USA > New Jersey > Reminiscences of the war, comprising a detailed account of the experiences of the Thirteenth regiment New Jersey volunteers in camp, on the march, and in battle > Part 11
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There was fighting all along the line during the day, and the Third Division of the Twentieth Corps captured an entrenched four gun battery and all its men. That night Johnston evacuated Resaca burning the bridges across the Oostananla behind him. Early on the morning of the 16th our forces entered the town, and proceeded without delay in pursuit of the enemy, crossing the river near Echota on pontoons. This day those of us who had been on duty with the supply train were relieved and re- joined the Regiment. The above details of the battle were then given to me by different members of my Company.
The losses of the army at Resaca cannot be definitely ascertained, as the returns were only made out monthly in the aggregate. Hooker's Corps, the Twentieth, sustained the heaviest losses up to this time. aggregating seventeen hundred and forty-six men. as much as the other two Corps of the Army of the Cumberland combined.
The pursuit of Johnston was at once begun. The men were all jubilant over the successes so far achieved, and it seemed to be a settled conviction that the campaign would only end with the capture of Atlanta. On the 17th the three armies advanced, Howard's and Palmer's Corps of the Army of the Cumberland crossing the Oostanaula river at Resaca -- Hooker's Corps had crossed near Echota, the day before. The Army of the Ohio was on the left and the Army of the Tennessee on the right. Stoneman's cavalry was on the extreme left and Garrard's on the extreme right, under instructions to reach the enemy's rear if practicable. Howard came up with the rear-guard of the enemy during
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the day and pressed so strongly upon it that a battle seemed imminent at one time. The skirmish lines were heavily reinforced from time to time, but Johnston avoided a general engagement. On the 18th, the armies moved forward in the same order, Howard and Palmer reaching Kingston where they encamped. The next day the ad- vance was continued toward Cassville. When near the town a junction was formed with the Fourth Corps and the Thirteenth Regiment was sent forward in support of the skirmish line, and took up position in the centre of a cornfield. The enemy's works were distinctly visible, and their officers were plainly seen riding backward and for- ward evidently preparing to resist our advance. A battle seemed probable at any moment. The Fourth Corps had been partly engaged and a battery opened on our lines. Battery "M" was brought up into position and fired a few shots at the enemy who hastened off and we at once moved forward beyond the line they occupied. We pissed a house that had just been vacated by the family. The table was spread for supper, and flour and sorghum lay scattered over the floor. We kept up our advance, and believing that some of the enemy might be cut off and captured, the order to "double quick" was given, but they escaped us. We re-formed the line, and just as we were nearing a small piece of woods. that skirted the left of the town, a heavy volley of musketry was poured into us which checked our advance. Skirmishers were at once deployed while the re- mainder of the men threw up a protecting line of old logs and rails. There was heavy firing on the skirmish line until late at night and every indication pointed to a stub- born fight at Cassville the next day, but when morning dawned the enemy had disappeared.
It had been the intention of Johnston to give Sherman battle at this place. Cassville had been strongly fortified, and the position was an advantageous one; but Gens. Hood and Polk strongly objected to the proposition, and Johnston then decided to fall back to his line of fortifica- tions beyond the Etowah river.
CHAPTER XV.
Continuation of the Campaign-Battle of Pumpkin Vine Creek-A Charge of the Enemy at Kulp Farm Repulsed-Advance to the Chattahoochee River-Battle of Peach Tree Creek-Before At- lanta-A Successful Charge by the Regiment-The Capture of the Gate City.
T the apparent ease with which Johnston had been forced from the strongly fortified positions of Dalton and Cassville, had an exhilarating effect upon Sherman's army. The feeling became strengthened that Johnston did not dare risk a general engagement, and skirmish duty was just dangerous enough to give zost to the sport. We remained in Cassville until the 231 of May, when the pur- suit of Johnston was continued. We advanced, perhaps. six or seven miles when orders to halt and load were passed down the line. We were nearing the Etowah river and momentarily expecting to meet the enemy. The river was reached in safety. a pontoon bridge was thrown across and we encamped on the other side. Our artillery unlim- bered and fired a couple of shots in the direction of the enemy. but no reply was elicited. The next morning at daylight we resumed the march. The heat was intense, the marching fatiguing, and when we reached " Burnt Hickory" the men were pretty well exhausted. The Regi- ment stopped for the night at a small place called Hunts- ville, where there was a post office, and all the letters and papers it contained were soon in possession of the troops.
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Our line of march was in the direction of Dallas, and Johnston having divined Sherman's object to destroy his railroad communications by thus getting to his rear, de- tached a large force from Allatoona and concentrated his forces in Sherman's front at Dallas. On the morning of the 25th Hooker's Corps started off, each Division march- ing on separate roads running parallel to the other. At eleven o'clock Geary's Division came upon the enemy in considerable force at Pumpkin Vine Creek, a tributary of the
Etowah River. The enemy had fired the bridge, but Geary's advance troops rushed forward and succeeded in saving it from destruction. A lively fight ensued and the enemy were driven a half mile or more. It was ascer- tained by prisoners that Hood's Corps was in front, with Hardee in supporting distance, and Gen. Hooker directed Geary to form his Division in line of battle and make a show of strength by erecting barricades. Orders were immediately sent to Williams and Butterfield's Divisions to hasten to Geary's support. We were several miles to the right of Geary when the order to counter-march was given us by Gen. Williams. About four o'clock in the afternoon we reached Geary's position and at once advanced to the front. The Thirteenth New Jersey and the Eighty- Second Ohio Regiments were selected from the First Division for skirmish duty. We at once filed into the woods on the right of the road, and six companies were deployed, companies B. F. H and I. forming the re- serve. The line was soon formed and the order to advance given. We were close upon the enemy, and a lively en- counter at once took place. We pressed them hard and they finally fell back into their little breastworks, some of them taking refuge in an old house near by. A charge was ordered. and with cheers and shouts we advanced to their skirmish pits and captured them, the skirmishers disap- pearing in the breastworks. We were now close upon the enemy's main line. Our Division was advancing in line of battle and had marched up to about three hundred yards
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in the rear of us. The enemy permitted them to come within good range and then opened fire with dreadful effect. We on the skirmish line dropped flat upon the soft ground, and the enemy kept up a terrible fire of grape and canister and rifle balls over our heads. The troops in line of battle fought nobly, but against fearful odds. The enemy were protected by strong works, and it was impossi- ble to carry them by direct assault. We had succeeded in forcing them back to their main line, nearly a mile and a half, but when the Division reached that point the enemy's artillery fire at short range was encountered and arrested further advance. The fight lasted until long after dark, when we were called in. Dangerous as our position on the skirmish line appeared, we were very fortunate in hav- ing been selected to open the battle. The enemy's fire went harmlessly over us, and though we were under, per- haps, the severest combined artillery and infantry firing we ever experienced, the loss in the Regiment was only about six men, one of whom. Moses Garrabrant of Captain Pier. son's company, was severely wounded in the leg. from which he afterwards died. Jacob A. Freiday of Co. E, John Booth of Co. D, and Lieutenant-Colonel Grimes were also wounded. The loss in our Division reached nearly 1,000 killed and wounded. The Regiment pro- ceeded to erect breastworks after being called in from the skirmish line, and Captain Guyer, with company F. was detailed for picket duty. We remained on post all night and were relieved after daylight by Geary's Division, when we joined the rest of the Brigade which had been with- drawn. For the next six or seven days there was a con- tinual battle at this place. One day it would be in front of McPherson, then in front of Hooker, and so on, until it seemed as if we were effectually checked from making a movement of any kind. On the 4th of June however, Sherman executed one of his peculiar flank movements and caused Johnston to evacuate Allatoona, which gave him complete control of the railroad down almost to Kene-
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saw Mountain. On the 10th of June we began another forward movement, and reached the enemy's fortified lines on Pine Mountain, or Pine Knob. Our advance was some- what checked by heavy rains, and we spent the time in strengthening our breastworks. On the 14th, while occu- pying this position, we were startled by the firing of ar- tillery, and then saw a great commotion in the enemy's lines. We learned afterward that Lieutenant-General Polk had been killed by a shell from Simonson's Battery. From this time to the 22d, we were continually advancing, skir- mishing and building breastworks, being interrupted in these fatiguing duties only by the heavy rains which fell frequently. On the 17th of June, Captain Pierson's company was on the skirmish line and had some severe fighting. Sergeant Edward Patterson. an excellent sol dier was killed. His body was recovered at night and buried, the grave being marked with a headboard. on which his name, company and regiment were inscribed.
We continued our advance from day to day meeting with slight resistance from Johnston's skirmishers, and on the 22d of June entered a piece of woods near Marietta. There had been strong indications all the morning of a battle. Before daylight Geary's Division had engaged the enemy and captured part of their works. Our Division advanced up to Geary's right, a swampy ravine preventing close communication, our Brigade ( Ruger's ) being on the extreme right of the Division at Kulp house, General Knipe's Brigade in the centre and Gen. Robinson's on the left. We had stacked arms and thrown ourselves down upon the ground for a brief rest when orders were received to erect breastworks. A rail fence skirted the woods in our front, and just as the order was given the firing of our skirmishers increased in volume: we sprang forward and in a few moments had the fence down, piling the rails up in front of us as a barricade. The firing in our front con- tinued to grow more determined, and gradually as our skirmish line fell back it came nearer and more distinct.
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We had a fine view of the country here for about eight hundred or a thousand yards. We were stationed on the ridge of a slight elevation, and in our front was a large clearing. The skirmishers were engaged in the woods beyond the clearing close up to the enemy's line. In a few minutes our men fell back into the clearing closely followed by the enemy's skirmishers and almost on their heels came a large body of rebel infantry, shouting and yelling. It was a splendid sight. The enemy moved forward on a run, deploying into line as they advanced and marched up steadily and in good order to attack. I never saw a better example of coolness on the part of the Regi- ment than on this occasion. There was no undue haste or excitement. Our skirmishers all reached the line in safety, and as the enemy ascended the hill directly in our front, a well directed volley was poured into them all along the line. Still the enemy came forward ; they marched up within, perhaps, fifty yards of us, their colors floating de- fiantly almost in our faces. The order passed down the line to fix bayonets, and when they saw the determined faces in front of them and viewed the line of bristling steel which projected over the rail breastworks, they wavered and fell back in confusion. We should then have been ordered forward. The Regiment never had a better op- portunity for capturing a large number of men and several stands of colors than on this occasion, but we remained stationary, and did what execution was possible with our rifles. The losses in this engagement were almost wholly on the rebel side. Sixty-two dead bodies were buried in our front, and upwards of five hundred of the enemy's killed were buried along the whole line. The Thirteenth had eight men wounded, one of whom was John Moran of Co. C, and the rest of the Brigade, which was nearly all engaged. lost slightly. The enemy fell back to a line of trees in the ravine about half-way between the contend- ing lines, and during the night fell back to the defences of Marietta.
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The Artillery of the Division did splendid execution on this occasion, and the repulse of the enemy was due mainly to their rapid and unerring fire. Our lines were so formed that Geary's men enfiladed the enemy's whole line when it reached the foot of the hill on the top of which we were stationed. Before the infantry fired a shot the artillery poured a destructive fire of grape and canister into them which caused them to waver and threw them into confusion, but they soon rallied in our front and pressed forward again impetuously, being repulsed as above related.
At night pickets were ordered out with instructions to proceed ten yards in front of the works. The night was a beautiful moonlight one. and the enemy from their posi- tion in the ravine had a fine view of our line. The men detailed for picket took up their positions directly in our front. They threw themselves flat upon the ground, and occupied the awkward position of men lying down hill, their feet higher than their heads. The hill was very stony, and the pickets piled the stones up in their front as a protection from the enemy's fire. The relief that went out two hours later advanced ten vards in front of the first. There was occasional firing from our line and as the night wore on the enemy's fire gradually slackened. At day- light their position was abandoned and our pickets moved to an advanced position beyond. The skirmish lines were now quite close, so that a conversation could be carried on by the pickets with little effort. The defeat of Hood put our boys in high spirits, and the rebels were corres- pondingly gloomy. About midnight on Friday the 24th. the skirmishers of the First Brigade, who were on the left of our position. perpetrated a trick upon the enemy which disconcerted them somewhat, and brought down upon the skirmishers a severe musketry fire. There was a temporary lull in the firing of the pickets and suddenly the order "Fall in, men, fall in." was given in a clear voice. A few seconds elapsed. and then the command " Forward.
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march," rang out on the air. A perfect stillness reigned over the field, and we could imagine the effect of this ap- parent movement on the enemy, who could hear every word as distinctly as ourselves. Next came the order, " Double-quick, CHARGE! " and as the command, "Steady on the right." went forth, the enemy believing that a des- perate charge was about being made upon them, opened a terrific fire on the whole line. The men burrowed close down to the rails of which their skirmish pits were made, and the fire went harmlessly over them. For about half an hour they remained in this uncomfortable po- sition, and then the air resounded with cat-calls, cheers and other tantalizing sounds. The rebels were pro- voked almost to desperation when they learned that they had been " sold." It was a popular device on the part of our men, in order to draw the fire of the enemy's pickets, to raise a cap on a ramrod over the top of the rails, and almost immediately a bullet would come flying over. Then. knowing that the skirmisher would have to lose some little time to reload, a bullet would be sent back in reply, frequently with fatal effect.
On the 27th of June, Kenesaw mountain was stormed by McPherson's Army of the Tennessee. Our Brigade relieved the Second Brigade of the Second Division and occupied their breastworks. The troops we relieved advanced in tive lines of battle, one in rear of the other, and with bat- teries protecting their flanks marched about five hundred vards across the open field and established a new line. The enemy's skirmishers contested the advance with stub- bornness, and were only driven back by the batteries which opened upon them with grape and canister. Twenty-two of the Confederates were captured. The enemy's artillery then opened upon our lines, their shells flying over and about us thick and fast. Battery "I" of our Division replied to the enemy, but their firing was ineffective: Gen. Hooker watched the efforts of the artillerymen for some time, and finally, getting provoked with them, he personally
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superintended the sighting of the guns and instructed the men in cutting their fuses. Better service was rendered after that. While this movement of ours was going on McPherson was assaulting Kenesaw. The shells bursting around the summit and sides of that famous mountain pre- sented a grand spectacle, but the position was too strong for successful assault. Gen. Harker was killed during the engagement, and Gen. McCook, Gen. Sherman's old law partner, was fatally wounded.
Saturday afternoon, July 2d, I was detailed for picket duty along with several others, Capt. Guyer having com- mand of the detail. We moved cautiously to the relief of the men who had been on duty and took their position on the skirmish line. There was a remarkable stillness during the early part of the night, but about ten o'clock the enemy began firing upon us. We responded vigorously for a few minutes, but as they did not advance upon us we soon ceased firing, and they finally stopped also. Col. Carman. who was general Officer of the Day, directed the senior officer of the skirmish line to advance the line of the First and Third Brigade details if they had to bring on a general engagement. Nothing resulted from the order, which may have been countermanded. but about five o'clock in the morning our line was ordered to advance, and in a few minutes we sprang upon the enemy's works and found them vacant. The works were the strongest we had seen up to that time. There were two lines, the second line being the most formidable. They were about three feet in height, from four to six feet in thickness, and along the whole front were two rows of sharp pointed rails imbedded in the ground. the sharpened ends projecting forward at an angle of about forty degrees. About twenty yards in front of these small timber and brush. the small branches projecting to the front, were plentifully strewn upon the ground. A direct assault upon these works would have resulted disastrously for the attacking party.
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Leaving the works in our rear we pressed forward through the woods, capturing small squads of the enemy from time to time, and after advancing thus for a few miles finally encountered the enemy in line of battle. The skirmish line at once halted, and in a short time a strong column of troops came up to our support and moved forward a short distance in battle array. A battery was sent forward, unlimbered, and a few shots were fired. The enemy re- plied vigorously and an artillery duel was thus kept up for about half an hour. We were lying in direct range of the enemy's fire and received orders to advance through a piece of woods to our left. Emerging from them in a short time to our delight and surprise we found ourselves in Marietta. We halted at the Military Institute, a three story brick building, situated on an eminence on the outskirts of the town. In front, and a little to the right of the Institute, was another large brick structure, probably used also for educational purposes, while in the immediate front were rows of small houses which we took to be the students' quarters. In the rear of the Institute were two or three turning poles and other gymnastic apparatus, which had the appearance of frequent use. From the lawn surround- ing the Institute a beautiful view was spread before us in all directions. Looking southward a thickly wooded and almost perfectly level stretch of country met our gaze. Northward were the stately and blood-stained Kenesaw peaks, but yesterday bristling with artillery and their sum- mits crowned with waves of destructive fire. Far off in the distance, to the left of Kenesaw. Lost Mountain rose into view, and was a more attractive and beautiful sight that third of July morning than ever before. Marietta lay nestled at the foot of Kenesaw, and stretching away east- ward its beautiful broad avenues threaded their way through a forest of majestic shade trees which lined their sides. The place bore evidences of a wealthy, refined and cultured population. The houses were well built and the grounds surrounding them tastefully laid out and beauti-
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fied. The white inhabitants had all fled with the enemy the houses mostly being occupied by faithful negro slaves, who had been intrusted by their masters or mistresses with the task of protecting their property from wanton destruc- tion.
Johnston's action in thus abandoning line after line of formidable works was considered by us an evidence of weak- ness; but the records of that memorable campaign show that his object was to draw Sherman as far into the interior of the State as possible, in order that he might the more easily destroy his army. * "He was under the impression that this method of defense, covering continually, not only his main line but his skirmishers, with intrenchments, had enabled him to inflict losses five fold greater than his own and that such had been the reduction of Gen. Sherman's superiority that he could no longer safely deliver offensive battle, especially as he had the fortifications of Atlanta for refuge in the event of defeat, which, in his estimation, were too strong to be assaulted, and too extensive to be in- vested."
The skirmish line halted in Marietta and a detail soon after came to our relief. We rejoined the Regiment as it was marching down the Atlanta pike. About four o'clock that afternoon we again came up with the enemy and form- ing in line of battle lay down to rest. We were not dis- turbed during the night, but at daylight we were aroused by the loud cheering of troops and the sound of bands playing National airs. At first we supposed the news of a victory in Virginia had been received, but it soon dawned upon our minds that the rejoicing was in honor of the glo- rious Fourth. We were at this time within seven miles of the Chattahoochee River, in a piece of woods near "Davy White's" mill. We remained there until about three o'clock in the afternoon when we received marching orders and moved farther to the right. We halted some time after dark in a woods filled with brush and dense undergrowth
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* Van Horne.
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through which we had to march in line of battle for quite a- distance. The men had to keep one hand continually out- stretched to protect their eyes from injury by the twigs. and branches which impeded their progress. Finally the. lines were formed, the Thirteenth being in the second line,. and after stacking arms all threw themselves on the ground to sleep. We were rudely awakened by the running over- and trampling upon us of armed men, our stacks were; broken, and with the shouting and swearing and the dis- charging of rifles, pandemonium broke loose for a time. The trouble was occasioned by a stampede of horses, and the troops in front fancied that a large body of the enemy's cavalry were charging upon them. The next morning we moved out to the road and after a short march halted with- in two miles of the Chattahoochee River and in sight of Atlanta, fourteen miles distant. The prominent buildings. of the city were plainly visible from the bluffs whereon we halted. This day Johnston crossed the river, and during the afternoon we reached the westerly bank and did picket duty there for some time. The enemy became very friend- ly with us, and by mutual agreement no firing by the. pickets of either side was indulged in. One day, I re- member, a Confederate picket and one of our men swam out to the middle of the stream for the purpose of bartering off salt and coffee for tobacco. While thus engaged a rebel officer came riding along, and he ordered his men to fire upon us as we lined the bank of the river. After some little parley between the officer and the men he rode away. His orders to fire were not obeyed. These mutual understandings between pickets were of fre- quent occurrence and no particular objection to them was made by our officers. While in front of Atlanta a similar arrangement was made, the understanding being that whenever orders to fire were given on either side the first volley should be harmless.
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