USA > Indiana > History of the Third Indiana cavalry > Part 9
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ing, of the Army of the Cumberland, and encamped near Trickum Postoffice, May 7, 1864. May 8, 1864, moved to Villanow and opened communication with the Army of the Tennessee, Major- General McPherson commanding. Received orders and reported with my command to Major-General McPherson on the south side of Stony Face Ridge, at the entrance of Snake Creek Gap. Made reconnoissance and scouted the country during the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of May, 1864. Led the advance of the Army of the Tennessee in the attack on Resaca, drove the enemy's cavalry and infantry skirmish line back behind their works, masking the movements of our infantry until the force of the enemy was too great to contend with longer, when I was relieved by the infantry and the command took post, on the evening of May 13, on the right of our army, then in line of battle before Resaca. I re- luctantly on the evening of the 13th resigned command of the division, and proceeded to my home in the East to recover from wounds received during the day. The command devolved on Col. Murray, and afterwards on Colonel Lowe."
Colonel Murray's report as the successor of General Kilpatrick in command of the division is found at page 862 of the same vol- ume, in which he says: "I proceeded to carry out the instructions of Major-General Sherman, namely, to take possession of the cross roads, thereby covering the formation of our infantry lines, which being accomplished, in further pursuance of these orders put my command in reserve, reporting to the general commanding. By his instruction Lays Ferry was taken possession of, picketing it at night. On the 14th moved, making demonstrations at Gideons, Calhoun and Lays Ferry. At Calhoun, owing to the formation of the banks and the direction of the stream, the guns of the enemy completely covered the crossing. On the 15th moved to Calhoun Ferry; 16th, moved with the command across a pontoon at Lays Ferry; 17th, kept communication between General Thomas' column, moving on the Adairville road, and that of Gen.
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McPherson, on the road to McGuire's. Colonel Baldwin, with his regiment, moving in advance of General Logan, encountered the enemy and successfully drove him all day. On the 18th moved to Adairsville; 19th, to Kingston, by a road parallel to that occupied by the moving columns of the Armies of the Cumberland and Tennessee, reporting to General Elliott, Chief of Cavalry, Department of the Cumberland; on the 20th moved to a point near headquarters, Department of the Cumberland, on Cassville road, opening up communication with Major-General Hooker; 21st, turned over command to Colonel Lowe."
General Elliott, Chief of Cavalry, says (Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, page 747) : "The Third Division under Col. W. W. Lowe, General Kilpatrick being absent wounded, was left at Kingston to guard the line of the Etowah river, with orders to obstruct all fords, hold Gillems Bridge, but to remove the planks from flooring to prevent its use by the enemy, and destroy all other bridges which might possibly be used by them. The division was subse- quently assigned as follows: Third Brigade at Calhoun, head- quarters, with remainder of division at Cartersville, Ga., with orders to patrol the line of railroad and scout from Cartersville to Spring Place, Ga."
Col. W. W. Lowe reports briefly from Adairsville, June 4, 1864; from Kingston, Ga., June 10, June 11, June 16, June 23; from Cartersville, Ga., July 7, 9, 12, 14 and 18, all briefly re- counting scouts, skirmishes and captures of small bodies of the enemy and of property by various small bodies of his command. On the 2d of July General Kilpatrick returned to his command at Cartersville, Ga., relieving Colonel Lowe.
Resuming his report (Vol. XXXVIII, page 858), General Kilpatrick says: "I left Cartersville August 3, 1864, and en- camped at Sandtown, on the Chattahoochee. On the 15th crossed the Chattahoochee, took up position on the south side, fortified and remained in camp until 5 p. m. on the 15th, when Colonel
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Garrard crossed Camp creek, tore up portions of the railroad below Sideling and destroyed the depot at Fairburn containing government stores. On my return, scouting the country between Fairburn and the enemy's position at Sandtown. I left my camp on the evening of the 16th of August with the Third Cavalry Division and two brigades of the Second, and two batteries of artillery, with 4,500 men, to attack and destroy the enemy's com- munications. Pickets from the Sixth Texas were met and driven across Camp creek, and the regiment routed from its camp a mile beyond at 10 o'clock in the evening. At 12:30 a. m. General Ross' brigade, 1,100 strong, was driven from my front in the direction of East Point and held from the road by the Second Brigade, Third Division (Lieutenant-Colonel Jones), while the entire command passed. The West Point railroad was reached and a portion of the track destroyed at daylight. Here General Ross attacked my rear. He was repulsed and I moved on the Fay- etteville road, where I again found him in my front. He slowly retired in the direction of Jonesborough, and crossed Flint River at 2 p. m., destroying the bridge.
"Under cover of my artillery, Colonels Minty and Long, com- manding detachments from their brigades, crossed the river and drove the enemy from his rifle pits. The bridge was repaired and the entire command crossed and occupied Jonesborough at 5 p. m., driving the enemy's cavalry in confusion from the town. I now learned that the telegraph and railroad had been destroyed at Bear Creek Station at 11 a. m. by a portion of my command under Lieutenant-Colonel Klein and that General Armstrong had passed through Jonesborough in that direction at 1 p. m. For six hours my command was engaged destroying the road. At 11 o'clock Colonel Murray's division was attacked one mile below the town and driven back. I now suspended operations upon the road and attacked the enemy and drove him one mile and a half.
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"Fearing an attack in the direction of Atlanta, I moved before daylight in the direction of Covington, five miles, and halted and allowed the enemy to come up; left one brigade to engage his at- tention and moved rapidly in the direction of MeDonough, six miles, thence across the country to the Fayetteville road, and reached the railroad one mile above Lovejoys Station at 11 a. m. on the 20th instant.
"On attempting to move on the station I encountered a brigade of infantry and was repulsed. I and my command were only saved by the prompt and daring bravery of Colonels Minty and Long and Captain Estes, my assistant adjutant-general. The enemy were finally checked and driven back with heavy loss. We captured one battle flag. At this moment a staff officer from Col. Murray informed me that a large force of cavalry, with artillery, had attacked his rear. In twenty minutes I found that I was completely enveloped by cavalry and infantry with artillery.
"I decided at once to ride over the enemy's cavalry and retire over the MeDonough road. A large number of my people were dis- mounted, fighting on foot, it taking some time to mount them and form my command for the charge. During the delay the enemy constructed long lines of barricades on every side. Those in front of his, cavalry were very formidable. Pioneers were sent in ad- vance of the charging column to remove the obstructions. Colonel Minty, with his command in three columns, charged, broke and rode over the enemy's left. Colonel Murray with his regiments broke their center, and in a moment General Jackson's division, 4,000 strong, was running in great confusion. It was the most perfect rout any cavalry had sustained during the war. We cap- tured four guns (three were destroyed and one brought off) ; three battle flags were taken; his ambulances, wagons and ordnance train captured and destroyed as far as possible; many prisoners were taken and his killed and wounded is known to be large. My command was quickly re-formed; thrown into position, fought
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successfully the enemy's infantry for one hour and forty minutes, and only retired when we found that we had left only sufficient ammunition to make sure our retreat.
"We swam Cotton Indian creek and crossed South river on the morning of the 21st and reached our lines near Decatur by way of Lithonia, without molestation, at 2 p. m. August 22. We ef- fectively destroyed four miles of the Macon road, from Jones- borough to Bear Creek Station, a distance of ten miles. One train of cars was completely and a second partially destroyed. We brought into camp one gun, three battle flags, a large number of fresh horses and mules and about fifty prisoners. My entire loss in killed, wounded and missing will not exceed three hundred men. Two hundred of this number were killed and wounded. Only the dangerously wounded were left with the enemy.
"August 25 I moved with my command to Stevens Cross Roads, one mile and a half beyond Union Church ; went into camp, cov- ering the entire country in front of the right flank of the Army of the Tennessee, which had made its first day's march with the grand army in its movement upon the enemy's communications. At 6 a. m. August 26 the command moved in advance of and upon the right flank of the Army of the Tennessee, masking its move- ments; drove the enemy's cavalry, under Brigadier-General Ross, to and beyond the railroad, and went into camp, August 27, on the right of the army at Fairburn.
"In the movement upon the Macon railroad at Jonesborough my command had the advance and, with the assistance of two regi- ments of infantry, the Second and Seventh Iowa Regiments, Majors Hamill and Mahon commanding, steadily forced the enemy back to within three miles of Renfro Place, the cavalry moving on the right flank up to this point. Here the Ninety- second Illinois Mounted Infantry under the direction of Captain Estes, my assistant adjutant-general, pushed in ahead of the in- fantry, rushed the enemy back to and across Flint river, saved the
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bridge, crossed and took possession of the rifle pits beyond; a brigade of infantry having been thrown across and pushed up the hill in the direction of the station to the left of Jonesborough.
"I rapidly crossed three regiments of cavalry, moved in and drove the enemy from the high hills on the right, while Captain Estes with the Ninety-second Illinois made a daring but unsuc- cessful attempt to reach the railroad. This attack, made as night was closing in, and although with considerable loss, yet resulted most favorable to the success of the operations during the night and the following morning, the brigade of infantry having been pushed in well towards the station, far to the left of Jonesborough. This determined attack of cavalry dismounted a mile to the right, with considerable infantry skirmishing between, forced the enemy to believe that a heavy force of infantry had crossed, and there waited instead of making an attack, which might have proved disastrous. My cavalry was relieved by infantry during the night, recrossed Flint river the following morning and moved to Anthonys Bridge one mile below. The bridge having been burned, was quickly rebuilt and a portion of the command passed over and was pushed well in upon the enemy's flank near the direction of the railroad.
"During the day a daring and successful attempt was made by Captain Qualman (Third Indiana Cavalry) with a portion of the Third Indiana Cavalry to reach the railroad and telegraph. A section of the road was torn up and a mile of telegraph wire was brought away, with the loss of one man killed. At 3:30 p. m. of the same day (August 31) the enemy made a determined attack upon the infantry on my left. It seemed to be the intention of the enemy to break or turn our right flank. At first he entirely ignored my command. This I determined he should not do. Five regiments of cavalry, dismounted, were in position behind barri- cades directly in the flanks of the charging column. My artillery was in most favorable position. I directed the artillery to com- mence firing on the advancing column of the enemy, and the cav-
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alry upon the opposite side of the river to meet and attack him. This attack was determined and gallantly made. The enemy was forced to turn and meet it. He moved down in heavy columns, twice charged and was twice repulsed, but finally forced by my people to retire from their rail barricades and across the river. A portion of the enemy succeeded in crossing, were met by the Ninety-second Illinois, dismounted, and repulsed.
"We held the bridge until relieved by the infantry under Gen. Blair in the afternoon of the following day, when we moved to Glass Bridge, below Lovejoys Station. We repaired the bridge, which had been burned by the enemy, crossed and maintained our position upon the opposite side for two days, constantly annoying the enemy's flank and rear, repulsing with loss every attack he made. We formed a junction with the right of the infantry of the Army of the Tennessee near Lovejoys Station September 3. Re- mained in this position until 11 o'clock September 5 and then moved back, first to Anthonys Bridge, then to Red Oak and finally to Sandtown, having covered the rear and flank of the Army of the Tennessee in its retrograde movement from Lovejoys Station to its present position.
"Before closing my report, I desire to assure the chief of cavalry that the officers and men of my command have endeavored zealously and faithfully to discharge every duty assigned them, and I only hope that he and those of my seniors in rank are as well satisfied with my conduct as I am with the efforts of my command.
"Respectfully submitted,
"J. KILPATRICK,
"Brigadier-General U. S. Volunteers, Commanding."
On the 23d of August, 1864, at Sandtown, Ga., Lieut .- Col. Klein, who had been in command of the First Brigade, Third Cavalry Division, for three days from the 18th of August, makes this report (Vol. XXXVIII, page 868) :
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"At 11 p. m. of the 18th instant, with my command of thirteen officers and 292 men, I left the main column at Steven's farm, seven miles from the railroad at Fairburn. Agreeably to instruc- tions I tore up a portion of the track and telegraph wire, and at 2 a. m. on the 19th moved on Fayetteville road, reaching that place at 7 a. m., meeting a small force and capturing some pris- oners, forty mules and twenty wagons, the latter of which were burned. Moved on Griffin road to near Mount Zion Church, turned to the left, crossed Flint river eight miles from Fayette- ville and eight miles from Fayette Station on Macon railroad, at which point I intended striking, but by a mistake of our guide struck railroad four miles above Fayette at Bear Creek Station at 11 a. m. Commenced tearing up track and telegraph wire, de- stroying over one solid mile at intervals of three miles along the road towards Lovejoys Station, and three miles of wire, taking it down, reeling and hiding it. The railroad ties were piled up and iron laid on them and burned.
"At Bear Creek captured a train of nine cars loaded with whisky, meal, wheat, lard and railroad trucks. This train was run off railroad in a deep cut and burned. When three miles towards Lovejoys heard another train coming and succeeded in cutting it off between Lovejoys and the destroyed track, but I found the guard of infantry too strong, and was disposing of my force for a united attempt to take it when a cavalry force came in on my flank, compelling me to defend myself in that quarter. In a charge some prisoners were captured, from whom I learned that Ferguson's and Armstrong's brigades of cavalry were upon me and Reynolds' infantry brigade also advancing. Under the cir- cumstances I deemed it prudent to get out of there. I had one open road, across the bridge I had come over in the morning, or I could have gone towards Griffin, which would have been certain capture, for I had given up the prospect of meeting with the re- mainder of the expedition. Not being able to hear of them
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from prisoners captured on the train or through Chapman's or Ferguson's men, I decided to fall back on the road I had come and put my decision in immediate execution, leaving railroad at 4:30 p. m. When I reached the bridge across Flint river I found it torn up by the enemy, but a friendly rail fence supplied the place of planks, and my column was soon over and the bridge in flames. When within two miles of Fayetteville the enemy came in on my rear, via the ford from Lovejoys Station to Fayetteville, and kept up a brisk fire with my rear guard, warming up as we neared the town, when they opened on us in front, being posted in front and in the town. We scattered them by a saber charge and were not much harassed by them afterward. I passed through Fairburn at 7:30 p. m., one hour and a half after an infantry force, intending to intercept us, had moved farther down in antici- pation of meeting us. I remained the balance of the night near Steven's farm, reaching Sandtown at 11 a. m., 20th instant. I brought in with me seventeen prisoners and forty mules. My cas- ualties were two men wounded and three captured.
"I am, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"ROBERT KLEIN, "Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding."
After Colonel Klein returned from this expedition we get an account of the battalion of the Third Indiana Cavalry next in the report of Maj. J. Morris Young, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, command- ing the First Brigade, Third Cavalry Division, from August 26 to September 8, 1864, found at page 869, Vol. XXXVIII, in which that officer says :
"At New Hope Church, August 29, 10 a. m., Lieutenant-Colonel Klein reported himself sick, and the command of the brigade de- volved on me."
This report was written at East Point, Ga., September 8, 1864. Major Young says "that at 1 p. m. August 31 Captain Qualman, Company K, and Captain Young, Company H, Third Indiana
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Cavalry, were sent (from the crossing of Flint river due west of Jonesborough) with 100 picked men to cut the railroad a few miles below here. The balance of the brigade commenced bar- ricading and prepared to hold the opposite side of Flint river. At 2:30 p. m. a demonstration was ordered by Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, Eighth Indiana Cavalry, commanding the Second Brigade, in favor of Captains Qualman and Young. A few moments past 3 p. m. our barricades were not as yet completed, Lieut .- Col. Jones, with the Third and Eighth Indiana in the advance barri- cade and myself with the Fifth Iowa and Tenth Ohio in the rear one, when the rebels attacked and soon developed a force that was speedily enveloping the command. The rear barricade was held till all were in from the front, when the ammunition was out and our whole force retired across the river, remounted and formed. In this last engagement the brigade lost one killed, six wounded and seven missing. At 6 p. m. Captains Qualman and Young returned with their command, having fully accomplished their object, and, although constantly skirmishing with the enemy, without a casualty. Barricaded and bivouacked for the night near former camp. The gallant and successful undertaking of Captains Qualman and Young, Third Indiana Cavalry, is worthy of more than passing notice.
"J. MORRIS YOUNG,
"Major Commanding First Brigade, Third Cavalry Division."
The report of Maj. Alfred Gaddis (Vol. XXXVIII, page 872), dated September 8, 1864, from Headquarters Left Wing Third Indiana Cavalry, covers specially the operation of the bat- talion from August 26. That officer says :
"August 26, 1864, left camp at Sandtown at 12 p. m. with my command of nine commissioned officers and 204 men. Marched to Camp Creek and bivouacked for the night. August 27 took the advance of the division, met the enemy's pickets one and a
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half miles south of Camp Creek, charged and drove them one mile east of Stevens Cross Roads and formed line of battle. Were relieved by Colonel Murray's brigade. Went into camp at Stevens Cross Roads for the night. August 28 advanced to New Hope Church. One hundred men under Captain Qualman, Com- pany K, and Lieutenant White, Company H, were detached at Stevens Cross Roads and sent by way of Fairburn. Encountered about forty confederate cavalry near Fairburn. Drove them through the town, sabering one and capturing some mules and small arms. Had one man wounded. Returned to the command at New Hope Church. Laid in line of battle until next morning at 9 a. m. August 29 moved out on Jonesborough road, barricaded and returned to New Hope Church and camped for the night. August 30 advanced on the Jonesborough road, encountered enemy's pickets, skirmished with them all day, driving them across Flint river. August 31 moved down Flint river, crossed the bridge within one mile of Jonesborough and barricaded, being in right center of the division. Were attacked by infantry and compelled to fall back and recross the river, with one man mor- tally wounded, since died; three severely wounded, four missing. One hundred picked men under Captain Qualman, Company K, and Captain Young, Company H, were sent to cut the railroad, which was accomplished four miles south of Jonesborough. Re- turned and went into camp. September 1 moved out and barri- caded on Fayetteville road. September 2 moved to Fayetteville and Griffin road. September 3 crossed Flint river and barricaded on extreme right of our army. September 4 remained in barri- cades. September 5 moved to Fitzgeralds. September 6 formed rear guard of Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps. Went into camp at Flint river. September 7 picketed on left flank of the Army of the Tennessee. September 8 returned to
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near Mount Gillead Church and went into camp. Casualties, one mortally wounded, since died, six severely wounded, four missing.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"ALFRED GADDIS, "Major Commanding."
It is a part of the history of the capture of the train at Bear Creek Station, referred to in Lieutenant-Colonel Klein's report, that it was first sighted by Samuel N. Hamilton and James Jef- fries, two young boys of Company L, who, without taking into consideration the serious danger and nature of their undertaking, dashed up and leveled their carbines upon the engineer and con- ductor, demanding their surrender, which they promptly did. These two youngsters had the entire train on their hands, without knowing what to do with it, until their command came up some minutes' later and took charge of and sidetracked and burned it, as recited by Lieutenant-Colonel Klein. Young Hamilton, who is now a staid and leading physician at Connersville, Ind., was a good deal of a dare devil all through his service in the army. He was with Company M at the surrender of John Morgan, near Salineville, Ohio, on his famous raid, and later in East Tennessee, while an orderly at the headquarters of the Twenty-third Corps, carried a dispatch a long distance through the enemy's country to General Manson, countermanding an order for General Manson to move on Bristol, Tenn. For his daring conduct he received the personal thanks of General Manson. Dr. Hamilton served three years and was not twenty years old when discharged.
After he was relieved from command in the Shenandoah Valley and joined the army in the West, Gen. J. H. Wilson, who had so long had the Eastern battalion of the Third Indiana Cavalry under him as a part of his command, finding a number of men of the Western battalion with the Western army, whose term of service had not expired, made an effort to have the two wings of
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the regiment consolidated, and in pursuance of that purpose wrote to the Secretary of War as follows:
"Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
"Sir-I have the honor to recommend and request that steps may be taken to secure the reorganization of the Third Regiment of Indiana Cavalry. There are two companies of veterans orig- inally belonging to that regiment now serving with the Third Cavalry Division under General Sheridan, and six companies with General Kilpatrick in Georgia. Of the latter I am un- officially informed enough men have re-enlisted to make two good companies. I would respectfully request that the two companies in the Shenandoah Valley and those with Kilpatrick be ordered to Indiana, and authority be given to Maj. Samuel McIrvin, Major Patton and Captain Lee to reorganize the regiment and bring it into the field. Major McIrvin has served three years with great distinction (having entered the service from Indiana) in the Sec- ond New York, and was mustered out as major of that regiment. Major Patton served three years with the Third Indiana Cavalry, is a brave and zealous officer and soldier. Captain Lee now com- mands the veteran squadron of the regiment and is a young officer of great promise. This request is made with a view of retaining in the army one of the best regiments of cavalry that has taken part in the war, and with the belief that its fame will render its reorganization an easy matter for the Governor of Indiana and the War Department. If conscripts or volunteers from Indiana are to be given to cavalry regiments in the field, a sufficient num- ber might be assigned to the Third Indiana to allow it to retain its regimental organization complete, without the necessity of sending them home.
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