USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 9
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General Logan displayed great military skill during this day's battle, as our Corps (the Fifteenth) was chief in the fight; and had General Davis' Division not been delayed by causes beyond his control, then what was simply a complete repulse of the enemy would have been a disastrous rout.
General Hood, by the terrible lessons of the 22d and 28th, seemed to wholly abandon his rash offensive movements and assume a strictly defensive attitude, merely meeting General Sherman's successive exten- sions of his right flank by continuing his own line of works to the south.
Finding that the right flank of the Army of the Tennessee did not reach to East Point, General Sherman was forced to irans- fer General Schofield to that flank also, and afterwards General Palmier's Fourteenth Corps of General Thomas' arm- General Schofield moved from the left August Ist. and General Palmer's Corps followed at once, taking a line below Utay Creek, which General Schofield prolonged to a point near East Point.
In the meantime General Logan advanced our Corps (the Fifteenth) about three hundred yards to the front, and at the same time extending our lines to the right. Here we constructed a strong line of breastworks. Our skirmishers were making it very warm for the enemy's pickets. General Sherman continued to extend our lines to the right, demon- strating strongly on the left and along the whole line.
General Reillev's Brigade of General Cox's Division of General Schofield's army tried to break through the enemy's line about one mile below Utay Creek, but failed to carry the position and losing about four hundred men who were caught in the entanglements and abatis; but the next day his position was turned by General Hascall, and General Schofield advanced his whole line close up to and facing the enemy below
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Utay Creek. Still we did not gain the coveted position or foothold on either the West Point or Macon Railway.
The enemy's line at that time was nearly fifteen miles in length, extending from near Decatur to below East Point. The enemy was also able to hold his long and attenuated front by the use of a large force of State Militia, and his position was so marked by the shape of the ground that it was impossible for our commander to discover his weak points.
Again, on the 2d day of August, after driving the enemy's pickets from our front, we advanced our lines and constructed another strong line of works.
August 3d Major W. B. Brown, of the 70th Ohio, was detailed by Division Headquarters to assume command of the skirmish line, with orders to charge and capture a certain position then held by the enemy, and by its capture our army would gain a decided advantage. Major Brown, after reading the detail over and over again, was heard to make the remark that it was a bad job. He seemed to be impressed with the thought that he would not go through. After going out from his tent to take a view of his horse, he returned to his tent, took a drink of water, then returned to his faithful horse again, and finally, going to the Adju- tant of our Regiment, the Major turned over to that officer his watch and all of his valuable papers, and went forward to duty.
As per arrangements, the signal to fall in on the color line was one shot from a certain designated battery. The signal for the line to move forward was two shots from the same battery. Finally the signal was given, when Major Brown formed his skirmish line for action; then, passing along the line, the Major requested every man who felt unable to go forward in discharge of the duty before them to step to the front. Not a single man moved, but all said they would stay with the Major and do their duty. Then, calling the officers to the front and center, he gave them their instructions and what was expected of them, and at the same time requesting that, if he fell in the charge, they should not falter, but go forward until the works were gained and held.
The signal of two shots was fired, when the charging column, with Major Brown, moved to the front. Soon the battle opened, and volley after volley of musketry could be heard from the main line as the charg- ing column faced the leaden hail of shot and shell. On and on the chargers moved until reaching a point about half way to the line of works to be captured, when the gallant Major Brown fell mortally
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wounded, being shot through by a musket ball. Two comrades fell back and asked if they could assist him. He told them "No, but go forward and do your duty." And then his last words to them were: " Tell the officers and men of the 70th Regiment and my friends at home that I died at my post while in the discharge of a sacred duty." These were his last words ever spoken, so far as we know. He was brought back to the Regiment unconscious and placed upon a cot in front of his tent, where a soldier's sympathy and help made him as comfortable as could be. While lying there dying, Captain H. L. Phillips, of the 70th Ohio, and Adjutant General of our Division, rode up, and while looking tenderly down upon the dying Major the large teardrops began rolling down his cheeks as he remarked that it was hard to see our best men and officers shot down in that way. About nine o'clock that night Major W. B. Brown, of the 70th Ohio Regiment, quietly passed away and was no more. He was dead.
In the death of Major Brown the 70th Ohio Regiment lost a val- uable officer, the service a brave soldier, the cause a true friend, and the Nation a loyal and patriotic citizen. He was kind, generous and full of life ; a perfect model of a gentleman and a Christian. His remains were buried on the field side by side with Captain J. F. Summers, of Company B. Since the close of the war their bodies were brought home to their native county and State.
I neglected to state a fact connected with James Brooks, of Com- pany G, and Daniel Reeder, of Company F, 70th Ohio, who were wounded on the 28th of July, 1864. It is said that after they had reached the hospital maggots were found to be working in their mouths. Both of these men were shot in the face and inouth. Also, that Nelson Hem- pleman, of Company G, 70th Ohio, after being taken to the hospital, had his leg amputated twice, and died during the second operation,
CHAPTER IX.
Colonel D. W. C. Loudon having resigned as Colonel of the 70th Ohio Regiment on account of ill-health, the command of the Regiment devolved upon Captain Lewis Love, of Company A, he being the ranking Captain.
August 5th we advanced our line to the front and occupied the position captured by the charge in which Major W. B. Brown was killed. Here we constructed another strong line of works. We remained in these works about three days, our skirmishers keeping up a steady fire with the enemy all the time.
August 8th we made another advance movement, driving in the enemy's pickets and constructing another line of works.
August 9th James H. Fields, of Company G, 70th Ohio, was shot through with a minie ball and instantly killed.
August 10th, during the first part of the night, we advanced our lines, and again constructed another strong line of works.
August IIth James Trotter, of Company D, 70th Ohio, and Regi- mental bugler, was killed by the force and pressure of a cannon ball.
On the night of August 12th our lines were again thrown forward and another heavy line of works constructed.
During each of these movements, and most generally in the evening about sunset, there would be a heavy artillery duel. By this time the two armies (the Rebel and Union) were getting their lines so close, and facing each other, that it was almost impossible to throw forward a line of skirmishers or picket posts without bringing on a general engagement. This was, of course, to be avoided as long as possible. The skirmishers were at last compelled to do their work from the main line of works on either side. It was no trouble to pitch a stone from our line into that of the enemy. We could hear them talk very plainly; hear them sing, or hear their chaplains praying or preaching when they held religious services. Some evenings their bands would strike up "Dixie" or "The Bonnie Blue Flag," when the bands from our lines would answer with "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Red. White and Blue," "America" or "Yankee Doodle," which almost filled our hearts to overflowing with patriotic joy and stronger devotion and love for the flag.
Yet, after all, our position was not a pleasant one by any means. The very moment anything the size of a man's hand, from either side, was shown above the works, it was shot at by at least a half dozen mus-
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kets. To avoid being exposed to the enemy's fire, we dug deep ditches, and then dug out little caves or rooms in the banks of the ditches, to be used for our sleeping apartments. There was also a deep ditch dug leading from the main line to the rear, so that we could transport ammu- nition and rations without being exposed to the fire of the enemy.
There was another inconvenience that was not at all pleasant. Every time it rained our ditches would be filled up about half full of water, when we were compelled to stand in water and mud until it dried up.
To show the reader the close and dangerous position of our lines, I will here mention. one incident that occurred during the time we remained in this pen, or, as the boys called it, the bullpen. James Love, of Company G, 70th Ohio, who had been detailed away on special duty, reported back to his Company for duty, and, not realizing the danger, began jumping around and standing up on the outside of the ditches and unnecessarilyexposing himself to the enemy. We cautioned him time and again of his danger, but he heeded not the warning. Captain C. W. Foster, as well as other members of the Company, begged him to keep down, saying to him, " Jim, be careful, or you will get shot." In reply to the oft-repeated warnings Jim made use of this remark, that the Rebel bullet had not yet been molded that was to hit him. These words had scarcely escaped from his lips when he fell to the ground in an uncon- scious condition. The Rebel bullet was already molded for him. as a minie ball direct from the enemy struck him, glancing over the top part of his head and burning the hair off as closely as if it had been shaven. Jim was sent to the hospital, where he remained for about three months.
From about August 12th to the 13th or 14th hostilities seemed to cease for a time, and the soldiers on both sides became friendly, and would often meet together in squads and exchange tobacco for coffee. The Johnnies sometimes had an overstock of tobacco, but no coffee; sometimes we had a surplus of coffee and no tobacco: so this friendly meeting would often take place and exchange coffee for tobacco. Then, again, very often in the cool of the evening, just after sunset, the soldiers from each side would collect on each of their respective works without their arms-the Blue and the Gray enjoying a friendly conversation together, seeming to forget for the time that they were enemies opposing each other in a deadly conflict. Finally our officers thinking these exchanges of conversation were becoming too frequent, and fearing these meetings were becoming too common. ordered it stopped. In obeying this order the boys of both sides agreed that in reopening hostilities their
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first shots should be fired in the air, so as to give all a chance to protect themselves. After this was done the sight of a man's finger, seen above the top of the works, promptly provoked a shot.
Our Chief Engineer, whose name I can not now call to mind, was a member of the 53d Ohio Regiment, and while standing a little to the right of our Regiment watching the effects of our artillery upon the works of the enemy, was struck by a minie ball and instantly killed.
On the 16th of August, 1864, General Sherman issued an order pre- scribing the mode and manner of executing a grand movement by the right flank, which would begin August 18th. In accordance with this plan the Twentieth Corps, commanded by General Williams, was withdrawn and stationed within a strongly intrenched position at the Chattahoochee bridge leading across the Chattahoochee River, while the main army would march on different roads to the West Point Railway, near Fair- burn, and thence to the Macon road at or near Jonesboro.
The army commanders were notified to send their surplus wagon encumbrances, with the sick, back to the intrenched position at the Chat- tahoochee bridge. Everything being in complete readiness the Fourth Corps, commanded by General Stanley, drew out from its lines on the extreme left and marched to a position below Proctor's Creek. This movement was executed without loss.
August 25th the Army of the Tennessee broke camp, and moved rapidly, by a circuit, toward Sandtown and across Camp Creek, a small streamn about one mile below Proctor's Creek; while the Army of the Cumberland moved below Utay Creek, leaving the Army of the Ohio to mask the movement. The Fifteenth Corps moved out just after dark on the evening of August 25th; our Brigade moving out first, with the 70th Ohio in the lead.
Some time that evening the enemy had learned from some unknown source that we were going to move out that night, and began to show signs of life and boldness. They began to taunt us considerably, calling out every little while: "Hello, Yank! at what time are you going to move out to-night"; "Oh, we will give you a warm parting salute as you go." "We will give you a warm sendoff"; "We will make it hot for you." Then they would halloo, "Good-bye, Yank! Good-bye, old Yank ; we will give it to you !"
Promptly at eight o'clock that evening. and moving as quietly as possible, the 70th Ohio withdrew from the works, and was soon on the march, followed closely by the remainder of our Brigade. As we were
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marching away the Johnnies said, "Good-bye. Yank; where are you going ?" "We will see you again." We had not marched very far before the enemy's batteries were opened upon us, giving us a farewell send-off of shot and shell, as they promised they would do. The. shells whistled through the timber and over our heads without harm, but reminding us something of the locomotive headlights coming through the woods. Fortunately no one was hurt that we heard of. We marched all night, halting only now and then to allow the columns to close up. August 26th and 27th the Army of the Tennessee moved to the West Point Rail- way, above Fairburn: the Army of the Cumberland to Red Oak, and the Army of the Ohio closed in near Diggs and Mims. The three col- umns were thus massed on the line of the West Point Railway from Diggs, two miles below East Point, to within an equal distance of Fair- burn. August 28th was occupied in destroying the railroad, and for twelve and a half miles we burned the ties, heated the iron rails and then twisted them in every shape, wrapped them around trees-in fact, every- thing was done with the utmost ingenuity of old hands at the work. We then filled up several deep cuts with the trunks of trees, logs, rocks and dirt, intermingled with loaded shells prepared as torpedoes, so they would explode in case the enemy should attempt to clear them out. General Sherman, having personally inspected this work and being satisfied with its complete execution, ordered the entire army to move eastward and to move the next day by the several different roads. General Howard marched us on the right, toward Jonesboro; General Thomas in the center, to Couch's, on the Decatur and Fayetteville road, while General Schofield moved on the left by Morrow's Mills. The railway from Atlanta to Macon follows substantially the ridge which divides the waters of the Flint and Ocmulgee Rivers, and from East Point to Jonesboro makes a wide bend to the east. The position now selected by General Sherman, parallel to the railway, facing castwardly, was therefore a very important one, and he was anxious to seize it as a necessary preliminary to his ulterior movements. The several columns moved out promptly on the morning of August 29th. General Thomas who encountered little oppo- sition or difficulty, save what resulted from the narrow roads, reached his position at Couch's carly in the afternoon ; General Schofield, being closer . to the enemy, who still clung to East Point, moved cautiously on a small circle around that point, and came into position towards Rough-and- Ready, while General Howard moved our Division of the army on the
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outer circle, in consequence of which we had the greater distance to march.
We had not advanced very far before encountering the enemy's cavalry, which we drove rapidly to the crossing of Shoal Creek. Here we were delayed for a short time, during which there was heavy can- nonading and skirmishing in our front. It did not take long to dislodge the enemy from this place. Driving him back we passed the Renfrew House, on the Decatur road, which was the point indicated in the order of the day; then pushing our march towards Jonesboro, we saved the bridge across Flint River. We then advanced to within one-half mile of Jonesboro, and halted for the night.
The next morning, August 30th, we awoke to find ourselves in the presence of a heavy force of the enemy. Soon after daylight our Corps- the Fifteenth-was deployed with the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps on our right and left. We were not long in constructing a strong line of works, thus preparing ourselves to act on the offensive or defensive as the case might call for. As soon as General Sherman, whose head- quarters were with General Thomas, at Couch's, learned that General Howard had passed Renfrew's he directed General Thomas to send to that place a Division of General Jeff C. Davis's Fourteenth Corps ; to move General Stanley's Fourth Corps in connection with General Scho- field, towards Rough-and-Ready. and then to send forward, due east, a strong detachment of General Davis's Corps to feel for the railway. Gen- eral Schofield was also ordered to move boldly forward and strike the rail- road near Rough-and-Ready. These movements were progressing dur- ing the day of August 31st, when Stephen D. Lee and Hardee's Corps of the enemy came out of his works at Jonesboro and attacked General Howard in our position, as above described. After a contest lasting for over two hours we repulsed the attack with great loss to the enemy, who withdrew. leaving their dead and wounded on the field, and in our hands. In the meantime General Sherman was aiming to get our left and center between General Stewart's Corps remaining at Atlanta, and the Corps of Generals Hardee and Lee, who were engaged in our front. General Scho- field had reached the railway a mile below Rough-and-Ready, and was working up the road, breaking it as he went. General Stanley, of General Thomas's army had also struck the road below General Schofield and was destroying it. working south. Baird's Division of General Davis's Corps had struck it still lower down, within four miles of Jonesboro.
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The Confederate forces now being divided, orders were at once given for all the army to turn on the enemy at Jonesboro. General Howard to keep their attention, while General Thomas would move down from the north with General Schofield on his left. The two armies were also ordered as they moved down to continue the thorough destruction of the railway, as it was impossible to say how soon our hold of it might be relinquished from the necessity of giving attention in other quarters. Gen- eral Garrard's Cavalry was directed to watch the roads to the north, and General Kilpatrick was sent south to the west bank of the Flint, with instructions to attack or threaten the railway below Jonesboro.
On the Ist day of September, 1864, General Davis's Corps, having a shorter distance to march, was deployed facing south, his right in con- nection with General Howard, and his left on the railway ; while General Stanley and General Schofield would move down the Rough-and-Ready road and along the railway, breaking it as they came. When General Davis joined to General Howard, General Blair's Corps, General How- ard's left, was thrown in reserve, and was immediately sent well to the right, below Jonesboro, to act on that flank in connection with Gen- eral Kilpatrick.
About five P.M. General Davis assaulted the enemy's lines, across open fields, carrying them very handsomely, and taking as prisoners the greater part of General Gowan's Brigade, including its commander, with two four-gun batteries. Meanwhile our Division had advanced and taken a position on the brow of a long ridge; one Company of the 70th Ohio Regiment was detailed as skirmishers. The skirmish line was thrown well to the front, keeping up a continuous fire. Repeated orders were sent to Generals Stanley and Schofield to hasten their movements, but owing to the difficult nature of the country and the absence of roads, they did not get well into position for attack before night rendered further operations impossible.
About two o'clock that night the reports of heavy explosions could be distinctly heard in the direction of Atlanta, about twenty miles distant from our position. This was followed by a succession of minor explosions resembling the rapid firing of cannon and musketry. These reports con- tinued for about one hour. Again about four o'clock A.M. occurred another series of similar reports, apparently nearer, which could be accounted for on no other hypothesis than of a night attack by the enemy on the Twentieth Corps stationed at the Chattahoochee bridge, or an attack on Atlanta by General Slocum, or the blowing up of the enemy's
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magazines. However, at daybreak it was discovered that Generals Hardee and Lee had abandoned their lines in our front at Jonesboro.
Presently rumors began to arrive through prisoners captured that Hood had evacuated Atlanta during the night, and had blown up eighty carloads of ammunition, which accounted for the unexplained reports so plainly heard during the night. Soon these reports were confirmed by general orders from General Sherman being read along the lines of each Regiment. Andrew Urban, of Company I, and Adjutant of the 70th Ohio, was shot and instantly killed while reading this order to Company B of our Regiment. This same ball, after passing through the Adjutant, struck and passed through one of the arms of William Reed, of Company B, inflicting a severe and painful wound.
General Sherman at once ordered a general pursuit south ; General Thomas to follow to the left of the railway ; General Howard on its right, and General Schofield diverging two miles to the east.
Atlanta now in our possession, the object of the movement against the railway being already concluded, and any pursuit of the enemy with a view of his capture being futile in such a country, General Sherman issued orders on the 4th day of September, 1864, for the army to fall back slowly toward Atlanta. September 5th the army marched to the vicinity of Jonesboro, a distance of five miles, where it lay in camp one day. Sep- tember 7th moved to Rough-and-Ready, a distance of seven miles, and the next day, September 8th, occupied the camps selected for the army. The Army of the Cumberland went into camp in and around Atlanta ; the Army of the Tennessee at East Point, and the Army of Ohio at Deca- tur ; all in nice, clean, healthy camps ; at last giving us an opportunity to enjoy a brief period of rest, so much needed for reorganization and recuperation. Thus ended, four months after its inception, one of the greatest campaigns of the war.
A campaign which doubly secured to us the possession of the moun- tain regions of the center, and laid the Atlantic and Gulf slopes at the mercy of our armies. Divided in twain by the conquest of the Mississippi, the domain of the Rebellion was quartered by the capture of Atlanta. A vital spot had been reached. The granary of Georgia was lost, and there was suddenly presented to the Confederate authorities the alternative of concentrating their two remaining armies or perish.
Two dangers had menaced our success during the campaign. The first was the question of supplies. This was, in great part, solved by the energetic and successful management of our Superintendent of Military
FIRST LIEUT. TOWNSEND HEATON.
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Railways, Colonel W. W. Wright. No matter when or where a break had been made, the repair train was on the spot and the damage repaired before we knew of the break. Bridges had been built with surprising rapidity, and the locomotive whistle was heard in our advanced camps almost before the echoes of the skirmish fire had ceased. Some of these bridges, especially those of the Oostanaula, Etowah and Chattahoochee, are fine, substantial structures, and were built in a conceivably short time, almost out of the materials improvised on the spot.
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