USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 35
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Major Dutton, in his report of this engagement. complimented the bravery and endurance of the subordinate officers and men of the regiment, and they in turn complimented the gallantry and dash of the major. Captain H. D. Brown, acting ma- jor, with an air of coolness and firmness, assisted in pressing forward the line, and Adjutant D. D Chandler, always at his post. constituted the third person in the regiment's executive trinity. The splendid conduct of these officers on the field was the subject of enthusiastic comment on all sides. after the battle. The line officers were un-
usually enthusiastic, and led the men forward with the one idea that a victory was to be gained. And the men went in to win, even, if it were necessary, to close in hand-to-hand struggle. which indeed was done.
Among the trophies of the regiment was one beautiful stand of colors, said by prisoners to have belonged to the 12th Louisiana regiment, together with several swords and belts. The col- ors were captured by Sergeant Melvin Smith and George F. Cram, of Company F. and which cap- ture was reported in the paper as "glory for the 105th."
The colors of the 105th were pierced with bul- lets, one shot going through the flag staff. The relics taken by the regiment were sent to the headquarters of the army, with the request that they be placed in the State archives at Spring- field.
The casualties were fifteen, six men being killed or mortally wounded, and it was miraculous that the regiment did not suffer a loss of five times that number in so long and hard-fought a battle, and the only manner of accounting for so providential an escape was that most of the time the enemy were posted on the hill above the 105th, and in firing down the hill their shots were almost in- variably too high.
After the strife had died away and the moon had risen on the scene, an inspection of the grounds in front of the regiment and brigade was made. The sight was fearful. Dead and dying rebels lay in all attitudes of suffering and death. The youth and the middle-aged lay in their gore in groups or scattered about where they had fallen. Two dead rebels were noticed lying side by side. The arm of one was stretched upward and the fingers pointing to the moon, as though he would indieate to his comrade the way to the abodes of peace. Among the rebel wounded there was a young girl only nineteen years of age. A ball had struck her ankle and she was obliged to have her foot amputaled. She bore her suffering heroic- ally, and stated she had been in the service twenty- eight months. Many interesting incidents oc- eured, which if detailed would fill pages upon pages of history. A member of the regiment casu- ally surveyed the battle-grounds, now inside the lines, and offered refreshments to the suffering and dying. To inquiries as to the extent of in-
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juries, such answers as "Yes, I can't live till morn- ing" issued from tremulous lips, when life's fitful fever was nearly over. On the faces of the dead the usual expression of placid repose, fear, agony or fierce despair lingered, and altogether the scene was one no pen could portray.
The morning of the 21st dawned on one of the greatest victories of the war, and the footing of the national army on the south side of Peach Tree creek was equally as secure as its footing on the south side of the Chattahoochie river.
Lieutenant Willard Scott, Jr., of Captain Rog- ers' company, with a small party, buried the dead rebels on the morning of the 21st.
During the battle General Ward, commanding the division, had made his headquarters in the valley. near the creek, at a point that commanded a view of the ground where his division fought The old general was reported as being in an ec- stacy of delight when the First brigade entered the contest. "See my old Iron Brigade," said he. striking his fists together. "See my old Iron Brigade-see them go in-the best d-d brigade in the service !" The brigade preserved an un- broken line throughout the fight. The entire corps was elated with the victory, it being gained in open field, the advantages greatly in favor of the enemy.
General Hooker rode along the lines the morn- ing of the battle, receiving the enthusiastic cheers of the soldiers. He afterward issued a congratu- Iatory order.
General Hood, who commanded the Confeder- ates, is reported as having remarked to his men as they were about to move to the attack, that they were going out to "gather acorns ;" alluding to the soldiers of the 14th corps, who wore a badge representing an acorn. Their purpose was to break through on the left of that corps, supposing they would meet nothing more than a line of skirm- ishers in their front. They were not less surprised than disappointed, however, to find themselves among the "stars."
After the burial of the rebel dead by the army on the 21st, the clearing of the battle field-col- lection and turning over of ordinance and other property-the troops advanced on the morning of the 22d toward Atlanta, the enemy having fallen back and established himself behind the inner de- fenses around the city. About one mile from the
battle-field of the 20th, a strong line of works were found, the second line of city defenses, which the enemy did not stop to occupy.
Ilaving proceeded several miles, the sound of op- posing skirmishers warned the troops, who were marching by the flank toward the city, that the "Johnnies" were about to make further resistance. The regiments were immediately formed in battle line and marched forward to within sight of the rebel defenses, when a halt was ordered and strong carthworks thrown up. The country through which this short advance was made was prolific of black- berries, which were left to the "bummers." After the brigade was halted the 105th found itself on the erest of one of the numerous hills for which the face of that region is noted. This position proved to be the most exposed of any regiment in the brigade, it being elevated and directly opposite a rebel battery. The boys quickly constructed earth- works here in order to protect themselves from the harrassing fire of the enemy. A battery was placed immediately behind the works, which made the po- sition of the 105th an interesting one. So soon as the guns were in position a deliberate fire was opened on the opposing battery, which elicited im- mediate reply from the latter. For a while the boys of the 105th found it behooved them to "lie down" and "grab a root" until the novelty of the sitnation wore away. After dark the rebels made two dashes into the pickets in front of the bri- gades. And so-on the 22d of July. 1864, the siege of Atlanta commenced.
The position of the command here was about one or two miles northeast of the Georgia railroad which connects Atlanta with Marietta and Chatta- nooga. A direct forward movement would have brought the brigade into the northern suburbs of the city. On the 23d the enemy shelled the regi- ment and battery at intervals all day and at night. Next day the same, the battery replying occasion- ally. The pickets were again alarmed in the evening. The same routine of artillery firing and dashing among the pickets was gone through with on the 25th.
The picket line in the brigade front was some- what in advance of the line on the right and left. A deep ravine running from the enemy's works traversed the left of the brigade line, and led into the rear of the picket reserve post. The line might have been flanked here had the rebels been
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disposed to attempt it. This made this advanced position one demanding constant and close watch- fulness. The rebels made a strong dash on that part of the line on the night of the 24th, when a heavy fire of musketry took place. Lieutenant Trego, of the 102d Illinois, was in charge of the outposts at that time, several of his men becoming frightened, fled to the rear, but the Lieutenant rallied the balance and under the enemy's fire gal- Iantly urged them to stand firm, which they did. Soon the rebels were repulsed. after which the Lientenant found that the reserve post had been abandoned by all but Lieutenant Willard Scott of the 105th, and a few men. It appears that two heavy lines of rebels were repelled by a skirm- ish line, which had been ingloriously deserted by the most of the supporting force.
The lines were advanced and new entrenchments made during the first three days. On the night of the 26th the division moved back some distance in reserve. the 105th occupying some abandoned works. On the 28th orders were received to move around to the right of the general line for the pur- po-e of supporting General Howard's forces, who had become heavily engaged with the enemy, but before the command had arrived within support- ing distance, word was sent to return to camp; the rebels having already been successfully repulsed.
During the battle on the extreme left on the 22d. the noble commander of the army of the Ten- nessee, fell-James B. MePherson. That com- mand had constituted the flanking army, and on the way from Chattanooga to Atlanta applied the key to the locks of rebel positions. The news of McPherson's death was received along the lines amid expressions of disappointment and with feel- ings of sorrow.
General Hooker called the officers of the Third Division together on the 29th, and bade them farewell, informing them that he had been ill used, and could no longer remain in command of the Twentieth Corps. The officers and men re- luctantly parted with the dashing old general. who had seemed every way worthy of his "stars."
On the 29th the Third division moved around to the right some six miles, to support other move- ments and to protect the flank of the army near the Montgomery and West Point Railroad. The brigade supported a division of the Fourth corps. under General Jefferson C. Davis, while the latter
took up a new position. Moved in rear of that division and constructed breastworks at a right angle with the main line, protecting the flank and rear. Remained here doing picket duty and work- ing on fortifications until the 2d of Angust, when the command moved back along the left of the lines, and on the 3d relieved the First division of the Fourteenth corps. behind the front line of works, and near the Georgia railroad: the left of the 105th rested on the railroad track.
The next day (4th). Colonel Dustin arrived from leave of absence in improved health, and as- sumed command of the regiment. His return was hailed with delight by all, especially as he brought with him numerous packages for distribution among the officers and men, from the friends of the regiment. Major Dutton and Captain Brown were on the 4th mustered in as Lieutenant Colonel and Major, respectively. having been previously recommended for those positions. The promotion in the field of those brave and popular officers gave great satisfaction to the regiment, as experi- ence had developed in them rare executive power -. and good soldierly qualities.
The regiment remained in the trenches until the night of the 25th. when the entire corps fell back to the Chattahoochee river. and the main army moved to the right, seizing upon the only railroad left to the rebels which resulted in the capture of Atlanta.
While lying in the trenches before Atlanta the energies of the troops were severely tested by the hard labor necessary for the construction of heavy works, abattis, ete. A battery-being portions of Captains Smith and Geary's-was located behind the fortifications with the 105th regiment, and the boys in addition to strengthening their work> were detailed to assist the battery men in building extra works for the better protection of the gunners from the shells of the rebel guns. A strong fortification. about six feet high, was constructed with logs and dirt. in the form of a semi-circle, long enough to receive four guns with ease. the officers and men of the regiment detailed for the purpose, working at night in order to avoid the fire of rebel sharp- shooters. The battery frequently opened on the re- bel defenses, which were in plain view. making the regiment "bob" their heads down occasionally, as the fragments of rebel iron came screaming through the air in close proximity to their resper-
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tive persons. Now and then a shell would burst immediately over the "bummer's" quarters, fur- ther to the rear, sometimes disturbing the equili- brium of that class of "bummers" who would like to "get through safe if they could."
Amid the perils of the situation there were al- ways found a few humorous spirits whose forte seemed to be to relieve, by some timely joke or "flash of merriment," the pains of the hour. Many a poor despairing mother's boy would have never seen his earthly home again had he not been made to forget his troubles by the wit or facetiousness of these happy fellows. In the different companies of the regiment were many such characters. No difficulties overcame them; they were constitutionally cheer- ful, and capable of extracting good cheer out of every occasion. Endurance was born of cheerful- ness, and so they fainted not.
On the 9th, the guns along the lines opened and kept up a steady fire nearly all day, on the rebel defenses and the city. The rebel battery replied in the evening to the salutations of the guns of Captains Smith and Geary. Almost constantly, day and night, the regiment was exposed to the fire of sharp-shooters, the balls falling all about the grounds behind the works, now and then strik- ing a man. In this way Corporal J. L. Gage, of Company H, Captain J. S. Forsythe, was mortally wounded on the 12th, and a faithful colored cook of Company K, Captain A. F. Parke, instantly killed while eating his dinner, on the 14th.
On the morning of the 13th, Second Lieutenant August II. Fischer of Company I, a most excel- lent young officer and esteemed comrade, was killed on the skirmish line in front of the works. His loss was deeply felt by all the officers and men of the regiment; especially by the members of Company I, who had shared the dangers of conflict by his side, and respected him for his bravery. Lieutenant Fischer will be remembered for his genial temper, his unswerving fidelity, and nis self-sacrifice.
On the evening of the 16th, while superintend- ing some work near the fortifications before his company (E), Captain Martin V. Allen was severely wounded in his right arm, by a bullet from a sharpshooter. A number of men were mort- ally wounded on the skirmish line.
The skirmish line was in such close proximity to the enemy that the men had to exercise the ut- most caution, and expend much labor in building rifle pits for the security of the pickets and skirm- ishers. The enemy seemed to take especial excep- tions to the operations of the nien at this point in the lines, and kept up a steady, severe, and almost incessant fire for several weeks. Being accus- tomed to take shelter behind certain houses near their own lines, they gained some advantage in fir- ing upon our men. Efforts had been made with the rebel pickets to stop this firing by mutual
agreement, without success. On the night of the 18th Corporal Ilerman Furness, of Company C. and two comrades of the 105th, equipped with combustible material, proceeded cantiously out and set three of the buildings on fire, burning them to the ground. It was well and bravely done, after which picket firing was finally stopped by mntnal consent.
Just back of the lines, several thirty-two pound parrot guns were operated almost continually night and day, for some weeks, shelling the city of At- lanta and the rebel defenses. Occasionally shells from these guns would prematurely explode before reaching our own lines, the pieces scattering in all directions among the men of the 105th, causing some annoyance, but no one was hurt by them. With additional danger it was amusing to hear the boys crying, "Hello ! fire in the !" "Lie down " "Grab a root !"
On the night of the 25th, the command with- drew from behind the works-the brigade band playing "Yankee Doodle" and other airs by way of a parting courtesy to the "Johnnies." During the night, as if suspecting the troops were retiring from their front, the rebel piekets fired at the 105th skirmishers occasionally, and inquired, "Are yon there?" To which inquiry they received a ready affirmative, "Yes, we are here." Whereupon the rebels would respond, "We just wanted to be sure about it-don't want you to get away without our knowledge of the fact." While this conversa- tion was going on the whole army was moving from behind the works, and the rebels soon found themselves outwitted. The 105th piekets failed to get the order to retire during the night, and re- mained at their several posts until about daylight in the morning, long after the troops and other pickets had gone.
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The command moved back to the Chattahoochee river, after being on the road all night, arriving at early dawn. On the 26th bivouacked on the south side of the river, and on the 21th crossed the river and took up a position near the railroad track, between the 33d Massachusetts and 129th Illinois regiments, where the 105th went into camp. Here the regiment with axes and hatchets hewed out a fine camping place in the woods. Together with the balance of the brigade the 105th guarded ariay supplies, ammunition and corps teams,
On the morning of the 2d of September, Briga- dier General Ward. division commander, entered the city with a portion of the Third division, and the mayor formally surrendered to him all that was left of Atlanta. The regiment was moved back to the south side of the river, near the rail- road bridge. where it remained in camp until the morning of the 16th of September, when all the regiments of the brigade except the 105th, moved to Atlanta and rejoined the division, the 105th recrossing the river and camping close to the rail- road track a few hundred yards from the river. Here, again the boys fitted up good quarters, and thoroughly policed their camp grounds, which were located pleasantly. facing an almost unob- structed view of the Chattahoochee river and val- ley for a distance of about eight miles.
With the capture of Atlanta, what is called the "Atlanta campaign," euded. The entire army had. amid tempests of fire which burst forth at various points, and under a steady rain of bullets for four long months, swept majestically down from Chat- tanooga to Atlanta, over mountains, rivers, and a continuous succession of hills and ravines. The country between the two places named, constituted one great battle-field for upwards of a hundred miles. While in camp on the south side of Chatta- hoochee river on the 10th of September, the fol- lowing congratulatory order of the major general commanding was read to the 105th, while on dress parade for the first time in four months. General Sherman in general terms summed up the achieve- ments of the army, thanked the officers and men for their indomitable courage, their perseverance and fidelity, and paid an eloquent tribute to the memory of fallen comrades.
From the 16th of September to the 14th of No- vember the 105th remained encamped at Chatta-
hoochee river. near the railroad bridge, as already mentioned.
Colonel Dustin was placed in command of the first brigade on the 18th of September. Colonel Harrison having been ordered to Indiana on spec- ial business. Lieutenant Colonel Dutton succeeded in command of the 105th. Subsequently General Ward received leave of absence of thirty days, when Colonel Dustin succeeded that officer in com- mand of the division. Colonel Smith of the 1023 Illinois commanding the brigade.
The changes occuring among the commissioned officers during the campaign and while the regi- ment rested at Chattahoochee river, were:
Lieutenant Colonel I. F. Vallette, Naperville, Du Page county, resigned June 18. 1864: Major E. F. Dutton, DeKalb county, succeeding as lieu- tenant colonel ; mustered August 4, 1864.
Captain II. D. Brown, Company A, Sycamore, was promoted major .June 18th, mustered August 4th; First Lieutenant George B. Heath succeeding as captain.
First Assistant Surgeon Alfred Waterman, War- renville, promoted chief surgeon, June 2d ; Second Assistant Surgeon George W. Boggs, Naperville, succeeded as first assistant surgeon.
Captain Theodore S. Rogers, Company B, Na- perville. resigned September 30. 1861; First Lieu- tenant Lucius B. Church, Winfield, succeeding as captain. Lieutenant Church had been detailed at Gallatin on General Paine's staff, where he re- mained after the regiment moved from that point. Subsequently he was detailed as post quartermas- ter. and ordered to Paducah, Kentucky, where he remained during the balance of his term of ser- vice. Second Lieutenant Willard Scott was com- missioned first lieutenant, September 30. 1864, but for some unaccountable reason not mustered until June 1, 1865, within six days of the muster out of the regiment. Although entitled to enjoy such rank from every consideration of merit and capac- ity. he sustained his original position in Company B. until the end of the war, being the only officer in the regiment remaining with it to the end. whose services had not heen officially acknowledged and rewarded.
First Lieutenant John W. Burst, Company C, Franklin, honorably discharged, October 19, 1867, on account of wounds received at Burnt Hickory, May 25th. First Sergeant Isaac S. Brundag?
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Cortland, promoted first lieutenant, October 18th. First Lieutenant Willian M. Tirtlot, Company F, honorably discharged, November 28, 1864, on ac- count of wounds received at Reseca, May 15th. First Sergeant Melvin Smith, Winfield, promoted first lieutenant, April 13th, not mustered until March 30, 1865.
Captain John B. Nash, Company G, Franklin, resigned July 17, 1864. First Lientenant John M. Smith commissioned captain, but not mustered.
First Lieutenant Harvey Potter, Company Il, Ashbury, DeKalb, resigned August 14, 1864 First Sergeant Frank H. Cole, Somonank, suc- ceeding as first lieutenant.
Captain William O. Locke, Company 1, Addi- son, DuPage, honorably discharged, August 25, 1864, on account of wounds received at Reseca, May 15th; First Lieutenant George A. Bender, Chicago, mustered as captain, October 15th.
First Sergeant Henry Reinking, Company I. Addison, commissioned second lieutenant June 7, 1865, vice Second Lieutenant Augustus HI. Fischer, killed at Atlanta, August 13, 1864.
On the 9th of September, the news of the death of that famous guerilla chief, John Morgan, was reported in camp, which proved to be a true report, notwithstanding many "grape-vine" dispatches were being received among the boys during the resting spell of the army at Atlanta and vicinity. The same day a report that the guerilla Wheeler had cut the railroad communications of the army between Atlanta and Chattanooga also proved true, but the only ill effects experienced was the temporary stoppage of the army mails, which sev- ered the sympathetic lines between the boys in camp and friends at home.
A report of casualties pertaining to the 105tn was made out on the 10th of September, embracing the names of officers and men killed, wounded and missing during the Atlanta campaign, showing the following numbers: Commissioned officers killed, two ; wounded, thirteen ; enlisted men killed, forty- one; wounded, one hundred and three: missing, two: total casualties, officers and men, one hun- dred and sixty-one.
The number of officers and men, embracing the whole belonging to the regiment, present and ab- sent, on the 30th of April, 1864, amounted to six hundred and seventy-four: on the 10th of Sep- tember, five hundred and eighty-seven. On the for- mer date that number was situated as follows:
Present, officers and men, for duty, four hundred and forty six ; on special or daily duty, seventy- two; sick twenty-seven, five hundred and forty-five. Absent, on detailed service, eighty-six ; with leave, seven ; sick, etc., thirty-three; without anthority, three, one hundred and twenty-nine; present, for duty, two hundred and sixty three; on special of daily duty, forty-two; sick, thirty-two, three hundred and thirty-seven. Absent, on detached service, ninety-six; with leave, twelve; sick, one hundred and forty-two-two hundred and fifty ; present and absent, five hundred and eighty- seven.
The effective force of the regiment on the 30th of April, 1864, or just before the opening of the campaign, embracing commissioned officers and enlisted men, was four hundred and forty-six. On the 10th of September or just after the close of the campaign, two hundred and sixty-three.
The 1st of October, the First brigade returned from garrison duty at Atlanta and took up posi- tion on the 4th, near the railroad bridge on the south side of the river. Just now the main army was on the lookout for General Hood's forces, who seemed disposed to punish General Sherman by making a formidable raid on the railroad in his rear. Cannonading was heard on the 2d, in the direction of Sandtown, south of the railroad bridge, and there was considerable activity mani- fest among the troops. The two long wagon and railroad bridges were partially undermined and carried away by high water, when pontoons were immediately thrown across the river, over which General Howard's command crossed on the 4th, passing the camp of the 105th on their way for the raiders. Five companies, comprising the left wing of the 105th, were stationed in a strong earth fort opposite the camp on the 6th, and heavy details made for work on the fortifications Two guns were placed in this fort and two in a fort near the camp. After a few days of hard toil, during which the boys completed the work on the forts and surrounded them with heavy abattis, the men announced themselves ready for the ",Johnnie Hoods." But beyond the occasional dashes of marauding parties at different points on the road near this section. nothing transpired to disturb the quiet of the brigade.
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