USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-fifth regiment of Indiana infantry voluteers. its organization, campaigns, and battles (1862-65.) > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
On the 5th, the whole Division moved to an assault upon the enemy's works. It was formed in two lines with a heavy skirmish line in front, supported by reserves. The Regi- ments of our Brigade advanced relatively to each other as on the day previous, except that the skirmishers had two lines instead of one. Major Sabin of the Eighty-seventh Indiana had command of the first line of skirmishers. Company G of our Regiment commanded by Captain Smith was with him, and the most of the One-hundred and fifth Ohio under Major Edwards composed the second line of skirmishers. These two lines in front of the Brigade dashed forward together with the skirmisliers of the other Brigades of the Division, and we all followed in close proximity. The enemy met us with a warm welcome, but we pushed rapidly on, and in a few minutes we had possession of the rifle-pits, which our Brigade had previously taken, but voluntarily abandoned. We were now very close to the Confederate main line and within short musket range. Be- ginning to intrench ourselves in the new line formed, we were subjected to a terrible shelling front several Batteries of the enemy; but we hield our ground firmly, and continued the construction of our breastworks. The skirmishers in front of our Brigade on this day captured the entire line of
312
History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
Confederate skirmishers, numbering sixty-two, among whom were a Captain and Lieutenant with their swords. These prisoners were turned over to the writer of this history, who with six men on the next day guarded them back to Division headquarters. There were 140 prisoners captured by the Division. General Baird estimates the casualties of the Division in this advance to be 5 officers and 78 enlisted inen killed and wounded. Among the killed was the heroic Lieutenant-Colonel Myron Baker of the Seventy-fourth In- diana, of the Third Brigade, and among the wounded was Major William Irving of the Thirty-eighth Ohio, of the same Brigade, who lost a leg. The casualties in our Brigade were few, the most of which were from our Regiment. The Eighty-seventh Indiana lost one man killed and one wounded. In the Seventy-fifth Indiana six men received wounds-two of which were mortal. Their names are Allen W. Hosier of B Company; Corporal Benjamin B. Barnum and David Eu- bank of E Company; Elijah Lewark of G Company; and Corporal John Sperry and Elias Summers of I Company. Hosier died of liis wound on the 15th of the month in which he received it; Sperry, Summers and Barnum were wounded by fragments of sliells; Eubank was wounded in the leg; and the way Lewark received his death wound is herewith re- lated by his Captain, who was on the skirmish line with him at the time and an eye-witness. In a letter to the writer, Captain Smith says: "Elijah Lewark was shot through the breast and shoulder by a Confederate, who was only a few yards in front of him. Both fired at each other and fell at the same time-the Confederate was instantly killed, and Lewark was mortally wounded, dying in about two weeks." General Thomas, our Department commander, in his official report thus speaks of this affair:
Both Stanley's and Williams' skirmishers again pressed those of the enemy during the afternoon of the 5th, with a view of diverting his attention from the movements of the Armies of the Tennessee and of the Ohio on our right. Palmer's corps, which had been placed in position on the right of the Army
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers. 313
of the Ohio by direction of Major-General Sherman, pushed out from along ·Olley's Creek*, and pressed close up to the enemy's works, capturing as trong line of rifle-pits vigorously defended. Our loss was considerable, but we took 150 prisoners and gained an advantageous position. At the close of the engagement the skirmishers of the enemy and our own were only thirty yards apart. Our main line was moved up to within 400 yards of that of the enemy.
In a communication to General Sherman, dated August 5th, 1864, our Department commander writes thus:
I sent Whipple to the right to day. Ile has just returned and informed me that all that was done to-day on the right was done by Baird's division, which advanced in obedience to Schofield's orders, but not being supported either on its right or left, General Baird fell back to his former position after having driven the enemy from two lines of rifle-pits, and capturing 160 prisoners, losing about 100 men himself.
GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General.
On the 6th, our position remained unchanged, and as the enemy continued his terrific artillery firing upon us, we made our intrenchments still greater and stronger.
On this date (August 6th) Major-General John M. Palmer, who had led our Corps from Chattanooga to Utoy Creek, was relieved of the command, at his own request, and left for his home in Illinois, and the command of the Corps was tempo- rarily turned over to Brig .- Gen. Richard W. Johnson of the First Division.
Our Division, by reason of the demonstration on the 5th, was in advance of the First Division of our Corps, now com- manded by General John H. King, which had taken the position of the Twenty-third Corps. To get up on a line with us, King, on the 7th, pushed out his Division and cap- tured the enemy's gopher-holes, as we had done on the 4th and 5th. In order to render King assistance, General Baird ordered a bold demonstration all along the line of our Divis- ion. In some places, the troops of our Division were so close to the enemy's works, that they could not get out of their
* Utoy Creek.
21
314
History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
own works to advance; but in other places along the line the skirmishers pressed forward, and had quite a severe encounter for a considerable time with the enemy in his rifle-pits. The Seventy-fifth Indiana was one of the Regiments that advanced with the First Division, and when General King established his line, we retired to our old position again on a line with him.
In this demonstration of our Regiment on the 7th, Joseph Conklin of D Company was killed, receiving two shots, one in the foot, and the other in the head. Conklin, who was one of our very best soldiers, was in advance of the line, when killed. He was a brother of Lieutenant Conklin, of the same Com- pany, who was also killed after the war, Dec. 24th, 1881, in New Mexico, by the bullet of an assassin.
On the 8th, there was considerable skirmish fir- PRIVATE JOSEPH CONKLIN, €o. D, killed near Atlanta, Georgia, Aug. 7th, 1864. ing in our front and all along the line; but our position generally re- mained unchanged, until the 26th, except on the 10th, when our Brigade relieved the First Brigade of our Division on our right. We formed in one line-the Seventy-fifth Indiana tak- ing the place of the Twenty-third Missouri, and the Eighty- seventh Indiana forming on the right of our Regiment. In this position, we were in plain view of the enemy's works, and in such close proximity, that we were exposed to his fire night and day, and the enemy to ours. There was scarcely a moment in which "we could not hear the incessant 'pop,'
315
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
'pop,' of musketry from the rifle-pits, which dotted the hill- sides and woody valleys, or from behind the trees, fences, or any species of cover which the combatants could secure." We finally agreed with the Confederates who confronted us, to forin a temporary suspension of hostilities-neither army was to fire except in case of an advance-and as a result, a good many deserters came into our lines. In the immediate front of our Regiment was a ravine in which was water sur- rounded by a clump of trees and bushes. It was neutral ground between the two liostile lines. Both Union and Con- federate soldiers secured water from that ravine, and in going to it and returning from it, they were in plain view of both arinies. They would frequently meet there and fraternize. When we found out that some of the Confederates, whom we met at the ravine, would desert if they had a chance, we thereafter, on going for water, put on an extra pair of blue pantaloons and blouses, which we put off in the bushes at the ravine, and there the Confederates pulled them on over their gray uniforms, and with our canteens slung across their shoulders, emerged from the bushes with us, and thus came into our lines. Frequently there were a half dozen of us at a time sitting in our tents without pantaloons and blouses, which, on going for water, our comrades had borrowed for the purpose named. There were more than a hundred de- serters brought into our lines in three or four days through this "Yankee trick" by the Regiments of our Brigade, before it was discovered by the Confederate officers. The troops of the enemy in our front, who practiced the deception with us, on being detected, were relieved, and others, not so tired of the war, were put into their places.
The following excerpt is taken from General Baird's official report concerning our location and condition at this time:
August 8, from this date until the 26th the general position and disposi- tion of my troops was not changed. The necessary location of our camps was such that they were constantly exposed to the enemy's fire, and there
.
316
History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
were few points at which a man could show himself without the risk of be- ing shot. On certain portions of the line a temporary truce would be arranged with the troops that chanced to be in front, whilst at others a vic- ious skirmish would be kept up, and for days the men would be imprisoned in their trenches, not daring to show their heads above the parapet, and this varied by the fire of artillery or more active demonstrations begun by one or the other party. In this passive condition, with no operations on hand, our daily reports presented not unfrequently a list of 10, 20, or 30 casualties, and the long continuance of the confinement and privation were extremely try- ing; yet the men bore all with a degree of cheerfulness, patience, and hero- ism that can find its reward only in the consciousness of duty well performed and of devotion to the holy cause in which they were engaged. During our long stay in such close proximity to the enemy, deserters from their lines, chiefly from Alabama regiments, came in constantly and in large numbers. They finally became so numerous that the most strenuous means were re- sorted to by the rebel officers to prevent them.
On the 18th, we were ordered to add greater strength to our already heavy skirmish line, and to fire vigorously for two hours upon the Confederates. In some places we fired over the heads of our skirmishers from our main works, and we could easily see the Confederates carrying wounded and dead men to the rear.
On the 19th, our Brigade was temporarily relieved from the line by a portion of the troops of Colonel Este's Brigade, and . we reconnoitred the Sandtown road for a mile west of us without discovery and returned late at night to the occupancy of our old position. In the morning we rejoiced to greet the veterans of the Second Minnesota Regiment, which had marched from Marietta, where it had been so long on provost duty, and rejoined us in the front.
On the 21st and 22d, our Brigade was subject to an enfilade fire from the left by Confederate sharpshooters. Lieut. Demuth of the Eighty-seventh Indiana was killed. From the 23d to the 27th, the Brigade remained in this position with heavy skirmishing and artillery duels at short intervals. In the meantime the Cavalry under Kilpatrick made a success- ful raid upon the railroad, and our Brigade drew fifteen days' rations in addition to what we had on hand, preparatory to a general movement; and Brevet Major-General Jefferson C.
317
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Davis was assigned to the command of the Corps in room of General Johnson, who was transferred to another command. General Davis, who commanded the Corps from this date to the close of the war, was one of the very best fighters and efficient commanders in the army.
The general movement of the army to the right from the front of Atlanta, began early on the morning of the 26th, the Fourth Corps leading from its position on the left. The en- tire army moved except the Twentieth Corps. In this movement, which resulted in the battle of Jonesboro and the capitulation of Atlanta, General Sherman severed liis railroad communications and threw his army upon the Atlanta and Macon Railroad. His object was to strike this road and cut off Hood's communications from the South. On the night of the same day, about 8 o'clock, our Corps withdrew from its position on the right of the Army of the Tennessee, and together with that Army, crossed Utoy Creek, moving in rear of the Twenty-third and Fourth Corps. On account of the troops, Artillery and wagon trains of the commands in our front, our Division was considerably de- tained, and we did not leave our old position in front of Atlanta, until 3.30 a. m. of the 27th. Withdrawing front the front of the enemy in such close proximity was a very delicate operation. He became aware of our movements by the noise of our Artillery and wagon trains, and shelled us considerably, but we withdrew very successfully without in- curring any casualties. We moved about three miles along the Sandtown road, and took position in the rain near Utoy Creek on the left of the Twenty-third Corps, where we in- trenched and bivouacked facing north. On Sunday morning at daylight of the 28th, we moved again to the right, follow- ing the Second Division, now under Brig .- Gen. James D. Morgan, and passing the Twenty-third Corps, we moved across the Atlanta and Alabama Railroad a few iniles west of the point where it crosses the Atlanta and Macon Railroad. We formed line of battle south of the West Point Railroad
:
318
History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
near Red Oak Station, facing east, and intrenched. The First Division of the Corps, now under Brig .- Gen. W. P. Carlin, was to our left, extending to the railroad, and the Second Division was to our right. The Fourth Corps formed a prolongation of the line north of the road. During the next day we remained here, tearing up the railroad, and, by burning the ties, heated the rails and twisted them around trees. On the 30th, we moved southeast several miles, until we reached Couch's house on the Rough and Ready and Fayette dirt road. Here we took position and intrenched, remaining until noon of the next day.
The Army of the Tennessee was now a few miles to our right, and the Fourth and Twenty-third Corps were 011 our left, extending the line towards Rough and Ready. Here the enemy's Artillery and wagon trains belonging to Lee's and Hardee's Corps were distinctly heard during the night moving southward along the Rough and Ready road in our front. General Baird ordered the First Brigade to shell them, whereupon they left the road.
On the 31st, our Division, accompanied by a Brigade from the Second Division of our Corps, was sent from the point which we now occupied, upon a reconnaissance under Gen- eral Baird, to the front and right, in order to confuse the enemy as much as possible and break the railroad between Jonesboro and Atlanta. The following orders will show just what we were to do:
HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS. Near Couch's House, Ga., August 31, 1864.
BRIG .- GEN. A. BAIRD, Commanding Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps : *
The general commanding directs that with two brigades of your own division and one of General Morgan's, which will be ordered to report to you immediately, you make a reconnaissance and demonstration to the front and right of your present position toward the railroad above Jones- borough, in conformity with the following instructions from General Sher- man, transmitted through General Thomas, which are copied for your itt- formation :
319
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Ga., August 31, 1864.
GENERAL THOMAS :
* * *
*
* *
*
*
*
k
Order one of Davis' divisions down at once to Renfroe's, and move all your trains well to your right, so that you can rapidly fling your whole command over to Jonesborough. Then let Davis send out from his front, obliquely to the right front, a strong skirmish line with supports, as though to reach the railroad three or four miles above Jonesborough. Have Stanley do the same toward, but below, Rough and Ready. Impress upon these com- manders that it is not so necessary to have united lines, but rather colunins of attack. · We are not on the defensive, but offensive, and must risk every- thing rather than dilly-dally about. We must confuse the enemy. As soon as Schofield gets up I will put him against Rough and Ready till he meets formidable resistance.
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding.
The movement should begin immediately.
By order of Bvt. Maj .- Gen. Jeff. C. Davis :
A. C. MCCLURG, Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS. Near Couch's House, Ga., August 31, 1864.
BRIG .- GEN. A. BAIRD, Commanding Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps :
I have just seen General Sherman, and he informed me that he desired you to push your reconnaissance with vigor. After crossing the creek you will deploy a heavy line of skirmishers, and push them forward to the wagon road over which the enemy's wagon train was passing this morning. Should you meet with no great resistance, push on to the railroad. Support your skirmish line well with reserves and artillery. Leave a brigade in a good position to cover the bridge over which you expect to return.
JEF. C. DAVIS,
I am, very respectfully, Brevet Major-General, Commanding.
We pushed forward vigorously until the Jonesboro and Rough and Ready wagon road was reached near Smith's. Here the Division took position. From this point Gen. Baird detailed the Eighty-ninth Ohio of the First Brigade under Col. Carlton to move forward and strike the railroad, if possible, and hold it. The Regiment struck the road about two and a half miles from our position; but having met a large force of the Confederate Cavalry, it fell back to high
320
History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
ground at the edge of a woods. Our Brigade was now sent forward about a mile in advance of the main line of the Army to support Carlton's Regiment. Here, near the Macon road, we intrenched ourselves.
The Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment was now detached from its Brigade, and, together with the Thirty-first Ohio and the Eighty-second Indiana of the First Brigade, under com- mand of Colonel Morton C. Hunter, was ordered to join the Eighty-ninth Ohio, under Colonel Carlton, and advance upon the railroad. Hunter, who was the Colonel of the Eighty- second Indiana, and the senior officer, took command of the four Regiments-two Indiana and two Ohio. A large force of the enemy's Cavalry held the railroad. The skirmish line of Hunter's force, under Major John H. Jolly of the Eighty- ninth Ohio, brushed the Cavalry away, and we moved upon the railroad at Morrow's or Chapman's Station, within four miles of Jonesboro, and seven miles from Rough and Ready. We spent the whole night of the 31st in constructing heavy fortifications on the railroad at this point. They were built in the form of a square, and Hunter placed a Regiment on each side of the square. We were able to resist alarge force, if attacked. While occupying this position, we captured and burned a couple of cars, and destroyed a mile or two of the railroad. This detachment, under Hunter, was the first to reach and cut this railroad, thereby accomplishing the grand object of Sherman's movement to the right. When we seized the Macon Railroad, the fall of Atlanta was only a question of hours.
In this expedition, the brother of the writer, Captain Mahlon H. Floyd, of I Company, came near losing his life. Major McCole was in command of the Regiment, and Cap- tain Floyd was serving in the capacity of Major. While rid- ing in rear of the Regiment in the darkness of the night, in company with Surgeon Shaffer, the Captain's horse backed off a bridge spanning a ravine, and he descended with the horse 211/2 feet (by actual measurement next day) to the bot-
321
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
tom of the ravine among the rocks. In a letter to the writer, dated Dec. 28th, 1890, concerning this incident, the Captain says: "I never had a narrower escape of my life. My sword yet shows the indentations. I never fully recovered from that injury to my spine. I had my clothes pierced in two places at Chickamauga-one through the sleeve, which burnt the skin, the scar of which I still carry on the left forearm, and the other through the pocket, and a field glass was shot from my side-and twice on the Atlanta campaign, I had my clothes shot through; but I never felt as near being killed, as when I was going down over that bridge on my horse's back."
The following are excerpts of the official reports of several officers concerned in this expedition. General Baird says:
It was not until late that I learned that the Fourth and Twenty-third Corps had also reached the railroad near Rough and Ready, and were there intrenching. My little party moved out independent of every one else, and, although opposed and constantly menaced by the rebel cavalry, struck the road some miles in advance of any other. Colonel Hunter and his officers and mien deserve much credit for their enterprise and determination.
Colonels Walker, Hunter and Carlton thus speak of it:
Colonel Este had sent forward the Seventy-fifth Indiana, which, I am told, gallantly co-operated with Colonel Carlton in driving back the enemy's cavalry and taking position on the railroad. About night Colonel Carlton, finding that the enemy was bringing forward a considerable force of cavalry against him, deemed it prudent to withdraw his command a short distance from the railroad, and reported the same to me. I had been very uneasy lest he should be overpowered by numbers, and on learning his condition, I obtained permission of General Baird and sent the Eighty-second Indiana and Thirty-first Ohio, under command of Colonel Hunter, to his support. Colonel Hunter now being the ranking officer, assumed command of the en- tire force, marched upon the railroad, driving back the enemy's cavalry, took up a position, fortified it, and, during the night and succeeding morn- ing, destroyed about one mile of the railroad. I think great praise is due to all the officers and men engaged in this most successful effort to reach and cut the railroad. I would not assert it positively, but from all the facts I have learned, Carlton and Grosvenor led the first of our troops who cut the railroad.
M. B. WALKER, Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
322
History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
On the evening of the 31st, my regiment, with the Thirty-first and Eighty- ninth Ohio and Seventy-fiftlı Indiana, all under my command, aided by Captains Curtis, Whedon, and Grosvenor, of Colonel Walker's staff, moved and occupied tlie railroad at what is known as Morrow's, or Chapman's Station, which I believe was the first point at which the road was reached. When we advanced, the position was held by rebel cavalry, but they soon gave way before our skirmish line, which was under command of Major Jolly, of the Eighty-ninth Ohio. We spent the night in fortifying our position on the road, which was in the form of a square, one regiment being placed on each side. The works were made very strong, and would have withstood a heavy and prolonged fight. We remained in possession of the road until the next day about II o'clock, when we were ordered to join our division. While upon the road we burned one car and tore up and destroyed about one mile of the track.
MORTON C. HUNTER, Colonel Eighty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
3Ist, moved forward three-fourths of a mile; built works. About 12 n1. moved forward one mile; threw up a second line of works. Having halted a short time the regiment moved forward with orders to go to the railroad if possible. The skirmish line of the regiment reached the railroad, meet- ing with but slight resistance from the enemy. The telegraph wire was cut by corps signal officer. Being two miles from support and appearances in- dicating that the enemy were moving to our left and rear, the skirmish line was withdrawn. They had barely reached the reserve when orders were re- ceived to hold the railroad, and the line was advanced a second time. The Seventy fifth Indiana having joined as a support before we reached tlie rail- road, the Eighty-second Indiana and Thirty-first Ohio arrived, and the four regiments took possession of the railroad and threw up works during the night.
C. H. CARLTON, Colonel Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry.
Our four Regiments held this road until about noon of the next day, when we rejoined our Division.
In the afternoon of September Ist, our Brigade moved south along the Rough and Ready road in the direction of Jonesboro about three miles, then it filed to the left and was ordered into position of line of battle with the rest of the Division. This was for the purpose of preparing for the famous charge at Jonesboro on the evening of this day. The Division was formed in two lines by Brigades, and two of the Brigades-Este's and Gleason's-were formed in two lines by Regiments. Este's Brigade composed the first line,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.