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Sunday, Oct. 2. - Our brigade went into camp on the out- skirts of the town, in the forenoon, and in the afternoon the Division drew three days' rations, got on the cars and started. It rained heavily in the night.
Oct. 3. - Reached Athens at 2 p. m. in a rainstorm. The Thirty-Fourth went on provost guard duty in the town. For- rest took the place one week ago to-day; staid one day. We found our troops in possession. The railroad bridges are destroyed between here and Pulaski.
Oct. 4. - The Division started in the morning on the Flor- ence road; marched nineteen miles. Rain in the afternoon and night.
Oct. 5. - It rained nearly all day. We had one of our hard- est marches; went nineteen miles, and camped seven miles from . Florence.
Oct. 6. -- A bright, pleasant day. The Thirty-Fourth and Seventy-Eighth Illinois went out two and a half miles with a forage train, in the direction of Athens. The Ninety-Eighth Ohio went to Florence and back. There has been some skir- mishing all day between a portion of our Division and rebel cav- alry.
Oct. 7 .- Our Division marched in the afternoon to Flor- ence and camped close to town. Companies A and F went on picket. Rousseau's mounted infantry and cavalry marched into town late in the afternoon with bands playing. There was can- nonading heard up the Tennessee river in the evening.
Oct. S .- Clear and cool. We fellows on picket are living on sweet potatoes, string beans, fresh pork, apples, grapes, etc., an unusual treat, and all at the expense of the inhabitants. Our Division marched in grand review through Florence to-day.
Oct. 9. -- Sunday. We were relieved from picket at 10 a. m. by the Seventy-Eighth Illinois. Frost last night.
Oct. 10 .- Marched towards Athens, nineteen miles.
Oct. 11 .- The Ohio troops held election to-day. Marched
to within six miles of town. Waded Elk river at noon.
Oct. 12. -- Marched through Athens; camped two miles east of town. Weather splendid-warm days and cool nights.
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Oct. 13 .- The Division left by rail one hour before sunset; passed through Huntsville late in the evening, through Stev- enson late in the night, and arrived at Chattanooga in the morning.
Oct. 14 .- Put up our tents in town. Hood's army is be- tween us and Sherman. We are watching the enemy's move- ments to checkmate them. It is the design of the enemy to cut the railroad, force Sherman to retreat from Atlanta to the Tenn- essee river, and, in case of success, insure the election of Mc- Clellan, but we have great confidence in Sherman's ability to hold Atlanta, also to annihilate Hood's army,
Oct. 15 .- Our brigade pitched tents close to Fort Creigh- ton.
Oct. 16 .- Sunday. Marching orders. Strike tents; draw three days' rations; go to the depot in town and stack arms; stay there an hour, then go back to camp and put up tents. It is reported that Hood is marching on Bridgeport or Whiteside station.
Oct. 17. -- Lay in camp.
Oct. 18 .-- Reveille at 4 a. m .; march at I p. m. and camp at Gordon's Mills, having marched twelve miles.
Oct. 19 .- Marched to Lafayette, eighteen miles.
Oct. 20 .- Marched back to Chattanooga, seventeen miles.
Oct. 21 .-- Marched to Alpine, sixteen miles.
Oct. 22 .-- Marched four miles; saw the Seventy-Fifth Illinois. We have three days' rations to last five days. We are now in Cherokee county, Alabama, and do some foraging from the citizens. Nights cool, with heavy frosts. Hood and his army passed through here (going north) just ahead of some of Sherman's forces. Sherman's troops are spread out through this section of country. We are sixty miles from our base of supplies, and are having hard marches.
Oct. 23 .- The Fourth and Fourteenth Corps are here. We are twenty-five miles west of Rome, Ga., in a mountain country. Forage is used up within twelve miles of us.
Oct. 24 .- The Seventy-Fifth Illinois started for Rome as train guard. Cedar Bluff is a town within six miles of us.
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(Oct. 25, 26 and 27, no entries in diary. ) . Oct. 28-The Second Division started with three days' rations at 2 p. m., and marched on the Georgia road until dark. Companies A and F go on picket.
Oct. 29. - Start before daylight, and halt for dinner at 10 a. 'm. At I p. m., file to the left and go into camp, one and one-half miles from Rome. Maj. Gen. Ransom died in Rome to-day.
Oct. 30. - Sunday. The entire Fourteenth Corps has arrived and is camped close to Rome. Our regiment held a test election to-day; 241 votes were cast for Lincoln, II for McClel- lan, and there were 10 doubtful, not voting.
Tuesday, Nov. 1 .- Reveille at 3:30; march at 5:30; arrive at Kingston, on the railroad, at I p. m., seventy nine miles from Chattanooga and fifty-nine from Atlanta.
Nov. 2. --- Signed pay rolls in the rain.
Nov. 3 .- The Thirty-Fourth received seven months' pay and $too bounty.
Nov. 4. - Cold weather; no news; plenty of money and nothing to buy. (Nov. 5 and 6, no entries. )
Nov. 7 .- Capt. Householder, Company H, and First Lieut. Wesley J. Williams and Second Lieut. B. F. Dysart, both of Company C, have resigned and gone home. Col. Van Tassell has gone to Atlanta.
Nov. 8 .- Our Division was saluted with reveille at 3 a. m., and at 6 a. m. was on the way to Atlanta. At 10 a. m. passed through Cassville, a county seat. Every house has been burned except the churches and the houses of a few poor families. At I p. m., halted near Cartersville, the Allatoona mountains in our front, one and one-half miles away. (Nov. 9, 10 and II, no entries of general interest. )
Nov. 12 .- The Third Division, Fifteenth Corps, went south this morning. There are many appointments of new officers in the regiment. Col. Van Tassell has resigned and gone home. Capt. Ege, of Company A, is acting as colonel. Will Robinson is appointed captain of Company A, and Capt. Walker, of Com- pany C, is appointed major.
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Nov. 13 .-- Cartersville was burned this morning. Our Div- ision tore up and destroyed the railroad track from Cartersville to Atlanta.
Nov. 14 .- Some mysterious work is in progress now. Sher- man is destroying his own line of communications, and is evi- dently going to march to a new base of supplies, but is it the Gulf, the Atlantic, or where ? We marched twenty-one miles to-day; passed through Ackworth, leaving Kenesaw mountain and Marietta to the left.
Nov 15. - Crossed the Chattahoochie river. The railroad bridge has been burned and the track destroyed for over 100 miles. We got to Atlanta at noon, and found two-thirds of it burned and the embers of hundreds of buildings still smoking. A pall of smoke hangs over the ruined city, and great black clouds of smoke and forked tongues of flame roll up from many a. household which have just caught fire. We marched on through the desolate town and camped outside of the fortifications.
Some changes in the staff and line officers of the regiment during the fore part of November are especially mentioned in the diary of Capt. Peter Ege, who took command of the regiment November 5th, upon the resignation of Col. Van Tassell. Some extracts from his diary follow:
Nov. 5 .- Lieut. Col. Oscar Van Tassell went to Atlanta on train at noon. Lieuts. Wesley J. Williams and B. Frank Dysart passed north on the train, mustered out of the service, in accord- ance with circular No 75, War Department. Regiment lying on hillside near Kingston, Ga.
Nov. 6 .- Thirty-three heavily-loaded trains passed north during the day.
Nov. 7 .- Trains still passing north. Capt. Peter House- holder, of Company H, received his resignation approved by Gen. Jeff C. Davis, and left for home by train. Capt. U. G. Gallion, Company F, and Lieut. L. L. Johnson, of Company B. came up, mustered out, and left in the night by train for home. Lieuts. Dexter and Forsythe, of Company D), were also mus- tered out.
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Nov. S. - Marched twelve miles to Cartersville and camped two miles south of town, at 2 p. m. Col. Van Tassell passed north on train, mustered out, also Regimental Quartermaster D. H. Talbot.
Nov. 9 .- Appointed Lieut. R J. Thompson, of Company K, as acting adjutant of the regiment.
Nov. 11 .- Made promotions of officers to fill all vacancies. Trains have stopped running, and failed to get recommendations for promotions in the mails.
All of the troops remaining in the vicinity of Atlanta moved out on the respective routes, on the 15th of November, except- ing the Fourteenth Corps, which remained near the destroyed city until the 16th, then moving easterly by way of and through Decatur. On the 17th, the Thirty-Fourth was train-guard, passing through Lythania, and camped at Congers, making twenty-one miles. The line of march on the eighteenth cov- ered eighteen miles, and led through Covington, the railroad track being destroyed where touched by the troops. Foragers were sent out, and much was found that was especially grati- fying to a soldier's appetite. Marching was resumed on the 19th at 5 a. m. Sandtown being one of the points on the line of march, and the headwaters of the Ocmulgee river being near by. Moses Delp, of Company A, was accidentally wounded in the leg while a vigorous assault was being made on a flock of tur- keys by the foragers.
Nov. 20 .-- The foraging party left camp at 4 a. m. and the brigade at 6 a. m., and marched twelve miles, going into camp at 2 p. m. Companies A and F were sent to guard a mill and to grind corn and wheat for the Division. Plenty of forage was found daily. for the troops as well as for the teams. A heavy rain fell during the night. The day following advanced the col- umn only thirteen miles, without incident, but through rain and cold. disagreeable weather. On the 22d, camp was not broken, and the men industriously employed their time in trying to keep warm. Twelve miles was the record of the 23d, through the best country seen in the South to date. Camp was made near Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia.
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The regiment was train-guard during the 24th, passing through Milledgeville about 12 m. and crossing the Oconee river on a fine bridge, and at dark camped in a beautiful pine forest, making eleven miles during the day. Bad roads from rain and the excess of travel delayed progress to a great extent.
From the diary of Sergt. Charles S. Gaylord, of Com- pany B:
"Nov. 25 .- Started at 6 a. m. Marched very hard until noon, and halted for dinner and to put down a pontoon bridge across a creek, where the enemy had burned a bridge. The rebel bushwhackers shot several foragers to-day. The country is heavily timbered with pine, with many bad swamps to cross. Marched twelve miles and went into camp at dark. Heard cannonading off to the right; suppose it to be at or near Gor- don's Junction."
Sergt. Enderton says: "Bushwhackers captured some of our men, and shot nine of them after they surrendered. One was shot and left for dead. He had two bullets through his head, and still lived when found." On the following day the enemy was encountered early in the morning, and skirmishing began. One man of the One Hundred and Eighth Ohio was killed and one of the One Hundred and Twenty-First Ohio wounded. The enemy was driven through Sandersville, and the brigade halted for the day at II a. m. The regiment went on picket in the afternoon. The Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps met at this place, and the two were placed temporarily under the command of Gen. Slocum, of the Twentieth Corps.
The entry in Sergt. Enderton's diary for the 27th, gives a description of the methods of procuring subsistence, and a few other things of general interest concerning the "March to the Sea" not heretofore mentioned:
"Sunday, Nov. 27th .--- Marched towards Louisville. There is some rebel cavalry in our front and a lot of Georgia state militia in this country somewhere. It is said their troops are rallying at Augusta, and fortifying to give us a fight. There is
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a great deal of swamp country in this part of the state, and as our army subsists three-fourths or more off the country we pass through, the citizens carry their provisions, corn, wheat, horses and mules into the swamps to hide them from us, but the inevi- table darkey will tell the yankee where to find the stuff. We are allowed to take anything we want to eat that can be found outside of the houses, but are forbidden to go into a private dwelling. We live on sweet potatoes, turnips, flour, meal, beef, pork, mutton, chickens and anything else found on the planta- tions. Hundreds of slaves leave their masters now and join our column, and hundreds of our men are mounted: Each company is allowed one mule to pack our woolen blankets. Foragers are detailed to forage for each brigade, and many of them are mounted. There are strict orders for soldiers in the ranks to do no foraging, but there is scarcely one that does not forage from morning till night if he gets a chance, and it is necessary for our existence, for we do not get enough from our commissary depart- ment to keep us from starvation. There is not much bush- whacking done. The health of the army is splendid, and the men are in fine spirits. We see by Southern papers that Lin- coln is elected by a large majority. The country from Milledge- ville to the Atlantic is a pinery; the soil is sandy, and each river or creek is bordered by swamps. Sherman's army is destroying all the central railroads, burning millions of dollars worth of property, eating up the produce that the rebel army stands so much in need of. We are now forty miles from Augusta, one hundred and ten from Savannah, and about two hundred from Charleston, S. C."
Sergt. Gaylord's diary for- November 28th, as follows: "Left camp at daybreak and marched through a fine country for seven miles, and halted until near sundown for the Third Division to put down a pontoon bridge and corduroy across a large swamp. The Second Division crossed the Ogechee river just after dark on the pontoon bridge and passed through the town of Louisville, a fine and beautiful town, and county seat of . Jefferson county, Georgia. The Twentieth Corps crossed the
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Ogechee below the town, and some of the men of the Four- teenth Corps mistook the men of the Twentieth Corps for the enemy, and a brisk skirmish occurred between them, but for- tunately no one was hurt. The weather is quite warm, with prospects of rain. The soldiers plundered considerably in the town, and.several large buildings were burned. The citizens of the town are bitter secessionists. The regiment at night was posted as pickets on the various roads leading into town."
"Nov. 29 .- [Gaylord. ] Lying at Louisville this morning, waiting for orders to march. From Atlanta, in Fulton county, Georgia, we passed into DeKalb county, thence into Newton, Walton, Morgan, Jasper, Putnam, Baldwin, Hancock, Wash- ington, and now are in Jefferson county. Have passed by and through the following-named towns: Decatur and Lithania, in DeKalb county; Conyers and Covington, in Newton county; Social Circle, in Walton county; Shadydale, in Jasper county; Eatonton, the county seat of Putnam county; Milledgeville, the capital of the state and county seat of Baldwin county; Sanders- ville, the county seat of Washington county, and Louisville, the county seat of Jefferson county, where we now are waiting for the Twentieth Corps to pass this point, which occupied the whole afternoon. Our foragers brought in great quantities of all kinds of supplies. Kilpatrick's cavalry had some severe skir- mishing with Wheeler's Confederate cavalry yesterday and to-day, with losses on both sides. The jail at this place was burned in the evening."
"Nov. 30 .- Remained at Louisville all day, the regiment doing guard duty on the roads leading into town, and near Corps headquarters. There was considerable fighting to-day between our infantry and Wheeler's cavalry. Some of our wagons were captured, and five or six companies of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio were cut off from the main force and came near being taken prisoners. Some of the enemy were killed, wounded and captured."
Col. Ege gives the following for November 30th:
"The Seventy-Eighth Illinois, One Hundred and Eighth and One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio regiments had a sharp
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skirmish with the enemy, driving him off, but losing six men. Regimental summary for the month: Marched 13 days, 221 miles; average, 133 miles. Number wounded, I, accidentally; number of deaths, none; number of officers discharged, 8; en- listed men discharged, none.
"December 1, 1864 .-- [Gaylord.] The regiment marched from Louisville at II a. m., on the road leading to Waynesboro, and joined the brigade while on the march. Crossed a large stream, a tributary of the Ogechee river; marched twelve or thirteen miles and camped for the night in a large open field, just beyond a swamp which we crossed. The Third Division of our Corps, with Kilpatrick's cavalry, started northward to-day for the purpose of destroying the railroad near Augusta, while our Second Division guards the wagon-trains of the Corps. The Twentieth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps are operating to our right, on and near the Georgia Central railroad, and we have seen the smoke of the burning towns, houses and railroads all day, off to our right. Contraband negroes, both male and female, are now along with the different columns in great num- bers. We passed by many rail barricades, made by Kilpatrick's cavalry as they fell back before Wheeler's troops the day before yesterday and yesterday."
"Dec. 2 .- The Second brigade is in rear of the whole Corps to-day, and did not get fairly started until late in the afternoon. The Thirty Fourth was rear guard of the whole Corps' wagon-trains, cattle, contrabands and all. Crossed several swamps, which delayed the trains so that the brigade did not get into camp until 12 o'clock at night. Passed some very fine plantations. Some of the large houses and other buildings were burned by our men. Four of our men in the advance were found mur- dered, by citizens, it is supposed. The country generally is very good, but interspersed with cypress swamps that are diffi- cult to cross. Confederate cavalry has been hovering around our left flank all day. Marched twelve miles."
"Dec. 3 .- Our Second brigade is in the advance to-day, and was deployed along the left side of the train as flank guards.
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The roads were good except across the swamps, and there they were very bad. Crossed on pontoon bridges two large streams, called Buckhead creek. Roads are very crooked, leading in several directions, but the general course is towards Waynes- boro. Our Division is guarding the entire Corps train, which is strung out 43 or 5 miles. Three of our scouts were wounded in the advance to-day by rebel cavalry. Gen. Kilpatrick had a skirmish on this road yesterday. Marched about ten miles."
"Sunday, Dec. 4 .- Marched at 6 a. m., rapidly, and soon reached the Waynesboro and Augusta railroad, and there found our First Division. The railroad has been destroyed by our troops. We crossed the road, and took an easterly course through a fine pine forest. The plantations are rather distant from each other, but very large. Heard considerable cannon- ading and musketry off to our left, supposed to be Kilpatrick's cavalry and our Third Division. Passed through a small place called Buckhead, in Burke county. Marched about fifteen miles and camped in a pine grove. The regiment went on picket. We are taking a direct course towards Savannah."
"Dec. 5 .-- All passed off quietly on picket, and we were ordered to start early, but our brigade being in rear of the Div- ision, did not march until between II and 12 a. m. Moved rap- idly through pine forests about eighteen miles, and camped at S p. m., having passed out of Burke and into Screven county. Kilpatrick's troops were on the opposite side of a stream from us, and our pioneers built a bridge for him to cross over to our side.
(From Enderton's diary:) "Dec. 6. -- A citizen shot one of our soldiers to-day and escaped, but his house was burned and his family turned out. Our men burned all cotton gins and presses that have cotton in them, day after day as the column moves along. We see the smoke and flames of burning build- ings all along the route. Oft times we feel the heat of the flames as we march past, where the buildings are close to the road. Many of the people say the Confederacy is played out, and are feeling gloomy over it. Marched nineteen or twenty miles."
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"Dec. 7 .-- Marched at 6 a. m., our brigade in the advance. The roads through the swamps are blockaded with fallen timber to retard our advance. Our route runs more or less parallel with the Savannah river, at some points within half a mile, at others three or four miles distant. The country is generally heavily timbered with pine and crossed by numerous small streams, bordered by almost impenetrable swamps. A consid- erable number of the enemy were seen to-day; several were taken prisoners. Large supplies of provisions were brought in by the foragers to-day. Marched seventeen miles and camped before dark near some large plantations, and in Effingham county, 263 miles from Savannah."
From the diary of Regimental Surgeon John L. Hostetter the following quotations are made:
"Dec. 8 .- During the past few days the same routine of camp life and marches occurred, and previous descriptions will answer, excepting one or two incidents. During the last two days the rebels obstructed the roads by falling trees across them, which, however, caused but little delay, as we averaged fifteen miles per day. A wagon-master was shot the other day by bush- whackers, in a swamp near a plantation. A man supposed to have done the deed was taken, and as he was led through the lines the crowd clamored, 'Hang him! Hang him!' He looked as if he would die of fright. All of the buildings on the planta- tion were burned. The suspected man was released, no evidence having been found that he perpetrated the deed. Two bridges had to be put in to-day, which delayed the march. To add to the vexation, Gen. Morgan (Division commander) advanced four miles farther than he ought, and -was ordered to retrace the dis- tance. After we crossed the first bridge, the brigade halted near Ebenezer church, on a creek of the same name. The church was built in 1769, and was used for a hospital in the war of the Revolution. It is in a fine state of preservation, and is used by the Lutherans as a place of worship. Near it is an old fort, now grown over with grass, and was partly cultivated last year in corn. This fort was taken from the Americans by the
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