USA > Indiana > New history of the 99th Indiana Infantry : containing official reports, anecdotes, incidents, biographies and complete rolls > Part 7
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The Atlanta Campaign.
wounded with one ball. Carter died of his wounds June 24, 1864, at Chattanooga.
June 27th, John W. Hughes, of Company F, was killed, B F. .Johnson, of Company H, and John Snyder, Company D, slightly wounded.
June 29th, Henry Wilson and Joseph Fry, Company D, Sylvester Board and Christian Erenfeldt, Company E (Erenfeldt died since the war), and George Crakes, Company I (died in 1899), were all wounded on the skirmish line.
Kenesaw Mountain was the scene of another battle on the way to Atlanta. The grand assault was made on June 27th, but it was not successful. Colonel Walcutt's brigade was selected from our di- vision instead of ours to make the assault, so our losses were com- paratively light.
The failure to break Johnston's lines at Kenesaw, determined Sherman to move McPherson's Army of the Tennessee to the right and begin another flank movement. This army appears to have been the cracker of the whip-lash that Sherman used to thrash John- ston with.
On the 3rd of July marched to Marietta. July 4th, marched eleven miles and camped. July 5th, moved four miles to the front. July 6th, had one killed and one wounded.
Orin E. Atkin, of Company A, was killed, and Samuel Wise, 1st of Company C, accidentally wounded.
July 7th. Moved to the left and forward about forty rods, lay in line until morning. We threw up works and remained in same place, when we marched toward Marietta at 5 p. m.
July 13th. Moved without breakfast; passed through Marietta at 9 a. m .; marched during the day sixteen miles.
July 14th, 4:30 a. m. Marched four miles; camped near Roswell, Ga. At 5 p. m., moved forward and crossed the Chattahoochie river; halted for the night. Remained there until July 17th, when we marched on the Atlanta road about six miles; camped 3 p. m. two miles from Cross Keys.
July 18th, 5 a. m. Moved six miles, crossing Peach Tree creek, halted about one hour, then moved forward
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
about one mile; halted until 6 p. m., when we again took up the march and halted not until 10 p. m., four miles in advance.
July 19th. Marched at 8 a. m. six miles, camped near Decatur.
July 20th. Marched at 6 a. m. through Decatur. Advanced in line, halting several times, finally went to support a battery. Moved on left of 15th Michigan into an open field where we lay down, receiving a severe shelling from the enemy, resulting in the loss of one killed (James Wigant, Company K) and three wounded.
July 22. Was engaged in the battle, an account of which has been heretofore reported.
July 23d. Lay in works until the 27th, when we marched at 2 a. m. toward the right and rear.
July 28th. Moved at daybreak to the right on the flank of the line; finally came on the enemy's skirmish- ers. We then threw up some logs and rails for tempor- ary breastworks. At length the enemy came, and firing commenced about 12 m., continuing about four hours. Our loss was twenty-eight killed and wounded. We found thirty-one dead in our front. Took fifty-nine prisoners.
July 29th. Built works all day.
July 30th. Moved to the right the length of two regiments.
July 31st and August 1st. Remained in statu quo.
August 2d, moved forward into second line, where we still remain, August 3, 1864.
The above report contains as near as can be obtained, the details of the part of the present campaign from the 6th of May to August 3d, inclusive.
Recapitulation: Killed and died of wounds received, 15; missing in action, 10; wounded in action, 100; total, 125.
JOHN M. BERKEY, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding,
99th Indiana.
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The Atlanta Campaign.
ANDREW J. HAINES AND WIFE, COMPANY D. 1900.
Born April 5, 1847, in Preble county, Ohio, son of John T. and Maria Hampton Haines. Married September 26, 1879, in Jackson township, Miami county, Indiana, to Eliza Endsley, who was born in that county October 31, 1835; they had four children. Com- rade Haines was a farmer boy and was but 15 years old when he en- listed at Peru, Indiana, August 19, 1862; was a private soldier in Company D, 99th Indiana; in 1863 he was ill in field hospital with mumps about one month; he was an active participant in sieges of Vicksburg, Jackson, Ressaca, Atlanta, Kenesaw and Ft. McAlister, and numerous skirmishes; he was mustered out June, 1865. He had four brothers in the Union service, one of whom, Reuben, was in Company D, of the 99th; he is a member of the Congregational church, of which he is a trustee; belongs to Summer's Post, No. 59, G. A. R .; by occupation is a farmer. Comrade Haines' mother is a first cousin to Ex-Governor Wade Hampton, of South Carolina, but it did not affect the loyalty of the Indiana family as one of his broth- ers, John, was in the 8th Cavalry; Mark and George in the 8th In- diana Infantry, and Reuben and Andrew in the 99th Indiana. His address is Amboy, Indiana.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
In order to complete the campaign we give here the official report of Colonel Berkey made September 10, 1864. He says:
"On the 3d of August, at 3:30 p. m., six companies were ordered to support the then advancing skirmish line (the other four companies being on the line), when at dark, the reserve or supporting companies were or- dered on the line, where they remained until midnight of the 4th, when the regiment was relieved and marched to the works which were left when ordered on the skir- mish line. During the tour of duty, eight men were wounded. Captain Josiah Farrar was in command. The regiment remained in the same place until August 9, when at 10 a. m., marched to the front, or former skir- mish line, Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Berkey in command, where they remained until Friday, the 26th day of Au- gust, when at 8 p. m., moved toward the right of the line, or toward the Montgomery railroad, marching all night and until 3 p. m. of the 27th, when we halted on the summit of a ridge, which we fortified and there remained all night.
"August 28th. Marched at 8 a. m. about five miles, to the Atlanta & Montgomery road, halted, bivouaced and at 11 p. m. and until 4 a. m. of the 29th, were em- ployed destroying railroad.
"August 30th. Marched toward the Atlanta (Macon), & Western railroad, and halted at 8 p. m. within about one mile of it, where we threw up works near Jonesboro.
"August 31st. The enemy attacked in our front but slightly, on our flanks more generally; two dead and two wounded, were found in our front.
"From August 3d until September 2d our killed were 10; wounded, 16; missing, 1; total 27."
Very respectfully yours,
J. M. BERKEY,
Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding.
This completes the official reports of the campaign resulting in the capture of Atlanta. The battles of At- lanta, July 22d, and Ezra Church, July 28th, will be re- ported in a separate chapter.
CHAPTER XIV.
BATTLE OF ATLANTA.
I am unable to find in the War Records any account of this battle as Colonel Berkey says was made, and it is a question whether it was ever made or not. Colonel Fowler fought the battle with a leave of absence in his pocket, and went home soon after, and has no recollec- tion of making such report, and as he was in command, he would be the proper officer to make it.
In order to understand this battle, which was one of the greatest and most decisive of the war, decisive, be- cause by it General Hood, the successor of Johnston, proposed to stake the defense of Atlanta and the defeat of Sherman upon the issue and result. The repulse of Hood by the forces of Thomas on the 20th had settled the fact that a direct attack from the front would not succeed, and as Sherman had thrown the forces of Mc- Pherson around by the left until they were facing the rebel works from the east side of the city, a front and rear atack was determined upon. By a night march Hardee's corps had been thrown around the left of the Seventeenth corps, and the plan was to attack the Army of the Tennessee in the rear, and at the time when they were facing the rear to repel the attack, they were to rush out from the lines around Atlanta and attack them. This was to bring McPherson's two corps into a position where they were to meet at the same time a front and rear attack. This will explain why the troops were compelled to fight at different times from each side of their ranks.
The Seventeenth corps were on the extreme left and the Fifteenth corps joining them on the right, the Fourth division, General Harrow, was next to the Seventeenth corps, the First brigade on the right, the Third brigade,
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana, Infantry.
Colonel Oliver, in the center, the Second on the left, next to the Seventeenth corps.
The official report of Colonel John M. Oliver, com- manding Third brigade in this battle, is as follows:
"On the 20th we marched on Atlanta road; formed line of battle south of the Georgia railroad; threw up works and skirmished with the enemey. On the 21st the 48th Illinois was ordered forward to make a diversion in favor of General Gresham's division, Seventeenth Army. Corps, who attempted to carry the enemy's line but were unsuccessful. The rest of my command completed their works during the day. On the 22d, about 9 a. m., moved forward to the works held by the enemy the day before, the 70th Ohio on the left, the 15th Michigan on the right, 48th Illinois and 99th Indiana in reserve. Works at once reversed. Skirmishers advanced about one mile and reported enemy moving through town onto our left. At noon attention was drawn to firing in our rear. By the direction of the general, I at once made dispositions to meet anything coming from such an unexpected direc- tion, ordered the 99th Indiana back to their former posi- tion and put them into line occupying the outer slope of their old rifle pits. Two companies were thrown out as skirmishers at once. As the firing in the rear increased there was no doubt of a serious attack. The enemy be- gan to show themselves in the open field on our left and rear. The 48th Illinois was brought over and changed front forward on first company, 99th Indiana making same change to the rear on last company. Both regi- ments then went forward with a cheer and drove the enemy to the woods again. During this time the troops on the left beginning to give way from this rear attack, the 15th Michigan was ordered out on double quick and came across the open field through the stragglers in fine order, forming on the right of the 99th Indiana
across the ravine. The fight was so determined at this time that the 70th Ohio was brought over and placed in position where they could support either this brigade or the second, which were both fully engaged in this at-
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Battle of Atlanta.
RILEY A. REEVES AND DAUGHTER, COMPANY B. 1900.
Was born in Hancock county, October 8, 1847, and enlisted as a recruit in Company B, in March, 1864, at the age of 16, and got into the service as soon as he could, and soon enough to get a wound on the 28th of May, 1864, at Dallas. He continued in the service, how- ever, and was mustered out in July, after the close of the war. After the war he returned to the old home and February 24, 1876, married Miss Sarah L. Crone, the daughter of a veteran, and they have six children, one boy and five girls, the youngest being shown in the picture above. In 1882 he moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where he still resides.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
tack on the left and rear. The 15th Michigan charged and captured seventeen officers and 165 men and two stands of colors (5th Confederate and 17th and 18th Texas).
"The pickets in our front were reporting the enemy advancing. The 99th Indiana and 48th Illinois were again thrown quickly across the field to the position held in the morning by the 15th Michigan and 70th Ohio, respectively. On this front the fight was bitter and in- tense for an hour, when the troops on the right having actually left their rifle pits, Colonel Fowler covered our right flank by skirmishers. Seeing that the position on our left that morning must be held, the 15th Michigan was ordered by me to the right of the artillery now massed on the crest in the rear. After this was done I ordered the 99th Indiana to fall back and occupy the works left in the morning and Colonel Greathouse to take his. The 70th Ohio, across the ravine, who had seriously injured the enemy by a flank fire, were now ordered back. After coming about forty yards the order was given by General Harrow in person, to return, and back they went with a cheer. I have heard many an officer say that that hearty cheer of the 70th Ohio, was the most encouraging thing they had heard during the whole five hours' fight. As soon as the lines were formed on the right, we again charged in line and retook our works, threw out skir- mishers and began to care for our wounded."
Colonel Oliver pays a tribute to Colonel Lucian Greathouse of the 48th Illinois, who was killed. He also says:
"Captain Homan, formerly acting assistant inspector- general, relieved before Kenesaw, since then acting ma- jor of his regiment, 99th Indiana, behaved with distin- guished gallantry. He was wounded and taken prisoner during the battle of the 22d."
The regiment lost two killed and twenty two wounded and ten missing.
James Foster and James Horton, of Company A, George C. Bartholomew, Company E, William S. Johnson, Company G (died
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Battle of Atlanta.
HARRISON D. WALTERS, COMPANY H. 1900.
Born October 18, 1833, near Nicholasville, Kentucky. Enlisted at Pittsboro, Indiana, August, 1862, and served through the war. Has lived in and near Danville, Indiana, ever since the war; has been married three times and has a wife and three sons and three daughters living, four of them married. Comrade Walters was a good soldier, serving some time as wagoner, and feels fully the strong tie that binds comrades together. Address, Danville, Indiana.
104 New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
of wounds, August 9, 1864), were killed or died of wounds. Captain R. P. Andis, of Company B, was seriously wounded in the head, Lieutenant George S. Walker, of Company F, seriously wounded in the hand, Albert Robbins, of Company A, was also so seriously wounded that he died August 6, 1864. The following were also wounded: Corporal Louis Richman, and Michael G. Youse, of Com- pany B, Haynes P. Wood, of Company C, Corporal Gideon Pierce, of Company D, Color Sergeant Thomas Starkey, Joseph Cripe, William A. Patrick, and Benjamin F. Roadruck, of Company E, James P. Kendall, David M. Vannice, of Company G, Hugh R. Chapman (died of wounds July 24, 1864,) of Company H, David Albaugh, Company I, Rolin Meritt, of Company K, John S. Dodson, of Company H (died of wounds August 1, 1864).
Captured: Major Homan, exchanged with General Stoneman at Rough and Ready September 2, 1864; Corydon Pierce, Company A, died at Wilmington, North Carolina, April 6, 1864; Adolphus German, Company F, recaptured March 3, 1865, at Cheraw, South Carolina; Henry V. Walker, Company F (supposed to have died in prison); Henry F. Kurtz, Company G, mustered out as paroled prisoner May, 1865; George O. Wolvin, Company H, returned from capture May 24, 1865; John Potts, Company H, exchanged May, 1865; Jones R Daily, Company I (supposed to have died in prison); George W. Stolnaker, Company K, paroled and mustered out May, 1865.
The statement in Colonel Oliver's report that the 15th Michigan captured the prisoners and colors is a mistake, they were captured by the 99th, and afterward turned over to the 15th Michigan. It is not a matter of so great importance, but the truth is that the 99th Indiana captured the prisoners and colors.
Of this matter, Lieutenant-Colonel W. V. Powell, at that time captain of Company I, says:
"About 2 p. m. I was ordered by Colonel Fowler to take three companies, G, H, and I, to cross a ravine and climb a hill in our front to the top, about two or three hundred yards, and reconoiter and hold the position. This was, according to memory, about a mile and a half east of Atlanta.
"As my little command advanced up the hill, a gradual incline, to within about twenty yards of the summit, we discovered a con- federate flag floating in the breeze over and just beyond the hill, tolerably close to the top, so close that we could see the flag and staff but not the enemy, and probably thirty to forty yards distant from us. On my order, the three companies laid down on the ground, and I ordered a squad to shoot at the enemy's flag staff close to the ground. At the first fire the flag fell, and a moment later a con-
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Battle of Atlanta.
JOHN W. M'CLURE, COMPANY F. 1900.
Born November 20, 1837, in White county, Indiana. Enlisted August 22, 1862, and served to end of war. Has lived for the last twenty-five years at Pawnee, Sangamon county, Illinois. Was mar- ried July 26, 1871, at Hillsboro, Illinois, to Mina P. Harper, and they have six children living; Minnie B., married to Harry L. Furry ; Baja, married to John J. Johnson, a direct descendent of William Penn. His boys are named Walter, James, Henry and Roy. Com- rade McClure was a good soldier and was mustered out as sergeant in his company. Has spent most of his life in mercantile business. His address is Pawnee, Illinois.
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New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
federate major, of small stature, advanced toward us cautiously in order to ascertain where the shots came from I plainly saw him looking over and beyond us inquiringly. After he advanced so far that he could not retreat, I jumped up and ordered him to halt and surrender, which he did, saying, 'I do surrender.' I again com- manded, 'Thrown down your sword and turn to your men and order them to throw down their arms and march up here.' He did so, and our prisoners, on count numbered sixty-five, the 17th and 18th Texans. They were sent back to Colonel Fowler under guard of Corporal Henry C. Lindley, and my command held the hill. A little later Colonel Fowler arrived with the balance of the 99th Indiana, saying, 'Captain, you had such good luck I thought I would come over,' and we built temporary works and prepared to hold the position, but soon was ordered to support a battery. As- saults were repulsed from most every direction during the after- noon. It seemed to be a contest in which regiments and companies fought as circumstances and opportunity dictated. I don't now re- member seeing any of our brigade that afternoon except the 15th Michigan, which was not far away when we captured the 17th and 18th Texas. I did not know the 15th was near at the time the little major surrendered, but I afterward heard it was near by. I sup- posed the 70th Ohio and 48th Illinois were all busy, for we went over the same ground several different times that afternoon, and we had possession when dark came."
As to how the flag of the Texans came into posses- sion of the 15th Michigan, Alexander McMillan or Alexander Cress, of Company I, 99th Indiana, found the confederate flag on the ground with the enemy's guns and started to bring it to us when Colonel Hutchinson saw the orderly with it and called to him to bring it to him, which was done.
Captain Worrell, at that time in command of Com- pany G, who was on the left of the line, confirms what Captain Powell says, only he claims that the surrender was made to him, and differs a little in some minor details as would be natural after so many years. He says:
"In the matter of the capture of those prisoners on the 22d of July, I know beyond question that the 15th Michigan had nothing to do with it. It was Companies G, Hand I that captured them and there were 173 of them. This is a matter too well known to members of the three companies to permit the 15th Michigan to claim the honor of it."
.
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Battle of Atlanta.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE S. WALKER, COMPANY F. 1880.
(See page 111 for sketch and order of three pictures.)
After looking over all the facts and reading all the reports of the battle, I am sure the facts are about these: The actual surrender of prisoners was made to the 99th, with one of the moving causes being the fact that three companies of the 15th Michigan were on the flank of the enemy at the time.
Lieutenant-Colonel Berkey, in his blunt, soldierly way, in speaking of it, says:
"The cause of the trouble between Colonel Oliver and the offi- cers of the 99th was, after we were in the brigade, he sent one day one of his aids to Colonel Fowler and myself to sign a petition to make him brigadier-general. This we refused to do, and after that we never captured a prisoner but what he added to his report that the 15th Michigan did it."
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New History of the Ninety- Ninth Indiana Infantry.
In all the reports, official and otherwise, of the battle, the best one I have found I copy from an old diary kept by a privave soldier, Andrew J. Clayton, Company D, written that night. He is now a telegraph operator and railroad agent at Tenaha, Texas:
July 22, 1864. This has been a day to be remembered by many. In the forenoon everything appeared to be very quiet and the enemy left their works in our immediate front and fell back to a stronger position along the edge of the town, and we moved up and took pos- session of their works and turned the dirt the other way. About the time this was done we heard firing on the extreme left and they had massed their forces there and were advancing on the Seventeenth Corps. It was not long until the fighting became general. Our men held their ground nobly. There were re-enforcements sent from the Fifteenth Corps to support the Seventeenth Corps, and at the same time the rebels made a general attack on the Fifteenth Corps and on account of line being thus weakened to re-enforce the left, the rebs got into our works on our right and got an oblique fire on our regi- ment and we were ordered to retreat. We fell back about 100 yards and rallied and charged back to the works again and after fighting about ten minutes the rebs flanked us again, as our forces gave way on our right. We then fell back to our works that we had built the night before. Our batteries now opened a destructive fire on them, a fresh brigade was sent in on our right, and we went forward again and in a little while we gained our whole line and held it to the end. The enemy finally fell back and gave up their attempt to whip the Army of the Tennessee as a bad job. As I write to-night, our men are in possession of the whole line. The rebs lost terribly, their dead lined the woods in our front and we took some prisoners. Our loss was considerable but not more than half as many as the enemy. Our regiment lost about 40, our company lost 3 wounded; 1st Sergeant John Harvey, wounded in the thigh; Gideon Pierce, just above the knee; George Stearns in the mouth.
July 23d. We are busy to-day burying the rebel dead. It is a horrible sight to pass over a battlefield and see many dead as there are here Those who a few hours ago were alive and well, are sleep- ing to rise no more. They have gone the same road a good many more of them will go if they only continue to charge our ranks. Gen- eral Sherman rode along our lines to-day and we gave him three rousing cheers.
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Battle of Atlanta.
WILLIAM A. KIPLING AND WIFE, COMPANY C. 1900.
Born February 11, 1836, in Sodus, Wayne county, New York; followed sailing from 1852 until the war came; enlisted at Valpa- raiso, August 11, 1862, and served until close of war. Moved to Saun- ders county, Nebraska, and lived several years; then moved"to Weld county, Colorado, where they now reside upon a farm. Comrade Kipling is 64 years of age and his wife 63, but they are [both hale and well preserved for their years. Address, Platteville, Colorado.
CHAPTER XV.
BATTLE OF EZRA CHAPEL, JULY 28, 1864.
This was one of the hardest battles in which the 99th Indiana was ever engaged. The brief account in the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Berkey has already been given. General Sherman determined to extend his line on the right and he threatened the left flank of General Hood by severing his railroad connection toward the south. The account of this engagement may be stated in this form: The Fifteenth Army Corps moved to the right and rear, going eight miles on July 27th to the ex- treme right of the line, and camped in columns of regi- ments. About 11 o'clock or a little after, while moving forward in line of battle, the corps struck the skir- mish line of the enemy and they at once begun to pile up logs and rails, and anything that wonld furnish pro- tection. This was hardly begun before the enemy ap- peared in full line of battle.
General Sherman says of this: "The enemy had come out of Atlanta by the Bell's Ferry road and formed his masses in the open fields behind the swell of ground, and advanced in parallel lines directly against the Fif- teenth Corps expecting to catch that flank in 'air.' His advance was magnificent but founded on an error that cost him sadly, for our men coolly and deliberately cut down his men, and in spite of the efforts of the rebel of- ficers his ranks broke and fled, but they were rallied again and again, as often as six times at some points, and a few of the rebel officers and men reached our line of railpiles only to be killed or hauled over as prisoners. These assaults occurred from noon until about 4 p. m., when the enemy disappeared, leaving his dead and wounded in our hands."-War Records, serial 72, page 78.
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