USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania volunteer cavalry which was recruited and known as the Anderson cavalry in the rebellion of 1861-1865; > Part 34
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the battle. On October 3, 1864, General Sherman's army was in camp in the vicinity of Atlanta, Ga., with detached guards along the only railroad north to Chattanooga, distant 140 miles. Kenne- saw Mountain is twenty-one miles north of Atlanta; Allatoona Pass is eighteen miles north of Kennesaw Mountain; Rome, Ga., is thirty-six miles northwest-via Kingston-of Allatoona Pass. Signal stations were established previous to October 1, 1864, at Allatoona Pass and Marietta, communicating with the station on Kennesaw Mountain, which latter station communicated with Atlanta and also with an intermediate station at Vining's, half way between Kennesaw and Atlanta.
October 3, 1864, the Confederate army, under General Hood, having crossed the Chattahoochee River below Sweetwater, moved via Lost Mountain and occupied General Sherman's railroad line at Big Shanty, two miles north of Kennesaw Mountain, with a heavy force of infantry, artillery and cavalry.
I am much rejoiced that I am now, after more than forty years, one among the few survivors of those eventful days. I went to Kennesaw Mountain with the Signal Corps detachment Septem- ber 12, 1864, and was on duty there till October 10, 1864.
On October 6, 1864, I took possession of the large signal flag used on Kennesaw Mountain on October 3, 4 and 5, 1864, and retained it in my possession till May, 1900, when I placed it in the flag room at Harrisburg, Pa.
October 3, 1864, General Stewart, of the Confederate army, moving via Lost Mountain, at about 4 P.M. captured Big Shanty, cut the telegraph wires, tore up the railroad and set fire to all that would burn or make a smoke. Thus was severed all means of communication between Kennesaw and Allatoona, between Gen- eral Sherman at Atlanta and General Corse at Rome, Ga., except by the flags and torches alone of the Signal Corps. Allatoona Pass was held by Colonel Tourtellotte with 905 muskets and six pieces of artillery. Here was Sherman's storehouse, with 3,000,- 000 rations and immense quantities of munitions of war, requir- ing months to collect and transport.
On October 4th, General Stewart's Confederate corps moved on Allatoona. General Sherman's army at the same time was in rapid motion from Atlanta to Smyrna camp ground and west of Marietta. It was on the afternoon of October 3d that the men on
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duty at the signal station on Kennesaw discovered Hood's Con- federates on Lost Mountain, and at once reported that fact by signal to General McArthur at Marietta, and to General Sher- man at Atlanta, twenty-one miles distant. On the same day, later in the afternoon, Sherman sent from Atlanta to Kennesaw the following signal message :
"COMMANDING OFFICER, Allatoona, Kingston and Rome :
"Enemy moving on Allatoona, thence to Rome."
We could not send this message to Allatoona, because of the dense fog, until the forenoon of October 4th, when the fog lifted and we could see with our telescope the Allatoona station. Later in the forenoon of the same day the six-foot signal flag from Kennesaw's top spelled out this message to Allatoona, whence it was sent by telegraph to General Corse at Rome, thirty-six miles distant from Allatoona.
"GENERAL CORSE :
"Sherman directs that you move forward and join Smith's Division with your entire command, using cars, if to be had, and burn provisions rather than lose them.
"GENERAL VANDEVERE."
Kennesaw Mountain now became an important signal station ; it was the key station, and through it all others must communicate. The mountain consists of two peaks, which rear their summits very prominently above the surrounding plain. The highest point is 1609 feet above sea level, and on its peak was the signal station. All available signal men were on duty. Work at the glasses and with flag was crowding. All the men at the station expected the Confederates to occupy the mountain, as they were in heavy force at Big Shanty, not two miles away, and the Union forces did not have even a picket between the station and the enemy. General Vandevere sent a Lieutenant and sixteen men, who watched all night with us, grouped along the mountain's brow near the station, peering into the dense gloom increased by fog, none daring to close an eye in sleep. Here I realized the benefit of the military training and careful instruction learned under the leadership of Colonel Palmer, and took courage.
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remembering I was one of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. It would have been an easy matter for the foe to capture the station. Why did they not capture and occupy the mountain? If the Confederates had occupied Kennesaw that night, the signal station in their possession, no message or orders could have been sent by Sherman to Corse, and Corse would not have "moved his command to Allatoona ;" the "fort would not have been held ;" the rations and supplies at Allatoona would have been lost to the Union forces ; Sherman could not have reached the sea for months later than he did; England and France would have recognized the Southern Confederacy, sent an armed fleet to raise the blockade and the war would have been prolonged. There is one answer : God's hand was there to rule over all !
Drearily the night passed, dawn and daylight at last came, but no mortal eye could penetrate the dense fog till the sun arose high, and when the wind wafted the mist away we could see and signal.
At 12 P.M., October 4th, Kennesaw sent to Allatoona the fol- lowing signal:
"COMMANDING OFFICER, Allatoona :
"Sherman is moving in force. Hold out.
"GENERAL VANDEVERE."
Later the same day we sent the great signal message from Ken- nesaw to Allatoona, and telegraphed from there to General Corse at Rome, Ga .:
"CORSE, Rome, Ga .:
"Move your command to Allatoona. Hold the place. I will help you.
"SHERMAN."
This message was the one of greatest importance. It caused Gen- eral Corse to move his command to the relief of Allatoona, and his relief saved Allatoona, with all its precious stores.
General Corse in his first report direct to General Sherman, and dated Allatoona, October 7th, says: "Started from Rome, Ga., at 8.30 P.M., October 4th, on signal telegram from you via Allatoona, with a portion of one brigade of my division. Arrived
"Hold the Fort." 401
here about midnight." Corse's second report, dated Rome, Ga., October 27, 1864, giving details of battle of Allatoona Pass, says : "On the 4th inst. my command was in readiness to move, but another signal from General Sherman changed the program, and I immediately got ready to move to Allatoona." General Corse reached Allatoona about 1.30 A.M., October 5th, with 1054 men. Colonel Tourtelotte had there 905 muskets. Corse took command of all forces, a total of 1959 men ; and soon, even before the dawn of day, was attacked by French's Division of Confederates, num- bering between 6000 and 7000 men and twelve guns. After four- teen hours of skirmish and battle, in which the loss on both sides was awful, the enemy was repulsed, the rations and stores saved, the empty wagons of the Confederates, still empty, moved away, and a glorious victory won for the Union.
General Sherman says: "In person I reached Kennesaw Moun- tain about IO A.M., October 5, 1864, and could see the smoke of battle and hear the faint sounds of artillary. The distance (eight- een miles) was too great for me to make in time to share in the battle. I succeeded in getting a signal message to General Corse during the fight, notifying him of my presence."
At 10.35 A.M., October 5th, Kennesaw station received from Allatoona these signal messages :
"We hold out. Corse is here.
"ADAMS, "Signal Officer."
"ALLATOONA, G., October 5, 1864.
"GENERAL SHERMAN :
"Corse is here.
"TOURTELOTTE, "Colonel."
General Sherman's reply was sent to Allatoona, as follows :
"KENNESAW MOUNTAIN, October 5, 1864.
"Tell Allatoona to hold on. General Sherman says he is work- ing hard for you."
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
At 4.15 P.M. Allatoona signaled :
"We still hold out. Corse is wounded. Where is Sherman? "ADAMS, "Signal Officer."
Reply :
"COMMANDING OFFICER, Allatoona :
"Near you."
"KENNESAW MOUNTAIN, October 6, 1864.
"ALLATOONA :
"How is Corse? What news?
"DAYTON, "Assistant Adjutant General."
"ALLATOONA, October 6, 3.15 P.M. "CAPT. L. M. DAYTON :
"I am short a cheek bone and one ear, but able to whip all hell yet. My losses are very heavy. Tell me where Sherman is.
"CORSE, "Brigadier General, Commanding."
From the moment that Sherman heard that Corse was at Allatoona he seemed satisfied with the situation, but when he read the message to Captain Dayton he was brimful of excitement, and cut such extra antics as only Tecumseh Sherman could when things were moving to his liking.
Those who have read the official histories of this event may ask how it is that this, the most important, message is not among the official reports. In reply, I will state that many other official papers have been lost or not published, and "not found" is reported of many papers referred to. I have in my possession important official papers found on Kennesaw Mountain, and no doubt left there by General Sherman. Among them is a copy of the secret cipher code used for cipher messages.
All signal messages sent from Kennesaw Mountain to Alla- toona after 4 P.M. of October 3d, and on the 4th and 5th, were sent directly over the heads of the Confederates and sent from their rear. There is nothing so unique as this fact in all the history of war.
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Now as to the results of the battle and of the message: We lost 706 men. How many the enemy lost will never be known. We buried 231 of their dead and many were never buried. But there were other results of this battle, vast in their import and powerful toward bringing the great war to a speedy close.
As stated before, at Allatoona were stored the supplies for Sher- man's army, worth several millions of dollars in gold, whichi had required months to collect. General Sherman's plan to march to the sea was well matured. He lacked only the oppor- tunity. When Hood's troops failed to carry the forts at Allatoona, and failed to fill their empty wagons with the supplies there, the opportunity came. To General Thomas, "the Rock of Chicka- mauga," was assigned the care of Hood's forces. Sherman went "marching through Georgia," but to do this he must have his wagons filled with these supplies. The forces under Colonel Tourtelotte could not have held Allatoona. This signal message moved General Corse to reinforce Allatoona and to "Hold the Fort."
Prof. P. P. Bliss immortalized the sentiment and truth of the message in the gospel hymn, "Hold the Fort," cheering and inspiring thousands of children as they sing the stirring song.
My story is ended. Not long after I again joined my Company, and when the Regiment made its most memorable campaign and almost captured Jeff Davis, I was along. But, in later years, when I have listened to the melody of that inspiring hymn, "Hold the Fort," I have again gone back in imagination to that fateful day when, on Kennesaw Mountain, I wigwagged to Allatoona to "Hold the Fort," for Sherman was coming.
HOOD'S ATTACK ON RESACA, GA.
W. R. YEAGER, COMPANY C, UNIONTOWN, PA.
O N September 13, 1864, the main body of the Regiment left Calhoun, Ga., in pursuit of General Williams' brigade of rebel cavalry, reported as being in East Tennessee. Captain McAllister and Lieut. Edward Smith, with a detail, were left in charge of the wagons, sick men and horses. Lieutenant Weand, who went with the Regiment, was taken sick on the march and was left with a Union family at Sevierville, from which place he was taken to a hospital at Knoxville, but, upon assuring the medical officer that he was fit for duty, found his way to Calhoun. Lieutenant Smith with a detail was sent to Cartersville to guard cattle, but returned in a short time. In addition to our men there was also a small infantry command at the post.
General Hood was now moving north to attack Nashville, and the different posts guarding the railroad were ordered to Resaca. The news of Hood's approach reached us barely in time for us to make good our escape, and in our haste we lost some company property, including our election returns. We were hotly pur- sued, but reached Resaca safely. Our trains and horses were parked on the south side of the river, and the men marched into the fort. The enemy could be seen on the hill near the town, and their battery opened on us, but their missiles passed over the fort, and the only damage done was the stampeding of the mules and de- struction of a number of wagons. The officer in command was, I think, General Raum, and in the fort were several ladies, one of whom was a daughter of General Rosseau and wife of Colonel Watkins, of the Kentucky cavalry, whose command was either there when we arrived or came the next day. The inspiring music of the band, the cheering of the men when we defiantly ran up our flag, and the encouragement of the ladies inspired all present, and besides we knew that Sherman was not far off.
Soon after reaching the fort a skirmish line was thrown out
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Hood's Attack on Resaca, Ga.
facing the wooded hill, and the rebel skirmishers could be seen advancing with steady movement. Firing soon commenced, and Mrs. Watkins appeared on the ramparts and cheered the men on to their work, moving backward and forward, waving an American flag.
Our skirmishers were partly up the hill, and made quite an ex- tended line. As night came on and it became too dark to aim, the firing almost ceased on part of the line. The men were then withdrawn to the trenches and ordered to lie down and keep up the firing. Smith Cozens, of Company L, was out in the ad- vance and neatly placed behind a stump, which gave needed pro- tection, but he had an idea that he was getting more than his share of attention from the rebels. Bullets kept flying past him, and his stump had been struck several times, when he became aware that he was not the only one behind it. His companion was not dressed as a soldier, but had a revolver in his hand and a pair of field glasses across his shoulder. In answer to a question as to who he was, the other man said that he was a correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial. He kept throwing his arms about and shouting to the rebels at the top of his voice every little while, and that drew the fire to that spot, making a target of himself and Cozens, too. Finally, Cozens rolled over on his back, and point- ing his carbine at the newspaper man, said: "Young fellow, if you don't make yourself scarce, I'll put a bullet in you." He left, and Cozen's continued his work without extra attention being paid to him.
The next morning the rebels opened on the fort with two field pieces, which did little damage, although a shell from one of them exploded in the fort. Out on the skirmish line could be seen heavy columns of their infantry moving north, and scouts we had sent out reported in the morning that the movement had continued all through the night.
For two days Resaca was closely invested by General Cleburn's Division of Hood's army. They made several attempts to carry the outer works, but failed, as the resistance was too strong. Late in the afternoon of the second day's siege the advance of General Sherman's army appeared in sight, and soon division after division debouched from the forests south of Resaca and bivouacked around the place.
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During the siege the enemy had destroyed the railroad from Resaca to Tunnel Hill, a distance of twenty-three miles. Captain McAllister with forty men was then sent by Major-General How- ard toward Spring Place, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the enemy designed to evade the pursuit of our army by retreat- ing in a southeasterly direction. When he reached Spring Place he found that a small party of rebels had been there, but that Hood's army had moved west from Resaca toward Lafayette.
Early next morning the detachment joined Colonel Watkins' brigade and moved in advance of General Sherman's command to Lafayette, Ga. At this place Lieutenant Weand, with about twenty men, remained with Colonel Watkins and Captain Mc- Allister and the remainder of our men marched to Chattanooga.
At Gaylesville, Ala., where Sherman halted in his pursuit of Hood, Lieutenant Weand was ordered to report to Sherman's headquarters, where the General in person directed him to carry dispatches to General Corse at Rome. The march was to be at night, and when in response to the General's question as to whether he was familiar with the road or had a guide, Lieutenant Weand answered, "No," the General stated that one of his first duties after graduating from West Point was in that part of the country, and described with particularity the road to be taken and where danger might be expected. After delivering his dispatches at Rome, the detail was oredred to Calhoun, to report to Colonel McCook. On the way they were attacked by guerrillas, but suf- fered no loss. From Calhoun they marched to Chattanooga and rejoined the Regiment.
FORAGING WHEN HOOD CUT OUR CRACKER LINE.
SAML. BAILEY, COMPANY H, DANVILLE, PA.
T HOSE who came in contact with Gen. Geo. H. Thomas soon learned his sentiments about foraging. One member of Company K had it forcibly impressed upon him.
General Thomas' view of foraging when the Government ra- tions were regularly issued was that it was stealing. He held that the inhabitants of the country which the army traversed were neces- sarily great sufferers even if the best of discipline was main- tained and the least harm possible was done by the army. But after we reached Atlanta, and the rebel General Hood got in our rear and cut our communications, so that our supplies were run -. ning short, the situation was changed.
General Thomas was a kind-hearted man, but he was every inch a soldier, and took care of those under his command, both man and beast. When necessity required it, he sent out wagon trains of 600 to 800 wagons for forage. They usually drove out from Atlanta fifteen or twenty miles the first day, and parked. The next day half of them went farther out until they found corn, when they stopped and loaded up all the wagons and returned to the camp. The following day the balance of the wagons went out and loaded and returned. The fourth day the whole wagon train returned to Atlanta.
I have seen the wagons drive into a twenty-acre field of corn and clear it all off. Sometimes the women would come out and beg to have it left, as it was all they had to live on, and in many cases appearances indicated that the statement was true. It was sometimes heartrending, but war knows not mercy when neces- sity calls. It goes to prove that General Sherman was not mis- taken when he said "War is hell."
After the capture of Atlanta a detail from Companies H and K were located in a house in the city, to be convenient to General Thomas' headquarters as dispatch bearers. When the wagon trains were sent out for forage, two or three of us went along and
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foraged for ourselves. On one of these trips the writer came in at night to the camp with a pig and a number of chickens strapped to his saddle, but a young sheep, which had been driven part of the time, had to be carried the balance of the six miles, as it was foot- sore and not able to walk the whole distance.
On another trip the writer had the pleasure of a wild boar hunt all alone. Coming across a bunch of some twenty shotes in the woods, the first thought was that if one could be captured it would make nice eating. But they were so wild that it was almost im- possible to get within rifle shot of them. As a revolver was my only weapon strategy seemed to be the only chance, and after numerous failures to get within hopeful shooting distance I almost concluded to give it up. Still the attempt must be made once more. When I was probably 150 to 200 yards off they threw up their heads to listen ; another step in the dry leaves, and they would be off, with a boohoo, like a streak. So, just for the fun of it, I 'drew my revolver to take one shot before leaving them, as farther pursuit was useless. I took very deliberate aim and fired. To my astonishment my porker fell; so two of us were greatly surprised. No, no-not a crack shot, but a chance shot ; but it answered the purpose just as well, as it gave us a porker of forty or fifty pounds of fine eating. Coming to a house where there were some fine chickens, it seemed to be a good chance to load up quickly. But the women pleaded for them as the only thing they had in the way of meat, and as I had gone over the mountain alone, and was the only "Yank" in that valley, it seemed likely they would not be taken by anyone else, so I left them and got a supply elsewhere.
This foraging was no snap, although we snapped onto anything eatable when the rebels did not snap onto us, as they did sonic- times when we were rooting for sweet potatoes. Two of us re- turned to Atlanta after this trip of two days' foraging with one very fine yearling calf, three pigs weighing about 45, 100 and 175 pounds, two yearling sheep, two geese, ten chickens and three bag's of sweet potatoes. We divided the spoils with the officers, but that was one occasion when the officers did not get the first choice. Imagine soldiers-privates-living on such rations! We were not seriously demoralized by it, as it was only ten days until we got marching orders for Chattanooga, and so had to leave most of our hard-earned commissary supplies behind.
SECOND EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN.
FIRST LIEUT. JOHN F. CONAWAY, COMPANY B, PHILADELPHIA.
O N September 13, 1864, the Regiment, under command of Col. Wm. J. Palmer, broke camp at Calhoun, Ga., and started on what we call our "Second East Tennessee Canı- paign." Captain McAllister with a small portion of the com- mand, and most of the wagons containing the regimental property, were left at Calhoun.
In this campaign the Regiment eventually became the advance of an expedition in force under General Gillem to assist General Burbridge in an effort to capture the salt works at Abingdon, Va.
On the 15th the Regiment encamped near the Hiwassee River, and while there rumors reached us that a large force of rebel cavalry had crossed the Tennessee River and were marching on Athens. It transpired that this rumor was false, and the com- mand moved on from day to day until the 19th of September, when we reached Sevierville, and remained there until the 24th, when on that day orders were received by Colonel Palmer from General Thomas to move his command to Bull's Gap and join the force there under General Gillem.
The march was resumed on the 25th, and passing through Dandridge we arrived at Bull's Gap on the 26th. General Gil- lem's command, consisting of two regiments of Tennessee cavalry, a battalion each of Kentucky and Michigan cavalry, with a force of infantry and artillery, in all about 2500 men, were encamped at that place.
The active work of the campaign began at once. The column moved out on the 27th, the Fifteenth being in the rear during the march of that day and the 28th-the night of the 27th encamped at Greenville and night of 28th at Leesburg.
A few rebel scouts were captured, and the whole force was under arms on the night of the 28th, expecting an attack by the enemy.
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On the 29th the Fifteenth was given the advance of the whole command, and Company D, as an advance guard, struck the rebel pickets in the morning and chased them through the town of Jonesboro, capturing some of them. The enemy endeavored to make a stand the other side of the town, but soon broke and dis- appeared. A considerable force, however, was soon encountered, and a running fight ensued, in which about one-half of our Regi- ment was engaged, the balance acting as a reserve. The rebels, supposed to be about 200 strong, slowly retreated to the Watauga River, which they crossed at Devault's Ford, having sustained a loss of several men killed and captured. Brisk skirmishing was kept up at the ford for some time, when orders were received from General Gillem to fall back on Jonesboro, which the Regiment did, in a drenching rain, and went into bivouac at II P. M.
On the 30th the whole force advanced to Carter's Station, at the crossing of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad over the Watauga River, where the enemy, under General Vaughan, was found to be in force, and so posted as to prevent our crossing of the river. After a brisk fight they were driven over the river and an artillery duel followed.
Our Regiment at this time was in the rear, when orders were received from the Commanding General to move to the front at once. The road was cleared for us, and we were greeted as we moved forward with this cheering remark from some of the Ten- nessee cavalrymen as they made way for us: "Here come the dragoons ! they'll give 'em h-1!" The fight continued at the Station, the enemy holding their ground on the opposite side of the river. In the midst of it orders were received for us to move at once again to Devault's Ford, the Sixteenth Kentucky Cavalry at that place having been driven back. In this movement our Regiment was divided, both parts meeting, by different roads, at the ford about midnight, to find that the enemy had retreated.
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