USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 38
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On the morning of the 28th of July the Eighty-sixth was up betimes. The morning was pleasant and not so exces- sively hot as it had been for some days previous. The move-
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ment of the Army of the Tennessee was continued on the right. This caused some irritation and the rebel skirmishers were in bad humor. In turn the blue coats replied manfully. In the afternoon the rebel artillery opened a strong fire. Bridges' Illinois battery and the Sixth Ohio battery replied with interest. Later in the day it was learned the cause of the enemy's irritable mood. Hood had ordered an attack on the Army of the Tennessee, which was going into position on the right. One that day the skirmishers were ordered to advance. Dashing forward in a most impetuous manner they captured the enemy's line of pits, taking quite a num- ber of prisoners before they could get out of their pits. Others took time by the forelock and started a little sooner and escaped. These the brave blue coats pursued right up to the enemy's main line of intrenchments, when a line of battle was seen to come over the works and advance. The Union skirmishers fell back in orderly manner, showing great coolness and steadiness of nerve in the face of over- powering numbers. Falling back some distance the skir- mish line took up a good position which was intrenched and maintained as long as the command remained here.
Howard's battle on the right was known as the battle of Ezra Church. The brunt of the battle fell upon Logan's Fifteenth corps, but the enemy was easily defeated. Great loss was inflicted upon the assaulting forces. It is probable that the attack of the Union skirmishers was timed to act as a diversion in favor of the right. It certainly had the effect to create the suspicion in Hood's mind that his right would in turn be attacked by the Army of the Cumberland, as late in the afternoon he ordered Hardee to leave his corps on the right and take command of the attacking forces, while he, Hood, would remain where he could watch the right which was threatened by Thomas with his army.
On the 29th, 30th and 31st there was the usual cannonad- ing and skirmishing throughout the days and nights, but nothing decisive occurred. On the 1st of August the Eighty- sixth, with several other regiments of the brigade, received orders to be ready to march at 6:30 a. m. They reported at
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division headquarters at 7 o'clock and received instructions. They were to march to left rear of the divisions and corps some distance and build a line of intrenchments, the extreme left to be sharply refused, while the right of the newly con- structed line was to connect with the left of the Third divis- ion line of intrenchments. This was done preparatory to moving Schofield's Twenty-third corps to the right in the endeavors of General Sherman to out-flank Hood and reach the Montgomery and Atlanta railroad. Schofield 's command moved on the night of the 1st, leaving the Fourth corps on the extreme left of the army, Wood's division being the ex- treme left of the infantry line of Sherman's grand army in front of Atlanta. This position it held until the final move around Atlanta was undertaken. The new line of intrench- ments was occupied by cavalry and mounted infantry. On the 2d, during the forenoon, there was the usual skirmish- ing with some artillery firing. Sherman, however, was pushing the right vigorously forward toward the railroad. In the afternoon the Eighty-sixth, with the rest of the brigade, were ordered into the ditch with gun and cartridge-box. This command was promptly executed, and in a very few minutes the skirmish line was ordered forward. The blue- coats went across the open field in their front very leisurely and in splendid style until within a couple of hundred yards of the enemy's line of rifle-pits, when they received the enemy's full fire. Previous to this there had been a few scattering shots fired, but now the whole line of the enemy's skirmishers gave them a fiery blast. Then the advaneing line gave the yell and literally ran over the enemy, taking the pits by storm and capturing thirty or forty prisoners, the others saving themselves by starting early. The gallant manner in which the line advanced and took possession of the enemy's pits is worthy of all commendation and praise. Company I, of the Eighty-sixth, had one man wounded. The line was held twenty or thirty minutes, when a line of battle was seen to come over the enemy's works and advance. The skirmishers fell back in good order and took up their position in the fortified line on the hill. No further attack was made.
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From this time on while in front of the city it was one round of skirmishing and "demonstrating" against the enemy with fierce artillery duels thrown in for noise. No pen or pencil can describe or paint the scenes of those days to one who was not an eye witness of them in a manner to be comprehended. The trials undergone and the dangers escaped by all who passed through the fearful days BEFORE ATLANTA can never be told in words.
On the 5th of August the Eighty-sixth, led by Colonel G. F. Dick, made a demonstration. Filing out over the works the regiment advanced down the hill in front, passed that of the Fifty-ninth Ohio, and on toward the enemy. As it passed down the hill in front of Fifty-ninth the enemy literally shaved it with a storm of balls, yet the regiment marching in open order escaped with a few slightly wounded. One comrade had his clothing cut, another some of his accouter- ments, while a third had his chin whiskers unceremoniously clipped by a musket ball. Having crossed a small stream in front of the Fifty-ninth and ascending half way up the hill on the other side, the regiment was ordered to halt and lie down. Now, that the men were not in motion and compara- tively secure from musketry fire, the batteries opened at a lively rate, dropping their shells uncomfortably near. After marching around for a time the regiment returned to camp.
On the 6th a heavy detail was made from the Eighty- sixth for the skirmish line, and from this time on until the close of the seige the boys had a full share of the fun.
On the 12th the Eighty-sixth was again ordered out to make a demonstration against the enemy. The orders were promptly obeyed and with the Colonel at its head the regi- ment marched over the hills. There were no laggards in ranks that afternoon. The ravine was not of itself a dis- agreeable place to lounge at ease. Through it ran a pleas- ant little brook, pellucid and bright, that babbled merrily on its way to the Chattahoochee. But even here the enemy's shells rendered it anything but a desirable position to hold. As soon as the Eighty-sixth had taken its position in the ravine the skirmishers were ordered to advance and had a
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hot, malicious time with the Confederates, trotting them out of their pits at a lively rate and annoying them not a little. The regiment was out about thirty minutes, but that was quite long enough. On the 17th a demonstration was made by the Thirteenth Ohio, Seventeenth Kentucky and the Eighty-sixth Indiana. As long as there was a man of the three regiments in sight passing over the hill the enemy was busily engaged in popping away at him. The Thirteenth had one man severely wounded. They were out only for a short time, when all three regiments returned to their respect- ive camps. In a short time, however, the Thirteenth and Seventeenth were out again going the rounds of the circuit and drawing a sharp fire from the enemy, which fell upon the camps as well as the troops in position.
On the 18th, in the forenoon, the Ninth Kentucky made a demonstration, and had two or three men wounded. About 12:30, the Seventh Kentucky made a demonstration against the enemy, returning to its camp in a short time. There were a few hours of comparative quiet-until about 3 o'clock p. m., when the Eighty-sixth was ordered out. The regi- ment marched out promptly led by Colonel Dick over the hill toward the enemy to the music of the guns of the rebel sharpshooters. In the ravine the regiment filed left and made a circuit of the hill out of sight of the enemy, and came up from the rear, and again marched out upon the breast of the hill, and then marched to left in plain view of the enemy to create the impression that our forces were massing upon the left. About 2 o'clock a. m. on the morning of the 19th, the regiment was called out and ordered to be ready at 3 o'clock. The Eighty-sixth was ready at the appointed time and moved out to the left. The command moved to the left rear some two or three miles and halted, waiting daylight. Taking a defensible position, the command breakfasted at sunrise. Shortly after a strong detachment was sent out on a reconnoissance. This force returned about 10 a. m., and reported that it found the enemy in force some distance in front and skirmished with him. A few were wounded and a Captain in the Ninetieth Ohio was killed. Soon after the
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return of the reconnoitering force the command moved still farther to the left. Here the Eighty-sixth drew rations of hard tack, coffee and sugar and some sanitary rations of dried apples and onions. About 3 p. m. orders were received to return to camp, reaching there a little before sun-down, but to find the camp stripped. The troops from the other regi- ments had come in and carried off bunks, tent-poles and all movables, to their own camps for their own comfort. This excited the ire of the boys of the Eighty-sixth, but aside from an irruption of profanity, nothing was attempted to rec- tify the error. Immediately the skirmish line of the Third brigade made a spirited demonstration against the enemy, attacking the rebel skirmish line. No results of special ad- vantage could be obtained by the line of blue-coats and they leisurely returned to their position in the pits. Again on the 20th the Eighty-sixth was called up at 2 a. m., and ordered to be ready to move in thirty minutes. Colonel Dick was at the head of the regiment in column in good time and marched to the position of the previous day. Remained here until 9:30 a. m., when it was ordered to return to its position in the trenches. On the 21st the Eighty-sixth repaired its loss of bunks and tent-poles. Many necessaries for camp-life had been carried away and it took a great deal of work to supply the camp with those things to make the men reason- ably comfortable. On this day Captain W. S. Sims, of Com- pany F, took leave of the officers and men of the regiment, having resigned on account of continued serious illness. The Captain was a brave, faithful and efficient officer, and he left with the kindly wishes and to the regret of the entire regiment.
It had been the rumor in camp for ten or twelve days that General Sherman contemplated placing one corps at the Chattahoochee river and with the rest of the army make a circuit of desolation around Atlanta, destroying Hood's rail- way connections, and thus force him to come out and fight for the possession of the city or evacuate it. Of this Sher- man says: "On the 13th of August, I gave general orders for the Twentieth corps to draw back to the railroad bridge
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at the Chattahoochee, to protect our trains, hospitals, spare artillery, and the railroad depot, while the rest of the army should move bodily to some point on the Macon railroad below East Point. Circumstances, however, prevented this movement being executed at once. "
On the evening of the 25th of August, after a day of rumors and flying reports of all kinds throughout the camps and trenches, came the orders for the contemplated move- ment above referred to. The Eighty-sixth with the rest of the Fourth corps were ordered that as soon as it was dark, so as not to be seen by the enemy, to strike tents and get
everything ready. The move was to commence at 8 o'clock p. m. The Eighty-sixth was ready, and Colonel Dick only awaited orders to set forward. But the regiment did not leave its breastworks and old camp until near the hour of midnight, when it moved slowly, silently, but steadily to the right rear, halting just before daylight and securing a little rest and sleep. The command was well in behind the Twen- tieth corps which still held its line of works, while Garrard's cavalry occupied the vacated works. At this place the men were ordered to fortify and began the work, when they received orders to continue the march. The day was excess- ively hot and many suffered greatly from the heat. In the afternoon a shower of rain fell, rendering the roads slippery and made marching very laborious. Many will long remem- ber this day's march and its trials. Near sundown the com- mand bivouacked well to the right of the former position of General Sherman's great army.
During the night of the 26th, the Twentieth corps drew out of its works and retired to an intrenched line at the Chattahoochee river. On the 27th the command marched a few miles in the forenoon, and intrenched its bivouac in the afternoon, an attack being apprehended. The enemy's bat- teries maintained a brisk fire for sometime, but did no ser- ious damage. The position of the Eighty-sixth was on a high hill and it had a splendid view of the surrounding country, especially in front, which was mostly heavily wooded. The location of their skirmish line could be plainly
1
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seen and farther away was a great cloud of dust evidently caused by a body of marching troops.
The command remained at this place of bivouac until near sundown on the evening of the 28th, when the bugles of the brigade sounded the "assembly, " and the regiment soon marched out guarding the supply train. In consequence of this duty the progress was very slow and the marching tedious and irritating. The command guarding the train bivouacked about midnight after a most exasperating night march. The morning of the 29th was a busy one for the Eighty-sixth. The command was aroused early and break- fasted soon after sun-up. The brigade was soon on the move to rejoin the command and had rations issued while on the road, a brief halt being called for that purpose. Soon after resuming the march General Thomas' headquarters were reached, where baggage was left, and started out on quick time to reach the Montgomery and Atlanta railroad, two miles distant. Turning to the left the command marched about a mile toward East Point, there stacked arms, and pro- ceeded to the destruction of the railroad. This was done by prying up the ends of the ties and then enough men would get hold of the ends of the ties and turn ties, iron rails and all over like a great prairie sod from a huge plow. After this the rails were knocked loose from the ties, the ties were piled and burned, the rails placed upon the burning ties and heated and bent or twisted, until unfit for use until worked over. In this manner the railroad was completely destroyed. The task was completed and the command started on its return to bivouac near headquarters about 1 o'clock. There the Eighty-sixth furnished a detail for picket. The com- mand moved out on the 30th at 6 o'clock on the route of the previous day until the railroad was crossed, when it then turned to the left and marched in the direction of the Macon and Atlanta road. The line of march after crossing the rail- road was nearly directly east. Generals Sherman and Thomas accompanied this column while on the march. The weather was extremely hot, which rendered marching difficult. There was some heavy cannonading on the right where Gen-
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eral Howard, with the Army of the Tennessee, was advanc- ing. Skirmishing in the immediate front was light, but still the command had to feel its way with extreme caution. Appearances were quite threatening at one time during the afternoon; the column was halted, and the men ordered to intrench, but soon received orders to "forward." It pressed on about one and a half miles and was halted again, where another line of intrenchments was begun, but quit work for supper before very much was done. After supper it moved forward about a half mile and bivouacked for the night.
On the morning of the 31st the command was up early and breakfasted before sun-up. The boys were now in a section of country where they could gobble roasting ears, and consequently were living high for campaigners. The artillery opened fire on a rebel train during the morning and made it pretty hot for it, apparently delivering a very accur- ate fire and causing the Confederates to move out at a lively rate. The early part of the day was quite cloudy, but warm and sultry, which did not conduce to comfort. The command moved out about 8 o'clock, but did not go far until an align- ment was made, and the troops were ordered to intrench themselves. The work had not progressed far when they were again ordered forward. The advance was made stead- ily, bearing somewhat to the left. The corps soon passed through a line of rebel intrenchments, supposed to have been recently abandoned, and showing the enemy to be in some force in the immediate front. The line of march was nearly parallel with the Montgomery railroad. About noon the command halted for dinner, still near the railroad. Later it advanced about one mile, bearing to the right, antl bivouacked for the night, the Eighty-sixth furnishing a heavy detail for the picket or skirmish line. There was some firing on the left in the evening, Schofield's corps having come up with the enemy. The First and Second divisions of the Fourth corps being upon the right, the Second connecting with the Third division and the First to the right of that. General Jeff C. Davis, with the Fourteenth army corps, was still to the right of these two divisions, but moved off early in the
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day to connect with Howard's Army of the Tennessee. So the army became divided and extended very much in the face of the enemy, who might, if cognizant of the situation, re- peat his tactics of July with a better chance of success than in his former attack, as the two corps would not constitute a force numerically as strong as the force before attacked.
On the morning of the 1st of September, Wood's division moved forward toward the Macon and Atlanta railroad, nearly due east, about 8 o'clock. It soon connected with Newton's Second division and pressed on steadily, but slowly. After a halt of a half hour at noon for dinner the march was continued, the Third brigade reaching the rail- road about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Stacking arms, the men proceeded to wreck the railroad in an effective manner. After that was done the command lay here for some time awaiting orders. It then advanced, moving south along the railroad. Cannonading and heavy musketry could be heard in front and a little to the right of the railroad, the Four- teenth corps having attacked the enemy. As the battle-field was approached the pace was quickened. The command, Wood's division, was ordered to close up and were massed by "columns of divisions" well up to the line of battle on the left of the railroad, and there awaited further orders. The enemy at once opened with their batteries at quite a lively rate, although his fire was not very destructive. Just as the division arrived the Fourteenth army corps charged the enemy's works a little to the right of the railroad, and captured the salient angle of the enemy's line at that point. Estes' brigade of Baird's division carried the salient, with Carlin's division upon his left, and Morgan upon his right. These forces closing down upon the forces contending with Estes' troops captured General Govan and eight hundred and sixty-five men. This was the second assault made here by the Fourteenth corps. The enemy fell back, formed a new line, and held it securely until nightfall, Hardee show- ing good generalship and the splendid fighting qualities of his men. The columns of attack suffered severely. The enemy also suffered heavily in killed and wounded, besides
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losing a great many prisoners. This was known as the Bat- tle of Jonesboro'. Some time after the heavy fighting was over Wood's division was moved farther to the left and bivouacked about 10 o'clock p. m.
About 1 o'clock on the morning of September 2, the men were aroused from a deep and tired sleep to view the indica- tions to the northward. There at a long distance could be seen the reflection of a great light against the sky as if a huge fire was present. It was in the direction of the city of Atlanta, but that was all that was known. It looked encour- aging as it was known that all the enemy's lines of railroad communication were now in possession of Union troops. But tired, as the men were, they soon sought their lowly beds to rest and sleep that they might be ready for the morrow's duties. About 4 o'clock the men were again aroused. Now the light was even greater than before, and to the great light was added the sound of heavy cannonading or reports of the bursting of innumerable shells. Had Atlanta been attacked by the forces remaining behind, or was it being evacuated, was the question upon every tongue. "The city is on fire!" "The rebels have attacked the Twentieth corps at the river!" "The rebels are burning their immovable stores and evacuating the city!" and other similar remarks according to the ideas of the various speakers, could be heard here and there all over the bivouac. The latter was believed to be the state of affairs and the men felt glad at heart to think that they were about to be successful in get- ting possession of this, the enemy's stronghold. But the men were too tired to stay up long and watch even the burn- ing of the rebel munitions of war, as they verily believed it to be, when it was not a matter of compulsion, and therefore all were soon again quietly sleeping. But all were turned ont and breakfasted shortly after daylight. Some light skir- mishing occurred in the early morning with the enemy's rear-guard, he having evacuated during the night.
The command moved back near the railroad where it was shelled so lively the previous evening and drew rations -three days' to do four-hard tack, bacon, sugar and coffee.
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The command was then marched up to the outskirts of the town and again halted for a time. The enemy in his extreme haste, left many of his dead unburied, and large numbers of his wounded behind. The march was continued on to the southward, still following the retreating enemy. Wood's division bore off to the left of the railroad somewhat, but continued the march on a country wagon road running almost parallel with the railroad. After proceeding some five or six miles, three companies of the Eighty-sixth were placed out to the left as flankers for the column in its advance. The division soon encountered the enemy in an intrenched position. A line of battle was formed. Orderlies and staff officers dashed here and there, up and down the line, bearing orders and giving instructions to the brigade commanders and commanders of regiments. Everywhere were seen the indications which betokened that an assault was to be made upon the enemy's position. The line of flankers was ordered to swing round as skirmishers to pro- tect the flank of the column of the Third brigade in its assault upon the enemy. The line of battle advanced slowly until it was believed to be within proper distance, when the yell was given and a dash made for the enemy and his works. Then came the tug of war. Knefler's brigade, on the extreme left, charged and carried the enemy's works, but could not maintain its hold, as it was subject to an enfilad - ing fire on both flanks. The attack was nobly sustained for some time, the Confederates as bravely defending their position. The advantage was upon the enemy's side and the Union forces were, at length, compelled to give ground and retire with considerable loss. General T. J. Wood, the division commander, was severely wounded. Colonel Man- derson, of the Nineteenth Ohio, was dangerously wounded. Captain Oscar O. Miller, Assistant Adjutant General, of the Third brigade, a noble officer, was killed. Lieutenant Colonel C. D. Bailey, of the Ninth Kentucky, was severely wounded. The Eighty-sixth lost a number of men. Eli Duchemin, of Company F, was mortally wounded. Orderly Sergeant J. M. Cast was struck in the bottom of the foot by
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a musket ball, causing him considerable pain, but only inflicting a contused wound, not serious. Thomas B. Parks received a severe flesh wound through his shoulder. The ball inflcting this wound passed through his folded blanket both in front and behind his shoulder, cutting thirty-eight holes in his blanket and a notch out of one edge. This is known as the Battle of Lovejoy's Station.
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