USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 7
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May 19th, 1864. the enemy was found to be in strong force in and about Cassville. strongly intrenched, but as our army steadily advanced in close column, Johnston again beat a hasty retreat, this time across the Etowah River, at the same time burning the road and railroad bridges
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near Cartersville, leaving us in possession of all the valuable country about the Etowah River.
General Sherman at. this point decided to give his army a few days' rest ; also to give time to bring forward supplies for the next move of the campaign. General Thomas's army went into camp in and around Cass- ville ; General McPherson went into camp in and around Kingston, and General Schofield at Cassville depot, and near the Etowah bridge. In the meantime General Jeff C. Davis, with his Division of the Fourteenth Corps, had taken possession of Rome, Georgia, with her forts, eight or ten guns of heavy caliber, and its mills and foundries.
We speak in general of the movements of our army in this campaign' to give the reader some idea of the magnitude of the campaign before us. The reader will also understand that the 70th Ohio was in the Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifteenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee, com- manded by General J. B. McPherson. I mention this so you may under- stand the position of the 70th Ohio when we speak of McPherson's army.
On the 23d day of May. 1864, General Sherman, after leaving a garrison at Rome, and one at Kingston, started his entire army in motion for Dallas. General MePherson, with our wing of the army, moved across the Etowah at or near the mouth of Conaseue Creek, and then moved for our position south of Dallas, by way of Van Wert. General Davis's Division marched on a direct road from Rome to Dallas, by Van Wert. General Thomas was ordered to march his army on the road by Euharlee and Burnt Hickory ; while General Schofield was to move on roads more to the east, and form on General Thomas's ieft at Burnt Hickory.
A carrier was captured bearing a letter of instructions from the Rebel chieftain, General Joseph E. Johnston, showing that he had detected our movements and was preparing to make a stand against us near Dallas.
The country was very rough, mountainous and densely wooded. with few and obscure roads. May 25th, 1864. General Thomas marched his army from Burnt Hickory to Dallas, with General Hooker's Corps in the advance, approaching Pumpkin Vine Creek, on the main Dallas road, he met General Jackson's Division of the enemy's cavalry at a bridge to his left, rapidly pushing across the creek. The bridge was saved, though on fire. Still pushing on eastward about two miles, we encountered and drove the enemy's infantry a considerable distance, until meeting Hood's Corps in line of battle, when General Geary's Division had a severe fight.
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About four o'clock P.M., General Hooker deployed his entire Corps, and by General Sherman's order, pushed rapidly for the possession of New Hope Church, where the roads from Ackworth, Marietta and Dallas formed a junction. Here a hard battle with Stewart's Division of Hood's Corps was fought, lasting two hours. The enemy being protected by his earthworks, aided by a dark, stormy night, he was able to hold his posi- tion. The next morning, May 25th, General McPherson had moved our Corps up to Dallas, while General Thomas had deployed his command against New Hope Church. General Schofield moved toward the left, so as to strike and turn the enemy's right. General Garrard's Cavalry operated with General McPherson, and General Stoneman's Cavalry with General Schofield, while General McCook looked after the inter- est of the rear. Owing to the difficult nature of the ground, covered with a thick, heavy forest, it took several days to deploy, close to the enemy. Finally General Sherman decided to gradually move to our left ; when this was done to push rapidly for the railway east of Allatoona. In executing these movements many severe engagements were had with the enemy, which directly engaged the 70th Ohio, which never shirked from duty.
On the 28th day of May General McPherson was ordered to move to the left and close on General Thomas in front of New Hope Church, when suddenly the enemy made a bold and daring dash upon us at Dallas. Fortunately for us we had constructed a good solid line of breastworks that enabled us to give the enemy a terrible and bloody repulse. During these engagements the Fifteenth Corps occupied the right wing position of the army : one of our batteries, Silverspar's, I believe, was captured, at which time General Logan rode up and inquired for the battery just as the enemy was moving it back. The boys, pointing to the battery, said to the General in reply: "Yonder it goes." Whereupon General Logan ordered: "Boys, scale the works, recapture that battery of two guns quicker than h-1l can scorch a feather!" The boys did as they were ordered-recaptured the battery and returned it to still do good execu- tion against the enemy. At this moment the General received a shot through his coat sleeve.
The 70th Ohio occupied the center of our Division, near to Dallas, and against our lines the Rebels made sixteen desperate charges. And sixteen times did the zoth Ohio repulse the enemy from our immediate front. After some delay, which we afterwards learned was for effect. General Sherman renewed his orders to General McPherson to move his
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army to the left about five miles, which he did, and occupied Thomas's position in front of New Hope Church ; at the same time General Thomas and General Schofield were ordered to move the same distance to their left.
On the Ist day of June, 1864, this movement was accomplished without resistance, and by moving the left well around, all the roads leading back to Allatoona and Ackworth were occupied. This done, General Sherman sent General Stoneman's Cavalry rapidly into Allatoona from the east end of the pass. By the prompt execution of this move- ment Allatoona Pass was turned and General Sherman's real object was gained.
On the morning of June 4th we were somewhat surprised to learn that our bird had flown. General Johnston had again displayed to us the rear end of his heels by abandoning his intrenchments and retreating back to Lost Mountain.
General Sherman at once put the army in motion for Ackworth. reaching the railway June 6th. June 7th we found that the Confederate right had stretched across the Ackworth and Marietta road. Upon a close examination of the pass at Allatoona General Sherman found that it was wonderfully adapted for use as a base for supplies, and at once gave orders for its defense and garrison. As soon as the railway bridge across the Etowah was finished stores came forward to camp by rail. June 9th communication in the rear being well secured, General Sher- man ordered us forward to Big Shanty ; on reaching this point Kennesaw Mountain loomed up before, with a high range of hills. To the northeast another peak was noticed, called Brushy Mountain ; to the right stood a smaller one called Pine Mountain ; beyond this in the distance stood Lost Mountain. All these forming links in the continuous chain, present a sharp, conical shape and appearance, prominent in the vast landscape that is in view from any of the hills that abound in that region. Pine Mountain forms the apex, and Kennesaw and Lost Mountain the base of a triangle. perfectly covering the town of Marietta and the rail- way back to the Chattahoochee River.
On each of these mountains the enemy had his signal stations. Gen- eral Hardee's Corps held the left of the enemy's lines, resting on Lost Mountain ; General Polk held the center, and General Hood the right, across the Marietta and Ackworth road. The enemy's line was fully two miles long-more than he had force to hold.
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General McPherson was ordered to move his army toward Marietta, with his right on the railroad; General Thomas to move on Kennesaw and Pine Mountains : General Schofield to move off toward Lost ,Moun- tain ; General Garrard's Cavalry to move on the left ; General Stoneman's to the right. and General McCook to hold the rear. Our base of supplies was now established at Big Shanty.
Thanks to Lieutenant A. J. Siberal for valuable assistance in gather- ing up this history.
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CHAPTER VIII.
Big Shanty is famous as being the place where occurred that "cap- ture of a locomotive," April 12th, 1862. Here about twenty Union soldiers, in disguise, seized an engine and three cars and dashed north- ward with the intention of burning the bridges on the Western & Atlantic Railroad. After a hot pursuit they were overtaken by the Rebels and captured near Ringgold.
Early in June there was quite a sharp cavalry fight, near Big Shanty, in which the Confederates were successful.
During the next few days the cavalry on both sides was very active, there being almost constant skirmishing in the neighborhood of the rail- road. This had been torn up by the Rebels, but was rebuilt by our forces, and on the 12th the Etowah bridge having been restored, the sound of our locomotive whistles could be heard arriving at Big Shanty.
The lines of the two armies were constantly being drawn closer together, and by the 14th of June it became evident that the Rebels were no longer able to hold Pine Mountain. The presence of what was sup- posed to be a group of Confederate officials on top of Kennesaw Mountain, and General Sherman seeing the group, and supposing that it might possibly be well to scatter them, toid General Howard to order the com- mander of one of his batteries to fire upon them. The result of which General Polk was struck by an unexploded shell and killed.
The next morning, June 15th, there was a general advance of our lines against the Confederate positions, in which General Blair's freshly arrived Corps of McPherson's army carried a spur of the hills near the railroad, commanding the intrenched line of Hood's skirmishers, forcing Hood back behind Noonday Creek. By this movement an entire Ala- bama Regiment was surrounded and captured. In this successful engage- ment our Regiment held an important position, doing effective work.
The same morning General Thomas pushed his front sharply to the east of Pine Mountain. The Rebel advanced guard held the trenches connecting their principal lines with the mountain, and also some other detached works covering these. General Hooker, with his Corps, assaulted these works, and after quite a struggle, captured them.
The Rebels abandoned Pine Mountain on the 15th, and on the 16th of June our army took possession of some high ground from which our artillery was able to enfilade a good portion of the enemy's line, and also to sweep the road, from Gilgal Church to Marietta, for some distance;
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the Rebels found it necessary to evacuate Lost Mountain also. They accordingly fell back to a position on the high ground east of Mud Creek, about one mile west of the western end of Kenesaw Mountain, facing to the west. Their extreme left occupied the crest of a steep cliff, on which the enemy had planted some batteries which commanded the deep, wide valley in front across the creek. Finding, however, that a portion of their line was exposed to an enfilading fire from our batteries on the opposite hills, and our right having been extended until it turned Hardee's flank, the enemy, after obstinate fighting during the 18th of June, in which Generals Wood's and Newton's Divisions of Howard's Corps captured and held a portion of the enemy's outer works, retired to another position, which included the crest of Kenesaw Mountain, thence running to its western end, and from this southward some three miles.
During this period there had been, for over three weeks, almost daily rains, which raised the streams, and by making the roads nearly impassable, was a source of great annoyance to both armies. On more than one occasion full-line attacks had been made in the midst of furious thunder storms, which, it is said, made it difficult to distinguish between the discharges of artillery at close quarters and the rattling of thunder. During this same period, also, there was daily skirmishing between the two armies from one end of the line to the other, and while the sun shone there was scarcely an hour in which we could not hear the incessant pop, pop of musketry from the rifle-pits which dotted the hillsides and woody valleys, or from behind the trees, fences or any species of cover which the combatants could secure.
This frequently lasted until far in the night, when the continuous flashes of light in the forest simulated the appearance of myriads of fireflies. The losses by both armies from this species of warfare were heavier than in the main engagements.
On the 20th of June the most considerable cavalry fight of the cam- paign occurred on the Confederate right, between the commands of Wheeler and Garrard : our cavalry getting a little the worst of it.
Our lines during this same period were making constant extensions southward, which forced corresponding movements by the enemy, who was also placing batteries upon the twin crests of Kennesaw Mountain, Big Kennesaw, the higher of the two, runs up into a peak about six or seven hundred feet above the surrounding country, affording room for only a few guns. Little Kennesaw, on the contrary, consists of a com-
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manding ridge extending from seven hundred to a thousand feet before the descent begins at each end, and is a magnificent position for artillery.
On the morning of June 22d a furious bombardment was opened from the Rebel batteries upon our camps and intrenchments in the fields and forests below, which compelled a disorderly retreat to the rear by the wagon trains, etc., and greatly annoying the forces manning the breastworks. Towards night the Rebels opened these guns again upon our lines, and at eleven P.M. the bombardment was renewed. In the darkness this is said to have presented a magnificent spectacle to those on the surrounding hills and valleys, the flashes of light and the glare on the rising clouds of smoke seeming to crown the lordly mountain with a tiara of fire.
Within the next day or so General Sherman ordered into position one hundred and twenty guns to hear against the Rebel batteries ; to this were added twenty more guns, making a total of one hundred and forty. From these the bombardnient of the enemy's batteries on the crest of the mountain must have been terrific, and soon virtually silenced the Confederate guns. The top of the ridge was covered with trees and limbs felled by the shells ; thousands of these passed over the mountain, exploding in the air, or falling in the forest, spread destruction almost amid the very suburbs of Marietta.
On the 22d of June occurred quite a hot fight between Hood's Corps and Schofield's and Hocker's Corps.
It is not improper to state here that the country around Kennesaw Mountain, New Hope Church and Allatoona is broken up into numerous detached hills and irregular ridges, divided by ravines or narrow valleys.
During the 24th and 25th of June General Schofield extended his right as far as prudent, so as to compel the enemy to thin out his lines correspondingly, with the intention to make two strong assaults at points where success would give us the greatest advantage.
At about ten o'clock on the morning of the 25th the Rebel batteries on the crest of Kennesaw again opened fire upon our lines; to this our batteries replied furiously, and for an hour there was a grand artillery duel. This was renewed during the afternoon, and was a majestic specta- cle, but the damage to both sides was small.
From a description given us by one from the top of the mountain the vast panorama is ever changing. There are now large trains to the left of Lost Mountain and at Big Shanty, and wagons are moving to and fro everywhere. Encampments or hospitals, quartermasters, com-
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missary, cavalry and infantry, whiten the plain here and there as far as the eye can reach.
The usual flank extension is going on. Troops on both sides move to left ; and now the blue smoke of the musket discloses the line by day trending away far south toward the Chattahoochee, and by night it is marked, at times, by the red glow of the artillery, amidst the spark-like flash of small arms, that looks in the distance like innumerable fireflies.
After these preliminary contests, which severely tested the bravery and endurance of both armies, on the 27th of June occurred the great and famous battle of Kennesaw Mountain, which was probably the most distinctive battle between Dalton and Altanta of the Atlanta campaign- a battle which will ever hold its position on the page of history as being one which conferred imperishable luster upon the valor of American soldiery; the attack being made with vigor, pluck and persistence, which, in themselves, eminently deserved success; and being met with such courage and fortitude as alone could have made the efforts of their antagonists futile.
Against the lesser Kennesaw there was a heavy demonstration and hot fire maintained in front. and a very vigorous charge was made upon the western end of the mountain, which was held by the Rebels.
On the 29th of June began to accumulate our stores and otherwise prepare to cut loose from the railroad for a time. and avoid the Kennesaw Hill which gave the enemy too much advantage.
On July Ist and 2d the Rebels evacuated their position on Kennesaw Mountain and from Marietta General Johnston fell back to a new posi- tion, which had been prepared before the evacuation of Kennesaw Moun- tain. This consisted in what General Sherman calls one of the strongest pieces of field fortification he ever saw. It ran from the Chattahoochee River, south of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, up through the hill country, across it, thence joining the river again some two or three miles above its entire length, being several miles.
Leaving a strong garrison at Marietta, General Sherman ordered our Corps (the Fifteenth) to join the army of the Tennessee at or near the mouth of Nick-a-Jack. July 4th we experienced a hard, dusty and hot march around Kennesaw and beyond Marietta. While General Thomas moved a strong skirmish line down the main road, capturing the entire line of the enemy's pits, and made strong demonstrations along Nick-a- Jack Creek about Turner's : Ferry. 'This had the desired effect, and during the night General Johnston fell back to the Chattahoochee River,
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covering the crossings from Turner's Ferry to the railway bridge, and sending Wheeler's and Jackson's cavalry to the left bank to watch the river for twenty miles above and below.
On the 5th of July our lines were advanced to the Chattahoochee, with the left of General Thomas resting near Price's Ferry, General McPherson's right at the mouth of the Nick-a-Jack, and General Scho- field in reserve. The position of the 70th Ohio was on the extreme right of the army, which was quite a compliment to our Regiment; and, as she had never been found wanting in time of danger. was given this place of honor. July 5th we had heavy skirmishing in our front along our entire line that demonstrated the strength of the enemy's position, which could alone be turned by crossing the main Chattahoochee River, a rapid and deep stream. only passable at that stage of water by means of bridges, except at one or two very difficult fords. General Sherman ordered General Schofield to cross from his position on the Sandtown road to Smyrna Camp Ground, and next to the Chattahoochee, near the mouth of Soap's Creek, and effect a lodgment on the east bank. This was most successfully and skillfully accomplished on the 7th day of July, 1864,'General Schofield capturing a gun and completely surprising the guard ; laying a good pontoon bridge and a trestle bridge, and a strong lodgment on high and commanding ground, with good roads leading to the east.
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"'At the same time General Garrard, with the Division cavalry, moved rapidly on Roswell and destroyed the cloth factories which had supplied the''Rebel armies. General Garrard was then ordered to secure the shallow ford at Roswell and hold it until relieved by infantry.
General Sherman. having decided to transfer the Army of the Ten- nessee from the extreme right to the left, ordered General Thomas to send a Division of his infantry that lay nearest to Roswell to hold the ford until General Mc Pherson could send a corps from Nick-a-Jack.
General Newton's Division was sent, and held the ford until the arrival " of General Dodge's Corps, which was soon followed by the remainder of General McPherson's army. General Howard had also built a bridge at Powers' Ferry, two miles below General Schofield, and had crossed over and taken position on the right.
Thus during the 9th of July we had secured three good and safe points of passage over the Chattahoochee above the enemy, with good roads leading to Atlanta. July 9th, at night, General Johnston crossed the river and burned the bridges in his rear. July 10th our army held
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undisputed possession of the right bank of the Chattahoochee. One of the chief objects of this campaign was now gained, and Atlanta lay before 11s, only eight miles distant.
A place too important to be left"alone in the hands of the enemy, with its magazines, stores, arsenals. workshops, foundries and railways ; but we had worked hard and needed rest. The interval to the 16th of July was employed in collecting stores at Allatoona, Marietta and Vining's Station, strengthening the railway guards and garrisons, and in improving the pier bridges and roads leading across the river.
Generals McCook's and Stoneman's Cavalry had scouted well down the river to draw attention in that direction; and, all things being ready, General Sherman on July 17th ordered a general advance along our entire line. General Thomas was to cross at Powers' and Price's Ferry bridges and march by Buckhead; General Schofield, who was, as has been seen already, across at the mouth of Soap's Creek, to march by Cross Keys; while General McPherson would direct his course from Roswell directly against the Augusta road at some point east of Decatur, near Stone Mountain. General Garrard's Cavalry acted with General McPherson and Generals McCook and Stoneman guarded the river and roads below the railway. July 17th the whole army advanced from their camps and formed a general line along the old Peach Tree road. Our march to the left was a hard, hot and dusty one. Our Division forded the Chattahoochee at a point near the mouth of Willow Creek, where two large cotton factories were standing. We marched about one mile and went into camp for the night. During the night a terrific thunder storm came up, when we were completely drenched by the rain, Some three or four were reported killed by the lightning.
July 18th we still continued on a general right wheel until we reached a point on the Augusta Railway, seven miles east of Decatur; and, with the aid of General Garrard's cavalry and General Morgan L. Smith's Division of the Fifteenth Corps, we broke up a section of about four miles of the road. On the 19th of July we moved along the railway leading into Decatur. General Schofield followed a road toward Atlanta leading by the Howard House and the distillery. General Thomas crossed Peach Tree Creek in force, by numerous bridges, in the face of the enemy's intrenched lines, all finding the enemy in more or less force, keeping up a heavy skirmish all the time.
July 20th all the armies had closed in and were pressing toward Atlanta; but as a gap existed between Generals Schofield and Thomas,
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two Divisions of General Howard's Corps of General Thomas' army were moved to the left to connect with General Schofield, leaving General Newton's Division of the same Corps on the Buckhead road.
During the afternoon of July 20th, at about four o'clock, the enemy moved out in line of battle from his works in force, and fell against our right center, composed of General Newton's Division of General How- ard's Corps, on the main Buckhead road.
The blow was sudden and the fighting severe, but General Newton hastily covered his front by a line of rail piles, which enabled him to meet and repulse the attack. General Hooker's Corps was compelled to fight on comparatively open ground, but after a severe battle he succeeded in driving the enemy back to his intrenchments. Sherman's entire loss was about fifteen hundred in killed, wounded and missing, principally in Hooker's Corps by reason of his exposed condition. Our Division did not become engaged that day. We lay in line of battle during the entire day. Our Regiment being located near a blackberry patch, we enjoyed a good feast of berries. Heavy cannonading could be heard at several points along the line. .
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