USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 37
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creek he showed a disposition of making a stand. Division commanders had been warned to be ready to give battle any moment; for it was now known that the Confederate army had changed commanders, that the able and careful Johnston had been relieved, and the fiery Hood given the command with the hope that his desperate fighting qualities might turn the tide against the matchless Sherman and his unriv- aled army. General Sherman had warned his subordinates of what they might expect, and that they must be on the alert and be ever ready to meet and beat the impetuous Hood. Therefore. in the approach of this stream, Peach Tree creek, the utmost caution was used. On the farther bank of the stream the enemy had taken a strong position and was well fortified at the point where the road crossed the creek. At this point the stream was rather difficult to cross, which added strength to the enemy's position. As soon as it was apparent that the enemy was in some force and intended making a stand and dispute the crossing, the Eighty-sixth's flankers on the right were swung round into line with the Fifth-ninth skirmishers, extending the line some distance down stream. As soon as this movement was completed the Union forces began to get ready for the strug- gle. But the enemy was well posted with two pieces of artillery which were well served, and he therefore showed a strong disposition to stand his ground and fight, at least unless a much greater force should come against him. His artillery maintained a brisk fire on the Fifty-ninth and Eighty-sixth, but nevertheless the men still kept creeping upon him and getting into positions to command his works and artillery. He showed a bold front, and all the indications were for a savage little fight.
When the flankers upon the right were swung into line with the skirmishers it brought them up to a rail fence in the edge of the woods, just north of an opening on the north bank of the creek, a like opening being on the opposite bank. As three members of the Eighty-sixth came up to this fence and began taking observations, a solitary Johnnie was in sight, a long legged fellow dressed in the Confederate gray
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was walking from west to east across the opening on the south bank of the stream. He passed along as leisurely as though no enemy was within miles of him. One of the com- rades remarked that he would quicken that "grayback's" step for him, and fired at him, but there was no visible effect. He continued on his way as if nothing had happened. Chaf- fing the comrade about his poor marksmanship, John Wilson and J. A. Barnes hastily threw their Enfields to their shoulders and fired at the lone wanderer as he was still proceeding leisurely on his way. As they fired they requested their somewhat chagrined comrade to keep a watch. It was quite evident that he had not been hurt. But never did any one witness a greater change in the manner of one who was ap- parently so leisurely walking out for health or pleasure. as took place in this gentleman, dressed in Confederate gray. If ever a racer proved his breeding by performance this fel- low certainly did. He vanished from sight in the twinkling of an eye. He turned neither to the right nor to the left. but went straight to his "house of refuge," the woods in his front. He had no need to turn from a straightforward course, for there was not a blue-coat in all Georgia that could have fired another shot at him before he was out of sight. But he had scarcely reached shelter, when a white puff of smoke was seen and a little later the crack of guns was heard. Wilson and Barnes were still standing side by side. The spiteful szip of balls was heard all round them. and one passed be- tween their heads and shattered a small pine tree about six inches in diameter just behind them. They, too, took to cover and the fun began, and the boys felt confident that the Confederates got their share of the lead. The apparent courtesies of the day, at least, were about even on this part of the line.
About noon, or a little later, the flankers were relieved and joined the regiment at the road. Here Colonel Dick and the Lieutenant Colonel of the Fifty-ninth had maneuvered and watched, but as yet had not felt themselves justified in pushing the head of the column too far in advance and upon this fortified position. But they had been gradually
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strengthening their position and gaining ground, inch by inch, until as the afternoon drew on, the enemy's artillery was almost silenced by the sharp shooting of the Fifty-ninth's skirmishers, and a few volunteers from the Eighty-sixth. Wat Baker, of the Eighty-sixth, was quite a hero on this day. Baker had been termed a little "shaky" in a close place by his comrades, but to-day no man in the regiment showed more steadiness of nerve, or more cool, determined courage, He voluntarily went forward to sharp-shoot on his own hook, and pressed forward right up to the bank of the creek, carried rails and built himself a barricade a little to the right of the road and ensconced himself therein. It is but due to say that the Fifty-ninth and Eighty-sixth were accessories to this act of Baker by keeping a close watch upon the enemy. Now, too, the fire of the Fifty-ninth began to increase so that a veritable hail-storm of lead swept the parapet of its works. About 4 o'clock it was understood other columns were about ready to cross and arrangements were made to force the crossing here. It was red-hot now for a time, but the skirmishers of the gallant Fifty-ninth held squarely to the work and kept the enemy closely con- fined within his intrenchments. About 5 o'clock the enemy once more manned his guns and opened fire. It was at short range and the shells burst in the faces of the men and the grape and canister-shot rattled around them like hail. But the preparation for an assault upon his works faltered not, and Colonel Dick was forming the regiment, that had been lying down, to make a dash right in the face of the guns for their capture, when heavens, what a racket! Was the enemy shooting fence rails, or what was the matter? The rebel artillerists were broken up and demoralized, and in the excite- ment and hurry had fired their rammer-a fatal mistake. The unearthly whiz and whirr attracted the attention of the Union lines, and when it was discovered what it was, a shout went up. No time was taken in getting into line. The Colonel shouted, "Forward, Eighty-sixth," and it went across that creek with a rush, and the whole kit of Confed- eoates took to their heels, or, at least, all who were not too
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badly frightened to run; for about sixty of them remained in their works, and were captured with their two pieces of artillery, among them being a Lieutenant Colonel, several Captains and First and Second Lieutenants. Wishing to do full justice to the gallant Fifty-ninth it must be said that it was always at the front, as its position demanded, and those on the skirmish line in the race, having the start, kept it. Both regiments acted in concert and were justly proud of their day's achievements. The prisoners gave a doleful story of their day's trials. They said actually that they had not dared to stick their heads above the works only at the extremest peril of their lives, and a number of dead bodies in their trenches verified this statement. This was the reason of their capture. A strong skirmish line with a good sup- port pursued them for some distance, and the rest of the brigade took a strong position on the hill formerly occupied by the enemy and fortified it, facing in the other direction, and thus made the crossing of Peach Tree creek secure. Sometime after nightfall the regiment was relieved and returned to its bivouac ground of the previous night at Buck- head, where it arrived about 11 o'clock at night. It had been an arduous but a successful day's work.
CHAPTER XXV.
PEACH TREE CREEK TO LOVEJOY'S STATION.
Closing in On Atlanta-Clear Creek-A Ilot Time-The Eighty-sixth in Front of the Gate City-The Battle of the 22d of July-Skirmishing and Making Dem- onstrations-The Battle of Ezra Church-The Great Move Around Atlanta- Destroying Railroads-Hood's Flight From Atlanta-IIis Stores Destroyed and Magazines Blown Up-The Battle of Jonesboro-The Battle of Lovejoy's Station-Sherman Withdraws to Atlanta-The Losses of the Campaign-Con- gratulations From President Lincoln.
Wood's division was again in motion by 5 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, moving to the left to connect with Stan- ley, who had also moved to the left to touch elbows with Schofield's command that had closed up McPherson's right, the Fifteenth corps. McPherson's command was swinging round from Decatur toward Atlanta for the final struggle. About 10 o'clock, having proceeded perhaps four miles with great caution, Wood's division was halted at some intrench- ments which Stanley's division had left when moving to the left. It remained here quite a while, and the regiment took advantage of the time and prepared dinner, and was soon again ready for any duty. Shortly after dinner the march was again resumed, but the progress was extremely slow as the roads were badly blockaded. The country was almost wholly covered with a heavy forest, and an attack might be expected at any time. About 5 o'clock p. m., the skirmish- ers of Stanley's division became hotly engaged with those of the enemy to such a degree as to strongly threaten a bat- tle. A little later Wood's skirmishers were also engaged and the skirmish battle was quite hot. Wood's skirmishers pressed forward in a most determined manner and drove: those of the enemy some distance from where the battle began. The line of battle also pressed forward and confi-
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dently expected to meet the enemy in force, but did not. The alignment being completed the men were ordered to fortify as speedily as possible. The command remained here at this line for the night. There had been some heavy firing to the right during the afternoon, in fact, the great battle of Peach Tree Creek had been fought and won by the Union forces. Newton's division, of the Fourth corps, about a half mile south of where Wood forced the crossing of the creek, had been first attacked, and afterwards successively from left to right the divisions of the Twentieth corps. This battle took place about the same time that Schofield. with the Twenty-third corps, and Howard, with Stanley's and Wood's divisions, were pressing some distance farther to the left. The Eighty-sixth threw out skirmishers and rested quietly for the night, feeling sure that the morning would bring duties no less arduous than those of the preceeding days.
The Eighty-sixth was undisturbed by the skirmishing, that was a daily and hourly business. On the morning of the 21st a detail was made from the Eighty-sixth for the skir- mish line. The men were scarcely upon the line and the old relief gone when the order was given to "Forward." There was not a commissioned officer upon this part of the line. The skirmishers of the Third brigade, commanded by a Ser- geant, did not hesitate, and when the order was given to advance, these veterans went briskly forward through woods, through thickets, over hills and across hollows. This com- mand was now in the " breaks" of Clear creek. Crossing a small stream the line of skirmishers climbed the hill on the rebel side. All this advance had taken less time than it has taken to write it. But during the succeeding four hours the skirmish fire from both sides was extremely hot. As rapidly as the skirmishers could load they would fire. Of course they sought protection behind trees and logs, but the manner in which the enemy's skirmishers peeled the bark from the sheltering trees was a credit to their marksmanship. The distance between the Union lines and those of the enemy was perhaps one or two hundred yards, and anywhere in the neutral ground a man would be doomed to certain death.
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One Eighty-sixth skirmisher heated his gun so hot by rapid firing that it actually melted the soldering of the lower sight and it came off the barrel. More than one gun was so hot that it would burn the hand very quickly if placed on the lower part of the barrel. Another relief came out about 9 o'clock a. m., but it was scarcely posted until the enemy skipped out, leaving the Union boys in possession of his evacuated works. This line was only an out-post and not a main line. The command was soon ordered into line and advanced in battle array, the Eighty-sixth being in the sec- ond line. The progress was slow. About 2 o'clock p. m. the men had a breathing spell and dined. Later in the after- noon, having closed up on the enemy, the Eighty-sixth was ordered to stack arms and carry rails for the front line to assist it building in haste a line of works, as an attack was ex- pected, and as it was in an exposed position. A heavy line of the enemy's skirmishers was only distant about three hundred yards and was keeping up a sharp fire, and with con- siderable effect. The Eighty-sixth faced the music, but it was of a most unpleasant and unhealthy kind. Every man worked like a Trojan. Here fell Thomas McCartney, of Company D, shot dead by the enemy's skirmishers. There were sev- eral wounded whose names can not now be recalled. The work being finally completed, and the first line secure in its position, the Eighty-sixth withdrew to its bivouac, and sup- pered on hard tack, beans, pickled pork and coffee, and slept as though profound peace reigned over all. To put it briefly, with skirmishing, marching, and fatigue duty the men were almost "done up." Rest and sleep were absolute neces- sities.
General McPherson's Army of the Tennesee was swing- ing round from Decatur and advancing on Atlanta on the extreme left-from the east. Hooker and Palmer, on the right-the latter on the extreme right-had also advanced and the whole army was once more well up to the enemy's works. In case he retired, it would probably be to take a position within the forts in and around Atlanta and his connecting works, and these were presumably stronger than
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any which yet had been confronted. Should the matchless Sherman fail to secure Atlanta, his former successes, now reckoned the greatest during this great war up to this time, would be counted as nothing, and his star now shining with such splendor would undoubtedly wane. But Sherman was not to fail. Aided by Thomas, Howard, Schofield, and others, and all these backed by the great and splendid army, he could not. It was not so cast. This great army of vet- eran soldiers, the equal of Caesar's legions or the Grecian phalanx, never ceased to hammer and bang, to batter. break and destroy Hood's army-an army of the purest Southern mettle-in open field, in camp, on the flank, in the center and under cover of the strongest intrenchments. It was to the rebel host an ever present, gigantic, sleepless, devastat- ing monster, implacable as fate, crushing all before it. or going off in a rollicking, wild, tempestuous mood around the Confederate army, to smash its railroad connections and obliterate its communications. It swallowed with ravenous maw all subsistence within reach of its ten thousand ten- tacles, and trampled under foot and wallowed upon it with utter recklessness in the spirit of destruction that which it could not otherwise use. It struck here and there staggering blows, until Hood knew not what next to expect or which way to turn; and Jeff Davis, the Confederacy's demi-god. was himself dumbfounded and frightened into a state of nervous trepidation almost beyond belief. and, in fact, little short of actual collapse. It was plain to be seen by all that General Sherman and his Western boys were at the throat of the Confederacy and that its days were numbered.
The morning of the 22d of July found the members of the Eighty-sixth, but imperfectly rested from the previous day's labors. In fact, the labors for several days previous had been especially heavy and wearisome. The nights were short and the hours allotted for rest were insufficient to fully recover from the exhausting labors of the day. The enemy had again fallen back from his works of the previous even- ing. The command moved out about 7 a. m., advancing in a cautious manner. The Third brigade, of Wood's division,
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proceeded about two miles in battle array through woods and fields, over hills and across hollows, stopping for noth- ing, the Eighty-sixth in the front line. At length, crossing a stream-Clear creek or one of its tributaries-the Eighty- sixth mounted a wooded hill or ridge and came into plain view of the enemy's main line of intrenchments for the de- fense of the city of Atlanta, distant about three-quarters of a mile, or a little less, with a strong line of skirmish pits less than a quarter of a mile away from the Eighty-sixth's regi- mental front. Colonel Dick speedily gave orders to perfect the regimental alignment. The Colonel's alignment of the regiment was not changed, and the men fortified their line as they were first placed upon the ridge. The whole regiment worked hard and it soon had a good strong line of intrench- ments. The rebel skirmishers could, however, make it un- pleasantly "hot" whenever they chose to do so, nor did they seem to be in a very amiable mood while the men were en- gaged in constructing their fortifications, but made the mus- ket balls fairly whistle and sing. The main line of the enemy's intrenchments, which was in plain view, fairly swarmed with Confederates who seemed to be working very industriously to complete or strengthen their works. By 11:30 a. m. the men felt pretty securely intrenched, with the Twenty-third army corps in position and fortified on the left.
About noon firing was heard on the extreme left announc- ing the attack on Dodge's Sixteenth corps of McPherson's Army of the Tennessee. It grew in volume rapidly as troops farther to the right became engaged. It is not the intention to attempt a description of the great battle of Atlanta fought by the gallant Army of the Tennessee, contending almost unaided against the rebel hordes, nor how fell the gallant McPherson and how the heroic Logan took up the desperate chance of battle, and with the courage a Ney and the skill of a Napoleon, fought it out to a successful and magnificent fin- ish. Nor will it be told how imperturbable and grand the great Sherman was when word was brought him that his loved Lieutenant, McPherson, had fallen. He was simply unap- proachably grand in this supreme ordeal. Great in council,
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he was still greater in the field and in action, and the greater the occasion and the more severe the trial the higher rose and clearer shone the bright sun of Sherman's great military genius. As was said of him by one of his ablest subordi- nates: "His mind seemed never so clear, his confidence never so strong, his spirit never so inspiring, and his temper never so amiable as in the crisis of some fierce struggle like that of the day when McPherson fell in front of Atlanta."
The Eighty-sixth, with the rest of the Army of the Cum- berland, received orders to be ready to move. This meant that aid was to be sent to the Army of the Tennessee if nec- essary. General Sherman himself says: "I remained near the Howard House, receiving reports and sending orders. urging Generals Thomas and Schofield to take advantage of the absence from their front of so considerable a body as was evidently engaged on our left, and, if possible, to make a lodgment in Atlanta itself; but they reported that the lines to their front, at all accessible points, were strong, by nature and by art, and were fully manned." But the skirmish lines made strong demonstrations and threatened an attack, while the line of battle stood to arms, but it was not deemed pru- dent to make more than a strong demonstration. Still the movements evidently led the enemy to believe that an attack was contemplated, as he opened a hot fire all along the line. The roar of all his available artillery made the noise of bat- tle scarcely less on this part of the line than that on the line of the Army of the Tennessee. The batteries replied giving him shot for shot. The tide of battle ebbed and flowed almost without ceasing-a red and furious scourge upon both armies-until about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when the ene- my, being thoroughly beaten, withdrew his shattered legions safely within his strong line of intrenchments. Hood had again been beaten and quite severely handled by a small por- tion of Sherman's great army when he had thought to crush it and beat it in detail, but he had been foiled and had lost heavily of the flower of his army. among whom was Major General William H. T. Walker, killed. In the evening the Eighty-sixth received orders to sleep close to its works and
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to be ready to repel an attack. But Hood had had enough for one day and the men slept in comparative quiet that night. On the morning of the 23d the Eighty-sixth awoke considerably refreshed from a good all night sleep.
Sherman's grand army was now facing the immediate defenses of the city of Atlanta. Two great battles had been fought since crossing the Chattahoochee river and the enemy had been severely handled and badly beaten in both instances-he being the attacking party. But such desper- ate fighting had taught the whole Union army, from Sher- man down to private, what they might expect of Hood when- ever he had a hope of gaining ground by attacking in an unlooked for direction with a chance of surprising and crip- pling his enemy. However, Hood and his generals and pri- vates had also learned of the stubborn fighting qualities of the men from the West-a lesson which they did not soon forget. On account of the general tension felt by both armies the Eighty-sixth with the rest of the Union forces were up on the morning of the 23d before daylight and breakfasted. Soon after sunrise the enemy's batteries opened on the position of the Eighty-sixth in a brisk man- ner. The shot and shell shrieked and roared in a way quite complimentary to the accuracy of the rebel gunners' aim, but the men were safely ensconced behind good strong breastworks. It was deemed prudent to strengthen the works and place some artillery on the regimental line. Accordingly during the forenoon of the 23d two pieces of the Sixth Ohio battery were placed in position on the line of the Eighty-sixth's intrenchments. They were brass pieces, Napolean 12-pounders, and splendidly served. Again in the afternoon the enemy opened a hot fire on the Eighty-sixth. He chose to direct his fire upon it probably because it lay in plain view. He sent over shot and shell in abundance and made it quite unsafe to be out from under cover of the pro- tection of the works. One solid shot struck the regiment's line of works and completely shattered it where it struck. A piece of timber knocked from the log struck James A. Shaw on the hip, wounding him severely so that he died in
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about one week afterward. He was just in the act of filling his pipe to take a smoke, or reaching for some tobacco to fill it, when he was struck. The same shot struck a gun which was laid up against the head-log and knocked it against the head of Atkinson Hill, bending it almost at right angles upon itself against his head. He was quite severely hurt by being bruised, but his wound did not prove dangerous. The ball rolled to the foot of the hill back of the works and was picked up and brought back up to the trench. The fire was maintained some time, but this was about all the damage done to the Eighty-sixth that day. On the 24th the skir- mishing and artillery firing were repeated at intervals throughout the day. Generals Sherman, Thomas, Howard, and others rode round the lines viewing and examining the situation of the army. On this day, too, the Fifty-ninth Ohio constructed a line of intrenchments and occupied it in front of the Eighty-sixth which somewhat relieved it from watching for the enemy, but in no sense screened it from his fire. On the 25th the Eighty-sixth received an order to extend its line of works on the left well up to the banks of a small stream-a tributary of Clear creek-which was a few rods to left of the regiment's first line. The enemy made it extremely hot for the fatigue party during the entire time it was at work. John Mann, of Company H, and Jacob Hauk. On the 26th there
of Company B, were slightly wounded.
was the usual skirmishing. On the 27th, the Army of the Tennessee was in motion from the left to take position on the extreme right under command of General O. O. Howard, the Fourth corps' former commander. Upon discovering this movement the enemy opened a hot artillery fire all along the line, which was well maintained for some time with short intervals. The Sixth Ohio battery, two guns of which were on the line of the Eighty-sixth, showed some fine practice, making some splendid shots at the enemy's works in reply. As the evening advanced, however, the fire slackened.
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