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 12
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Soon after our arrival at this place Major David A. Ry- erson resigned and went home, Captain Fred. H. Harris
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being promoted Major. We erected a very strong line of breastworks and passed a delightful fortnight there. Our duties consisted almost wholly of picket and outpost observation. One day two guns belonging to a battery of the Fourteenth Corps were brought down to the picket line and began shelling the enemy's main line of works. The artillerists were good marksmen and every shot seemed to penetrate them. A moment before their appearance we were engaged in conversation with the enemy's pickets on the banks of the river, but when the guns began firing both Union and Confederate pickets quickly got under cover. This action of the Fourteenth Corps disturbed the arrange- ment entered into with the enemy's pickets not to fire on one another. They accused us of treachery and for a few days would listen to no explanation. On the 14th of July James Dobson, of Co. D, was wounded while on duty at the river, from the effects of which he died on the 24th of August at Chattanooga.
On the 17th of July we broke camp on the west side of the Chattahoochee and marched four miles to Paice's Ferry where we crossed the river on pontoons. Johnston had again abandoned a line of strong earthworks and fallen back to the outer defenses of Atlanta. We encamped for the night about a mile from the river. About three o'clock in the morning the Thirteenth was aroused and ordered to move. We left the Division in camp and soon joined the Eighty-second Illinois Regiment of our Third Brigade. with whom we were to proceed on some special duty, just exactly what none of us knew. When we had started fairly companies E, B, I, A, H and D were deployed as skirmish- ers and companies K, C, F and G held as a reserve. We advanced cautiously and had gone about a mile and a half when the sound of bugles blowing and drums beating the reveille reached our cars. The first supposition was that the sounds came from the enemy's camps, but to our sur- prise we came suddenly upon the troops of the Fourth Corps who were preparing to move. We joked about this
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adventure a good deal, and the men were more or less pro- voked as it made them feel that they were placed in a rather ridiculous position. The Regiment at once reformed and countermarched to a road on the right down which we marched, when we came up to the Second Division of the Fourth Corps who were marching slowly along. They halted as the head of the column approached an open field and sent forward a line of skirmishers who soon encoun- tered the enemy. We were informed that we were to join on the right of the Fourth Corps skirmishers, and that our own Corps would soon be up with us and extend the line. The same companies were deployed as before and they advanced in good order through a cornfield to the top of a knoll where they became engaged with the enemy. Those of us on reserve followed close behind, and as we were marching across an open field the enemy opened upon us with two pieces of artillery. One shell came quite close and bursted in the edge of the woods to our right. We moved in the woods and threw up temporary breastworks, and while thus engaged our skirmish line was seen falling back, with the enemy in close pursuit. We lengthened the. breastworks for them to rally in but they only fell back a short distance. Two guns of the Fourth Corps were planted by our reserve, and a few well directed shells were thrown among the enemy. As we lay behind our barricade the enemy were seen to be moving as if in the act of form- ing in line. The artillery with us again opened upon them. and our skirmish line was ordered forward. The enemy fell back into the woods and we all pressed forward up the knoll. Just as we crossed the hill we entered a blackberry patch, and as we had up to this time had nothing to eat, we laid in a good supply of the luscious fruit. We now began to get somewhat uneasy as to the whereabouts of our Divi- sion. We had been away from it several hours and were looking somewhat anxiously to be relieved. We continued to advance until we reached the woods that had been oc- cupied by the enemy, when a line of skirmishers from the
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Fourteenth Corps advanced to our relief. They were as much surprised to see a skirmish line of red Stars as we were to see the Acorns. We fell back to a farm house about half way across the field we had just crossed and had orders to rest and get some dinner. While thus en- gaged Capt. Pittman, of Gen. Williams's staff, ordered us · back to the Division which had not moved. After dinner, which consisted on this occasion of green apples and black- berries, we marched back about four miles where we found the Division just preparing to move .. It was now about three o'clock and we fell again into line and marched about five miles when we halted for the night. The skirmishing we had been engaged in during the day was known as the fight at Nancy's Creek. We had several men wounded. and there were some instances of personal bravery deserv- ing of notice. Sergeant Finnegan. of Co. H, had the dis- tinguished honor of causing the surrender of a Major, one Captain and several private soldiers on the first advance of the skirmish line, but they were recaptured when the enemy drove the line back. The Sergeant was nearly taken prisoner in return, but he succeeded in making his escape, though wounded, and he brought off the Major's pistol as a trophy. Sergt. Ackerman of the same Company was reported to have killed a Confederate Colonel in the fight. James Catford and Thomas Griffith, also of Co. H, were killed. Several members of the Regiment were cap- tured by the enemy in this encounter.
On the morning of the 19th, our Second Division ( Gen. Geary's ) moved out and took the lead. Artillery and mus- ketry firing was going on quite vigorously, which must have been caused by the Fourth Corps who had ad- vanced to Peach Tree Creek. The bridge across the Creek had been burned and the high ground beyond was manned with a strong force of infantry and artillery. Gen. Wood forced a passage across the stream and drove the enemy from his defenses. To the right Davis's and Geary's Divi- sions fought their way over the stream, Geary gaining a
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strong position beyond. All the troops which gained the south side entrenched for the night.
Our Division ( Williams's ) was ordered to cross the stream the next day, the 20th. We crossed the creek un- der a fierce artillery fire and advanced beyond General Geary to an eminence abreast of one of the Divisions of the Fourteenth Corps and separated from it by a depression. As we were now near an intrenched out- post of the enemy General Hooker ordered Williams to halt. Geary moved forward to the hill on the left of Williams and formed his line a considerable dis- tance in advance. Later Gen. Newton of the Fourth Corps advanced and took up position on Geary's left leav- ing an interval of space for Ward's Division of the Twenti- eth Corps, which was opposite this interval but concealed behind a hill. Newton and Geary made preparations for defense and erected barricades of rails.
On the 17th of July. Gen. Johnston had been relieved of the command of the Confederate Army and Gen. Hood ap- pointed to succeed him. Hood determined to assume the offensive at the first opportunity, and as he had witnessed the crossing of Peach Tree Creek by Sherman's army and noted the separation of the armies of Schofield and Mc- Pherson from the Army of the Cumberland, and also that the latter army was in a favorable position to be attacked. he determined on a surprise movement. His skirmishers were called in as though he intended to withdraw entirely, and he sent soldiers inside of our lines under the pretense of capture, who should say that there were no heavy bodies of troops within two miles. Hood massed his forces in the woods and at three o'clock in the afternoon made a bold rush upon the Union lines. Newton was first attacked with great fury. Ward's Division of the Twentieth Corps advanced from cover and their unexpected appearance threw the enemy into great confusion. Ward at once
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filled up the interval between Geary and Newton, and the enemy for a time refrained from attack. The further pro- gress of the battle is thus described by Van Horne :
"The enemy first attacked the right of Geary's line, then passed round to attack him in flank and rear. Williams's Division not being fully abreast, this advantage was possi- ble. Geary was therefore compelled to change front to the right with almost all of his Division, and extend his line to connect with Williams, leaving only five Regiments with his artillery, on his first line. When the noise of severe battle was first heard by Gen. Williams, he was in the act of moving artillery to his skirmish line, to dislodge the enemy from his fortified outpost; but warned by the heavy volleys of musketry on his left, he deployed his Division at double-quick-Knipe's Brigade on the right, Robinson's on the left, and Ruger's in reserve-to await the development of the attack. He placed his batteries by sections, to com- mand his front and flanks, and held three sections in re- serve. Hardly had these dispositions been made before the enemy advanced upon Williams in great force, and having driven in his skirmishers, with his Jive of battle un- der cover of the thickets and undergrowth, approached very near without being seen. His attack, as in other cases, was direct in part, but heavy masses swept down the ravines to right and left. Hearing heavy firmy on his right, Gen. Williams sent the Twenty-seventh indi.na ( of our Brigade ) to reinforce Kuipe's right. This Regi- ment and the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania speedily checked and drove back the enemy, and held the ground until the close of the action. On the left, the attack was more threatening, because made with stronger columns; but Robinson's Brigade, the artillery, and Geary's line upou the other hill, poured a destructive fire upon the enemy. and here, too, he was completely repulsed. This first vi- tack swept from Newton's position to Colonel Anson M .- Cook's Brigade of Johnson's Division of the Fourteenth Corps; but though signally repulsed, Gen. Hood did not
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desist, and soon again, from Newton to Johnson, the bat- tle raged furiously.
"The second general action was commenced upon New- ton's left in an effort to double up the line by taking it in reverse as well as in flank. This time Gen. Thomas sent for the artillery of Ward's Division, and in person urged the artillery horses to the greatest possible speed to meet the emergency, and then directed their action. These guns, and all of Newton's, with all kinds of metal most destructive at short range, opened upon the heavy assaulting columns, and they were again repulsed. Again the battle raged to the right ; but as the national line was now compact, the enemy exhausted himself in direct attacks. His infantry assaults, as at first extended from Newton to Johnson, and further to the right his fortified artillery was most ac- tive, but charge after charge from left to right was repulsed, until at six p. M., when he abandoned his effort to turn or break the line. In this action, artillery was used with fearful effect, and so skillfully was it posted, and so bravely defended, that the enemy did not reach a single gun.
" When it is considered that four Divisions and one Bri- gade, in open field, repulsed an attack of the army which was intended to initiate such offense as should destroy Sherman's armies, the grandeur of this victory becomes apparent. Not General Hood alone, but Gen. Johnston also, was defeated in the ' Battle of Peach Tree Creek.'"
The battle was short, sharp and decisive. Our Brigade being held in reserve did not get fully engaged. though several of our men on the skirmish line were killed and wounded. William Backus, of Co. B, was severely wounded and died on the 25th of July. Geary's Division and the First and Third Brigades of our Division suffered severcly. and the Thirty-third New Jersey, which was under Geary, lost its beautiful Stato colors. but under circumstances which reflect no discredit upon the Regiment.
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On the morning of the 22d, the Regiment was again sent out as a reserve to the skirmish line. Our advance continued until we reached a position close to the enemy's line of works. We halted amid a clump of small pine trees and began to erect a barricade. A log house near by was turn down for this purpose. The pickets in our front were attacked with desperation and compelled to fall back of our position some distance. Major Harris was in command of the Regiment, and noticing that our flanks were en- dangered ordered the companies on the extreme right and left of the Regiment to change front. After a short time the skirmish line again advanced to its old position, and a battery in the enemy's fortifications began to fire upon us. Shortly the Third Division of our Corps came up and we were relieved by the Thirty-third Wisconsin Regiment, and ordered to rejoin our Brigade. On the march back we pur- sued a course which kept the Regiment continually within range of the battery mentioned. Its shells bursted ail around us ; but, strange to say, no one was injured. The line established by the Regiment, the selection of which is attributed to the keen observation of Captain Guyer of Co. F, was the nearest approach of any part of the army to the enemy's works around the city, and was never after- ward changed.
We rejoined the Brigade about dusk and took up a posi- tion further to the right and erected strong breastworks. The same day Hood made a determined attack upon Me- Pherson's Corps near Decatur but gained no permanent advantage. McPherson was killed early in the fight.
Both armies now presented to each other fortified fronts, and each invited attack from the other. It was seemingly impossible that either side should gain much advantage by a direct attack and Sherman had no alternative but to essay a movement by the flank, which he carried out by trans- ferring the Army of the Tennessee from the left to the right for the purpose of striking the railroad east of It- lanta and destroying it.
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When the army had thoroughly invested Atlanta, and strengthened its position so as to be able to repel any attack that might be made upon our lines-Hood's pro- pensity for vigorous warfare being well known-attention was directed to matters more in detail. Directly in front of our position, on a knoll in a cleared field stood a cluster of houses-a dwelling house, log kitchen and a shed or barn. The enemy's skirmish line was established in front of the bouses on the ridge of the hill, while our skirmishers were at the foot of the hill and therefore at quite a dis- advantage. Behind these houses was the rebel line of for- tifications, strongly built and protected by abatis, cheveaux de freize, and other obstructions, which made them invul- nerable. A large fort projected from their line in the rear of the houses, but could not be seen by our batteries, posted on the hill alongside of the Atlanta pike. The day before Gen. Hooker resigned command of the Corps, a man in citizen's clothes rode with him along our line and was engaged in conversation with the General about the rebel position. He stated that if the houses mentioned could be destroyed, the rebel works and the fort would be uncovered and exposed to view. The houses seemed to stand as a menace to the army, and as our Brigade occupied a prominent position in their front, the question of charg- ing the enemy's line and setting fire to them was frequent- ly discussed. but no one seemed to crave the duty. It was a hazardous undertaking, and yet the feeling seemed to grow that somebody would have to perform the work. On the 27th of July orders came from Brigade headquarters for a detail of two men from each Company to report there for instructions. Volunteers were called for, and a prompt response was made. Unfortunately I cannot give the names of all who so gallantly offered their services for this perilous duty. Sergeant Edwin Hoyt, of Co. D, Privates Thomas Atha, Co. D. James P. Murphy and William Cairns of Co. F, and Corporal Moses Morey of Co. G, are all whom I remember at this time. Orders next came for the
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Regiment to assemble in light marching order, and it became evident at once that we had been selected for some important special duty which we soon learned was the firing of the houses. Companies F, G and C, who occupied the front line of works, (the Regiment proper was in a second line of works about thirty feet in rear of the front line), were relieved by three Companies of the Second Massachusetts, and the Regiment at once formed in line ready for instructions The men who had volunteered to set fire to the houses were each furnished with a bundle of split shingles, plentifully supplied with hemp and other inflammable stuff, and placed under command of Capt. Miller of Co. "A." The Regiment then moved into the woods on the left of our breastworks, our guns being carried at a " trail," and haltod near the skirmish reserve post of the First Brigade, where we lay down flat upon the ground. Eight Companies composed the first line, commanded by Capt. Arey of Co. G, and Companies D and H. Capt. Bliven in command. were the reserve. When all was ready for the charge. Col. Carman gave the signal-the waving of a white handkerchief-to our Battery on the hill. which at once began firing on the enemy's line. By this time the whole army seemed to have a knowledge of what was going on. From the breastworks, for over a mile there was an unobstructed view of our situation, and thousands of anx- ious men were watching us with a deep interest. For the time we held that vast audience spell-bound. The mission on which we were engaged was an important one, and dangerous. The enemy had a very strong force in the rifle pits, and backed as these were by a strong fortified line of breastworks, the duty imposed upon us seemed really very difficult and extremely hazardous. When the fourth shot was fired from the Battery, the first line arose and proceeded forward. As we entered the cleared ground some of the rebel skirmishers tired at us, but we pushed on and mounted the rifle pits. A few of the enemy escaped, but the larger number, including two commissioned offi-
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cers, were captured. Immediately behind us came the house burners. As soon as the skirmish line was captured, Capt. Miller and his detail at once proceeded to the houses and applied the torch. The second line, Companies D and H, came up on a run. the men shouting and yelling at the top of their voices, and closed in around the houses. So far we had accomplished our object without loss, but as soon as the line was formed on the top of the hill the enemy poured a heavy fire into us from their breastworks, and the guns in the fort opened full upon us. The first fire from the enemy's artillery struck Orderly Sergeant Richard Brown of Captain Matthews's Company, taking off' one of his legs, from the effects of which he soon died. The commands of the Confederate officers to their men were plainly heard by us and we at once concentrated our fire at the embrasures of the fort thereby silencing their guns. Another battery farther to the left then opened upon us but did no serious damage. The enemy soon resorted to more effective measures to regain possession of the hill. While they kept up a lively fusilade from their breastworks a large body of troops moved into position some distance to the right for the purpose of attacking us. Captain Arey noticed the movement and kept watch of the enemy. By this time the buildings were all ablaze and Captain Arey gave the com- mand to return to the breastworks. As we marched back loud and continued cheering from the thousands of specta- tors greeted us. The enemy soon after re-occupied their old line. This exploit was a frequent theme of conversa- tion throughout the whole Corps and gave us considerable renown. That night a complimentary order from Colonel Carman was read to each Company in the Regiment. The order conveyed the thanks of General Williams. our Division commander, for the success of the charge, which he emphasized by saying "You have done well." This achievement has always been rightfully considered one of the most important the Regiment ever performed. It re- quired pluck, prompt action and coolness from both officers
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and men, but what was of the greatest value to the Regi- ment was the high confidence expressed in its selection for this duty.
The casualties in the Regiment were few. Sergeant Brown and Nathaniel Barnes of Co. I, were both mortally wounded, the former dying on the 29th of July and the latter on the 1st of August. John H. Sterling of Co. C, and Henry Bedford of Co. E, were killed outright. Several others were wounded, but I cannot now call their names to mind.
The success which crowned our charge on the enemy's lines emboldened Gen. Knipe, of the First Brigade, to at- tempt a movement of the same kind the next day. The enemy had strengthened the works and though Gen. Knipe succeeded in capturing a few prisoners he could not hold the position, or at least did not. At daylight, on the morn- ing of the 30th of July, the skirmish line was ordered to advance to the top of the hill and establish the line there. The Second Massachusetts Regiment was sent out in sup- port of the skirmishers. The enemy were evidently pre- pared for the movement, and when the line was ordered forward it encountered a fierce fire. The skirmishers bold- ly ascended the hill, however, and succeeded in capturing about fifty prisoners with two commissioned officers. In- trenching tools were sent to the Second Massachusetts, but the enemy kept up such a rapid firing from their breast- works that little progress was made in throwing up works. When the fight had lasted about an hour, the Thirteenth was ordered to relieve the Second Massachusetts, and we became hotly engaged with the enemy. As when we were on the hill before, our fire was directed mainly at the em- brasures of the large fort, and we succeeded in keeping its guns silenced. The Twenty-seventh Indiana was sent out to our relief and finally the skirmishers succeeded in erect- ing a very strong continuous line of works almost like those of a line of battle. The Second Massachusetts had two men killed and several wounded. The Thirteenth suffered
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more heavily in the number of wounded, but just how many were disabled I am unable to state. Hiram Hand of Co. C, Wm. H. Van Iderstine of Co. D, and Andrew Gray of Co. F, are the only ones of whom I have any memorandum. They were all on the skirmish line, I believe, when wounded.
There were many instances of personal bravery displayed in front of Atlanta. The men were so frequently exposed to the fire of the enemy that the fear of danger was to a certain extent dispelled. When we first closed in around the city the pickets were relieved only at night, but after a while details were sent out in full view of the enemy. Toward the last an understanding was reached between the pickets of both armies that no firing should be indulged in, a circumstance that no doubt saved Gen. Knipe's life on one occasion. One day, he was I believe General Officer of the pickets, ho desired to communicate an order to the skirmishers, and rode leisurely down the Atlanta pike in full view of the enemy's position. He was a prominent figure, and no doubt the temptation to fire at him was very great. He reached the picket line in safety, communicated his orders, which were, "to begin firing on the enemy at four o'clock and keep it up half an hour," and returned to his headquarters. In all such cases the enemy were to have a " warning " of our orders to fire, and when the time arrived the first volley was fired in the air. At the time of receiving the order, numbers of the enemy were walking about their skirmish pits and we were likewise resting our- selves. When the firing began they looked somewhat be- wildered but soon jumped under cover. It always seemed a ridiculous thing to me for us to be constantly banging away on the skirmish line when both sides had learned so well how to protect themselves; but the reason given for the order on this occasion was to divert the enemy in our front from a movement further on our right by the Six- teenth Corps.
One night, while doing picket duty on the right of the Atlanta pike, Licut. Sebastian Duncan of Co. E, was in
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charge of the detail of the Thirteenth. About nine o'clock Lieut. Duncan received orders to establish a vidette post 30 feet in front of the picket line. The picket lines of both armies were not a very great distance apart, and the men thought this a rather foolhardy experiment, in which their danger was unnecessarily increased. Lieut. Duncan de- tailed the first man near the pike, and advanced with him the required distance. He posted him behind a large tree with instructions not to fire but to keep his ears open for any movement of the enemy. Lieut. Duncan's prompt action silenced all complaints, and when an hour later a relief was ordered out, the man went forward cheerfully enough. The videttes were drawn in just before daylight.
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