USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 22
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294 SEVENTII REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
fortified by nature, presenting a precipitous wall to the river, evidently intending to dispute our passage.
"We halted the boat and opened a warm fire upon them from the four pieces for fifteen minutes, and shelled a party which was already on the bluffs, and then ran past. Recon- noitered 110 miles down to within 14 miles of Decatur, re- solved to regain Guntersville before morning. Therefore directed boat up stream, reaching Whitesburg shortly after dark. Again got under way. Halted short time opposite Guntersville at 2 A. M. of the 14th, then passed to Roman's Ferry. Troops under arms going and coming. Reached Bridgeport April 16, 1864, at 2 A. M.
"Upon the expedition we destroyed forty-seven boats. Our casualties are: Private James B. Auxer, Company F, Seventh Ohio, gunshot wound through face; Private Wil- liam H. Poor, Company F, Seventh Ohio, gunshot wound in head; Private Martin T. Britton, Company D, bruised right hand.
"Captured 4 prisoners with arms, and 17 $1,000 R. R. bonds, taken at Guntersville.
"JOHN W. GEARY, "Brigadier-General, Commanding."
Gen. George H. Thomas, in forwarding General Geary's report to General Sherman, did so "with expressions of satisfaction at the manner in which Brig .- Gen. John W. Geary conducted his expedition and the results which fol- lowed."
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN, DUG GAP, AND RESACA.
At Bridgeport the Tennessee River, some hundreds of yards in width, was spanned by a substantial pontoon bridge, over which, on May I, a large herd of beeves, in- tended for use during the then approaching Atlanta cam- paign, essayed to cross. The river was not only wide and deep but the current was very rapid, and when the leaders of this herd reached the middle of the stream the great ex- panse of boiling, whirling, and rapidly moving water seemed to terrify them, causing them to halt, as if to turn about and retreat ; but this was prevented by the press from behind, resulting in such a concentration of weight as to sink the pontoon boats, break up the bridge, and precipitate many fine cattle into the river.
However, they all seemed to be expert swimmers, and while some at once started for the shore, others held on mid-stream and went floating down out of sight. How many cattle were actually lost to the Government by this incident we never knew.
Preparatory to entering upon what is known as the At- lanta campaign, Maj .- Gen. William T. Sherman, during the early part of the year 1864, exhausted every effort in bringing to Chattanooga sufficient supplies to enable every arm of the service under his command to start out with a plenty and to spare, in all of which he was eminently suc- cessful, and early in May the great army then concentrated under the command of Major-Generals Thomas, McPher- son, Hooker, Schofield and Howard .- all under command of "Uncle Billy," of whom it was said, "Sherman will move if he has to eat his mules,"-marched away for Atlanta, while General Grant, in command of the Army of the Potomac, moved from about Culpeper toward Richmond. On May 3, 1864, Geary's division left Bridgeport and
296 SEVENTHI REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
.
marched to Shell Mound, while the next day it again marched through Wauhatchie Valley, along the west side of Lookout Mountain, crossing over its nose near the Ten- nessee River, and halting on the Chattanooga side for the night. Here we saw every indication of a great military campaign, in the great bodies of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, filling and crowding the roads in every direction, while the supply trains of wagons, in almost endless num- ber, were parked in the fields until the troops should lead off and get under way.
On the 5th, passing through Rossville Gap across the Chickamauga battlefield toward Ringgold, it kept to the right to Post Oak Church, and the next day reached Pea Vine Church.
On the 7th it crossed Taylor's Ridge, passing Gordon's Springs to Nuckles, and to Dug Gap in Rocky Face Ridge on the 8th, where Geary's division made vigorous attack by way of a diversion, while other troops passed through Snake Creek Gap lower down the range.
In this affair at Dug Gap the Twenty-ninth Ohio In- fantry was very roughly handled, something after the style of the Seventh at Ringgold, while the Seventh, by order of General Geary, who remembered Ringgold, was held in re- serve and not exposed or engaged in any way. That night, however, the Seventh was on picket and well to the front at that point until the 12th, when the command moved through Snake Creek Gap and toward Resaca, where the enemy had halted for battle. On the 13th we drew closer to Resaca; on the 14th moved to the extreme left of the line on the left of Williams's division, while on the 15th the battle of Resaca was fought.
General Geary said: "Owing to the extremely rough and hilly nature of the ground, and the small compass within which the entire corps was to operate in the first charge, the only formation by which my command could be handled to advantage was that of column by regiments," -- which sug- gested to the members of the Seventh the battle of Kerns- town, where the Third Brigade went to battle in column of
297
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN
divisions. Parts of Geary's and Butterfield's divisions raced for the capture of a 4-gun battery, posted in pits dug upon the brow of a modest elevation, and well guarded by infantry in trenches near by, and while they succeeded in silencing the guns, they could not bring them off. Between 3 and 4 P. M., by order of General Hooker, General Geary relieved General Butterfield's division and kept close guard over the silenced guns until nightfall, when General Geary instructed Colonel Cobham of the One Hundred and Elev- enth Pennsylvania to dig through the works in front of the guns and bring them off with drag-ropes during the niglit. The necessary tools and ropes were supplied to do this work, which was accomplished successfully by the Fifth Ohio and a detail from the Thirty-third New Jersey, drag- ging the guns out from under the very nose of the enemy, despite all the resistance they could make-the Seventh being near by to join in the shooting when the dragging out took place, but suffering little loss. Corp. George W. Tyr- rell of the Fifth Ohio brought off a rebel flag and was sub- sequently given a medal of honor therefor.
General Butterfield claimed credit for capturing this bat- tery, but as General Geary had possession of the guns, he held on to them. On the morning of the 16th the enemy had evacuated and General Sherman ordered pursuit. Geary's division crossed the Connesauga and Coosa- wattee Creeks and encamped. On the 17th it marched toward Calhoun; on the 18th to Gravelly Plateau on the Cassville road ; while on the 19th the Fifth Ohio led on the skirmish line, to near Cassville, where a halt was made for three days.
"HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
"BIVOUAC, NEAR CASSVILLE, GA., May 21, 1864.
"SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements of my command since May 12, 1864, and participation in the late engagement near Resaca, Ga. :
"At about 7 A. M. Thursday, May 12. 1864, my command moved from its position near Mill Creek Gap in a southerly
298
SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
direction, and at sundown arrived at Snake (Creek) Gap, where we bivouacked for the night. May 13, at about 12 M., moved forward in a southeasterly direction until about 5 P. M., when we came upon our outer lines, which were skirmishing with the enemy. The regiment was ordered to take a position on a hill, where it remained during the night and until 4 P. M. the next day, May 14, when my command was ordered to the extreme left of our line of battle. We arrived after dark, formed in line and threw out pickets in front; remained here until 10 A. M. May 15, when the regi- ment was ordered to the right to the support of the Third Division, then heavily engaged in resisting the charge of the enemy. The regiment in line of battle advanced to within a few paces of the rest of the hill, in front of which were two lines of battle, and rested upon the ground. While lying in this position 5 men of my regiment were struck with the enemy's balls .* None was dangerously wounded. After lying here about an hour I was ordered to support the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. We moved to the immediate front and formed on the right of that regiment, the regiment being in a ravine. Forty men were sent to the crest of the hill in advance as sharpshooters, their position being protected by piles of rails, breastworks having been built and artillery got into position on a commanding hill a few paces in our rear. At about 10 P. M. the regiment was ordered to join the re- mainder of the brigade, then lying in a ravine to our right and near the road running east and west. Here arms were stacked and the men laid down to rest. I was aroused at about II P. M. by rapid discharges of musketry, and caused the regiment to fall in and be in readiness for any emer- gency. By order of General Geary three companies of my regiment were deployed on the crest of the hill to stop the retreat of stragglers from the front. The firing soon ceased, and the regiment rested undisturbed until daylight. At about 9 A. M. we were ordered to fall in, and moved off by the road toward the east, crossing the railroad a mile
*See Casualty List, p. 648.
299
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN
north of Resaca at noon; crossed Connesauga Creek at 5 P. M .; arrived at Coosawattee Creek; found the cavalry had discovered a body of the enemy in a piece of woods on the opposite bank. I was ordered to take my command a half mile to the left to support a section of artillery in posi- tion on commanding ground near the bank of the creek, our troops having crossed the creek without opposition. At 9 P. M. received orders to rejoin the brigade, then in camp on the opposite bank. May 17, again moved forward at about 12 M. After marching about eight miles halted for the night near Calhoun. May 18, fell in at 4 A. M., and after a very fatiguing march, principally across fields and over mountains, went into camp soon after sunset. May 19, moved off soon after sunrise in an easterly direction, scarcely any of the time being on a beaten path. At about 4 P. M., when approaching the town of Cassville, found that we were in the vicinity of the enemy. The regiment was ordered to take position behind some breastworks of rails hastily thrown up. After remaining here something like two hours my command was again moved forward about a mile and formed in line of battle on a retreating piece of ground in the rear of a piece of woods, where the regiment remains.
"Respectfully submitted.
"SAMUEL MCCLELLAND,
"Lieut .- Col., Comdg. Seventh Regt. Ohio Vol. Infty. "Lieut. A. H. W. CREIGH,
"A. A. A. G., Ist Brig., 2d Div., 20th Army Corps."
CHAPTER XXXV.
PUMPKIN VINE CREEK, DALLAS, AND NEW HOPE CHURCH.
On the 23rd, moved to and across Etowah River and the next day to Burnt Hickory. Colonel Charles Candy, con- manding First Brigade, said :
"On May 25 marched at 6 A. M., this brigade in advance of the division, and moved to Pumpkin Vine Creek, where the advance met the enemy's cavalry pickets. Skirmishers were thrown across the stream, the Seventh Ohio perform- ing this duty, when we advanced about three miles, where we met the advance of the enemy in force, composed of in- fantry and cavalry. The brigade was formed in line of battle. The Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania was ordered to advance as skirmishers to assist the Seventh Ohio, who were warmly engaged with the enemy, and were making a stubborn resistance. The enemy's skirmishers were com- pelled to fall back to their main line, one and a half miles. The enemy then advanced in force and poured a heavy and galling fire into the entire line. It fell most heavily on the Fifth Ohio, who lost 7 killed and 51 wounded."
Colonel Patrick of the Fifth Ohio and Lieutenant Hitt of Colonel Candy's staff were killed in this battle, and Capt. Lew. R. Davis of General Geary's staff captured, while Ser- geants McClelland and Strattan of the Seventh, and others, were killed, and some wounded, still further deci- mating the already greatly depleted ranks.
Following is an extract from the official report of Brig .- Gen. John W. Geary.
"NEW HOPE CHURCHI.
"May 25, at 7 A. M .. I marched with my command, tak- ing the road to Dallas via bridge across Pumpkin Vine
301
PUMPKIN VINE CREEK-NEW HOPE CHURCH
Creek at Owen's Mill. Williams's and Butterfield's divis- ions, moving, respectively. by roads on my right and left, were to cross the creek by other bridges. The point of con- centration ordered was to be Dallas (see order of march for May 25, dated May 24, headquarters Department of the Cumberland). The Major-General Commanding corps and myself. with our staffs and escort, preceded the troops to the bridge at Owen's Mill, which we found burning. hav- ing just been fired. While engaged in extinguishing the flames and repairing the bridge we were fired upon from the hill opposite, proving that the enemy were here in our front. A portion of Maj .- Gen. Hooker's cavalry escort fording the creek. deployed and advanced on the opposite side through the woods, driving before them a short dis- tance what proved to be an outpost of 25 cavalrymen. My infantry soon came up, and the repairs to the bridge being finished by the pioneer corps, the entire division crossed ; the Seventh Ohio Volunteers preceding, deployed as skir- mishers. advanced rapidly in the direction of New Hope Church. Candy's brigade leading. Near Hawkins's house, one and a half miles from the bridge, our skirmishers be- came heavily engaged with those of the enemy, and almost immediately a furious charge was made upon us. Our skirmishers resisted. Candy's brigade was deployed into line on the double-quick, and after a sharp engagement the charge was repulsed. The skirmish line was now rein- forced, and extended to the length of a mile by the Twenty- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. The remaining four regiments of Candy's brigade were deployed in line of battle, and, supported by my other two brigades, moved forward, attacking and driving steadily for half a mile a heavy force of Hood's corps, which opposed us. From prisoners captured we learned that Hood's entire corps was in our front, and Hardee's not far off. in the direction of Dallas. My division was isolated. at least five miles from the nearest supporting troops, and had been sustaining a sharp conflict with the enemy for four hours. Close in my front was an overwhelming force. My command was, by
302 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
order of the Major-General Commanding the corps (who was with me), halted and formed on a ridge in the woods, advantageous for defense, and a slight barricade of logs hastily thrown up. My skirmish lines were deployed to a still greater extent than before, and ordered to keep up an aggressive fire, the object being to deceive the enemy as to our weakness by a show of strength. During this halt a charge made by a brigade of the enemy in column upon that part of my skirmish line occupied by the Seventh Ohio Vol- unteers was handsomely repulsed. The skirmish line there formed nearly a right angle toward the enemy, who charged upon the center line, not seeing that upon their flank. When the three regiments neared the angle they were met by a sharp fire in front and a heavy enfilading fire from their left flank, and retreated in hasty disorder and with considerable loss. Orders had been sent, as soon as the enemy was found in force in my front, by the Major-Gen- eral Commanding corps, to Generals Butterfield and Wil- liams to march their divisions to the point where mine was engaged. By 5 P. M. both had come up and massed, Wil- liams on my right and Butterfield on my left and rear. Each division was quickly formed for attack in columns by brigades, Williams leading. Butterfield next, my division as a reserve, and the corps advanced upon the enemy. In the advance Butterfield's brigades moved toward the flanks, leaving me in support of Williams, who had been heavily engaged, driving the enemy some distance. I received orders to push forward and relieve his troops. This was between 6 and 7 p. M. The movement ordered for my division was made with great rapidity. through a dense woods, swept by a very heavy artillery and musketry fire. The discharges of canister and shell from the enemy were heavier than in any other battle of the campaign in which my command was engaged. The troops of General Wil- liams's division were relieved by this movement, and Cob- ham's brigade and portions of Candy's brigade engaged the enemy furiously at short range. driving him again until after dark, when my command was halted close under the
303
PUMPKIN VINE CREEK-NEW HOPE CHURCH
enemy's batteries and entrenchments near New Hope Church. The night was intensely dark, and a very severe thunder-storm, with cold, pelting rain, added to the gloom. It was, therefore, impossible to form a regular line with the troops, and all the dispositions of them we could make was by the fitful flashes of lightning. Breastworks were thrown up as fast as possible during the night, and the dead and wounded were all cared for before morning.
"May 26, when dawn came I found the position held by my troops to be a ridge of considerable natural strength confronting another ridge at a distance of from 80 yards on the left to 300 yards on the right, on which were the enemy's main lines. Around us in every direction were thick woods. The road to New Hope Church passed through my lines occupied by Candy's brigade, the flank of which, on the left of the road, was not in connection with any other troops. At this point near the road my lines were closest to those opposing us, and sharpshooters from Candy's brigade were so posted as to command a battery in his front, preventing the enemy from working his guns, excepting now and then to deliver an occasional shot. Another battery in Cobham's front was similarly com- manded by sharpshooters from his brigade. Strong skir- mish lines were posted along our front and drove the ene- my's skirmishers into their main line of entrenchments and kept them there for the most part during the succeeding days that we remained in this position. The battle of the 25th was altogether in the woods, affording no opportunity for the use of artillery on our side. In my front this day I ascertained that the enemy had seventeen pieces of artillery well entrenched in their second line of works on top of the ridge occupied by them. This line of works was very strong, with re-entering angles. From my skirmish line it could be closely reconnoitered, being distant only about 100 yards. In addition to this they occupied in strong force a line of breastworks nearer us at the foot of the ridge. To this work their skirmishers were all driven, and my skirmishers, advanced to the farthest point possible,
304 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
were ordered to hold them there and to cover with their own fire, if possible, every piece of artillery posted in our front. Directions were also given when night came for the construction of log rifle-pits of the V pattern for the protection of my skirmishers and sharpshooters, the num- ber of casualties among them being quite large during the day. At noon troops of General Stanley's division, Fourth Corps, came up and connected on my left by a refused line, and by order of Maj .- Gen. Thomas relieved five regiments of Candy's brigade, which had held the left of the road since the evening of yesterday. My entire division was now formed on the right of the road from left to right, in the following order: Candy's brigade, Lockman's, then Co- burn's brigade of Butterfield's division, and on his right Cobham's brigade, of my division. Two-thirds of each brigade formed the front line. The remainder was placed in reserve near the foot of the ridge. Under protection of our sharpshooters breastworks were erected during the day, and, wherever possible, the timber in front was slashed, forming an abatis. All of my artillery, twelve pieces, was placed in position along my line during the day and night. The enemy made frequent sorties, attempting to drive in my skirmishers, establish their own line, and prevent our throwing up works, but in every case they were driven back with severe loss. Their artillery was rendered almost en- tirely inefficient by the constant watchfulness of our sharp- shooters, and our works progressed rapidly. After dusk, Cobham's brigade, being relieved by Ward's, of Butterfield's division, took the place held in line by Coburn, thus bring- ing my entire command into a connected line.
"My losses during yesterday and to-day were 376 killed, wounded, and missing. A full statement of them will be found hereto appended. I have to enumerate among the dead, fallen in the battle of New Hope Church, Col. John H. Patrick, Fifth Ohio Volunteers, a brave officer, who had served with his regiment since April, 1861, and here fell
305
PUMPKIN VINE CREEK-NEW HOPE CHURCH
mortally wounded by a canister shot, and Lieut. Joseph W. Hitt, of Colonel Candy's staff, a promising young officer. My three brigade commanders, Colonels Candy, Lockman, and Cobham, all displayed personal gallantry and performed their whole duty in the most efficient manner. The behavior of the officers and men under their command was excellent throughout. For twenty-four hours they were actively en- gaged with the enemy without opportunity to cook a single meal or make a cup of coffee. I sustained a personal loss in the capture of Capt. L. R. Davis of the Seventh Ohio Volunteers, who had served as aide-de-camp on my staff for two years and had earned a wide-spread reputation for his extreme gallantry and personal daring.
"May 27, lively skirmishing all day, our sharpshooters preventing the enemy from free use of their guns (artil- lery). The enemy made occasional attempts to drive in our skirmishers, but were each time driven back to their en- trenchments with heavy loss. My artillery kept up a de- structive fire, enfilading portions of the enemy's works. In this constant, watchful war between skirmishers, kept up night and day, here as elsewhere in similar positions during this campaign, my troops thoroughly proved their superior- ity over the enemy as sharpshooters, invariably driving them from their post. During the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 3Ist days of May our position and general daily routine of artillery practice and sharpshooting were unchanged. Small out-works for the protection of skirmishers were. thrown up at every available point, thus diminishing my daily returns of casualties. From the 25th of May until the Ist of June, my entire division was under fire, without an hour of relief. Owing to the proximity of the lines, and the nature of the ground, no one, whether in front or rear, could rest quietly with any assurance of safety. No op- portunity being afforded for proper shelter, rest, and diet, the necessary result of this series of operations was a large increase of sickness.
20
306 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
"CASUALTIES IN BATTLE AT NEW HOPE CHURCH, GA.
Killed.
Wounded.
Missing.
Aggregate.
Commissioned officers,
3
17
I
21
Enlisted men,
49
422
17
488
Total,
52
439
18
509
"June I, being relieved by Harrow's division, of the Fifteenth Corps, I withdrew my command from the works and, forming in the Dallas road, marched to the rear of the left of Johnson's division, of the Fourteenth Corps, where the division encamped, with Butterfield on the right and Williams on the left. June 2, moved still farther to the left in the direction of Allatoona Church, within about two and a half miles of which I placed my command in position on a thickly wooded ridge in the rear and in support of the Twenty-third Corps. During the day heavy storms of rain and hail prevailed, making the ground heavy, and swelling the creeks so as to render them almost impassable. Ac- tive artillery and musketry fire in the front, during which many shots passed through my camp, in which also several shells exploded. June 3, 4, and 5. remained in same posi- tion. On the 3d the Third Brigade was detached, and at 4 P. M. proceeded to the bridge on the Acworth road over Allatoona Creek, with orders to hold the bridge and the ford. It found the bridge in a shattered condition, but placed it in good order, remaining at this point during the 4th and 5th. June 6, the enemy having evacuated the works in the immediate front of the army, the division marched to the Marietta road, encamping on Hull's farm, near the junction of the roads leading to Big Shanty and to Lost Mountain, Butterfield and Williams on the right, the Fourth Corps upon the left. June 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, remained in same position, having thrown up breastworks to cover the roads approaching my front, advancing my
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