USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-Fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; a three years' organization > Part 8
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expired. May 23rd my division again marched, and, crossing the Etowah at Island Ford, encamped on Euharlee Creek. From this time until the end of the month we remained in the rear guarding or escorting trains, generally not far from Burnt Hickory.
June the 1st, leaving the First Brigade in charge of the trains at Burnt Hickory, I marched to the front with the other two and joined the main army, then going into position on the line running northerly from Dallas toward Ackworth, east of Pumpkin Vine Creek.
June 2nd. Having relieved a portion of the First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps and extended the line to the left, I at once advanced my front to a more commanding position and entrenched. We were then in close proximity to the strongly constructed works of the enemy, my right connecting with the First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and Schofield operating at a little distance on my left. During the third and fourth my men worked constantly, both day and night, advancing our line by pushing our skirmishers to the front, and then intrench- ing the troops upon ground which they had gained. I thus, with trifling loss, drove the rebel skirmishers into their main works, and put up batteries within short range of them. June 5th at daybreak, it was discovered that the enemy had with- drawn under cover of night, abandoning a line of elaborately constructed field works of great strength. We received no orders to pursue, but remained all day in our position. June 6th we again marched to the front upon Burnt Hickory and Big Shanty road, and at night I got into line on the left of the Twentieth Corps near Durham's house. Continuing at this point until the morning of the 10th, the First Brigade, relieved from duty with the trains, came up and joined the division. It had lost while away two regiments, the Tenth Ohio and the Twenty-fourth Illinois, by expiration of service.
The Tenth Indiana of the Third Brigade came up to us about the same time. June 10th, this division marched at 6 a. m. in front of the corps, the Army of the Tennessee on our left, moving along the railroad. We took such roads as we could parallel to it, and after crossing Proctor's Creek at the old mill, our advance guard of the third brigade soon struck the Rebel Skirmishers. These were readily driven back, and my line formed upon an eminence in front of Pine Mountain, in full view of the Rebel works upon it and within range of their batteries.
Our artillery was at once put in position and kept up an effective cannonade during the afternoon while the Fourth Corps
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was coming into position on our right. The object in view at this point was to obtain control of the Burnt Hickory and Mar- ietta road. Pine Mountain lying on this road commanded it.
June 11th. Early in the day the Rebel Skirmishers were driven back nearer to the base of the mountain, and my lines were advanced, but in the afternoon our whole corps was moved about a mile to the left so as to make room for the Fourth Corps to deploy. In my new position I was on the right of our Corps, connecting with the Fourth Corps, our First Division on my left. My line faced toward the south and was located about a mile north of the Marietta and Big Shanty road, fronting the north- east end of Pine Mountain.
June 12th and 13th. No movement took place upon our portion of the line. June 14th, our whole line advanced, and upon my left reached the Big Shanty road where it entrenched. Directly in front on the south side of the road, the strongly built lines of the enemy, stretching from the base of Pine Moun- tain to the east, were discovered at a few hundred yards dis- tance. My right, nearer to the mountain, was strongly resisted, and, although skirmishing hotly throughout the day with heavy loss, did not until dark, succeed in dislodging the Rebels from their rifle-pits or in gaining the road. June 15th the enemy having discovered that our lines were rapidly enveloping his advanced position of Pine Mountain, abandoned it in the night, and on the morning of the 15th we took possession of that por- tion of his works. He had only, however, fallen back a short distance to a line of works already constructed, but it enabled the Fourth Corps, and the two right divisions of our corps to swing forward a considerable distance. My own division moved about one and a half miles to the vicinity of Smith's house, when it again came upon the pickets in front of the Rebel works, and was ordered to intrench and put up batteries. I was connected with the troops of Major-General Howard on my right and with our First Division on our left.
June 16th and 17th. Gradually driving the enemy from the woods and other strong positions held by his advanced parties, I steadily pushed forward my line and at length established my artillery in positions highly advantageous and commanding. During this time the practice of our gunners had been skillful and effective. We were again close up to the rebel fortifica- tions and they were of great strength, constructed with extreme care and everywhere fully garnished with artillery. They were filled requiring the slow operations almost of a siege to approach them.
June 18th. Having been instructed by the Corps command-
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er that Howard, with the Fourth Corps, intended to swing for- ward toward the left, so as to sweep along the enemy's line, I was at the same time ordered to conform to this movement and advance with those troops. My line of march was through a very difficult wood and morass, nearly a mile in width, impassable for the artillery. It was therefore sent around by the left while the troops worked their way through the woods. Passing this, we came into open ground immediately in front of the works of the enemy. The Fourth Corps at the same time came upon my right and a sharp encounter ensued, between our men and the rebels behind their breastworks, but the unceasing and rapid fire of our line kept them subdued, and our loss was less than could have been expected.
I immediately ordered my men to creep forward as well as they could and construct a cover for themselves on the crest of the open ground facing directly into the embrasures of the Rebel Batteries. Having no artillery with me Captain Hubert Dilger, of the First Ohio Artillery, belonging to the First Divi- sion, 14th Army Corps volunteered to bring up his guns, and place them upon the line where my men were intrenching, opened fire and maintained them there throughout the afternoon, dis- playing a splendid courage not often witnessed. The coolness and bravery displayed by my own men, exceeds all praise and by dark they had constructed a line, or rifle pits in open ground confronting the finished works of the enemy within 500 yards of them. I had obtained a magnificent position and lost forty men in so doing.
June 19th. The earliest dawn revealed to us another evac- uation and falling back of the Rebel Army, this time to the lines of Kenesaw Mountain. My division, pursuing, came up in front of the central knob of the mountain, near Kirk's house, and, after a sharp skirmish, got into position close to the base of the mountain.
June 20th. The lines of the division were rectified and the works for protection strengthened and improved. During the day we lost thirty men, killed and wounded by shells and by sharpshooters firing from the side of the mountain. From this time until the evening of the 26th our position was not materially changed.
Under direct fire of the Rebel skirmishers no man could expose himself without being a mark for their bullets. They kept our men closely confined to their trenches, and the only variety we had was the constant succession of artillery duels betweeen our batteries and those on the mountain tops, which might be looked for at any time of the day or night. At times
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these displays assumed a degree of magnificence, as particularly the cannonade from our own batteries on the afternoon of the 21st. My average daily loss of men killed and wounded in their camps and behind their works was about twenty men. June 26th the division of Brig .- Gen. Davis having been sent to the right of the Fourth Corps to unite with a division of that Corps in an assault of the enemy's works, I was ordered there likewise to support him, and, being relieved after dark by Brig .- Gen. Osterhaus' Division of the Fifteenth Corps, I marched at once and by midnight I got into bivouac near department head- quarters. June 27th at an early hour my division was formed in the rear of the assaulting column of Davis to support him in case of disaster, and after his repulse went forward into line on his right, relieving Geary's Division of the Twentieth Corps, which was next to us on that side. On the 27th Colonel Van- derveer, commanding my Second Brigade, who had long been suffering from disease, was compelled to go North for relief, and turned over his command to Colonel N. Gleason, of the 87th Indiana, who has since retained it. In losing Colonel Vander- veer, my command and the service generally, was deprived of one of the most gallant and best officers, and most accomplished gentlemen. Alweys prompt, judicious and brave, he had dis- tinguished himself on many fields, and his promotion has been strongly urged upon the Government, but unaccountably over- looked.
June 28th. From this time until the 3rd of July the lacal- ity of the Division was not changed. Our works were at this time so close to those of the enemy that no man on either side dared show his head during the day, and the only advantage which we gained was in the constant pushing forward of our trenches towards theirs, under cover of night.
July 3rd. The enemy again having abandoned his works and falling back during the night, my men entered them be- fore daybreak and were prompt in pursuit, capturing a large number of prisoners. We marched at an early hour, and passing through Marietta, had advanced about two miles along the right side of the railroad when we came upon a new line of works in which the Rebel Army had taken position. It was here the last stand to cover the passage of the trains over the River Chat- tahoocie was made. July 4th was spent in reconnoitering this position.
Our troops were pressed close up to the works and a con- stant skirmish was kept up along our front during the day, but no general assault was made. At this point my second brigade. was detached and sent to Marietta to constitute the garrison of
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that place. July 5th the enemy, not waiting for an attack had again given up his laboriously constructed works and retreated to the river during the night. So soon as this was discovered our troops pursued, my division taking a road leading to Vin- ning's Station and lying a short distance south of the railroad. Prisoners were taken and stragglers picked up, almost from out- set, and some distance before reaching Vinning's the head of my column came upon a strong rear guard of the enemy. The Tenth Indiana, skirmishing in our front pressed this party hand- somely and vigorously driving it beyond the road, and the con- duct of Colonel Marsh B. Taylor, commanding that regiment on this occasion is worthy of praise. On reaching the heights over- looking the station a Rebel train was discovered moving south beyond the river, and one of my batteries, hastily brought up, shelled it with much apparent effect. My line of march would at this time have led me to cross the railroad and move in the di- rection of Pace's Ferry, but encountering the head of Wood's Division of the Fourth Corps, which came down that road and arrived soon after I did, his column, to avoid confusion, was turned to the left toward Pace's Ferry whilst mine turning to the right, pursued the railroad. I had marched about one and a half miles along this road skirmishing lightly but not strongly resisted, when I came upon the head of our First Division (Four- teenth Corps) column, which taking a shorter road, was com- ing on my right and reached the railroad in front of me.
These troops immediately abutted upon the strong Rebel works upon the road, a part of the continuous line, constituting the tete-de-pont of the railroad crossing. My troops were then formed, by the direction of the Major-General commanding the corps, so as to connect with the left of the First Division, and extending back along the line of the railroad. July 6th, 7th and 8th. During these days while other portions of the Army were working themselves into position, this division remained sta- tionary, the skirmish lines alone keeping up a constant fire from their pits. July 9th, having received orders to push out my skirmishers and feel the enemy for the purpose of developing his position I caused Colonel Este, whose Brigade was the most advanced, to deploy a heavy line and supporting it by a regi ment, directed him to make the advance required. I at the same time was informed that the skirmishers of the first division would advance with ours and I directed those of the First Bri- gade, although more remote from the enemy's works, to keep up their connection with Este's left. Having selected the Tenth Kentucky to support his advance Colonel Este began his move- ment at 8 a. m. The more advanced pickets of the enemy were readily driven back and our men gained some hundreds of
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yards distance to the front. They came, however, upon a very heavy line posted in strong pits, and these supported by heavy reserves. The troops on the right had at the same time gained a portion of the Rebel works, were almost immediately driven back and the enemy then pushed out in superior force upon my men and compelled them to retire almost to their original posi- tion. The arrival of another regiment again gave us command of the position, and the Rebels fell back to their pits; but as their presence in considerable force, both in their works and in front on their skirmish line, had been ascertained, a second advance was not ordered.
In this little fight, which was brief but severe, we lost four men killed and 19 wounded. Colonel Este, who commanded the line in person, was severely bruised by a bullet and narrowly escaped losing his leg. He displayed the utmost bravery as did the officers and men generally who were engaged. In the after- noon I advanced my whole line and intrenched it and the Fourth Corps connected with me on my left.
July 10th. The passage of the river some miles above hav- ing been at length effected by the 23rd corps, the last of the Rebels were withdrawn to the south bank during the previous night and the bridges burned. General Howard then moved his troops to the support of the 23rd Corps, and my division re- placed his at Pace's Ferry. I moved into this position before night. July 11th. From this date until the 17th my command remained stationary, picketing the river bank. In the interval the Twenty-third Missouri, assigned by Major General Thomas to my First Brigade, came up and joined the command. The Second Brigade likewise came forward from Marietta, leaving the Second Minnesota at that place and joined the division. In the same interval General Turchin was compelled to go north for the benefit of his health, and the command of the brigade de- volved on Colonel M. B. Walker, Thirty-first Ohio, who has re- tained it until this time. July 17th. Pontoon bridges having been completed at Pace's Ferry, and the Fourth Corps from above having cleared the opposite shore, we crossed the river, the First and Second Divisions preceding mine. July 18th the corps advanced, passing Nancy's Creek at Kyle's Ferry, and encamped at night with our advance at Howell's Mill on Peach Tree Creek, the Twentieth Corps being a little above us on our left.
July 19th. The most of the day was spent in reconnoitering the creek, which was deep, and, the bridges being destroyed, the passage was difficult. In front of Howell's Mill, the point oc- cupied by the First Division, Fourteenth Corps, the crossing
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was strongly disputed, and the character of the ground admitted of such easy defense that to have forced a passage must have been hazardous and attended with much loss. In the afternoon, however, the Second Division succeeded in getting over lower down and I being in reserve sent my First Brigade to cross with it. I had been directed by Major General Thomas to cross my division at that place, but on going there and finding it occupied by General Davis, the order was modified by the corps command- er and a single one of my brigade sent to support him.
The brigade, having crossed, got into position about dark, after a brisk skirmish on the left of the Second Division. The Twentieth Corps higher up stream, had likewise got over, during the afternoon, and this doubtless induced the force in front of General Johnson to retire. As soon as it had done so I ordered my second and Third Brigade to pass to the front of him and cross at the mill. I began the movement soon after dark, being obliged in the first place to build a temporary bridge, and by midnight had the two brigades well intrenched upon the heights on the south side of the creek. July 20th at daylight Johnson's Division crossed over and went into position on my left; it also made connection with the Twentieth Corps on the other flank.
I at the same time moved forward my Third Brigade and forming it on the left of the First which had crossed with the command of General Davis. pushed the two out and took pos session of an important range of wooded hills, a half mile to the front of my first location.
As these troops went into position and indeed throughout the day they were subject to a very galling fire from the Rebel batteries which were posted beyond the ridge out of our reach. To enable these two brigades to make still further advance I posted my two batteries at a point on Johnson's front from which they would have a cross fire upon the wooded ground over which the troops must pass. The batteries had gone into position but had not opened fire, when the great assault made that day on the Twentieth Corps and on the First Division of our Corps took place, and they did good service in aiding to repel the attack. No part of the rebel assaulting columns reached my lines, but throughout the whole attack and until dark my troops were subject to an artillery fire as constant and as terrible as any that I have ever witnessed, and the loss in the Division from this cause and upon the skirmish line was considerable. Through- out the whole battle my officers and men behaved themselves with a degree of coolness and heroism highly commendable and showing themselves to be veteran soldiers. July 21st. After a
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hot skirmish of some hours my lines were again moved forward nearly a mile, established and intrenched at a short distance from the works of the enemy, in a position so advantageous and commanding that it must have contributed largely in compelling him to retire.
July 22nd. During the night previous the Rebel armny fell back finally from our front into the works about Atlanta. and my division, marching forward until it came to the Marietta and Atlanta road, followed it until it struck the railroad two miles from the city. We there came up with the First Division, Fourteenth Corps, whose advance was then skirmishing close up to the line of works surrounding that place. The Twentieth Corps was immediately to the left, and the Army of the Ten- nessee some miles eastward on the Augusta railroad. I immedi- ately received orders from Major General Thomas to move to the south along the west side of the town until I came with that leading from White Hall to the latter place, and there to post my command. This point was without opposition, and my troops were put in position under supervision of the department commander who had come to that place.
The Second Division on arriving formed on my right a little retired, and all of our troops intrenched themselves during the afternoon, so as to be covered while within camp from the shells and sharp shooters of the enemy. It was at this time that the great battle with the Army of the Tennessee, in which the gallant McPherson was killed, took place, and we waited anx- iously, expecting orders to take part in it.
July 23rd. From this date until August 3rd the general location of the division was not changed. A constant and veno- 'mous skirmish was kept up between the pickets on both sides. and our lines were so close that our men in camp were at any moment that they exposed themselves liable to be picked off by the enemy's riflemen. Our batteries and those upon the Rebel forts kept up an unceasing exchange of compliments, so that our daily loss in killed and wounded in camp was not incon- siderable. Numerous twenty-pound shells and shells of sixty- four pounds weight from the "old 32-pounder rifle" came reg- ularly into our camp, a weight of metal entirely out of propor- tion to our light field pieces. While in this position two regi- ments of the First Brigade, the Eighty-second Indiana and the Twenty-third Missouri drove the enemy, after sharp skirmish- ing, from some wooded heights on our right and in front. which they fortified and held until turned over to the Second Division. These hills were not properly in our front, but, in the hands of
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the enemy, were annoying to us, and the regiments deserve honorable mention for this service.
On the 27th the Army of the Tennessee passed around our rear and took position on our right, and on the 28th was attacked by the Rebel Army in force, making one of the chief battles of the campaign. A single change in the strength of my command took place at this time-the 35th Ohio being ordered to Vinning Station, on August 3rd, never after returning, being mustered out at that point.
August 3rd, the Fourteenth Corps having received orders to move to the extreme right of the Army, with a view to form- ing a column of support upon the right flank of Schofield's command, to protect, cover and sustain him in certain offensive operations which he proposed to carry into execution, marched on this morning. My division, in the rear of the other two. came up with them already encamped about two miles to the north of Utoy Creek, and passing through them, and also through the line of Cox's Division, of the 23rd Corps, the head of my column came up to the Creek near an old mill. On the way I was informed that Hascall's Division, of the same Corps, was about to cross the stream, and I was ordered to move my column so as to cover his right flank. When I arrived at his position he had already gotten over with but little resistance, and was establishing his line on the first range of open hills to the left of the road. It was then about 5 p. m., when meeting Major General Sherman I was ordered by him to put my divi- sion in line on Hascall's right, but to throw back my own right so as to rest on the Creek. This order was at once carried into execution, yet it was quite dark before all the troops got into position, my line taking the highest ground stretched along the road for the length of a Brigade beyond Hascall's, and then bent to the rear, its length was so great that I was required to put all my troops in a single line, while the division just formed on my left was compactly formed and held a Brigade in re- serve. This disposition I thought strange, since I had been sent out simply to support another division while it performed a certain work.
August 4th. In the morning my lines were rectified so as to conform better to the grounds, the batteries were put in position, and the works thrown up during the night strength- ened. About midday, as no movement of the troops on my left seemed to be in preparation, although I was told that an ad- vance was contemplated, I reported in person at the head- quarters of the Corps, two miles back of the creek, and while there I saw the first and second divisions of the Corps just
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moving out and passing toward the front. I then returned to my command and soon after received a written order from General Palmer, directing me to advance my right with a view to gaining high ground on my right front, informing me that General Morgan would cross the creek on my right and support my movement. It also stated that this movement was intended as a preliminary to an advance upon the enemy's works, should that be judged expedient or ordered and for which I would be expected to furnish the assaulting column. It further directed me to push out my skirmishers and begin the movement as soon as Morgan should begin crossing. A little later I received an- other written order, also from General Palmer. stating that it was intended that I should push out with Hascall as far as possible and reconnoiter the enemy's works, and directing me to attack in column if the works could be carried. The first part of these instructions had already been carried out before the order was received, for I had the night previous taken full possession of all the high ground in that vicinity, and it only remained for me to await the other contingencies-the arrival of Morgan or the advance of Hascall. I had made full prepara- tions, and was waiting accordingly, when about 4 p. m. General Palmer came up in person and asked me if my Brigade was ready for the reconnaissance. I replied that no special mention had been made of sending out a Brigade on that special duty, and asked him if he wished to send one. He replied that he did, and I at once detailed Colonel Gleason's Brigade for that purpose. The Brigade was formed in the shortest possible time in two lines, with a strong skirmishing party in front, and at once moved out. The operation was vigorously conducted and two lines of skirmish pits captured. The party kept on until the location and character of the Rebel main line was fully devel- oped and a heavy fire of artillery and musketry drawn from it. This accomplished, and no movement whatever of the troops on our left having been made, and no tidings of Morgan, I at dark directed Colonel Gleason to bring his men back, to their works, leaving his skirmishers in the first pits. Colonel Gleason and his officers and men deserve the highest praise for the manner in which this affair was conducted. They brought in twenty-five prisoners, and the brigade sustained a loss of twenty- six killed and wounded.
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