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 9
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wounded, a list of which is hereto attached, as follows:
Captain Eli J. Sherlock, "A," wounded right foot by an ex- ploding shell.
George Buchanan, "A," wounded left shoulder; shrapnell.
Levi B. Powell, "A," wounded left hand and knee; minnie ball; severe.
Aaron Wolford, Corporal, "C," killed.
Joseph Harris, Corporal, "E," wounded left arm.
Henry Fairchild, Corporal, "C," wounded right thigh; severe.
Thomas N. Holloway, Private, "G," wounded in jaw; severe; minnie ball.
Jacob Baumgarten, Private, "I," killed.
William Kelley, "I," wounded thigh and shoulder; severe.
Elias H. Jones, "I," wounded hip; died.
Daniel Trout, "I," wounded head; severe.
Robert Ostler, "I," wounded head.
John M. Cook, 'I," wounded head and shoulder.
James Bolinger, First Lieutenant, "K," wounded right hip.
Bart. F. Smith. "K, ' wounded face; severe.
J. N. Norwood, "K," wounded leg; severe.
George Borntrager, "K," wounded leg; severe.
Moses N. Pugh, "K," wounded in breast.
Michael Grumen, "K," wounded in abdomen.
William Pollard, "K," wounded right hand; severe.
Francis E. Gillett, "C," killed.
Total killed, 3; total wounded, IS; missing, none.
Total number of casualties, 21.
Prisoners captured represent that the enemy attacked us with 15 Regiments of Infantry and 7 Regiments of Cavalry, and yet the gallantry of our men was such that we successfully held him at bay, and drove him from the field.
In justice to my men, I should state that at one time, the ammunition being scarce, they vol- untarily fixed bayonets and expressed their de- termination to hold their line as long as there was a man of them left. My officers all behaved with conspicuous gallantry and at all times dur- ing the engagement kept cheering their men and telling them to hold their ground and beat back the enemy. My Regiment occupying and hold-
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ing the left flank center and right flank of the Brigade line, I could not well be present at each point but a part of the time, but I am assured that every man and officer did his full duty and behaved gallantly. The strength of my Regi- ment in this engagement was 330 effective men, armed as follows:
Springfield rifled muskets, cal. 58 305
Spencer rifles, cal 52 25
Total number of guns 330
(Official Report R. M. Johnson.)
Col. Catterson's report of the battle (Ex- tract):
"It was at this moment that Gen. Walcutt received a severe wound and was compelled to leave the field. I immediately assumed com- mand and discovered the enemy moving to the right. I suppose he contemplated turning my right flank. As I had already disposed of every available man in the Brigade, and my left being so strongly pressed, that not a man could be spared from it. I sent to the General com- manding the Division for two Regiments. The 12th Indiana Infantry was sent and immediately placed in position to the extreme right, also a squadron of cavalry to watch the right and left flanks; but the day was already ours, as the enemy had been repulsed and driven from the field. I immediately sent forward a line of skir- mishers, who succeeded in capturing about 42 prisoners and 150 small arms. The battle com- menced at 2:30 P. M. and lasted until sunset. During the engagement the enemy made three separate charges, and were as often repulsed, with
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terrible slaughter. I would gladly notice the many deeds of daring during the action, but to do so of every man who distinguished himself would be to mention each man by name in the Brigade; but suffice it to say, the conduct of both officers and men was most superb. The loss of the Brigade in killed was 14; in wounded, 42- this number includes only those sent to the hos- pital. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded could not have been less than 1, 500, about 300 of whom were killed." (Catterson's Official Report, 92-105.)
General Woods' report:
"I cannot speak in too high terms of the coolness and gallantry of Brig. Gen. C. C. Wal- cutt and Col. R. F. Catterson, 97th Indiana In- fantry. The skill with which they handled the troops and the result's obtained, show them to be men of marked ability. The Rebel loss, as near as could be ascertained without actual count, was 300 killed and from 700 to 1, 200 wounded. Ma- jor General Phillips, Col. Mann, 5th Georgia, and Col. George are reported by the prisoners taken to have been killed, and Brig. Gen. Ander- son to have been wounded. Twenty-eight pris- oners were captured and turned over to the Pro- vost Marshal of the 15th Army Corps. Fifteen wounded were brought in and left in a house, not having transportation for them. Our loss was 13 killed, 79 wounded and 2 missing." (Official Report Gen. Woods, 92-98.)
The following is Gen. Osterhaus' report of the battle:
"In the afternoon the Rebel commander
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brought forward four Bigades* of Infantry and a battery of artillery, supported by a strong cavalry force, to dislodge Gen. Walcutt from his position. For several hours their attempts were repeated, with the greatest impetuosity. Their artillery threw a terrific fire into the frail works of Walcutt, while their columns of infantry marched in heroic style to within fifty yards of our line. It was all in vain. Waleutt and his brave Brigade proved that superior skill, coolness and valor made up for the great disparity in numbers. When night came on the enemy retired, leaving over 300 dead on the battlefield and a number of wounded, who were taken care of by our medical corps; also a number of prisoners were taken. Our loss was comparatively light. The brave Gen. Walcutt was wounded by a piece of shell during the fight and Col. Catterson assumed the command of the Brigade. " (Official Report General Osterhaus, 92-83.)
The following congratulatory order was is- sued to our Brigade by General Howard:
Headquarters Department and Army of the Tennessee.
Gordon, Ga., November 23, 1864. 'Major-General Osterhaus,
"Commanding Fifteenth Army Corps:
"General: I take sincere pleasure in con- gratulating the Brigade of General Walcutt, of General Woods Division, of the Fifteenth Corps, on its complete success in the action of yesterday. Officers from other commands, who were look- ing on, say that there never was a better Brigade
*This report should read six Brigades.
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of soldiers. I am exceedingly sorry that any of our brave men should fall, and for the suffering of those that are wounded. The thanks of the army are doubly due to them. I tender my sym- pathy through you to the brave and excellent commander of the Brigade, Brigadier-General Walcutt. It is hoped that his wound may not disable him.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "O. O. Howard, Major-General.
"P. S. The loss of the enemy is estimated from 1,500 to 2,000 killed, wounded and prison- "(. O. Howard, Major-General." ers.
(Rebellion Records, Serial 92, page 96.)
The following is General Sherman's notice of the battle:
"During the 20th, General Kilpatrick made a good feint on Macon, driving the enemy within his intrenehments, and then drew back to Gris- woldville, where Walcutt's Brigade of infantry joined him to cover that flank, whilst Howard's trains were closing up, and his men scattered, breaking up railroads. The enemy came out of Macon (22) and attacked Waleutt in position, but was so roughly handled that he never re- peated the experiment." (Official report Gen- eral Sherman, 92-788.)
A portion of the troops we fought at Gris- woldville were the same state line troops who, under General G. W. Smith, fought us at Kene- saw and Atlanta.
The following is an extract from General G. W. Smith's Confederate report of the battle: "Notwithstanding my order to avoid an en-
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gagement at that time and place, a collision oc- cured, we being the attacking party. Several of the best field officers of the command were killed or wounded. On this occasion the State and Confedetate forces were confronted by Wood's Division of the 15th Army Corps, General Wal- cutt's Brigade, with two pieces of artillery, be- ing in advance. The battle of Griswoldville will be remembered as an unfortunate accident, whose occurence might have been avoided by the exer- cise of proper caution and circumspection. It in no wise crippled the movements of the enemy and entailed upon the Confederates a loss, which under the circumstances could be illy sustained." ( Jones Siege of Savannah, 26-7. ) ( From official report General G. W. Smith, serial 92, 414).
The following is from the official report of Brigadier-General Phillips, who commanded the Confederates at the Battle of Griswoldville:
"The officers and men deported themselves well during the entire action, which lasted from 3 P. M. until dark, held their positions and re- tired in good order to Griswoldville, where I had intended to encamp, and bring off those of our wounded and dead that had not been removed from the battle field; but, on my reaching Gris- woldville, I received an order from the Major- General commanding ordering me to fall back to the trenches at Macon, where I arrived about 2 o'clock A. M.
"I can but believe if the flank movement had been carried out with all the forces assigned to that duty that it would have resulted in dis- lodging and probably routing the enemy, not- withstanding that he was I am satisfied fully equal if not superior to our forces. Whilst we
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have to regret the loss of many gallant officers and men, yet we cannot but hope that they died not in vain." (Jones' Siege of Savannah, p. 31. Official report General Phillips. )
It will be observed that General Phillips makes no statement concerning the number killed and wounded. The writer has been three times over the field since the war and men are living there now ( 1896) who helped to bury the dead, and it is firmly stated that the Confederate loss was 1, 600, or more men than we had engaged, of whom 312 were killed.
The Tooth Indiana pieketed the battlefield that night, and aided all the Confederate wound- ed left on the field. The enemy had removed the most of their wounded and dead during the last assault.
On the 23rd our Brigade moved out at 9 .1. M. five miles to Gordon and encamped; a total of 128 miles.
On the 24th we marched at 7 A. M., 13 miles without a halt, to Irwinton, Wilkinson county, and went into camp. The Cavalry Corps crossed from the right wing over to the left wing at Milledgeville, and crossed the Oco- nee river at that place.
Friday, November 25th, at 6:30 A. M., we marched 12 miles to Lightwood Natural Bridge and went into camp; total, 153 miles. We opened on the enemy at the Oconee river with Artillery, the 12th Wisconsin Battery. Our men set one end of the bridge on fire, while the Rebel forces were firing on them from the other. See following Rebel dispatches:
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"Oconee, November 24, 1864, 8:55 P. M. "Major-General MeLaws:
"I have held the bridge to the last extrem- itv. The enemy have succeeded in setting fire to the trestlework on the other end of the bridge;
it is burning slowly. We still hold this side, and shall continue to hold it, until driven back. The enemy are in heavy force on the other side. I believe I have more than Kilpatrick's Division in front of me. Wheeler has not yet come up.
"II. C. Wayne, "Major-General." (92-892.)
The Confederate Cavalry in our front on the march to the sea were more than twice the num- ber General Kilpatrick had, as shown by the following dispatch :
"Oconee, November 24, 1864. "Captain Elliott,
"Assistant Adjutant-General:
"General Wheeler with 10, 000 men is cross- ing Blackshear Ferry, twenty miles below here, and he is coming to our assistance. We still hold our position at the bridge. The enemy have burned the long trestle on the other side. Our loss this morning, 2 killed and 5 wounded.
"A. L. Hartridge, "Major, Commanding."
The strength of Wheeler's Cavalry is also shown by the following dispatch, dated Augusta, November 24, 1864:
"Dr. W. S. Morris:
"General Wheeler with 10,000 men is now
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crossing Oconee river twenty miles below bridge at Blackshear Ferry, and coming to assistance of General Wayne. Enemy have burned long trestle work on other side of bridge.
"J. A. Brenner." (92-894. )
On the 26th, we marched to the Oconee River. The 15th and 17th Corps marched side by side. We crossed the river at Ball's Ferry and encamped at Irwin's Cross Roads, having marched 15 miles and a total of 168 miles. Quite a Rebel force was stationed at this ferry and op- posed the advance for a short time, when they were shelled out by the 12th Wisconsin Battery.
On the 27th we marched east from Irwin's Cross Roads, on the main Savannah road. The Tooth Indiana covered the train. We went into camp at 8 P. M. near the village of Drummond, having marched 15 miles; total, 183 miles. The cavalry had another brush with Wheeler's at Sylvan Grove. It then struck the railroad at Waynesborough, burned the station and a train of cars, and also the bridge over Briar Creek. It was the intention to surprise the garrison at Mil- len and liberate our prisoners, but it was here as- certained that they had been removed two days before. Wheeler again attacked our cavalry with the usual result. The cavalry crossed the Ogeechee at the Shoals and struck the railroad at Waynesborough. (92-363.)
On the 28th, we moved out from Drummond at an early hour and marched to the southeast. through Johnson county, Georgia, and encamped near the eastern edge of that county, having marched 13 miles. The Cavalry Division was near
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Waynesborough. It crossed Rocky Creek and waited for the Rebel cavalry to come up, which it did, the entire Rebel force charging as it came on, but it was repulsed again and again, and was forced to retire after losing not less than 600 men killed and wounded. (92-55.)
On the 29th, the rooth Indiana marched in rear of the 15th Army Corps train, on the head- waters of the Cannouchee River, with scarcely a halt all day. The soldiers captured a great many horses and mules, which were hidden in the timber by citizens on our approach. Marched ten miles; total 206 miles. About 9 P. M. we waded across a deep creek. The cavalry was on the left and was drawn up on the Louisville and Millen Road, and at about 2 P. M. the enemy charged upon the cavalry and was repulsed with great disaster.
On the 30th, we marched through Pine Bar- rens toward the Cannonchee River, we passed through Summerville, Georgia, and went into camp at noon, having marched 12 miles; total 218. The country was very poor. Very few farms or plantations; we marched in the pine woods all day. Saw very few citizens.
On the 30th, Wheeler with abont 12,000 Cavalry attacked Morgan's Division of the 14th Army Corps, and was repulsed at Louisville by the roth Michigan. On the same day the Cavalry on the Lonisville and Millen Road were attacked several times from the rear by the Confederate Cavalry. (92-183.)
On December Ist, the rooth marched early in the advance from the vicinity of Battle Ground to within three-fourths of a mile of the Ogeechee River, here we found a better country;
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forage was plenty. We marched 10 miles; total 228. The 17th Corps moved down the east side of the Ogeechee, destroying the depots and rail- roads.
December 2nd we marched early in a very swampy country on the west side of the Ogee- chee and very close to that stream. We only marched 5 miles; total 233. The whole army made a kind of left wheel upon Savannah, and we occupied the right. This gave us the short- est distance to travel.
December 3d we remained in camp all day.
December 4th we marched before daylight down the west side of the Ogeechee River, through a low swampy country. We got some rice straw for the animals-the first we had seen. Marched 15 miles, total 248 miles.
The 14th Corps moved at 6:30 A. M. ten miles across the country toward the Savannah River, took dinner at Hargroves Plantation and encamped near Habersham (92-184). The 20th A. C. crossed the Little Ogeechee at 5 P. M., having in charge the ammunition train, pontoon train and the Corps supply train, and had a skir- mish with the enemy at that place (92-19). The cavalry had an engagement with the enemy, which was a hand to hand encounter. There were left on the field more than two hundred Rebels who were all wounded by sabre cuts only. The fight took place right in the town of Waynesborough. There was also an engagement at Lumpkins station, one at Station number 5 on the railroad, and one at Statesborough by General Hazen's Division of the 15th Corps. The enemy was routed after thirty minutes fighting. (92-62)
On the 5th we marched early and hard,
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down the Ogeechee and crossed Belcher's Mill Creek. The Rebels had burned the bridge. This was the first signs of an enemy we had seen for several days. They were reported to be in force across the Ogeechee. Forage was plenty. We traveled on the main Savannah road twenty iniles, total 268 miles ( 92-33).
The Tooth Indiana and the 40th Illinois were put in the rear of the Pontoon train. We marched at 3 P. M. down the river fourteen miles, total 282 miles. We got possession of the ford, but had some skirmishing with the enemy to do so. Some of the 15th Corps crossed the Ogeechee. The 17th Corps destroyed railroad all day ( 92-32).
The rooth Indiana and 46th Ohio were or- dered to cross the Ogeechee above Wright's toll bridge and to feel forward some distance and then fortify strongly. This we did and remained in our works until 11: 15 P. M., at which time we were recalled. We re-crossed the river and re- joined the Brigade. The trains, troops and the cattle for the army had all passed before our re- call. The river bottom was very bad, the stream being divided into six channels at that point. The 17th Corps marched all night in quick-sand bottoms and bad roads. (92-33.)
A Brigade of Rebels behind some rail piles at Jenek's bridge, were very handsomely routed by a Regiment of Hazen's Division, the 53rd Ohio. (92-649.)
December 8th, the tooth marched at 6:30 A. M. We forded several small streams during the day, all running into the Ogeechee. We ob- tained some Rebel newspapers containing an ac- count of Hood's defeat at Franklin on the 30th
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of November. We marched 23 miles; total, 305. Firing toward the Cannouchee could be plainly heard. The Rebels opposed the crossing of that stream by Hazen's and John E. Smith's Divisions, with two pieces of Artillery and with Infantry, but they retired quickly before these forces. (92, Hazen, 110.)
On Friday, the 9th, the night was cold and the Tooth remained in camp. The country was swampy; heavy firing was heard toward Savan- nah. Hazen's Division crossed the Cannouchee river in the morning and struck the Gulf railroad near Eden, and destroyed about ten miles of track. One Brigade of John E. Smith's Division moved forward to the Ogeechee canal and skir- mished with the enemy until dark and went into bivouac 14 miles from Savannah. (92 Itin., 29.) The 17th Corps skirmished with the Rebels during the day. Several torpedoes, which had been planted by the Rebels in the road, exploded, killing and wounding several men. The Corps encamped at Pooler's Station. (92 Itin., 32.)
On the roth, the Tooth marched at S A. M. down the west side of the Ogeechee River, over a very swampy country, crossed the river on pontoons at noon; the approach was very bad, and a great many horses, mules and cattle were lost in the quagmire by getting off the corduroy. We followed the Ogeechee Canal nine miles in the direction of Savannah, then turned to the right two miles and built works, having marched IS miles; total 323.
The 20th Corps "reached the main line of the enemy's works in front of Savannah and took position on the left, with its left resting on the Savannah River, the 14th on the right of the
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20th and joining the left of the 17th Corps be- vond the canal near Lawson's Plantation. The line was as close as possible to the enemy, and preparations were made for an assault. Bat- teries were established on the Savannah River, so as to prevent any boats from passing. The steamer 'Ida,' while attempting to pass up the river, was captured on the roth and burned." ( 92-Slocum-158. )
December with the entire four Corps were in line all night, just out of range of the Artillery. We got up at 4:30 A. M., when the picket lines were engaged briskly; at day break there was heavy cannonading on both sides, a wide, deep creek was between our lines and a Rebel Fort, which was right in our front. Corse's Division was shifted to the right, and at noon we left our works to fill up the gap thus made in the line. We left the main road, moved two miles to the right and rested till night, when we covered our train, which passed all night within short range of the Rebel Batteries. (92-Osterhaus-88.)
We formed in line on Corse's left, with our left on the main Savannah Road. The roads were nothing but quagmires. We had 400 ne- groes, who constructed of pine logs and poles a double corduroy from our front to the rear. These dispositions put the Union Army in line around Savannah and completely invested the city, leaving only the causeway leading to the east as a means of escape for the Confederate Army, which, including Wheeler's Cavalry and Ferguson's command, numbered about thirty thousand (30,000) or. just about half as many men as were in the Union forces. General Ilar-
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dee had about 18,000 inside of the city's defences, about 300 pieces of artillery; the Rebels had cut the Ogeechee Canal and had overflowed the rice fields and all the low lands between their outer defenses and our lines, so that there were but few places where an assaulting column would not have to charge through water several feet deep and in many places a quarter of a mile wide, before the enemy's works could be reached, which of itself would, in December, have been sufficient to kill a man. Had such not have been the conditions and situation, the Union Army would have moved right into Savannah, imme- diately on its arrival in front of the city. The position of the Union Army around Savannah was: the 15th Corps on the right; the 20th Corps on the left; the 17th Corps, the right cen- tre, and the 14th Corps the left centre. (Serial 92, pp. 88, 440. )
I will now give the position of the Confed- erate forces as they confronted our line during the the siege. The Confederates began to fortify Savannah as soon as the Union Army left At- lanta, under the direction of John McCrady, Mc- Laws chief engineer. The first guns were put in position on the 20th of November, and the first troops entered the works on the 7th of De- cember.
Beginning with the Confederate right, that is, the troops in front of the 20th Corps, was the Georgia state troops, reaching from the Savannah River almost to the Georgia Central Road; Gen. G. W. Smith, a front of about two miles, his right under Gen. Anderson, his left under Gen. Cars- well. About 2,000 men of the Georgia state troops were intrenched near the Louisville road,
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and the Ist Brigade of the Georgia militia on the Augusta road; the space between was occupied by the Cadets. The 2d and 3d Brigades of the Georgia militia held the line from the Augusta road to the bank of the Savannah River (making two lines at this point). Col. Hill with the 3d Georgia Brigade occupied the advance works. On Col. Williamson's rice canals he had a de- tachment of Cadets and Pruden's Battery, sup- ported by Anderson's Light Battery and Hamil- ton's Battalion of Light Artillery. (Jones' Siege of Savannah.")
General MeLaw's Division formed the center of the Confederate line; it began just to the right of the Georgia Central Railroad and extended along in front of the 14th and 17th Corps to the Daly Farm. IIis left was commanded by Gen- eral Baker and his right by General Lewis. This Division was made up in part of North Carolina Troops, 4th Tennessee, 12th South Carolina Cavalry, the 2d, 4th and 9th Kentucky, the 3d Georgia Reserves, the Athens, Georgia, Brigade, the 5th Georgia Reserves and the Ist Georgia Regulars, Daniel's and Abell's Batteries, sup- ported by Barnwell and Wagner's Batteries. The Confederate left was commanded by Gen- eral A. R. Wright, extending from the Daly Farm or Telfair Swamp to the railroad bridge over the Little Ogeechee. His subordinates were General Hugh W. Mercer, who had the line from Telfair Swamp to Lawton's house, and General Jackson, from Lawton's house to the bridge. Along this line was the Augusta and Athens Bat- talions, Nesbit's Regiment, Brook's Battalion, the 55th Georgia, the Augusta Artillerists, Clem - en's Battalion, Richardson and Barnwell Batteries,
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Wheeler and Simpkins, Jackson's Local Infantry and Battery, Barnes, Von Zinken's Local troops, Ferguson's Brigade Savannah Local Reserves, Brook's Light Battery, Jones and Gerard Bat- teries, Moxville's, Ilamilton's and Barnwell's Artillery. (See "The Siege of Savannah, " by Charles C. Jones, Jr., Lt. Col. and Hardee's Chief of Artillery. ) These organizations foot up nearly 20,000; sixty-four organizations were in our front. Mr. Jones says there were only 16,745 inside the fortifications. (See ib. 91.)
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