USA > Tennessee > The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and early western history, including a chronological summary of battles and engagements in the western armies of the Confederacy > Part 33
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Before I had determined to withdraw the infantry from the captured works, but after the guide said I would have to return by the way I
. VOL. I, NO. VII :- 3.
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came, I sent orders to Major Myrick to send two of his batteries and his caissons to a point beyond the block-house on the Sandtown road, to act in concert with the troops left there.
Having been informed by Colonel Adair that the block-house at the Allatoona bridge had not been captured, I directed Captain Kobb, with his battery that had remained with Colonel Andrews, to move on and report to General Cockrell for the purpose of taking the block- house.
Shortly after 4 o'clock P.M., and when not a person could be seen in or around the forts, I left the command of Colonel Andrews and over- took the Division near the block-house. Colonel Adair had burnt the railroad bridge over the Allatoona Creek (over two hundred feet long), and the duplicate of the bridge already framed to replace the older structure. Under an increased artillery fire the garrison of the block- house surrendered.
We captured two hundred and five prisoners, one United States flag and the colors of the Ninety-third Regiment of Illinois, a number of horses, arms, etc., and killed and wounded seven hundred and fifty of the enemy-being, with the garrison of the block-house, over a thousand.
History will record the battle of Allatoona one of the most sanguin- ary conflicts of the war; and when it is remembered that the enemy fought from within their strong redoubts, the desperate deeds of dar- ing performed by our troops in overcoming so many of the foe, a meed of praise is due to their heroic valor. The artillery opened about 7 o'clock in the morning, and except when the flag of truce was sent in, continued till 2 o'clock p.M. The assault, commencing about Io, continued unremittingly till 1:30 P.M., and the rattle of musketry did not cease entirely till near 3 o'clock P.M., when it died away, and a silence like the pall of death rested over the scene, contrasting so strangely with the previous din of battle ..
I cannot do justice to the gallantry of the troops. No one faltered in his duty, and all withdrew from the place with the regret that Gen- eral Sherman's movements, closing up behind us, forbid our remain- ing longer to force a surrender of the last work.
After leaving out the three regiments that formed no part of the as- saulting force, I had but a little over two thousand men. My entire loss, in killed, wounded and missing, was seven hundred and ninety- nine : killed, 122; wounded, 443; missing, 234; as follows: Cock- rell's Brigade-killed, 42; wounded, 182; missing, 22. Sears' Brig-
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ade-killed, 37; wounded, 114; missing, 200. Ector's Brigade- killed, 43; wounded, 147; missing, I1; and one member of my staff captured.
Among the killed from Sears's Brigade is Colonel W. H. Clark, Forty-sixth Mississippi. He fell in the advance, near the enemy's works, with the battle-flag in his hands. He was an excellent and gallant officer. Also were killed Captain B. Davidson and Lieuten- ants G. C. Edwards, J. R. Henry and G. D. Davis.
Colonel W. S. Barry, Thirty-fifth Mississippi, and Major Parton, Thirty-sixth Mississippi, were wounded, together with Captains R. G. Yates and A. J. Farmer, and Lieutenants J. N. McCoy, G. H. Bannerman, J. M. Chadwick, J. Coopwood, R. E. Jones, E. W. Brown, G. H. Moore, and Ensigns G. W. Cannon and A. Scarborough.
Texas will mourn for the death of some of her bravest and best men. Captain Summerville, Thirty-second Texas, was killed, after vainly endeavoring to enter the last work, where his conspicuous gal- lantry had carried him and his little band. Captains Gibson, Tenth Texas, Bates, Ninth Texas, Couley, Twenty-ninth North Carolina, and Adjutant Griffin, Ninth Texas; Lieutenants Alexander, Twenty- ninth North Carolina, and Dixon H. Wetzel, Ninth Texas, were killed, gallantly leading their men. Brigadier-General W. H. Young, commanding Brigade, was wounded. Most gallantly he bore his part in action. Colonel Camp, commanding Fourteenth Texas, one of the best officers in the service, was seriously wounded. Also Majors Mc- Reynolds, Ninth Texas, and Purdy, Fourteenth Texas. Of Captains wounded, were Wright, Tyles, Russell, Vannoy and Ridley; and Lieutenants Tunnell, Haynes, Gibbons, Agee, Morris, O'Brien, Irvin, Reeves and Robertson.
In the Missouri Brigade were killed or mortally wounded, Majors W. F. Carter and O. K. Waddell; Captains A. J. Byrne, A. C. Pat- ton and Jno. F. Holland; Lieutenants Thomas R. Shelly, James F. Yancy, G. R. Elliott, R. I. Lamb, G. T. Duvall and W. H. Dun- nica; and Ensign H. W. De Jarnette-men who had behaved well and nobly during the whole campaign. Among the wounded are Ma- jor R. J. Williams; Captains Thompson Alford, G. McChristian, G. W. Covell and A. T. Burns; Lieutenants Joseph Boyce, S. H. Horn- back, I. L. Mitchell, A. H. Todd and N. Y. Anderson ; and Ensign Wm. A. Byrd.
I have named the killed and wounded officers in this report. The
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names of the private soldiers who fell or were wounded will also be filed with this as soon as they are received. It is due to the dead-i: is just to the living-that they who have no hopes of being heralded by fame, and who have but little incentive except the love of country and the consciousness of a just cause to impel them to deeds of dar- ing, and who have shed their blood for a just cause, should have this little tribute paid them by me.
For the noble dead, the army mourns-a nation mourns. For the living, honor and respect will await them wherever they shall be known as faithful soldiers who have, for their dearest rights, so often gone through the fires of battle and the baptism of blood. It would, perhaps, be an invidious distinction to name individual officers or men for marked or special services or distinguished gallantry, where all be- haved so well, for earth never yielded to the tread of nobler soldiers.
I am indebted to Generals Cockrell, Sears and Young for their · bravery, skill and unflinching firmness. To Colonel Earp, on whom the command of the gallant Texans devolved, and to Colonel Andrews, who commanded on the south side, and Major Myrick, commanding the artillery, I return my thanks for services.
Major D. W. Sanders, A. A. Gen. ; Lieutenant Wiley Abercrombie, Aid; Captain W. H. Cain, Vol. Aid; Captain Porter and Lieutenant Moseby, Engineers, were zealous in the performance of their duties, and E. T. Freeman, Assistant Inspector-General, was conspicuous for his gallant conduct. I commend the last named to Government for promotion. Colonel E. Gates, First and Third Missouri, Major E. K. Hampton, Twenty-ninth North Carolina, and Adjutant W. J. Sparks, Tenth Texas, and Lieutenant Cahall, of General Stewart's Staff, are named for gallant services.
Lieutenant M. W. Armstrong, Tenth Texas, seized the United States standard from the Federals, and, after a struggle, brought it and the bearer of it off in triumph. In the enclosed reports of brig- ade commanders will be found the names of many officers and soldiers that I know are entitled to commendation and all marks of distinction that the Government can award.
The cavalry officer who was sent to cut the railroad and failed to perform that duty, is, in my opinion, much to blame. Had he taken up the rails-and there was nothing to prevent it-reinforcements could not have been thrown in the works, and the result would have been different.
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After events showed that a cavalry force of the enemy arrived at Allatoona as we were withdrawing.
Very respectfully submitted.
S. G. FRENCH, Major-General Commanding. To,Lieutenant-General A. P. STEWART, Commanding Corps.
DIARY OF PRIVATE W. J. DAVIDSON.
(Continued.)
EMPIRE HOSPITAL, ATLANTA, GA., Oct. 4th. SINCE the 20th of August, I have had little opportunity, and less inclination, to write in my diary. About the 10th of September, Gregg's Brigade received orders to take the cars for Atlanta, Ga., and we were soon on our way via Mobile, where mean whisky upset some of the boys. At Montgomery, I went to the theatre and witnessed a very poor play. On the way from this place to Atlanta, a soldier was killed by falling between the cars while running. On arrival at At- lanta, we camped two days near the city, and then took the train for Resaca, on the road to Chattanooga, where we again rested for two days. In leaving Atlanta, I became separated from the regiment, which left at 7 o'clock P.M., and did not get off until the next morn- ing, when I succeeded in getting aboard of the train carrying the Fif- tieth Tennessee, General Gregg and Staff, and the brigade commis- sary stores. Three miles north of Marietta, the car containing the subsistance broke down, and had to be thrown off the track; conse- quently, about twenty-five of us had to walk back to Marietta and wait for the next train. The order turned out to be a piece of gocd fortune for the party, as the train we left was run into by a down train that night and completely demolished-eighteen men being killed and seventy-five wounded, mostly of the Fiftieth Tennessee. This acc :- dent occurred on Sunday night, September 13th. On Monday, I got on board the passenger train, and, after a run of a few miles, the rear coach ran off, but no one was seriously injured, though the escape was miraculous. This accident occurred at Big Shanty, and here I had to remain until the following day, when I was enabled to get through to my regiment at Resaca without further delay. Wednesday morning,
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we were again en route to Ringgold, and reached the burnt bridge, two miles below that town, just at night-fall. Soon after, the Forty-fourth Tennessee came up and camped near us. In this regiment we found many friends and acquaintances. Thursday morning, we had orders to cook two days' rations, but our supplies being behind, we could not do so. Saw where General Forrest had whipped the enemy a few days before. During the day we heard that a battle was expected every day between Bragg and Rosecrans, and that we were now in seven miles of the enemy's advance. General Bragg had increased his army by reinforcements from Virginia and Mississippi, and was supposed to have about sixty-five thousand men wherewith to match Rosecrans' one hundred thousand hitherto victorious and well-armed troops. Thursday evening, a courier announced to General Gregg that the enemy's cavalry had driven in our pickets beyond Ringgold, and were then in possession of the place. In a short time, the brig- ade was under arms and on the march. Had to wade the Chicka- mauga three times in going one-half a mile. Heard artillery firing ahead, but, after taking position on a hill overlooking the town, learned that Bushrod Johnson's Brigade had driven the enemy off. The brigade was then marched back to camps and ordered to cook four days' rations, which consumed the greater part of the night.
At 4 o'clock Friday morning, the march was resumed, with the un- derstanding that there was to be a vigorous pursuit of the enemy. Gregg's and Johnson's Brigades were formed into a division under command of the latter-Colonel John S. Fulton succeeding him in command of the brigade. By daylight the troops were fairly in mo- tion, and, passing through Ringgold, took a westerly course, which, in seven miles, brought us up with the enemy. Our line of battle was quickly formed in an open field, and ordered forward to the edge of the woods in which the enemy was supposed to be covered; but, after advancing some four hundred yards it was halted, and skirmishers were thrown forward. No hostile force was found, and, after a vigor- ous shelling of the woods, the brigade was moved by the left flank some distance and again ordered forward. The Chickamauga Creek was waded and the steep acclivities beyond were climbed in vigorous pursuit of the enemy, who showed no disposition to come to an en- gagement. The line of battle kept pushing ahead for several miles, through thickets and dense woods, until more open ground was reached, when a short halt was made to rectify the alignment; after
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which the advance was resumed, passing through a Yankee camp which had been abandoned a short while before. Just about dark our brigade came up with the enemy's skirmishers, and, the whole division joining in the yell with which the Thirtieth Tennessee opened the ball, these were quickly driven in. Night now being at hand, a halt was made and the men were ordered to sleep upon their arms. A general silence seemed to pervade both lines, in view of the prospect of a heavy battle on the morrow. The night was remarkably cool for the season of the year, and before morning we were allowed to unsling blankets for comfort. At sun-rise, September the 19th, our brigade was thrown into position on a rocky ridge along the west bank of the Chickamauga, and skirmishers thrown out in readiness for the attack which we had reason to believe the enemy would make during the morning ; but it was near 10 o'clock before the battle opened with ar- tillery and heavy musketry on the right. In our front every thing was quiet except the rattling of artillery-wagons, as they were being moved up to where the fighting was going on. The engagement gradually extended along the line until at midday it had reached the right of Johnson's Division, and the roar of conflict had been contin- uous. We could hear Cheatham's men cheering as they charged and drove the enemy, and the feebler cheer of the other side as it took the offensive, and, in turn, drove Cheatham back.
About 2 o'clock, being on the skirmish line, my attention was drawn to matters more directly in our own vicinity by the whizzing of a few minnie bullets at the front. I then saw a brigade of "blue coats" approaching in splendid order at a double quick, and I apprised Lieu- tenant Chafin, the officer in command, of the fact; but every one said they were our own men, and it was concluded not to fire at any event until they came closer. When they were within two hundred yards or less, we saw they were Yanks, and no mistake, and firing one round we ran in, according to orders. I took deliberate aim at an officer on horseback, but never learned the effect of my shot. As we reached the main line it was kneeling and at a ready, and perfectly cool. The retiring skirmishers had hardly time to get into their places before the enemy appeared and opened fire with a heavy volley. Our boys now opened with a will, and a severe combat of thirty minutes ensued without any relative change on either side, when our opposers fell back out of range. Bledsoe's Missouri Battery aided materially in the re- pulse by its splendid firing, which it kept up after the enemy was be-
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yond the range of musketry. About this time General Gregg rode up to Colonel Tillman, commanding the Forty-first, and told him to "move forward and see what those fellows are doing down there in the heavy timber." The command was given to forward along the whole brigade, and forward we went in splendid order. At the foot of the hill a halt was called, while skirmishers were thrown out. Col- onel Tillman ordered Lieutenant Chafin to detail some of his best men and deploy them as skirmishers at least three hundred yards in advance of the brigade ; the three first files of company C were called for, and we went forward, deploying at a double quick, and firing as a " blue ·coat" came in view. We found the enemy lying down in line of bat- tle waiting for us, and reported the fact. I heard General Gregg's stentorian "Forward!" and a wild yell, as the boys came on at a charge. We waited until they came up, and fell into our places. The whole division was yelling and firing as it went; the bushes were too thick to allow good order or much execution. The yell seemed to have done the work, for the enemy gave way, leaving their dead and wounded and throwing down their guns and knapsacks. The charge was kept up for a half mile, when progress was stopped by a heavy battery in front of Johnson's Brigade, and which we had to give them time to take, the order being for us to preserve line. While waiting here we learned that our gallant General Gregg had been severely, if not mortally, wounded. Colonel Walker, of the Third Tennessee, took command of the brigade. At this stage word was passed along the line that the enemy was moving up in our rear, and we were or- dered to fall back, which was accomplished just in the nick of time. After reforming, a half wheel to the right was made to protect the flank, and this position was maintained the rest of the evening. Cap- tain Feeney's Company was thrown forward as skirmishers as night was coming on. The fighting in front of our brigade was over for that day, but was still heavy on the left wing. Of the casualties in the brigade I knew nothing. In the Forty-first the loss was very light, considering that, for a time, we were exposed to a heavy cross fire. We had killed and wounded a great number of the enemy, and cap- tured a few prisoners, besides a number of guns and knapsacks. Three-fourths of a mile of ground had been gained since morning. Of individual acts of heroism on the part of officers and men I will not speak, nor of the few who showed arrant cowardice at the first fire. At dark, Company C was relieved from skirmish duty by a company
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from the left of the brigade. James Wilson and myself, being detailed to go for water, set out with the canteens of the company, and walked about two miles before obtaining a supply .. On our return we wan- dered about in the woods, completely lost, for about two hours, when we accidentally stumbled upon the line, just as we were about broken down and had given up in despair. During the night, logs and rocks · were piled up as protection against bullets. Theatmosphere was again quite cool and foggy. General Gregg was in advance of the line when he was wounded, and was left in the hands of the enemy for awhile, who rifled him of his sword, money and watch, and were taking him off the field when he feigned death and was left on the ground. His wound is in the neck, and not considered dangerous. Colonel Granberry, of the Seventh Texas, received a painful wound during the day. All of the other regiments suffered more than the Forty-first. Colonel Sugg, of the Fiftieth Tennessee, was wounded, but, after being attended by the surgeon, came back and took command of the brigade, which, in the meantime, had devolved upon Colonel Walker, of the Third.
[To be Continued.]
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EARLY WESTERN HISTORY.
BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN.
[From the Tennessee Historical Society Papers.]
T HE following account of the Battle of King's Mountain was found amongst the papers of James Campbell, deceased. It was written by Robert Campbell, an Ensign in Captain Dysant's Com- pany, who, upon Captain Dysant being wounded early in the action, commanded the company afterward. The scene is not within the limits of our State, but as we were then a portion of the Territory of North Carolina, and as many of our families had relatives engaged in it, I have thought proper to transcribe it, to be filed with the other his- torical documents of our Society. JOHN R. EAKIN.
Nashville, Tenn., 1848.
In the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty, when the American cause wore a very gloomy aspect in the Southern States, Colonels Arthur and William Campbell, hearing of the advance of Colonel Ferguson along the mountains in the State of North Caro- lina, and that the Whigs were retreating before him, unable to make any effectual resistance, formed a plan to intercept him and communi- cated it to the commanding officers of Sullivan and Washington coun- ties, in the State of North Carolina. They readily agreed to co- operate in any expedition against Colonel Ferguson. Colonel Arthur Campbell immediately ordered the militia of Washington co., Virginia, amounting to near four hundred, to make ready to march under com- mand of Colonel Wm. Campbell, who was known to be an enterprising and active officer. Colonels Shelby and Sevier raised a party of three
hundred, joined him on his march, and moved with forced marches toward Colonel Ferguson. At the same time Colonels Williams, Cleaveland, Tracey, and Branon, of the States of North and South Carolina, each conducted a small party toward the same point, amount- ing to near three hundred. Colonel Ferguson had notice of their ap- proach by a deserter that left the army on the Yellow Mountain, and immediately commenced his march for Charlotte, dispatching at the same time different messengers to Lord Cornwallis with information of
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his danger. These messengers being intercepted on their way, no movement was made to favor his retreat.
These several corps of American volunteers, amounting to near one thousand men, met at Gilberttown, and the officers unanimously chose Colonel Campbell to the command. About seven hundred choice riflemen mounted their horses for the purpose of following the retreating army. The balance, being chiefly footmen, were left to follow on and come up as soon as they could. The pursuit was too rapid to render an escape practicable. Ferguson, finding that he must inevitably be over- taken, chose his ground and waited for the attack on King's Moun- tain. On the seventh of October, in the afternoon, after a forced march of forty-five miles on that day and the night before, the vol- unteers came up with him. The forenoon of the day was wet, but they were fortunate enough to come on him undiscovered and took his pickets, they not having it in their power to give an alarm. They were soon formed in such order as to attack the enemy on all sides. The Washington and Sullivan regiments were formed in the front and on the right flank; the North and South Carolina troops, under Colonels Williams, Sevier, Cleaveland, Tracey, and Branon, on the left. The two armies being in full view, the center of the one nearly opposite the center of the other-the British main guard posted nearly half way down the mountain-the commanding officer gave the word of command to raise the Indian war-whoop and charge. In a mo- ment, King's Mountain resounded with the shouts, and on the first fire the guard retreated, leaving some of their men to crimson the earth. The British beat to arms and immediately formed on the top of the mountain, behind a chain of rocks that appeared impregnable, and had their wagons drawn up on their flank across the end of the mountain, by which they made a strong breast-work. Thus concealed, the American army advanced to the charge. In ten or fifteen min- utes the wings came round, and the action became general. The enemy annoyed our troops very much from their advantageous position. Colonel Shelby, being previously ordered to reconnoitre their position, observing their situation and what a destructive fire was kept up from behind those rocks, ordered Robert Campbell, one of the officers of the Virginia Line, to move to the right with a small company to en- deavor to dislodge them, and led them on nearly to the ground to which he had ordered them, under fire of the enemy's lines and within forty steps of the same; but discovering that our men were repulsed
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on the other side of the mountain, he gave orders to advance and post themselves opposite to the rocks and near to the enemy, and then returned to assist in bringing up the men in order, who had been charged with the bayonet. These orders were punctually obeyed, and they kept up such a galling fire as to compel Ferguson to order a company of regulars to face them, with a view to cover his men that were posted behind the rocks. At this time, a considerable fire was drawn to this side of the mountain by the repulse of those on the other, and the loyalists not being permitted to leave their posts. This scene was not of long duration, for it was the brave Virginia volun- teers and those under Colonel Shelby, on their attempting rapidly to as- cend the mountain, that were charged with the bayonet. They obsti-
nately stood until some of them were thrust through the body, and having nothing but their rifles by which to defend themselves, they were forced to retreat. They were soon rallied by their gallant com- manders, Campbell, Shelby and other brave officers, and by a con- stant and well-directed fire of their rifles, drove them back in their turn, strewing the face of the mountain with their assailants, and kept advancing until they drove them from some of their posts. . Ferguson being heavily pressed on all sides, ordered Captain Dupoister to re- inforce some of the extreme posts with a full company of British reg- ulars. He marched, but to his astonishment when he arrived at the place of destination, he had almost no men, being exposed in that short distance to the constant fire of their rifles. He then ordered his cavalry to mount, but to no purpose. As quick as they were mounted, they were taken down by some bold marksman. Being driven to des- peration by such a scene of misfortune, Colonel Ferguson endeavored to make his escape, and with two colonels of the loyalists mounted his horse, and charged on that part of the line which was defended by the party who had been ordered round the mountain by Colonel Shelby, it appearing too weak to resist them. But as soon as he got to the line he fell, and the other two officers, attempting to retreat, soon shared the same fate. It was about this time that Colonel Campbell advanced in front of his men and climbed over a steep rock close by the enemy's lines, to get a view of their situation, and saw they were re- treating from behind the rocks that were near to him. As soon as Cap- tain Dupoister observed that Colonel Ferguson was killed, he raised a flag and called for quarters. It was soon taken out of his hand by one of our officers on horseback, and raised so high that it could be
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