USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 33
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General Johnston records the following touching inci- dent of the fight: "When the United States troops paused in their advance, within fifteen paces of the Texan front rank, one of their color-bearers planted his colors eight or ten feet in front of his regiment, and was instantly shot dead; a sol- dier sprang forward to his place, and fell also, as he grasped the color-staff; a second and a third followed successively, and each received death as speedily as his predecessors; a fourth, however, seized and bore back the object of soldierly devotion. "
These rebel accounts err in this: They state that the battle was between Cleburne's division, assisted by a portion of Wheeler's cavalry and the Fourth corps. Now, the fact was, the battle on the part of the Union troops was fought wholly by Wood's division of the Fourth corps, except a few volleys fired by some regiments of Scribner's brigade of Johnson's division of the Fourteenth corps, there being but these two divisions of Union troops on the battle-field. Had Johnson pushed Scribner on and supported Hazen's left, as pointed out by Cox, there would have been a fair chance of success for the gallant boys of Wood's division that fought so nobly. Johnson was severely condemned at the time for not doing his duty. Still it was a critical position, and one which with strange ground to travel over was liable to deceive the most careful, and it was a position, too, which if one was taken in flank by a sufficient force, would render disastrous defeat certain. Therefore, there is some excuse for General Johnson's failure to perform the full measure of
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his duty promptly as he might have done under other cir- cumstances.
This battle was a notable one, and is known as the bat- tle of Pickett's Mills, being fought near a mill of that name, on a branch of Pumpkin Vine creek. It is sometimes called the battle of Burnt Hickory, or Pumpkin Vine Creek. The battle-field is in Paulding county, Georgia, about eight miles from Ackworth on the Western and Atlantic Railway, nearly due west from Kenesaw mountain, and distant about ten miles from the latter point.
About twenty of the Eighty-sixth were seriously wounded in this engagement, though none proved mortal. Besides the loss in numbers, the regiment felt most keenly the absence of Colonel George F. Dick. The men needed now his careful attention and long experience to keep the regiment in its then excellent condition. The Third brigade lost 301 officers and men, and the Third division lost 1,457. Of all the hard fighting during this long and eventful cam- paign, perhaps no division of the whole army lost so many men in so short a time as did Wood's division on this occa- sion-the 27th of May, 1864-with the possible exception of Newton's Second division of the Fourth army corps on the 27th of June, in the grand assault upon Kenesaw mountain.
CHAPTER XXIII.
PICKETT'S MILLS TO KENESAW.
The Eighty-sixth on the Skirmish Line-Constant Fighting-Rainy and Hot Weather-A Perfect Ilell Hole-Pine Mountain-Lost Mountain-Kenesaw Mountain-General Polk Killed on Pine Mountain-Captain L. V. Ream Wounded-Luke Cronkhite Fatally Wounded-The Assanit on June 27-A Frightful Loss of Life-Kenesaw Mountain Abandoned by the Enemy-A Forward Movement.
Wood's division remained in this position until the 6th of June, varying it slightly by changes in the lines. £ Constant skirmishing was kept up the whole time. On the night of
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the battle of Pickett's Mills, May 27, a heavy detail for the skirmish line was made from the Eighty-sixth, under com- mand of Lieutenant D. H. Olive, of Company H. On account of the darkness of the night and the denseness of the woods, the line was most difficult to establish, especially as the enemy was in close proximity. A member of Company H was posted fifty yards in front of the skirmish line proper. The enemy sallied out to the left and drove in the line in his front. He then moved to his left, and had not the lone skir- misher beat a hasty retreat he would have been captured. The withdrawal of Wood's division had misled the enemy. He supposed that the Union troops had been completely routed and that they would be an easy prey for capture, but he was met with a firm resistance and soon retired behind his fortified lines.
The two divisions, Wood's and Johnson's, had now thrown up temporary breastworks for their defense and felt comparatively secure, although separated by some distance from the main army. The skirmish line, however, had no such protection, and was constantly under fire and on a great nervous strain throughout the night. During the 28th an alignment of the troops was completed and works ordered to be built. This was done, and the detached left was placed in connection with the rest of the army, and the extension of the battle line toward the railroad was permanently secured. The lines of the intrenchments were generally pushed well up to those of the enemy, so that the skirmishers could not be thrown very far forward of the works, in many places not being more than a rod or so in advance of the main line of breastworks. The proximity of the lines caused a continual fire to be kept up between the skirmish lines and enforced a pretty general observance of orders to remain near the works. Sometimes, in fact, an occasional fire was kept up from the two lines of works without intervening lines of skirmishers. On the evening of the 28th a hot fire was main- tained for sometime by the batteries with Beatty's brigade, Colonel Fred Knefler in command, and the skirmish fire grew in violence and spitefulness. Its vigor was owing to a des-
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perate charge made by the enemy upon the right wing of the army-the brunt of the battle falling upon Logan's command, of McPherson's army of the Tennessee. The skirmishing all round the long skirmish line of the whole army was brisk and intensely earnest as if it were only a prelude to a more desperate struggle, and this was kept up until after night- fall, in fact, more or less all night. The enemy had been beaten on the right and roughly handled, and no doubt feared a counter charge, and sought, by showing a bold front, to ward off any assault at this time.
Early on the morning of the 29th, the report ran along the brigade line of battle that three companies of the Nine- teenth Ohio had been captured by the enemy during the night, and that the enemy was expected to show an aggressive spirit and probably make an assault. The first part of the report, in regard to the capture, proved to be false, but the enemy certainly did show a very active animosity throughout the day. His skirmishers were industrious, and actively main- tained an incessant fire during the forenoon. In the after- noon his batteries took up the gauge of battle and right valiantly maintained their cause for some hours by raining shot and shell upon the Union lines, the good breastworks alone saving the men from destruction. Toward evening the enemy's belligerent aggressiveness assumed a serious character. A line of attack was started for the Union works. The storming lines pressed gallantly forward, but met with many obstacles in their pathway. The skirmish line made a heroic resistance, while the artillery delivered such a terrific and destructive fire upon them that they failed to reach the range of the fire of the line of battle, at least, in the Eighty- sixth's front. About 11 o'clock at night the enemy made another attempt and the whole skirmish line of the Union forces was ablaze; batteries on both sides opened up and the roar of bat- tle was deafening. It was all of the noise and magnificent display of. a terrific night battle without its more dreadful realities, for the enemy finding Union men everywhere ready and willing to receive him, he speedily withdrew. These con- stant alarms and frequent attacks necessitated almost con-
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stant vigils on the part of the Union troops, and was very wearing and exhausting on them. Perhaps at Dallas, New Hope, and Pickett's Mills, there was more spirited fighting than at any place defended by Johuston on this great and memorable campaign, and there was no point where there was not much determined fighting, from Rocky Face Ridge to Atlanta, where the two opposing armies came in contact; and the Eighty-sixth was nearly all the time on the front line here, "jammed" up against the fighting center of Joe Johnston's army.
The 30th was but a repetition of the 29th-constant skirmishing with advances by the rebel lines. About dark the Eighty-sixth was ordered into line and stacked arms. The men were then permitted to break ranks and rest at will, but were ordered to remain near their guns. Evidently the officers expected a repetition of the programme on the part of the enemy of the two previous nights. On the slightest indication of a move by the enemy the firing became brisk, so that there was an almost continual rattle of musketry until 12 o'clock at night. After a hasty breakfast, on the morning of May 31, the regiment was ordered into line. Moving promptly it advanced some distance in front of its former position. The alignment was completed quickly, when the men were ordered to fortify with all possible dis- patch. The work was scarcely begun, when the enemy threw a strong line forward to reconnoiter. The firing at once became furious all round the lines. The enemy made several vigorous and determined charges in front and to the right. At different points on the line the enemy came well up to the main line of breastworks before he was repulsed and driven back. On the line of the Third brigade the Sev- enteenth Kentucky was at this time doing skirmish duty, and there were no better skirmishers in all Sherman's army. Here the Seventeenth was in its element, and it maintained the contest with greatly superior numbers with Spartan courage, and finally compelled the enemy to retire. Still he was determined and fought with courage for every possi- ble advantage, and would only yield inch by inch when forced
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to do so. In the afternoon of the 31st, three pieces or artil- lery were dragged through the thick woods and placed in position on the brigade line and opened fire upon the enemy. From this time forward it was quite evident that the enemy would take as well as give.
In the afternoon of June 1, the Eighty-sixth received orders to arrange camp in regular order. This, the boys knew, was folly, and many of them expressed their opinion in regard to the order quite freely. Sherman was working to the left as rapidly as possible to reach the railroad, which was so necessary to assure him, at all times, a sufficient quantity of all needed supplies, and all felt it to be nonsense to fix up camp in regulation order. On this day Hooker's corps withdrew from its line of intrenchments, being relieved by McPherson, and moved to the left of the army. The usual, skirmishing was indulged in throughout the day. The next day. June 2, was hot, and showery in the afternoon, the rain falling in torrents. Heavy cannonading was heard to the left, indicating the progress of the left wing as it neared the goal of the present struggle, Allatoona Pass and the railroad north of Ackworth. In the evening of the 2d, the Eighty-sixth was sent out upon the skirmish line. The usual brisk fire was maintained. The regiment was relieved by the Nineteenth Ohio, Colonel Manderson in charge, about 6 o'clock p. m., June 3. Three-quarter rations of hard tack. sugar and coffee, and one-quarter rations of pickled pork were issued to the men after they reached camp.
On Saturday morning, June 4, the command moved carly. going to the right some distance and relieving General Jeff C. Davis' division of the Fourteenth corps. The intrench- ments occupied by the Eighty-sixth here were within about two hundred yards of the enemy's outer works, and there were only about two rods of open timber in front, the rest of the distance being an open field. The enemy was in the edge of the woods on the farther side of the opening. This gave him almost a clear sweep, and the position was a crit- .ical one. The enemy already had the range perfectly. and whenever a man showed his head above the works a minie
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ball hissed spitefully and dangerously near. In the after- noon the enemy opened upon the Eighty-sixth's position with artillery, and as it was at short range, he made the shot and shell crash in the timber overhead in an awful manner, and finished up by sweeping the deck with a rattling charge of grape-shot that tore the underbrush to the rear of the works like a cyclone. Scarcely had this fire ceased when a line of attack was started for the works, a little to the right of the position of the Eighty-sixth. With the rebel yell echoing from wood to wood and reverberating from hill to hill, on it came, but it was soon met with such a blaze of fire from the Union breastworks that the line quickly retreated, and sought the shelter of its works. The enemy's loss doubt- less was
light, as he stood fire so short a time. The Eighty-sixth, however, was alert and was not to be caught napping. At dark the regiment was
ordered to strengthen its works. The entire regiment worked until midnight, making its parapet shot proof, and then the men retired for sleep and rest. When daylight dawned, many expected the enemy to be gone, but the sharp "ping" of the minie ball warned the men not to be reckless. However, about 7 o'clock the enemy fell back quietly, the main force doubtless having withdrawn during the night, leaving only a strong skirmish line to cover the movement. It was not to be supposed that he had gone far. A number of the Eighty-sixth visited the enemy's lines of intrench- ments and found them very strong.
Here on this line for about eleven days had been some of the severest attacks dur- ing this eventful campaign, particularly those made by Hooker on the 25th and Wood on the 27th. General Sher- man speaking of these battles says: "This point, 'New Hope,' was the accidental intersection of the road leading from Allatoona to Dallas with that from Van Wert to Mari- etta, and from the bloody fighting there for the next week was called by the soldiers . Hell Hole'; " and this is about as good a description in brief as can be given of it. It was hot enough for almost anything, both in the way of fighting and the weather. Thus another decisive step in the campaign
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had been taken. The progress had been steady and consid- ering obstacles, rapid. The enemy had as yet been unable to stay Sherman's onward march. Here at New Hope and Dallas he had caused the most trouble and delay, but now he had been compelled to take another backward step, and the Union army, as a matter of course, was rejoicing and ready to go forward.
The Eighty-sixth with the Third brigade remained in their position behind their intrenchments until about sunrise on the 6th of June, when they marched out toward the rail- road in which direction the whole army was gradually mov- ing. The day was excessively hot and the air sultry and oppressive. The command covered five or six miles, and bivouacked in the edge of a woods about 2 o'clock p. m. The fire of the skirmish lines could be heard sometime before the place of bivouac was reached. It continued steadily, but it was by no means brisk.
At this bivouac a phase of camp-life was presented which surprised many not a little. It was a new experience, but one which was speedily comprehended. Fresh beef had been issued to the troops and notwithstanding the active interference of the butchers and others to protect it, scarcely was there a piece given out to the members of the Eighty- sixth that was not almost covered with "fly blows." Many of the boys swore roundly at this state of affairs, but it could not be helped. The meat was thoroughly scraped, washed, and hustled into a camp-kettle, covered with water, and quickly placed on a fire to cook. Even cooked beef had to be carefully watched and protected.
The Eighty-sixth remained at its bivouac of the 6th until the 10th. The front line was skirmishing continually with the enemy in a mild sort of way, as though it was donc just to keep in practice. On the 8th the army was reinforced by two divisions of the Seventeenth corps commanded by General Frank P. Blair. From the 5th to the 9th of June General Sherman was getting his forces well over toward the Western and Atlantic railroad, changing base from Kingston to Allatoona. In this movement the Twenty-third
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corps, General Schofield commanding, which was on the ex- treme left, stood fast while the rest of the army passed to his rear and formed on his left. McPherson reached the rail- road in advance of Ackworth on the 7th. Schofield had now become the extreme right of the army, McPherson the left, and Thomas with the Army of the Cumberland, the center. The Fourth corps being the center of Thomas' army was also the center of Sherman's. On the 9th Sherman gave orders to move forward and feel for the enemy and get into position, being again ready for more active work. The weather had been rainy since the 5th, in fact, there had been more or less rain ever since the attack upon the enemy's position at New Hope Church began, but now it fell in still greater quantities. The Eighty-sixth moved about a half mile on the 10th, and about one mile on the 11th. Thus
gradually working its way to the left to its position in the general alignment of the whole great army. On the 12th there was a tremendous fall of rain, especially in the after- noon it came down in torrents. On this day the Eighty-sixth did not move. There was lively skirmishing all day. Some members of the Eighty-sixth visited the Fifth Indiana bat- tery, and from the position of the battery viewed the enemy's works on Pine mountain and the works extending to the right. The enemy's position was a strong one, and was well fortified, and he evinced a disposition to defend them to the last extremity. There was heavy cannonading in the even- ing all around the lines, the rebel batteries returning the fire of the Union batteries with much spirit, mak- ing altogether a magnificent display. During the 12th and 13th the Eighty-sixth was almost destitute of rations, which was anything but pleasant. The rain descended al- most continually, which swelled the streams and rendered transportation by means of army wagons almost impossible, as well as delaying the intended movement of the troops. There was, however, continual skirmishing of a mild charac- ter, warming up at times when the batteries would try con- clusions. This took place on the evening of the 13th. Com- mencing on the extreme left with McPherson it passed to the
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right; the batteries and skirmishers were quite busy for some time, but it was sharpest and longest maintained on the left where McPherson was advancing on Brush mountain. Sherman now had his forces well up to the enemy's position and was in fighting distance, near enough to strike out from the shoulder and take his enemy between the eyes, which might be said to be located upon Kenesaw and Pine moun- tains, from which point Sherman's every move could be ob- served.
Johnston's new position was by nature a very strong one. and it was skilfully and magnificently intrenched. His main line extended from Brush mountain on his right to Lost mountain on the left. The key to this position was the double peaked mountain, Kenesaw, standing to the rear of the fortified line, now occupied and looming up high over all the surrounding mountains and country, rendering it a verit- able Gibralter. In advance of Johnston's main line stood the now historic Pine Top, or Pine mountain. This command- ing eminence was connected with the main line by strong intrenchments, but did not constitute any portion of them. and was not intended or expected to be held as a permanent position. Johnston's line from Brush mountain to Lost mountain was perhaps ten miles in length. Lost mountain was a little south of west of Brush mountain. Pine Top was nearly due west of Brush mountain, while Kenesaw was nearly due south of the latter. The four formed almost a diamond in shape, while Kenesaw, Pine Top and Lost mountain stood so as to form a triangle, the base, from Ken- esaw to Lost mountain, being the largest. The main line of intrenchments being about mid-way between Pine Top and Kenesaw. This was a grand position, skilfully taken, and held with a masterly hand, and the enemy had been strongly reinforced and was confident. These things greatly improved the morale of Johnston's army.
The Army of the Cumberland was in the center. Its corps was distributed from left to right as follows: Palmer's Fourteenth corps, Howard's Fourth corps, and Hooker's Twentieth corps. On the 14th Sherman directed that the
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enemy should be pushed sharply at all points, without a direct assault upon his works, unless under the most favor- able circumstances. But the lines closed down upon the enemy, tightening their grip, and Union skirmishers gave him battle everywhere. Thomas steadily pressed the right of the Fourteenth corps, and the left of the Fourth corps against the lines of intrenchment in the re-entrant angle between Pine Top and the enemy's main line, resulting in quite a battle. About noon the bugle at brigade head- quarters sounded the "general call, " and almost in an instant the Eighty-sixth was in line ready for battle. It moved to the left about a half or three-quarters of a mile, placing it in position on the left front of Pine Top, and its duty was to support Willich's brigade, now commanded by Colonel Wil- liam H. Gibson. This brigade gallantly passed the enemy at all points in its front. The skirmish line was reinforced until it was about equal to a line of battle, and its fire was fiercely maintained until the hills and valleys once again echoed to the music. and the dense woods were wrapped in its stifling smoke.
About 6 o'clock a number of Union batteries opened a hot fire upon the enemy, General Sherman himself directing the Fifth Indiana battery to open on a group of officers seen on the crest of Pine Top, observing the movements of the Union troops .* The Fifth was true as steel and efficiently served and soon dispersed the group. It proved to be Gen- eral Johnston, General Hardee, and General Leonidas Polk. The latter was killed by an unexploded shell, and his loss was keenly felt by the enemy, as he was greatly loved by the whole people of the South.
The Eighty-sixth kept well up to the First brigade. It finally bivouacked about 7 o'clock and the boys ate their sup- per of hard tack, salt pork. and coffee, amid the thunderous roar of batteries and the finer, keener, crackling fire of the skirmish line. It had been a busy and trying afternoon and the prospect was for many, many more busy afternoons, and
* Authorities differ as to whether it was Sherman or Thomas who gave this direction. Lossing says it was Thomas; others say it was Sherman.
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whole days and weeks to follow, and the prospect was ful- filled to the letter. Every man slept soundly on the rocky bed.
On the morning of the 15th, the bugles sounded reveille at daybreak. The skirmishers had been busy the whole night through and had no doubt annoyed the enemy greatly by their incessant fire, while the Union troops had rested well, which rendered them fresh and active. Expectation was on tip-toe. All forenoon the cannon boomed and growled sullenly at the enemy on the left. The Fourth corps did not advance until between 1 and 2 o'clock. Wood's division supporting Stanley's. and ready to take its place upon the line if opportunity offered. The lines of battle advanced some distance and came upon the intrenchments of the enemy. Here the battle opened in earnest and the Union forces pressing steadily on. captured one or two lines of works and secured possession of Pine mountain, and drove the enemy back into his main line of works, extending from Brush mountain to Lost mountain, the line being perhaps a mile in advance of Kenesaw mountain. The battle raged all along the line from left to right-from Brush mountain north and east of the railroad to Lost mountain on the Union right. The enemy was beaten at all points. General M. F. Force, on the left, captured the Fortieth Alabama. about 320 strong. The Fourth corps took many prisoners in squads of five to thirty. Many of the prisoners professed to be tired of fighting, and of the war, and stated that many more still in the ranks were of the same state of mind. The enemy was kept closely engaged by the skirmishers even, when no line of attack was moving against him. Decided advantage had been gained by the Union forces during the day. and the men were encouraged accordingly. Schofield, on the extreme right. had gained a foot-hold beyond Allatoona creek near Lost mountain, but he had perhaps done the least fighting of any army corps during the day. Hooker had fought the enemy immediately on the right of the Fourth corps with his usual impetuosity. gaining possession of advantageous ground. The battle on the extreme left, fought by McPher-
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