USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 39
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The skirmish fire continued quite sharp throughout the evening. The enemy thought for once he had the advantage. After a supper of bacon and hard tack, the Eighty-sixth, and the whole of the army on the front line, worked hard until nearly midnight constructing a line of intrenchments. Gen- eral Sherman did not deem it advisable subsequently to press the attack, as he was led to believe that Hood had halted to cover his retreat, and then it was too late to intercept him.
On the 3d the artillery was placed in position on the line of the division and kept up a hot fire on the enemy. He made up for his lack of artillery by the briskness of his skir- mish firing which was almost uninterrupted. Quite a num- ber of the regiment was wounded here on the 3d, 4th and 5th. On the 4th James Williams, of Company K, was severely wounded in the leg while lying in his pup tent just back of the line of works a few paces.
The command remained here until the night of September 5. In the afternoon of that day orders were received to strike tents at dark. It was of course presumed that it would return to Atlanta and go into camp for a brief rest at least. There was much quiet joy and rejoicing in ranks, as the campaign had been one of unremitting toil and dangers, and all thought they had well earned a brief period of repose for recuperation.
Sergeant Major T. H. B. McCain, who had been a mem- ber of Company I, and Hugh Reilly, of Company K. on that day received their commissions as First Lieutenant of their respective companies. The documents had scarcely reached their hands until they were detailed as officers in charge of the skirmish or picket line. On them devolved the duty of withdrawing the outposts, which was done about 11 p. m.
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after the command had started toward Atlanta. The night march of the 5th was one of the hardest and most difficult short marches the Eighty-sixth ever made. It had rained very hard and the ground was wet and very slippery. Strict silence was enjoined on getting ready to leave camp. The regiment and column wound their way over steep slippery hills and hollows to the rear painfully slow. "Curses, not loud but deep, " could be occasionally heard as some soldier took an extra vicious tumble, rolling down an embankment into a pool of water or fell into a wash-out gully. These headlong tumbles were innumerable and beyond description. The night was extremely dark and the route wholly strange, therefore the men were at the mercy of every obstacle. If a man took only a half dozen tumbles he did not think himself particularly unfortunate. The fountains of profanity flowed freely when the men were once out of hearing distance of the enemy. But owing to the peculiarly trying conditions it is to be hoped that at that hour of the night the recording angel was kindly taking a nap. and that those deviations will not be charged up against the boys at the final muster. Wood's division arrived at Jonesboro about day-break. Passing through town a short distance the command was halted and allowed to breakfast. Skirmishing was resumed as soon as the enemy could catch up with Sherman's rear guard, which was not long after daylight, and continued throughout the day. The command moved several times during the day, but only a short distance each time. Orders were received on the evening of the 6th to be ready to march on the 7th at day-light. Resuming the march the following morning the command covered about eleven miles, and the Eighty-sixth bivouacked in a thick woods with a dense growth of under- brush. Ordered to construct a line of intrenchments as a precautionary measure. There was no indication of an attack but the enemy followed up and continued the skir- mishing with the rear guard.
On the 8th the Fourth corps reached Atlanta. passed through the city and witnessed the destruction it had assisted to accomplish in this city. It was truly dreadful to behold.
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
The buildings were nearly all more or less shattered by shot and shell from the Union artillery. and the frame buildings nearest the lines were riddled with the musket balls. The residences, nearly all. had deep dug-outs with their doors or openings all to the "Sunny South:" none were opened for a welcome to the rude Northmen. To the great destruction which the Union forces had inflicted upon the city, Hood in turn had inflicted quite as much in destroying stores and munitions of war which he did not want to fall into General Sherman's hands, so the wreck was almost complete.
The losses of the Confederates during this campaign, down to the capture of Atlanta, was estimated as follows: In skirmishing from Chattanooga to Atlanta, 6,000; Battle of Resaca, 2,500; Battles around Dallas, 3.500: Battle of Ken- esaw Mountain, 1,000; Battles of July 20, 22 and 28, near Atlanta, 22.500; Other contests around Atlanta, 1,500; and battles near Jonesboro. 5,000; Total, 42.000. They lost more than twenty generals officers, and nearly fifty pieces of can- non. of which eight were 64-pounders, and fully 25,000 small arms. General Johnston in his report gave his effective strength, infantry, artillery and cavalry at 51.000. On the other hand General Hood in his report says that on the 6th day of May, 1864, the army lay near Dalton awaiting the ad- vance of the enemy. "Never had," said he, "so large a Confederate army assembled in the West. Seventy thousand effective men were in the easy direction of a single comman- der. whose good fortune it was to be able to give successful battle and redeem the losses of the past. Extraordinary methods had been used to secure an easy victory. The enemy. but little surpassed in numbers, none in organization and discipline, inferior in spirit and confidence, commenced his advance. The Confederate forces, whose faces and hopes were to the North. almost simultaneously commenced to re- treat. The army had dwindled day by day to 47.250." This was up to the 18th of July when he assumed command. He says his losses up to the close of the campaign were over 5,000. It must be remembered that the Confederate army was constantly being reinforced, to say nothing of negroes
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and rother non-combatants engaged on the fortifications. "Effective strength" in Confederate reports meant only men and officers in line, and excluded teamsters and all camp fol- lowers. In the Union reports it included teamsters and de- tailed men on duty of whatever nature. So that General Hood was correct when he said Sherman's army in numbers "but little surpassed" Johnston's.
The losses of Sherman's army during the campaign aggregated 35,353. Of this loss 5,165 were killed, 25,685 were wounded, and 4,513 were missing or captured. The aggregate loss in the Army of the Cumberland was 20,990; in the Army of the Tennessee, 10.394; and the Army of the Ohio, 3,969. By corps the losses were as follows: Fourth, 7,325; Fourteenth, 5.941; Twentieth. 5.941; Fifteenth, 4,758; Sixteenth, 2,377; Seventeenth, 3,259; Twenty-third, 3,969. Sherman in his "Memoirs" notes the number killed in the Seventeenth corps at 1,510, whereas it should be 422. As that corps had 1.038 missing or captured he included these among the killed. He reports the wounded at 1,674, nearly equal the number killed. His figures of losses in all the seven corps are widely at variance with the official reports as now published. Of the losses in the Fourth corps Wood's division lost as follows: Killed, 424; wounded. 2,074; miss- ing, 268; total, 2,766. The Third brigade lost 73 killed, 443 wounded, 63 missing, a total of 579. The Eighty-sixth lost 2 killed, and wounded 54, some of whom afterwards died from the effects, a total of 56.
In four months General Sherman had accomplished the task assigned him with a loss less than that of Grant's in the first twelve day's of his memorable campaign against Rich- mond. The men now looked upon Sherman as their Moses who had led them across the Red Sea of Battle to the Con- federacy's central Capital. He had smitten the waves of the rebel hordes from Rocky Faced Ridge to Lovejoy's Sta- tion with his magic rod and they had disappeared. The muscadines were to the men as the grapes of the promised land. The Union soldiers marched through Atlanta feeling that they were conquerors, proud of their toils and marches,
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proud of their past dangers, proud of their unexampled suc- cess and triumphs, and of their great military chief and his subordinates; proud of their great and noble President at Washington, confident in his ability to direct the ship of state, confident of his re-election, doubly assured by their recent great successes; confident of a speedy and final triumph of Union arms over every field; confident of the restoration of the supremacy of the National Government, and in the unity of the Nation. The soldiers of the Military Division of the Mississippi, were in a state of mind to fully enjoy the prospect of a short repose after the consummation of the purpose of such an arduous campaign. In glorious spirits, with the elastic springy step of veterans, the Eighty-sixth marched into camp on the afternoon of the 8th of September, two and half miles east of the city of Atlanta, to rest.
It is not inappropriate to give here the opinions of some recognized great men regarding this truly marvelous cam- paign of General Sherman to Atlanta, in which service the Eighty-sixth bore such an honorable part-a part equal to that of any. Led by the gallant Colonel, George F. Dick, it never faltered in the performance of any duty assigned it on that campaign, and is, therefore, as a regiment. entitled to a regiment's full share of the glory of the arduous and danger- ous duties nobly performed.
General Jacob D. Cox, afterwards Secretary of War, a most intelligent and capable officer, says of the campaign:
"The campaign as a whole will remain a most instructive example of the methods of warfare which may be said to be the natural outcome of modern improvement in weapons, and in means of transportation and communication when used in a sparsely settled and very impracticable country."
General Grant, popularly regarded as the greatest gen- eral of the war, says in his Memoirs:
"The campaign to Atlanta was managed with the most consummate skill, the enemy being flanked out of one position after another all the way there. It is true this was not accomplished without a good deal of fighting, rising to the dignity of very important battles-neither were single positions gained in a day."
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Still stronger are these words:
"The campaign had lasted about four months and was one of the most memorable in history. There was but little if anything in the whole campaign, now that it is over, to criticize at all, and nothing to criticize severely. It was creditable alike to the general who commanded and the army which had executed it."
Again General Grant said that General Sherman in this campaign had "accomplished the most gigantic undertaking given to any general during the war."
President Lincoln upon receiving Sherman's dispatch, " Atlanta is ours and fairly won," immediately sent the fol- lowing letter, dated at the Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C., September 3, 1864:
The national thanks are rendered by the President to Major General W. T. Sherman and the gallant officers and soldiers of his command before Atlanta, for distinguished ability and perseverance displayed in the campaign in Georgia, which, under Divine favor, has resulted in the; capture of Atlanta. The marches, battles, sieges, and other military opera- tions, that hare signalized the campaign, must render it famous in the annals! of war, and hare entitled those who have participated therein to the applause and thanks of the Nation.
And thus closed the Atlanta Campaign, a campaign that stands unsurpassed in the annals of history, and a campaign which stamped William Tecumseh Sherman as the fore- most General of the age.
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1
CHAPTER XXVI.
REST IN CAMP-AFTER HOOD.
In Camp Near Atlanta-Three Weeks of Daily Routine Duties-A Bold Movement by Hood-Sherman's Army In Pursuit-The Eighty-sixth Again on March- Smyrna Camp Ground-Pine Mountain-The Signals Between Sherman and Corse-The Fight at Allatoona Pass-Kenesaw Mountain-Cartersville and Kingston-Calhoun-Rome-Resaca-Snake Creek Gap-Chattooga Valley- Fresh Pork and Sweet Potatoes-Summerville-Gaylesville, Alabama-The Fourth Corps Bids a Silent Farewell to General Sherman-Sherman's Letter to the Eighty-sixth.
Going into camp at Atlanta on the 8th of September, the soldiers expected to rest and recuperate the reserve forces of their individual systems, which they imagined must be almost used up after that which they had endured for the last four months, and that, too, after such a winter of hard- ships as they had experienced in East Tennessee. They expected to rest before being called upon to take part in another campaign, but they really found so much to do, there was very little time to rest. There was work to be done on every hand and every day of camp-life at Atlanta.
On the 9th the camp of the Eighty-sixth was laid off in regular order. Buildings were torn down and the lumber used in constructing new quarters. In many instances the men went the distance of one and two miles to find an unoc- cupied house, which was razed to the ground and the lumber carried to camp on their backs. This was as hard as march- ng, if not so dangerous as fighting in battles and skirmish- ng. After the quarters were constructed, the camp had to policed from one end to the other, swept clean of leaves and other trash, properly drained, and sinks dug. Then came picket, camp-guard and fatigue, and an occasional extra gen- eral cleaning up for inspection. Next came drill-company
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
and battalion-dress parade and grand review, -all of which kept the soldier busy. It will thus be seen that there was not much time for rest and recuperation.
The supply of rations were not the most bounteous. It is true they were not so scant as they were when beleaguered in Chattanooga, or while playing "freeze out" with Long- street in East Tennessee during the winter of '63 and '64, but they were necessarily cut short. Still the men had enough to sustain life and add to their vigor. The allow- ance issued was rated as from one-half to four-fifths rations of the articles received, though but one-fourth of the articles included in a soldier's ration were issued. Occasionally the men would receive a few onions or some dried fruit from the Sanitary Commission.
On the 10th fixing up camp was continued. Letters were written home to those who had been neglected during the extremely busy fighting season. On Sunday, the 11th, the regiment was inspected by companies, by the company offi- cers. It also furnished on this day a heavy detail for picket. On the 12th a large detail was made for fatigue duty, to cut and clear away the brush in front and rear of the officers' tents. On the evening of the 14th orders were received to prepare for general inspection on the following day, but a little later it was changed to be ready at 6 a. m. the next day for foraging.
The regiment was up betimes. Colonel Dick reported with the regiment in ranks at brigade headquarters at 6 a. m. Leaving headquarters promptly it marched out a little north of east at a very rapid pace some eight or nine miles and was halted to gather the forage. One company was placed on picket while the other companies loaded the forage into the wagons. The forage consisted almost exclusively of hay, corn-fodder, and corn for the mules and horses. While on this expedition William Elder, of Company H, and Thomas Shay, of Company B, ran the picket lines in search of some- thing for themselves. Elder was picking beans, and Shay, spying a sheep, shot at it. Instead of the sheep the ball struck Shay who was beyond. He received a severe wound
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
on the fleshy part of the inside of the thigh. He was carried to a wagon and thereby managed to get a ride to camp. Shay was a good soldier and was mustered out with the regiment. Captain Carson P. Rodman, of Company H, received on this day his resignation accepted, it having been sent in some time before, and bade farewell to the regiment on the 18th.
On the 16th the fatigue duty on the camp-ground was continued, and before noon received an order to prepare for general inspection at 4 o'clock p. m. Lieutenant Reid, the brigade inspector, inspected the regiment by companies at that hour. On the 18th the companies were inspected by the company officers. On the 19th, besides the regular picket, fatigue, and other duties the regular company and battalion drills were added. In the evening Rev. Mr. Delamater, the Chaplain of the Seventy-second Indiana, preached to the regi- ment. From this time on while the regiment remained in camp here when rain or other duties did not prevent, it had daily company and battalion drills, and quite frequently dress parade thrown in as an extra. On the 21st, Captain L. V. Ream, of Company G, who was severely wounded at Mud creek, between Kenesaw and Lost mountain, on the 18th of June, returned to the regiment.
There was a world of rumors-" grapevine telegrams"- going the rounds relative to the movement of troops. New- ton's Second division, of the Fourth corps, had already gone back to Chattanooga for some purpose unknown. On the morning of the 27th orders were received for grand review at 12 o'clock noon. Major General D. S. Stanley, the corps commander. and Major General George H. Thomas were pres- ent, but the latter took no part in the reviewing exercises. The review was over a little before sun-down. After the regiment returned it drew rations of hard tack, sugar, coffee, beans, salt, vinegar, soap and candles. On the 28th, 29th and 30th the daily programme was repeated. It was on the 30th that Lieutenant John R. Moore, of Company E, re- signed, because of wounds received on the 27th of June. On the night of the 30th of September, a terrific rain storm oc-
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
curred, so that on October 1 there was no drill. Not to be idle large squads repaired to the woods to gather grapes and came back loaded with muscadines, "the grapes of promise," and the ordinary fall grape found in the woods. Rumors were running like wild-fire around the circle of the camps in regard to the movements of Hood, but the men could learn but little at this juncture of the actual status. There was an un- easy, restless feeling exhibited among the men as is usually found when a general movement is threatened. When troops know just what they may expect there is more quiet and steadiness, but uncertainty makes them restless and impa- tient to know what is to come. Now, therefore, there was a constant hum and buzz of rumors and reports of coming movements. Many of them were wild and exaggerated it is true, and some again marvelously close to that which shortly took place in regard to the movements of General Sherman's army, showing that there were some clear heads and deep thinkers in the rank and file of the army. On October 2 there was no drill, but a strong detail for picket as usual. The regiment drew three days' rations of hard tack, and five of sugar, coffee and salt, one of bacon and some hominy. General Wood received orders in the evening to march the following morning at daylight. He was directed to take the lead followed by the First division, artillery, ammunition trains, headquarter trains, ten ambulances to each division and regimental wagons in the order named. He was to march through Atlanta and out Marietta street. That night there was a heavy fall of rain, making the road slippery.
On the morning of the 3d of October the bugles of Wood's division awoke the echoes at the early hour of 1 o'clock. The men knew this meant something of a decided character. They expected some lively times, some fighting or foot- racing, and very probably ample portions of both. Every- thing was made ready for marching in good time. The pickets came in and breakfasted, and at daylight the regi- ment broke camp and marched back through Atlanta, thence along the wagon road by the railroad to the Chattahoochee river at Bolton, and crossed the river near the railroad
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bridge. The march was continued at a telling pace over bad roads until near sun-down, when the command bivouacked near Smyrna camp ground where the regiment had spent the evening of the 4th of July in its advance upon the enemy after he had evacuated Kenesaw mountain. Again it rained just after the troops had gone into bivouac.
The rank and file of the army had by this time learned the true situation of affairs. Hood with his army was in the rear and threatening a great deal of trouble. It was, there- fore, a matter of vital importance to the Union army that Hood's forces be kept off the railroad and not be allowed time to destroy too much of it. Jeff Davis and Hood had made their boasts and promised the Southern people that General Sherman would be forced to retreat or his army would starve, and this was the move made to accomplish their object.
After a night of rain reveille was sounded at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 4th of October. Wood 's division, how- ever, did not march immediately. About 11 o'clock the "general call" was sounded and at 12, noon, it marched out on the road to Marietta. The march was conducted at a rapid pace for such bad roads, and Marietta was reached about 3 o'clock p. m. The march was continued, taking the road leading over the western base of Kenesaw mountain to Gilgal church, but the command bivouacked before crossing the base of the mountain. Here it was again around the Gibraltar which the enemy had been forced to give up in July. Kenesaw mountain will live long in history for the very many stubborn contests which took place there, and for the many brave men who sacrificed life for the cause they believed to be right. General Stanley had been ordered to make a feint on Pine mountain.
On the 5th reveille was sounded about daylight and the command was at once astir. Hard tack had been issued to the command in the night, which was received in the morn - ng. This day is a memorable one of this campaign and in 'act, of the war. This was a great war. the Atlanta cam- paign one of the greatest campaigns of the war, and this
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was one among the great days of this campaign. It was not strictly the campaign to Atlanta, but so intimately connected with it, it may almost be so considered. It was on this day that the assault was made upon the Federals under General Corse and Colonel Tourtellotte at Allatoona by the rebel forces under General French. It was a desperate and bloody battle for the numbers engaged, and fought with the most resolute courage by the troops on both sides. It was not a single dashing charge, bravely repulsed, but charge after charge, stubbornly fighting over every foot of ground, driven back and yet again returning to the battle as if with renewed hope and courage.
The signal dispatches that passed from and to Kenesaw mountain were as follows: Sherman asked if Corse had reached there. At 10:35 a. m. the reply came, "We hold out. Corse is here." At 4 p. m. Allatoona was again called and at 4:15 the reply came, "We still hold out. General Corse is wounded. Where is General Sherman?" The dis- patch went back to Allatoona, "Near you. Tell Allatoona hold on. General Sherman says he is working hard for you. " General Sherman communicated with General Elliott, commanding the cavalry, as follows: "I have heard from Allatoona. All right. Corse is there, but wounded. You need not send all of Garrard's cavalry, but send a squadron. Let them make a circuit and they will find noth- ing there." On the next day, October 6, Allatoona was asked: "How is Corse? What news?" Back came this spirited reply signed by General Corse: "I am short a cheek bone and one ear, but am able to whip all hell yet. My losses are very heavy. A force moving from Stilesboro on Kingston gives me some anxiety. Tell me where Sherman is." Back went the reply: "Saw your battle. Am here all right. Have sent you assistance. Am sorry you are hurt. General is mindful of you."
There is nothing in these signal dispatches to suggest a Sunday School song unless it was Corse's dispatch to Sher- man. The story that P. P. Bliss wrote the sacred song, "Hold the Fort for I Am Coming," founded on Sherman's
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dispatches to Corse, is about as mythical as "Sheridan's Ride" by Buchanan Read. Sherman says he reached the top of Kenesaw mountain about "8 o'clock on the morning of the 5th of October-a beautiful day-and had a superb view of the vast panorama to the north and west, " and from this point witnessed "the battle and could hear the faint reverberations of cannon." That the day and the contest at Allatoona was a critical one for Sherman and his army few can doubt.
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