USA > Indiana > Memorabilia of the marches and battles in which the One Hundredth Regiment of Indiana Infantry Volunteers took an active part : War of the Rebellion, 1861-5 > Part 8
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to let Hood go to Tennessee. At this moment an order was received from General Howard not to pursue the fleeing Rebels, so we marched back four miles and went into camp, and on the 26th we marched at 7 A. M. and reached our camp on Little River at 2:45 P. M., having marched ex- actly 48 miles in 48 hours. This engagement took place nine miles northeast of Gadsden, Ala- bama.
The 100th Indiana Faced Toward the Sea.
WVe remained in camp on the 27th and 28th. On the 29th we had reveille at 3:30 A. M., and marched to Cedar Bluffs, on the road lead- ing back to Rome, Georgia, we crossed the Coosa on the 17 A. C. Pontoons; marched II miles, total 261 miles, and encamped in a miser- able place on the south side of the river. This was the first day's march back toward Atlanta and the sea.
On the 30th we went into camp at 2:30, within four miles of Cave Springs, southwest of Rome, Georgia. The Rebel guerrillas fired on some of our men. On the 3Ist we only marched four miles to Cave Springs and went into camp. On the Ist of November we marched nine miles to Cedartown, almost directly south of Rome about twenty miles. The guerrillas slipped up and fired on some of our men during the day.
On the Ist of November we marched all day in the rain. On the 2d we marched at daybreak 12 miles and encamped in the pine woods on the Yellow Stone road; total, 302 miles. On the 3rd
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we marched 15 miles in the mud and rain and en- camped on the Burnt Hickory road, in the woods. On the 4th we took the Powder Springs road and marched 15 miles, mainly in the direction of Vinings, or Smyrna. We moved out carly on the 5th to the southeast, struck our old works at Smyrna at dark, and encamped five miles south- west of Marietta, Georgia. Marched 15 miles; total, 347 miles. Here we halted to prepare ourselves for continuing our march toward the sea.
On the 6th we made estimates for clothing and shoes, both of which the men needed very badly. On the 9th we were paid. On the 12th we destroyed railroad iron and ties-burned the ties and bent and twisted the rails after being heated in the middle by the burning ties. On the 13th we drew clothing and then marched through the city of Atlanta and encamped at Whitehall, near our old works during the siege-marched 15 miles; total since we left East Point, in pursuit of Hood, 362 miles, a considerable part of which was in zigzag directions, on account of the roads, being very crooked or occupied by other columns.
The 100th Indiana on the March to the Sea.
MEMORABILIA BY E. J. SHERLOCK.
The march through Georgia to the sea was first thought of by General Sherman. Prior to the fall of Atlanta such a campaign was unheard of. But Sherman had such a movement in con- templation and was maturing his plans for its ex- ecution prior to Jefferson Davis' visit to Hood's
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army on the 25th of September, for on the 20th, before we started to follow Hood, he wrote Gen. Grant that "If you will fix a day I will be in Savannah. I will insure our possession of Ma- con and a point on the river below Augusta. The possession of the Savannah River is more than fatal to the possibility of Southern independence. They may stand the fall of Richmond, but not all of Georgia."
Numerous dispatches which passed between Grant, Sherman, Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, contained in Serial No. 79, all go to show that the most that the authorities did at Washington was to acquiesce in Sherman's plans to march to the sea.
On the 13th Grant wrote the Secretary of War that he believed that Sherman's proposition to march through Georgia was the best that could be adopted, and that "such an army as Sherman had, with such a commander, would be hard to corner or capture," and at HI o'clock that day, General Grant made an order for the same sup- plies for us which we received at Savannah after the fall of Fort McAllister, and at 8:30 P. M., on the 13th of October, 1864, E. M. Stanton wired General Sherman that his plans had been ap- proved and that supplies would be sent down to Ililton Head and would be sent to him on trans- ports (Serial 79, pp. 239-240).
Sherman notified Grant on the 7th that the movement to the sea would begin on the roth or the day after, to which Grant answered on the same day, "Great good attend you." (Serial 79, p. 679.)
On the 7th the engineer's department was ordered to "take special charge of the destruc-
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tion of Atlanta; of all depots, car houses, shops, factories, foundries, being careful to knock down all furnace chimneys and break down the arches." (Serial 79, p. 68o.)
At that date the 15th Army Corps was bi- vouacked at Camp Smyrna. The men were being paid, clothed and equipped. On the 9th special field orders No. 120 were issued from Kingston by General Sherman for the govern- ment of the army during the contemplated move- ment through Georgia. A brief synopsis of which was:
First: That the right wing, the 15th and 17th Corps, was to be commanded by General Howard and the left wing, the 14th and 20th by General Slocum.
Second: The order of march was provided for-the cavalry under Kilpatrick was to receive special orders from General Sherman.
Third: Provided for the movement and the kind and number of trains.
Fourth: Provided that the "Army will forage liberally on the country, etc., etc." The manner in which it must be done, and that no soldier should enter a private dwelling.
Fifth: Provided for the destruction of such property, as was regarded contraband of war, by orders of army commanders only.
Sixth: Provided for the confiscation of horses, mules, and such other property, as might be needed by the infantry and cavalry, distin- guishing between the rich and the poor, in the seizure thereof.
Seventh: Provided for taking such negroes, as would be serviceable in the army, as team- sters or pioneers.
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Eighth: Related to the organization of a good pioneer corps for each Army Corps. (Se- rial 79, pp. 713-14. )
On the roth General Corse was ordered to destroy, during the night, "All publie property not needed by his command, in Rome, Georgia, such as foundries, bridges, mills, workshops, warehouses, etc. The 14th Corps was ordered to destroy the railroad from the Etowah to Big Shanty. The 15th and 17th from Kenesaw to Chattahoochee, and the 20th Corps from that river into and including the city of Atlanta." (No. 79, pp. 627 and 729.)
The destruction of Atlanta began on the morning of the rith of November, 1864. Gen- eral Sherman left Kingston for the front on the morning of the 12th. By evening of the latter date the 14th, 15th, 17th and 20th Army Corps were all concentrated at Atlanta, with the cav- alry on the front and right of the 15th Corps, the latter being commanded by General P. J. Oster- haus, the 17th by General Frank P. Blair.
The 15th Corps was composed of four Di- visions: the Ist, General C. R. Woods; 2nd, General W. B. Hazen; 3rd; General John E. Smith; 4th, General John M. Corse.
The 17th had three Divisions: the Ist, Gen- eral Joseph A. Mower; the 2nd, General M. D. Leggett, and the 3rd, General Giles A. Smith.
The 14th Army Corps had three Divisions: the Ist, General W. P. Carlin; the 2nd, General James D. Morgan, and the 3rd, General Absa- lom Baird.
The 20th Corps had three Divisions: the Ist, General Nathaniel J. Jackson; the 2nd, General John W. Geary, and the 3rd, General
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William T. Ward; making thirteen Divisions in all.
The Cavalry Division was commanded by Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick. One Bri- gade was commanded by Col. Eli H. Murray and the other by Col. Smith D. Adkins.
November 14th our forces consisted of 55,329 infantry, 5,063 cavalry, and 1, 812 artil- lery; total, 62, 204, as good fighting men as the world ever produced. Skilled in the art of war, inured to hardship, well disciplined, of excellent morals, and as brave and fearless as lions in their native jungle. The picture of health, flushed with victory after victory, on many bloody and well-won fields; they fairly bounded, as they marched out into the enemy's country, with all the confidence and self-reliance, which an army can feel, which is deeply conscious of its own invincibility and superior prowess.
Such was the character of the army which, on Tuesday morning, November 15, 1864, marched out of Atlanta, feeling that it was un- conquerable before any army which could be brought to oppose it. On the latter date we had reveille at 3 A. M., and the 15th and 17th Corps and the cavalry moved out. We left East Point to our left, passed Rough and Ready Station; the 97th Indiana in advance, drove the Rebel Cavalry from our front after a lively skirmish. We went into camp at 2 P. M., having marched 8 miles southeast of Jonesboro and 36 miles from Camp Smyrna, which was 14 miles north of At- lanta. We found some Rebel piekets at Rough and Ready, who fled percipitately on the ap- proach of our advance. A force of Rebels made some show of resistance at Jonesboro, but it was
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quickly driven away; but at Stockbridge, near our camp, the Rebel General Lewis with about 1,000 men and a section of artillery, made some resistance, but was soon routed by the 29th Mis- souri, which was our advance. There was some cannonading in the evening: the day closed with the four skirmishes of East Point, Rough and Ready, Jonesboro and Stockbridge. (92 -- 81)
Stockbridge Village, November 16, 1864; marched at 9 A. M. We were in the rear, hav- ing had the advance yesterday. Forage was plenty and water good; passed through McDon- ough and five miles to the south; marched 14 miles; total 50 miles. The cavalry found a force of Wheeler's army in the old Rebel works at Lovejoy. They showed fight; Col. Murray charged their line, captured two three inch rifled cannon and killed and wounded a large number. Wheeler, after the engagement, made a stand at Bear Creek, but was again charged by the 10th Ohio, when his lines broke and his forces fled to Griffin, 14 miles distant, with a loss of killed, wounded and prisoners of 500. 100,000 rounds of ammunition, three caisons, four boxes of fixed ammunition and 175 stand of small arms were destroyed. The advance of the 15th Corps met a Rebel force at Cotton River Bridge, which was quickly dispersed, and the day closed with the action at Lovejoy and the two skirmishes of Bear Creek and Cotton River Bridge (92-362).
On the 17th we started from camp, five miles south of MeDonough, at 1:30 P. M. One mile below Locust Grove, the 3d and 4th Divis- ions of the 15th Corps took the (left ) Jackson road. We camped at 10:30 P. M. on the main Macon road, between Griffin and Jackson, having
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marched 15 miles; total, 65 miles. Lewis' Rebel Brigade was reported at the bridge on the Tow- aligo River. The 5th Kentucky, Col. Baldwin, charged their position and found only a weak line, which was quickly routed, the main body having retreated, and the day closed with the skirmish at Towaligo Creek (92-1).
On the 18th the Tooth Indiana took the ad- vance, directly east to Indian Springs, a summer resort, and encamped; got plenty of Rebel news- papers, printed on all kinds of paper; marched five miles; total, 70 miles.
The Confederate officials promulgated some highly inflammatory addresses to the people of Georgia, exhorting them to rise up in their might and crush out the invaders. But the Union Army moved along from day to day, the same as if they had never been delivered. The fol- lowing are specimen appeals by those who kept out of danger:
"Richmond, Va., Nov. 18, 1864.
"To the people of Georgia:
"You have now the best opportunity ever yet presented to destroy the enemy. Put everything at the disposal of our Generals, remove all pro- visions from the path of the invader and put all obstructions in his path. Every citizen with his gun and every negro with his spade and axe can do the work of a soldier. You can destroy the enemy by retarding his march. Georgians, be firm! Act promptly and fear not.
B. H. Hill, Senator."
"I most cordially approve the above.
"James A. Seddon, "Secretary of War."
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And the following is another address of about the same tenor:
"Corinth, Nov. 18, 1864.
"To the People of Georgia:
"Arise for the defense of your native soil! Rally round your patriotic Governor and gallant soldiers! Obstruct and destroy all roads in Sher- man's front, flank and rear, and his army will soon starve in your midst! Be confident and res- olute! Trust in an overruling Providence and success will crown your efforts! I hasten to join you in defense of your home and friends.
"G. T. Beauregard." (92-867)
These appeals did not cause the Georgians to arise, nor did General Beauregard ever join them where there was any danger. Hle sent the following advice, however, to General Wheeler; "Major General Wheeler:
"Employ your cavalry to best advan- tage, retarding advance of Sherman's Army and destroying supplies in his front.
"G. T. Beauregard." (92-867)
Gen. Wheeler obeyed the order far enough to get in our front, but he was not able to re- tard our advance. Gen. Lee dispatched Jeffer- son Davis as follows:
"Petersburg, Nov. 19, 1864.
"Ilis Excellency Jefferson Davis,
"Richmond, Va.
"All roads, bridges, provisions, etc., within Sherman's reach should be destroyed. The pop- ulation must turn out. * * * Savannah will probably be Sherman's object. Troops that can
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be spared from Charleston, Savannah, etc., should take the field under Hardee.
"R. E. Lee. " (92-869)
And some Rebel Congressmen at Richmond contributed their advice to the people of Georgia, as follows:
"Richmond, November 19, 1864. "To the People of Georgia:
"We have had a special conference with President Davis and the Secretary of War. Let every man fly to arms! Remove your negroes, cattle, horses, and provisions from Sherman's army and burn what you cannot carry. Burn all bridges and block up the roads in his route, assail the invader, in front, flank and rear, by night and by day; let him have no rest.
"Julian Hartridge and
"Six other members of Congress." (92-869).
Jefferson Davis also told the people of Geor- gia how to defeat and destroy us in the following dispatch:
"Richmond, Va., November 22, 1864.
"Col. William Browne, Aid de Camp, Augusta Yards: Convey to all Generals my instructions, that every effort will be made by destroying bridges, felling trees, planting sub- terra shells and otherwise to obstruct the advance of the enemy. All supplies will be destroyed * to impede the march of Sherman's army and prevent it from foraging on the country.
"Jefferson Davis." (92-SSo)
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So it appears by the record, that Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and the members of the Confederate Congress all advised the South to destroy all that was in Sherman's front. In some instances the citizens of Georgia were ably assisted in carrying out some portions of these orders by the soldiers of the Union army; and the following dispatch shows that Davis was in favor of filling the roadways with bombs to retard our advance.
"Richmond, Nov. 18, 1864. "General H. Cobb, Macon, Ga. : "Get out every man. * * Employ negroes in obstructing roads by every practicable means. Col. Rains, at Augusta, can furnish you with shells prepared to explode by pressure, and these will be effective to check an advance.
"Jeff Davis." (92-Davis-865.)
On the roth we marched at 7 A. M. Com- pany "A," Tooth Indiana, was advance guards of the Division. Moved 7 miles to Planter's Factory on the Ocmulgee River, said to be owned by White & Scott of Macon, had dinner of biscuit, butter and burnt wheat coffee. Com- pany "A" guarded the factory, crossed on the pontoons, marched in mud and rain, over a rough country, in a zigzag course until 2 A. M. Roads were simply impassable for anything but Yankees. Marched 14 miles; total 84 (92-1).
The rear of the 15th Corps did not get across the Ocmulgee until the 20th. We marched at 5 A. M., again in the advance. We sent out large forage parties, got plenty of corn meal, meat and flour. The 17th Corps took the Milledge- ville road at Hillsboro. We marched all night,
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halted on the field where Stoneman was defeated, marched 17 miles; total 101 miles. The First Brigade of Hazen's Division, 15th Army Corps, routed the Rebel cavalry at Clinton, a town which lay in our line of march. Kilpatrick met the enemy's cavalry under Wheeler four miles out of Macon; he drove them across Walnut Creek and charged into their works at Macon, but could not hold them. A train of cars were burned and a mile of track torn up near Gris- woldville, and the day closed with these four skirmishes with Wheeler's cavalry (92-363).
Thirteen cars, loaded with car wheels, were burned at Griswoldville on the 21st by the 9th Michigan, as well as the soap and candle factory and an arsenal engaged in manufacturing pistols and sabres for the Confederate Army, embracing in all 44 houses. There was considerable skir- mishing done at that place during the time, in which the Rebels were worsted and driven back toward Macon (92-363).
We marched eight miles in the rain, en- camped about twelve miles northeast of Macon. We had some skirmishing with Rebel cavalry in the evening, near Griswoldville, before we went into camp. (My Memo.)
The following property was destroyed at Griswoldville on the 21st: Four miles of rail- road track, one water tank, thirteen railroad cars, three sets engine drivers, twelve car wheels, twenty tons of wrought iron, one pistol factory, one soap factory, one candle factory, one foundry in the employ of the Rebel Government, 400 boxes of soap, twelve wagons, one wagon load of tools and one blacking factory; also the railroad station house (92-368).
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The cavalry engaged the enemy near Ma- con during the day. The 9th Pennsylvania cav- alry covered the rear to Gordon, where another encounter took place, in both of which the Reb- els were routed. The day's operations closed with four skirmishes (92-1 and 363). (92-369).
The 100th Indiana in the Battle of Griswoldville.
On the 22d the weather was cool. Wal- cutt's Brigade covered the rear. We fell in line, marched half a mile in the rear of the train, then halted. We could see the 9th Pennsylvania fighting the Rebels off to our right. Quite a number on each side were killed and wounded. Our Brigade was ordered forward.
The 97th Indiana deployed as skirmishers and drove the Rebel cavalry from the field. Gen. Woods, commanding the Division, was ordered to make a demonstration toward Griswoldville, and he selected Walcutt's Brigade for that pur- pose; which was composed of the following Reg- iments: The 40th Illinois, Lt. Col. ITall, 206 enlisted men; 46th Ohio, Col. Alexander, 218 enlisted men; 103d Illinois, Major Willison, 219 enlisted men; the 6th Iowa, Major W. H. Clune, 177 enlisted men; 97th Indiana; Col. Catterson, 366 enlisted men, and the Tooth Indiana, Col. R. M. Johnson commanding, 327 enlisted men, and one section of Battery "B," Ist Michigan, Capt. Arndt. Total present for duty; 1, 513 men. (No. 92, p. 97.)
Our skirmish line drove the enemy to a point west of and beyond Griswoldville, when by direc- tion of Gen. Osterhaus, the Brigade was drawn back to a position on some high ground on the Duncan farm, near the edge of the woods, with
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Brevet Major General Charles C. Walcutt.
Captain 46th Ohio, April isth. 1861, Major June, 1861, and assigned to staff of Gen' C. W. Hill, Major 46th Ohio, October ist, 1861: Lieut. Colonel, January 30th, 1862, Colonel 46th O. V. I., October 16th, 1862; Brigadier General of Volun- teers July 30th. 1864: Brevet Major General of Volunteers March 13th, 1865, for special gallantry at the battle of Griswoldville, Georgia, November 22nd, 1864 when he was severely wounded.
a large expanse of open ground in front, the flanks being refused so as to cause each to rest very nearly on Sand Creek, a swampy, miry stream, which lay in our rear, from wing to wing. Some temporary works were thrown up by the Regiments in the field, of rails, logs and dirt. This being done the soldiers proceeded to get their dinner. (92-105)
Now, it so happened that the Rebel Army, consisting of seven Brigades and Capt. Ander- son's Battery, in all about 6,600 men, exclusive of Wheeler's cavalry, had been ordered to march from Macon to Augusta, as the Confederate Gen- erals believed that we were movng on that place. The Ist Brigade of the Georgia troops moved in advance of the other Brigades along the railroad and missed our column. When the other six Brigades came along by Griswoldville, they en- countered our pickets, and seeing Walcutt's Brigade from the road they were marching on toward Augusta, their Commander, Brigadier General P. J. Phillips, supposing that we were a small force, determined to assault us. He disposed his forces as follows: Two Brigades, the Athens and Augusta, formed his right, a Brigade of the State Line was placed on the left of the Athens and Augusta Brigades, and on the left of this line was formed McCoy's Brigade, the left of the latter Brigade "resting near and south of the railroad," and General Anderson's Brigade was formed all on the north side of the railroad, "his left resting parallel with the railroad," and Col. Mann's second Brigade was formed in line of battle in the rear of the State Line and McCoy's Brigade, in a secure place to act as reserves, and Anderson's Battery was put in position on
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the highest ground on the north side of the rail- road. ( Jones' Siege of Savannah, page 29.) (Rebel Dispatches, 92-877.)
In this position an advance was ordered by the Confederate General. There were two Bri- gades of Wheeler's Cavalry in reserve.
We were eating dinner at the time. We saw the long lines of battle advancing upon us, whereupon every man of the Regiment prepared himself for battle, and every officer and man did his duty nobly.
The following is the official report of the battle by Col. R. M. Johnson of the tooth In- diana:
"Having arrived at the point designated upon Duncan's farm, we formed line of battle, covering the Macon road, with our flanks resting in the timber, while in front and center was the open field; the Regiments composing the command were assigned positions on the line as follows: On the right of the road were placed the 6th lowa Infantry, 103d Illinois Infantry, and 97th Indiana Infantry. On the left of the road were posted the 40th Illinois Infantry, 1ooth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and 46th Ohio In- fantry, while in the center of the road, the sec- tion of Artillery, which had accompanied the Brigade, took up a position. In less than one hour after getting into position as above stated, our skirmishers became engaged with the ad- vance of the enemy, who was moving upon us, and it soon became apparent that a heavy battle must ensue, as it was evident the enemy intended to endeavor to drive us from our position, and with that view had formed in heavy force upon our front, and opened upon our barricades with
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four pieces of artillery. Brigadier General Charles C. Waleutt, Commanding 2nd Brigade First Division 15th Army Corps, perceiving this, ordered me to take the three right Companies of my Regiment and support the section of the Ist Michigan Battery, occupying the center of the line, which order I immediately obeyed. I had no sooner done this, than from the manuevering of the enemy, it became apparent that he would endeavor to turn our extreme right flank, and to checkmate him there, General Walcutt ordered me to withdraw three more Companies of my Regiment from the left flank and putting them in position on the extreme right flank, take charge of that end of the line, and at all hazards to hold the enemy at bay at that point. I ac- cordingly moved Company "A," "B" and "C" of my Regiment to the extreme right of the Brigade line, and placing Company "A" and "C" on the line deployed Company "B" as skirmishers to extend the line to the right, in- structing the men to shelter 'themselves behind trees, and to hold their positions at all hazards. Companies "I," "K" and "II" having been placed in the center of the Brigade line and the 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, having by order of Gen- eral Walcutt, previously moved to the right, I had only Companies "D," "E," "F" and "G" of my Regiment with which to hold what had been the line occupied by the Tooth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and the 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. These Companies I de- ployed along the works so as to cover the two Regimental fronts. The three Companies in the center I placed under the immediate command of Captain John W. Headington, and he con-
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tinued to manage them during the remainder of the fight with skill and sound discretion. On the right flank my men were much exposed, having no works to shelter themselves, but the ground being rather favorable, I succeeded in checking the enemy so suddenly in his effort to turn our line that he did not afterwards attempt seriously to get around our flank, nor did he even have time to discover the strength of our line or number of our forces at that point. In this engagement, which lasted from one o'clock until dark, the enemy made some seven dis- tinct assaults upon our lines, which we hand- somely repulsed, with heavy loss on his part each time. Toward evening I received an order from Colonel R. F. Catterson, 97th Indiana Infantry, who in the meantime had assumed command of the Brigade, owing to Brigadier General Wal- cutt's having been wounded, to be ready, with a heavy skirmish line in my front, to charge the enemy at the sound of the bugle and to bring in sach of the enemy as had remained behind in the last repulse and taken shelter under the cover of a ravine which ran along our front. This move- ment was accordingly executed and resulted in the capture of several prisoners, most of whom were wounded. We found a considerable num- ber of small arms, which I had brought in and turned over to the Brigade Commander and the wounded men were sent back to the hospital for care and treatment. After the close of the fight and the gathering up of all the prisoners obtain. able and the property left by the enemy on the field, in obedience to orders received, we with- drew from the works and rejoined the column. In this engagement, I lost 2 men killed and IS
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