USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 22
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At 4 o'clock Hood's progressive fight had reached Geary's Division west of Shoal Creek. In approaching this division
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
the heavy charging columns of the enemy appeared with demi- brigade fronts, several lines deep, and moving diagonally from right to left. This brought the attack first upon the right flank of the 2d Brigade, which was in the woods and in air, and ernshed it before it could be withdrawn sufficient to face the foe. In retiring before the impetuous charge of the enemy, the 2d Brigade was thrown more or less into confusion, still there was sutheient organization in some of the commands to give a partial check to the advance of the Confederates and permit the brigade to re-form a short distance in rear, to the left of the 1st Division.
At this juncture the 3d Brigade, with the exception of the 60th N. Y. and the 29th Pa., which were sent in support of Bundy's Battery, was advanced into the gap between the Ist Brigade and the discomfited Second. In deploying, the different regiments in the brigade obliqued to the right uncovering each other so that the 149th, which was on the extreme left, moved directly forward passing a few rods to the right of and nearly parallel with the open field where the Ist Brigade and the bat- tery were located. After a few steps the ground in front grad- ually descended for a hundred and fifty vards or more to a brook which ran east into the open fields and in the ravine in which the Ist Brigade found cover. At the point where the 149th crossed there was a marshy swale filled with old rotten logs lying cris-eross and covered with thick bushes. The oppo- site bank, which arose precipitously to a height of twenty-five feet above the water, was covered with dense undergrowth. These obstructions and entanglements broke the alignment of the regiment and threw it into confusion ; each man making a way for himself as best he could, climbing up the steep ascent hanging to bushes or crawling on his hands and knees. When the men in advance raised themselves to their feet on top of the gully, they were met by a sheet of flame, almost in their faces, from a line of Confederate infantry, before then con- cealed, standing only a few feet away. More than half of those who had gained the ascent fell before that murderous
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volley. "The officers standing among the survivors took one. look at the solid ranks before them, and at the charging column of the enemy which had emerged from the woods into the open fields to the left and then passing to their rear, and compre- hending the useless sacrifice being made, ordered a retreat. The enemy at the same time observing the helpless condition of the Unionists, demanded a surrender, but the summons ex- cept in a few instances where it was unavoidable, was un- heeded ; the men throwing themselves down the steep bank and escaping. Some of the men were delayed in clambering up the steep bank, while other- looking under the bushes in ascending saw the feet of the foe ; these escaped the first fire of the enemy and retired with small loss. The surprise of the men in falling into this ambuscade will be in part appreciated by the statement that when the regiment was ordered forward the men were drawing clothing of the Quarter-master from a paek minle, and some of the men fell before the enemy with drafts of new clothing in their arms.
The other regiments of the brigade shared with the 149th in the general repulse, but were more fortunate in escaping the serions disaster of a surprise.
In falling back the 149th under the direction of Lieut .- Col. Randall formed on the left of the 102d on a new line near that from which the brigade made its advance. This line was soon assailed in great force and compelled to retire, but in doing so delayed the enemy by its fire suthicient to permit the balance of the brigade to form one hundred yards in rear under the supervision of Generals Hooker and Geary. As soon as the brigade was joined by the loed and 149th it again advanced with deafening cheers driving the enemy beyond its lines.
While there matters were transpiring with the ed and 3d Brigade- on the right, the 1st Brigade and Bundy's Battery were receiving and repelling an attack on the left. In front of the ravine where the Ist Brigade was located was a corn- field one hundred yards or more in width, sloping sharply from the woods on the south and west to the ravine and Shoal Creek
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on the north and east respectively. As soon as the 1st Brigade was fully deployed from the woods on the right to Shoal Creek on the left, the skirmishers advanced through the cornfield to its further side. These had scareely arrived at the woods be- fore they came running back followed by a solid column of Confederate infantry, many lines deep preceded by skirmishers, advancing diagonally from right to left down through the cornfield yelling like demons. The men of the Ist Brigade clambered up the bank of the ravine to a rail fence, which they threw down along its top, and made ready to repel the charge.
As soon as the charging column had emerged from the woods the battery on the knoll, to the right of the brigade in rear, opened with grape and canister sweeping down wind-rows in the Confederate ranks with its entilading fire, while the infantry behind the rail barricades performed its share of work. The enemy was thrown into a disorganized mob and in a wild stampede took to the woods. Here and there little groups tried to hold on and maintain the fight, but the contest was too uneven, and these also were soon compelled to retire amid cheers from the Union lines.
The work of the Federals, however, was not yet done, for the enemy soon re-formed and charged again and again, but with no better results than at first. During the encounter the work of the 1st Brigade, and particularly of the battery, was simply terrific, amounting to slaughter, and at the close the cornfield in front was literally covered with bodies of the slain. One writer speaking of it said, "Few battlefieldls of the war have been strewn so thickly with dead and wounded as they lay that evening around Collier's Mill."
The men in the battery flew about at their work like furies, and for two hours, in which they were engaged, no men ever did more valiant or effective service. When ammunition was short, the caissons ran to the supply train, half a mile in rear, and returned with all the speed that horse flesh could attain. Occasionally the cannoneers went to the supply-boxes of the
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infantry and, taking off their stockings, filled them with musket cartridges, and fired these from their guns with destructive ef- fect, sweeping down the enemy and the standing corn as grain is carried down before the wind of a Summer gale.
At one time near the close of the engagement the enemy closed in upon the battery on its right and rear and commenced an attack from that direction, but while part of its pieces still maintained the fight in front, two were wheeled around and with the aid of the 60th N. Y. and 29th Pa. stood off the foe until relieved by the final advance of the 3d Brigade in that quarter ; the relief, however, came none too soon as the con- fliet was nearly hand to hand. The rescue of this battery was a matter of particular congratulation, as the 2d Division there- by maintained its enviable reputation of not losing a gun during the war.
At 6 o'clock the attack was over and had failed. The 1st and 2d Divisions came forward and entrenched a continuous line, but were not further molested.
The losses of the division were 476; that of the brigade 233 ; and the regiment 55, of which 19 were killed, 25 wounded, and 11 taken prisoners. Four of the wounded afterwards died in hospital. A large share of the losses in the regiment oc- curred where it fell into ambush, but many occurred after- wards; Lieut .- Col. C. B. Randall and Capt. D. J. Lindsay were both instantly killed on or near the line where the regi- ment re-formed with the 102d to stay the advance of the enemy.
The next day the men buried the dead, those of the brigade in a little cemetery by themselves on high ground in rear of the battery, and those of the enemy in trenches where they fell. Over 400 of the latter were buried by Geary's fatigue parties in front of his lines.
There are many incidents connected with this engagement which will never be forgotten by the participants. How they felt as they saw their beloved officers carried one by one to the rear either dead or badly wounded ! The loss of Col. Cobham of the 111th Pa. was a great sorrow to the brigade as
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
he had commanded it during part of the Atlanta Campaign, In the 149th, the death of Lient .- Col. Randall was particularly a matter of regret, for since Chancellorsville he had led or been present with the regiment in every action, and to him more than any other officer was it indebted for its established reputation for gallantry and efficiency. Capt. Lindsay fell in the discharge of his duty ; no one will ever question his per- sonal courage or efficiency as a company officer, and his loss was universally regretted.
There was not, however, a more touching incident than that of the death of Private John Hart of Co. E, whose wife had accompanied him in all the vicissitudes and hardships of the regiment, often trudging in the ranks at his side carrying his blanket or equipments to relieve him on the way. His body, in common with several others, was recovered by comrades during the night from between the two hostile lines and buried before Mrs. Hart came up from the wagon train. In the morning the grave was opened, but before the body was en- tirely exhumed the widow jumped down into the grave and removed the final covering with her hands, giving vent in the mean time to the most excruciating eries of agonized grief. There were men present who had faced danger in every form and stood in the presence of death for months, but had never been unnerved as in the presence of this woman, and they wept like children. She was finally removed that the men might proceed with their duty.
Hood's pohey, on assuming command, was an aggressive one, and, knowing that surprise was no longer possible with Thomas, he abandoned the Peach Tree Creek line for the outer defenses of Atlanta, and while the Union columns were in motion, un- dertook to crush Sherman's left under MePherson. It is not our purpose to describe actions not participated in by the 149th, but in passing it seems proper to say, the " Battle of Atlanta, July 224," was a very sanguinary one and will always be re- membered as occasioning the death of Gen MePherson.
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ATLANTA.
On the morning of the 22d the 3d Brigade moved south on the road from Howell's Mill, with the 149th thrown forward as skirmishers, to a point one mile east of the railroad and two miles north of Atlanta, where it threw up works. After two or three days the whole corps advanced nearer the enemy's works, which were found too strong to be carried by assault. From this time until the 25th of August the regiment remained close up to the enemy's lines and within a mile of where it first > advanced on that city, suffering a loss in the mean time of one man killed and three wounded, one of the latter afterwards dying in hospital.
On the 25th of August the 2d Division retired to Pace's Ferry and threw up works to protect the crossing of the river, while Sherman flanked Hood out of Atlanta on the southwest by way of Jonesboro ; and on the 2d of September the 149th, as part of the 24 Division, had the proud satisfaction, under the direction of Gen. Sloeum, who had succeeded Hooker in the command of the 20th Corps, in marching among the first into the city of Atlanta. The next morning the 2d Division went into camp within the Confederate fortifications southwest of the city, where it remained until its departure on the 15th of November following.
Atlanta at the commencement of the war was a prosperous city of twenty-five thousand inhabitants, but at this time not, more than fifteen thousand remained ; these were immediately ordered hence by Gen. Sherman. The public buildings and residences gave evidence of wealth and refinement, and there was a profusion of shade trees in the public and private grounds and along the streets. The business portion of the town had been riddled with shot and shell, and many buildings, especially those used for manufacturing purposes, had been destroyed by fire, but most of the private residences were still habitable and presented a quiet, homelike, and comfortable appearance, not- withstanding the little caves or bomb-proofs in the yards where the people retired during the Yankee bombardment. The city was cirenlar in form, and like many other Southern towns, was
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built around a large square in the center of which was the court-house. General Sherman and Slocum made their head- quarters in residences fronting this square, which was occupied by the little cloth covered huts of the ed Mass, and other regi- ments on provost duty. On the whole Atlanta had a thrifty and enterprising appearance, more like a Northern city than a Southern one. The fortifications without were of an extensive , and formidable character, and embraced every defensive work and device known to modern warfare; they were simply im- pregnable.
On the 10th day of September, by reason of the death of Col. Ireland, Col. Barnum assumed command of the brigade and was succeeded in that of the regiment by Maj. Nicholas Grumbach.
While in Atlanta the regiment took part in several reviews, performed fatigue duty on new works inside those built by the enemy, accompanied two or three foraging expeditions for supplies into the surrounding country, participated in one or more forays south of the city for railroad iron, and assisted in repelling an attack of cavalry upon the town during the absence of Sherman north in pursuit of Hood.
The following persons received promotions in the regiment about this time : Capt. Nicholas Grumbach to Major, vice Hop- kins resigned : Ist Lieutenant- Thomas Merriam and Jacob Knapp to Captains : 24 Lieutenants F. E. Stevens, O. L. F. Brown, and George G. Train to Ist Lieutenants ; Sergeant HI. D. Borden to Quarter-master: and Sergeant. J. H. Patterson, B. P. Hitchcock and George H. Deitz to ed Lieutenants. Capt. Park Wheeler resigned. A large number of men were promoted to non-commissioned offices from the ranks, all of which were richly deserved.
Among the incident- occurring about this time the men will recall the photographing of the regiment by Mr. Barnard, the government photographer: a few copies of this photograph are still preserved and highly prized by the possessors.
When the goth Corps entered Atlanta on the ed of Septem-
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THE ONE HUNDRED FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT, ATLANTA, GA.
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ATLANTA.
ber a quantity of tobacco in different forms was found con- cealed in some stores or warehouses; this was sequestrated by a few men who sold it to the sutler of the 3d Brigade; this put a corner on this desirable article. A few days after the paymasters had visited the army this tobacco was brought for- ward and resold to members of other army corps at an enor- mons profit. The gentleman conducting this speculation after- wards arrived safely in Savannah with the proceeds and was happy.
In the month of October the members of New York regi- ments sent home their proxy votes for the November election,. and it seems needless to say that most of them were for the- continuance of "Honest Old Abe" as President.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
ATLANTA TO SAVANNAIL.
OF the incidents of war none has attracted more attention than Sher- man's March from Atlanta to the Sea. Its hardships and hazards were slight in comparison with those of the campaign through the Carolinas, in fact, it has often been spoken of as a military pienie ; yet being the first instance in modern times where a military commander separated himself from his base and for a long OFF FOR THE SEA. period of time maintained an army in a hostile country depending on chance for subsistence, it at- tracted universal attention. It is true, Grant for a short period was without a base when operating in the rear of Vieksburg, vet for all time this march will have the novelty of an original invention, and Sherman the genius that made it a success. In a military point of view the Georgia Campaign belongs to the - realm of strategy, and there is no doubt it was one of the prime factors in bringing about a speedy termination of the war.
The campaign properly commences with the return of Gen. Thomas to Nashville with a portion of Sherman's army to guard Tennessee and Kentucky from the re-entry of Hood ; and to him we are greatly indebted for the grand results which came from the March to the Sea, by his steadfastness, and the de- struction of Hood's Army.
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Sherman reserved to himself the 14th, 15th, 17th and 20th Army Corps, about 60,000 men, a small division of cavalry un- der Kilpatrick, and 65 pieces of artillery ; all the rest were sent back with Thomas, together with the sick and disabled in in the commands reserved. The troops remaining with Sher- man were veterans in the strictest sense of the word, and, owing to a rigorous weeding-out process, were of the best material, and the best disciplined army in the United States. The 15th and 17th Corps were known as the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Gen. Howard. and were assigned to duty as Sherman's right wing; the 14th and 20th Corps were com- manded by Gen. Slocum under the name of the Army of Georgia, and were Sherman's left wing. The 14th Corps was commanded by Maj .- Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, the 15th by Maj .- Gen. Osterhaus, the 17th by Maj .- Gen. Blair, and the 20th by Brig .- Gen. A. S. Williams. Each corps had three divisions, except the 15th, which had four. The Ist Division of the 20th Corps was commanded by Brig .- Gen. Jackson, the 2d by Brig .- Gen. Geary, and the 3d by Brig .- Gen. Ward. The batteries were composed mostly of four pieces, each piece and each cais- son having foar good teams of horses, the army wagons had three spans of mules each, the ammunition train carried 200 rounds of cartridge for each man in the command, and each piece of artillery was provided with 200 rounds of assorted am- munition. To each army corps was assigned 800 wagons, car- rying 2,500 pounds each, and a pontoon train of canvass boats, with folding frames, which being laid made a bridge 900 feet long; two corps together having sufficient to span the widest river- crossed. Besides these there were a large number of pack mules, used by the line and field officers to transport pri- vate and regimental baggage.
After the government property, the extra baggage, and the sick were removed to Nashville, the bridge at Allatoona was taken down and carried away for storage, and the railroad, depots, and all buildings south of the Etawah, useful to the enemy, were destroyed. Telegraphic communications were
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severed on the 12th of November, by the destruction of a rail- road bridge on which the wires were suspended, the machine- shops and foundries at Rome were broken up, and more than half of Marietta burned; but the most noteworthy destruction of public property occurred at Atlanta under the supervision of Col. Poe, Chief Engineer.
The fortifications which had cost so much labor to erect were blown up by gunpowder, and all buildings of a public charac- ter, except the court-house, were burned. The work of de- struction in the city began on the 14th of November and con- tinued for two days and was most thoroughly done. It was not intended to injure private residences, yet many were de- stroyed by fires ignited by flying sparks. No soldier present will ever forget the scene of the last night in Atlanta. The fate of that famous city was a terrible one, yet its destruction was deemed a military necessity and was richly deserved, for next to Richmond it had supplied more arms and munitions to carry on the war than any other city.
In departing from Atlanta the right wing moved south in the direction of Macon, while the left marched easterly towards Augusta. The 149th broke camp early in the morning of the 15th, but being assigned to a position in the rear portion of the 20th Corps, did not depart until 10 o'clock in the forenoon. The strength of the regiment was 16 officers, 244 musket-bear- ing men, and 46 daily duty men, musicians and non-commis- sioned staff : making a total of 306 men.
On ascending the hill east of Atlanta a view was obtained of the scene of the recent conflicts in and about that place. A dense smoke ascended heavenward and hung like a pall over blackened ruins, and all about was general desolation, yet not a man was heard to express a word of regret.
The country about Atlanta is a high tableland 1,100 feet above the sea. Two rivers rise in the vicinity of the city, the Ocmulgee and Oconce, flowing southeasterly, and had to be croossed by one or both wings of Sherman's army. The city of Macon is situate on the right bank of the former of these
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rivers, and Milledgeville, the then capital of Georgia, on the right bank of the latter. The first stage of the campaign was marked by the arrival of the left wing at Milledgeville, and the right at Gordon, twelve miles south. Before arriving at Milledgeville the 20th Corps, as the extreme left of the army, pursued the general course of the Atlanta and Angusta Rail- road, passing through Decatur, Lithonia, Covington, Social Cirele and Madison, and was followed by the 14th Corps as far as Covington. From Covington the 14th Corps took a direct course to Milledgeville, while the 20th, with the exception of the ed Division, moved south to that city from Madison ; the 2d Division being detailed for special duty to destroy the rail- road from Madison to the Oconee River and the bridge over that stream, re-joining the Corps at Milledgeville.
The railroad was most thoroughly destroyed by these two. corps from Atlanta to the Oconee River : and after the passage. there was not a hundred rods in the whole distance where there was not an " Iron Dough-nnt" or a "Jeff Davis Neck-tie", as the boys called the objects made from hot iron rails.
Some of the villages passed on the ronte were very fine, and Madison in particular was spoken of in high terms of praise. In passing through these villages the regimental flags were un- furled, the band- played, and the men resumed cadence step.
The detachment of the 2d Division at Madison, above re- ferred to, occasioned a separation from the corps of four days ; the division entering Milledgeville on the 224 of November. Among the noteworthy incidents occurring on the route was the burning of Dunham's Shoe and Leather Factory south of Madison. It was reported that a large number of shoes worn by the Southern army were made in these factories, and the men took especial delight in their destruction. A large number of mills and buildings were destroyed at other places to prevent their use by the Southern Confederacy., Supplies were abun- dant and the men fared sumptuously.
One day's experience on the march, in the main, is similar to others, and a daily journal would be monotonous ; still there 20
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was much that was new and original occurring each day to interest the participants.
Early in the morning the men in deep sleep are scattered over the hillsides and in the valleys, wrapped in their blankets, under little shelter tent-, lying on beds of evergreen boughs, Embers of camp-fires smouldler at their feet, not a sound dis- turby the stillness except the winds sighing gently through the evergreens overhead. and not the faintest streak of light marks the approaching day, when from ont of the depths of the forest the head-quarter-bugle is heard breaking the silence with the sound of reveille. Its exhilarating tones have not died away before another, and then another army bugle, near and more distant, has taken up the sweet refrain, supplemented by the rattle of drum and fife, and the whole country is awakened to the work of day. Where a moment ago was stillness and re- pose, now all is life and bustle. The company roll is scarcely over before the smouldering camp-fires are replenished from the neighboring fences, and the flames and sparks go flitting upwards among the branches of the trees. Catching the ex- citement from the men the mules give forth their pleading cries (heard for miles) and are not stayed until the tardy team- sters place before them their morning supply of food. Those who have been detailed for forage or picket duty gather along the roadside and await the command of the officers to depart. Men are running hither and thither, hastity preparing break- fast, while a pleasing aroma of coffee and a savory smell of roast-chicken and turkey regale the nostrils.
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