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LIBRARY OF THE VETERAI
HISTORY Ninth Regiment, N. G. S. N;
NEW YORK, N. V,
OF THE
Army or the Cumberland
ORGANIZATION, CAMPAIGNS, AND BATTLES
WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OP
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS
CHIEFLY FROM HIS PRIVATE MILITARY JOURNAL ^ND OFFICIAL AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS FURNISHED BY HIM
BY
THOMAS B. VAN HORNE, U. S. A.
ILLUSTRATED WITH
CAMPAIGN^ AND BATTLE MAPS
COMPILED BY
EDWAED EUGEE
LATE SUPERINTENDENT TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEER'S OFFICE, HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND
TWO VOLUMES AND ATLAS
VOL. II
CINCINNATI
EOBEET CLAEKE & CO
1875
. ,UE >^^' ^'f ,\
\ 1938 '-
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875,
THOS. B. VAN HORNE AND EDWARD RUGER.
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Stereotyped by Ogden, Campbell & Co., Cincinnati.
CONTENTS VOL. II,
CHAPTEK XXIII.
Campaign in East Tennessee, and Minor Operations in the Depart-
ment OF THE CtTMBERLAND 1
CHAPTEK XXIV.
General View of the Status of the Conflict at the Close op 1863. 8
CHAPTEPv XXV.
Operations in the Department DtrRiNG January, February, and
March, 1864, and Preparations for Aggression 13
CHAPTEK XXVI.
The Turning of Dalton , 44
CHAPTEK XXVII.
Battle of Kesaca .•...„.,.„ 64
CHAPTEK XXVIII.
Advance to the Etowah Kiver — The Turning of Alatoona — Bat-
tles near ISIew Hope Church 71
CHAPTER XXIX.
Operations near Kenesaw Mountain, including the Battle at
KuLP's House, Assault of the Mountain, and the Flank Move-
ment 86
(iii)
IV CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXX.
Advance upon Atlanta — Battle or Peachtrke Creek 109
CHAPTEPv XXXI.
Siege of Atlanta 123
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Elank Movements, culminating in the Battle of Jonesboeo and
the Eall of Atlanta 140
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The March of the Opposing Armies to the North, and the Evolu-
tion of New Campaigns 155
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Resistance to General Hood's advance from the Tennessee
River, culminating in the Battle of Franklin 186
CHAPTER XXXV.
Battle of Nashville, and Pursuit of the Routed Enemy 222
CHAPTER XXXVl.
Minor Operations having Relation more or less intimate with
those of the Main Armt during November and December .... 270
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The March to the Sea. and the Capture of the City of Savannah,
Georgia 278
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
March through the Carolinas, from Savannah to Goldsboro and
Raleigh — The Battles of Averysboro and Bentonville 306
CHAPTER XXXIX.
General George Stoneman's Cavalry Operations in Tennessee and
North Carolina 337
CONTENTS. V
CHAPTER XL.
General J. H. Wilson's Cavalky Operations in Alabama and
Georgia , 347
CHAPTER XLI.
Capture of the Confederate President 362
CHAPTER XLII.
The DissoLt7TioN of the Army — Summary of its Achievements 369
CHAPTER XLIII.
The Dead and their Disposition 377
APPENDIX.
Organization of Department of the Cumberland 381
Organization of Department of the Ohio 385
List of Officers of Army of the Cumberland who were Killed
IN Action or Died of Wounds or Diskase during the War... 386
The Engineer Service in the Army of the Cumberland 439
LIBRARY UF THE VETERANS,
Ninth r.eginieni.N.G.S.N.Y.
NEW YORK, N. Y,
HISTOKY
OF THE
ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND
CHAPTER XXIII.
CAMPAIGN IN EAST TENNESSEE AND MINOE OPERATIONS IN THE
DEPARTMENT OP THE CUMBERLAND.
General Burnside had been informed that he should have
help as soon as practicable, when first it was known that Gen-
eral Longstreet had been sent against him. General Grant
said to him that he could hardly conceive the necessity of re-
treating from East Tennessee. But as the issue at Chatta-
nooga, though glorious in its coming, had been delayed, it
became imperative at once to make effort to raise the siege of
Knoxville.
l!^ovember 29th, General Howard marched from Parker's
Gap to Cleveland, taking the lead in the movement upon
Knoxville. He was followed immediately by General Sher-
man's three divisions, under General F. P. Blair, and General
Davis' division of the Fourteenth Corps. On the 30th, Gen-
eral Granger left Chattanooga with two divisions of the Fourth
Corps for the same destination.
Brigadier-General Elliot, who had recently been appointed
chief of cavalry in the Department of the Cumberland, and
who had concentrated the troops of his first division at Sparta^
moved in conjunction with the infantry forces. Colonel
VOL. n — 1
2 CAMPAIGN IN EAST TENNESSEE, ETC,
Long's brigade moved to the head of the column, and on the
2d of December, the Fifteenth Pennsylvania and Tenth Ohio
Cavalry left Chattanooga ^^or Kingston. Colonel Spears' bri-
gade, that had been previo..sly stationed on the north bank of
the Tennessee river above Chattanooga, also moved toward
Knoxville. General Sherman's command embraced more than
eight divisions of infantry, while five were left to garrison
Chattanooga. Supplies for the troops in motion were sent up
the river on the steamer Dunbar, but the main dependence
was upon the country.
On the 30th, General Howard advanced from Cleveland to
Charleston, on the Hiawassee river. As he approached the
town, the enemy's cavalry retreated toward Athens. They
had previously partially destroyed the railroad bridge, and had
made effort to destroy the pontoons also. But a large num-
ber of the boats were saved, and during the following night
the railroad bridge was repaired and planked over, so that in
the morning the Eleventh Corps passed over, followed by the
rear forces. The head of column reached Athens the next
evening. The march of the infantry was resumed on the 2d
and Colonel Long hurried on to Loudon to save the bridge, if
possible. He, however, found the enemy in such force that he
could not make a dash, as had been anticipated. The town
was well fortified, and was held by infantry and artillery, un-
der General Yaughan, and he could only skirmish until Gen-
eral Howard should get up. The latter reached the position
on the 3d, but the enemy had evacuated it the night previous,
having first destroyed the bridge, three locomotives, and from
sixty to seventy-five cars containing commissary stores, cloth-
ing, and ammunition. The pontoon bridge had also been
partially destroyed, l^otwithstanding the immense destruc-
tion of supplies, three days' rations were found uninjured.
From this point. Colonel Long was sent with picked men
to communicate with General Burnside. On the 4th, Colonel
Hecker's brigade crossed the river, skirmished with the cav-
alry, and took possession of four rifled cannon, which the
enemy could remove, and captured a flag. Here General
Howard found about thirty wagons partially destroyed,
which he repaired for use in forming a temporary bridge,
CAMPAIGX I?^ EAST TENNESSEE, ETC. d
in anticipation of crossing the Little Tennessee river at Davis'
ford. The route by this ford was not the one which had been
designated, but it was ascertained that time could be saved,
and the march shortened by advancing upon it rather than
upon the road to Morgantown, and General Sherman permit-
ted General Howard to use it.
Before leaving Loudon, General Howard received an order
to command the left wing of the army, while the center and
righ twere placed respectively under Generals Granger and
Blair. These divisions of the army were to act independently,
"but to march to each other's support when called by the noise
of battle.
December 5th, General Howard crossed the Little Tennes-
see river, at Davis' ford, by means of an extemporized bridge
formed of wagons and movable trestles, and reached Louis-
ville at dark. At night, the three heads of column communi-
cated at Marysville. Here information was received that
Longstreet had raised the siege of Knoxville, and retreated
eastward. He assaulted Fort Sanders, the key to the position,
on the 29th, and was repulsed with heavy loss. Aware, sub-
sequently, of the proximity of Sherman's army, he sought
safety in timely retreat. All the forces were now ordered to
halt, and the day following. General Sherman met General
Burnside at Knoxville. It was then agreed that the Fourth
Corps should remain and the other forces return to Chatta-
nooga.
The countermarch was commenced on the 7th. A halt was
made at Athens, with the various columns so disposed as to
cover a movement of Colonel Long, who had gone toward
North Carolina to cut oft" one of Longstreet's trains. Upon
his return, the infantry forces marched to Chattanooga. How-
ard's corps and Davis' division resumed their old relations in
the Army of the Cumberland, and Sherman's divisions returned
to the West.
Though the march to East Tennessee involved no serious
fighting with Longstreet's command, which was lost to Gen-
eral Bragg in his emergency at Chattanooga, it nevertheless
thoroughly accomplished its object, as it forced the former
from Knoxville toward the East, in what proved to be per-
4 CAMPAIGN IN EAST TENNESSEE, ETC.
petual separation from the Confederate Army of the Tennessee.
It was a hard march, as the troops commenced it immediately
after a series of engagements, and Sherman's forces after a
long march from the West. The latter had " stripped for the
fight " at Bridgeport, and they, with many from other com-
mands, were destitute of suitable clothing for a winter cam-
paign. Besides, their supplies were drawn mainly from the
country, and in a hurried movement this source is exceed-
ingly precarious. Supplies were sent up the river in boats it
is true, but the army was not always near the river; and, on
the whole, the circumstances were such as none but veteran
soldiers would easily overcome. The mills were seized in ad-
vance, and run night and day ; and a broad belt of country in
the march and countermarch paid exhaustive contributions.
There were some excesses which were reprehensible, especially
as the march was through a region whose inhabitants were
mainly loyal. General Davis' division, by its order on the
march and its restraint from pillage, elicited special praise
from General Sherman. In this commendable and conspicu-
ous bearing, this division represented the Army of the Cum-
berland, which, throughout its existence, was systematically
restrained from pillage and irresponsible foraging.
The objects now were to hold all the territory which had
been gained, to maintain and perfect communications, rein-
force, recuperate, and reorganize the army, and accumulate
supplies and material, all looking to offensive movements, as
early as practicable. The enemy was in no condition for ag-
gression on a grand scale, but great vigilance and skillful dis-
positions were necessary to maintain communications and pre-
vent cavalry raids and guerrilla depredations.
Upon the withdrawal of the troops from Ringgold, General
Hooker resumed the occupation of Lookout valley. General
Cruft was directed, with his two brigades, to stop on the way
and bury the national dead on the battle-field of Chicka-
mauga,* and then to take position on the railroad between
* War's visage, despite the glory of heroism and victory, and all the
gentle courtesies which enemies may extend at all times, except when
the rage of battle brooks no restraint, is grim and forbidding; but when
the ordinary usages of civilized and Christian nations in the conduct of
CAMPAIGN IN EAST TENNESSEE, ETC. 5
Whitesicles and Bridgeport. Colonel Watkins' brigade of
the First division of cavalry was directed to take post at Ross-
ville ; and the Ninety-second Illinois Mounted Infantry was
sent to Caperton's ferry, to guard and observe at that point.
A pioneer brigade, composed of detachments from various
regiments, Colonel G. P. Buell commanding, was employed in
the construction of a double-track macadamized road over the
nose of Lookout Mountain, to serve as a communication
between Lookout valley and Chattanooga, without depend-
ence upon pontoon bridges. Beyond this primary use, this
road was essential to overland communications with Bridge-
port. The repair of the railroad commanded immediate atten-
tion, but as two long and high bridges were to be built — one
-<>ver the Tennessee river at Bridgeport, and the one over Fall-
ing Water, near "Whitesides — much time was required.
When the army returned from East Tennessee, the Eleventh
Corps went into camp at Whitesides ; two brigades of Davis'
division, east of Missionary Ridge, near Eossville ; and the
third at the mouth of the iJJ^orth Chickamauga. General Elli-
ott was ordered to establish his headquarters at Athens, and
post pickets at Calhoun, Columbus, and Tellico Plains.
During the months of N'ovember and December, there were
several brilliant contests in resisting the enemy's cavalry, re-
pressing guerrillas, and scouting to the front to ascertain the
strength and movements of the enemy. And in most cases the
national troops were victorious.
^November 2d, Brigadier-General R. S. Granger, command-
war are ignored, then are its features forbidding in the extreme. The car-
nage and suffering are appalling when cool reflection and the kindly-
sympathies have play ; but all strong terms are inadequate to express the
wanton barbarities of war, either in cruelty to the living or dishonor to
the dead, and on both counts the leaders of the rebellion must be con-
■victed. Andersonville and other prisons, where starvation and want of
room for captives entailed the intensest suffering and fearful mortality,
and Chickamauga, with its hundreds of unburied dead, give proof of the
most revolting inhumanity. General Bragg accepted an exchange of pris-
oners who were wounded, but he denied burial to multitudes of the slain.
The national dead upon that part of the field occupied by General Long-
street were buried ; but very many on their right, where General Polk
commanded, lay upon the ground for two months.
6 CAMPAIGN IN EAST TENNESSEE, ETC.
ing at ISTasliville, sent a mixed command, under Lieutenant-
Colonel Sculley, First Middle Tennessee Infantry, to look
after Hawkins, and other guerrilla chiefs, near Piner's fac-
tory. Sculley met them, and having routed the party, pur-
sued to Centerville. At this point, as he was crossing the
river, Hawkins attacked in turn, hut was again routed, and
his partisans were dispersed. His loss was from fifteen to
twenty killed, and sixty-six prisoners.
November 4th, Major Fitzgibbon, of the Fourteenth Mich-
igan Infantry, fought near Lawrenceburg the guerrilla bands
of Cooper, Kirk, Williams, and Scott. After a hand-to-hand
contest, Fitzgibbon defeated them, killing eight, wounding-
seven, and capturing twenty -four men. Among the captured
were a captain and two lieutenants. The victor had three
men slightly wounded, and eight horses killed.
On the 13th, Captain Cutler, with one company of mounted
infantry from the garrison at Clarksville, and a section of
"Whitmore's battery, had a contest with Captain Gray's com-
pany of guerrillas, near Palmyra. He killed two, wounded
five, and captured one. The same day, fifteen prisoners were
captured near Lebanon, and forty by Missener, near Columbia.
On the 16th, General Payne sent parties from Gallatin and
La Vergne. Five guerrillas were killed, and twenty-six were
captured, also horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs, which had been
collected for the Confederate army.
The next day. Colonel Coburn sent an expedition from
Murfreesboro against the enemy's irregular cavalry. A de-
tachment of the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry captured nineteen
guerrillas and twenty horses, without loss.
On the 21st, an expedition was sent down the Tennessee
river, which destroyed nine boats for local use, some of them
being sixty feet long. They were wrested from the enemy.
On the 26th, the First Tennessee Cavalry and Ninth Penn-
sylvania Cavalry, under Colonel Brownlow, attacked Colonel
Murray, at Sparta. He killed one man, wounded two, and
captured ten. Extensive salt-works were destroyed, and some
horses and ammunition were taken.
The same day, Captain Brixie's scouts encountered a party
CAMPAIGN IN EAST TENNESSEE, ETC. 7
of guerrillas near Bathsheba Springs, capturing fifteen or
twenty, and dispersing the remainder.
December 12th, Colonel Watkins, with two hundred and
fifty men, from the Fourth and Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, made
a dash upon Lafayette, Georgia, and captured a colonel of the
Georgia home guard, six ofiicers of the signal corps, and
thirty horses and mules, and returned to his camp at Rossville,
without loss. On the 27th, the colonel sent Major Willing,
with one hundred and fifty men from the same regiments, to
McLemore's Cove and Lafayette. The major captured one
lieutenant, sixteen men, and thirty-eight horses and mules.
On the 15th, General Dodge captured a small party of cav-
alry, under command of Major Joe Fontaine, General Roddy's
adjutant, not far from Pulaski, Tennessee. This party had
made a reconnoissance on the Nashville and Chattanooga and
Kashville and Decatur railroads, which doubtless had some
relation to projected movements or raids. It suggested greater
vigilance along these important roads.
December 27th, General Wheeler, with fifteen hundred
men, appeared at Calhoun, Tennessee, with evident expecta-
tion of capturing a train under escort of Laiboldt's brigade.
Colonel Laiboldt charged this force, and routed it speedily,
and Colonel Long, with one hundred and fifty men, having
come from the opposite side of the river, in support, moved
in pursuit, believing that a small force had been cut off" from
the main body. By a saber charge, this force was scattered in
all directions. One hundred and thirty-one prisoners were
taken, including five ofiicers, one a division inspector and one
a surgeon. The number of killed and wounded was not as-
certained. Colonel Long lost two killed, twelve wounded,
and one missing. Wheeler commanded in person, and an-
ticipated rich booty with slight trouble, but failed in his object,
with heavy loss.
CHAPTER XXIV.
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATUS OF THE CONFLICT AT THE CLOSE
OF 1863.
The year 1863 was crowded with disaster to the insurgents.
They were victorious in some of the great battles in Virginia,
but lost fearfully in the battle of Gettysburg. So that, at the
East, where only they had been at all successful, their strength
was relatively less than at the beginning of the year. In the
West, their losses in men, material of war, and territory were
immense. In their effort to maintain their hold upon the Mis-
sissippi river, they lost two armies, and when subsequently
the " Father of Waters " flowed " unvexed to the sea," and the
supremacy of the national navy upon this great river and its
tributaries was unquestioned, all contiguous portions of the
insurgent states were at the mercy of the national armies.
At the close of the year the central offensive line was resting
upon the northern limits of Alabama, Georgia, and ISTorth Car-
olina. The loss of so much territory, the complete division
of what remained by the navy moving at pleasure upon the
Mississippi river, and the immense diminution of men and
means, gave new conditions to the campaigns of the next
year.
Besides the effect of numerous defeats during the year, two
proclamations of the President of the United States greatly
alarmed the insurgents. On the 1st day of January, 1863, he
proclaimed freedom to all the slaves in the revolted states, and
in the last month he promised pardon to all below a given
grade, in the insurgent armies.
As a sequence of the freedom of the slaves, and as a war
measure of great moment, arms were soon put in their hands.
(8)
GENEEAL VIEW AT THE CLOSE OF 1863. 9
At first, however, the enrollment of the freedmen as soldiers
was only occasionally undertaken by individual department
commanders in absence of any general plan or explicit author-
ity from "Washington. Though slavery directly and indirectly
was the dominant cause of the war, there was manifest reluc-
tance for nearly three years to lay hands upon it, and after its
abolition was decreed, the national authorities hesitated to
make soldiers of those whose bondage they had broken. The
:slaves had aided the enemy not only by their productive labor,
but also by the construction of defenses, and contributed to
the strength of the rebellion in greater measure, than they had
previously given political weight to the Southern States, in
Congress. The more moderate and far-seeing men of the
South anticipated, from the first, that sooner or later the
African race would be involved in the war. And later than
many of this class anticipated, and a growing party in the
Korth demanded, the President pronounced the freedom of the
ne2:roes in the seceded states. Their enlistment as soldiers
was so plainly a legitimate consequent that it was not long
delayed. Both measures were repugnant to the traditional
and inveterate prejudices of the Southern people, and of many
in the iN^orth as well. In the official utterances of the Confed-
erate President, the reprehension of the civilized world was
invoked upon those who proposed these measures, and the
total destruction of the Africans in America was predicted.
But the argument in their support was so simple and forcible
that serious opposition to either soon ceased in the ISTorth. As
the slaves were a source of strength to the rebellion, the logic
•of war first declared them contraband, and then demanded
their employment as soldiers. The fact that their freedom
was contingent upon the overthrow of the Southern Confed-
-eracy, not only justified their grasp of the musket, but enforced
its obligation. And the results vindicated the policy, as colored
regiments greatly augmented the national armies for the cam-
paigns of 1864.
The President's ofier of pardon to the masses in the Con-
federate armies, had marked effect. It gave assurance that
peace could ensue without the entailment of penal criminality
(Upon those in arms against the government below the rank of
10 GENEEAL VIEW AT THE CLOSE OF 1863.
brigadier-general, and hence removed the necessity that mere
desperation should keep them under the standards of treason.
And as this promise of amnesty involved no hard conditions,
and was made at a time of general despondency in the South,
and when such was the depreciation of Confederate money,
that no poor man could give even partial support to a
family from his pay as a soldier, it prompted numerous de-
sertions. Desertion being added to the drain of active cam-
paigns, the diminution of the insurgent armies became alarming
to the leaders. But they still claimed that the independence
of the Southern States was assured, and on this ground, in part
justified a conscription of widest compass. The people did
not bear this patiently. Murmurs of discontent became gen-
eral. Occasionally there was open protest and severest criti-
cism. But as nothing but counter-revolution could remedy
the evil, and as this step plainly led through anarchy to sub-
mission to the general government, the relentless conscription
of young and old, and the sweeping appropriation of private
property was endured. As a result, suUenness and discour-
agement took the place of cheer and hope in their armies, and
outward restraint rather than moral force kept multitudes in
the ranks ; while the certainty of pardon, in the event of the
failure of the rebellion, induced those not ready to desert to
weigh the cost of protracting a contest when success was ex-
tremely doubtful. But the leaders, after a year of gigantic
reverses, standing upon the threshhold of new campaigns
with diminished armies, as boldly as ever declared that subju-
gation was impossible. President Davis, in his annual mes-
sage to his congress, announced that " grave reverses had be-
fallen the Confederate armies," and that the hope of a speedy
termination of the war, entertained at the beginning of the
year, had not been realized, and yet asserted that peace could
only come with the acknowledgment of the independence of
the Confederate States. Even after General Lee's defeat at
Gettysburg, the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and the
retreat of General Bragg's army over Cumberland Mountains,
M. T. Maury assured the world, in a paper published in the
" London Times," that the prospect of success to the South
was brighter than at any former period of the war. Whether
GENERAL VIEW AT THE CLOSE OF 1863. 11
this assurance was real or assumed, on the part of the leaders,
and whether they had to any great extent the sympathy of
the masses in their avowed hopes, such was the power of the
Confederate government and the momentum of the rchellion,
that armies of fair defensive proportions were maintained, and
some of the Southern generals even entertained projects of
aggression.
The events of the year as affecting the national cause, viewed
from a military or political stand-point, were cheering in the
extreme. The victories of the national armies and the support
of war measures as evinced hy the elections, equally indicated
that the crisis of the nation's destiny had been safely passed.
The strength of the rebellion had culminated, and the general
situation gave encouragement to the government and those who
supported it, to strike blow after blow until the final one should
be given. The elections declared the nation's approval of the
President's proclamation of freedom to the slaves, and the pol-
icy of making them soldiers, and universal freedom was now
as firmly established as a condition of peace as the surrender
of the Confederate armies.
The maintenance of the full strength of the national armies
was now the grand problem. The term of enlistment of
very many regiments would expire early in 1864. Their re-
tirement during active operations would endanger the success
of all plans of aggression which might be formed. In fact,
the speedy suppression of the rebellion turned upon their re-
tention in the service, and yet there was no law to hold them.
Fortunately for the country her citizen soldiers were equal to
the emergency, and their voluntary re-enlistment, more strin-
gent drafting, and the enrollment of the freedmen, gave prom-
ise of adequate armies.
It was evident at the close of the year that the Army of the
Cumberland was again to confront its old enemy, the Army of
the Tennessee. After its defeat at Chattanooga, this army took
position at Dalton, with a heavy detachment at Buzzard's Koost,
and forces also at the strong positions between Dalton and At-
lanta. The "Western and Atlantic railroad courses through the
hills and mountains of Northern Georgia, which give marked
advantage to an army acting on the defensive, against another
12 GENERAL VIEW AT THE CLOSE OF 1863.
dependent upon the railroad for supplies. And before the ex-
act character of the next central campaign could be determined,
the Confederate generals exerted themselves to give additional
strength to the fortresses which nature had provided. Whether
they should be able to take the offensive or not, their past ex-
perience suggested the propriety of making provision for de-
fense as far to the rear as practicable, while maintaining a strong
defensive front.
CHAPTER XXV.
OPERATIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT DURING JANUARY, FEBRUARY,
AND MARCH, 1864, AND PREPARATIONS FOR AGGRESSION.
At the beginning of the year 1864, and during the first
months of the year, the troops of the Army of the Cumberland
were disposed from Knoxville to Bridgeport, and on the rail-
road from the latter place to Louisville, Kentucky. The atti-
tude of the army was mainly defensive. In fact, it was in no
condition for aggression. At least ten thousand animals had
died during the siege of Chattanooga, and those which survived
were so reduced in strength as to be unfit for service. The
army, too, was temporarily weakened by the absence of numer-
ous regiments that had been granted furloughs upon re-enlist-
ment ; and previous to the completion of the railroad between
Chattanooga and Bridgeport, it was hardly possible to supply
the troops at rest on the defensive line, including the Army of
the Ohio in East Tennessee. Thus restrained from active op-
erations, its chief duty was preparation for future aggression.
As the primary step, it was imperative to make Chattanooga
a reliable proximate base of supplies for an army advancing
toward Atlanta. The Confederate army being in winter-quar-
ters in ITorthern Georgia, could destroy all the productions of
that region which it did not consume or transport. So that
the accumulation of supplies at Chattanooga, and the continued
maintenance of railroad communications with IS^ashville and
Louisville, were conditions of a southward advance ; and the
practicability of making Chattanooga a base for oflfensive op-
erations, hinged upon the capacity of a single railroad.
Two railroads from !N"ashville meet at Stevenson, Alabama,
but from their junction to Bridgeport, and thence to Chat-
(13)
14 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
tanooga, there is only a single track. As the bridges at Bridge-
port and Falling Waters were not completed until the 14th of
January, half the winter was gone before there was the slightest
accumulation of supplies ; and though subsequently this single
railroad was pressed to its utmost capacity, such were the im-
mediate wants of the armies, and so numerous were the vet-
eran regiments passing over the road, that the large store-
houses which had been built at Chattanooga were very slowly
filled.
During the first half of January, the enemy was not active.
General Thomas sent scouting parties in all directions, but no
indications of aggression were discerned. Apart from the ex-
haustion which the preceding campaigns had produced, a
change of commanders was doubtless one cause of inaction.
Soon after his defeat before Chattanooga, General Bragg had
been removed from command in Georgia, and General Joseph
E. Johnston, while charged with the administration of a mili-
tary division corresponding in extent to the one which had
been created for General Grant, assumed personal command of
the forces immediately south of Chattanooga. His presence
at Dalton indicated his appreciation of the importance of the
center of his line, either to regain what had been so recently
lost, or to neutralize Chattanooga, as far as possible, as a base
for aggressive operations.
By this time, the foreshadows of the campaign which Gen-
eral Grant had projected began to appear. Mobile was his
next objective, with Atlanta and Mongomery as important
intermediate points.* JSTot being ready to advance upon the
direct line to his objective, he proposed a movement from
his right flank by General Sherman, while General Thomas
should make effort to hold Johnston's forces at Dalton, and
General Foster, commanding in East Tennessee in room of
General Burnside, should neutralize Longstreet's army. The
objects proposed for General Sherman were the destruction of
the railroads from Vicksburg to Meridian, and the capture of
Mobile, should its practicability be developed as he advanced.
But before he was ready to move, rumors were current that
^ Statement of plan by General Badeau, in " Life of General Grant."
OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 15
Longstreet was receiving reinforcements from Virginia. This
deranged tlie plans with regard to the center and left. Gen-
eral Thomas was desirous of recalling his troops from East
Tennessee, to be able to demonstrate strongly against Dalton ;
but it now became necessary that he should have regard to the
contingency of sending additional troops to General Foster.
General Longstreet's attitude had been ambiguous since his
abandonment of the siege of Knoxville, upon the approach of
General Sherman, in December. His presence was a menace,
even in absence of operations of direct offense ; and as it was
possible for reinforcements to reach him from Dalton and
from Virginia, an effort to regain the mountain fortresses of
East Tennessee was probable, especially if General Johnston
could entertain the hope of keeping the war out of Georgia by
carrying it to the IlTorth. Any plan of aggression on his part
would involve the possession of a route to the northeast of
Chattanooga, and for a time such a course was plainly indi-
cated or feigned.
When, on the 15th of January, General "Wood advanced to
Dandridge and drove the rebel cavalry from the town, an
offensive return was provoked, which for a time threatened to
change General Grant's plans very materially. Though Gen-
eral Wood was joined by General Sheridan's division and
McCook's cavalry at Dandridge, it was not deemed safe to
hazard a general engagement. For two days there was skir-
mishing, and late in the afternoon of the 18th, there was a
brisk conflict mainly between McCook's cavalry and Long-
street's advance. Three Ohio regiments — the First, Kinety-
third, and One Hundred and Twenty -fifth — were holding the
front as pickets, and were severely pressed by a tentative ad-
vance of the enemy, but they fought bravely to cover the prep-
arations for a retreat. McCook, by a saber charge, cleared
the field and captured two steel rifle-guns, and over one hun-
dred prisoners. This action and the darkness permitted the
safe retreat of the national troops. They fell back, first to
Strawberry Plains, and subsequently to Marysville, followed
by Longstreet.
Simultaneously with this movement, General E,oddy crossed
the Tennessee river near Florence, Alabama, with two brigades
16 OPERATIONS FROM JA^fUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
of cavalry. General Dodge, commanding troops of General
Sherman's army at Pulaski, Tennessee, received information
on the 20th, that he was preparing boats and concealing them
with the evident purpose of crossing his command for a raid
upon the railroads. General Grant at once advised General
Thomas of the fact, and directed him to organize an expedi-
tion to drive Roddy back, and destroy his boats and all ma-
terial which could be used in effecting the passage of the river.
But he was across two days before these instructions were
communicated, and General Thomas could only make arrange-
ments to defeat his purpose. He directed the detachments
guarding the roads to watch against attacks, and ordered Gen-
eral Crook commanding cavalry at Huntsville, Alabama, to
advance against Roddy and drive him across the river.
Colonel H. 0. Miller, JSTinety-second Indiana, commanding
one expedition, defeated Johnson's brigade near Florence on
the 26th, killing fifteen, and wounding and capturing a large
number. Among the prisoners were three officers. His own
loss was ten wounded. General Gillem also sent parties from
the line of the ]Srorthwestern railroad against Roddv, as soon
as he heard that he had crossed the river. These parties
returned on the 30th with Lieutenant-Colonel Brewer, two
captains, three lieutenants, and twenty men as prisoners. Hav-
ing thus met forces between him and the railroad in all di-
rections, Roddy recrossed the river, having effected no damage
that compensated for his losses.
January 27th, the cavalry under General Elliott, in a brilliant
action at Mossy Creek, East Tennessee, defeated General Mar-
tin, commanding two divisions of cavalry, Morgan's and Arm-
strong's, and followed his routed forces until darkness ter-
minated the pursuit. Campbell's and La Grange's brigades
were engaged, and they put the enemy to rout by a saber
charge, capturing one hundred and twelve prisoners, including
two regimental commanders and seven other officers, two rifled
guns, eight hundred small arms, Morgan's battle-flag, and two
regimental flags, which the enemy had previously captured
from the national troops, and killed and wounded over two hun-
dred men, exclusive of prisoners. Morgan's division was
thoroughly broken, and Armstrong's was thrown into rapid re-
OPERATIONS FROM JANNARY TO MARCH, 1864. 17
treat. Guerrillas were also active. January 20tli, one hun-
dred and fifty guerrillas attacked Tracy City, and having three
times summoned the garrison to surrender, were handsomely
repulsed.
The next day, Colonel T. J. Harrison, Thirty-ninth Indiana
Mounted Infantry, sent two hundred men on an expedition to
Sparta, Tennessee, to look after the guerrillas infesting that
region. This party in five subdivisions scoured the country
occupied by the bands of Curtis, Ferguson, Bledsoe, and Mur-
ray. Remaining out several days, they killed four men,
wounded five or six, and captured fifteen, including a captain
and lieutenant. They also captured thirty horses and twenty
stand of arms.
On the 24th, Colonel Boone, commanding the Twenty-
eighth Kentucky Mounted Infantry , with four hundred and
forty-six men, moved through McLemore's Cove, crossed to
Broomtown valley, and proceeded through Summerville, across
Taylor's ridge, to Dirt Town, Beyond the latter place he de-
stroyed a camp of the Georgia militia, captured fifteen men,
including Captain Hubbard, and returned without loss.
Upon the completion of the railroad from Bridgeport to
Chattanooga, General Thomas transferred the working parties
to the road leading to Knoxville, and on the 24th directed
General Stanley, commanding the First division of the
Fourth Corps, to disj^ose his command from Chickamauga
Station to the Iliawassee river, to protect the workmen on the
road. As it had been suggested that troops might be sent to
East Tennessee to support Foster against Longstreet, these
troops were thus in readiness to meet this contingency while
guarding the railroad, and watching against the direct move-
ment of troops from Dalton to Longstreet.
As deserters concurred in asserting that General Johnston
was sending troops south from Dalton, General Thomas di-
rected General Palmer to make a reconnoissance with a por-
tion of his command to ascertain, if possible, whether these
representations were true. The latter having accomplished
his ofiice by developing a strong force at Tunnel Hill, returned
to Chattanooga.
VOL. II — 2
18 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
February lOtli, General Grant directed General Thomas to
prepare for an advance to Knoxville, with such forces as could
be spared from the protection of Chattanooga and its commu-
nications, to assist General Foster to drive Longstreet from
East Tennessee. Such a movement was no part of the orig-
inal plan, but concurrent reports had convinced General Grant
that there had been a heavy concentration of troops under
Longstreet to secure East Tennessee, and he determined to
prevent it, and relieve that flank from pressure. General
Foster had prepared to assume the offensive if he could get at
least ten thousand men from General Thomas. It was deemed
safe to diminish the forces at Chattanooga, as there was reason
to believe that Johnston had detached heavily from Dalton to
reinforce Polk against Sherman in Alabama, as well as to
strengthen Longstreet for offense against Foster in East Ten-
nessee.
The Army of the Cumberland was not in condition to enter
upon a winter campaign, and General Thomas found it diffi-
cult to make such preparations as he deemed essential. His
army was greatly diminished by the absence of regiments
having re-enlisted as veterans. Artillery horses and train
animals had not been supplied in room of the thousands that
had died from starvation during the siege, and he advised a
postponement of the movement until the railroad would be
in running order to Loudon. On the 12th, however, the day
previous to the one designated for starting, he was informed
by General Grant that a conversation with General Foster^
who, on account of ill-health, had been superseded by General
Schofield, and dispatches from the latter, induced him to doubt
the propriety of moving against Longstreet, and suggested
that should he not be required to go into East Tennessee, he
should make a formidable reconnoissance toward Dalton, and
if possible occupy that place, and repair the railroads to it.
This order was given on the 17th, and at the time there was
some probability that it might be successful, as it was sup-
posed that Johnston had weakened his center, especially to
strengthen Polk against Sherman. Two days later, however,.
General Thomas received information that Johnston had in
hand six divisions, comprising from thirty to forty thousand
OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864 19
men, and that no troops had been sent away, except one bri-
gade of infantry. This intelligence did not, however, induce
General Grant to recall the movement, though it rendered
General Thomas hopeless of success.
The troops were put in motion toward Dalton, February
22d. General Thomas threw General Stanley's division. Gen-
eral Cruft commanding, with such cavalry as he could safely
withdraw from Calhoun, Tennessee, forward on the Spring
Place road, and Johnston's and Baird's divisions, with cavalry
in advance and on the right flank, directly to Ringgold. At
night, Cruft's division was at Red Clay, with Long's cavalry
in advance, having been instructed to observe the enemy well
toward Dalton, and give timely warning of any effort to turn
Cruft's left flank, or to notify him to advance should Johnston
retire. The other divisions were at Ringgold, in position on
the ridge west of East Chickamauga, with a regiment of
mounted infantry on each flank, and Carlin's brigade thrown
toward Taylor's ridge.
During the evening. General Palmer advised General
Thomas that he had received intelligence that Johnston had
dispatched Cheatham's and Cleburne's divisions to reinforce
General Polk, who was falling back before General Sherman,
in Alabama. All available troops were now moved up to dis-
lodge General Johnston, should this report prove to be true.
Davis' division advanced to Ringgold on the 23d, and General
Matthias was directed to send six regiments from Cleveland to
support General Cruft, at Red Clay. Colonel Long advanced
toward Dalton, on the Spring Place road ; first drove in the
enemj^'s videttes, and when within four miles of Dalton, at-
tacked and routed from camp a regiment of infantry. The
enemy then forming in force, he withdrew to Russell's Mills.
Cruft's division advanced to Lee's house, on the road from
Red Clay to Tunnel Hill. The four divisions were now well
concentrated in the vicinity of Ringgold, and after a thorough
reconnoissance on each flank. General Palmer advanced, on
the 24th, to develop the enemy's strength at Tunnel Hill.
After skirmishing three or four miles with Wheeler's cavalry^
he gained possession of the town, when the enemy formed a
new line, and opened with his batteries from a hill, one mile
20 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
beyond. General Palmer then withdrew, and encamped three
miles to the northwest. The following morning he decided
to feel the enemy's position more fully. Baird's division was
south of Taylor's Ridge near Ringgold, and Cruft's was well
closed up on its left. Davis'* and Johnson's divisions were in
the advance toward Tunnel Hill, with Harrison's mounted
infantry in front, and Boone's on the left flank, and Long's
brigade, supported by Grose's brigade of Cruft's division, was
at Varnell's station, on the Dalton and Cleveland railroad.
These pairs of divisions were ordered to advance on different
lines, the former upon Tunnel Hill, and, if practicable, directly
upon Dalton ; the latter, with Long's cavalry, to move down
the valley, along the eastern base of Rocky Face Ridge, to
threaten the right and rear of the enemy.
In compliance, the troops on the right advanced in three
columns. After the right and left had moved some distance,
the center advanced, but was soon checked by a battery of
Parrott guns planted on the summit beyond the town of
Tunnel Hill, and skillfully handled. The right and left col-
umns, Morgan's and Hambright's brigades, again advanced,
and flanking this battery, forced its retirement. Davis' di-
vision, with Johnson's in support, pursued and found the
enemy at Buzzard's Roost, a gap in Rocky Face Ridge, whose
precipitous acclivities and salient summits forbade assault.
Baird and Cruft also encountered the enemy as they moved
down Rocky Face valley. Giving ground at first, he soon
offered resistance upon a central hill. An attack was here nec-
essary to develop his strength ; and General Turchin, with
four regiments, the Eleventh, Eighty-ninth, and JSTinety-second
Ohio, and the Eighty-second Indiana, was directed to advance.
Advancing boldly, these troops pressed back the enemy and
reached the summit, but were unable to hold it, as the routed
troops met reinforcements, and returned in overwhelming
force. The conflict was sharp, but it was too unequal to be
maintained, and Turchin yielded the hill. Spirited skir-
mishing and cannonading were continued until nightfall, when
the national troops were withdrawn. Colonel Harrison spent
* General Davis' division had previously closed up from the rear.
OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 21
the night at a gap six miles south of Buzzard's Roost, nearly-
opposite Dalton, whence he was driven the following morning
by Cleburne's division, one of the two that had been dis-
patched to Alabama.
As it had been ascertained that General Johnston was
holding his strong positions with forces superior to his own,
General Thomas deemed it futile to attempt to dislodge him,
and that it was even impracticable to maintain his threatening
attitude. The country was stripped of provisions, and his
transportation was not sufficient to supply his command. He
therefore advised General Grant of his embarrassment, and
suggested the abandonment of the enterprise. In reply, Gen-
eral Grant urged him to maintain his position, and make the
impression upon Johnston that an advance into the heart ok
the South was intended, until the fate of General Sherman
should be known. Compliance, however, was not considered
practicable, and as it was known that Johnston had recalled
his divisions from Polk's support, orders were issued for the
withdrawal of the troops. Baird's division was posted on a
line of hills north of the town of Tunnel Hill, to cover the re-
tirement of Johnson and Davis, and then took permanent post
at Ringgold. Davis' division returned to his former position
near Rossville. Two brigades of Johnson's division were
posted at Tyner's Station, and the third at(^raysville, with a
strong guard at Parker's Gap, to protect Baird's left flank.
Cruft's division returned to Ooltawah and Blue Springs, the
commander sending a detachment to Cleveland to guard his
supplies, where Colonel Long also took post to patrol the left
flank of the army. Colonels Harrison and Boone were
stationed at Leet's tanyard, to observe the enemy toward
Lafayette.
This movement to Dalton involved a loss of more than three
hundred men killed and wounded. Among the wounded
was Colonel Mihalotzy, of the Twenty-fourth Illinois, who
died a few days later at Chattanooga. The enemy's loss was
probably two hundred. As a reconnoissance it was successful,
tbougli there were no such results as General Grant mentioned
as probable. It seemingly recalled the two divisions that
General Johnston had sent against General Sherman, but as
22 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864
the latter liacl retreated from Meridian on tlie 20th, six days
previous to their return, the demonstration had no effect upon
their movements. The chief advantages were the develop-
ment of the strength of General Johnston's position before
Dalton, and the suggestion to General Thomas of a plan to
turn it by a movement through Snake . Creek Gap. He was
.80 impressed with the feasibility of this plan, that upon his
return to Chattanooga, he requested permission from General
Grant to make preparation to accomplish it.
Having disposed his troops for defense. General Thomas ad-
dressed himself to preparation for the spring campaign. He
ordered General Butterfi eld to make a careful examination of
the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, and Captain Merrill,
chief engineer of the department, to examine other roads, to
ascertain the minimum force necessary to hold them securely.
He also ordered a thorough examination of the railroad to
Tunnel Hill, with a view to its repair, as an important step in
provision for an advance.
These examinations resulted in a more economical pro-
tection of railroad communications, by means of a system of
block-houses at the bridges and other important points, which
became an element of power to the close of the war. And
the conclusion having been reached that six thousand infantry
and two thousand cavalry could hold securely the railroads to
Nashville, General Thomas recommended that the railroad
guards, as far as practicable, should be drawn from the local
Tennessee militia.
The month of February closed with the military situation
by no means developed. General Sherman destroyed rail-
roads extensively in Mississippi, but otherwise his expedition
was not compensative. It was not known what Longstreet
vrould do, whether give further trouble in East Tennessee, re-
turn to Virginia, or join Johnston. Neither were General
Johnston's plans at all indicated. One day would bring ru-
mors from deserters, and from sources more reliable, that he
was under orders to withdraw his army from Dalton, followed
on the next by contradictions from sources equally entitled to
credence. But ignorance of the purposes of the enemy did
not prevent preparation for aggression. Reconstruction of
OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 23
railroads was pressed westward and southward, and material
and supplies were accumulated as rapidly as possible. Steam-
boats and large storehouses were built. Horses were provided
for the artillery, and efforts were made to recuperate those of
the cavalry worn down by hard winter service. Eight com-
panies of the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, and
two regiments of colored troops, were ordered to commence
the construction of block-houses and other defenses along the
line of the JSTashville and Chattanooga railroad, and the first
Missouri Engineers and Mechanics were detailed for similar
duty on the Nashville and Decatur railroad. In anticipation
of a campaign designed to bisect the Gulf States east of the
Mississippi river, the secure defense of railroad communi-
cations from Chattanooga to the ISTorth with the least pos-
sible draft upon the strength of the aggressive columns, was
a matter of great moment. With strong block-houses at all
the bridges, and with earthworks, in addition, at all of the
more important points, a comparatively small force could hold
the roads securely — at least, could prevent all damage that
could not be quickly repaired. One of the greatest embarrass-
ments to Generals Buell and Rosecrans, had been the neces-
sity of scattering their troops in heavy detachments on their
lines of supply. The plan now adopted promised better se-
curity, both to the railroads and to the troops guarding them,
while employing a small portion of the force formerly assigned
to this service. Besides, it transferred the cavalry almost en-
tirely from the rear to the front, and relieved the veteran
infantry from guard duty, as new regiments and local militia
could be trusted to hold the block-houses and earthworks.
At the beginning of March there were indications that General
Johnston was receiving reinforcements at Dalton, and General
Grant was not free from apprehension that Longstreet's army
might join him, in addition to other forces, for an attack upon
Chattanooga. To provide against such a contingency, the
two divisions of the Fourth Corps in East Tennessee were
ordered to be constantly ready for quick movement to support
General Thomas. On the 3d, Wagner's brigade of Sheridan's
division was moved to Calhoun, Tennessee, to relieve the first
brigade of the first division of cavalry, Colonel Campbell
24 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
commanding, that it might take post at Cleveland. Five days
later, Colonel Daniel McCook, commanding second brigade
of Davis' division, was ordered to Lee and Gordon's Mills, to
give strength to the front, and observe the enemy upon a line
of former approach. The same day. Colonel Harrison was
driven from Leet's tanyard by a strong force of cavalry. This
advance, coupled with rumors that Johnston had been joined
by ten thousand men from South Carolina and by Roddy's
cavalry, that Longstreet's cavalry was in motion toward him,
and that his troops were under orders to carry three days'
rations on their persons, intensified somewhat the apprehen-
sion that an ofi'ensive movement was meditated. There were
no changes of troops, however, except that McCook's division
of cavalry was ordered to Cleveland, since it was not yet
deemed safe to withdraw the Fourth Corps from East Ten-
nessee, as Longstreet's action was still uncertain.
On the 17th of March, General Grant, having been appointed
lieutenant-general, in command of the entire army, advised
General Thomas that Major-Generai W. T. Sherman had been
assigned to the command of the Military Division of the Mis-
sissippi. The assumption of general command by General
Grant gave the contemplated campaign into Georgia a closer
relation to operations against General Lee's army in Virginia
than had previously existed between movements east and
west.
Soon after his assignment to the command of the military
division, General Sherman went to Chattanooga to confer with
General Thomas with regard to future movements. At this
conference, General Thomas suggested that the armies bf the
Tennessee and Ohio, under the respective commands of Major-
Generals McPherson and Schofield, should demonstrate against
Johnston's position before Dalton, by the direct roads to Buz-
zard's Roost, and from Cleveland, while he should throw the
entire Army of the Cumberland through Snake Creek Gap,
which he knew to be unguarded, and fall upon Johnston's
communications between Dalton and Resaca, and thereby
turn his position completely, and either force him to retreat to-
ward the east, through a difficult country poorly supplied with
provisions and forage, with a strong probability of the total
OPEEATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 25
disorganization of liis army, or attack him, in whicli event he
felt confident of being able to beat him, especially as he hoped
to gain position in his rear before lie should be aware of his
movement. General Sherman objected to this suggestion, for
the reason that he desired the Army of the Cumberland to
form the reserve of the united armies, and to serve as a rally-
ing point from which the two wings, the armies of the Ten-
nessee and Ohio, could operate.
The nnion of the armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee,
and Ohio in a campaign from Chattanooga as a base, having
been determined upon, preparations of the grandest dimen-
sions possible were at once inaugurated with vigor. The most
difiicult problem was that of supplies. Its solution turned
upon the capacity of a single railroad track from Stevenson to
Chattanooga, and thence toward Atlanta. There was steam-
boat transportation from Bridgeport to Chattanooga; but
there was dependence alone upon the track from the former
place to Stevenson. As the accumulation of supplies at Chat-
tanooga had hitherto been slight. General Sherman restricted
railroad transportation to dead freight, and forbade passage to
citizens or private property. He also forbade the further issue
of rations to the destitute citizens of the country. The peo-
ple complained of these measures ; but such was the necessity
for the accumulation of supplies, that he persisted in their
maintenance, against the protests of the citizens, remon-
strances from Washington, and what under other circum-
stances would have been the demands of humanity.
During the month of April, again, as before the battles in
I^ovember, Chattanooga was the scene of the greatest activity.
Troops were constantly coming up from the rear and moving
to position in the front. The quartermaster and commissary
departments were pressed to extreme exertion building steam-
boats, erecting and filling vast storehouses, bringing forward
artillery and cavalry horses, mules, and cattle ; while the rail-
way was almost constantly trembling under the long trains
heavily loaded with supplies and munitions.
General Johnston, in the meantime, was not idle, though he
was restrained in his preparation for an ofiensive movement,
which it was expected in the South he would be able to make
26 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
in such force as to change the theater of war again to the
Korth. He waited for preparation for well-sustained aggres-
sion, and thus lost an opportunity for partial success. Cleve-
land was the weak point in the national line. General Thomas
could not hold this vital point strongly while the Fourth Corps
remained with General Schofield, and this corps could not be
safely withdrawn until it was known that Longstreet had
abandoned East Tennessee. But before Johnston was well
prepared even for defense, the opportunity was lost for forcing
.any concentration of troops which was not required by Gen-
eral Sherman's plan of operations. General Johnston was
fully alive to the importance of successful aggression to change
the tone of feeling in the South, and sought such reinforce-
ments as he thought were necessary. A little later he learned
that he needed more troops than were available in all the
South, upon the plan of defense which was adopted. In the
light of subsequent events, it is plain that in failing to give
adequate reinforcements to Johnston, while General Grant's
armies were widely separated and weakened by the temporary
absence of veteran regiments, the Confederate authorities at
Richmond rendered impossible the aggression for which they
subsequently clamored. In December previous, General Beau-
regard suggested, as the only hope of success, that Richmond
and other important places should be fortified and garrisoned
for defense, and that an immense army should be concentrated
against Grant, at Chattanooga, or thrown in bold ofi:ense from
Knoxville. Later, General Johnston's suggestions were some-
what similar, but were unheeded by Mr. Davis and his advis-
ers. The Western army remained in diffusion, until concen-
tration, as a necessity of defense rather than a condition of
aggression, was hurriedly effected. Longstreet's army was
sent to General Lee, and from all of the troops that so long
menaced Knoxville, only Martin's division of cavalry joined
General Johnston ; while almost all the national troops that
wintered in East Tennessee were free to join the combination
against him. The impracticable President had entertained
visions of successful aggression from Dalton, but had been,
from choice or necessity, so sparing in provision for such enter-
prise, that the thought of it, except in wildest vagary, could
OPERATIOJ^S FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 27
not bo entertained. To require Johnston to advance with less
than fifty thousand men against a combination of armies,
which in defense would greatly exceed one hundred thousand,
was to exact defeat. The fact that the Confederate President
did not discern this, revealed his incapacity as a revolutionary
leader, and his subsequent criticisms of his ablest general, for
the non-accomplishment of a palpable impossibility, manifested
the inveteracy of his self-conceit and his utter misapprehen-
sion of the situation in Georgia. His general had no choice
of methods, but was confined to the defense of his positions
between his enemy and the campaign region south of Resaca.
Had he been able to assume the oflensive, he could not have
reached any vital point in the rear of Chattanooga, without a
long detour, in dependence for supplies upon a devastated
country, or on w^agon transportation from a remote base. In
his weakness and his restriction from movement by mountain
barriers right and left, he could make no flank movements or
threatening dashes, with infantry or cavalry ; and any expec-
tation of a general advance from Dalton, except with an im-
mense army, through East Tennessee or iTorthern Alabama,
Bridgeport or Decatur — was groundless.
Having now, from necessity, accepted the defensive. General
Johnston could only make eifort to embarrass Sherman's com-
munications with his cavalry, and await the approach of the
urmies combining against him. He threw his cavalry into
ISTorthern Alabama, in constant menace, but accomplished no
interruption to communications. General Thomas sent Gen-
eral Geary, with two regiments and one piece of artillery, on
a steamboat, to destroy the boats used by the cavalry in cross-
ing and recrossing the river, as far to the west as possible.
General Geary was only partially successful ; he destroyed a
great many boats in going and coming, but was prevented by
forces on each side of the river from going a great distance.
- On the 29th of April, a tentative advance was made by Gen-
eral Baird, having reference to the general movement of the
united armies. He sent three hundred cavalry, under General
Kilpatrick, supported by Vanderveer's brigade, to feel the ene-
my's position at Tunnel Hill. These troops encountered the
enemy and drove him some distance, when developing a greatly
28 OPEEATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
superior force, they were compelled to withdraw. At Davis'
house the euemy pressed th^m, when they turned and repulsed
him handsomely. The day following, General Johnston gave
indications of greater strength in front of Ringgold, and Gen-
eral Thomas instructed General Baird to call upon General
Johnson for help in the event of an advance against his posi-
tion.
During the month, important changes were made in the
Army of the Cumberland. The reorganization of the Fourth
and Fourteenth Corps having been of recent date, they remained
intact, except some changes in general officers. On the 11th,
the cavalry, under the general command of Brigadier-General
"W. L. Elliott, was organized into four divisions; Colonel Ed-
ward McCook, and Brigadier-Generals Kennard Garrard, Jud-
son Kilpatrick, and A. C. Gillem, commanding respectively, ac-
cording to numerical designation. There were three brigades
in each division, and an average of three regiments in each
brigade. On the 15th, orders were received from Washington,
requiring the consolidation of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps
as the Twentieth, under the command of Major-General
Hooker. Major-General Gordon Granger was relieved from
the command of the Fourth Corps, and Major-General 0. 0.
Howard assigned, and Major-General P. H. Sheridan having
been transferred to the Army of the Potomac, Major-General
John ITewton Vas assigned to the position made vacant by his
vacation of the command of the Second division, Fourth Corps.
There were now in the Army of the Cumberland a large num-
ber of re-enlisted troops. During the winter and spring there
re-enlisted eighty-eight regiments of infantry, three of mounted
infantry, sixteen of cavalry, eighteen batteries of artillery, and
twenty-six detachments of all arms, and eight thousand one
hundred and thirty-six recruits in the aggregate were added to
these organizations while on furlough. The importance of the
re-enlistment of these troops can not be overestimated. "With-
out them and the " veterans " of the other two co-operative
armies, the Atlanta campaign could not have been safely un-
dertaken ; the war would have been greatly postponed, and its
issue might have been different. The slow movement of the
draft, and the provisional measure of short enlistments could
OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 29
not have furnislied sncli troops as were demanded in the spring
of 1864. Without the veterans, aggression could not have
been entertained, and the feeble armies, during the summer,
might have been compelled to relax their grasp upon the heart
of the rebellious states. It is then the plainest duty of the his-
torian to mention the regiments and other organizations, whose
members, in whole or in part, re-enlisted as " veteran volun-
teers," and ever after bore the grandest name which the war
originated. Of the regiments and batteries whose organization
was maintained under re-enlistment, were the Thirteenth, Fif-
teenth, Seventeenth, Mnetcenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-sixth,
Thirty-first, Thirty-third, Thirty-sixth, Fortieth, Forty-first,
Forty-ninth, Fifth-first, Fifty-fifth, Sixty-first, Sixty-fifth,
Sixty-ninth, Seventy-first, Seventy-fourth, and Eighty-second
Ohio Infantry ; the First, Third, and Fourth Ohio Cavalry, and
batteries " B," " C," " F," and " G," First Ohio Artillery ; the
rwenty-second. Thirtieth, Thirty-first, Thirty -fifth. Fortieth,
Forty-second, Forty-fourth, Fifty-first, Fifty-seventh and
Fifty-eighth Indiana Infantry ; Seventy-ninth Mounted Infan-
try, and Thirteenth Indiana battery; the Tenth, Twenty-first,
Thirty-sixth, Thirty-eighth, Forty-second, Forty-fourth, Fifty-
first, Fifty-ninth, and Sixtieth Illinois Infantry, and batteries
-" II "and " I," Second Illinois Artillery ; the Fourth, Eighteenth,
Twenty -first, and Twenty-third Kentucky Infantry ; the Sec-
ond, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, and the
Twenty-eighth Kentucky Mounted Infantry ; the Forty-sixth,
Seventy-third, Seventy-ninth, and One Hundred and Kinth
Pennsylvania Infantry, and the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry ;
the Forty -fifth. Fifty-eighth, and Sixtieth Kew York Infantry,
and the ]^ew York Independent Battery; the Tenth and Thir-
teenth Micliigan Infanty ; the Fourteenth Michigan Mounted
Infantry, and the First Michigan battery ; the Thirteenth Wis-
consin Infantry, and the Fifth Wisconsin battery ; the Fif-
teenth Missouri Infantry, and battery " G," First Missouri
Artillery ; the Second Minnesota Infantry ; the Fifth Iowa
Cavalry ; the Eighth Kansas Infantry, and Third Maryland In-
fantry. Of the detachments, there were representatives in greater
or less numbers from the Fifth, Seventh, Eleventh, Eighteenth,
and Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and the Tenth Independent
30 OPEEATIONS FEOM JANUARY TO MAECH, 1864.
battery ; the Tenth, Fifteenth, Twenty-seventh, and Thirty-
seventh Indiana Infantry; the Twenty -first, Twenty-second,
and Twenty-seventh Ilhnois Infantry, and battery " C," First
Illinois Artillery ; the Eighth Kentucky Infantry ; the Seventy-
ninth Pennsylvania Infantry ; batteries " F " and " M," ISTew
York Artillery ; the First Michigan Engineers, and battery
" E," First Michigan Artillery; the Third "Wisconsin battery j
the First Missouri Engineers ; the Tenth Maine Infantry, and
battery "3," Maine Artillery; battery "F," Fourth United
States Artillery, and battery " K," Fifth United States Artil-
lery.
On the 1st of May, the Army of the Cumberland was well
in hand, awaiting orders to advance. The Fourth Corps,
Major-General O. 0. Howard commanding, was at Cleveland.
The Fourteenth, Major-General J. M. Palmer commanding^,
was before Chattanooga, and the Twentieth Corps, Major-
General Joseph Hooker commanding, was mainly in Lookout
valley. The divisions of the Fourth Corps, in numerical
order, were commanded by Major-Generals D. S. Stanley and
John Kewton and Brigadier-General T. J. Wood ; those of the
Fourteenth, Brigadier-Generals P. W. Johnson, J. C. DaviSy
and A. Baird, and those of the Twentieth, Brigadier- General
A. S. Williams and J. W. Geary and Major-Generals D. But-
terfield and Lovell H. Pousseau. The division of the latter,
and other troops of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, assigned
as garrisons, comprising thirty-two regiments of infantry, nine
of cavalry, and thirty-nine batteries, were disposed at all im-
portant points from Chattanooga to Nashville, on the direct
road, and at Clarksville and Fort Donelson. The cavalry
comprised four divisions, under Brigadier- General W. L. EUi-
ott^the first. Colonel McCook commanding, was with the
Fourth Corps, at Cleveland ; the second under Brigadier-Gen-
eral Garrard, was ordered to report to General McPherson^
commanding the Army of the Tennessee ; the third under Brig-
adier-General Kilpatrick, was at Ringgold, and the Fourth,,
under Brigadier-General Gillem, was at E'ashville. The army
for the field comprised 54,568 infantry, 3,238 cavalry, and 2,37T
artillery, with 130 guns; total, 60,773 eti'ective men.
OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 31
Organization of the Army of the Cumberland. Major-General George
H. Thomas commanding, April, 1874.
Fourth Army Corps.
MAJOR-GENERAL 0. 0. HOWARD commanding.
First Division.
Major-General D. S. Stanley commanding.
First Brigade. Second Brigade.
Gbn. Charles Cruet commanding. Gen. "W. C. Whittaker commanding^
1st Kentucky Infantry. 21st Kentucky Infantry,
2d " " 35th Indiana "
21st Illinois Infantry. 84th " "
38th " " 40th Ohio «
31st Indiana " 51st " «
81st " " 99th " "
90th Ohio " 96th Illinois «
101st " " 115th " «
Third Brigade.
Colonel Wm. Grose commanding.
9th Indiana Infantry.
30th "
86th "
69th Illinois
- , 75th "
80th «
84th "
77th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Artillery.
5th Indiana Battery. Battery " B," Independent Penn.
Second Division.
Major-General John Newton commanding.
First Brigade.
Second Brigade.
Col. p. T. Sherman commanding.
Gen. G. D. Wagner commanding
2d Missouri Infantry.
40th Indiana Infantry.
15th " "
57th " "
24th Wisconsin "
26th Ohio "
28th Kentucky "
97th " «
36th Illinois "
100th Illinois «
44th " "
73d " "
74th " "
88th " «
32 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
Third Brigade.
Colonel C. G. Haeker commanding.
3d Kentucky Infantry.
64th Ohio "
65th " "
125th " «
22d Illinois «
27th " «
42d " "
51st " «
79th " «
Artillery.
Battery " G," 1st Missouri. Battery " M," 1st Illinois.
Third Division.
Brigadiek-General T. J. "Wood comm,anding.
First Brigade. Second Brigade.
Geneii.1l a. Willich commanding. General W. B. Hazen commanding.
8th Kansas Infantry. 1st Ohio Infantry.
15th Wisconsin Infantry. 6th " "
15th Ohio " 41st " "
49th " " 93d " "
32d Indiana " 124th Ohio «
25th Illinois " 5th Kentucky Infantry.
35th " " 6th " "
89th " " 23d " "
6th Indiana "
Third Brigade.
General Samuel Beatty commanding.
9th Kentucky Infantry.
17th " "
13th Ohio "
19th " "
59th " "
79th Indiana «
86th " "
Artillery.
6th Ohio Battery. Bridge's Illinois Light Battery.
Fourteenth Army Corps.
MAJOR-GENEEAL JOHN M. PALMER commanding.
I'irst Division.
Brigadier-General E. W. Johnson commanding.
OPERATIONS FEOM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 33
First Brigade.
General W. P. Caklin commanding.
2(1 Ohio Infantry.
33d " "
94th " "
10th Wisconsin Infantry.
15th Kentucky "
38th Indiana "
42d " "
88th " "
104th Illinois "
Second Brigade.
Genekal J. H. King commanding.
15th U. S. Infantry, 1st Battalion.
15th "
16th "
18th
18th
19th
2d
1st
1st
2d
1st
11th Michigan Infantry.
19th Illinois "
69th Ohio Infantry.
Third Brigade.
Colonel Jas. M. Neibling commanding,
1st Wisconsin Infantry.
21st "
21st Ohio
74th "
24th Illinois
37th Indiana
78th Pennsylvania Infantry.
79th " "
Artillery.
Battery "A," 1st Michigan. Battery " 0," 1st Illinois.
Second Division.
Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis commanding.
Second Brigade,
Col. John G. Mitchell commanding
98th Ohio Infantry.
First Brigade.
■Gen. J. T>. Morgan commanding
10th Illinois Infantry.
16th " "
60th " "
10th Michigan "
14th " "
108th "
113th "
121st "
34th Illinois
78th "
Third Brigade.
Colonel Dan. McCook commanding.
52d Ohio Infantry.
85th Illinois Infantry.
86th " "
110th " "
125th " "
22d Indiana "
VOL. II — 3
34 OPERA.TIONS FKOM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
Artillery.
2d Minnesota Battery.* Battery " I," 2d Illinois.
5th Wisconsin Battery.
Third Division.
Brigadiek-General A. Baird commanding.
First Brigade.
Second Brigade.
Gen. J. B. Turchin commanding.
Col. p. Vanderveer commanding.
11th Ohio Infantry.
2d Minnesota Infantry.
17th » "
9th Ohio Infantry.
31st " "
36th " "
36th " "
105th Ohio "
89th " " -
75th Indiana Infantry.
92d " "
87th " "■
82d Indiana Infantry.
101st " "
Third Bi
•igade.
Colonel Geo. P. Este commanding.
4th Kentucky Infantry.
10th
18th
10th Indiana
74th
14th Ohio
38th "
92d Illinois
Artillery.
7th Indiana Battery.
19th Indiana Battery.
Twentieth Army Corps.
MAJOE-GENEKAL JOSEPH HOOKEE commanding.
Company "K," 15th Illinois Cavalry.
Independent Company, 8th N. Y. Infantry.
First Division.
Brigadier-General A. S. Williams commanding.
First Brigade.
Gen. Joseph Knipe commanding.
3d Maryland Infantry.
20th Connecticut Infantry (5).
46th Pennsylvania "
123d New York "
141st " " "
Second Brigade.
Gen. Thos. H. Euger commanding
2d Massachusetts Infantry.
3d Wisconsin "
13th New Jersey "
27th Indiana «
107th New York "
150th " " "
* Absent on veteran furlough.
OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 35
Third Brigade.
Generae H. Tyndale commanding.
61st Ohio Infantry.
82d " "
45th New York Infantry.
143d " " "
82d Illinois Infantry.
101st " "
Artillery.
Battery " M," 1st New York. Battery " I," 1st New York.
Second Division.
Beigadier-General John W. Geary commanding.
Second Brigade.
Col. a. Buschbeck commanding.
27th Pennsylvania Infantry.
First Brigade.
Col. Charles C^jstdy commanding.
5th Ohio Infantry.
7th " "
29th « "
66th " "
28th Pennsylvania Infantry.
147th " «
73d "
109th "
33d New Jersey
119th New York
134th " "
154th " «
Third Brigade.
Colonel D. Ireland commanding.
29th Pennsylvania Infantry.
111th " «
60th New York "
78th " " «
102d " " "
137th " " «
149th " " «
Artillery.
Battery "E," Independent Pennsylvania. 13th New York Battery,
Third Division.
Major-General D. Btjtterfield commandijig.
First Brigade.
General "W. T. Ward commanding.
70th Indiana Infantry.
79th Ohio "
102d Illinois "
105th « "
129th " "
Second Brigade.
Colonel John Coburn commanding.
5th Connecticut Infantry.
20th "
19th Michigan
22d Wisconsin
33d Indiana
85th «
36 OPERATIONS FEOM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
Third Brigade.
Colonel J. Wood, Jr., commanding.
26tli 'Wisconsin Infantry.
33d Massachusetts "
55th Ohio "
73d " "
136th New York "
Artillery.
Battery « C," 1st Ohio Artillery. Battery " I," 1st Michigan Artillery.
Fourth Division.
Major-General L. H. Eousseau commanding.
First Brigade.
General E. S. Granger commanding.
10th Tennessee Infantry
13th Wisconsin "
18th Michigan "
73d Indiana "
102d Ohio "
Not Brigaded.
68tli New York Infantry. 83d Illinois Infantry.
68th " " 71st Ohio "
75th Pennsylvania " 106th " "
23d Missouri " 115th " «
31st Wisconsin '•
Artillery.
9th Ohio Battery. 20th Indiana Battery.
Cavalry.
BRIGADIER-GENEEAL W. L. ELLIOTT commanding.
15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, attached to Department Headquarters.
First Division.
Colonel E, M. McCook commanding.
First Brigade. Second Brigade.
Col. a. p. Campbell commanding. Col. O. H. La Grange commanding,
1st Tennessee Cavalry. 1st Wisconsin Cavalry.
2d Michigan " 2d Indiana "
8th Iowa " 4th " "
Tfiird Brigade.
Colonel L. D. Watkins com^nanding.
4th Kentucky Cavalry.
6th " "
7th " "
18th Indiana Battery.
OPERATIONS FEOM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 37
Second Division.
Brigadier-General K. Garrard commanding.
First Brigade. Second Brigade.
Col. Wm. B. Sipes commanding. Colonel E. H. G. Minty commanding,
4th U. S. Cavalry. 1st Ohio Cavalry.
7th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Sd " "
4th Michigan Cavalry. 4th " "
Third Brigade.
Colonel A. 0. Miller commanding.
17th Indiana Mounted Infantry.
72d " " "
98th Illinois " "
123d " " "
Chicago Board of Trade Battery.
Third Division.
Colonel W. W. Lowe commanding.
First Brigade. Second Brigade.
5th Iowa Cavalry. 8th Indiana Cavalry.
9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. 2d Kentucky "
8d Indiana Cavalry (1 battal.) 10th Ohio "
Third Brigade.
3d Kentucky Cavalry.
5th " "
Fourth Division.
Brigadier-General A. C. Gillem commanding.
First Brigade. Second Brigade.
2d Tennessee Cavalry. 5th Tennessee Cavalry,
3d " " «10th " "
4th « « *12th " «
Third Brigade.
*8th Tennessee Cavalry.
«9th " "
«13th " "
Unassigyied Troops.
10th Ohio Infantry, Department Headquarters.
Ist " Sharpshooters, "
9th Michigan Infantry.
1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics; headquarters at Bridgeport, Ala.
* Not mustered.
38 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
Oarriso7i of Chattanooga.
General Jas. B. Steedman commanding.
First Separate Brigade.
' Stla. Kentucky Infantry. 3d Ohio Infantry.
15tli Indiana " 24th " "
29th " " 44th Indiana Infantry.
51st " " 68th " "
Engineer Brigade. Pioneer Brigade.
18th Ohio Infantry, Chattanooga, Tenn. 1st Battalion, Chattanooga, Tenn.
13th Michigan " " " 2d " " «
21st " " " " ■ Pontoon " " "
22d " " " " 58th Indiana Infantry.
Artillery.
Reserve Artillery.
First Division. Second Division.
Battery " F," 4th U. S. Art. Battery " A," 1st Ohio Art.
(( (iQ. " a u It II p " <( «
u "H" " " " "G" " "
(( (I ]yj " (( 11 II i< ]y[ " « «
" "H," 5th U.S. " 18th Ohio Battery.
« " K," " " 1st Kentucl^y Battery.
Garrison Artillery.
Chattanooga, Tenn
4th Indiana Battery. 3d Wisconsin Battery.
8th " " 20th Ohio "
10th " " Battery "I," 1st Ohio Artillery.
11th " " " "C," 1st Wisconsin Heavy Art.
Battery " K," 1st Michigan Artillery.
Bridgeport, Ala.
Battery « E, 1st Ohio Artillery. Battery " B," 1st Ohio Artillery.
Stevenson, Ala.
Battery " K," 1st Ohio Artillery.
Murfreeshoro, Tenn.
Battery " D," 1st Michigan Artillery. 12th Ohio Battery.
8th Wisconsin Battery.
Nashville, Tenn.
12th Indiana Battery. Battery " C," 1st Tennessee Artillery.
Battery " E," 1st Michigan Artillery. " " D," " "
« "I," 4th U.S. Artillery. " "F," " «
Fort Donelson, Tenn.
Battery " C," 2d Illinois Artillery.
Clarksville, Tenn.
Battery "H," 2d Illinois Artillery.
OPERATIONS FJROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 39
Detached Artillery.
10th "Wisconsin Battery, Calhoun, Tenn.
13th Indiana Battery, Gallatin, Tenn.
21st Indiana Battery, Columbia, Tenn.
1st Kansas Battery, Waverly, Tennessee (N. & N. W. R. R.)
2d Kentucky Battery, Tullahoma, Tenn.
Battery "A," 1st Tennessee Artillery, La Vergne, Tenn.
Colored Troops.
12th U. S. Colored Troops, Waverly, Tenn. (N. & N. W. R. R.)
13th U. S. Colored Troops, Waverly, Tenn. (N, & N. W. R. R.)
14th U. S. Colored Troops, Chattanooga, Tenn.
ISth U. S. Colored Troops, Nashville, Tenn.
16th U. S. Colored Troops, Chattanooga, Tennesee [en route).
17th U. S. Colored Troops, Murfreeshoro, Tenn.
42d U. S. Colored Troops, Chattanooga, Tenn,
44th U. S. Colored Troops, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Battery "A," 1st U. S. Colored Light Artillery.
Knoxville, January 31, 1864 — 2 p. M.
General Geo. H. Thomas, Chattanooga :
I am preparing to take the offensive. To do do this with effect, in the
face of Longstreet's reinforcements, will require at least ten thousand
infantry from you. In addition, that you place working gangs on the
road to the Hiawassee bridge, so as to increase our supplies, which may
be boated over the Tennessee, at Loudon, and afterward sent by rail to
this place. I also require a pontoon train of twelve hundred feet
length. Colonel Babcock will come down in the first boat, to attend to
this. The cavalry from Atlanta is reported to be moving into East
Tennessee, through North Carolina. Seven regiments started on the
13th instant. Please telepraph what is the extent of the assistance you
can give me
J. G. FOSTER,
Major-General Commanding.
Nashville, Tenn., February 6, 1864—2.30 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
Reports of scouts make it evident that Joe Johnston has removed
most of his force from your front, two divisions going to Longstreet.
Longstreet has been reinforced by troops from the East. This makes it
evident that they intend to secure East Tennessee, if they can, and I
intend to drive them out, or get wliipped this month. For this purpose,
you will have to detach at least ten thousand men, besides Stanley's
■division (more will be better). I can partly relieve the vacuum at Chat-
tanooga by troops from Logan's command. It will not be necessary to
40 OPEEATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
take artillery or wagons to Knoxville, but all the serviceable artillery
horses should be taken to use on artillery there. Six mules to each one
hundred men should also be tai -^n, if you have them to spare. Let me
know how soon you can start.
MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT.
Nashville, February 10, 1864.
Major-General Thomas :
Prepare to start for Knoxville on Saturday. I will order Logan to
send to Chattanooga all the troops he can, and still hold his line of the
road. The number will probably be about five thousand men. One
division of your command will have to move out to hold the road to the
Hiawassee.
MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT.
Nashville, February 17, 186.4.
Major-General Thomas:
Longstreet can not afford to place his force between Knoxville and the
Tennessee. If he does, it will then be time to move against him. The
work of a raid on the road can soon be repaired, if it can not be pre-
vented. Make your contemplated move as soon as possible.
MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT.
Chattanooga, Tenn., February 19, 1864.
Major-General Grant, Nashville, Tenn. :
Assistant Surgeon Jacob Miller, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry,
arrived here yesterday, from Dalton. He was captured at Lebanon,
Alabama, when General Logan sent out an expedition toward Rome.
He reports Cleburne's division at Tunnel Hill, Stewart's division between
Tunnel Hill and Dalton; Walker, two miles out from Dalton, toward
Spring Place; Cheatham at Dalton; and Stevenson's and Bate's divisions
to the west of Dalton two miles. He saw all of tho camps, and estimates
their force between thirty and forty thousand. He moreover states that
no troops have been sent away, except one brigade of infantry, which
went to Rome, about the 1st of this month.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. 8. V.
TuNNELL Hill, February 26, 1864— 7 J p. m.
Major-General U. S. Grant, Nashville :
I arrived here last night. Davis and Johnson occupy the pass at
Buzzard's Roost. They have a force equal to theirs in their front, who
outnumber them in artillery. It is not possible to carry this place
by assault. General Palmer made tho attempt to turn yesterday, with
Baird's and Cruft's divisions, but was met by an equal force, exclusive of
their cavalry, and in an equally strong position as at Buzzard's Roost.
After expending nearly all of his ammunition, he retired during the
night, to Catoosa Platform. Our transportation is poor and limited ; we
OPEEATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 41
are not able to carry more than sixty rounds per man. Artillery horses
so poor, that Palmer could bring but sixteen pieces. The country is
stripped entirely of subsistence and forage. The enemy's cavalry is
much superior to ours. Prisoners taken yesterday report that a portion
of Cleburne's division has returned. I will wait the development of this
day, and advise you further,
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V.
Nashville, February 27, 1864.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas:
It is of the utmost importance that the enemy should be held in full
belief that an advance into the heart of the South is intended, until the
fate of General Sherman is fully known. The difficulties of supplies
can be overcome by keeping your trains running between Chattanooga
and your position. Take the depot trains at Chattanooga, yours and
General Howard's wagons; these can be replaced temporarily, by yours
returning. Veterans are returning daily. This will enable you to draw
reinforcements constantly to your front. Can General Schofield not also
take a division from Howard's corps? It is intended to send Granger to
you the moment Schofield is thought to be safe without him.
U. S. GRANT,
Major- General.
Nashville, February 27 — 6 p. m.
Brigadier-General Wliipple, Chief of Staff:
Information has reached Washington, that orders have been given for
Johnston's army to fall back. General Thomas should watch any such
movement and follow it up closely. Can't you draw teams from Bridge-
port and Stevenson, to send sujoplies to the front? They have teams in
great numbers at those places. Every energj' should be exerted to get
supplies and reinforcements forward. Troops will leave here at the
rate of two or three thousand a day, for the front. Many of them go to
Chattanooga.
U. S. GRANT,
Major- General
Chattakooga, March 5, 1864 — 11 p. m.
Major-General Schofield, Knoxville :
I have just received reliable information that Johnston has been rein-
forced by ten thousand men from South Carolina, and by Roddy, and
that he contemplates making an oflFensive movement in this direction.
Can you spare Granger's corps? If so, please direct them to concentrate
at Cleveland, leaving a brigade of infantry and battery at Calhoun, to
guard the railroad at that place.
GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V.
42 OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 1864.
Chattanooga, March 5, 18G4.
Major-General John M. Schofield, Knoxville :
It has been reported to Major-General Thomas to-day, and also two days
since, that the enemy were heavily reinforcing at Dalton. General Grant
thinks it is not improbable that he may advance against us here. In
that case we shall need the Fourth Corps, and wish you to hold it in
readiness to send, if it be needed. Can not send you any assistance
while this contingency is hanging over us.
WILLIAM D. WHIPPLE,
Brigadier- General and Chief of Staff.
EXTRACTS FROM THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL JOS. E.
JOHNSTON.
On the 17th of February, the President ordered me, by telegraph, to
detach Lieutenant-General Hardee with the infantry of his corps, except
Stevenson's division, to aid Lieutenant-General Polk, against Sherman
in Mississippi. This order was obeyed as promptly as our means of trans-
portation permitted.
* * * -x- * * * s- *
On the 27th of February, I suggested to the executive by letter, through
Oeneral Bragg, that all preparations for a forward movement should be
made without delay. In a letter, dated 4th of March, General Bragg
■desired me '' to have all things ready at the earliest practicable moment,
for the movement indicated." In replying, on the 12th, I reminded
him that the regulations of the war department do not leave such prep-
arations to commanders of troops, but to officers who receive their orders
from Richmond.
On the ISth, a letter was received from General Bragg, sketching
a plan of offensive operations, and enumerating the troops to be used
in them under me. I was invited to express my views on the subject.
In doing so, both by telegraph and mail, I suggested modifications, and
urged that the additional troops named should be sent immediately, to
■enable us, should the enemy advance, to beat him, and then move for-
ward; or, should he not advance, do so ourselves. General Bragg replied,
by telegraph, on the 21st: "Your dispatch of 19th does not indicate
acceptance of plan proposed. Troops can only be drawn from other
jDoints for advance. Upon your decision of that point, further action
must depend.
I rejilied, by telegraph, on the 22d: "In my dispatch of the 19th,
I expressly accept taking offensive, only differ with you as to details. I
assume that the enemy wdll be prepared for an advance before we
are, and will make it to our advantage. Therefore I propose, both
for offensive and defensive, to assemble our troops here immediately."
This was not noticed. Therefore, on the •25th, I again urged the
necessity of reinforcing the Army of the Tennessee, because the enemy
was collecting a larger force than that of the last campaign, while ours
was less than it had been then.
OPERATION'S FROM JAJfUARY TO MARCH, 1864. 43
On the 8th of April, Colonel B. S. Ewell, A. A. G., was sent to Richmond,
to represent to the President my wish to take the offensive, with proper
means, and to learn his views. A few days after, Brigadier-General Pen-
dleton arrived from Richmond, to explain to mo the President's wishes
on the subject. I explained to him the modification of the plan com-
municated by General Bragg, which seemed to me essential, which re-
quired that intended reinforcements shovild be sent to Dalton. I urged
that this should be done without delay, because our present force was
not sufficient even for defense, and to enable us to take the oflfensive, if
the enemy did not.
By Telegraph from Chattanooga, February 28, 1864.
Major-General Grant, Nashville:
General Butterfield, by my direction, has recently examined the line
between here and Nashville, and reports that bethinks six thousand men
will be sufficient to guard that line, two regiments of which force should
be cavalry. From what I know of the road between Nashville and De-
catur, two thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry will be suflBcient to
protect that line. One thousand infantry will be sufficient to protect the
line from Athens to Stevenson. Probably both lines of communication
can be guarded by six thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry, a
great portion of which should be made up from the local militia of Ten-
nessee, or troops organized especially for the preservation of order in the
state. I believe if I can commence the campaign with the Fourteenth and
Fourth Corps in front, with Howard's corps in reserve, that I can move
along the line of the raih'oad and overcome all opposition as far at least
as Atlanta. I should want a strong division of cavalry in advance. As
soon as Captain Merrill returns from his reconnoissance along the railroad
lines, I can give you a definite estimate of the number of troops required
to guard the bridges along the road.
GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General U. 8. V.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL THOMAS' REPORT TO THE COM-
MITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
The above proposition was submitted to General Grant for his approval,
and if obtained it was my intention (having acquired by the reconnoissance
of February 23d, 24th, and 25th, a thorough knowledge of the approaches
direct upon Dalton from Ringgold and Cleveland) to have made a strong
demonstration against Buzzard's Roost, attracting Johnston's whole atten-
tion to that point, and to have thrown the main body of my infantry and
cavalry through Snake Creek Gap, upon his communications, which I had
ascertained from scouts he had up to that time neglected to observe or
guard. With this view, I had previously asked for the return to me of
Granger's corps and my cavalry from East Tennessee, and had already
initiated preparations for the execution of the above movement as soon
as the spring opened sufficiently to admit of it.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE TURNING OF DALTON.
The first of May, 1864, was a crisis of the war. Two of the
largest armies hitherto assembled East or "West were in read-
iness to move against the enemy at the bidding of the Lieu-
tenant-General. The local objectives of these armies were
distinct, but the common general object was the immediate
suppression of the rebellion. It was proposed to accomplish
this grand aim, by crushing General Lee's army covering
Richmond and General Johnston's standing before Dalton.
These two armies embodied the life of the rebellion.
Generals Grant and Sherman were to move on lines too re-
mote to admit direct co-operation, but they proposed to be
mutually helpful by simultaneous aggression. General Grant
was to forbid the transfer of troops from Virginia to Georgia,
by vigor of attack, and General Sherman was to engage John-
ston in such a manner that he could not send supporting col-
umns from Georgia to Virginia. Volunteers were invited for
one hundred days, to hold the important points in the rear of
the two great armies, that all the available veteran troops
East might be massed against General Lee, and all in the West
concentrated at Chattanooga, that General Sherman, with three
armies in one, should dash upon General Johnston at Daltou.
Campaigns, East or West, had never been undertaken under
conditions of similar promise, and the loyal people were hope-
ful of early and complete success.
The conditions of the Georgia campaign were exceedingl}'
favorable to General Sherman, as compared with the ruling
features of all preceding campaigns in the central theater of
war. The superiority of the national army at Chattanooga
(44)
TPIE TURXING OF DALTOX. 45
had been far greater tliaii in any previous battle in this region,
and in some of the anterior engagements, as at Chickamauga,
the enemy had been superior. But General Sherman's pre-
ponderance of strength was greater than General Grant's when
General Bragg was hurled from Lookout Mountain and Mis-
sionary Ridge. Then the strength of the opposing armies was
perhaps as three to two ; it was now to be as two to one. Be-
sides, General Johnston could not now have, as his predecessor
had always had, when on the defensive, the advantage of inte-
rior lines. The possession of Chattanooga and Cleveland,
with roads converging at Dalton, gave direct lines for General
Sherman's first advance, and with the railroad and river from
Knoxville to Decatur well guarded, and a fortified line of sup-
ply from the north, he could move southward without endan-
gering flank or rear, so long as he could so engage the enemy
as to keep him before him. In the projected campaign, neither
General Sherman nor General Johnston could have the ad-
vantage of interior lines, only so far as the defensive could
give to either, shorter lines for maneuver and array, within a
limited range only. The general line of maneuver being
north and south, forbade great advantage of lines to either.
But General Johnston had other advantages. He had
choice of positions and could always resist behind battlements
with good management, and in giving ground would be con-
stantly gathering to him his reserves ; while General Sherman,
in advancing, would be compelled to detach more and more
from his oficnsive forces to guard his constantly lengthening
line of supply. So, therefore, the relative conditions of the
campaign were by no means expressed by the comparative pro-
portions of the opposing armies.
The 2d day of May was first named by General Grant for
the advance of the great armies, but finally the 5th was
announced in orders. General Thomas, however, commenced
his dispositions and movements on the 2d. On this day. Gen-
eral Davis' division joined General Baird's at Ringgold, and
General Butterfield's advanced from Lookout valley to Lee
and Gordon's Alills. During the day, General Baird sent
infantry and cavalry detachments to reconnoiter toward Tun-
nel Hill, and developed the enemy in force at that point.
46 THE TURNING OF DALTON.
May 3d, General Johnson's division closed upon the other two
of the Fourteenth Corps at Ringgold. On the day following,
the Fourth Corps, with McCook's division of cavalry on its
left flank, advanced to Catoosa Springs, and Butterfield's
division advanced to Pleasant Grove, and General Williams'
division to Lee and Gordon's Mills. The next day. General
Geary's division, having marched across the mountain from
Bridgeport, closed up on the other divisions of the Twentieth
Corps at Leet's tanyard, completing the concentration of the
Army of the Cumberland.
General Sherman originally designed that the Army of the
Tennessee, Major-General McPherson commanding, should ad-
vance from Decatur by Gunter's Landing and Lebanon, Ala-
bama, to Lafayette, Georgia ; but subsequently, he ordered it to
move upon Chattanooga. This army was not as strong as had
been anticipated, as two of its veteran divisions under General
A. J. Smith were detained by the protraction of General Banks'
expedition west of the Mississippi river. With two corps,
General McPherson attained position at Lee and Gordon's
Mills on the 6th, and the same day the Army of the Ohio, Ma-
jor-General Schofield commanding, reached Red Clay. At the
close of this day the armies representing the controlling
strength of the contending powers in the West, lay confronting
each other on the eve of one of the greatest campaigns of a
war, made memorable in the annals of the world by the
magnitude of armies, the frequency of great battles, and im-
mense compass of military operations.
General Sherman's three armies for offense now numbered
nearly one hundred thousand men. There were sixty thou-
sand seven hundred and seventy-three men in the Army of
the Cumberland ; twenty -four thousand and sixty -five in the
Army of the Tennessee ; and thirteen thousand five hundred
and fifty-nine in the Army of the Ohio. The Army of the
Cumberland comprised fifty-four thousand five hundred and
sixty-eight infantry, two thousand three hundred and seventj'-
seven artillery, three thousand two hundred and twenty-eight
cavalry, and one hundred and thirty guns ; the Army of the
Tennessee, twenty-two thousand infantry, one thousand four
hundred and four artillery, six hundred and twenty-four cav-
THE TURNING OF DALTON. 47
airy, and ninety-six guns ; and tlie Army of the Ohio, eleven
thousand one hundred and eighty-three infantry, six hundred
and seventy-nine artillery, one thousand six hundred and
ninety-seven cavalry, and eighty -two guns. The grand aggre-
gates were eighty-eight thousand one hundred and eighty-
eight infantry, four thousand four hundred and sixty artillery,
five thousand five hundred and forty-nine cavalry, and two
hundred and fifty-four guns. General Johnston's army em-
braced forty-four thousand nine hundred infantry, artillery,
and cavalry ; two corps, commanded by Lieutenant-Generals
Hardee and Hood, and four thousand cavalry, by Major-Gen-
eral Wheeler.
General Sherman proposed first to carry Tunnel Hill, and
then threaten a direct attack upon Johnston's main position
before Dalton, while McPherson's army should move through
Snake Creek Gap to operate against Resaca. He accordingly
gave orders, May 6th, requiring General Thomas, on the day
following, to move his center, the Fourteenth Corps, directly
upon Tunnel Hill ; his right, the Twentieth Corps, to Trickum,
and his left, the Fourth Corps, to Lee's house, in support of the
Fourteenth : General McPherson to advance with his army
first upon Ship's Gap and Villanow, and thence to Snake Creek
Gap, and through it as soon as practicable ; and General Scho-
field to move forward to Catoosa Springs, feeling toward Gen-
eral Thomas' left fiank.
The Army of the Cumberland moved on the 7th, in com-
pliance with orders. The enemy made a show of resistance to
Genera] Palmer, with infantry and artillery, at Tunnel Hill,
but on the appearance of General Howard's corps upon his
left, his troops fled to Buzzard's Roost. General Hooker, upon
reaching Trickum, threw out detachments toward Buzzard's
Roost on the left, and Villanow on the right, to observe the
enemy. General Kilpatrick's cavalry remained at Gordon's
Springs, in readiness to establish communications with the
Army of the Tennessee, expected at Villanow on the morning
of the 8th.
The next day, Harker's brigade of ISTewton's division of
the Fourth Corps advanced along Rocky Face ridge to a
point within a mile and a half of the enemy's signal station.
48 THE TUEXING OF DALTON".
Meeting here with obstructions forbidding farther advance,
Harker made preparations to hold the position. Skirmish
lines were then thrown forward from Wood's, Davis', and
Butterfield's divisions, and the enemy was pressed into his in-
trenchments at Buzzard's Roost, or "Mill Creek Gap,"* and
the three divisions advanced to the entrance.
As General McPherson was now moving upon Snake Creek
Gap, it was imperative that a strong feint should be made, to
create the impression that it was the intention to carry the
position by assault. Accordingly, General Geary was directed
to scale Chattooga Mountain with his division, if practi-
cable, at the point known as Dug Gap, where the road from
Lafayette to Dalton ascends from Mill Creek valley. Chat-
tooga Mountain is separated from Rocky Face ridge by Mill
Creek at Buzzard's Roost, and from that point trends south-
ward.
At the point selected for Geary's ascent, the mountain side
is steep and rough, and the summit is crowned with a palisade
of rocks, with occasional openings that admit passage to the
top. With the One Hundred and Nineteenth ISTew York de-
ployed as skirmishers, and Buschbeck's and Candy's brigades
formed on right and left, in two lines of battle, Geary moved
Tip the mountain. Midway, his skirmishers became hotly en-
gaged, but the enemy was pressed upward until the main lines
reached the base of the palisades. After resting for a few
minutes, to recover from the exhaustion produced by excessiA^e
heat and protracted exertion, an effort was made to reach the
summit. A few men only succeeded, and they were either
killed or forced back. The position was such that defense
was easy, even by rolling stones from the summit. A second
attempt, however, was made, soon after the first failed, but
with similar issue. General Geary then brought McGill's
rifled battery to bear upon the enemy in his front, to cover an
effort of the Thirty-third 'New Jersey to reach the summit a
half mile to the right, where the enemy made less show of
strength. As in the other cases, a few men gained the crest,
and their shouts invited the advance of the whole line, but
* So designated by General Johnston.
THE TURNING OF DALTON. 49
again there was emphatic faikire. By this time, General
Hardee was present with reinforcements, and further effort
would have heen madness. Geary lost heavily, but his action
being regarded by the enemy as the initiative to carry the po-
sition by assault, it was in some degree compensative, as such
impression was the object of the movement. Kight and the
third repulse coming together, the division was withdrawn to
the valley, out of reach of the enemy's guns.
During the afternoon, Johnson's and Baird's divisions were
advanced to Davis' support, and Butterfield's was ordered to
join General Hooker. General Kilpatrick communicated with
General McPherson, and then moved to Trickum. McCook's
division was thrown on Schofield's left flank, to cover the ex-
tremity of the general line, until General Stoneman should
come up. The position for General Garrard's cavalry division
was to be with General McPherson, but it was yet in the rear,
en route from Pulaski, Tennessee.
The next day, the Army of the Cumberland was somewhat
heavily engaged on the east, north, and west of Buzzard's
Boost. The action was intended as a feint, unless it should
be ascertained that General Johnston was withdrawing his
army. Such, however, was the position, by nature and art,
that emphatic feints subjected the national forces to great ex-
posure, and there was considerable loss throughout the line.
The character of the feints may be inferred from the fact that
General Johnston reported that five assaults upon " Eocky
Face Mountain " were repulsed on the 9th of May. His
troops holding Buzzard Boost were Stewart's and Bate's di-
visions, supported by Stevenson's and Anderson's. The
defenses for infantry were at right angles to the roads, and
batteries, covered with abatis, were placed on the adjacent
summits to throw a converging fire upon the valley, which
was flooded by means of well-concealed dams. Carlin's bri-
gade, supported by the remainder of Johnson's division, felt
the enemy's lines on the west; Morgan's brigade of Davis'
division, on the north, and Grose's brigade of Stanley's divis-
ion, on the east. The loss in killed was slight, but a great
many were wounded. The heaviest loss, in comparison with
VOL. II — 4
50 THE TURNING OF DALTON.
the number of troops engaged, was in McCook's division on
the extreme left. Under instructions from General Schofield,
Colonel McCook made demonstrations on all the roads lead-
ing to Dalton on the east. Colonel La Grange, commanding
his second brigade, encountered Wheeler, with twenty-two
hundred men, on the road from Yarnell's Station. . He was at
first successful, and pressed Wheeler back to intrenchments
near Poplar Place, but was there repulsed with heavy loss. He
and fourteen officers were captured, and one hundred and
thirty-six of his men were either killed, wounded, or captured.
Wlieeler's loss was supposed to be greater. During the day,
Hooker's corps was at Trickum to support McPherson in pass-
ing through Snake Creek Gap.
The action the next day was less severe, though the feint
was vigorously maintained with a view to prevent any con-
centration against General McPherson. To give him support,
Kilpatrick's cavalry was ordered to join him, and Williams'
division of the Twentieth Corps was sent to his rear. In the
evening, General Hooker was directed to send a division on
the following day to widen the road through the gap, to facili-
tate the passage of troops and trains.
General McPherson passed through Snake Creek Gap, and
reached the vicinity of Eesaca at 2 p. m. on the 9th. Finding
the place " fortified and manned," and no roads through the
forest to the railroad, while his flank was exposed to attack
from the direction of Dalton, he withdrew to the debouche of
the gap through which he had passed. During the afternoon
of the 9th, General Johnston learned that two corps of the
national army were in the gap, and sent General Hood to
Resaca with three divisions.
When General Sherman learned that McPherson had not
touched Johnston's communications and had withdrawn to
the gap, he made a change of plan. He desired, from the first,
to hold Johnston at Dalton, and entertained the hope that
McPherson's movement would so interrupt his communica-
tions that he would be forced* to give battle at Dalton — an
issue that was preferred to operations " far down into Georgia."
His instructions to General McPherson were to secure Snake
Creek Gap, and from it make a bold attack on the enemy's
THE TURXING OF DALTON. 51
flank or liis railroad at any point between Tilton and Dalton.
He said : " I liope the enemy will fight at Dalton ; in M^hich
<;ase he can have no force there that can interfere with you ;
but should his policy be to fall back along the railroad, you
will hit him in flank. Do not fail in that event to make the
most of the opportunity, by the most vigorous attack possi-
ble, as it may save us what we have most reason to appre-
hend— a slow pursuit, in which he gains strength as we lose it.
In either event, you may be sure the forces north of you will
prevent his turning on you alone. In the event of hearing
the sounds of heavy battle about Dalton, the greater necessity
for your rapid movement on the railroad. If broken to an
•extent that would take some days to repair, you can with-
draw to Snake Creek Gap, and come to us or await the devel-
opment, according to your judgment or the information you
may receive." As soon as he learned that General McPherson
had failed to accomplish any of these objects, except to attain
position at the debouche of the gap, he determined to attack
with his armies through the gap, and issued orders for the
movement.
It was plain to General Sherman, as it had been to General
Thomas, in February, that no eflEbrt should be made to dis-
lodge the enemy from Buzzard E,oost, by direct attack ; but
he continued the feint, in order to still hold Johnston at Dal-
ton, that he might throw his armies upon his rear. Snake
Creek Gap made it easy to turn Dalton, by an army strong
enough to uncover its communications, or to detach sufiicient
forces to risk an engagement with the enemy's whole army.
Through this gap all the fortresses north of Dalton could be
evaded, and the army in passage be under the cover of the
mountains. Had Johnston's army been strong enough for
division to hold the positions north of Dalton, and the lower
mouth of the gap, he could have defied a hundred thousand
men. But as his safety demanded the concentration of his
army on his lines of retreat and supply, he was compelled to
leave the passage undefended, and make roads for the quick
transfer of his army from Dalton to Reseca, should his antag-
onist use the gap for a flank movement. General Sherman's
52 THE TURNING OF DALTON.
orders to effect tliis measure required the concentration of his
armies in Snake Creek Gap, on the 12th.
When General Johnston first learned that General McPher-
son had retired from Resaca, he recalled Hood's three divis-
ions, and on the 11th his army was again concentrated at
Dalton. On the morning of the 12th, he was confronted by
Howard's corps and Stoneman's cavalry, the remainder of the
national forces being in motion to concentrate in Snake Creek
Gap. Stanley's division was before Buzzard's Roost Gap ;
IsTewton's was holding the north end of Rocky Face ridge,
and the roads around it ; Wood's was in reserve on Tunnel
Hill, and Stoneman's troopers were on ISTewton's left flank.
From the signal station on the ridge, the movements of the
enemy were plainly visible. About 10 a. m. a heavy column
was seen to advance toward Newton's left, as if to turn it.
The menace was of such positive expression that Wood's di-
vision moved to Newton's support. But the enemy, after
driving back Newton's skirmishers, withdrew. General John-
ston's object, doubtless, was to ascertain whether the national
forces had withdrawn from his front, as he had heard the day
previous that Resaca was again threatened. The evening
before, he had ordered General Polk, who had just arrived
with Loring's division, to defend the place with that division,
and Canty's brigade. But as his safety depended upon his
knowledge of General Sherman's movements, his reconnois-
sance was directed to this end. During the day, he was so
fully assured of the flank movement, that, by a night march,
he transferred his infantry and artillery to Resaca, leaving his
cavalry to cover his rear.
This result was not in harmony with the plans and expecta-
tions of General Sherman, his object being to hold John-
ston's army at Dalton, until his own armies could pass through
Snake Creek Gap ; but the opportunity to accomplish it was
lost between the 9th and the morning of the 13th. On the
9th, Resaca was held by Canty's brigade. The day following.
General Hood was there with three divisions. On the 11th,
Canty's brigade again held the place, and from the evening
of the 11th until the morning of the 13th, General Polk was
there with Loring's division in addition to Canty's brigade.
THE TURNIXG OF DALTOiN". 53
Oeneral McPherson passed tliroiigh Snake Creek Gap on the
9th, and was on that day with his army within a mile of Res-
aca, and from the 9th to the 13th, he was south of the gap. On
the 11th, Hooker's corps was in supporting distance, and on
the 12th, Pahncr's corps and Schofield's two divisions were
close in the rear of Hooker.
Johnston remained in ignorance of Sherman's grand flank
movement until the evening of the 12th, and then he was at
Dalton with his army. After the national armies had gained
Snake Creek Gap, he was unable to ascertain how many troops
passed through it. An army, there, could pass as secretly as a
hrigade. He said in his official report, that "Rocky Face
Mountain, and Snake Creek Gap, at its south end, completely
<iovered for the enemy the turning of Dalton." His ignorance,
tlicn, of the movement until the evening of the 12th, was a
•condition of its success. Had McPherson's army and the
forces in his rear, on that day, moved, rapidly into position
between Pesaca and Tilton, Johnston would have been thrown
from his communications, or been compelled to give battle
upon conditions of great disadvantage.
It was unfortunate tliat Pesaca was not gained at the same
time that Dalton was turned, as the campaign did not furnish
a similar opportunity to defeat Johnston, or press him from
his communications. The grandest possibility between Tun-
nel Hill and Lovejoy's Station invited a prompt advance in
force from the debouche of Snake Creek Gap. General
Thomas' plan differed from the one adopted by General Sher-
man. He proposed that the Armies of the Tennesse and the
Ohio should hold General Johnston at Dalton, by a feint upon
liis position at Buzzard's Roost, while the Army of the Cum-
berland, sixty thousand strong, should pass rapidly through
Snake Creek Gap, and fall upon Johnston's communications
between Dalton and Resaca, and thus cut him otf from his
communications, and either drive him eastward into a moun-
tain region, or force him to give battle on unequal conditions.
General Sherman's first plan proposed to demonstrate against
Resaca, so as to hold him at Dalton to give battle, or induce
General Johnston to abandon Dalton, and then strike his
iirmy in flank, while in motion between that place and Resaca.
54 THE TURNING OF DALTON.
This first series of operations in ofiense and defense gave
the types of the campaign. The offensive compelled a choice
between the direct attack of fortified positions and the flank
movement. The adopted methods of defense were the main-
tenance of fortified positions as long as practicable, a constant
outlook for opportunities to strike insulated columns, and re-
treat when necessary to save communications. General John-
ston's leading idea was to fight under cover, and thus reduce
the national army until he could meet it on equal conditions
of battle, and at Dalton, and almost daily while he held com-
mand, he gave it revelation. General Sherman's leading ob-
ject was to entrap or force his enemy into battle under cir-
cumstances which would not neutralize his superior strength,
and of this, his zigzag lines of aggression were the expression.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL . GRANT'S OFFICIAL REPORT OF
OPERATIONS FROM MARCH, 1864, TO JULY, 1865.
The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the Missis-
sippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and J. E. John-
ston, his ablest and best generals. The army commanded by Lee occupied
the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from Mine run westward,
strongly intrenched, covering and defending Richmond, the rebel capital,
against the Army of the Potomac. The army under Johnston occupied
a strongly intrenched position at Dalton, Georgia, covering and defend-
ing Atlanta, Georgia, a place of great importance as a railroad center,
against the armies under Major-General Sherman.
These two armies and the cities covered by them and defended by them,
were the main objective points of the campaign.
General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army to
break it up, and tq go into the interior of the enemy's country as far as-
he could, inflicting all the damage he could upon their war resources. If
the enemy in his front showed signs of joining Lee, to follow him up ta
the full extent of his ability, while I would prevent the concentration of
Lee upon him, if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to-
do so.
Culpepper, April 2o — 10.30 a. m.
Major- General Sherman :
Will your veterans be back to enable you to start on the 2d of May ?'
I do not want to delay later. U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- GeneraL
THE TUENING OF DALTON. 55
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
Nashville, April 27, 1864.
Ziieutenant-G eneral Grant, Culpepper :
In view of the fact that I will have to take the initiative with twenty-
thousand less men in McPherson's army than I estimated, I intend to
order all McPherson's disposable force, twenty thousand (20,000), and
Garrard's cavalry, five thousand (5,000), to Chattanooga, to start from a
common center. I go forward to-morrow,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
Culpepper, Va., April 2S, 1864.
Major-General Sherman :
Get your forces up so as to move by the fifth (5th) of May.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 8, 1864.
Major-General, Hallech, Washington, D. C :
I have been all day reconnoitering the mountain range through whose
gap the railroad and common road pass. By to-night, McPherson will
be in Snake Creek Gap, threatening Resaca, and to-morrow will move to
the attack. Army in good condition. I hope Johnston will fight here,
instead of drawing me far down into Georgia.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 9, 1864 — 8 p. m.
General Halleck, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C. :
We have been fighting all day against precipices and mountain gaps to
keep Johnston's army busy, whilst McPherson could march to Resaca to
destroy the railroad behind him. I heard from McPherson up to two (2)
p. M., when he was within a mile and a half of the railroad. After break-
ing the road good, his orders are to retire to the mouth of Snake Creek
Gap, and be ready to work on Johnston's flank in case he retreats south.
I will pitch in again early in the morning. Fighting has been mostly
skirmishing, and casualties small. McPherson has the Army of the Ten-
nessee, twenty-three thousand (23,000), and only encountered cavalry,
60 that Johnson did not measure his strength at all.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
56 THE TURNING OF DALTON.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 10, 1864 — 7 a. m.
Major-General Halleck, Washington, D. C :
I am starting for the extreme front in Buzzard Roost Gap, and make
this dispatch that you may understand Johnston acts purely on the de-
fensive. I am attacking him on his strongest fronts — viz., west and north
— till McPherson breaks his line at Resaca, when I will swing round
through Snake Creek Gap, and interpose between him and Georgia. I
am not driving things too fast, because I want two columns of cavalry
that are rapidly coming up to me from the rear — Stoneman on my left
and Garrard on my right — both due to-day. Yesterday I pressed hard to
prevent Johnston detaching against McPherson, but to-day I will be more
easy, as I believe McPherson has destroyed Resaca, when he is ordered
to fall back to the mouth of Snake Creek Gap, and act against Johnston's
flank when he does start. All are in good condition.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnel Hill, May 10, 1864.
General: — I propose to leave hereabouts one (1) of your corps — say
Howard' s — the cavalry of Colonel McCook, and the cavalry of General
Stoneman, to keep up the feint of a direct attack on Dalton through Buz-
zard Roost, as long as possible, and with all the remainder of the three
armies to march to and through Snake Creek Gap, and attack the enemy
in force from that quarter.
You may at once commence your preparations, and give orders that
the force left here is to be under the command of the senior officer, who
vi'ill strip his command light, sending all spare wagons to Ringgold ; that
the cars run daily to this point with daily supplies, but the main stores
to be at Ringgold ; that the cavalry watch well the passes north of Tunnel
Hill, and at Ray's Gap; and that in case the enemy detect the diminu-
tion of force, and attack, gradually withdraw in the direction of Ring-
gold, but defend that point at all costs ; that a locomotive and construc-
tion train be kept here with orders, and prepared, if this retrograde
movement be made necessary ; that the party shall take up, at intervals,
rails, so as to make a repair train necessary to replace them — this, that
the enemy may not have the track to facilitate his movement in pursuit.
A few rails should at once be removed at some point east of the tunnel,
that can again be put down when we want it done.
The pass at Snake creek is represented as very narrow. Please instruct
a division to be there to-morrow, provided with axes and spades, so as to
widen the road as to enable the passage of wagons ; also to facilitate the
march of troops by roads and paths outside the wagon track.
General Stoneman will be at Varnell's to-night, and by tomorrow night
all his command will be in, so that we will calculate all to go to Snake
THE TURNING OF DALTON. 57
creek, and close up on General McPherson during the day after to-morrow.
As soon as General Stoneman comes, I will cause him to relieve Colonel
McCook on that flank, so that you may send him to replace General
Geary at Kay's road. Let the troops move as much under cover as possi-
ble ; wagons going round by Villanow, and troops by Mill Creek road.
General Schofield will either go round by Villanow or follow General
Newton.
I am, etc.,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Major-General Tliomas, Commanding Army of the Cumberland.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnel Hill, May lU, 1864.
General : — I think you are satisfied that your troops can not take
Rocky Face ridge, and also the attempt to put our columns into the jaws
of Buzzard Roost would be fatal to us.
Two plans suggest themselves :
1. By night, to replace Schofield's present command by Stoneman's
cavalry, which should be near at hand, and to move rapidly your entire
army, the men along the base of John's Mountain by the Mill Creek road
to Snake Creek Gap, and join McPherson while the wagons are moved
to Yillanow. When we are joined to McPherson, to move from Sugar
valley on Resaca, interposing ourselves between that place and Dalton.
Oould your army and McPherson's surely whip Joe Johnston ?
2. I cast loose from the railroad altogether, and move the whole army
on the same objective point, leaving Johnston to choose his course.
Give orders for all your troops to be ready with three days' provisions,
and to be jorepared to march to-night. I expect to hear from McPherson
and Schofield as to their situation, also as to the near approach of Stone-
man. He was at Charleston yesterday, and is apprized of the necessity
for haste. Do you think any danger to McPherson should make us de-
lay one day?
Please give me the benefit of your opinion on these points.
Yours, etc.,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General Tliomas, present.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 10, 1864.
Major-General Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
General McPherson reached Resaca, but found the place strongly forti-
fied and guarded, and did not break the road. According to his instruc-
tions, he drew back to the debouche of the gorge, where he has a strong
■defensive position, and guards the only pass into the valley of the Oosta-
58 THE TURNING OF DALTON.
naula, available to us. Buzzard Roost Gap, through which the railroad
passes, is naturally and artificially too strong to be attempted. I must
feign on Buzzard Roost, but pass through Snake Creek Gap, and place
myself between Johnston and Resaca, where we will have to fight it out,
I am making the preliminary move. Certain that Johnston can make
no detachments, I will be in no hurry. My cavalry is just approaching
from Kentucky and Tennessee, detained by difficulty of getting horses,
and even now it is less than my minimum.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-Qeneral Commanding,
Headquakters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnell Hill, Ga., May 11, 1864.
General: — I received by courier in the night yours of 5 and 6.30 p. m.
of yesterday. You will also, during the night, come to the same con-
clusion.
You have now your twenty-three thousand, and General Hooker is close
in support, so that you can hold all Joe Johnston's army in check should
he abandon Dal ton. He can 't abandon Dalton, for he has fixed it up so
well for us, and he observes we are close at hand, waiting for him to quit.
He can't afford a detachment strong enough to fight you, as his army will
not admit of it.
Strengthen your position, fight anything that comes, and threaten the
safety of the railroad all the time. But to tell the truth, I would rather
he would stay in Dalton two more days, when he will find a larger party
than he expects, in an open field. At all events Ave can then choose our
ground, and he will be forced to move out of his works. I do not intend
to put a column into Buzzard Roost Gap at present.
See that you are in easy communication with me and all headquarters.
After to-day supplies will be at Ringgold.
Yours,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General Commanding.
Major-General McPherson, Commanding Army of the Tennessee, Sugar Valley,
Georgia.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Tunnell Hill, Ga., May 11, 1864.
General : — The indications are that Johnston is evacuating Dalton.
In that event, Howard's and the cavalry will pursue, and all the rest will
follow your route. I will be down early in the morning.
Try to strike him, if possible, about the forks of the roads.
Hooker must be with you now, and you might send General Garrard by
Somerville, to threaten Rome and that flank. I will cause all the lines to
be felt at once.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General Commanding,
General McPherson, Sugar Valley.
THE TURNING OF DALTON. 59
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDEES, NO 3.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Snake Creek Gap, Ga., May 12, 1864.
The object of the movement for to-morrow is to interpose between the
enemy and Resaca, and to break his communications.
I. Major-General McPherson will move his column directly on Resaca,
occupying in force the hills on this side of Camp creek, and his left ex-
tending along ujD Camp creek. He will prepare to advance a part of his
force from his left to the railroad, and break it, and then fall back to his
line.
II. Major-General Thomas will follow close to General McPherson, and
when he reaches a main road crossing to the Resaca road, about two
miles this side of town, viz., the Dalton and Calhoun road, he will turn
to the left toward Dalton, prepared to deploy forward and connect on his
right with General McPherson's left, choosing strong positions to cover
the movement on the railroad.
III. Major-General Schofield will follow General Thomas, and at the
first Dalton road, known as the Dalton and Rome road, will turn to the
left and advance to abreast of General Thomas, and connect with him.
General Schofield will leave one brigade in Snake Creek Gap, about five
miles east of Villanow, and the balance of the one division in General
McPherson's intrenched camp at this point.
IV. The cavalry of General Garrard will picket all roads to our rear
and in case of being threatened from the north, will come into Snake
Creek Gap, and cover the rear of the army and the wagon train. The
cavalry of General Kilpatrick will inove south of the main road to
Eesaca, and be held in reserve near the forks of the road, and be sub-
ject to the orders of the commander-in-chief.
V. All trains will be brought in Snake Creek Gap, and be placed in
convenient order off" the road. Great care must be observed in keeping
the road clear, and ambulances and wagons when not traveling the road,
must invariably turn out and leave all the road clear. Each army com-
mander will leave his own wagon guards, and the men should leave their
knapsacks in camp.
VI. The movement will begin at six (6) o'clock a. m. to-morrow.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman. L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Resaca, May 13, 1864 — 2.15 p. m.
General Thomas, Commanding Army of the Cumberland :
Until I hear that Joe Johnston is south of the Oostanaula, I would not
cross at Lay's. We must first interpose between Dalton and Resaca,
threatening the latter all the time. I want Hooker's right and McPher-
son's left strong, until we encounter Johnston, who has not yet got below
Eesaca, I think. If he retreat east, we have the advantage. I want the
60 THE TURXIXG OF DALTON.
pontoons up, and to secure the railroad on Hooker's right. Palmer
should join on to Hooker, and Hooker should be strong.
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Snake Creek Gap, May 13, 1864.
General Stoneman, Commanding Cavalry:
Your note of to-day was received. Very good, indeed. Press down the
valley strong, and communicate with me. Your messenger will find me
where there is most noise of artillery, or near Resaca. You can safely
move on parallel roads, by brigades. Let your packs follow on the heels
of the column. Pick up whatever of provisions and plunder you can.
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General Commanding.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL SHERMAN'S REPORT.
Speaking of the demonstration against Rocky Face ridge, he says :
" This, however, was only designed as a demonstration, and worked well,
for General McPherson was thereby enabled to march within a mile of
Resaca unopposed. He found Resaca too strong to be carried by assault,
and although there were many good roads from north to south, endanger-
ing his left^ank from the direction of Dalton, he could find no road by
which he could rapidly cross over to the railroad, and accordingly he fell
back and took strong position near the west end of Snake Creek Gap. I
was somewhat disappointed at the result ; still, appreciated the advantage
gained, and on the 10th ordered General Thomas to send General Hook-
er's corps to Snake Creek Gap in support of General McPherson, and to
follow with another corps, the Fourteenth, General Palmer's, leaving Gen-
eral Howard, with the Fourth Corps, to continue to threaten Dalton in
front, while the rest of the army moved rapidly through Snake Creek
Gap. On the same day General Schofield was ordered to follow by the
same route, and on the 11th the whole army, excepting General Howard's
corps and some cavalay left to watch Dalton, was in motion on the west
side of Rocky Face ridge, for Snake Creek Gap and Resaca. The next
day we moved against Resaca, General McPherson on the direct road,
preceded by General Kilpatrick's cavalry ; General Thomas to come up
on his left, and General Schofield on his. General Kilpatrick met and
drove the enemy's cavalry from a cross-road within two miles of Resaca,
but received a wound which disabled him and gave the command of his
brigade to Colonel Murray, who according to his orders wheeled out of the
road, leaving General McPherson to pass. General McPherson struck
the enemy's infantry pickets near Resaca, and drove them within their
fortified lines, and occupied a ridge of bald hills, his right on the
Oostanaula, about two miles below the railroad bridge, and his left
abreast the town. General Thomas came up on his left, facing Camp
creek, and Genei'al Schofield broke his way through the dense forest to
General Thomas' left. Johnston had left Dalton, and General Howard
entered it, and pressed his rear. Nothing saved Johnston's army at
THE TURNING OF DALTOX. 61
Eesaca but the impracticable nature of the eountrj', which made the pas-
sage of troops across the valley almost impossible. This fact enabled his
army to reach Resaca from Dalton along the comparatively good roads
constructed beforehand, partly from the topographical nature of the
country, and partly from the foresight of the rebel chief. At all events
on the 14th of May, we found the rebel army in a strong j^osition behind
Camp creek, occupying the forts of Resaca, and his right on some high
chestnut hills to the north of the town."
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL THOMAS' REPORT TO THE " COMMIT-
TEE OF CONGRESS ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR."
Shortly after his assignment to the command of the Military Division
of the Mississippi, General Shei-man came to see me at Chattanooga, to
consult as to the position of affairs, and adopt a plan for a spring cam-
paign. At that interview, I proposed to General Sherman that if he
would use McPherson's and Schofield's armies to demonstrate on the
enemy's position at Dalton, by the direct roads through Buzzard Roost
Gap, and from the direction of Cleveland, I would throw my whole force
through Snake Creek Gap, which I knew to be unguarded, fall upon the
enemy's communications between Dalton and Resaca, thereby turning
his position completely, and force him either to retreat toward the east,
through a difficult country, poorly supplied with provisions and forage,
with a strong probability of total disorganization of his force, or attack
me, in which latter event, I felt confident that my army was sufficiently
strong to beat him, especially as I hoped to gain position on his commu-
nications before he could be made aware of my movement. General
Sherman objected to this plan, for the reason that he desired my army to
form the reserve of the united armies, and to serve as a rallying point for
the two wings, the Army of the Ohio and that of the Tennessee, to
operate from.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL THOMAS' OFFICIAL REPORT.
General Hooker was directed to send another division of his command
to Snake Creek Gap, with instructions to repair the road through the
gap, so as to facilitate the passage of infantry and wagons. On the 11th,
it was decided to leave one corps, Howard's, supported by Stoneman's
and McCool^s divisions of cavalry, and move to Snake Creek Gap with
the balance of the army, attacking the enemy in front from that quarter,
whilst Howard was keeping up the impression of a direct attack at
Buzzard's Roost. This movement was to commence on the 12th. In-
structions were given to corps cornmanders to provide their commands
with ten days' rations and a good supply of ammunition, sending all
surplus wagons back to Ringgold. At 9 a. m. on the 13th, General How-
ard's command occupied Dalton, it having been evacuated by the enemy
on the evening of the 12th. Concentrating his troops in Dalton, General
Howard pursued the enemy along the railroad, in the direction of Resaca.
62 THE TURNING OF DALTON.
capturing a considerable number of prisoners. The concentration of the
balance of the army in Snake Creek Gap having been completed by the
night of the 12th, at 8 a. m. on the 13th, Hooker's corps, preceded by
Kilpatrick's cavalry, moved out on the Resaca road in support of Mc-
Pherson's troops threatening Resaca.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL HOWARD'S REPORT.
May 11th, the troops of the corps were disposed as follows: General
Stanley to hold the gap; General Newton to hold Rocky Face, and the
roads leading around the north end of it, with General Stoneman's
cavalry covering his left flank ; and General Wood in reserve on Tunnel
Hill. During the evening of this day, and on the morning of the 12th,
the general movement was progressing, and the Fourth Corps found itself
alone confronted by the whole rebel army.
EXTRACTS FROM GENERAL JOS. E. JOHNSTON'S REPORT.
At Dalton, the great numerical superiority of the enemy made the
chances of battle much against us, and even if beaten, they had a safe
refuge behind the fortified pass of Ringgold, and in the fortress of Chat-
tanooga. Our refuge, in case of defeat, was in Altanta, one hundred miles
oflf, with three intervening rivers. Therefore, victory for us could not
have been decisive, while defeat would have been utterly disastrous.
On the 5th of May, this army was in line between Ringgold and Tun-
nel Hill, and after skirmishing on that day and the following day, on the
7th, pressed back our advanced forces to Mill Creek Gap. On the same
day. Canty reached Resaca with his brigade, and was halted there. On
the 8th, at 4 p. m., a division of Hooker's corps attacked Dug Gap, which
was bravely held by two regiments of Reynolds' Arkansas brigade and
Grigsby's brigade of Kentucky cavalry, fighting on foot, until the arrival
of Lieutenant-General Hardee, with Granbury's brigade, when the enemy
was put to flight. On the 9th, five assaults were made on Lieutenant-
General Hood's troops on Rocky Face Mountain. All were repulsed. In
the afternoon, a report was received that Logan's and Dodge's corps were
in Snake Creek Gap. Three divisions, under Lieutenant-General Bood,
were therefore sent to Resaca. On the 10th, Lieutenant-General Hood
reported the enemy retiring. Skirmishing to our advantage continued
all day, near Dalton. Major-General Bate repulsed a vigorous attack
at night. On the 11th, Brigadier-General Canty reported that the enemy
Avas again approaching Resaca. Lieutenant-General Polk arrived in the
evening with Loring's division, and was instructed to defend the place
with those troops and Canty' s. The usual skirmishing continued near
Dalton.
Rocky Face Mountain and Snake Creek Gap, at its south end, com-
pletely covered for the enemy the operation of turning Dalton. On the
THE TURNING OF DALTON. 63
12th, the Federal army, covered by the mountain, moved by Snake Creek
Gap toward Resaca. Major-General Wheeler, with 2,200 of ours, attacked
and defeated more than double that number of Federal cavalry, near
Varnell's Station. At night, our artillery and infantry marched for Ee-
saca. The cavalry followed on the 13th. On that day, the enemy ap-
proaching on the Snake Creek Gap road was checked by Loring's troops,
which gave time for the formation of Hardee's and Hood's corps, just
arriving. As the army was formed, the left of Polk's corps was on the
Oostanaula, and the right of Hood's on Connasauga. There was brisk
skirmishing during the afternoon on Polk's front and Hardee's left.
CHAPTER XXVIL
BATTLE OF RESACA.
Early on the morning of the 13th, General Howard dis-
covered that General Johnston had withdrawn from Dalton,
and he at once occupied the town, having driven his cavalry
from it. He then moved in pursuit, and skirmishing as he
advanced, encamped eight miles toward Resaca. In the
morning, General Johnston reached Resaca, Loring's division
having moved out to check General McPherson and give time
for the formation of Hood's and Hardee's corps upon their
arrival from Dalton. He formed his army, now stronger hy
several thousand men than at Dalton, with Polk's corps on
the left, resting on the Oostanaula river helow the town, Har-
dee's in the center, and Hood's on the right, his right flank
resting on the Connasauga river.
At 8 A. M., Hooker's corps, preceded by Kilpatrick's cavalry,
moved out upon the Resaca road, in support of McPherson,
who was advancing against the town. Kilpatrick encountered
"Wheeler and drove him nearly to the town, when, being
wounded, he turned over the command to Colonel Murray.
Palmer's corps moved from Snake Creek Gap, two miles
northeast of Hooker, and then moved parallel with the Resaca
road, under orders to proceed as far as the railroad. On reach-
ing the vicinity of the railroad, his skirmishers encountered
those of the enemy, strongly posted on the hills, immediately
west of the railroad, and warmly engaged them until night-
fall. Butterfield's division of Hooker's corps moved forward
to support Palmer's right. Schofield's two divisions advanced
upon Palmer's left. Howard advanced to the vicinity of Re-
saca, and when communications were established throughout
(64)
BATTLE OF RESACA. 65
the line, it was found that his right was but a mile from Scho-
field's left.
General Johnston's position was a strong one, with Camp
creek in front, and heavy intrenchments in the immediate
vicinity of the town — the strongest to defend the bridges across
the Oostanaula, and cover the retreat of his army. His outer
defenses consisted of detached redoubts, and extensive rifle-
trenches, and the ground beyond was favorable for defense.
His army was disposed partly in the inner defenses, but mainly
on the high hills north and west of the town, which were for-
tified.
Before delivering battle. General Sherman ordered a pon-
toon bridge to be thrown across the Oostanaula at Lay's ferry,
in the direction of Calhoun, Sweeny's division of the Fif-
teenth Corps to cross and threaten that place, and Garrard's
division of cavalry to move from Villanow toward Rome, to
cross the Oostanaula, and if possible break the railroad below
Calhoun and above Kingston. On the 14th, General Mc-
Pherson crossed Camp creek, near its mouth, and forced
Polk's corps from the hills commanding the railroad bridges
from the west, and secured a lodgment close to his works.
This done, it became necessary to swing round the whole line
formed the previous evening, from Hooker's left to the extreme
left. This movement was made with the right of Johnson's
division, which was the right of the Fourteenth Corps, as a
pivot, and each division advanced until it encountered the
enemy.
As Johnson's right was in proximity to the enemy, the di-
visions to the left met the enemy in succession. Baird's
division was in line on Johnson's left, and Davis in reserve.
General Howard, in compliance with orders from General
Thomas, moved in the morning, to form his corps on the left
of Schofield, and advance upon the main roads to Resaca.
ISTewton's division, followed by "Wood's, moved toward Scho-
field's left, and Stanley's toward the enemy's extreme right,
on the Fulton and Resaca road. When ISTewton gained Scho-
field's left, Wood changed direction to the left, upon a road
between Newton and Stanley.
VOL. n — 5
^Q BATTLE OF RESACA.
Carlin's brigade of Johnson's division was the first to en-
counter the foe. General CarUn crossed Camp creek and
advanced some distance over the open ground in front of the
enemy's position, under a severe fire of artillery and musketry.
The passage of the creek disordered his lines somewhat, and
being hopeless of holding the enemy's works should he suc-
ceed in an assault, he withdrew, and found shelter and a par-
apet at the bank of the stream. Here he maintained position
all day, and delivered a desultory but destructive fire. Gen-
eral King, perceiving Carlin's repulse, halted his brigade to
the left and rear. The ground over which the left of Baird's
division and the right of Schofield's line advanced, was thickly
wooded, rendering it difiicult to maintain lines, and the troops
farther to the left having gained ground, those having been
delayed moved forward rapidly as they emerged from the
woods upon the open space before the enemy's intrenchments ;
but such was the severity of the musketry and artillery fire
to which' they were exposed, that they were soon compelled
to retreat. Some isolated squads had passed Camp creek, and
were driven back ; others were so delayed by the miry banks
that they could not withdraw with the main line, and were
compelled to seek cover at the stream. To cover the retreat
and re-formation of Turchin's brigade, and Schofield's right,
Mitchell's brigade of Davis' division, in reserve, moved
quickly to the left, and was severely engaged, while the
broken lines were reformed upon the high ground west of the
creek. As the lines of advance of Howard's corps were con-
verging, the three divisions made close connection before
reaching the enemy's position, and as the convergence of the
roads shortened the battle front continually, the greater por-
tion of ITewton's division fell in rear of Schofield's right, in
reserve, and when his left carried the position in its front,
iN'ewton moved to the relief of his left center, and grasped
firmly all the ground that had been gained. In the meantime,
"Wood came abreast of ISTewton, and drove the enemy from
his rifle-pits, and Stanley formed his division on "Wood's left,
with one brigade across the Fulton road, to protect his flank.
These movements were all slowly made, in consequence of
dense woods and rough ground, and the resistance of the
BATTLE OF KESACA. 67
€nemy. But an advanced line was gained, and from it artil-
lerists poured a fire so destructive as in some cases to drive
the enemy temporarily from his works.
General Johnston, fearing that the lines of investment were
closing around him, determined to assume the ofiensive, and
if possible turn General Sherman's left flank. General Stan-
ley soon observed indications of the movement. As General
Howard had no reserves to direct to the endangered flank, he
communicated in person with General Thomas and secured
immediate assistance from the Twentieth Corps. In compli-
ance with orders. General Hooker promptly dispatched Wil-
liams' division, under the guidance of Colonel Morgan,* of the
Fourteenth Colored regiment, and preceeded it to the point of
danger. Williams moved rapidly on the most direct route,
and arrived on the extreme left just as that flank had been
turned and pressed back. Stanley had exhausted all his re-
serves in extending his line against the overlapping of the
enemy. Simonson's battery, by effective execution, was re-
tarding the advance of the enemy to double up the line, when
Williams deployed his division and advanced to the support
of the battery. His terrific fire first checked and then routed
the enemy, and completely defeated this attempt at flanking.
The other divisions of the Twentieth Corps, Geary's and But-
terfield's, followed Williams, later in the evening, and Mc-
Cook's cavalry passed to Hooker's left.
The enemy's troops engaged against the left flank were
Stevenson's and Stewart's divisions and two brigades of Walk-
er's— a strong column in view of the length of Johnston's lines
and the relative inferiority of his army. Another fact evinced
his estimate of the importance of the movement. After its
failure he gave orders for its repetition the next morning, but
was subsequently led to revoke them, when he learned that
the national infantry were crossing the Oostanaula river, near
Calhoun, on a pontoon bridge. To provide against this men-
ace to his rear, he dispatched General Walker to Calhoun.
Such advantages had been gained during the day as prom-
ised success in forcing Johnston to abandon his position, and
* Colonel T. J. Morgan was volunteer aid to General Howard.
68 BATTLE OF RESACA.
orders were issued for a general advance the next morning.
iN'otwitlistanding this aggressive purpose, the troops covered
themselves with the usual defenses. There was no change in
the line, except that Schofield was directed to withdraw from
the center and pass to Hooker's left.
There was delay in making the attack in the morning,
to await the result of a reconnoissance hy General Geary, from
the left flank. Full preparations were not completed until
noon. At this hour the Twentieth Corps advanced — Geary on
the right, Butterfield on the left, and Williams in reserve.
Before the enemy's works were reached. General Hooker di-
rected General Williams to deflect to the left to cover and
protect that flank, again threatened by the enemy, as Gen-
eral Johnston, having learned that there was no immediate
danger from infantry at Calhoun, had repeated his order to
General Hood to advance against the national left. Facing
to the east, Williams' division moved to the point menaced —
Knipe's brigade on the right, Ruger's in the center, and Rob-
inson's on the left. The ground traversed by the advancing
columns was hilly, with woods and open spaces alternating.
Williams' brigades formed lines on a series of hills west of the
railroad and running parallel to it; batteries were planted
with supports to command the ground in front of the line.
The enemy before Hooker, occupied intrenched hills, having
spurs extending in all directions, and batteries were so placed
on the higher points as to enfilade assaulting lines. Geary's
and Butterfleld's divisions advanced with spirit, and though
receiving a heavy fire from artillery and musketry, carried the
nearest hills. Then Butterfield's division — Ward's, Coburn's,
and Wood's brigades — supported by Ireland's brigade on
Geary's left, drove the enemy from a battery, which from a
ruling position was pouring an exceedingly destructive fire ;
but another line of intrenchments was so near that the cap-
tors could neither remove the guns nor remain with them.
But, withdrawing to tenable ground, they covered the guns
so fully with their fire that the enemy could not approach
them, and during the remainder of the day the guns remained
between the lines. They were taken during the night by a
detachment of the Fifth Ohio under Colonel Kilpatrick.
In the meantime, the entire line became engaged, from How-
BATTLE OF EESACA. 69
arcl's right to Hooker's left ; while throughout the whole front
of the " Army of the Cumberland," heavy skirmishing and
artillery action was maintained. General Howard, being
nearest the assaulting corps, kept up a constant fire of artil-
lery and musketry, and in one instance made a positive attack,
and although he did not succeed in holding any point of the
enemy's line, he prevented the diversion of troops from his
front, to sustain their comrades before General Hooker, against
whose left they were maintaining the ofiensive with great de-
termination. 'Near the railroad, in front of Williams, he
massed his forces and advancing as much as possible under
<50ver, made repeated assaults, but was unable to disturb the
line. Williams' artillery was used with most destructive efi:ect
in the repulsion of these assaults. In front of Williams' right
and Geary's left, there was a long cleared field, compassing
two hills and a ravine, and extending to a wooded hill, upon
which rested the enemy's main line. This field was flanked
on the right by wooded hills, which extended to the captured
battery. About 5 p. m. Stevenson's division left the main line
and charged in column to gain possession of these lateral hills.
This movement, if successful, would have insulated one-
half of Geary's division, which had been concentrated under
Colonel Cobham, in the rear of the guns wrested from the
enemy. But Stevenson was repulsed mainly through the con-
centration of fire from Williams' right and Geary's left. His
leading regiments were almost annihilated. On both sides,
artillery charged with canister and schrapnel was freely used.
Stevenson's repulse closed the general contest. This attack
of Stewart's and Stevenson's divisions was made after General
Johnston had decided to evacuate Resaca, but his order for-
bidding the assault was not received in time to prevent it.
During the night of the 15th, General Johnston abandoned
liesaca. It was observed by those on the outlook the preced-
ing day, that he was sending his material to the rear. He
had lost positions on his right and left, and had been pressed
throughout his lines by two days of fighting, and the exposure
of his communications in the event of a flank movement,
which had been foreshadowed, made his retreat necessary. He
had attacked the brigade across the river below Resaca on the
70 BATTLE OF RESACA.
15th, and had been repulsed, and as General Sherman's front
now presented defenses as well as his own, the transfer of
heavy forces across the river was plainly practicable. He
therefore retreated before embarrassments crowded upon him.
The action at Resaca, though presenting different features
from the one before Dalton, was not essentially different in
type or result. In the latter one, the two armies more fully
confronted each other, and there was more fighting and
heavier losses. The champaign region of Georgia was now be-
fore General Sherman, offering freedom for maneuver and
strategy, which the mountain region had denied.
As the aggregate monthly losses of the Army of the Cum-
berland were reported by General Thomas, it is impossible to
ascertain definitely the casualties at Resaca. The Twentieth
Corps lost seventeen hundred and forty-six men, and the other
two corps lost nearly as many in the aggregate. General
Johnston's losses were also heavy, especially when he assumed
the offensive.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ADVANCE TO THE ETOWAH KIVER, THE TURNING OF ALI.ATOONA,
BATTLES NEAR NEW HOPE CHURCH. '
Resaca was occupied by tlie Army of the Cumberland on
the morning of May 16th, and General Sherman gave orders
for rapid pursuit. There was delay, however, in passing the
river, as it was necessary to throw a pontoon bridge at Resaca
and at points above. During the day, the Army of the Ten-
nessee crossed at Lay's ferry, and Howard's corps at Resaca.
As in the pursuit the Army of the Cumberland was to follow
the enemy's line of retreat. General Howard moved forward
toward Calhoun. His progress was slow, as stubborn resist-
ance was offered by the rear-guard of Johnston's army.
The next day, the three armies advanced. Palmer's corps
followed Howard's ; Hooker's having crossed above, moved on
the left. On his left, was the Army of the Ohio, and the
Army of the Tennessee advanced on lines on the right of the
central army. Stoneman's cavalry was on the extreme left,
and Garrard's on the extreme right, under instructions to
reach the enemy's rear if practicable.
Early in the day, General Howard found the rear-guard
of the enemy, formed of cavalry and artillery, and at times
supported by infantry. Three lines were presented at short
intervening distances, and generally behind barricades in
woods, with open ground in front. Wlien the first line was
pressed from position, the troops forming it passed to the rear
of the third and reformed. Thus, not only was the rear of
the army covered, but two of the three lines of the rear-guard
itself. The Fourth Corps advanced in two columns abreast,
and pressed the enemy so strongly in the evening that a bat-
(71)
72 ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHURCH.
tie seemed imminent. The skirmish lines were reinforced
until they had the weight of lines of battle, and artillery was
freely used. The action terminated as darkness approached,
and during the night, General Johnston abandoned a position
which he had intrenched. His reasons were, that a portion
of Polk's corps was yet in the rear; that, as he thought, the
expiration of service of the regiments in the national armies
confronting him that had not re-enlisted, would soon reduce
their strength, and he hoped that some blunder would give
him an opportunity to strike a blow without risking a general
battle, or to enter such a contest with advantages to counter-
balance the inferiority of his army.
General Sherman's object now was to compel Johnston to
fight north of the Etowah river, divide his army, or give up
Rome or Allatoona. In the event of his attempt to hold both
these places, he proposed to break his line at Kingston ; or
Bhould he concentrate at Kingston, to break his railroads right
and left, and " fight him square in front." To give support to
the cavalry on the right, he directed General Thomas to send
a division from Resaca toward Rome, and Davis' had been put
in motion.
On the 18th, the armies moved forward without change of
order, and at night the Fourth and Fourteenth Corps encamped
near Kingston. At 8 a. m. the next day, the central column,
Stanley's division leading, advanced toward Cassville. Midway
to that place the enemy opened upon Stanley with a six-gun
battery, from an eminence, but yielded, under the pressure of
an attack with infantry and artillery. Moving in pursuit nearly
four miles, Stanley was again arrested. This time there was a
formidable combination before him, and the enemy was ob-
served to be advancing in two lines of battle. General Howard
promptly deployed his corps — Stanley's and Wood's divisions
in front, and Newton's in support of the left. As soon as the
enemy observed these dispositions, his lines were halted and
their front covered with barricades. "When Howard's artillery
opened, the first line retreated in some confusion, and the
Fourth Corps advanced and occupied the position. Here a
junction with Hooker's corps was made, which had engaged
the enemy during the day on the direct road from Adairsville
ETOWAH — ALLATOOXA — NEW HOPE CHURCH. 73
to Cassvillc. Skirmishing was maintained until dai'k, when
the three corps bivouacked in close proximity. During the day,
General Schofield approached Cassville, and General McPher-
son moved from Woodland to Kingston.
As reports had reached General Sherman that General John-
ston had been reinforced, he thought it probable that he would
now give battle in the vicinity of Cassville, and in such expec-
tation he threw his armies from their parallel lines of march,
toward the head of the central column. His cavalry was on
right and left, in effort to break the railroad in Johnston's rear
to force him to battle, or to subject a portion of his army and
trains to capture, before he could cross the Etowah river. Gen-
eral Schofield was under instructions to support the cavalry on
the left, in the accomplishment of this object, and during the
day, McCook's division of cavalry had a brilliant passage of
arms with Stevenson's division of infantry.
It was General Johnston's purpose to give battle at Cassville.
He had been joined by French's division of Polk's corps, and
the lines which Howard first encountered were Hood's, who
had orders to attack. His lieutenant, however, under the im-
pression that the columns on the east had turned his position,
refrained until it was too late to overpower the head of column.
Even after this failure. General Johnston meditated delivering
battle, but was dissuaded by his lieutenants, Polk and Hood,
though General Hardee gave counter advice. During the night
he crossed the Etowah with all his trains, and moved to his
strong position at Allatoona Pass. This step was a matter of
subsequent regret to him, though it is probable that his sorrow
would haA'e been more profound, had he engaged Sherman's
three armies at Cassville.
Pending these greater movements. General Davis with his
division captured Pome. His orders did not require him to go
so far from the line of march, but as circumstances, in his judg-
ment, justified the step, and having advised General Thomas
of his purpose, he passed beyond all co-operation with the cav-
alry, and hurried Mitchell's brigade in advance, on the 17th,
drove back the rebel cavalry, and deployed within range of the
artillery, on De Soto hill, on the west side of the Oostanaula.
McCook's brigade and Morgan's moved forward, and the enemy.
74 ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHURCH.
at first assuming the aggressive, was driven within his fortifi-
cations. The next morning the city was abandoned in too
much hurry to destroy machine-shops and iron-works of great
value, and vast quantities of stores and cotton, and six pieces
of artillery. General Davis lost in killed and wounded one
hundred and fifty men.
BEYOND THE ETOWAH.
General Sherman did not pursue beyond the Etowah. The
rough hills and gorges around Allatoona presented such ob-
stacles to maneuver and attack as to deter him from a direct
advance. He chose rather to make a detour to the right, to
turn Allatoona, or throw his armies upon Johnston's com-
munications at Marietta or the Chattahoochee river. He ac-
cordingly gave orders for a few days of rest, and time to repair
the railroad to Cassville, and accumulate supplies at Eesaca.
At this period, General Johnston was calling to him in-
fantry from the Southwest and cavalry from Mississippi, and
General Sherman was making efibrt to maintain his relative
superiority. His losses and constantly lengthening line of
supply were reducing his ofiensive strength, and he called all
available troops from the rear. May 23d, he ordered General
Blair, with two divisions of infantry of the Seventeenth
Corps, and Long's brigade of cavalry of Garrard's division, ta
move on Rome and Kingston, from Huntsville, Alabama.
On this day, he put his armies in motion south of the
Etowah. The Army of the Tennessee crossed the river at the
mouth of Conasene creek, on a bridge which had been saved
from destruction, and advanced toward Dallas by Van Wert.
General Thomas crossed four miles south of Kingston, and
moved through Euharley and Stilesboro. General Schofield
crossed near Etowah cliffs, and kept on the left of General
Thomas. Each army had supplies for twenty days in wagons.
McCook's division of cavalry preceded the central columns,
and reached Stilesboro in the afternoon, and finding the enemy
there in force, with cavalry and infantry, skirmished until
dark. Hooker, Howard, and Palmer encamped south of
Euharley creek. Kilpatrick's division. Colonel W. W. Lowe
commanding, was left to guard the line of the Etowah — an im-
ETOWAH — ALLATOOXA — NEW HOPE CHURCH. 75
portant duty, as Wheeler's cavalry had been sent to interrupt
communications north of that river. Garrard's division was
covering General McPherson's right flank.
At daylight on the 24th, hy direction of General Thomas,
General Hooker sent Geary's division to Enharley creek, to
hold the Alabama road toward Allatoona, and cover the left
flank of the corps, until relieved by General Schofield. The
remainder of the Twentieth Corps was directed to advance to
Burnt Hickory, preceded by McCook's cavalry. The cavalry
commander, upon arrival, was instructed to picket strongly
the roads leading toward Alatoona, and cover the movements
of the army. McCook reached Burnt Hickory at 2 p. m.,
having skirmished with the enemy for several miles. In this
skirmish he captured a rebel courier, bearing dispatches from
General Johnston to a division commander of cavalry, re-
quiring him to observe the movements of the national forces
toward Burnt Hickory, and advising him that his army was
moving toward Dallas and Powder Springs. Later in the
day. General Garrard informed General Thomas that in
moving upon Dallas, he had been attacked by Bate's division,
the advance of Hardee's corps. Thus, from two sources, the
fact was ascertained that General Johnston had divined Gen-
eral Sherman's purpose in time to throw his army before him
near Dallas. At night, the Fourth and Twentieth Corps en-
camped at Burnt Hickory ; the Fourteenth, impeded by trains,
halted some distance in the rear.
The next morning, the march was resumed. McCook's
cavalry moved on the road to Golgotha, followed by Butter-
field's division. Hooker's other two divisions, and Howard's
corps, advanced on roads running south of Butterfield's line
of march. General Howard sought roads to the right, to
avoid the main roads, upon which the trains of Johnson's di-
vision and the Twentieth Corps were advancing. Baird's
division was left at Burnt Hickory, to protect trains and the
rear of the army. The divisions of the Army of the Cumber-
land, marching upon four roads, were under orders to con-
verge upon Dallas, as it was not expected that Johnston's army
would be met nearer than that place. But at 11 a. m. Geary's
division, the central one of the Twentieth Corps, came upon
76 ETOWAH ALLATOO^^A — NEW HOPE CHUECH.
the enemy in considerable force. A cavalry outpost had been
previously found near Owen's Mill, where a burning bridge
had caused some delay. After crossing this bridge, General
Geary had deployed the Fifth Ohio as skirmishers in ad-
vance of Candy's brigade, and when within four and a half
miles of Dallas, this regiment became heavily engaged, and
soon after, a charge was made by the enemy. Candy's brigade
was then rapidly deployed, and after a sharp conflict repulsed
the foe. General Geary immediately extended his skirmish
line, formed Candy's brigade in line of battle, and brought up
Ireland's and Buschbeck's in support. Advancing again, the
division drove the enemy a half mile. From prisoners, it was
now ascertained that Hood's corps was in front, and that
Hardee's was not far distant, in the direction of Dallas. The
situation was now critical, as no supporting forces were near.
General Hooker, who was with his central division, now di-
rected that it should be formed upon a hill affording advan-
tages for defense, that the skirmish line should be extended,
and make a shoAV of strength by maintaining an aggressive
fire, and that barricades should be constructed. He sent
orders immediately to Williams and Butterfield to hasten to
Geary's support, and informed General Thomas of the posture
of affairs.
As "Williams and Butterfield were several miles distant, they
did not reach Geary's position until late in the afternoon.
Upon arrival, their divisions advanced against the enemy with
Geary's in reserve, under instructions from General Sherman
to drive him beyond 'New Hope Church, a point where roads
from Marietta, Dallas, and Ackworth meet.
Though the country was hilly and covered with trees and
undergrowth, Williams' and Butterfield's division, dashed at
the enemy at double-quick, aud drove him back a mile and a
half, to IsTcw Hope Church; but here they received his artillery
fire at short range, and were arrested. Geary moved to the
front again, and though the attack was vigorously made, the
enemy was not dislodged. General Johnston had thrown his
army directly across General Sherman's line of advance, and
was ready for defensive battle. His position was a strong one,
ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHUECH. 77
and liis troops were under cover. The engagement wliicli
defined his position resulted in heavy losses to both armies.
When General Sherman first learned that the enemy was
before him in force, he divined that he was on Johnston's right
flank, and proposed to turn it. With this object in view, he
directed General McPherson to move to the left, if he could
not dislodge the eneny in his front. But General McPherson
did not move to the left as projected, and the opportunity to
pass round General Johnston's right to Ackworth and Mari-
etta was lost.
General Hooker at night intrenched a line in close prox-
imity to the enemy. The Fourth Corps, ordered by General
Thomas to his support during the day, came up by divisions
in the evening and after night, and formed on his left. Davis'
division of the Fourteenth Corps, having left Rome on the
24th, was now in supporting distance ; but Johnson's and
Baird's divisions, having been delayed by the trains on the
roads in advance of them, were still in the rear.
The following day was spent in the concentration of the
armies. General McPherson's army advanced to Dallas, and
General Schofield's was directed to the left of General
Thomas, to turn Johnston's right flank. Garrard's cavalry
formed the extreme right, Stoneman's the left, and McCook',^
covered the rear.
The Twentieth Corps maintained the position assumed the
previous evening. The Fourth was slightly changed by swing-
ing round to occupy a line of hills, trending at right angles to
Hooker's line. This change of front threatened the enemy's
right flank more directly. General Schofield, on Howard's
left, covered the road leading from Allatoona to Dallas, by
ISTew Hope Church. Both Howard and Schofield skirmished
into position ; and so close were they to the enemy that not
only their skirmishers, but their main lines maintained a con-
tinuous fire.
In the forenoon, General Davis, by direction of General
Thomas, made a reconnoissance to Dallas, to determine the
position of Johnston's left flank and open communications
with General McPherson. He advanced on the Burnt Hickory
road with Morgan's brigade in front, drove the enemy's pick-
78 ETOWAH — ALLATOONA NEW HOPE CHURCH.
€ts through the town, and deployed his division on the east of
the Marietta road. Soon after, the Army of the Tennessee
came abreast, and was formed in Unes extending across the
Villa Rica road.
During the day, McCook, on the left, struck a column of
cavalry in flank, broke it in two, and captured fifty-two pris-
oners. From his prisoners he learned that Wheeler's cavalry
corps was on Johnston's right flank. In the afternoon, John-
son's division of the Fourteenth Corps came up in the rear of
the Fourth Corps.
The opposing armies were now in closest proximity. Har-
dee's corps was on Johnston's left, Hood's on his right, and
Polk's in the center. The batteries of the two armies were
placed on the commanding positions in the opposing lines,
and nothing was needed to precipitate the work of death but
a word from either of the commanding generals.
As General Johnston had twice withdrawn his army under
circumstances not radically different. General Sherman did
not feel confident that he would maintain his position even
for a day, and gave such orders as would compass the issues
of battle or the retreat of the enemy. He directed General
McPherson to connect his left with Hooker's right, so that he
could then move his whole line by the left flank beyond John-
ston's right, and interpose between him and the railroad. In
addition to McPherson's movement, a strong demonstration
by Hooker and Howard, and a positive attack upon Johnston's
right flank, were ordered.
The cfibrt to turn this flank commanded the personal atten-
tion of Generals Sherman and Thomas, in addition to General
Howard, who was ordered to furnish the assaulting column.
In the beginning. General Sherman designated the point in
the enemy's line upon which the assault should be made, but
Generals Thomas and Howard, upon special examination,
perceived that there the enemy could bring a cross-fire of ar-
tillery and musketry to bear upon the approaches, and General
Howard was directed to move his column to the left, beyond
all the troops in line, and endeavor to strike the enemy's
flank.
General T. J. "Wood's division of the Fourth Corps was
ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHURCH. 79
selected to make the assault, to be supported on the left by
General R. W. Johnson's division of the Fourteenth Corps,
and by General McLean's brigade of General Schofield's
Twenty-third Corps, on the right. The column was formed
in the rear of the extreme left of the Twenty-third Corps —
"Wood's division in column of six lines deep, Johnson's on
the left, wdth a brigade front. After moving a mile to the
east, General Howard supposed that he had reached the ene-
my's flank, and directed General Wood to wheel his command
so as to face the south, and advance. The enemy's w^orks were
soon discovered, and upon examination of their strength, the
column was moved another mile to the east. Here, Generals
Howard and Wood reconnoitered the ground, and ascertained
that the line of works did not cover the whole division front,
and preparation was made for attack. Johnson's division was
slightly refused on Wood's left, with Scribner's brigade in
front, and McLean's brigade was sent to a point in full view
from the enemy's works, a little to the right of the place of
attack, to attract his attention and draw his fire.
At 5 p. M. the entire column marched briskly forward, Ha-
zen's brigade of Wood's division leading, and having driven
back the enemy's skirmishers, assaulted his main line with
great vigor. Hazen at first was without support from John-
son's division on his left, and was so heavily engaged that
General Wood was compelled to move up his supporting lines.
Scribner's brigade was also hurried forward on Hazen's left,
but, before getting abreast of Hazen, was struck in flank from
the opposite side of a creek on the left. Colonel Scribner
halted, to throw out troops to cover his flank, at the crisis of
the assault, and it was soon evident that it had failed. The
Confederate general, Cleburne, threw his reserves and an en-
filading fire upon Wood's left flank, and forced it back, and
his right at the same time was subjected to a cross-fire of ar-
tillery and musketry, and was also without support, as McLean
had not shown himself to the enemy nor opened fire. As
both of Wood's flanks were melting away under a most de-
structive fire. General Howard ordered the withdrawal of the
column. The retirement was made with such deliberation as
permitted the removal of the wounded. General Johnson
80 ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHURCH.
withdrew to the left and rear of tlie main line, and General
"Wood to a ridge farther to the front and right. General
McLean withdrew entirely, and left the two divisions in com-
plete isolation.
General Wood lost over fonrteen hundred men killed,
wounded, and missing. General Johnson's loss was slight in
comparison, but was himself severely wounded. The reported
loss of the enemy was four hundred and fifty.
Two advantages resulted from this unsuccessful assault,
though dearly purchased. A position was secured far on the
enemy's right, which was of importance to subsequent move-
ments, and it was clearly developed that Johnston's right
would be found in strength wherever a column might go to
turn it. At night, Wood and Johnson intrenched their re-
spective positions.
During the day, the enemy came out of his works in front
of I^ewton's division, but was handsomely repulsed by Wag-
ner's and Kimball's brigades. Colonel Daniel McCook's bri-
gade of General Davis' division seized a mountain pass in
the rebel center, and held it against a night attack by troops
from Polk's corps.
General McPherson found it impracticable to move to the
left, in compliance with General Sherman's orders. General
Johnston was meditating oifensive action, and pressed the na-
tional lines throughout their length in search for an opportu-
nity to strike an eflective blow. Each commander was watch-
ing for an advantage, and yet each was " duly cautious in the
obscurity of the ambushed ground." During the 28th, there
was brisk skirmishing from flank to flank. General Sherman
was waiting for McPherson's movement to the left, to make
efibrt to turn General Johnston's position, and the latter was
planning a battle for the next day. At night, General Hood
was instructed to attack the national left the next morning at
dawn, and the remainder of the army was ordered to join in
the action, successively from right to left.
General Hood advanced, but finding an intrenched flank,
refrained from attack and asked for instructions. As this
delay defeated the surprise, that was intended, in the initia-
tive. Hood was recalled. But in the evening General John-
ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHURCH. 81
ston attacked McPherson, as he was in effort to leave positioo
to close up on the center of the national line. Fortunately
the Army of the Tennessee had not moved far from the de-
fenses, and repulsed Hardee's corps with great loss. As a
feint, to cover the assault upon McPherson, the enemy demon-
strated in front of Stanley and Newton, and at intervals during
the day there was artillery action and skirmishing throughout
the battle front.
As General McPherson did not change position, there were
only slight changes at other points in the line. A brigade of
Stanley's division was thrown between Schofield and Wood,
and Colonel J. G. Mitchell's brigade of Davis' division was
placed in position about half-way toward General Hooker.
The chasm here was three miles wide. Colonel Mitchell in-
trenched thoroughly, and cut roads to his rear to facilitate the
closing up of the right wing upon the center at New Hope
Church.
The purpose to move the whole line to the left was not
abandoned by General Sherman, though the repeated attempts
of General McPherson to leave position, during the last days
of the month, invited the enemy's attacks.
During the month of May, the Army of the Cumberland
lost about nine thousand men. Sixty-six officers and ten hun-
dred and ninety enlisted men were killed ; three hundred and
one officers, and six thousand four hundred and fifty-one en-
listed men were wounded, and eight officers and eight hundred
and fifty-eight men were missing from the three corps of in-
fantry. Colonels A. S. McDougall, One Hundred and Twenty-
third New York, and John H. Patrick, Fifth Ohio, fell at New
Hope Church, and Colonel Gilbert, Nineteenth JNIichigan, was
mortally wounded ; Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Lloyd, One Hun-
dred and Nineteenth New York, was killed at Resaca. The
army captured one thousand four hundred and seventy-seven
prisoners, and received five hundred and fifty deserters.
As General Sherman had held his armies before General
Johnston, near Dallas, he had not made effort to ascertain
with what force Allatoona was held, to turn which stronghold
was his primary object in moving his armies to the right. He
VOL. II — 6
82 ETOWAH — ALLATOOXA — NEW HOPE CHURCH.
had. ordered General Blair to move to tliat point, but on the
first of June he was still far in tlie rear. But as at tliis time
■General McPherson effected his own dislodgment from the
position that had been so closely watched by the enemy, and
the united armies could move by the left flank. General Sher-
man ordered General Garrard to move to the east end of
Allatoona Pass, and General Stoneman to the west with, in-
structions to fight cavalry with cavalry, and infantry with
dismounted cavalry.
As General McPherson's army, by divisions, approached
IN'ew Hope Church, the divisions of the Twentieth Corps
moved to the left of Johnson's division, which had held the
extreme left since the 27th of May. Davis' division relieved
Hovey's of the Twenty-third Corps, and Baird's advanced
from Burnt Hickory to Johnson's rear. Schofield's troops
passed to Hooker's left. At night, Garrard and Stoneman
were at Allatoona.
On the 2d, Hooker moved to the left of Schofield, and Baird.
moved to Johnson's left, when Hooker, Schofield, and Baird
moved on a right wheel, drove back the enemy's skirmishers,
and threw General Johnston farther from the roads leading to
Ackworth and Allatoona ; and yet, in front of the new posi-
tions on the left, finished defenses were found. The move-
ments of the day were embarrassed by a rain-storm, which
flushed the creeks and softened the ground.
During the 4th and 5th, the national line was gradually ex-
tended to the left, and by successive steps was advanced to
Johnston's immediate front. From first to last, each army
fortified as it advanced, and the field-works from Dallas far
toward Ackworth revealed to the future the proximity and
nature of the belligerence of the two armies. "When at la.st
G-eneral Johnston perceived that General Sherman's move-
ment to the left had given him an open way to Ackworth, he
abandoned the position and threw his army upon the moun-
tains and hills north and west of Marietta.
The Army of the Cumberland rested on the 5th, and on the
next day moved leisurely into position southwest of Ackworth :
Hooker's corps, near the junction of the Sandtown road with
the one leading from Burnt Hickory to Marietta ; Palmer's on
ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHURCH. 83
his left, and Howard's at Durham's house, three miles from
Ackworth. McPhorson was now on the left and Schofield on
the right. As all the troops had been under fire for several
consecutive days, though there had been no general battle, a
rest until the 10th was declared. During this period, the re-
pair of the railroad was hastened, and AUatoona was fortified
as a secondary base of supplies.
June 8th, General Blair reached Ackworth with nine thou-
sand men, having left fifteen hundred as a garrison at AUa-
toona. This reinforcement restored the grand aggregate of
the armies again.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., May 20, 1864.
3fajor-General Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
We have secured two good bridges and an excellent ford across the
Etowah. Our cars are now arriving with stores. I give two days' rest, to
replenish and fit up. On the 23d, I will cross the Etowah and move on Dal-
las. This will turn the Allatoona Pass. If Johnston remain at AUatoona,
I shall move on Marietta; but if he fall behind the Chattahoochee, I will
make for Sandtown and Campbellton, but feign at the railroad crossing.
General Davis division occupies Rome, and finds a good deal of provis-
ions and plunder — fine iron-works and machinery. I have ordered the
Seventeenth Corps, General Blair's, to march from Decatur to Rome. My
share of militia should be sent at once, to cover our lines of communica-
tion. Notify General Grant that I will hold all of Johnston's army too
busy to send anything against him.
./ o fc ^ ^ SHERMAN,
Major-GeneraL
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 10.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., May 22, 1864.
II. The several armies will move punctually to-morrow morning, pro-
vided as heretofore ordered, by separate roads, aiming to reach the posi-
tions hereinafter assigned them in the course of the third day, and in
the meantime each wing communicating freely with the center by cross-
roads.
The Army of the Cumberland will move on Dallas by Euharley and
Stilesboro ; the division of General Jeffi C. Davis, now at Rome, marching
direct for Dallas by Van Wert. The Army of the Ohio will move for posi-
tion on the left, via Richland creek and Burnt Hickory or Iluntsville.
84 ETOWAH — ALLATOONA — NEW HOPE CHURCH.
The Army of the Tennessee will move, via Van Wert, to a position on the
right, at or near the head of Pumpkin Vine creek, south of Dallas.
III. Marietta is the objective point, and the enemy is supposed to be
in force at Allatoona, but with cavalry all along the line of the Etowah.
Henceforth great caution must be exercised to cover and protect trains.
*********
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., May 2Z, 1864.
General Blair, Huntsville, Ala. :
We are now all in motion for the Chattahoochee. Colonel Long tele-
graphs from Pulaski, and should overtake you at Decatur, or soon after
leaving. Although you must move on Eome and Kingston by the direct
road, still you can make believe you have designs on Gadsden and Talla-
dega. Keep silent, and the enemy will exaggerate your strength and
purposes. Johnston has called to him all the infantry of the Southwest,
and also the cavalry of Mississippi, so you must look out for them. If
they hang around you, keep Long close in, and watch the opportunity for
him to charge with sabers.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864 — 11 a. m.
General : — If you can 't drive the enemy from his position, work to the
left, so as to connect with Hooker.
We are working on the left of the line in front of us, and as soon as you
are in connection with General Hooker, I will strengthen the left, and
work round in that direction, so we may, if we choose, march round their
extreme right, and reach Marietta or Ackworth.
Yours, etc.,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
General McPherson, Dallas, Ga.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
Near Dallas, May 28, 1864.
General Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
The enemy discovered my move to turn Allatoona, and moved to meet
us here. Our columns met about one mile east of Pumpkin Vine creek,
and we pushed them back about three miles, to the point where the road
forks to Allatoona and Marietta. Here Johnston has chosen a strong line,
and made hasty but strong parapets of timber and earth, and has thus
far stopped us. My right is at Dallas, center about three miles north, and
ETOWAH ALLATOOXA NEW HOPE CHUECH. 85
I am gradually working around by the left, to approach the railroad
anywhere in front of Ackworth.
Country very densely wooded and broken ; no roads of any conse-
quence. We have had many sharp encounters, but nothing decisive.
Both sides duly cautious in the obscurity of the ambushed ground.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Dallas, May 30, 1864.
General Hall eck, Washington, D. C. :
To move General McPherson up to the center, he has had to make a
retrogade of a mile or so, owing to difficult ground. Every time he at-
tempted to withdraw division by division, the enemy attacked his whole
line; it may be on the theory that we wanted to draw oflf altogether.
These assaults were made in the night, and were all repulsed with
comparatively small loss to us, but seemingly heavy to the enemy. If
we can induce the enemy to attack us, it is to our advantage.
Do n't expect us to make much progress toward the Chattahoochee till
Blair comes up, and moves into Allatoona Pass.
*********
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, Ackworth, June 8, 1864.
Major-General Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
General Blair arrived to-day, with two divisions of the Seventeenth
Army Corps, about nine thousand (9,000) strong, having left about fifteen
hundred (1,500) in the Allatoona Pass, to fortify and hold it. Colonel
Wright, railroad superintendent, reports he will have the Etowah bridge
done by the 12th instant.
To-morrow I will feel forward with cavalry, and follow with infantry
the moment the enemy develops his designs.
If he fights at Kenesaw Mountain, I will turn it; but if he selects the
line of the Chattahoochee, then I must study the case a little before I
commit myself,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding,
CHAPTER XXIX.
OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN, INCLUDINa THE BATTLE
AT KULP'S HOUSE, ASSAULT OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND THE FLANK
MOVEMENT. .
June 9tli, General E. M. McCook, commanding the First
division of cavalry, made a reconnoissance in front, and having
driven back the enemy's pickets, formed a heavy line three
miles in front of General Hooker, and observed the enemy in
force on Pine Mountain. General Johnston's army now
rested with its left on Lost Mountain, its center at Gilgath
Church, and its right extended across the railroad. On the
10th, Palmer's corps advanced southeasterly and confronted
Pine Mountain, and skirmishing, gained an eminence within
artillery range. Howard's corps, with Hooker's in rear, came
abreast. The next day, Palmer and Howard advanced slightly,
and moved by the left flank until Palmer's left touched Mc-
Pherson's right at the railroad. General Johnston's position
was now fully discovered. His lines extended over a series of
hills from Kenesaw Mountain to Lost Mountain, with Pine
Mountain fortified in front. Before him, the ground was so
broken by ravines and so densely wooded as greatly to em-
barrass the advance of the national armies.
Two days of constant rain prevented all motion; but on
the 14th, active overations were resumed. The Fourteenth
Corps, carrying with it the left of the Fourth, advanced a
mile. The right of the Fourth still rested in proximity to
Pine Mountain, with the Twentieth Corps closed compactly
upon it. During the day, Lieutenant-General Polk was
killed upon the mountain by a cannon shot from one of the
guns of Simonson's Indiana battery. The advanced position
(86)
OPEEATIOXS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 87
being now well turned by the forward movement of the left
of the national line, was abandoned the following night, and
the troops withdrawn to the main line of intrenchments be-
tween Kenesaw and Lost Mountain.
It was not known that General Johnston had a second in-
trenched line, and that he might not have time to construct
one, General Sherman ordered an advance of his armies the
next day. General Schofield was directed to threaten Lost
Mountain ; General McPherson to turn Kenesaw Mountain on
the left, and General Thomas to press the center with a view
to its rupture. General Schofield carried a line of works in
his immediate front, which had been left exposed by the aban-
donment of Pine Mountain. General McPherson gained a
hill on his left front, and General Thomas advanced a mile
and a half in the center ; but as in all other cases. General
Johnston had his key-points well fortified and strongly de-
fended. N"ewton's and . Geary's divisions, supported by the
remaining divisions of the Fourth and Twentieth Corps, car-
ried an intrenched skirmish line and advanced nearly to the
main line. General Howard, deeming it unsafe to assault with-
out a reconnoissance, restrained ISTewton ; but Geary pene-
trated the abatis and maintained a conflict under the enemy's
guns until dark, losing five hundred and thirty-four men.
During the night, the two corps intrenched a line a short dis-
tance from the enemy, and in the morning cannon responded
to cannon, while the usual skirmishing prevailed between the
armies. It being now evident to General Johnston that an
assault could be made with fair prospect of success, he aban-
doned six miles of good field-works and fell back to an in-
trenched line on the Marietta side of Mud creek.
Early on the morning of the 17th, General Thomas ordered
an advance of his army. The Fourth and Twentieth Corps
and the right of the Fourteenth moved over the abandoned
fortifications in a southeasterly direction, and encountered a
skirmish line in front of a series of hills extending southwest
from Kenesaw Mountain. The ground was so favorable to
the enemy that it was not until night that his skirmishers
were driven across Mud creek, and during the night he made
two attemi^ts to dislodge the skirmishers of the Fourth Corps
68 OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
intrencliecl on the west side of the stream. The next morn-
ing Generals Wood and ISTewton threw forward a strong
line of skirmishers, and partially surprising the enemy, secured
a portion of his main line. General Harker, of IsTewton's
division, without waiting for orders, deployed two regiments
to hold the position. Perceiving the advantage. General How-
ard ordered General E'ewton to move up his entire division in
support. General "Wood gained the ridge across the creek on
the right and intrenched, and General Baird moved his division
promptly on General !N"ewton's left. As soon as it was dark,
ITewton's division intrenched within less than one hundred
yards of the enemy's works. The advantage gained was de-
cisive. General Johnston's new line was nearly perpendicular
in direction to his old one, and that portion of the latter which
he had lost was so related to the former that a successful as-
sault was practicable. This General Thomas ordered for the
next day, but the enemy withdrew before morning.
Early the following morning. General Thomas ordered an
advance to ascertain how far General Johnston had receded.
The Fourth Corps, Stanley's division leading, moved forward,
and driving the enemy across E'ose's creek, halted on the west
bank ; the Twentieth Corps crossed the creek late in the day,
and formed with its left in proximity to the right of the
Fourth ; and the Fourteenth advanced toward Kenesaw
Mountain and rested in line in proximity to its base, touching
■with its right the left of the Fourth. General Johnston's po-
sition was now well defined. Hood's corps was covering
Marietta on the northeast; Loring's was holding Kenesaw
Mountain, and Hardee's extended from the mountain to the
road from Lost Mountain to Marietta. His lines were in view
running along the base of the large mountain over the small
one, and thence on the hills to the southwest. The large
mountain was his salient, and from it right and left he drew
back his flanks to cover Marietta and his communications.
The position was one of great strength, thoroughly intrenched,
and covered against approach by entanglements of every type.
Through three weeks of rain. General Sherman had been
pressing the enemy from position to position, but it was now
apparent that General Johnston must maintain his ground or
OPERATIOXS XEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 89
defend Atlanta much nearer its gates. That he might reach
round his army toward his communications, General Sherman
determined to move his armies by the right flank, but not at
first to uncover his depot of supplies at Big Shanty, and while
he put the Army of the Cumberland in motion to the right,
he held the Army of the Tennessee east of the railroad, in
readiness, at call, or when the noise of battle should reveal
the necessity to move also to the right.
On the morning of the 20th, General "Wood's division and
one brigade of General Stanley's moved to the right to relieve
General Williams' division, that the latter might co-operate
with General Schofield whose advance was resisted on the Sand-
town road. During the forenoon. General Stanley, with Whit-
taker's and Kirby's brigades, crossed !N'ose's creek and in-
trenched a line, and in the afternoon Whittaker carried a
wooded hill in his front and Kirby a bald one before him.
The former barricaded at once, and held his position against
repeated and furious assaults of the enemy, but the latter hav-
ing been less prompt in constructing defenses, was driven
back. At dark, the extended right of the Fourteenth Corps
touched the left of the Fourth, and Williams' division was in
connection with General Schofield's left.
The next morning, General ITewton's division was relieved
by a division from General Palmer's corps, when it moved to
the right of General Wood. This accomplished. General
Howard ordered Kirby's brigade and Xodine's, the left bri-
gade of General Wood's division, to regain the hill which
Kirby had lost the evening previous. It had been intrenched
by the enemy during the night, and his artillery bore upon it,
but these brigades carried it handsomely and intrenched its
crest, under the fire of two of the enemy's batteries. General
Wood then pushed two regiments to the front and right, and
gained an eminence which commanded a long intrenched
skirmish line, and permitted the advance of the right of the
Fourth Corps a distance of five hundred yards. General
Hooker advanced with his left abreast of General Howard's
right, against all the resistance the enemy could oflfer. This
movement was so threatening, that General Johnston trans-
ferred Hood's corps from his right to his left, leaving only
90 OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
"Wheeler's cavalry in front of tlie Army of the Tennessee, and
made three unsuccessful assaults during the night to dislodge
General Wood.
The removal of this corps from General McPherson's front
was so thoroughly covered by the activity of Wheeler's troop-
ers, that he was led to believe that there was a concentration
rather than a vacuum behind their bold front. But though
General Johnston succeeded in hiding the uncovering of his
right, and the heavy concentration on his left, his subsequent
aggression resulted in signal defeat. He gained, however, in
defensive strength at the very point it was most needed, and
defeated the combination to turn his left, and in fact defeated
for a time all efforts to dislodge him. General Sherman's plan
proposed that General McPherson should, " at the first pos-
sible chance, push forward on the line of the railroad and
main Marietta road, break through the enemy and joursue
him, or secure a position on the commanding ridge over which
these roads pass," while the movement of the Army of the
Cumberland toward General Schofield, who was searching for
the enemy's left flank, should cause him to lengthen his line
" beyond his ability to defend," and give an opportunity to
break it, by a quick and energetic blow. This maneuver en-
tirely failed in its final development through the transfer of
Hood's corps from the right to the left, so secretly that it was
in battle against Hooker's corps, on the Powder Spring road,
before it was ascertained that it was not still before McPher-
son.
The movements ordered by General Sherman for the 22d,
had reference to preparation for attack upon Johnston's left
flank. He directed General Schofield to cross Nose's creek,
and turn the head of his column up toward Marietta until he
reached Hooker, and deploy south of the Marietta and Pow-
der Spring road ; while General Hooker was ordered to get
possession of the ground, if practicable, up to Mrs. Kulp's,
and deploy with his right resting on the Powder Spring road.
This accomplished, the remainder of General Thomas' line
was to be advanced in conformity. General McPherson was
instructed to press the enemy in his front, to cover Big
OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 91
Shanty, and hold his rear massed in readiness to support
General Thomas, should he become heavily engaged.
At 3 A. M. on the 22d, Cobham's detachment of Geary's di-
vision drove the enemy from the hill a mile in front of the
center of the Twentieth Corps. The whole division soon fol-
lowed, and intrenched a commanding ridge, reversing the
works of the enemy, and covering ai'tillery as well as infantry
lines. Subsequent!}^, Williams' division advanced to Geary's
right, and Bntterfield's to his left, each skirmishing into posi-
tion. The corps did not form a continuous line, but each
division occupied a hill with slopes to right and left, and
between Williams' left and Geary's right there was a swampy
ravine. Williams' right rested on the Powder Spring road,
at Kulp's house, and his division was formed with Rugei''s
brigade on the right, Knipe's in the center, and Robinson's
on the left. In front of Robinson, who held a lateral hill,
slightly refused, there was an open space extending to Geary's
front. The ground was open before Knipe, except in front
of his left, and almost entirely wooded in Ruger's front. Gen-
eral Williams' placed Winegar's and Woodbury's batteries
before his center and left so as to command all the open
ground. When the Twentieth Corps had attained this ad-
vanced position. General Howard moved his line forward in
correspondence.
At 3 p. M., General Williams was informed that Hood's corps
was massed before him. Reporting the fact to General Hooker,
he was directed to deploy his division and construct breast-
works without delay. He had, however, no time to construct
defenses, and barely enough for array, before the enemy was
seen to emerge from the woods beyond the open space in his
fi'ont and dash toward his lines. The formation in triple lines
and the peculiar shout of the troops forming them, alike, pre-
saged an assault. The movement was begun with the enemy's
usual spirit, but Woodbury's canister swept the open ground
with such destructive effect that the enemy was soon thrown
into confusion and retreat. A portion of the column was driven
directly back, and the remainder was forced by volleys from
Knipe's line and Ruger's left, to seek cover in a ravine and
dense clump of trees and underbrush, on Knipe's left front.
92 . OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
A second column moved directly against Eobinson's position,
but being exposed in the open ground to a direct fire from
"Winegar's battery, and an enfilading one from Geary's guns
on tlae left, was also thrown into confusion and rout. As a final
efibrt, the rebel troops who had taken shelter in the ravine and
woods, having been reinforced from the rear, attempted to turn
Knipe's left flank by a stealthy advance under cover ; but the
movement having been perceived, Winegar's battery and
Geary's artillery again opened. The Sixty-first Ohio of Robin-
son's brigade advanced to support the endangered flank, and
the concentric fire of artillery and musketry soon completed
the repulse of the enemy. "While Hood's attack was in pro-
gress, heavy cannonading was maintained throughout the front
of the Army of the Cumberland.
In the repulse of Hood's attack. General Hooker's artillery
was so remarkably effective, that General Johnston admitted
in his official report that his troops, Stevenson's and Hindman's
divisions, were compelled to withdraw by the fire of fortified
artillery. His loss was exceedingly heavy ; General Hooker's
very light. General Williams, who alone was directly assailed,
lost only one hundred and thirty men, including nineteen cap-
tured on the picket line by the sudden advance of the enemy.
Major D. C. Becket, of the Sixty-first Ohio, was killed.
As soon as the character of the attack upon General Hooker
was developed. General Thomas made provision for his support.
The reserve regiments of the Fourth Corps were immediately
thrown to the right, and as soon as practicable, Butterfield's
division was relieved by Stanley's, and moved to the rear of
Williams' right. These dispositions were sufficient for defense,
but the transfer of Hood's corps to General Johnston's left
flank, necessitated a new combination, either to turn his posi-
tion or break through his lines. General Thomas suggested
that General McPherson should attack Marietta from the east
side of Kenesaw Mountain ; but General Sherman decided to
attack General Johnston's fortified lines near his center, and
on the 24th, directed Generals McPherson and Thomas to make
preparations to assault on the 27th — the former near Little
Kenesaw, and the latter about a mile to the south, in front of
the Fourth Corps.
OPEEATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 93
General Thomas designated Davis' and Newton's divisions
to form the assaulting column, and during the night of the
25th, Davis' and Baird's divisions having been relieved on the
left of the Army of the Cumberland by General McPherson's
troops, moved to the rear of the Fourth Corps. On the morn-
ing of the 27th, Morgan's brigade of Davis' division occupied
the intrenchments thrown up by Whittaker's brigade of Stan-
ley's division. Stanley moved to the left to support IlTewton,
and Baird held his division in direct support on Davis' right.
Hooker's whole corps was held in readiness to support Palmer's
and Howard's.
At 8 A. M. the preparations were complete. The brigades of
Colonels Daniel McCook and J. G. Mitchell were massed in
rear of the intrenchments held by Morgan's brigade, as there
was no cover for formation in front. Their point of attack
was a salient in the enemy's works, conforming to a projection
in the ridge, around whose summit his fortifications were built,
and was selected in consequence of the absence of obstructions
in front. llTewton's division was formed with Harker's and
"Wagner's brigades in line, slightly separated for better cover,
and Kimball's in echelon with "Wagner's. For fifteen minutes
all the artillery available, poured a concentrated fire upon the
points of attack, and then the columns moved forward. From
the moment that McCook's and Mitchell's brigades bounded
over their intrenchments, they were subjected to a galling fire
of artillery and musketry. The distance to the enemy's works
was about six hundred yards, and the ground was rough and
partially covered with trees and undergrowth ; but disregard-
ing the fire of the enemy and the difliculties of the way, these
brigades advanced rapidly until they were under the guns of
the enemy. They reached his works, but such was their
strength, and the spirit of the heavy forces behind them, and
such their own exhaustion, that they were compelled to
halt. At this juncture, their situation was exceedingly
critical. To carry the works was impracticable ; to retreat,
threatened almost total destruction, and the maintenance of
position likewise involved great hazard and loss. As, how-
ever, it was soon ascertained that it was possible to so far
restrain the fire of the enemy by a vigorous response that
defenses could be constructed, General Thomas directed
94 OPERATIONS NEAE KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
General Davis to hold the position and fortify it. Intrenching
tools were at once sent forward, and works were thrown up
within a few yards of the enemy. The loss in the advance and
during the day was very great. Colonel McCook fell early mor-
tally wounded ; Colonel Harmon, the next in rank, was soon
after killed, when the command fell to Colonel Dilworth.
Lieutenant-Colonel James Shane and Major John Yager of
Mitchell's brigade received fatal wounds, and from both bri-
gades a very large number of officers and men were killed and
wounded.
The conditions of l^ewton's assault were somewhat differ-
ent, and so was the result. His troops were less exposed in
the advance, but the formidable obstructions and entangle-
ments held them to a terrific fire under circumstances that for-
bade its restraint. As a consequence, he was compelled to
withdraw his division altogether as soon as it was evident
that the assault could not be successful. At the moment of
making a second effort to advance. General Harker was
mortally wounded, and in his brigade and in Wagner's the
loss was very great. Some were killed on the enemy's para-
pet.
The aggregate loss to Davis and IS'ewton, in nearly equal
division, was fifteen hundred and eighty killed, wounded, and
missing. The compensation was the lodgment of troops in
proximity to works too strong to be assaulted, and the in-
fliction of a loss to the enemy of two hundred and thirty-six
men, including one hundred captured. The officers and men
engaged in this assault " went to their work with the greatest
coolness and gallantry," as General Thomas testified, but their
valor and sacrifice brought no adequate reward.
During the progress of the action in the center. Generals
McPherson and Schofield demonstrated strongly on the Ene-
my's flanks. The former threw a portion of his army against
a spur of Little Kenesaw, and though he attained position
near the enemy, did not disturb his- line. The latter gained
some advantage at Olley's creek, as opening the way for an-
other flank movement to the right.
Thus far in the campaign. Generals Sherman and Johnston
had each kept up the most persistent belligerence to keep the
OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 95
other from detaching troops to Virginia. But on the 28th,
General Grant authorized General Sherman to make his move-
ments without reference to the retention of General Johnston's
forces where they were. This independence and the necessity
of active offense induced immediate preparation for an effort
to reach General Johnston's communications. As the ac-
complishment of this project necessitated the temporary
abandonment of the railroad, General Sherman proposed,
should the development of his movement cause General John-
ston to abandon Marietta, to swing in upon the road in his
rear, but should he hold that position, to strike it between him
and the Chattahoochee bridge.
The Army of the Cumberland lost during the month five
thousand seven hundred and forty-seven men — sixty-seven offi-
cers killed, two hundred and fifty-nine wounded, and eight
missing, and eight hundred and seventy-three enlisted men
killed, four thousand three hundred wounded, and forty miss-
ing. The army captured seven hundred and forty-two
prisoners, including thirty-seven ofiicers, and received five
hundred and two deserters at Nashville and Chattanooga,
During the month, the enemy's cavalry in small parties,
assisted by guerrillas and disloyal citizens, was exceedingly
active along the railroad south of Dalton, but wrought no
damage beyond slight interruptions and the destruction of a
few cars. On the 10th, the "District of the Etowah" was
created, with General Steedman in command, who was charged
with the protection of the line of supply south from Chatta-
nooga. Soon after, the district commander sent Colonel Wat-
kins' brigade of cavalry to Lafayette, and a few days later it
was attacked by General Pillow with about two thousand
men. Colonel Watkins refused to surrender, and with four
hundred men defended the town until reinforced by Colonel
Oroxton, commanding the Fourth Kentucky Mounted In-
fantry, whose vigorous attack routed the enemy. Pillow's
loss was about three hundred men, including eighty captured.
Watkins and Croxton lost sixty. On the 28th, Brigadier-
General Smith's division of the Fifteenth Corps arrived at
Chattanooga, and was soon after disposed to protect the rail-
road north from Allatoona.
96 OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
As these troops gave assurance of secure communications,
and as supplies had been accumulated in such quantity as to
warrant the temporary abandonment of the railroad, General
Sherman gave orders, July 1st, for the movement of his armies
to the right, to turn the position he had failed to carry by
assault. His orders required that General Thomas should
hold his intrenchments and observe the enemy until General
McPherson should pass to the right in menace to Johnston's
rear. General McPherson moved his army on the 2d, and the
night following General Johnston withdrew his army, and
when morning dawned, was far on his way to other intrench-
ments. In the pursuit, the Army of the Cumberland first
converged upon Marietta, and then moved on the direct roads
to Atlanta. The enemy's rear-guard was overtaken four
miles from Marietta, and driven forward to Ruff's station,
where his forces were found in strong earthworks, constructed
long before in provision for retreat. The lines of the Army
of the Cumberland were speedily formed, and at midnight
were again in closest proximity to the enemy. General Sher-
man urged his army commanders to extreme activity and vigor
to press the enemy in confusion upon the bridges across the
Chattahoochee. But General Johnston was secure against direct
attack. His forecast of the possibilities of the unequal war-
fare had been so exhaustive that his steps from one intrenched
position to another had all been anticipated. He held his
works at Ruff's station and on his left flank against General
McPherson, until Hood's and Loring's corps were across the
Chattahoochee, and then placed Hardee's corps in his intrench-
ments on the right bank of the river to cover the bridges.
General Sherman's plans were soon formed, though their
execution was deferred to give rest to his armies, perfect his
communications, and accumulate supplies in proximate depots,
that he might be free from daily dependence upon the contin-
uity of his communications in the next stage of his cam-
paign. He proposed to make the next advance from his left,
and the initial dispositions were such as at the same time to
protect his communications against an anticipated cavalry
raid north of Marietta. Wliile holding the main portion of the
Army of the Cumberland firmly against Hardee's corps in his
OPERATIONS ?^EAR KENESAW MOUXTAIX. 97
defenses, and feigning with tlie Army of the Tennessee and
Stoneman's cavahy far down to the right, he threw Garrard's
cavahy to Roswell, and disposed the Army of the Ohio, and
portions of the Fourth Corps, to secure and fortify the cross-
ings from Roswell to Puice's ferry. Between the 6th and 9th,
two heads of column crossed the river, one at Roswell and
the other at Phillips' ferry ; and to give security to the cross-
ings, strong defenses were thrown up on the enemy's side of
the river.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 20.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Acworth, Ga., June 9, 1864.
The armies will move forward to-morrow morning.
I. Major-General Thomas, the center, on the Burnt Hickory and the
Marietta road, and such other roads as he may choose between it and the
Acworth and Marietta road, aiming to stril^e the northern end of Kene-
saw Mountain.
II. Major-General McPherson will move by the Acworth and Marietta
road, with a column following the railroad, and his cavalry well to the
left after passing Big Shanty.
III. Major-General Schofield will cover his , wagons well about Mount
Olive Church, and feel well with cavalry and skirmishers down the road
past Hardshell Church, to ascertain the enemy's strength about Lost
Mountain and the ridge connecting it with Kenesaw Mountain. He will
not pass position about Hardshell Church in force until he is certain Major-
General Thomas has reached some point on Kenesaw.
IV. The object will be to develop the enemy's position and strength,
and to draw artillery fire from his intrenched works. . . .
V. Major-General Stoneman's cavalry will cover the right, and Brigadier-
General Garrard's the left flanks. Brigadier-General McCook's cavalry
should be kept to the rear, or to keep up communications.
VI. The movement will begin at six (6) o'clock a. m., and continue until
Bome one of the columns reaches Kenesaw Mountain, or until the center
is checked.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
R, M. SAWYER
Aid-de-Camp.
VOL. n — 7
98 OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Big Shanty, June 11, 1864.
General Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
Johnston is intrenched on the hills embracing Lost Mountain, Pine
Hill, and Kenesaw. Our lines are down to him, but it has rained so hard,
and the ground is so boggy, that we have not developed any weak point or
flank.
I will proceed with due caution, and try and make no mistake. The
Etowah bridge is dorre, and the construction train has been to our very
camps. Supplies will now be accumulated at Allatoona Pass, or brought
right up to our lines.
One of my chief objects being to give full employment to Joe John-
ston, it makes no diflference where he is, so he is not on his way to Vir-
einia.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Big Shanty, June 13, 1864.
Major-General Hallech, Washington, D. 0. :
We have had hard and cold rains for about ten days. A gleam of sun-
shine this evening gives hope of a change. The roads are insufficient
here, and the fields and new ground are simply impassable to wheels. As
soon as possible I will study Johnston's position on Kenesaw and Lost
Mountain, and adopt some plan to dislodge him or draw him out of his
position. We can not risk the heavy losses of an assault at this distanco
from our base. Cars now run to our very front camps. All well.
There are troops enough in Kentucky to manage Morgan, and in Ten-
nessee to watch Forrest should he make his appearance, as Johnston
doubtless calculates.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Big Shanty, June 16, 1864.
General Hallech, Washington, D. C. :
General Thomas did not make the progress last night I expected. He
'found the enemy strongly intrenched on a line slightly advanced from
a straight line connecting Lost and Kenesaw Mountain. I have been
along it to-day, and am pressing up close. Shall study it, and am
now inclined to feign on both flanks, and assault the center. It may
cost us dear, but in result would surpass an attempt to pass round. The
enemy has a strong position, and covers his road well, and the only
weak point in the game is in having the Chattahoochee in his rear. If,
by assaulting, I can break his line, I see no reason why it should not pro-
duce a decisive effect. I know he shifts his troops about to meet our
OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 99
supposed attacks, and thereby fatigues his men, and the woods will
«nable me to mask our movements.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Big Shantt, June 21, 1864.
Major-General Hallech^ Washington, D. C. :
This is the nineteenth day of rain, and the prospect of clear weather
as far off as ever. The roads are impassable, and fields and woods be-
come quagmires after a few wagons have crossed, yet we are at work all
the time. The left flank is across Novaday, and the right across Nose's
creek. The enemy holds Kenesaw, a conical mountain, with Marietta
behind it, and has retired his flanks to cover that town and his rail-
road. I am all ready to attack the moment the weather and roads will
permit troops and artillery to mov6 with anything like life.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headqtarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, June 22, 1864.
General : — I will start early to look at the position of McPherson as
near the north base of Kenesaw as I can safely do, and then come to
Wallace's, or the house in front, and then over to Hooker. I have ordered
Schofield to cross his whole command over Nose's creek, and turn the
liead of his column up toward Marietta, until he reaches Hooker, to sup-
port and co-operate on his right, but to keep his cavalry and a part of his
rear infantry on the Sandtown road, prepared to regain it in case the enemy
shows signs of let go. I fear we will get our commands too close, but I
suppose Schofield can find room to deploy south of the Powder Springs
and Marietta road. You may order Hooker to extend to that road and
leave Schofield beyond. If he can get possession of the ground up to
Mrs. Kulp's house, I wish him to do so, and the balance of your line to
conform. I will explain McPherson's orders when I meet you.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General Thomas, Commanding Army of the Cumberland.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Big Shanty, June 22, 1864 — 9 p. m.
General : — When on the hill in front of your center to-day, waiting for
you, I signaled General Hooker :
" How are you getting along ? Near what house are you ?
" W. T. Sherman,
^^Major-General"
969389^
100 OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
At this hour (9J) I have received this answer:
" Kttlp House — 5.30 p. m.
"We have repulsed two heavy attacks, and feel confident, our only ap-
prehension being from our extreme right flank. Three (3) entire corps
are in front of us.
" Major-General Hooker."
I was at the Wallace house at 5.30 p. m., and the Kulp house was within
two miles; and though I heard some cannonading, I had no idea of his
being attacked, and General Hooker must be mistaken about three (3)
corps being in his front. Johnston's army has only three corps, and I
know there was a respectable force along McPherson's front ; so much so,
that this general thought the enemy was massing against him. I know there
was some force in front of Palmer and Howard, for I was there. Still, it is
very natural the enemy should meet Hooker at that point in force, and I
gave Schofield orders this morning to conduct his column from Nose's
creek, on the Powder Spring road, toward Marietta, and support Hooker's
right flank, sending his cavalry down the Powder Spring road toward Sweet-
water, and leaving some infantry from his rear to guard the fords. Cap-
tain Dayton says that General Schofield received my orders, which were
in writing. If later information shows that Schofield is not up, send a
staff officer and notify him of the necessity, and, if need be, call off" all
of Palmer's, and notify McPherson, who has orders for this very contin-
gency. To-morrow, if need be, we must bring things to a crisis.
Cars and telegraph now all right. Some of John E. Smith's men are
at Chattanooga, so that I think our road will be better guarded. The
cavalry of Lowe should be out on the Tennessee road, patrolling from
Cartersville to Spring Place.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General Thomas, Commanding Army of the Cumberland
Headqxtarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In THE Field, Big Shanty, June 22, 1864.
General: — General Hooker, this p. m., advanced to the Kulp house,
two and half miles southwest of Marietta, and reports finding three (3)
corps. He was attacked twice, and successfully repulsed the enemy.
General Thomas thinks that that will be the enemy's tactics, and that you
ought to attack Marietta from that side of Kenesaw, but I judge the safer
and better plan to be the one I indicated, viz., for you to leave a light
force and cover that flank, and throw the remainder rapidly, and as much
out of view as possible, to our right.
You may make the necessary orders, and be prepared for rapid action
to-morrow. So dispose matters that the big guns of Kenesaw will do you
as little mischief as possible. Yours, etc.,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Major-General McPherson, Commanding the Army of the Tennessee.
OPEEATIONS NEAK KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 101
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 28.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Kenesaw Mountain, June 24, 1864.
The army commanders will make full reconnoissances and preparation
to attack the enemy in force on the 27th instant, at eight (8) o'clock a. m.
precisely. The commanding general will be on " Signal Hill," and will
have telegraphic communication with all the army commanders.
I. Major-General Thomas will assault the enemy at any point near his
center, to be selected by himself, and will make any changes in his troops
necessar}^, by night, so as not to attract the attention of the enemy.
II. Major-General McPherson will feign by a movement of his cavalry
and one (1) division of infantry on his extreme left, approaching Marietta
from the north, and using artillery freely ; but will make his real attack
at a point south and west of Kenesaw.
III. Major-General Schofield will feel to his extreme right, and threaten
that flank of the enemy with artillery, and displaj^, but attack some one
point of the enemy's line as near the Marietta and Powder Spring road as
lie can with prospect of success.
IV. All commanders will maintain reserve and secrecy, even from their
staff officers, but make all proper preparations and reconnoissances.
When troops are to be shifted to accomplish this attack, the movements
will be made at night. At the time of the general attack, the skirmishers
iii the base of Kenesaw will take advantage of it, to gain, if possible, the
Bummit, and hold it.
V. Each attacking column will endeavor to break a single point of the
•enemy's line, and make a secure lodgment beyond, and be prepared for
following it up toward Marietta and the railroad, in case of success.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Kenesa-w^, June 24, 1864.
General : — I am directed by the major-general commanding to acknowl-
edge the receipt through you of Rousseau's communication in copy, the
original of which also came to hand. The general commanding thinks
quite favorably of the suggestion therein, and desires you to instruct Gen-
eral Rousseau to gradually collect his available force of cavalry and infantry
at Pulaski, Athens, and Decatur, upon the representation of protecting
our roads against Forrest, but really to strike as proposed ; the cavalry to be
well fed, and the infantry stripped for light, rapid movements, and to be
ready to move at telegraphic notice from us. The time to do it will be
when we have forced Johnston across the Chattahoochee
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-dc-Camp,
Major-General G. H. Thomas, Coinmanding, etc.
102 OPEEATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Kenesaw Mountain, June 25, 1864.
General Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
I have nothing new to report* constant skirmishing and cannonading.
I am making some changes in the disposition of our men, with a view to>
attack the enemy's left center. I shall aim to make him stretch his line-
until he weakens it, and then break through.
W. T. SHEKMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, June 27, 1864 — 11.45 a. m.
General Schqfield ;
Neither McPherson nor Thomas has succeeded in breaking through, but
each has made substantial progress, at some cost. Push your operations
on the flank, and keep me advised.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding..
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, June21, 1864 — 11.45 a. m.
General Thomas :
McPherson's column marched near the top of the hill through very
tangled brush, but was repulsed ; it is found almost impossible to deploy,
but they still hold the ground. I wish you to study well the positions,
and, if it be possible, break through the line to do it; it is easier now than
it will be hereafter. I hear Leggett's guns well behind the mountain.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding,
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi.
In the Field, June 27, 1864 — 1.30 p. m.
General Thomas :
McPherson and Schofield are at a dead lock. Do you think you can
carry any part of the enemy's main line to-day ? McPherson's men are
up to the abatis, and can 't move without direct assault. I will order an
assault, if you think you can succeed at any point. Schofield has on©
division close up on the Powder Spring road, and the other across Olley's
creek, about two miles to his right and rear.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding,
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, June 27 — 2.25 p. m.
Qeneral Thomas :
Secure what advantageous ground you have gained ; but is there any-
OPEEATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 103
thing in the enemy's present position, that, if we should approach by reg-
ular saps, he could not make a dozen new parapets before our saps are
completed ? Does the nature of the ground warrant the time necessary
for regular approaches ?
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
June 27—10.45 a. m.
Major-General Sherman :
Yours received. Harker's brigade advanced to within twenty paces
of the enemy's breastworks, and was repulsed with canister at short
range, General Harker losing an arm. General Wagner's brigade of
Newton's division, supporting General Harker, was so severely handled
that it is compelled to reorganize. Colonel Mitchell's brigade of Davis'
division captured one line of rebel breastworks, which they still hold.
McCook's brigade was also severely handled, nearly every colonel being
killed or wounded. It is compelled to fall back and reorganize. The
troops are all too much exhausted to advance, but we hold all that we
have gained.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland, June 27.
General Sherman :
Your dispatch of 2.25 received. We still hold all the ground we have
gained, and the division commanders report their ability to hold. They
also report the enemy's works exceedingly strong; in fact, so strong that
they can not be carried by assault, except by immense sacrifice, even if
they can be carried at all. I think, therefore, the best chance is to ap-
proach them by regular saps, if we can find a favorable approach to bat-
ter them down. We have already lost heavily to-day, without gaining
any material advantage. One or two more such assaults would use up
this army.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Kenesaw, June 27, 1864.
General Halleck :
Pursuant to my orders on the 24th, a diversion was made on each flank
of the enemy, especially on the Sandtown road, and at 8 a. m. General
McPherson, at the southwest end of the Kenesaw, and General Thomas
at a point about a mile further south ; at the same time, skirmishers and
artillery along the whole line kept up a sharp fire. Neither attack sue.
104 OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
ceeded, though both columns reached the enemy's works, which are very-
strong. General McPherson reports his loss about five hundred, and
General Thomas about two thousand ; the loss particularly heavy in gen-
erals and field officers. General Harker is reported mortally wounded;
also, Colonel Dan. McCook, commanding brigade ; Colonel Rice, Fifty-
seventh Ohio, very seriously. Colonels Barnhill, Fortieth Illinois, and
Augustine, Fifty-fifth Illinois, are killed.
The facilities with which defensive works of timber and earth are con-
structed, gives the party on the defensive great advantage
I can not well turn the position of the enemy without abandoning my
railroad, and we are already so far from our supplies that it is as much as
the road can do to feed and supply the army. There are no supplies of
any kind here. I can press Johnston, and keep him from reinforcing
Lee, but to assault him in position will cost us more lives than we can
spare.
McPherson took, to-day, one hundred prisoners, and Thomas about
as many, but I do not suppose that we have inflicted heavy loss on the
enemy, as he kept close behind his parapets.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
June 27, 1864—9 p. M.
General Thomas :
Are you willing to risk the move on Fulton, cutting loose from our
railroad ? It would bring matters to a crisis, and Schofield has secured
the way.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland, June 27.
General Sherman :
What force do you think of moving with ? If with the greater part of
the army, I think it decidedly better than butting against breastworks
twelve feet thick, and strongly abatised.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi
Near Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
General Thomas :
Let your troops fortify as close up to the enemy as possible. Get good
positions for artillery, and group as conveniently as you can by corps and
divisions, keeping reserves. Schofield has the Sandtown road within
eleven miles of the Chattahoochee, and he could move by that flank.
The question of supplies will be the only one. I regret beyond measure
the loss of two such young and dashing officers as Harker and McCook.
OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 105
McPherson lost two or three of his young and dashing officers, which is
apt to be the case in unsuccessful assaults. Had we broken the line to-
day, it would have been most decisive; but as it is, our loss is small com-
pared with some of those east. It should not in the least discourage us.
At times, assaults are necessary and inevitable. At Arkansas Post we
succeeded ; at Vicksbui'g we failed. I do not think our loss to-day greater
than Johnston's, when he attacked Hooker and Schofield the first day
•we occupied our present ground.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Kenesaw, June 27, 1864.
General McPherson :
Is General Blair back? Report to me fully his operations for to-day.
Schofield's right division (Cox) has gained a good position on the other
side of Olley's creek and at the head of Nickajack. If we had our sup-
plies well up, I would move by the right flank ; but suppose we must
cover our railroad for a few days.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-Oeneral Commanding.
Washington, June 28, 1864 — 4 p. m.
Major-General Sherman :
General Grant directs me to say that the movements of your armj: may
be made entirely independent of any desire to retain Johnston's forces
where they are. He does not think that Lee will bring any more addi-
tional troops to Richmond, on account of the difficulty of feeding them.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Kenesaw, June 30, 1864.
General Schofield:
General Thomas is here. He will study the ground well, and prepare
to relieve Hascall's division to-night, in which event I want you with your
-whole force to occupy between Olley's creek and Nickajack, to drive the
■enemy from the forks of the road, and picket as far down as Nickajack
•creek, and as far down on the Sandtown road as possible. At the same
time. General Stoneman's cavalry, supported by McCook, should move
across Sweetwater by Powder Springs, and down the west side of Sweet-
water creek to Sweetwater town, which crossing once secured, Stoneman
to hold it, and McCook to return to Lost Mountain.
General McPherson's command to remain where it is until our stores
are complete, Avhen his cavalry will guard the roads from Marietta to-
ward Allatoona, while McPherson moves with his whole command down
the Sandtown road to the Chattahoochee. If Johnston holds on to
106 OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
Kenesaw, then we must strike some point on the railroad, between Ma-
rietta and the bridge ; but if he lets go of Marietta, then we will swing
across the railroad, to a position that gives us again the use of the rail-
road.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO 31.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Kenesaw Mountain, July 1, 1864.
The object of the contemplated movement is to deprive the enemy of
the great advantage he has in Kenesaw, as a watch-tower from which to-
observe our every movement, to force him to come out of his intrench-
ments, or move further south. To attain this end :
I. All army commanders will fill wp their wagons at Big Shanty depot,
to their utmost, with provisions, ammunition, and forage. The chief
quartermaster and commissary will give all necessary orders to clean out
the depots in front of Allatoona, and so instruct that the locomotives and
cars will come forward of Allatoona with great caution, and only when or-
dered by chief commmissary.
II. Major-General Thomas will hold the ground below Kenesaw, as far
as Olley's creek, near Mount Zion ; Major-General Schofield that from
OUey's creek to Nickajack, and General McPherson will move his train
and troops rapidly in a single march, and as little observed from Kenesaw
as possible, to the Sandtown road, and down it to the extreme right, with
one corps near the Widow Mitchell's, another near Ruff's mill on the
Nickajack, and the the third in reserve, near the forks of the road.
III. General Garrard's cavalry will cover the roads out of Marietta
which pass north of Kenesaw, and General Stoneman's cavalry will oc-
cupy Sweetwater (old town), coincident with the movement of McPherson.
(jeneral McCook will receive orders from General Thomas. In case the
enemy presses Garrard back by superior and overwhelming forces, he
will send one of his brigades to the flank of General Thomas, and will,
with the others, fall back gradually toward Allatoona, disputing every
foot of ground.
IV. Major-General McPherson will threaten the Chattahoochee river
and also the railroad, and General Thomas will press the enemy close,
and, at the very earliest possible moment, break his lines, and reach the-
railroad below Marietta. All movements must be vigorous and rapid, as
the time allowed is limited by the supplies in our wagons.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de- Camp,
OPERATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 107
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
Marietta, Ga., July 3, 1864 — 10 a. m.
General Halleck, Washington, D. C. ;
The movement on our right caused the enemy to evacuate. We occu-
pied Kenesaw at daylight, and Marietta at ^h a. m. Thomas 'is moving
down the main road toward the Chattahoochee ; McPherson toward the
mouth of Nickajack, on the Sandtown road. Our cavalry is on the ex-
treme flank. Whether the enemy will halt this side of the Chattahoochee
or not will soon be known. Marietta is almost entirely abandoned by its
inhabitants, and more than a mile of the railroad iron is removed betwen
the town and the foot of Kenesaw. I propose to press the enemy close
till he is across the Chattahoochee river, when I must accumulate stores
and better guard my rear.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding,
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Chattahoochee, July 9, 1864.
General Hallcch, Washington, D. C. :
I telegraphed to you, and Mr. Secretary Stanton answers. Drop me a
word now and then of advice and encouragement. I think I have done
well to maintain such an army in this country, fighting for sixty (60) days,
and yet my losses are made up by the natural increase. The assault I
made was no mistake. I had to do it. The enemy, and our own army
and officers, had settled down into the conviction that the assault of lines
formed no part of my game, and the moment the enemy was found be-
hind anything like a parapet, why everybody would deploy, throw up
counter-works, and take it easy, leaving it to to the "Old Man" to turn
the position. Had the assault been made with one-fourth more vigor
(mathematically), I would have put the head of George Thomas' whole
army right through Johnston's deployed line on the best ground for " go
ahead," while my entire forces were well in hand on roads converging to
my then object, Marietta. Had Harker and McCook not been struck
down so early, the assault would have succeeded, and then the battle
would have all been in our favor, on account of our superiority of num-
bers and initiative. Even as it was, Johnston has been much more cau-
tious since, and gave ground more freely. His next fighting line (Smyrna
camp-ground) he only held one day.
*-»**** ■:•; * *
Write me a note occasionally, and suggest anything that may occur to
you, as I am really in the wilderness down here; but I will fight any and all
the time on anything like fair terms, and that is the best strategy, but it
would not be fair to run up against such parapets as I find here.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
108 OPEKATIONS NEAR KENESAW MOUNTAIN.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Chattahoochee River, July 13, 1864.
Dear General : — I have written you but once since the opening of the
campaign, but I report by telegraph to General Halleck daily, and he
furnishes you copy. My progress was slower than I calculated, from
two chief causes — an uninterrupted rain from June 2d to the 22d, and
the peculiar submountainous nature of the country from the Etowah to
the Chattahoochee. But we have overcome all oi^position, and whipped
Johnston in every fight when we were on anything like fair terms, and I
think the army feels that way, that we can whip the enemy in anything
like a fair fight ; but he has uniformly taken shelter behind parallels of
strong profile, made in advance for him by negroes and militia. I regarded
an assault on the 27th of June necessary for two good reasons : 1. Because
the enemy, as well as my own army, had settled down into the belief that
" flanking" alone was my game ; and, 2. That on that day and ground, had
the assault succeeded, I could have broken Johnston's center, and pushed
his army back in confusion, and with great loss, to his bridges over the
Chattahoochee. We lost nothing in morale in the assault, for I followed
it up on the extreme right, and compelled him to quit the very strong lines
of Kenesaw, Smyrna camp-ground, and the Chattahoochee, in quick suc-
cession. . . .
I have now fulfilled the first part of the " grand plan." Our lines are
up to the Chattahoochee, and the enemy is beyond.
I feel certain we have killed and crippled for Joe Johnston as many as
we have sent of our men to the rear ; have sent back about six or seven
thousand prisoners ; have taken eleven (11) guns of Johnston, and about
ten (10) in Rome; have destroyed immense iron, cotton, and wool mills;
and have possession of all the entire country. My operations have been
rather cautious than bold, but, on the whole, I trust are satisfactory to
you.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Lieutenani-General Grant near Petersburg, Va.
CHAPTER XXX.
ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, AND BATTLE OF PEACHTREE CREEK.
Acting upon the belief that two corps were across the river,
and intrenched, General Johnston withdrew Hardee's corps
the night of the 9th, and the smoke of the burning bridges
was the first revelation of his action. He selected as his next
line, Peachtree creek and the Chattahoochee below its mouth,
and placed his army on the high ground south of the creek in
waiting to attack the national armies whenever they should
attempt to cross. Should he be unsuccessfal in preventing
their passage, he proposed to delay their approach to Atlanta
until his defenses between the Marietta and Decatur roads
could be intrusted to the stat^ troops, and then sally out with
his whole army, and strike the flank most exposed. He was
under the impression that his method of defense, covering con-
tinually, not only his main line, but his skirmishers, with in-
trenchments, had enabled him to inflict losses fivefold greater
than his own, and that such had been the reduction of Gen-
eral Sherman's superiority that he could now safely deliver
offensive battle, especially as he had the fortifications of At-
lanta for refuge in the event of defeat, which, in his esti-
mation, were " too strong to be assaulted, and too extensive to
be invested." But as his estimation of the reduction of Gen-
eral Sherman's strength was radically erroneous, there was no
ground for his faith in his ability to meet him in general
battle. He confessed a loss of ten thousand killed and
wounded of infantry and artillery, and though General Sher-
man's loss in the same arms were probably one-half more, the
relative strength of the armies had not materially changed
since the battle of Kesaca, and now, as then, he had fifty
(109)
110 ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC.
thousand against a hundred thousand men for an open battle.
In the defense of fortifications, he was relatively stronger, as
he had gradually received accessions of militia, to be used only
in constructing and holding intrenchments, so that his pur-
pose to act ofiiensively before Atlanta was formed in ignorance
of the fact that General Sherman had maintained a hundred
thousand men on his offensive front, against all his losses and
the demands of an ever-lengthening line of supply.
To General Sherman, the outlook from the Chattahoochee
was promising in the main, but there were contingencies pro-
ductive of no slight anxiety. He had been able thus far to
maintain his communications against all the forces that Gen-
eral Johnston could detach against them ; but Forrest, the bold
raider, had given remote menace from East Tennessee, and
the possibility of a dash by him from Mississippi was not yet
entirely removed. And he looked anxiously, though hope-
fully, to Major-General Canby, commanding the newly created
military division of West Mississippi, to so engage the enemy's
forces in the "West i^nd Southwest as to prevent their approach
to his rear. Before him, the city of Atlanta, his next objective,
was in view. Its importance as a railroad and manufacturing
center, and the moral effect of its successful defense, might
justly be regarded as overmastering incentives to the enemy
to fortify, and to fight to hold it. To sever its railroad con-
nection with the states west, and cut off supply and reinforce-
ment from that quarter. General Eousseau, with a mounted
force, was in motion from Decatur, Alabama, to Opelika, and
Stoneman had been sent to strike the same road nearer At-
lanta. But another general advance could not be delayed in
waiting for the issues of remote operations, and with the com-
pletion of preparations for it, there came, as an incentive to
p)rompt motion, the announcement from General Grant that
the transfer of Confederate troops from Virginia to Georgia
was not improbable, and that provision for such a contingency
should be made.
On the 16th, the date of General Grant's dispatch. General
Sherman gave orders for the advance toward Atlanta on the
following day. McPherson's army had been previously trans-
ferred from the extreme right to Roswell ; Schofield's was across
ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC. Ill
in front of Phillip's ferry, and Howard's corps on the south
side, before Power's ferry. The next morning. General
McPherson crossed at Roswell, and moved toward the Augusta
railroad, east of Decatur; General Schofield advanced toward
Cross Keys, and Palmer's and Hooker's corps passed the river
on pontoon bridges, at Paice's ferry, covered by Wood's di-
vision, which marched down the left bank of the river from
Power's ferry, and subsequently rejoined the Fourth Corps,
and with it moved toward Buckhead. Garrard's cavalry acted
with General McPherson, and Stoneman's and McCook's
watched the river and roads below the railroad.
The movement was a right wheel, with Palmer's corps of
the Army of the Cumberland as a pivot. The night of the
17th, the Army of the Cumberland rested on Nancy's creek,
a tributary of Peachtree creek, having pressed back the
enemy's skirmishers from the bank of the Chattahoochee.
The next day it advanced until Palmer's right rested at the
junction of IlTancy's and Peachtree creeks, and Howard's
corps at Buckhead. General Schofield approached Decatur,
and General McPherson broke up a section of the Augusta
railroad a few miles east of the town. The line was now a
long one, but the movements prescribed for the 19th were de-
signed to unite the armies before Atlanta, or in that city.
Early in the morning, Woods' division leading, the Fourth
Corps reached Peachtree creek on the Buckhead and At-
lanta road, finding the bridge burned and a heavy fortification
on the high ground beyond, manned with infantry and artil-
lery. In the afternoon. General Wood constructed a bridge
and forced the passage, and drove the enemy from his defenses.
General Stanley crossed the north fork of the creek some dis-
tance to the left, against strong opposition. To the right,
Davis' and Geary's divisions fought their way over the stream.
General Geary covered the construction of a foot-bridge with
a heavy artillery fire, and gained a strong position beyond.
General Davis first threw over Dilworth's brigade, which soon
became warmly engaged, and after a sharp conflict repulsed
the enemy. Mitchell's brigade moved promptly in support,
and participated in the action near its close. All the troops
on the south side intrenched during the night.
112 ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC.
Early the next morning the remaining divisions of the Army
of the Cumberland passed the stream. This army was now
compactly formed, and was under orders to advance to de-
velop the enemy's purpose with respect to Atlanta. Between
General Thomas' left and General Schofield's right there was,
however, a wide interval, and General Sherman ordered two
divisions of the Fourth Corps to move to the left to connect
with General Schofield. Their movement to the left did not
fill the interval nor greatly diminish its length, but changed
its location in the general battle front, and gave the prepon-
derance of strength to the left wing. When Stanley and
"Wood had moved to the left and faced toward Atlanta, in
harmony with General Schofield's column, there was still an
interval of nearly two miles* between the right of their line
and General Thomas' left on the Buckhead road.
Wlien General Williams crossed the creek, he advanced be-
yond General Geary to an eminence abreast of one Johnson
had taken for his division on the left of the Fourteenth Corps,
and separated from it by a depression. Here he halted, by
direction of General Hooker, as he was near an extensive in-
trenched outpost of the enemy, and his front was covered by
dense woods and thickets. At 10 a. m. General Geary moved
forward to the hill on the left of General Williams, and formed
his division several hundred yards in advance. Later, General
Kewton advanced and attained a good position in open ground
on the Buckhead road, a division interval from Geary's left.
General Hooker for a time held Ward's division opposite this
interval, but concealed behind a hill. The resistance offered
to the skirmishers that covered the advance of these divisions,
and other circumstances, indicated the presence of the enemy
in strong force, and both Newton and Geary made dispositions
for defense. The former placed two brigades in line — Wag-
ner's, Colonel Blake commanding, on the left of the road, and
Kimball's on the right — and held Bradley's in column for suj)-
port. Between the two deployed brigades, he placed a four-
gun battery, and constructed slight rail barricades. General
Geary formed his division with Candy's brigade on the left,
* Statement in General Howard's report.
ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC. 113
Jones' on the right, and Ireland's massed in rear of Jones'.
As the ground in front of Jones was wooded, but open before
Candy and on his left, General Geary planted his guns on
Candy's line. Here also barricades of rails were constructed,
A new army commander had been observing the movements
of the national forces since the 17th, as on that day General
Johnston, by order of the Confederate President, had given his
army and his immediate projects to General Hood. General
Johnston had proposed to himself attack General Sherman's
armies as they should cross Peachtree creek, in hopes of press-
ing them in confusion upon the creek and the river beyond,
but he had not anticipated such favorable conditions as now
existed. He had determined to assume the offensive against
Sherman's combined armies, and to make flanks to turn, by
breaking lines ; but his successor had been permitted to see the
wide separation of the two smaller armies from the Army of
the Cumberland, and then to see the latter cross Peachtree
creek bereft of the two divisions which extended its flank be-
tween the forks of the stream, and then advance with its short-
ened left flank thrown forward almost to the hills upon which
his forces were massed for sudden attack, while its right was
wedged in between his works and the creek. And now to add
surprise to exposure, that his success might be assured, he
called in his skirmishers in semblance of entire withdrawal,
and sent soldiers into the national lines, under the pretense of
capture, who should say that there were no heavy bodies of
their troops within two miles. So when, after formation, the
most exposed divisions threw forward their skirmishers to de-
velop the state of things in their front, there was no resist-
ance, and no enemy in view until the moment that the massed
forces were ready to spring from concealment, in boldest at-
tack. The blow was well concealed, and it was well delivered
under the most favorable conditions. It was nevertheless as
complete a failure as any assault of the war.
At 3 p. M. the enemy in masses rushed from the woods. A
division attacked N^ewton in front ; another passed his left
flank altogether, and thrust itself between Peavine and Peach-
tree creeks, and a third attacked his right flank. As the
VOL. n — 8
114 ADVANCE UPOX ATLANTA, ETC.
menace to his left flank involved tlie greatest danger, General
!N^ewton first repulsed the column on his left, and drove it to
the woods, with Bradley's brigade and his reserve artillery.
"Wagner's and Blake's brigades next repelled the front attack,
and drove back the enemy with heavy loss. The latter
changed front at right angles, and engaged the enemy's third
division. While this division had advanced between ISTewton
and Geary, in evident belief that then there was a complete
opening in the line, and had faced to the east to engage New-
ton, Ward's division advanced from cover, and the heavy
skirmish line, far in advance, composed of the Twenty-second
Wisconsin and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New York,
Lieutenant-Colonel Bloodgood commanding, held the enemy
in check until the whole division had reached a hill to the
right and rear of Newton. The unexpected appearance of
this division and its destructive fire threw the enemy into
confusion, and he fell back with shattered ranks. General
Ward then advanced to another eminence abreast of Newton
and Geary, and formed his division so as to connect with the
right of the one and the left of the other. The hill he occu-
pied commanded the open space for six hundred yards in
front, and the enemy for a time refrained from attack. During
this interval. General AVard fortified his position. The enemy
first attacked the right of Geary's line, then passed round to
attack him in flank and rear. Williams' division not being fully
abreast, this advantage was possible. Geary was therefore
■compelled to change front to the right with almost all of his di-
vision, and extend his line to connect with Williams, leaving
only five regiments, with his artillery, on his first line. When
the noise of severe battle was first heard by General Williams,
he was in the act of moving artillery to his skirmish line, to
dislodge the enemy from his fortified outpost ; but warned by
the heavy volleys of musketry on his left, he deployed his
division at double-quick — Knipe's brigade on the right, Robin-
son's on the left, and Euger's in reserve — to await the devel-
opment of the attack. He placed his batteries by sections, to
command his front and flanks, and held three sections in re-
serve. Hardly had these dispositions been made before the
enemy advanced upon Williams in great force, and having
ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC. 115
•driveu in his skirmishers, with his liue of battle under cover
of the thickets and undergrowth, approached very near with-
out being seen. His attack, as in other cases, was direct in
part, but lieavy masses swept down the ravines to right and
left. Hearing heavy firing on his right. General Williams sent
the Twenty-seventh Indiana to reinforce Knipe's right. This
regiment and the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania speedil}^ checked
and drove back the enemy, and held the ground until the
close of the action. On the left, the attack was more threat-
ening, because made with stronger columns ; but Robinson's
^brigade, the artillery, and Geary's line upon the other hill,
poured a destructive fire upon the enemy, and here, too, he
was completely repulsed. This first attack swept from ITew-
ton's position to Colonel Anson McCook's brigade of John-
son's division of the Fourteenth Corps ; but though signally
repulsed. General Hood did not desist, and soon again, from
IsTewton to Johnson, the battle raged furiously.
The second general action was commenced upon iN'ewton's
left in effort to double up the line by taking it in reverse as
well as in flank. This time General Thomas sent the artillery
■of "Ward's division, and in person urged the artillery horses
to the greatest possible speed to meet the emergency, and then
•directed their action. These guns, and all of Newton's, with
.all kinds of metal most destructive at short range, opened
upon the heavy assaulting columns, and they were again
repulsed. Again the battle raged to the right; but as the
national line was now compact, the enemy exhausted himself
in direct attacks. His infantry assaults, as at first, extended
from J^ewton to Johnson, and further to the right his forti-
:fied artillery was most active, but charge after charge from left
to right was repulsed, until at 6 p. m., when he abandoned his
effort to turn or break the line. In this action, artillery was
used with fearful effect, and so skillfully was it posted, and so
bravely defended, that the enemy did not reach a single gun.
When it is considered that four divisions and one brigade,
in open field, repulsed an attack of the army which was in-
tended to initiate such offense as should destroy Sherman's
armies, the grandeur of this victory becomes apparent. !N'ot
General Hood alone, but General Johnston also, was defeated
116 ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC.
in the " Battle of Peaclitree Creek." A new policy demanded
by the authorities at Richmond, and by the Southern people,
and a plan of ba.ttle elaborated by an able general and put
upon trial under conditions far more favorable than had been
anticipated, was defeated by less than half of the infantry and
artillery of the " Army of the Cumberland." Four divisions,
and a third of another, parried a blow intended to initiate the
ruin of three armies, comprising more than five times as
many men, and the significance of the miscarriage should have
been accepted as the prophecy of the doom of the rebellion.
The national troops fought great odds, introducing aggression
as the policy of a new commander, to stop the further advance
of General Sherman and save Atlanta. It was seemingly a
grand opportunity, but the issue was positive defeat and im-
mense loss. An opportunity for the enemy, it was an
emergency for the exposed flank and the fraction of the na-
tional army subjected to attack. But there were those in
chief and subordinate command, who, by personal direction and
vigor, inspirited the troops made veteran by participation
in numerous battles. Generals Thomas and Hooker were
with their troops at the points of extreme danger, and ofiicers
and men in proportionate service contributed to the emphatic
repulse of the enemy in a combination planned for grandest
eflfect.
General Hood lost from three to five thousand men. He
left over six hundred dead on the field, and several hundred of
his men were captured. "Ward's division captured seven
battle flags and two hundred and forty-six prisoners.
The total loss of the Army of the Cumberland was sixteen
hundred. Colonel Cobham, One Hundred and Eleventh
Pennsylvania ; Colonel Logic, One Hundred and Forty-fourth
I^TewYork; Lieutenant-Colonel Eandall, One Hundred and
Forty-ninth New York, and many other officers were killed ;
and Lieutenant-Colonel "W. H. H. Brown, Sixty-first Ohio,
and Major Lathrop Baldwin, One Hundred and Seventh ISTew
York, were mortally wounded. A number of field and line
officers were severely wounded. General Newton's loss was
only one hundred, though his division was on the flank and
in extreme exposure.
ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC. 117
Generals Stanley and Wood were somewhat heavily engaged
during the afternoon and evening, the enemy using artillery
freely. They drove in his outposts, and came up in sight of
intrenchments, with the usual skirmish line in front. Late in
the evening, General Stanley captured a portion of the pickets,
drove in the remainder, and worked up close to the enemy.
The night following, the enemy withdrew from General
INTewton's left. The next morning. General Wood advanced
his right a mile and a half, and during the day, the Army of
the Cumberland, from left to right, advanced close to the
enemy's works. Heavy skirmishing was maintained ; batteries
were put in position and kept in continuous action wherever
there was probability of effect, and the new front was strongly
intrenched.
In the night, the enemy retired to the immediate defenses
of the city ; comprising a strong line of redoubts, connected by
curtains, covered by abatis and cheveau de frise. The next
morning. General Thomas advanced his line and intrenched
as close as practicable to the enemy's works. The Fourteenth.
Corps fortified a line west of the railroad, the Twentieth Corps
from the railroad to the Buckhead road, and the Fourth
Corps from that road to General Schofield's right — the con-
traction of the line now permitting the reunion of the three
divisions in continuous front. General Thomas' position was
strong, affording commanding points for batteries within easy
range of the city, and bearing directly upon the fortifications
of the enemy. Constant skirmishing and cannonading were
maintained. General McCook's ' cavalry was thrown on Gen-
eral Thomas' right, along Proctor's creek, and covering the
Macon and Turner's Ferry roads.
On the 22d, while the Army of the Tennessee was changing
position to close in upon Atlanta, General Hood put upon
trial General Johnston's suggestion to sally from the fortifi-
cations and strike the most exposed flank. This time he
gained a temporary advantage, but in the final issue was
defeated with heavy loss.
General McPherson was killed early in the engagement,
while making dispositions to save his left flank.
The same day, General Rousseau arrived at Marietta, having
118 ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC.
accomplished liis raid through ALabama aud Georgia. lie-
suggested the expedition, and had organized and commanded
it by permission of General Sherman. He destroyed over
thirty miles of railroad, several trestle-bridges, many station-
buildings, and quantities of supplies and materials. He met
and defeated General Clanton at the Coosa river, and another
force at Chehaw station, and having suffered a loss of about
forty men from a command of twenty-five hundred, reached
the theater of war at a time when cavalry reinforcements were
much needed.
EXTRACTS FEOM THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL JOS. E..
JOHNSTON.
The character of Peachtree creek, and the numerous fords in the
Chattahoochee above its mouth, prevented my attempting to defend that
part of the river. The broad and muddy channel of the creelc would
have separated the two parts of the army. It and the river, below its
mouth, were therefore taken as our line. A position on the high ground
south of the creek was selected for the army, from which to attack the
enemy while crossing. The engineer officers, with a large force of ne-
groes, were set to work to strengthen the fortifications of Atlanta, and
mount on them seven heavy rifles, borrowed from General Maury. The
chief engineer was instructed to devote his attention, first, to the works
between Marietta and Decatur roads, to put them in such condition that
they might be held by state troops, so that the army might attack the-
enemy in flank when he approached the town. This, in the event that
we should be unsuccessful in attacking 'the Federal army in its passage
of Peachtree creek.
In transferring the command to General Hood, I explained my plans
to him. First, to attack the Federal army while crossing Peachtree
creek. If we were successful, great results might be hoped for, as the-
enemy would have both it and the river to intercejat his retreat. Second,
if unsuccessful, to l^eep back the enemy by intrenching, to give time for
the assembling of the state troops promised by Governor Brown ; to garri-
son Atlanta with those troops, and when the Federal army approached
the town, to attack it on its most exposed flank with all the Confederate
troops.
These troops, who had been for seventy-four days in the immediate
presence of the enemy, laboring and fighting daily, enduring toil, ex-
posure, and danger with equal cheerfulness, more confident and high
spirited than when the Federal army first presented itself near Dalton,
were then inferior to none who ever served the Confederacy.
•»-55--}f-X-*-X-***
ADVANCE UPOX ATLANTA, ETC. 119'
T commenced the campaign with General Bragg's army of Missionary-
Ridge, with one brigade added (Mercer's), and two taken away (Baldwin's
and Quarles'). That opposed to us was Grant's army of Missionary Ridge,
then estimated at eighty thousand by our principal officers, increased, as
1 have stated, by two corps, a division, and several thousand recruits — in
all, at least thirty thousand men. The cavalry of that army was esti-
mated by Major-General Wheeler at fifteen thousand.
The reinforcements which joined our army amounted to fifteen thou-
sand infantry and artillery, and four thousand cavalry. Our scouts
reported much greater numbers joining the United States army — the
garrisons and bridge-guards from Tennessee and Kentucky relieved by
"one hundred days' men," and the Seventeenth Corps, with two thousand
cavalry.
The loss of our infantry and artillery, from the 5th of May, had been
about ten thousand in killed and wounded, and four thousand seven
liundred fi'om all other causes, mainly slight sickness produced by heavy
cold rains, which prevailed in the latter half of June. These and the
slightly wounded were beginning to rejoin their regiments. For want of
reports, I am unable to give the loss or the services of the cavalry, which
was less under my eye than the rest of the army. Its effective strength
was increased by about two thousand during the campaign.
The effective force transferred to General Hood was about forty-one
thousand infantry and artillery, and ten thousand cavalry.
According to the opinions of our most experienced officers, daily re-
ports of prisoners, and statements of Northern papers, the enemy's loss
in action could not have been less than five times as great as ours. In
the cases in which we had the means of estimating it, it ranged from
seven to one to ninety to one, compared to ours, and averaged thirteen
to one. The Federal prisoners concurred in saying that their heaviest
loss was in the daily attacks made in line of battle, upon our skirmishers
in their rifle-pits. Whether they succeeded in dislodging our skirmishers
or not, their loss was heavy and ours almost nothing.
Between Dalton and the Chattahoochee, we could have given battle
only by attacking the enemy intrenched, or so near intrenchments that
the only result of success to us would have been his falling back into
them, while defeat would have been our ruin.
In the course pursued, our troops always fighting under cover, had
very trifling losses compared with those they inflicted, so that the en-
emy's numerical superiority was reduced daily and rapidly, and we could
reasonably have expected to cope with the Federal army on equal ground
by the time the Chattahoochee was passed. Defeat on this side of that
river would have been its destruction. We, if beaten, had a place of
refuge in Atlanta, too strong to be assaulted, and too extensive to be in-
vested.
120 ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC.
EXTEACT FROM GENERAL SPIERMAN'S COMMUNICATION TO
GENERAL GRANT, OF JULY 12, 1864.
As soon as I hear from General Stoneman, I will shift all of General
McPherson's army to Roswell, and cross General Thomas three (3) miles
above the railroad bridge, and move against Atlanta — my left well to the
East, to get possession of the Augusta road about Decatur or Stone Moun-
tain. I think all will be ready in three (3) days. I will have nearly one
hundred thousand (100,000) men.
I feel certain we have killed and crippled for Joe Johnston as many
as we have sent to the rear ; have sent back six or seven thousand pris-
oners.
City Point, Va., Jxdy 16, 1864—10 a. m.
Major-General Sherman :
The attempted invasion of Maryland having failed to give the enemy
a firm foothold north, they are now returning with possibly twenty-five
thousand (25,000) troops. All the men they have here beyond a suflB-
ciency to hold their string of fortifications, will be an element of weak-
ness by eating up their supplies. It is not improbable, therefore, that
you will find in the next fortnight, reinforcements on your front to the
number indicated above. I advise, therefore, that if you get Atlanta,
you set about destroying the railroad as far to the east and south of you
as possible. Collect all stores of the country for your own use, and
select a point that you can hold until help can be had. I shall make a
desperate effort to get a position here which will hold the enemy without
the necessity of so many men. If successful, I can detach from here for
other enterprises, looking m'uch to your assistance, or anything else-
where.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Washington, July 16, 1864 — 4.30 p. m.
Major-General Sherman :
Lieutenant-General Grant wishes me to call your attention to the pos-
sibility of Johnston's being reinforced from Richmond, and the impor-
tance of your having prepared a good line of defense against such an
increase of rebel force. Also, the importance of getting as large au
amount of supplies collected at Chattanooga as possible.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, on Chattahoochee, July 16, 1864.
Generals Thomas and McPherson :
Dispatches from General Grant and Halleck to-day speak of the enemy
having failed in his designs in Maryland, and cautioning me that Lee
ADVANCE UPOX ATLANTA, ETC. 121
may, in the next fortnight, reinforce Johnston by twenty thousand
(20,000) men. It behooves us therefore to hurry, so all ^will move to-
morrow as far as Nancy's creek.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 36.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Chattahoochee, July 17, 1864.
The operations of the army for to-morrow, the 18th July, will be as
follows :
I. Major-General Thomas will move forward, occupy Buckhead, and
the ridge between Nancy's creek and Peachtree, also all the roads
toward Atlanta as far as Peachree creek.
II. Major-General Schofield will pass through Cross Keys, and occupy
the Peachtree road where intersected by the road from Cross Keys to
Decatur.
III. Major-General McPherson will move toward Stone Mountain, to
secure strong ground within four (4) miles of General Schofield's position,
and push Brigadier-General Garrard's cavalry to the railroad, and destroy
some section of the road, and then resume position to the front and left
of General McPherson.
lY- All armies will communicate with their neighbors. The com-
mander-in-chief will be near General Thomas' left, or near General Scho-
field.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, at San House, Peachtree Road,
Five Miles Northeast of Buckhead, Ga., July 18, 1864.
General : — I have reports from General McPherson to 2 p. m. He has
reached the railroad at a point two (2) miles from Stone Mountain and
seven (7) miles from Decatur; had broken the telegraphs and road, and
by 5 p. M. will have four (4) or five (5) miles broken. To-morrow I
want a bold push for Atlanta, and have made my orders, which I think
will put us in Atlanta or very close to it. Hold on about Howell's mill
and the main road, and let your left swing across Peachtree creek, about
south fork, and connect with General Schofield, who will approach
Decatur from the north, whilst General McPherson moves down from
the East. It is hard to realize that Johnston will give up Atlanta without
a fight, but it may be so. Let us develop the truth.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General Thomas, Buckhead.
122 ADVANCE UPON ATLANTA, ETC.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 39.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi^
In the Field, near Decatur, July 19, 1864.
The whole army will move on Atlanta by the most direct roads to-
morrow, July 20th, beginning at five (5) o'clock a. m., as follows:
I. Major-General Thomas from the direction of Buckhead, his left tO'
connect with General Schofield's right, about two (2) miles northeast of
Atlanta, about lot 15, near the houses marked as Howard and Colonel
Hooker.
II. Major-General Schofield, by the road leading from Dr. Powell's to
Atlanta.
III. Major-General McPherson will follow one or more roads direct,
from Decatur to Atlanta.
Each army commander will accept battle on anything like fair terms,
but if the army reach within cannon range of the city without receiving
artillery or musketry fire, he will halt, form a strong line, with batteries
in position, and await orders. If fired on from the forts or buildings of
Atlanta, no consideration will be paid to the fact that they are occupied
by families, but the place niust be cannonaded without the formality of a
demand.
The general-in-chief will be with the center of the army, viz., with
or near General Schofield.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L, M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp^
CHAPTER XXXI.
SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
After the 22d, the situation at Atlanta conformed in the-
main to the type of the campaign developed north of the Oos-
tauaula. The two armies presented to each other fortified
fronts, each inviting the attack of the other. The stronger not
being able to secure a general battle on fair terms, was restricted
again to a choice between assault and flank movement. As
the issue of previous assaults did not warrant the attempt to
carry the defenses of Atlanta, the alternative of a movement
by the flank was inevitable. The railroad on the east having
been greatly damaged by General Garrard to Covington, and
nearer Atlanta by the Army of the Tennessee, there remained
but one railroad — that from Macon to Atlanta — which had not
been greatly damaged. If this road were held by the national
forces or damaged beyond use. General Hood could no longer
remain in the city. General Sherman resolved to change the
Army of the Tennessee from the left to the right, and to reach
toward the Macon road from his right flank, and at the same
time throw his cavalry in two heavy columns upon it — five
thousand under General Stoneman to pass to the east of the
city to McDonough, and four thousand under General McCook
to the west to Fayetteville, to meet at Lovejoy's Station and
there destroy the road efiectually. This accomplished. General
Stoneman had permission to make effort with his own div.ision
to liberate the prisoners — two thousand at Macon, and twenty
thousand at Andersonville. The object of these movements
was to force the enemy to come out of Atlanta to fight or be
invested, or force him to extend his lines to the south, and
choose between Atlanta and East Point.
(123)
124 SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
The cavalry started on the 27tli. General McCook crossed
the Chattahoochee at Riverton, and moved rapidly on Palmetto
station, on the West Point road. Here he destroyed a section
of the track two and a half miles long, and advanced to Fay-
etteville. There he hurned a hundred bales of cotton, destroyed
two railroad trains, burned a train of four hundred wagons,
killed eight hundred mules, saving a large number, and cap-
tured two hundred and fifty prisoners. He then moved to
Lovejoy's Station to meet General Stoneman. He there burned
the depot and having commenced the destruction of the rail-
road, only desisted when there was such an accumulation of
the enemy that he was forced to defend himself. Hearing noth-
ing of General Stoneman and being strongly opposed on the
east, he turned south and west to i^Tewnan, on the West Point
road. At l!^ewnan he encountered an infantry force that had
been stopped on its way to Atlanta by the break he had made
in the road at Palmetto. The pursuing cavalry and the infantry
now hemmed him in completely, and he was compelled to drop
his captives and fight. He cut his way out with a loss of five
hundred, and reached Marietta in safety with the remainder of
his command.
General Stoneman went farther and fared worse. He sent
Garrard's cavalry to Flat Pock, and moved through Covington,
down the Ocmulgee, to East Macon. In endeavoring to return,
he was hemmed in and captured with seven hundred of his
command, the remainder escaping. General Garrard engaged
successfully two divisions of cavalry at Flat Rock, and then re-
turned to Atlanta. These cavalry expeditions in the main were
failures, and made no impression upon the situation at Atlanta.
On the 27th, General Howard was assigned to the command
of the " Army of the Tennessee " by order of the President,
and General Stanley, by seniority of rank, to the command of
the Fourth Corps. At this time the Army of the Tennessee
was in motion to the right, and the next morning went into
position on the right of General Thomas, with its line trending
to the south. As a support to this movement. General Davis'
division was ordered to make a detour to Turner's ferry on the
Chattahoochee, and thence to Howard's right, to take the en-
emy in flank should he sally forth as on the 22d. This change
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 125
of the Army of the Tennessee was so threatening that General
Hood threw two corps upon it — Hardee's and Lee's — with great
impetuosity. Attacking again and again, they were repulsed
with immense loss. To create a diversion during the progress of
this action, there was heavy skirmishing on the whole front of
the " Army of the Cumberland ;" hut Davis' division, General
Morgan commanding, was unable, through absence of a direct
road, to reach the enemy's flank in time to participate in the
action.
General Morgan was not only embarrassed in not finding
such roads as had been anticipated, but he was left in igno-
rance of the object of his movement — his orders, which were
received late in the morning, not being explicit as to his duty
nor definite in description of the road which he was to pur-
sue, and the consequence was, that the movement so far mis-
carried that he did not reach his camp until very late at night.
The next day he was joined by General Ward's division of
the Twentieth Corps, when the^two divisions advanced, and
driving back the enemy, ascertained that he had strong in-
trenched lines in their front. Strong reconnoissances from
the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps developed the fact that
General Hood's lines were still strong on his right, although
he had greatly extended his left.
On the 30th, the picket line of the Twentieth Corps was
advanced to high ground, and captured one hundred and
twenty of the enemy, including eight ofiicers. The dash was
a bold one, but the ground was permanently held. The next
day General Davis made a reconnoissance toward the Macon
railroad, and found the enemy within a mile, posted in earth-
works, from which his artillery opened with canister. It
was the old story of extension and counter-extension of lines
and intrenchments, and the weaker army having inner lines
could keep fully abreast, and at the same time have easy con-
centration for sally or defense.
During the month the Army of the Cumberland lost forty
commissioned officers, one hundred and sixty wounded, and
seventeen missing ; five hundred and forty-seven enlisted men
killed, two thousand five hundred and ninety-two wounded,
and three hundred and forty-four missing — total, three thou-
126 SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
sand seven hundred and nine. General Hooker was relieved
of the command of the Twentieth Corps, at his own request,
and General "Williams was assigned to temporary command.
The President gave General Stanley the permanent command
of the Fourth Corps.
On the first of August, General Schofield moved from the
left to relieve Davis and Ward, and the " Army of the Cum-
l)erland" was holding the left of the investing line. The
Fourth Corps refused its left to cover the Buckhead road ; two
■divisions of the Twentieth were in the center and two divis-
ions of the Fourteenth between the railroad and Turner's
Terry road ; Garrard's division was on the left of the Fourth
Corps, guarding the approaches from Decatur, and Roswell's
and Kilpatrick's divisions, having been relieved on the line of
the Etowah by McCook's, was on the railroad from Chatta-
hoochee bridge to Marietta. "When Davis and "Ward gave
room for Schofield on Howard's right, and then moved to the
right of Schofield, the former- was on the left in line, and the
latter refused, to form a strong flank.
After the failure of General Hood's third effort at aggres-
sion, he relapsed into the defensive, and General Sherman was
.again forced to choose between assault and the " turning move-
xnent." The investing line had been moved far to the west
and south, and yet Hood's left flank had not been found. The
supposition was that the main portion of his army was on his
left, extending his intrenchments as far or farther than General
Shei'man's, and that his main works on the north of Atlanta
were held by state troops or a slender line of regular troops.
General Sherman's armies had been on a strain for three
months, in frequent battles, and perpetual skirmishing and
watching. But though the enemy had been roughly handled
during Jul};-, his army was yet as much out of reach as at any
period of the campaign. General Sherman decided to again
extend his line still farther to the right, so as at least to reach
the Macon railroad with artillery at short range, and force
General Hood to fight or abandon the city. In the execution
of this plan it was necessary that his right flank should be kept
exceedingly strong, while his line throughout its length should
have such firmness as would insure its safety and at the same
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 127
time menace Atlanta from tlie nortli so strongly as to prevent
an overwhelming concentration against the advancing right
flank.
On the 3cl, Johnson's and Baird's divisions of Palmer's
corps were moved to the right in support of Schofield, while
"Ward's division moved to the right of the Fourth Corps, and
assisted in covering the space previously held by the Four-
teenth. The Fourth and the Twentieth now held a line of
intrenchments five miles long. During the day, while General
Schofield was rushing to reach the railroad, there was great
activity along the whole line from General Thomas' left to
General Howard's right, in skirmishing and cannonading, to
relieve the pressure upon the right flank in its aggression.
General Schofield succeeded in getting two divisions, one of
his own, and General Baird's, across the head of Utoy creek.
General Baird formed his division on the right of General
Hascall's, with his right swung back toward the creek.
The next morning. General Baird readjusted his line in
■expectation of supporting the divisions of General Schofield in
an assault. But no movement was made of a general char-
acter, and late in the day General Palmer directed him to feel
the enemy's works in his front with a brigade. He designated
Colonel Gleason's brigade for this service, which advanced in
double lines with skirmishers in front. Colonel Gleason car-
ried the first and second line of rifle-pits, and approached so
near the enemy's main line, as to develop its location and
character, and drew from it an artillery and musketry flre.
At night he withdrew his brigade, but held with shirmishers
the outer line of rifle-pits which he had carried.
The next morning at 8 a. m. General Baird's division was
in line ready to advance. He was instructed to pay no atten-
tion to his connections on his left, as General Cox's division
was to fill the space between him and General Hascall, and
was informed that the latter was already so near the enemy
that he would not advance during the day. He was promised
support on his right by the other two divisions of his own
corps, although he was not yet in communication with them.
Regarding his orders to advance as imperative, he threw for-
ward skirmishers in double the usual strength, and moved for-
128 SIEGE OF ATLATs^TA.
ward in perilous insulation. As he advanced, lie found that
the enemy had reoccupied the inner line of rifle-pits which
Colonel Gleason had carried the evening previous. This line
he again carried against stubhorn resistance, capturing one
hundred and forty prisoners. He was then within short
musket range of the enemy's main works. He could advance
no farther, unless he assaulted without support, but held the
position, refusing two regiments on his right, and intrenched
himself as rapidly as possible under the fire of musketry and
artillery. The main lines were now four hundred yards apart,
while only thirty yards separated the skirmishers. Baird lost
in this engagement, five officers, and seventy-eight enlisted
men killed and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Myron Baker,
commanding Mnety-fourth Indiana, was killed.
Soon after General Baird attained position near the enemy,
General Davis' division. General Morgan commanding, formed
on his right, and later. General Johnson's division took po-
sition in the rear of Morgan. As on the 3d, there was great
activity along the line of the left to divert attention from the
advance on the right.
Thus there was just sufficient extension and action on the
right to advise the enemy of what was intended, without gain-
ing any advantage that promised ultimate success. The line
had only been extended by one division. General Sherman's
orders required that the attack on the right should be pressed,
and he had given promise that if it was too hard pressed.
Generals Thomas and Howard should attack somewhere, but
the indications were emphatic that General Hood was rapidly
extending his intrenchments toward East Point, and yet Gen-
eral Sherman was so shut up to counter-movement, that he
said to General Thomas in the evening, ""We will try again
to-morrow, and proceed to the end."
Accordingly, the next morning a new efibrt was made to
reach beyond the enemy's left flank. The Fourteenth Corps,
under command of Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson, by
virtue of seniority. General Palmer having been relieved at
his own request, held its own line and that occupied by the
Twenty -third Corps, and the latter moved to the right, beyond
what appeared the day before to be the left flank of the en-
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 129
emy. General Schofield then threw forward Reilly's brigade,
but it was found impossible to penetrate the obstructions be-
fore the enemy's parapets. General Schofield then made a
still larger circuit to the right, for the purpose of " breaching"
his line at a point not protected by abatis, but he found his
lines extended beyond the main Utoy creek. "Wliile General
Schofield was operating against General Hood's left, the latter
evinced great activity on his right. lie felt General Thomas'
line from right to left, and was so demonstrative against Gen-
eral Stanley, as to make it evident that he was either looking
for a weak point to assault, or was endeavoring to ascertain
the strength of his line, as throwing light upon General Scho-
field's movements. General Hood was now holding his works
north of the city by state troops, supported by movable divis-
ions of regular troops. The main portion of the army was
on his left, extending his defenses to hold the Macon railroad.
General Sherman's line was also greatly attenuated, and as a
compensation for it, the defenses on the north were made ex-
ceedingly strong, and from them shells were constantly thrown
to the city.
In the evening of the 6th, General Sherman said to
General Schofield : " There is no alternative but for you to
continue to work on that flank with as much caution as
possible, and it is possible the enemy may attack us, or draw
out." To General Thomas, he said : " Instead of going round
East Point, I would prefer the enemy to weaken, so we
may break through at some point, and wish you to continue
to make such efi:'ort. I will instruct General Howard to do
the same at the head of IJtoy creek, his right." But Gen-
eral Thomas did not deem it prudent to assault such works,
as there was a certainty of great loss, and with such a column,
as he could form from his attenuated line, there was little
probability of success. His response was : " I will keep the
attention of the enemy fully occupied by threatening all along
my front ; but I have no hopes of breaking through his lines
anywhere in my front, as long as he has a respectable force to
defend them. My troops are so thinned out that it will be
impossible to form an assaulting column sufficiently strong to
VOL. II — 9
130 SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
make an attack sure." In tlie emergency, General Sherman
ordered heavy rifled guns from Chattanooga to " batter the
town."
On the 7th, General Hood withdrew his troops from the
intrenchments assaulted by General Schofield, which, though
strong and well protected by entanglements, formed no part
of his main line, and their abandonment did not greatly en-
danger his possession of the Macon railroad. During the day
the Fourteenth Corps advanced, carried a line of rifle-pits in
front of the position previously occupied by the Twenty-third
Corps, and established a line close to the enemy's works. The
loss of the corps was seventy men killed, and four hundred
and thirteen wounded. One hundred and seventy-two prison-
ers were taken.
From the 8th to the 10th, General Sherman continued his
effort to reach the Macon road, by the extension of his line to
the right. He thought it impossible that the enemy could
reach much farther in that direction, but it was finally ascer-
tained that his well-fortified line extended from the Decatur
road, on the east of Atlanta, to East Point, a distance of fif-
teen miles. And as the farther attenuation of the investing
line was not considered safe, and as the enemy's works were
too strong to be assaulted, General Sherman began to cast
about for a new plan. In the meantime, the heavy guns were
at work throwing solid shell into the city with great fre-
quency, night and day, in expectation that their agency would
reduce ihe value of Atlanta as a " large machine-shop and
depot of supplies."
On the 11th, General Sherman received intelligence through
General Garrard, that General Hood was collecting an im-
mense force of cavalry to operate upon his communications.
It was important to General Hood to cut short General Sher-
man's supplies, but in the eftbrt to do it, by breaking his rail-
road far to the north, he was depriving his own communica-
tions of protection. As soon as General Sherman learned
that Wheeler, with eight or ten thousand troopers, was mov-
ing to the north, he determined to throw his cavalry upon the
railroad south of Atlanta.
The news from the north on the 14th gave confirmation to
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 131
previous reports of Wheeler's intended raid. Early in the
morning of that day he attacked a party guarding a large
herd of cattle near Calhoun, dispersed a portion of the guard
and captured a large numher of the cattle, some portions of
which were recaptured by Colonel Faulkner, who pursued
upon receipt of the news. At 3 p. m. General Steedman, at
Chattanooga, was informed that "Wheeler was going toward
Dalton. He at once relieved all the troops that could be
spared from the garrison to prepare to move to Dalton. Be-
ing delayed by trains running on unusual time. General Steed-
man did not reach the vicinity of Dalton until midnight ; and
having been informed that the garrison had surrendered, he
awaited daylight, and then moved forward and engaged the
enemy's skirmishers. Hearing firing in Dalton, and learning
that the garrison was still holding out, he dashed into the town
and cleared it of the enemy. He remained for a day, and
learning that the enemy had moved off, through fear for the
bridges over the Chickamauga, he hastened back to Chatta-
nooga. Colonel Laiboldt had held his position against a supe-
rior force, and General Steedman's quick relief gave him final
safety. The troops under General Steedman were the Second
Missouri, Twenty-ninth, Fifty-first, and Sixty-eighth Indiana,
Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, One Hundred and Eighth Ohio,
and the Fourteenth United States Colored troops, in all about
eighteen hundred effective men. Wheeler's loss was about
two hundred. He left thirty-three dead and fifty-seven badly
wounded on the field. Steedman's, was one officer and eight
men killed, one officer and twenty-nine men wounded, and
twenty-three men missing.
From Dalton, General Wheeler moved north, injured the
railroad slightly at Graysville, threatened Cleveland with a
detachment, and then turned to the northeast. Soon after,
however, he changed his course to meet in Middle Tennessee
another cavalry force under General Roddy. The latter had
crossed the Tennessee river, near Decatur, to strike the Kash-
ville and Decatur railroad. General Wheeler's primary object
was to damage the N^ashville and Chattanooga raikoad.
About the same time, the enemy was active near Fort Donel-
son, thus giving a third intimation of purpose to disturb the
132 SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
communications of the. national armies before Atlanta. There
was, however, less force in the raiding columns or more in the
troops defending the railroads than had been anticipated, as
little injury was effected. The failure resulted from the com-
bined opposition of General Rousseau, commanding at ISTash-
ville, General Steedman at Chattanooga, and General R. S.
Granger at Decatur.
General Granger sallied forth from Decatur and encountered
Roddy near Athens, Alabama, which place he was besieging.
The garrison had been upon the defensive previously, but
upon his arrival the barricades were removed, and the enemy
was attacked and routed. General Granger then marched up
the ISTashville and Decatur railroad to Pulaski, to intercept
Wheeler, who was moving to the west, followed by General
Rousseau. From Pulaski he moved upon Linnville with
three regiments of infantry, expecting General Starkweather
to join him with a brigade of cavalry in time to give battle.
He met his advance and drove it back, but his cavalry did not
arrive in time to engage the enemy. During the night,
"Wheeler abandoned the line of the railroad and moved in the
direction of Lawrenceburg. Granger then left his infantry to
guard the railroad, and assuming personal command of his
cavalry went in pursuit ; and overtaking the enemy as he was
leaving Lawrenceburg, he fell upon Wheeler's rear-guard and
harassed him as he retreated. At this juncture, General
Rousseau ordered General Granger to halt and form a junc-
tion with his own force. For a time the order was not obeyed,
upon the supposition that General Rousseau was ignorant of
the fact that he was up with the enemy and was retarding his
retreat. A second order was received, requiring him to discon-
tinue the pursuit and move upon Athens to intercept Roddy.
The result was that both Wheeler and Roddy succeeded in
crossing the Tennessee river without loss or embarrassment.
The enemy thus escaped serious punishment, but utterly
failed to interrupt General Sherman's communications.
Having despaired of flanking Hood out of Atlanta, on the
16th General Sherman announced his new plan of operations,
but suspended them first to learn the results of a raid by Kil-
patrick to Fairburn, and subsequently until his cavalry could
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 133
make one more efEbrt to break up General Hood's communi-
cations and compel him to fight or abandon the city. General
Kilpatrick drove back Jackson's division of cavalry from
Fairburn on the 15th, destroyed the station and public build-
ings, and the telegraph and railroad for about three miles. On
the 18th, he, with his own division and two brigades from Gen-
eral Garrard's, in all about five thousand cavalry, dashed out
from his camp at Sandtown to the West Point road, and broke
it near Fairburn, and thence moved to Jonesborough, defeated
Ross' cavalr}'-, and commenced the destruction of the road ;
but while thus engaged he was attacked by Jackson's cavalry
and a brigade of infantry, which had hurried up from the south,
and he was compelled to draw off toward McDonough. He
then made a circuit to Lovejoy's Station, where again, while
breaking the road, he was attacked by the same force. Per-
ceiving that he was almost surrounded, he charged the cav-
alry and cut his way through, capturing four guns and many
prisoners ; but being hard pressed could not incumber himself
with all of his captives, and brought in but seventy men,
three flags, and one gun. He then returned by McDonough
and Decatur.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL MORGAN'S REPORT OF HIS ACTION
ON THE 28TH OF JULY.
July 28th, received orders to be ready with my brigade at 8 a. m. ; re-
ported to General Davis for orders ; was informed by him that he was too
unwell to take command of the division in the field. At 9 a. m. took
command of the division on the Turner Ferry road, to move under the
following order :
v> " July 28, 1864.
Major-General G. H. Thomas:
" Order General Davis to leave camp and move to Turner's ferry, and
then by a road leading toward East Point, to feel forward for Howard
right back with some known point at Turner's ferry. I will be over on
that flank all day, and await to reach out as far as possible.
(Signed,) " W. T. Sherman."
In compliance with above order, I did move to Turner's ferry, halted
an hour for rest and dinner. Having no guide, no correct map of the
country, I had to rely upon such information as I could obtain from resi-
-dents. Returning from the ferry, turned to the right at the church, one
mile from the river, and took the road leading toward East Point. The
■enemy's pickets were soon met upon the road ; they were well posted and
134 SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
in good numbers, requiring the deployment of a wliole regiment to clear
the front. After moving upon this road about one and a half miles, a staff
officer of the general commanding division overtook the command, and I re-
ceived verbal orders to return as soon as possible to the Turner's Ferry road,
the enemy having attacked General Howard's right. Heavy skirmishing
continuing in front, I determined to advance and take the first road to the
left. This was done, and the division was moved with all possible dispatch
to Turner's Ferry road, arriving late in evening, and owing to a bad swamp
and a very dark night, was nearly all night in getting into camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., July 30, 1864.
Oenerals Thomas and Howard :
I am just back from an interview with General Schofield. . . .
I think General Stoneman has gone to Macon, east of Yellow river, and
that is well. I have ordered General Garrard in on our left, and to-mor-
row night will let him fill with a skirmish line General Schofield's position,
and move all of Schofield's to the right of General Howard, and with the
divisions of General Davis and Ward kept in reserve on the right, to strike
a blow beyond our new right flank when intrenched. Our right flank
must be advanced in close and absolute contact with the enemy; and with
General Schofield on that flank, I think we can make him quit Atlanta,
or so weaken his line that we can break through somewhere, the same as
our Kenesaw move. . . .
(Signed,) W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 48.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 1, 1864.
I. During the next series of operations, General Thomas will be the
left, General Howard the center, and General Schofield the right army.
The two divisions of Generals Davis and Ward will continue to be held
in reserve toward the right, and in case the enemy attack that flank,
these divisions will report to, and during the action, obey General
Schofield's orders. When not engaged. General Thomas will post them
so as to cover his communications from danger coming from tlie South-
east.
II. Brigadier-General Garrard's cavalry will relieve General Schofield
on the left, and occupy in part his trenches, patrol the road about Decatur,
and picket toward Roswell. He will report to General Thomas, and be-
prepared to sally out as cavalry from his trenches in case of necessity.
III. All trains of wagons going to and from the depots of Vining's and
Marietta will follow roads converging at the railroad bridge, and never
go north of Buckhead or south of Turner's.
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 135
IV. General Thomas will cause a new infantry flank to be prepared on
the left, north of the Buckhead road, connecting General Stanley's lines
with the old rebel parapet near Peachtree creek.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDEES, NO. 51.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 4, 1864.
The order of movement of the army to-day will be as follows :
I. Major-General Schofield, with his own command and General
Palmer's corps, will move directly on the railroad which leads south out
of Atlanta, at any point between Whitehall and East Point, and will not
stop until he has absolute control of the railroad, but must not extend
more to the right than is absolutely necessary to that end.
II. Major-Generals Thomas and Howard will press close on the enemy
at all points, and reinforce well the points of the line where the enemy \9
most likely to sally — viz., on the Decatur, Buckhead, and Turner's Ferry
roads; but more especially watch the outlet along the railroad — viz.,
General Williams' front.
III. On the right we must assume the offensive, and every man be pre-
pared to fight, leaving knapsacks, etc., in present trenches. Wagons will
not be taken east of Utoy creek, until General Schofield has secured
position on the railroad, or so near it that it can be reached by musket-
balls and canister. If necessary to secure this end, ordinary parapets
must be charged and carried, and every hour's delay enables the enemy
to strengthen ; therefore, let it be done to-day.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 4, 1864.
General Palmer :
You will, during the movement against the railroad, report to and re-
ceive orders from General Schofield. General Thomas will personally
look to the front of Atlanta. General Howard will co-operate with Gen-
ei'al Schofield, and General Schofield, reinforced by your corps, is charged
to reach the railroad. Obey his orders and instructions. Acknowledge
receipt.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
136 SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 5, 1864.
General Schofield :
Dispatch received. All right. Press the attack on the right. I will
judge by the sound ; and if I judge you are too hard pressed, will order
Generals Thomas and Howard to assault somewhere. Get some part of
your command where you can easily reach the railroad with short-range
guns, and then intrench a strong flank. It is worth a battle, and the
closer the first advantages are followed up, the better. The weakest point
of the enemy must be mathematically at some point between Atlanta
and East Point. Keep me often advised of your progress, and I will
come over any minute you say, but can better handle the whole army
from here by telegraph.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-Oeneral Commanding,
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta,, Ga., August 6, 1864.
General Thomas :
General Schofield has been at work to-day with his two divisions, and
holds Johnson's in support. . . .
He tried to break through the enemy's lines by a brigade to-day, but
failed, losing five hundred (500) men. Instead of going round East
Point, I would prefer the enemy to weaken, so we may break through at
some point, and wish you to continue to make such an eflFort. I will in-
struct General Howard to do the same about the head of Utoy creek —
his right.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 6, 1864.
General Schofield:
I have your dispatch. There is no alternative but for you to continue
to work on that flank with as much caution as possible, and it is possible
the enemy may attack us or draw out. He must defend that road.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland, August 7, 1864.
Major-General Sherman :
I will keep the attention of the enemy fully occupied by threatening
all along my front as long as he has a respectable force to defend them.
My troops are so thinned out that it will be impossible to form an assault-
ing column sufficiently strong to make an attack sure.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major- General,
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 137
Headqtjartees Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 7, 1864.
General Halleck, Washington :
*********
I do not deem it prudent to extend more to the right, but will push
forward daily by parallels, and make the inside of Atlanta too hot to be
endured.
I have sent to Chattanooga for two (2) 30-pounder Parrotts, with which
I can pick out almost any house in the town. I am too impatient for a
siege, but I do n't know but here is as good a place to fight it out as
further inland. One thing is certain — whether we get inside of Atlanta
or not, it will be a used-up community by the time we are done with it.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1864.
•General Howard :
I thank you for the suggestion. I am studying all the combinations
possible, and beg you to think also, and communicate to me ; but be care-
ful to keep your own confidence. I spoke of the same thing to-day to
'General Thomas, and he goes to look at the railroad bridge, to see to a
proper cover there for the wagons and a corps. I want to expend four
thousand (4,000) heavy rifle shots on the town before doing anything new,
and then will be prepared to act quick. General Schofield has been re-
connoitering the right all day, and after he has answered a few more of
my questions, I will give you the substance of his report.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1864.
General Thomas :
I have your last dispatch. I hear the guns, I hear the guns and shells
also. The enemy's buttery of 32-pounders, rifled, are firing on us here
from the Whitehall fort, to draw off" or divert our fire. Keep up a steady,
persistent fire on Atlanta with the 42-inch guns and 20-pounder Parrotts,
and order them to pay no attention to the side firing, by which the en-
emy may attempt to divert their attention. I think those guns will
make Atlanta of less value to them as a large machine-shop and depot
of supplies. The inhabitants have, of course, got out.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
138 SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
Headquarters Military Division of the Misissippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., Avgust 16, 1864.
General Thomas :
*********
I do think our cavalry should now break the Macon road good. If we
can save our rations at Marietta and Allatoona, and break the Macon road
for many miles, we can wait as long as Hood.
*********
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., A^igust 16, 1864.
Generals Thomas, Howard, and Schqfield :
We will commence the movement against the railroad about Jonesboro,
Thursday night, unless something occurs in the meantime to mar the
plan. I will make my orders, and the preliminary preparations may be
begun.
If Wheeler interrupts our supplies, we can surely cut off those of Hood,
and see who can stand it best.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General,
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 57.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 16, 1864.
The movement of the army against the Macon railroad will begin.
Thursday night, August 18th, and will be continued on the following gen-
eral plan :
I. All army commanders will send across the Chattahoochee river, and
within the old rebel works at the bridge, and down as far as Turner's ferry,
all surplus wagons, horses, men, and materials not absolutely necessary to
the success of the expedition, and will collect in their wagons, with best
teams, bread, meat, sugar, coffee, etc., for fifteen (15) days, after the nine-
teenth (19th) instant, and ammunition, and park them near Utoy creek.
First move. — General Ivilpatrick's cavalry will move to Camp creek; Gen-
eral Schofield will cover the Campbelton road, and General Thomas will
move one corps (General Williams') to the Chattahoochee bridge, with
orders to hold it; Paice's ferry bridge, and pontoon bridge (Captain
Kossack's) at Turner's ferry, ready to be laid down if necessary. The
other corps (General Stanley's) will move south of Proctor's creek, to near
Utoy, behind the right center of the Army of the Tennessee, prepared to
cover the Bell's Ferry road. General Garrard's cavalry will fall behind
Peachtree creek, and act against the enemy should he sally against Gen-
eral Williams or General Stanley's corps during the movement.
Second move. — The Army of the Tennessee will withdraw cross Utoy
creek, and move by most direct road toward Fairburn, going as far as Camp
SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 139
creek. General Thomas will mass his two corps (General Stanley's and
Johnson's) below XJtoy creek, and General Garrard's cavalry will join Gen-
eral Thomas by most direct road, or by way of Sandtown bridge, and act
with him during the rest of the move.
General Schofield will advance abreast of and in communication with
the Army of the Tennessee as far as Camp creek.
Third move. — The Armies of the Ohio and Tennessee will move direct
for the West Point road, aiming to strike it between Eed Oak and Fair-
burn. General Thomas Avill follow, well closed up into two columns, the
trains between. General Kilpatrick will act as advance, and General
Garrard will cover the rear, under direction of General Thomas.
The bridges at Sandtown will be kept and protected by a detachment
of cavalry, detailed by General Elliott, with a section of guns or four (4)
gun battery.
II. During the movement, and until the army returns to the river, the
utmost care will be taken to expose as little as possible the trains of cars
and wagons. The depots at the bridge, at Allatoona and Marietta, will
be held against any attack, and communication kept up with the army
as far as possible by way of Sandtown. On reaching any railroad, the
troops will at once be disposed for defense, and at least one-third put to
work to tear up track and destroy iron, ties, and all railroad material.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Department op the Cumberland, August 17, 1864.
Major-General Sherman :
Information from all sources seems to confirm the report that Wheeler
has taken off the greater part of his cavalry. I therefore think this will
be as good a time as could be taken to make another raid on the Macon
railroad ; but if you send Kilpatrick, I would insist on his taking the most
practicable route, and avoid the enemy's infantry as much as possible.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 19, 1864 — 10.45 a. m.
General Grant, City Point :
I have your dispatches of 14th and 16th, and also that of 18tli. I will
never take a step backward, and have no fears of Hood. I can whip him
outside of his trenches, and, I think, in time can compel him to come out.
I think at this time I have a fine cavalry force on the only road which can
feed him, and, if necessary, will swing my whole army across it also.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
CHAPTEE XXXII.
THE FLANK MOVEMENT CULMINATING IN THE BATTLE OF JONESBORO
AND THE FALL OF ATLANTA.
Pending General Kilpatrick's movements the shelling of
Atlanta was actively maintained, and feints of various kinds
were employed by General Stanley on the left to confuse the
enemy and lead to the belief that a movement was intended
in that direction; but when, after General Kilpatrick's return,
it was ascertained that the damage to the railroads was not
such as to greatly embarrass the enemy. General Sherman re-
peated his order for the grand movement by the right flank,
which involved the necessity of raising the siege of Atlanta,
and using his armies against the communications of the enemy
rather than against his intrenchments around the city. To
take the place by siege would require too much time, and to
take it by assault would cost too many lives. His sick, and
all surplus supplies, wagons, and incumbrances, having been
sent to the intrenchments beyond the Chattahoochee, the
Fourth Corps was, on the 25th, withdrawn to the high ground,
in the rear of the Twentieth Corps, to cover the retirement of
the latter to the farther side of the Chattahoochee, to hold the
railroad bridge and the bridges at Paice's and Turner's ferries,
and guard the material there accumulated. Garrard's cavalry
covered the movement of the Twentieth Corps to the rear,
and that of the Fourth Corps to the right, to take position on
the high ground along Utoy creek. This change was effected
on the 26th with but slight molestation, and the night following,
the Fourteenth Corps, now in permanent command of Brevet
Major-General J. C. Davis, was withdrawn from position and
formed on the right of General Stanley, on Utoy creek. The
(140)
FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC. 141
same night the Army of the Tennessee moved rapidly by a
circuit toward Sandtown. General Schofield alone remained
in position.
The next day the Fourth Corps advanced to Mount Gilead
Church, and, forming line of battle on the road to Fairburn,
skirmished with the enemy's cavalry. The Fourteenth Corps
remained in position, as it was necessary that one corps should
cover another until out of reach of the enemy. General
Garrard's cavalry operated upon the rear and left of the armies
during these movements, and Kilpatrick's having crossed the
Chattahoochee, at Paice's ferry, and recrossed at Sandtown,
was charged with similar service on the right. The Twentieth
Corps, at the Chattahoochee, passed to the command of Major-
General H. W. Slocum.
On the 28th, the Fourteenth Corps passed the Fourth at
Mount Gilead, and reached its designated camp, near Red Oak,
late in the afternoon. General Morgan's division, in the ad-
vance, skirmished with the enemy's cavalry during the day.
The Fourth Corps followed, and the two corps encamped in
line across the West Point railroad, facing east. The Army
of the Tennessee was on the same road above Fairburn, and
General Schofield was on this road below East Point. Shortly
after dark, orders were received' to destroy the railroad, by
heating and twisting the rails and burning the ties. The work
of destruction was continued through the night and a portion
of the following day, by each army, and twelve and a half
miles of the road were thoroughly dismantled. But this was
not the road of most importance to the enemy. The Macon
road passes to Jonesboro, from Atlanta, on the ridge dividing
the waters of the Flint and Ocmulgee rivers, and offered a
good position as a strategic base for ulterior movements, and
on the 30th the armies advanced eastward to reach it, more
directly in rear of Atlanta.
The Fourth and Fourteenth Corps moved to Couch's house,
formed a line trending to the northwest, and went into camp.
The leading divisions of each corps skirmished with infantry
and cavalry, and at night it was ascertained that there was a
force of the enemy at Morrow's mill, on Crooked creek,
three-fourths of a mile from General Stanley's left. General
142 FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC.
Thomas was in communication witli General Howard beyond
Renfrew's, but not with General Schofield on the left. General
Garrard was guarding the left and rear, at Red Oak, and Gen-
eral Kilpatrick was on General Howard's right.
General Sherman having ascertained that General Howard
was near Jonesboro, directed General Thomas to send Stan-
ley's corps toward Rough and Ready, in connection with
Schofield, and to send forward a strong detachment from the
Fourteenth Corps to " feel for the railroad." In compliance,
General Baird, with his own division, and Mitchell's brigade
of Morgan's division, was sent forward from the center, and
an early advance discovered that the enemy's trains were in
motion on a road to the east toward Jonesboro, and later in
the day it was ascertained from captured stragglers that Har-
dee's and Lee's corps had passed.
In the afternoon General Baird's leading detachment reached
the railroad about four miles from Jonesboro. Althougb
greatly in advance of other columns, General Baird determined
to hold the railroad by strengthening Colonel Carleton's party
in the advance, and sending Colonel Gleason's brigade for-
ward in support. The Fourth Corps formed a junction with
the Twenty-third, at the railroad, and rested on the road south-
east of Rough and Ready, in a barricaded line facing Jones-
boro. Carlin's division, formerly Johnson's, moved to Ren-
frew's to cover the trains, and late in the afternoon was
ordered to support General Howard, who had been attacked
by Hardee's and Lee's corps. Carlin moved as ordered, but did
not reach the field until after General Howard had completely
repulsed the enemy.
The situation was now partially developed. Two corps of
Hood's army were at Jonesboro. It was not known that Stew-
art's corps had left Atlanta, but as the army was in force at
Jonesboro, General Sherman determined to move against that,
place, and if Stewart was not there to thrust his forces between
the two portions of Hood's army. Deeming it probable that
the third corps would abandon Atlanta, he directed General
Thomas to order General Slocum to make a reconnoissance
toward Atlanta to determine the state of affairs, and also to
send a cavalry force toward Decatur to observe the enemy in
FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC. 143
that direction. Circumstances now indicated a speedy solution
of all problems having connection with Atlanta.
General Shejman's orders for September 1st required all the
forces to turn upon Jonesboro. General Howard was already
before it, and General Davis, with Morgan's and Carlin's divis-
ions, joined Baird's on the railroad, and the whole corps was
soon on Howard's left. Generals Schofield and Stanley, having
a longer march, and owing to railroad destruction and other
causes, were greatly delayed. General Garrard was still in the
rear, and General Kilpatrick was sent down the west bank of
riint river to threaten the railroad below Jonesboro, and Gen-
eral Blair's corps of the Army of the Tennessee was sent in the
same direction. This immense combination had been directed
against Hardee's corps alone, which had been left behind to
cover the retreat to a point where the dissevered army could
be reunited.
After occupying the position vacated by General Blair's
corps, General Davis directed General Carlin to send a brigade
to explore the ground toward the railroad upon which General
Stanley was advancing. The reconnoissance was made by Edie's
brigade of regulars, and was strongly resisted by the enemy.
It was, however, pressed until a commanding hill beyond Mo-
ker's creek was carried, from the front of which the enemy's
works could be attacked with advantage.
At this juncture General Thomas reached thehead of column,
to whom General Davis reported the condition of affairs, and
suggested a plan of operations. Having received permission
to make the attack directly before the hill which Edie had
gained, General Davis pushed his troops in column to that point,
and deployed for action. Carlin's second brigade was formed
on the right of Edie's. General Morgan crossed the creek and
connected the left of his division with Carlin's right. General
Baird formed his division in rear of Carlin's left, which rested
on the railroad. General Morgan's movement was executed
over rough ground, and in exposure to the enemy's artillery.
About the time that the formation of the Fourteenth Corps
w^as completed, General Stanley's head of column appeared on
Carlin's left, and Grose's and Kirby's brigades of Kimball's
144 FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC.
division were deployed, under instructions to push the enemy
vigorously on the left of the railroad.
The troops of the Fourteenth Corps designated for the at-
tack, were General Carlin's two brigades and General Morgan's
entire division, and were formed in double lines, and as nearly
contiguous as the ground would permit. The distance to the
enemy from Morgan's division, when deployed, was about one
thousand yards ; the intervening space was open, but swampy,
and cut with ditches. The distance to the enemy's works in
General Carlin's front could not be determined, as a dense
thicket interposed. The defenses of the enemy were in the
woods on a ridge, at various distances from the edge of the
wooded ground, but in no case exceeding one hundred yards.
Morgan's division was formed by brigades in column of regi-
ments in echelon, from left to right — Lum's, Mitchell's, and
Dilworth's — and were ordered to assault with the bayonet
alone.
At 4 p. M., after a heavy cannonade from Prescott's and
Gardner's batteries on Carlin's ridge, the troops moved for-
ward, but owing to the thickets in Carlin's front, and the
swampy ground and ditches before Morgan, their progress
was slow, and there was difficulty in maintaining alignments
and direction. When the whole line had advanced to the
slope of a hill, and an open field within three or four hundred
yards of the enemy's position, it was halted for readjustment,
the ground ofi'ering some protection. Thus far the enemy's
fire had been only slightly felt, except by Edie's brigade, which
was some distance in advance of the troops on the right, and
had already carried a projection of the enemy's works, and
was exposed to a most galling fire. To give Edie support, or
rather to relieve him from position in the line, Este's brigade
of Baird's division was thrown forward, and took part in the
general attack which followed. The other two brigades of
Baird's division were retained on the left, to push the advan-
tage on that flank, should a general assault prove successful.
At 5 P. M., the rectified lines again moved forward, and the
attack was quickly and vigorously made along the whole bat-
tle front. There had been so many unsuccessful assaults made
by both armies during the campaign, that the enemy regarded
FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC. 145
this attempt to carry his intrenchments, so strongly defended,
as an exhibition of folly and harmless audacity. But it was
soon revealed that the most determined resistance could not
arrest or defeat the bold assault.
Morgan's division carried its entire front, and gloriously re-
versed the issue of its assault near Kenesaw Mountain on the
27th of June. The brigades of Mitchell and Dilworth there
clung to the hillside under the enemy's guns, having failed
in assault ; here they leaped the fortifications, and under
sword and bayonet held captive the troops set for their de-
fense.
Este's brigade was successful at once on its right, the Tenth
Kentucky and Seventy-fourth Indiana gaining the intrench-
ments in their front ; but the Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth
Ohio, on the left, met such obstructions, as compelled them to
halt. They, however, held their ground under a fire of fearful
eft'ect. Colonel Este, who had been in the charge on his right,
now turned his attention to his left, and meeting with Coloilel
"W.T. C. Grower, Seventeenth ISTew York, of General Morgan's
left brigade, requested him to put in his regiment, which he
did with great gallantry and success, though he was himself
one of the first to fall. Joined by this regiment, Este's left
carried the works in front, and captured a large number of
prisoners. Moore's brigade, Carlin's left, encountered such
obstructions as held it in check for a time, but finally joined
the remainder of the assaulting troops in the enemy's works.
Equal success on the part of the Fourth Corps might have
resulted in the capture of Hardee's command ; but Kimball's
and Newton's divisions were so delayed by the thick under-
growth, and' the enemy's skirmishers, that they did not get
before his main lines until 5 p. m., and then Grose and Kirby
only succeeded in breaking through the entanglements in
front of his barricade, while iN'ewton, who was compelled to
make a larger circuit, passed beyond the right flank of the
enemy, when it was too dark to take advantage of his position.
Although Hardee's corps was neither captured nor annihi-
lated— a conjectured result, had the troops on the left reached
the field earlier — the action was the most brilliant and success-
VOL. II — 10
146 FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC.
fill of its type during the campaign. All other assaults of
main lines by either army had resulted in failure, and, as a
general rule, the defensive in positive battle had been success-
ful ; but here a strongly intrenched line was carried, with the
capture of nearly a thousand men, including one general offi-
cer, and many of inferior grades, also eight guns, and seven
battle flags. During the night, about one thousand men in
addition either surrendered or were captured.
The contest closed so late in the evening that pursuit was
impossible, and the troops bivouacked in the enemy's works
connecting with the Fourth Corps at the .railroad. During'
the night, Hardee fell back to Lovejoy's Station. The next
miorning the national forces followed, except the Fourteenth
Corps, left behind to bury the dead and collect the material
abandoned by the enemy. The troops in pursuit reached the
vicinity of the station at noon. The Fourth Corps formed
line of battle, and made preparations to attack the enemy who
was busy fortifying a line across the railroad, a mile north.
The necessity of resistance at this point had not been antici-
pated, and the enemy was extemporizing defenses. General
Stanley's line was formed with "Wood's division in the center,
and ISTewton's and Kimball's on the right and left. As his
attack was to be co-operative with the Army of the Tennessee,
he waited for General Howard to fix the time, and at 3| p. m.
as directed, advanced his line. Upon reaching the immediate
vicinity of the enemy, he did not deem it advisable to attack
at the railroad, as Hood's artillery swept this point completely.
Supposing that the Army of the Tennessee would so hold the
enemy by attack, that he could reach his right flank. General
Stanley advanced his center and left. The ground, however,
was so unfavorable, on account of roughness, streams, and
marshes, that "Wood's and Kimball's divisions did not get near
the position until nearly 6 p. m. "While General "Wood w^as
selecting a point for attack, he received a wound which obliged
him to relinquish his command. However, his left brigade,
Knefler's, charged and carried the enemy's works, but could
not maintain its hold, as it was subjected to an enfilading fire
on both flanks. Kimball's column was exposed to a sweeping
artillery fire, and the ground before them being open, the
FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC. 147
order to charge was countermanded. Both divisions in-
trenched. General Sherman did not deem it advisable subse-
quently to press the attack, as he was led to believe that
Hood had halted merely to cover the roads to McDonough
and Fayetteville, and that it was then too late to intercept
Stewart's corps, reported to be in retreat from Atlanta upon
McDonough.
Pending the movement south of Atlanta, General Slocum
strengthened the position at the Chattahoochee, and watched
the enemy closely toward Atlanta. The explosions during
the night of the 1st called forth a special reconnoissance. As
Colonel Coburn, commanding the advance, approached the
city on the 2d, he was met by the mayor, who made to him a
formal surrender of the place. After entering Atlanta, Colonel
Coburn exchanged a few shots with Ferguson's cavalry, act-
ing as a rear-guard of the retreating army, and captured one
hundred men. General Slocum soon after occupied the city
with seven brigades, and found twenty pieces of artillery and
several hundred small arms ; but General Hood had destroyed
almost all valuable material which he could not remove, in-
cluding eight locomotives and eighty-one cars loaded with
ammunition and supplies. The explosion of the ammunition
had been heard at Jonesboro, and was the first indication of
the total abandonment of the place. As General Sherman had
interposed between Stewart's corps at Atlanta, and Hardee's
and Lee's on the Macon road, the retreat of the former was
the only condition of safety.
The losses in the engagements south of Atlanta amounted
in the aggregate to twelve hundred men. Fifteen hundred
of the enemy were captured, and he left three hundred dead
on the field of battle.
September 3d, General Sherman announced the conclusion
of the campaign, and gave orders for the return of his armies
to Atlanta, to rest and recuperate until the enemy's move-
ments or some new plan of his own should call them again to
action. As the enemy remained in his intrenchments at Love-
joy's Station, General Sherman did not withdraw his army at
once. Both commanding generals sent their trains to the
148 FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC.
rear; and tlaus indicated a mutual disposition to widen the
breach between them for a time at least.
On the 5th, the Fourth Corps quietly withdrew from posi-
tion and joined the Fourteenth at Jonesboro, at daylight on
the 6th. Though the general withdrawal was impeded by a
rain-storm and consequent bad roads, it was successfully con-
ducted. The enemy manifested a disposition to annoy the
two corps at Jonesboro, but there was no action beyond the
exchange of a few shots. The next day, the army moved
to Rough and Eeady, the enemy refraining from pursuit, and
went into camp on the 8th, on the outskirts of Atlanta — the
Fourteenth Corps on the right of the Campbellton road, and
the Twentieth and Fourth Corps to the east in reserve. Pick-
ets were thrown out well to the front upon commanding posi-
tions. Thus, Atlanta was gained after a campaign of four
months, involving strategical and tactical combinations on a
grand scale, but without a general decisive battle. General
Sherman did not risk a general assault, and the Confederate
generals did not offer battle with a broad front, except with
intrenched lines ; but there were many engagements of great
severity, and constant skirmishing on a scale that produced
great waste of life.
The fall of Atlanta was hailed by the ^NTorthern people as a
result of great moment. The noise of cannon all over the
land, orders of congratulation from Washington and army
commanders gave expression to the general appreciation of
the campaign and its issue. The moral effect of the consum-
mation was ijideed great l^orth and South, and yet, as no army
had been destroyed or signally defeated, the possession of
Atlanta was only a partial solution to the war problem in the
West. The march southward of Sherman's armies, despite
the heaviest concentration that could be made in resistance,
the destruction of extensive manufactories of materials of
war, and the palpable diminution of the central insurgent
forces, were grand results indeed ; but the Confederate Army
of the Tennessee was not annihilated, and until it and the
one in Virginia should be, the end of the war could not come.
The end was indeed foreshadowed by the fact that the national
armies could force their way into the South anywhere, sub-
FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC. 149
ject to the one coDclition of supplies. But this war, be3'ond
most wars, was a conflict of ideas, and the persistence of the
parties to it revealed the overmastering force of the antago-
nistic opinions. The protraction of the war had intensified
the original antagonisms, and had, besides, involved the two
sections in debt to such an enormous extent that financial ruin
was inevitable in the defeat of either. The success of the
ITorth would restoi'e the Union and place its debt upon the
whole country. The success of the South would be a division
of the country, with a burden of debt to each portion of crush-
ing weight. So that now, not only the primal causes of the
war and the extreme reluctance of a proud people to yield to
an enemy, but financial considerations, precluded peace so long
as the South could maintain armies. The campaigns of the
Kummer had made a heavy draft upon the strength of the Con-
federate armies ; but the two which unfurled their banners
before Grant and Sherman in May were intact, though one
had been shut up in Richmond and the other had been bat-
tled and flanked out of Atlanta. General Canby and Admiral
Farragut had neutralized Mobile, though the former had been
bereft of the corps intended for its complete reduction to rein-
force the Army of the Potomac. There were troops yet in the
Gulf States, east of the Mississippi, to raise Hood's army to its
maximum strength, though their accretion would reveal the
desperate straits of the insurgents. There were forces beyond
the Mississippi, whose isolation hitherto, through the viligance
of General Canby, had prevented a more potential combination
against General Sherman in Georgia. These troops were raid-
ing in Missouri, and by predatory warfare were doing local
mischief without affecting the general issue. The rebellion,
then, was palpably resting upon the armies of Lee and Hood.
The former, by political considerations, if not by purely mili-
tary ones, was restricted to the defense of the Confederate cap-
ital. Hood's army alone had freedom of motion, and to de-
termine how best to use that freedom was to the insurgent
leaders the great problem of the hour.
The aggregate casualties of the Army of the Cumberland,
during the campaign, from the 1st of May to the 6th of Sep-
tember, were as follows : One hundred and ninety-six officers
150 FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC.
and two thousand eight hundred and forty-five men enhsted
were killed ; eight hundred and ten officers and fourteen
thousand nine hundred and seventy-three enlisted men were
wounded ; one hundred and four officers and two thousand
six hundred and three enlisted men were captured — in all,
twenty-one thousand five hundred and thirty -four men. Dur-
ing the campaign forty-three thousand one hundred and fift}'-
three were reported sick to Major George E. Cooper, surgeon
United States army, medical director of the department. Of
these, twenty-six thousand one hundred and eighty-four were
sent to the rear ; two hundred and seven died from disease,
and one thousand and sixty-seven died from wounds. Almost
all others, sick or wounded, were returned to duty.
General J. M. Brannan, chief of artillery, reported the cap-
ture of four guns by the Twentieth Corps, at Resaca, in battle,
and four left by the enemy in his fortifications ; ten guns
captured by General J. C. Davis, at Rome ; twenty left by the
enemy in Atlanta, and eight captured by the Fourteenth
Corps, at Jonesboro. He also reported the expenditure of
86,611 rounds of artillery ammunition, 11,815,299 rounds ol
infantry ammunition, and the loss of 1,439 artillery horses.
During the period the army captured 8,067 men from the
enemy and received 2,162 deserters, as reported by Colonel
Parkhurst, provost marshal general of the department. These
statistics reveal the oost of war.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 13, 1864 — 8 p. m.
General Hallcch, Washington, D. C. :
We have now pressed the enemy's lines from the east around to East
Point on the south. The nature of the ground, with its artificial defenses,
makes it too difficult to assault, and to reach the road hy a further exten-
sion will be extra hazardous. I have ordered army commanders to pre-
pare for the following plan : Leave one corps strongly intrenched at the
Chattahoochee bridge in charge of our suplus wagons and artillery ; with
sixty thousand (60,000) men reduced to fighting trim, to make circuit of
devastation around the town, with a radius of fifteen or twenty miles.
To do this, I go on faith that the militia in Atlanta are only good for
the defense of its parapets, and will not come out.
I would like the utmost activity to be kept up in Mobile Bay, and if
FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC. 151
possible, about the mouth of Apalachicola; also, to be assured that no
material reinforcements have come here from Virginia.
If ever I should be cut off from my base, look out for me about St.
Marks, Florida, or Savannah, Georgia.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 13, 1864.
General Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
In making the circuit of Atlanta, as proposed in my dispatch of to-day,
I necessarily run some risk. If there be any possibility of Admiral Far-
ragut and the land forces of Gordon Granger taking Mobile (which rebel
prisoners now report, but the report is not confirmed by Macon papers of
the 11th, which I have seen), and further, of pushing up to Montgomery,
my best plan would be to wait awhile as now, and, at proper time, to move
down to West Point, and operate into the heart of Georgia from there.
Before cutting loose, as proposed, I would like to know the chances of
our getting the use of the Alabama river this campaign. I could easily
break uj) the railroads back to Chattanooga, and shift my whole army
down to West Point and Columbus, a country rich in corn, and make my
fall campaign from there.
I know Fort Morgan must succumb in time.
W. T. SHERMAN,
31ajor-General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 17, 18G4.
Generals Thomas, Schofield, and Howard :
I now have positive and official information that General Wheeler has
gone up into East Tennessee, beyond Spring Place. We will repair all
damages to railroad and telegraph to-night. I will not move our infantry
now, but break the Macon road all to pieces with our cavalry to-morrow
night. Therefore, be active, and demonstrate against Atlanta, to occupy
the entire front, and make them believe we will attack them in their
trenches during to-morrow and next day.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 24, 1864 — 8 a. m.
Generals Thomas, Schofield, and Howard :
I will ride down to the bridge to-day, to see the lay of the ground and
the character of the redoubts there. Go on and make all preparations
possible, so that our movement, when begun, may proceed rapidly and
safely. Our majjs should be compiled, and as many roads laid down be-
tween Red Oak and Jonesboro as we can be sure of existence.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
152 FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
August 24, 18G4.
Major-General Sherman :
A fire seems to be raging in Atlanta, direction ten (10) degrees south
of east from my tree. Can see heated air rising in dense columns; seems
to be spreading. Town is filled with smoke.
I have directed my heavy guns to fire on the town.
0. 0. HOWARD,
Major-General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Lovejoy's Station, Ga., September 2, 1864 — 8 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
Until we hear from Atlanta the exact truth, I do not care about your
pushing your men against breastworks. Destroy the railroad well up to
your lines. Keep skirmishers well up, and hold your troops in hand for
anything that may turn up. As soon as I know positively that our troops
are in Atlanta, I will determine what to do.
I have ordered General Schofield to feel for the McDonough road, to
prevent reinforcements coming to the enemy from that direction.
Yours, etc., W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 63.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Lovejoy's, September 3, 1864.
I. Army commanders will, during to-day, send to Jonesboro all sick
and wounded men, all empty wagons and prisoners of war, also all surplus
wheels not needed for a five days' stay in front, ready to start to-morrow
morning, at 6 o'clock, from Jonesboro to Atlanta. Each army will send
a regiment to escort these wagons, and General Thomas will send an ex-
perienced colonel to conduct the train into Atlanta, there to wait further
orders.
II. The army will be prepared to move back to-morrow or next day —
the Army of the Cumberland to Atlanta and Chattahoochee bridge, the
Army of the Tennessee to East Point, and the Army of the Ohio to De-
catur. Major-General Thomas will have General Garrard's cavalry ready
to act as rear guard.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-derCamp.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 66.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Joxe.sboi;o, Ga., September 6, 1864.
I. The General-in-Chief communicates, with a feeling of just pride and
satisfaction, the following orders of the President of the United States.
FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC. 153
and telegram of Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, on hearing of tlie cap-
ture of Atlanta :
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C. September 3, 1864.
The national thanks are rendered by the President to Major-General
W. T. Sherman, and the gallant officers and soldiers of his command
before Atlanta, for the distinguished ability, courage, and perseverance
displayed in the campaign in Georgia, which, under Divine favor, has re-
sulted in the capture of the city of Atlanta. The marches, battles, sieges,
and other military operations that have signalized the campaign, must
render it famous in the annals of war, and have entitled those who have
participated therein to the applause and thanks of the nation.
(Signed,) ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States,
Executive Mansion,
Washington City, Septmber 3, ] 864.
Ordered:
1st
2d. That, on Wednesday, the 9th day of September, commencing at
the hour of 12 m., there shall be fired a salute of one hundred (100) guns,
at the arsenal at Washington, and at New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Pittsburg, Newport, Kentucky, St. Louis, New Oi'leans, Mobile,
Pensacola, Hilton Head, and Newbern, or the day after the receipt of this
order, for the brilliant achievements of the army under command of
Major-General Sherman, in the State of Georgia, and the capture of At-
lanta. The Secretary of War will issue directions for the execution of
this order.
^Signed,) ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States.
City Point, Va., September 4, 1864 — 9 p. m.
Major-General Sherman :
I have just received your dispatch, announcing the capture of Atlanta.
In honor of your great victory, I have ordered a salute to be fired with
shotted guns from every battery bearing upon the enemy. The salute
will be fired within an hour, amidst great rejoicing.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
II All the corps, regiments, and batteries composing this
army, may, without further orders, inscribe "Atlanta" on their colors.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 134.]
Headquarters Department op the Cumberland,
Atlanta, Ga., September 9, 1864,
Soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland:
The major-general commanding, with pride and pleasure, congratu-
lates you upon the fact that your achievements during the campaign
154 FALL OF ATLANTA, ETC.
which has just closed, in connection with those of the Armies of the
Tennessee and Ohio, have received such distinguished marks of appre-
ciation as the thanks of the President of the United States, and of the
major-general commanding the Military Division of the Mississippi.
Your commander now desires to add his to those you have already re-
ceived, for the tenacity of purpose, unmurmuring endurance, cheerful
obedience, brilliant heroism, and all those high qualities which you have
displayed to an eminent degree, in attacking and defeating the cohorts
of treason, driving them from position after position, each of their own
choosing, cutting their communications, and in harassing their flanks and
rear, during the many marches, battles, and. sieges of this long and event-
ful campaign.
It is impossible, within the limits of an order like this, to enumerate
the many instances in which your gallantry has been conspicuous, but
among them may be mentioned the actions of Rocky Face Mountain
and before Dalton, fought between the 8th and 13th of May; of Eesaca,
on the 14th and 15th; of Adairsville, on the 17th, and of New Hope
Church, on the 25th of the same month ; of Gulp's Farm, June 22d ; Peach-
tree creek, July 20th, and the crowning one of Jonesboro, fought Sep-
tember 1st, which secured the capture of the city of Atlanta, the goal
for which we set out more than four months ago, and furnished a brilliant
termination to your struggles for that long period.
Let these successes encourage you to the continued exercise of those
same high qualities, and to renewed exertions in the cause of our country
and humanity when you shall again be called upon to meet the foe; and
be assured, the time is not far distant when your prowess will conquer
what territory now remains ^vithin the circumscribed limits of the re-
bellion. A few more fields like those whose names now crowd your
standards, and we can dictate the terms of a peace alike honorable to
yourselves and our country. You can then retire to your homes amid
the plaudits of your friends, and with the j^roud consciousness that you
have deserved well of the country.
Our rejoicings are not unmixed with a proud regret for our brave com-
rades who have fallen. Their graves mark the spots where they went
down amid the din and roar of battle, dotting every field and hillside,
or lying beneath the spreading boughs of the forest along our route; they
will, in future days, serve like finger-boards, to point out to the traveler
the march of your victorious columns. Those silent mounds appeal to us
to remain true to ourselves and the country, and to so discharge the
high duty devolving upon us that their lives, which they so freely offered
up, may not prove a useless sacrifice.
By command of Major-General Thomas.
WM. D. WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant- General,
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE MARCH OF THE OPPOSING ARMIES TO THE NORTH AND THE
EVOLUTION OF NEW CAMPAIGNS.
"When General Sherman, August 13th, informed General
Halleck that he would make the circuit of Atlanta with his
armies, he suggested that it might be prudent to break up the
railroad to Chattanooga, and shift his armies to West Point
and Columbus, and there make his base for the fall campaign.
To this General Grant replied, advising that there should be
no backward movement, even if his roads should be so cut as
to preclude the possibility of supplies from the North, and
said : " If it comes to the worst, move South as you suggest.'^
After General Sherman had taken the city, without overthrow-
ing the army which had so long defended it, he was occupied
with the question of its use in future operations. That he
might hold it for purely military purposes, he banished the
citizens, giving them choice to go l^orth or South ; and as the
defenses constructed by the enemy were so extensive that only
an army could utilize them, he established an inner line of
works, which, held by an ordinary garrison, would protect his
depots. That he might accumulate supplies for future enter-
prise, he restricted the railroads to persons connected with the
army, and the transportation of military stores. But under-
lying these essential preparations, even to hold Atlanta defen-
sively, there was the grand problem of farther aggression. To
hold Atlanta and the long railroad to his primary base, and
have forces to advance, in the manner of his previous move-
ment, required an impracticable augmentation. As the enemy
was now free to detach heavily, to break his communications,
he was compelled to send troops to the rear, and, besides this
(155)
156 » MAECH TO THE NOETH, ETC.
draft, he was constantly losing regiments by expiration of
term of service. Despairing of being able to cling to the rail-
roads in advancing from Atlanta, he, in common with General
Grant, was looking for a southern base to which he might
leap, without intervening communications. General Grant
suggested that General Canby should act upon Savannah, and
General Sherman upon Augusta. General Sherman in reply
expressed his willingness " to move upon Milledgeville, and
compel Hood to give up Macon and Augusta, and then turn
vipon the other," if he could be assured of finding provisions
at Augusta or Columbus ; but without such assurance he
would risk his army by going far from Atlanta. The country,
in any direction southward, would supply an army that could
maintain motion and freedom to forage, but the contingency
of slow maneuvers or stopping to dislodge an intrenched
enemy, coupled with constraint in foraging, was the barrier to
a campaign having a remote objective. The questions of the
direction and object of an advance, though discussed at length
by Generals Grant and Sherman, remained unsettled until
General Hood's movements gave a turn to affairs which had
not been anticipated by either.
Soon after the fall of Atlanta, the Southern President left
Richmond to confer with his western generals with regard to
the next campaign, and to use his eloquence to rouse the
people from despondency. His removal of General Johnston
from command had not averted disaster. He had watched the
closing in of the national lines around his capital, but the con-
ditions of warfare were there inveterately defined, and he sped
to the West to give shape to some new enterprise in solution
of the pl^oblems imposed by the issue of the preceding dis-
astrous campaign.
It would have been well had he called General Johnston to
Palmetto, and this he doubtless would have done, had his sole
object been to give a successful issue to a new campaign; but
even in this supreme moment, personal considerations were
dominant, and the justification of his removal of his ablest
western general from command, took rank with the projects
which involved the fate of the Confederacy. He now needed
judicious counsel, for another campaign of dire issue would be
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 157
fatal. N'early one hundred thousand national troops were
holding Atlanta, and preparing to utilize all the advantages
gained in the previous campaign. It was not possible to in-
crease Hood's army promptly to such an extent as to justify
direct ofiense in open field, much less against Atlanta. The
Confederate leaders were then restricted to the continuance
of the defensive, wherever General Sherman should invite de-
fense, or to some diversion that would retard or avert the
blow which he was meditating. It was decided that Hood's
army should be thrown upon General Sherman's communica-
tion, and the forces under Smith and Magruder called over
the Mississippi river for conjunction in ISTorthern Alabama ;
that the united armies, gathering recruits as they advanced,
should sweep through Tennessee and Kentucky, and stand a
hundred thousand strong upon the banks of the Ohio. Critics
have been swift to condemn Hood's advance to the North,
and considered as an independent movement, it is seemingly,
at least, open to criticism ; but regarded as a part of a compre-
hensive plan, it is not apparent that his army could have been
used to better advantage. That the expectation of gathering
a vast army on the Tennessee river was the inspiration of
Hood's movement, which in itself promised no mean results,
is plainly true ; for before he had crossed the Chattahoochee,
the Confederate President sent an order (which General
Canby intercepted) to Smith and Magruder to cross the
Mississippi river with their forces. The assumption of the
practicability of their conjunction with Hood, is the explana-
tion of Mr. Davis' prophetic declarations in speeches through-
out the South, that should the absent soldiers return to their
colors, General Sherman should be forced into a retreat as dis-
astrous as that of ISTapoleon from Moscow, and the Confeder-
ate army would advance in triumph to the Ohio river. The
precedents of the war were against the plan itself, as even in
the first flush of the rebellion all aggression with remote ob-
jectives had resulted in failure; while in no case during the
conflict, had a Confederate army been thrown with ultimate
advantage upon the communications of a national army whose
aggressive pressure could not be resisted. Latterly, all de-
fense in the West had been unsuccessful, and the disparity of
158 MAKCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
aggregate forces forbade all sober-minded Soutberners tbe
hope that any plan could be devised whose execution would
arrest, much less avert the downfall of the rebellion.
General Hood remained at Lovejoy's Station, quietly recu-
perating and reinforcing his army, until the 20th of September;
when those on the outlook informed General Sherman that he
was in motion. General Sherman's first thought was that he
was drawing back to Macon, and would send reinforcements
to Richmond. The next day, however, it was apparent that
General Hood had only shifted his army to Palmetto Station,
and was there intrenching. This movement, and the appear-
ance of Forrest with a force of six or eight thousand men in
Tennessee, were the first steps in the execution of the new plan
of operations. General Sherman now surmised that General
Hood had resolved to throw his army on his flanks, to prevent
the accumulation of supplies, and made dispositions to thwart
him. He sent General Newton's division to Chattanooga, and
ordered General Corse to unite his division at Rome, to act
against any force that might threaten Bridgeport from the di-
rection of Gadsden. Having provided for the defense of these
important points, he left the disposition of Forrest to the dis-
trict commanders — Generals Steedman, Granger, and Rousseau.
A raid from Forrest into Middle Tennessee had been ex-
pected by those in the rear, though not by those in the front.
About the 12th of the month. General Granger received through
his scouts information, which he deemed reliable, that such was
his purpose, if the corps of General A. J. Smith had been re-
moved from West Tennessee. He therefore expressed his con-
victions to General Sherman, and asked if Smith's corps had
left Tennessee. General Sherman directed General Thomas to
inform him that he need feel no uneasiness about Forrest, as he
had gone to Mobile. JSTotwithstanding this positive assurance
that there was no danger. General Granger sent a force to re-
connoiter in the direction of Forrest's anticipated approach.
In obedience to his order, Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, conmiand-
ing the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry, advanced toward Florence,
and having returned to the main road, after a short detour,
found himself in the rear of a cavalry force of eight or ten
thousand men. And thus was positively revealed the first of
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 159
a series of aggressive movements on the part of the enemy,
which gave a new complexion and nnexpected issues to mili-
tary operations in Tennessee and Georgia.
September 25th, it was supposed that General Hood was
moving toward the Alabama line, and this opening of the way
for a march to the sea, turned General Sherman to the consid-
eration of a movement thither without an intermediate base
of supplies. General Grant, however, suggested that his at-
tention should first be given to afiairs in his rear, and appre-
ciating the situation in Tennessee, and knowing that desperate
efibrts would be made to force Sherman to relax his grasp
upon Georgia, ordered all the spare troops in the West to
Nashville, that no further reduction of forces at Atlanta might
be necessary. On the 28th, General Sherman said to General
Grant : " I want Apalachicola arsenal taken, also Savannah,
and if the enemy does succeed in breaking my road, I can
fight my way to one or the other place, but I think it better
to hold on to Atlanta and strengthen to my rear, and there-
fore I am glad that you have ordered troops to Nashville."
And to President Lincoln, he said: "It would have a bad
efifect, if I am forced to send back any material part of my
army to guard roads, so as to weaken me to an extent that I
could not act ofiensively, if the occasion calls for it." Cling-
ing thus to Atlanta, he was nevertheless so apprehensive with
regard to his communications, that he sent General Thomas
to the north to provide for their security, having previously
ordered General Morgan's division to Chattanooga, and a bri-
gade of the Army of the Tennessee, and the cavalry from
Memphis, to Eastport, to operate against the flank of any force
going into Tennessee by any of the fords near Florence.
General Thomas started on the 29th, and the same day there
came to General Sherman the first intimation' that Hood was
crossing the Chattahoochee. The day following it was known
that a x)ortion of his army was across, and by the first of Oc-
tober the movement was well developed, except in respect to
its ultimate object. The direction of the march did not indi-
cate an advance to Blue Mountain, but toward General Sher-
man's communications, and citizens reported that Rome was
General Hood's destination. In doubt of his purpose and
160 MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
destination, General Sherman made provision for two contin-
gencies— the enemy swinging across to the Alabama line and
thence into Tennessee, or striking the railroad south of King-
ston. In the one case, he proposed to send back to Chatta-
nooga all the troops from Kingston north, and with all south
of Kingston to move to the sea-board, and in the other, he
woukl turn upon Hood and attack him.
To ascertain the direction of the enemy's march before put-
ting his own armies in motion, General Sherman sent General
Garrard to Powder Springs, General Kilpatrick to Sweet-
water, General Howard to reconnoiter to Fairburn, and Gen-
eral Cox, commanding the Twenty-third Corps in absence of
General Schofield, to send a division to Flat Rock. His ob-
ject, in addition, was to get the bridges over the Chattahoo-
chee, and then place his armies between them and General
Hood. But the latter was indifferent to all such designs, as
he had cut loose from all connections in his rear. General
Sherman regarded his movement as ostentatious, but it was
one of desperation rather, and right boldly did he and his
army dash on to the issues involved. He was vigorously ex-
ecuting his part of the grand combination which had been
projected, to change, if possible, the theater and the issue of
the war in the "West. Having crossed the Chattahoochee, he
threw Stewart's corps upon the railroad north of Marietta,
and with the remainder of his infantry forces, moved toward
Dallas, his cavalry, under Wheeler, being already in JSTorthern
Georgia. Stewart reached the raih^oad, and commenced its
destruction, October 2d, and citizens reported that it was Gen-
eral Hood's purpose to attack Acworth and Allatoona, after-
ward Rome, and in the event of repulse, to retreat to Blue
Mountain, Jacksonville, and Selma. General Sherman now
ordered General Stanley to move with ten days' rations to
Ruff's Station, and open communications with General El-
liott, who, Avitli his cavalry divisions, was over toward Sweet-
water and Nose's creek. The next day, he ordered all his
remaining forces, except the Twentieth Corps, which was left
to hold Atlanta and the railroad bridge over the Chatta-
hoochee, to follow Stanley. In the evening of the 4th, the
advance of the latter encamped near Little Kenesaw Moun-
MARCH TO THE NOETH, ETC. 161
tain. General Hood's infantry was tlien advancing upon j^.l-
latoona, having captured the garrisons at Big Shanty and
Acworth, and destroyed the track of the road for several
miles. The same day, General Elliott found the enemy be-
tween Dallas and Big Shanty, occupying the old works of the
national army, in more force than could be dislodged by dis-
mounted cavalry.
General Sherman had been convinced of General Hood's
audacity too late to protect his communications, and was now
anxious with regard to his depot of supplies at Allatoona.
He had previously ordered General Corse to reinforce the gar-
rison from Rome, should the enemy approach from the south ;
and this provision saved the place. General Corse reached
Allatoona with a few regiments, on the 4th, and the next
morning he was attacked by French's division of Stewart's
corps. General Sherman, while signaling his presence at
Kenesaw Mountain, and his purpose to give the earliest pos-
sible support, witnessed the repeated repulse of the enemy.
The gallant resistance of the garrison, and the movement of
General Cox to his left, induced General French to withdraw
entirely during the afternoon, having lost at least a thousand
men. This was not a promising initiative for General Hood,
and its probable bearing upon his plans was added to other
circumstances of positive character to conceal again, for a few
days, his ultimate purpose. French's division remained in the
rear of the army, and oflered such resistance to General El-
liott, that it was impossible to ascertain in what direction the
enemy's standards were pointing. From the 5th to the 10th,
it was not known whether they were pointing northward or
westward.
During this period, General Sherman again proposed to
General Grant to break up the railroad to Chattanooga, and
move with wagons to Savannah, entertaining the opinion that
Hood would move to the West. But on the 10th, learning
that he was marching toward Rome, he ordered his generals
to move upon Kingston with a view to support General Corse
at Rome, should the enemy approach in force. General Hood
crossed the Coosa river twelve miles below, in feint upon
VOL. II — 11
162 MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
Home, to cover anotlier clash upon the railroad and his march
northward. General Sherman's forces wer^ concentrated in
the vicinity of Kingston on the 11th, but again General Hood's
movements were in doubt, as he disappeared from the vicinity
of Rome without indicating where he was going. General
Sherman, on the 12th, made effort to develop his movements,
by sending Garrard's division* and the Twenty-third Corps
across the Oostanaula, while a brigade from Hazen's division
moved down the Coosa from Rome. In the meantime. Hood
moved rapidly toward Resaca with his whole army. Here,
again, provision had been made to reinforce the garrison, as,
in compliance with General Sherman's contingent orders, the
troops at Cassville, Colonel "Watkins' brigade of cavalry, and
General Baum, with three hundred and fifty infantry, moved
forward before the place was invested. Colonel "Watkins left
his horses on the left bank, and placed his men in the intrench-
ments on the other side. General Hood demanded the sur-
render of the place on the 11th, under the threat that no pris-
oners would be taken if he should be compelled to carry the
works by assault. But though General Baum refused to
-capitulate, and General Hood had a heavy force, probably two
•corps present, and threw a line around the town from the river
above to the river below, he may have been deterred from
attack by the uncertainty of the issue, or may have considered
the temporary possession no compensation for the cost of tak-
ing it.
While halting before Resaca, General Hood sent detach-
ments to destroy the railroad toward Dalton, and having him-
self withdrawn on the 12th, he demanded the surrender of
the latter place the next day. Colonel Johnson, commanding
the Forty-fourth Colored regiment, was convinced that resist-
ance was useless, and accepted terms. The garrison at Tilton
was also captured. Early in the day, General Schofield had
reached Dalton on his way to join General Sherman, but not
being able to go farther, and learning that the enemy was ad-
vancing, he returned to Cleveland with his train and what
* General Garrard drove a brigade of the enemy through the entrance
to Chattooga valley, and captured two guns.
MAECH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 163
public property it was practicable to save. From Dalton,
General Hood, with Lee's aucl Cheatham's corps, passed into
Snake Creek Gap. Stewart's corps destroyed the railroad to
Tunnel Hill. General Sherman reached Resaca on the 14th,
and disposed his forces to strike the enemy in flank, or force
him to tight by shutting him up in Snake Creek Gap. He
sent General Howard to the southern entrance, and General
Stanley, with his own and Davis' corps, by Tilton, to the
northern entrance. But though General Howard skirmished
to hold General Hood in the pass until General Stanley should
reach his rear, his efibrt was ineffectual, as he retreated to the
north before Stanley could intercept him by closing the Gap.
Having emerged from the pass, General Hood had freedom of
motion north and west. On the 16th, General Sherman threw
his columns to Lafayette to cut off his retreat, but he was able
to unite his forces in time to attain a safe position between
the Coosa and Lookout Mountain.
Reference should here be made to operations by which For-
rest was expelled from Tennessee. This bold trooper crossed
the Tennessee river at Waterloo, September 20th, and two days
afterward appeared before Athens, Alabama. Colonel Camp-
bell, commanding the post, after skirmishing with the enemy
for a short time, withdrew from the town to the fortifications.
This step exposed the public buildings and stores, and Forrest
immediately applied the torch. The next day he invested the
fort, which had been constructed for defense by a small force,
and opened with his artillery. Colonel Campbell responded with
spirit, and refused two calls to surrender, but finally, through
a personal interview with Forrest, was induced to conclude that
resistance was useless. Forrest adopted the policy, which in
many instances was successful, to make a show of force to in-
duce surrender, when there was no intention to attack, or at
least a great reluctance to do so, in view of inevitable loss or
uncertain issue. The garrison surrendered consisted of four
hundred and fifty men of the One Hundred and Sixth, One
Hundred and Tenth, and One Hundred and Eleventh Colored
regiments, and one hundred and thirty men of the Third Ten-
nessee Cavalry. A half hour later, the Eighteenth Michigan
and One Hundred and Third Ohio arrived, and were surren-
164 MAECH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
dered after an engagement. This was an auspicious beginning
for Forrest, but fortunately proved to be his only important
success.
From Athens he advanced toward Pulaski, and destroyed
the IN'ashville and Decatur railroad for several miles. At Pu-
laski, General Rousseau was ' awaiting his coming with such
force that Forrest withdrew after a skirmish. The same day,
the 29th, one of his detachments appeared on the Nashville and
Chattanooga road, north and south of Tullahoma, cut the tele-
graph wires, and injured the track. The road was soon repaired,
but the party having touched it, was the advance of Forrest's
main force, which passed Fayetteville the night following,
moving toward Decherd. Having learned, however, that
heavier forces were before him than he wished to meet, he
changed direction and divided his forces. General Rousseau
had moved by rail, the day previous, to Tullahoma, and Gen-
eral Steedman had crossed the Tennessee river, and was ad-
vancing north upon the road with five thousand men, and in
the face of the two columns, Forrest turned back, sending Bu-
ford with four thousand men to Huntsville, and moving him-
self with three thousand toward Columbia. Buford reached
Huntsville the night of the 30th, and made an ineffectual de-
mand for the surrender of the place. Remaining during the
night, he repeated his demand with similar issue the next morn-
ing, and then moved off toward Athens. Here he made an
attack at 3 p. m., and was repulsed by the Seventy -third Indiana,
Lieutenant-Colonel Slade commanding, which had been sent
thither by General Granger to regarrison the post, immediately
after Colonel Campbell's surrender. Buford anticipated an easy
victory, but was twice repulsed, and was pursued after with-
drawal, by a small party of General Granger's cavalry. He
crossed the Tennessee, at Brown's ferry, on the 3d of October.
General Forrest succeeded no better. He reached Columbia
on the 1st, but refrained from attack. He remained in the vi-
cinity until the 3d, and then moved in the direction of Mount
Pleasant, destroying five miles of railroad between Cartersville
and Spring Hill. By this time, four columns were converging
upon him, under the direction of General Thomas. General
Morgan's division having arrived at Huntsville the night of
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 165
the 1st, moved through Athens to secure the crossing at Bain-
bridge ; General Rousseau was on his way from IsTashville with
four thousand men, who had heen hastily mounted ; Croxton
was advancing thro ughLawreuceburg, and GeneralWashburne,
with three thousand infantry and fifteen hundred cavalry, was
passing up the Tennessee river, under instructions to leave his
infantry at Johnsonville and join General Rousseau at Pulaski,
with his cavahy. In addition to these dispositions, Lieutenant-
Commander Forrest, commanding the naval force on the Up-
per Tennessee, was requested to send gunboats to Florence, if
the stage of water would permit. This combination might
have resulted in Forrest's capture, had not the high water in
Elk river detained Morgan, who did not reach Rogersville until
the night of the 4th, while Forrest passed through Laurence-
burg the same night, and crossed at Bainbridge on the 6th, his
rear forces having been reached by Washburne's advance. But
if Forrest was neither captured nor defeated, the main line of
railroad was saved from serious damage, and to break it was
doubtless the chief object of his raid.
As soon as General Thomas was advised of Hood's north-
ward march, he made dispositions to offer resistance on the
line of the Tennessee river, and especially to defend Chatta-
nooga and Bridgeport — the most important points on the
•direct line of supply. He first directed General Rousseau to
destroy all ferry-boats and other means of crossing the river
below Decatur, and then take post at Florence, Alabama,
and ordered General Morgan to return to Athens. When the
■direction of General Hood's march was clearly indicated, he
directed General Croxton, with his brigade of cavalry, to cover
the crossings of the river from Decatur to Eastport, and hur-
ried Morgan's division from Athens to Chattanooga, Steed-
man's from Decatur to Bridgeport, and Rousseau's from Flor-
ence to Athens. The garrisons at Decatur, Huntsville, and
Stevenson were not reinforced, that there might be the heavi-
est concentration possible, should the enemy advance toward
Chattanooga or Bridgeport.
The northward march of Hood's army, on General Sher-
man's communications, created an intense alarm all over the
]S'orth, from which the highest military circles were not free.
166 MAECH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
As a consequence, all available troops in the Department of
the Ohio, and all, in fact, far and near, were directed to Gen-
eral Thomas ; and so threatening was the emergency in the
estimation of the lieutenant-general, that he advised the with-
drawal of all the forces on the railroad " from Columbia to
Decatur, and thence to Stevenson." General Thomas, how-
ever, did not adopt the suggestion, and subsequent events jus-
tified his action.
When, on the 13th, General Thomas ascertained that Hood's
advance was at Lafayette, Georgia, he directed General Wag-
ner, in command at Chattanooga, to call in all the detachments
from Tunnel Hill, north, and make preparations to hold his
important post. Accordingly, a very large number of guna
were mounted in the fortifications, which had been made
exceedingly strong by Colonel Merrill, with his engineer regi-
ment and the forces left as a garrison, while all the outlying
troops were concentrated for the defense of the town and sup-
plies.
Upon General Schofield's return from Dalton to Cleveland,
General Thomas directed him to assume command at Chat-
tanooga, and add to the garrison all the troops within reach.
But though General Hood was so near, he had no thought
of putting his army between the mountains, south of Chatta-
nooga, at least while General Sherman was in his immediate
rear, and soon moved westward to avoid battle and pursue the
accomplishment of the ultimate object of his march to the
north. As soon as he turned westward. General Thomas sent
General Schofield, with Morgan's and Wagner's divisions, up
Will's valley to watch against the approach of the enemy
toward Bridgeport, but soon recalled him, having gained
knowledge of General Hood's movement upon Gadsden.
When General Sherman learned that Hood had turned west-
ward, he proposed to follow him wherever he might go, but
did not believe that he meditated the invasion of Tennessee,,
though the declarations of the Confederate President and Gen-
eral Hood gave assurance of this design. The pursuit of Hood
was maintained by various routes to Gaylesville, and there
General Sherman halted his armies to await the repair of the
railroad and the developments of the enemy. He stationed
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 167
the Army of the Tennessee near Little river, to support the
cavahy and observe the enemy toward Will's valley ; the
Army of the Ohio at Cedar Bluffs, to feel forward to Center
and in the direction of Blue Mountain ; and the Army of the
Cumberland at Gaylesville. While in this region the armies
drew their supplies from the countiy.
Although General Hood had not achieved the grand results
which the sanguine President had predicted, he had neverthe-
less been so far successful as to perplex the national com-
manders and give hope to the insurgents. He had not forced
General Sherman into a disastrous retreat, but he had drawn
him to the north, not in abandonment of Atlanta and his forti-
fied positions, but with nearly all his forces. He had twice
thrown his armies between General Sherman and his base ;
had maneuvered with skill; had captured the garrisons at
Big Shanty, Acworth, Tilton, and Dalton ; had destroyed
nearly thirty miles of railroad, and, except in his attack upon
Allatoona, had received no harm. He had moved in boldest
disregard of railroads and communications, contrary to the
precedents of the previous campaign, and, in fine, his north-
ward march had been brilliantly executed. The resulting
j>roblems were freighted with the gravest issues. The insur-
gents were now too far exhausted to bear the overthrow of
his army in its perilous adventure to the north, and yet Hood
held boldly to his plan, as though assured of success. A new
base, with railroad communications, was in preparation for
him in Northern Mississippi, under the direction of General
Beauregard, now in supreme command in the West, not for
defense, but for aggression of the boldest type, whose expla-
nation is found in the expectation that the trans-Mississippi
forces would swell Hood's army for its resistless sweep through
Tennessee and Kentucky. General Canby's dispatch to Gen-
eral Sherman, dated October 18th, gives evidence of the
effort to reinforce Hood's army from the West ; as, without
heavy reinforcements, aggression, in the face of General
Sherman's armies, was palpably impossible. No doubt the
minor object was to decoy General Sherman from the Chatta-
nooga and Atlanta railroad, and the undoing of the campaign
on that line ; but the main one was the invasion of Tennessee
168 MAECH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
and Kentucky. Subsequently, General Sherman's movement
to the south so changed the situation that this invasion was
attempted without the trans-Mississippi forces.
While the rebel generals were preparing to invade Ten-
nessee and Kentucky, General Sherman was engrossed with
the project which he first suggested as a contingency when
about to make the circuit of Atlanta, in August, and which
he had since repeatedly brought to the attention of General
Grant. At Atlanta, Allatoona, Kingston, and now, while
awaiting, at Gaylesville, the repair of the railroad, he made
suggestions to General Grant, from day to day, concerning
the " march to the sea." He was unwilling to follow Hood
farther west, as in this way, it had been planned that he should
be decoyed from Georgia. By the 20th of October his plans
for a counter-movement were well matured, and his utterances
and orders foreshadowed their early execution. He proposed
to leave General Thomas in command of the military division in
his absence — which at first he thought would be ninety days, as
in that time he could go to the sea and return — giving him as
an army for defense the Fourth Corps, the garrisons in Ten-
nessee and Alabama, and the new troops that had been ordered
to Nashville. For himself he would retain the Fourteenth,
Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-third Corps,
and a cavalry corps of three divisions, comprising twenty -five
hundred men each, under the command of Brevet Major-Gen-
eral J. H. Wilson, recent!}^ sent by General Grant to be chief
of the cavalry of the military division. These troops were to
be trimmed to perfect efficiency. The railroad was to be re-
paired to Atlanta, for use in preparation for the march beyond,
and then to be destroyed.
Telegraphic communication between Chattanooga and At-
lanta was established October 20th, and on the 28th the rail-
road was in running order. In the meantime General Hood
assumed the offensive. Advancing from G adsden, he appeared
before Decatur on the 26th and made an attack, but not with
such force as indicated a purpose to storm the place — his
three corps of infantry being near, and his cavalry being dis-
posed on the south bank of the river, from Guntersville to
Eastport. General Thomas sent two regiments to General
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 169
Granger, from Cliattanooga, and instructed him to hold his
post at all hazards. This was a feehle reinforcement, hut he
had no other spare troops to throw hefore the enemy. The
divisions of Morgan and Wagner had been recalled from Ten-
nessee by General Sherman, and for the defense of the line of
the Tennessee river there were the u^ual garrisons, and Gen-
eral Croxtou's brigade of cavalry spread out on the north bank.
In the emergency General Sherman ordered General Stanley
to report with his corps to General Thomas, and, by order,
placed the latter in command of all troops and garrisons in his
military division, not in his own presence, contingent upon
his separation from his division " by military movements or
the accidents of war."
On the 27th, General Hood intrenched his position before
Decatur, skirmished during the day, but used no artillery,
though he put guns in position. Under the cover of darkness,
he drove in General Granger's pickets with a strong force, and
established a new line within five hundred yards of the town.
The next day, General Granger made a successful sortie. His
troops advanced, under cover of the guns of the fort, down
the river bank and round to the rear of the enemy's rifle-pits,
and by a bold charge cleared them, killing a large number of
men and capturing one hundred and twenty. A battery above
the town was also captured by the Fourteenth United States
Colored troops. Colonel T. J. Morgan commanding, but the
position being too much exposed to be held, the guns were
spiked and the regiment under orders retired to the fort. In
the charge. Colonel Morgan lost forty men killed and wounded,
including three ofiicers killed. This resistance to the estab-
lishment of his investing lines, and his lack of provisions, in-
duced General Hood to withdraw his forces altogether at 4
A. M. on the 29th. He could neutralize the place by passing to
the west and meet his supplies, while he could secure crossings
at less cost down the river ; and these considerations doubtless
induced his withdrawal. He lost several hundred, perhaps
more than a thousand men, while inflicting a loss of eighty,
and kept his troops in action in almost utter destitution of
provisions.
General Hood has not reported his objects in the various
170 MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
movements of his campaign, and hence his purpose in oper-
ating against Decatur has not heen authentically revealed.
All circumstances, except his own statement of his plan, lead
to the belief that he expected to cross the Tennessee river at
Decatur and move rapidly upon General Sherman's communi-
cations in Middle Tennessee, and cut oft' his supplies entirely.
The press in the South, and his own officers, entertained and
expressed the opinion that this extreme aggression was medi-
tated. The opposition of General Granger's small force at
Decatur was so positive, even showing the purpose of offense,
that he was deterred from the effort to carry the position by
assault. There was a diversity of opinion among his gen-
eral officers as to the wisdom of his withdrawal from Decatur,
as it involved the abandonment, for a time, of his advance to
tNTashville.
During the 29th, General Croxton discovered that the enemy
was crossing the Tennessee river at the mouth of Cypress
creek, two miles below Florence. He concentrated his forces
as far as practicable, but was unable to regain the north bank.
Having been informed of this turn of affairs, General Thomas
directed General Hatch, at Clifton, commanding a cavalry
division of General Howard's army, and under orders to join
General Sherman in Georgia, when ready for the field, to move
to General Croxton's support, and urged both commanders to
keep the enemy from crossing other forces, if possible, until
the Fourth Corps could arrive from Georgia and get into posi-
tion to meet him. It was, however, too late to defend the line
of the Tennessee river, as Hood was master of too many
crossings ; and when General "Wood's division, the advance of
the corps, arrived at Athens, on the 31st, General Thomas
ordered General Stanley to unite his command at Pulaski and
await further instructions. The same day, General Schofield
was ordered to move from Resaca, Georgia, to Columbia, Ten-
nessee, to combine with General Stanley and the cavalry to
resist the advance of the enemy into Middle Tennessee. That
an invasion was meditated had become evident from Southern
newspapers, and prisoners and deserters from Hood's army
bore testimony to this purpose. The conjecture that he could
not supply his army on the Tennessee or north of it was now
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 171
plainly groundless, as he had established communications by
the repair of the Ohio and Mobile railroad, and supplies were
coming to him from Selma and Montgomery, through Corinth^
and thence eastward to Cherokee Station, on the Memphis
and Charleston railroad. And while he had thrust the heads
of infantry columns over the river at .Florence and at points
above and below, he had sent Forrest with his bold troopers-
up the Tennessee river to break up General Thomas' line of
supply by the river and the l^orthwestern railroad.
Forrest appeared at Fort Heiman, an earthwork on the west
bank of the Tennessee, about seventy-five miles from Padu-
cah, where, three days later, he captured gunboat Fo. 55, and
two transports, having previously burned the steamer Em-
press. On the 2d of November, he planted his batteries above
and below Johnsonville, the western terminus of the I^orth-
western railroad, and an important depot of supplies. His
guns blockaded the river, and shut in before the town three
gunboats, eight transports, and about a dozen barges. The
garrison comprised a thousand men from the Forty-third
Wisconsin and the Twelfth United States Colored regiment^
and a detachment of the Eleventh Tennessee cavalry, under
the command of Colonel C. R. Thompson, of the Twelfth Col-
ored regiment. The naval forces, under Lieutenant E. M.
King, attacked the enemy's guns below the town, but though
repulsed after a severe conflict, they recaptured a transport
having on board two 20-pounder Parrott guns and quarter-
master's stores, and forced Forrest to burn the gunboat cap-
tured on the 31st of October. On the 4th, the enemy opened
fire upon the gunboats from the opposite bank. The guns on
boats and land responded briskly, but were soon disabled, and
for fear that they would fall into the hands of the enemy, both
gunboats and transports were fired. The flames reached the
stores on the levee, and property worth a million of dollars
was consumed. It was fear rather than necessity that caused
this waste, as Forrest withdrew soon after altogether, having
delivered a furious cannonade. He crossed the river above
the town, by means of extemporized flat-boats, and moved to-
ward Clifton, with evident design of co-operating with the
main army.
172 MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
On the evening of the 5th, General Schofield reached John-
sonville with a portion of his command, having moved rapidly
by rail, in compliance with instructions from General Thomas
to save the gunboats and supplies. Having left a sufficient
force to defend the place, he then proceeded to join General
Stanley at Pulaski, to assume command of the forces before
the enemy. He was assigned to this position, by reason of his
rank as a department commander, though General Stanley
was his senior as a major-generaL
General Hood was now free to invade Tennessee, as the low
stage of water in the river prevented the effective use of the
gunboats against his pontoon bridges, and General Thomas
could not oifer a strong army on the north bank. He was
also free to move to the southwest should General Sherman
concentrate his armies against him ; but General Sherman
was unwilling to do this. His preparations for his march
through Georgia were nearly completed, and he was unwilling
to take a step backward, to pursue Hood. He made provis-
ion, however, for reinforcing General Thomas, by calling two
divisions, under General A. J. Smith, from Missouri, and by
sending back General Wilson, and the cavalry of Mc Cook's
and Garrard's divisions to give a good remount to Kilpatrick's
division, retained by himself.
General Hood's threatening attitude called forth a fresh
discussion of General Sherman's projected march between him
and General Grant, but induced no change of plan. The
conclusions reached were these, that turning back would undo
the work of the preceding campaign, give up the territory
which had been gained, and fulfill the predictions of Mr. Davis
with regard to the effect of Hood's advance to the North, and
that he could not be overtaken if followed ; and on the other
hand, going forward would destroy the railroads of Georgia,
inflict immense damage, and produce a most potent moral
effect, in illustrating the vulnerability of the South. In his
last communication to General Grant, General Sherman said :
" If we can march a well-appointed army right through this
territory, it is a demonstration to the world — foreign and do-
mestic— that we have a power which Davis can not resist.
This may not be war, but rather statesmanship. Nevertheless
MAECH TO THE NOETH, ETC. 173
it is overwiielming to my mind, that there are thousands of
people abroad and in the South who will reason thus : If the
!N'orth can march an army right through the South, it is proof
positive that the North can prevail in this contest, leaving
only its willingness to use that power." This moral effect was,
indeed, the justification of the movement, as General Sherman
proposed to use the territory which he had gained in Georgia
as a track simply for his march, and not hold any part of
Georgia except his objective on the Atlantic shore, while he
left behind him one of the two great armies upon which the
existence of the rebellion depended. It is true, however, that
even in his last dispatches before starting, he expressed the
conviction that Beauregard and Hood would be forced by
public clamor to follow him. He retained for himself from
his three armies the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and
Twentieth Corps, and one large division of cavalry, in all
sixty thousand infantry, and five thousand five hundred cav-
alry, and one piece of artillery to every thousand men.
City Point, Va., September 10, 1864.
Major-General Sherman :
As soon as your men are properly rested and preparations can be made,
it is desirable that another campaign should be commenced.
We want to keep the enemy continually pressed to the end of the war.
If we give him no peace while the war lasts, the end can not be far dis-
tant. Now that we have all of Mobile Bay that is valuable, I do not know
but it will be the best move for Major-General Canby's troops to act
upon Savannah, while you move on Augusta. I should like to hear from
you on this matter.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Atlanta, Ga., September 14, 1864.
Brigadier-General JR. S. Granger, Decatur :
General Sherman informs me that General Smith has been directed to
Missouri by orders from Major-General Halleck; also, that he has official
information that Forrest and his command reached Mobile on the 8th
instant. You must therefore apprehend no trouble from any but Roddy,
Wheeler, and the parties which have already been in Tennessee.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
174 MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Atlanta, Ga., October 1, 1864.
Lieutenant- General TJ. S. Grant, City Point :
Hood is evidently on the west side of Chattahoochee, below Sweet-
water. If he tries to get on my road this side of the Etowah, I shall at-
tack him ; but if he goes on to the Selma and Talladega road, why would
it not do for me to leave Tennessee to the forces which Tliomas has and
the reserves soon to come to Nashville, and for me to destroj^ Atlanta, and
then march across Georgia to Savannah or Charleston, breaking roads and
•doing irreparable damage ? We can not remain on the defensive.
W. T. SHERMAN,
3Iajor- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Atlanta, Ga., October 1, 1864 — 2 p. M.
General G. H. Thomas, Chattanooga :
I have your dispatch of noon. Use your own discretion as to matters
north of the Tennessee river. If I can induce Hood to swing across to
Blue Mountain, I shall feel tempted to start for Milledgeville, Millen, and
Savannah or Charleston, absolutely destroying all Georgia, and taking
either Savannah or Charleston. In that event, I would order back to
Cliattanooga everything the other side of Kingston, and bring forward all
else ; destroy Atlanta and the bridge, and absolutely scour the Southern
Confederacy. In that event. Hood would be puzzled and would follow
me ; or if he entered Tennessee he could make no permanent stay. But
if he attempts tlie road this side of Kingston or Rome, I will turn against
him. Forrest will not attack our forts — that is manifest; but will try and
get possession of Decatur. All the infantry and cavalry not in forts or
blockhouses should be directed against him by roads — say the Shelbyville
pike and Fayetteville.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 68.]
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, Atlanta, Ga., October 3, 1864.
The following movements are ordered :
I. Major-General Slocum, witli Twentieth Corps, will hold Atlanta and
the Chattahoochee bridge, and all detachments of other troops or corps
will report to him and be assigned by him to posts looking to the secu-
rity of tlie depot.
II. All the rest of the army, provided with ten (10) days' rations, will
■move by the Chattahoochee bridge to Smyrna Camp-ground — the Army of
the Cumberland, Major-General Stanley on the center, looking west; the
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 175
Army of the Ohio, Brigadier-General Cox, on the right, and the Army of
the Tennessee, Major-General Howard, on the left.
III. The commanding general will be near the center.
By order of General W. T. Sherman.
(Signed.) L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 85.]
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kenesaw Mountain, October 6, 1864.
I. Major-General Stanley, Army of the Cumberland, will occupy a strong
-defensive position across the Marietta and Burnt Hickory, and Marietta
and Dallas roads, his right near Pine Hill and left behind Nose's creek.
II. Major-General Howard, Army of the Tennessee, will join on to the
left of Stanley, and make a line covering the Powder Spring road, and
the cavalry on the flank ; General Kilpatrick will prevent the enemy from
reaching the railroad below Marietta.
III. Brigadier-General Cox, Army of the Ohio, will move on the Burnt
Hickory road, via Pine Hill and Mount Olivet Church, west, until he
strikes the road by which the enemy have moved on Allatoona. He will
have his columns ready for a fight, but not deployed. He will park his
wagons near Kenesaw.
IV. General Elliott will send cavalry to-day to Big Shanty, Acworth,
and Allatoona, and bring official reports.
V. . . .
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 87.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kenesaw, October 8, 1864.
I. The armies will march at once toward Allatoona — that of the Ohio by
the roads southwest of Acworth ; that of the Cumberland by roads south
and west of Kenesaw Mountain, leading through Acworth, and that of
the Tennessee by roads north and east of Kenesaw, via Big Shanty and
Acworth.
II. The Army of the Ohio will halt for orders near good grass and
water, two or three miles this side of Allatoona ; that of the Cumberland,
this side Acworth, and that of the Tennessee this side of Big Shanty,
all giving attention to the grazing of their animals when not on the
march.
IV. Until further orders. General Elliott will keep his cavalry force
watching the enemy, but ready to march rapidly to Stilesboro and the
Etowah bridge, if the enemy turns north toward Rome or Kingston;
otherwise the cavalry will remain at the front or left flank of the army.
176 MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
V. Should the enemy attempt our road about Kingston or to invest
Rome, the army must be prepared to leave at Allatoona the principal
wagon trains, and to march rapidly to the points threatened; but if the
enemy simply moves off toward Jacksonville or Blue Mountain, the army
will remain, its right at Alatoona and left at Kenesaw, until our roads are
repaired.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Allatoona, Ga., October 9, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Ya. :
It will be a physical impossibility to pi'otect the roads, now that Hood,
Forrest, Wheeler, and the whole batch of devils are turned loose without
home or habitation I think Hood's movements indicate a diversion to
the end of the Selma and Talladega railroad at Blue Mountain, about
sixty (60) miles southwest of Rome, from which he will threaten King-
ston, Bridgeport, and Decatur, Alabama.
I propose that we break up the railroad from Chattanooga, and strike
out with wagons for Milledgeville and Savannah. Until we can repopu-
late Georgia, it is useless to occupy it; but the utter destruction of its
roads, houses, and people will cripple their military resources. By at-
tempting to hold the roads, we will lose a thousand men monthly, and
will gain no result. I can make the march and make Georgia howl. We
have over eight thousand (8,000) cattle and three million rations of bread,
but no corn ; but we can forage in the interior of the state.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Carterville, October 10, 1864.
Generul Grant, City Point :
Dispatch about Wilson received. Hood is now crossing Coosa, twelve
(12) miles below Rome, bound west. If he passes over to the Mobile and
Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan of my letter sent by Colonel
Porter, and leave General Thomas with the troops now in Tennessee, to
defend the state ? He will have an ample force when the reinforcements
ordered reach Nashville.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 89.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., October 11, 1864.
Tho army will move to-morrow morning early on Rome — the Armies of
MARCH TO THE NOETH, ETC. 177
the Ohio and Tennessee by the river roads, and the Army of the Cumber-
land by a detour via Woodland ; all to reach Eome to-morrow night.
Trains will be taken to Rome.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 90.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Rome, Ga., October 12, 1864.
Orders for to-morrow, October 13th, will be as follows :
I. General Corse will dispatch his division and the brigade of the Fif-
teenth Corps attached to his garrison, and the First Alabama Cavalry,
down the Coosa river, on its east bank, toward Coosaville, to develop the
force guarding the bridge by which the enemy crossed. He will send
one (1) battery with the expedition, and equip the whole party light.
II. General Elliott will, at the same time, dispatch down the west bank
of the Coosa a division of cavalry for the same purpose — viz., to develop
the force guarding the bridge by which the enemy crossed.
III. All the armies will be held ready to move at a moment's warn-
ing.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp,
BY TELEGRAPH FROM " WASHINGTON, 12 m., NASHVILLE,
OCTOBER 13, 1864."
Major-General Geo. H. Tliomas, Nashville :
Two old regiments from General Pope and several new ones from Ohio
and Indiana are on their way to Nashville. Schofield and Burbridge are
ordered to send to you everything that can be spared, from Kentucky.
Put yourself in communication with them. General Grant directs that
you collect your forces, and be prepared to meet Hood wherever he may
present himself on the Tennessee, and that you take the supplies of the
country without compunction. By thus supplying your own army, you
will leave none for him.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major- General.
City Point, Va., October 13, 1864.
Major-General Halleck :
For Major-General Thomas' information:
I think it will be advisable for Major-General Thomas now to abandon
all the railroad from Columbia to Decatur, thence to Stevenson. This
will give him much additional force.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT.
VOL. n — 12
178 MAECH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
Washington, October 14, 1864.
Major-General Thomas :
Lieutenant-General Grant suggests the abandonment of the railroad
from Columbia to Decatur, and thence to Stevenson, in order to give you
more force against Hood.
MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 91.]
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, Resaca, Ga., October 14, 1864.
The first movement will be to free the Snake Creek Gap.
I. General Howard will bring up all the men of his command he can
get at 7 A. M. to-morrow, and move direct on Snake Creek Gap, approach-
ing carefully, and holding his column ready to pass through when relieved
by General Stanley's movement.
II. General Stanley will cross over to the hills about two (2) miles
north of the gap, somewhere south of Tilton, and with infantry, reach
the summit, and, if possible, find a way across into the valley toward
Villanow.
HI. General Cox will come up and follow General Howard.
V. General McCook will send all the cavalry he can raise boldly to Buz-
zard Roost Pass, to threaten the enemy in that quarter, and to give Gen-
eral Stanley notice of any force in that vicinity. As soon as General
Garrard comes up, he will be dispatched in the same direction.
Bv order of Major-General Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 92.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, October 15, 1864.
The movement to-morrow will be on Lafayette, the primary object
being to secure possession of Ship's Gap.
I. General Howard will move rapidly on Villanow and Ship's Gap, to
secure the summit, and mass to the right.
II. General Stanley will follow and mass to the left of the gap.
III. General Cox will halt for orders at Villanow, guarding roads north
and south.
IV. General Garrard's cavalry will come through Snake Creek Gap and
gviard the trains. General Elliott will dispatch Colonel Watkins' cavalry
and scouts to open communication with Chattanoogo, to let them know
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 179
that this army is in pursuit of Hood, and to inform me of the state of
facts along the road and at Chattanooga.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, Ship's Gap, Ga., October 16, 1864.
General Thomas, Nashville :
Send me Davis' and Newton's old divisions. Ee-establish the road, and
I will follow Hood wherever he may go. I think he will move to Blue
Mountain. We can maintain our men and animals on the country.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Atlanta, October 17, 1864.
Major-General Sherman :
I have a Montgomery paper of the 12th. The dispatches from Hood,
as well as the editorials, state that Beauregard is with Hood, and that the
army is going to cross the Tennessee river.
H. W. SLOCUM,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Ship's Gap, Ga., October 17, 1864.
■General Thomas, Nashville:
Hood won't dare go into Tennessee. I hope he will. We now occupy
Ship's Gap and Lafayette, and Hood is retreating toward Alpine and
Gadsden. I am moving General Garrard to-day to Dirttown, and will
move General Corse out to Coosaville, and with the main army move on
Summerville.
If Hood wants to go into Tennessee, west of Huntsville, let him go,
and then we can all turn on him and he can not escape. The gunboats
can break any bridge he may attempt above Decatur. If he attempts to
cross, let him do so in part, and then let a gunboat break through his
bridge. I will follow him to Gadsden, and then want my whole army
united for the grand move into Georgia.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
New Orleans, October 18, 1864.
Major-General Sherman :
I learn by an intercepted dispatch from Jeff. Davis to Kirby Smith,
dated at Montgomery on the 30th, that the orders to cross the Mississippi
had been received. I presume that duplicate of this dispatch has reached
Kirby Smith, as Magruder's force, about eighteen or twenty thousand
(18,000 or 20,000) men, suddenly left General Steele's front and moved
in the direction of the Washita river. I have sent a fast boat to commu-
180 MAECH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
nicate this intelligence to the troops and gunboats on the river, and as
I have now about eight thousand (8,000) troops afloat, and will at once
increase the number, I think the crossing can be prevented. The cross-
ing will probably be attempted in the neighborhood of Gaines' Landing.
ED. R. S. CANBY,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Summerville, Ga., October 19, 1864 — 12 m.
3f ajar- General HallecJc, Washington, D. C. :
Hood has retreated rapidly by all the roads leading south. Our ad-
vance columns are now at Alpine and Melville Post-otfice. I shall pursue
him as far as Gaylesville. The enemy will not venture toward Tennessee,
except around by Decatur. I propose to send the Fourth Corps back to
General Thomas, and leave him that corps, the garrisons and new troops,
to defend the line of the Tennessee, and with the rest to push into the
heart of Georgia, and come out at Savannah, destroying all the railroads
of the state.
The break at Big Shanty is repaired, and that about Dalton should be
in ten (10) days. We find abundance of forage in the country.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Summerville, Ga., October 19, 1864.
General G. H. Thomas, Nashville, Tcnn. :
Make a report to me as soon as possible of what troops you now have in
Tennessee, what are expected, and how disposed. I propose, with the
Armies of the Tennessee, the Ohio, and two corps of yours, to sally forth
and make a hole in G-eorgia and Alabama that will be hard to mend.
Hood has little or no baggage, and will escape me. He can not invade
Tennessee, except to the west of Huntsville. I want the gunboats and
what troops are on the Tennessee to be most active up at the head of
navigation. I want General Wilson and General Mowerwith me, and
would like General McCook's division made up to twenty-five hundred
(2,500) men mounted. I will send back into Tennessee the Fourth
Corps, all dismounted cavalry, all sick and wounded, and all incum-
brances whatever, except what I can haul in our wagons, and will prob-
ably, about November 1st, break up the railroad and bridges, destroy At-
lanta, and make a break for Mobile, Savannah, or Charleston. I want you
to remain in Tennessee, and take command of all my division not actually
present with me. Hood's army may be set down at forty thousand
(40,000) of all arms fit for duty ; he may follow me or turn against you.
If you can defend the line of the Tennessee in my absence of three (3)
months, is all I ask.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
MARCH TO THE NOETH, ETC. 181
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Gaylesville, Ala., October 26, 1864.
Major-General Thomas, Nashville, Tenn. :
A reconnoissance pushed down to Gadsden to-day reveals the fact that
the rebbl army is not there, and the chances are it has moved west. If it
turns up at Guntersville, I will be after it; but if it goes, as I believe, to
Decatur and beyond, I must leave it to you at present, and push for the
heart of Georgia. All I want is to get my sick and wounded back to a
safe place. I start the Fourth Corps back to-morrow, via Huston's and
Valley Head, ordering it to Bridgeport or Chattanooga, according to what
orders Stanley may have from you. Stanley will have about fifteen
thousand (15,000) men. Beaureguard may attempt Tennesse from the di-
rection of Muscle Shoals, but when he finds me pushing for Macon, Mil-
ledgeville, etc., he will turn back. I send you a copy of my order giving
you supreme command in my absence.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Nashtille, October 26, 1864—2 p. m.
Major-General Sherman :
General Granger telegraphs me again, to-day, that Hood's army is threat-
ening to cross the Tennessee river at various places between Guntersville
and Decatur. I have sent down to him all the reinforcements I have to
spare at this time. Have you any information that Hood has moved with,
his army in the direction indicated in these reports ?
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 105.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Gaylesville, Ala., October 26, 1864.
In the event of military movements or the accidents of war separating
the general in command from his military division, Major-General Geo.
H. Thomas, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, will exer-
cise command over all troops and garrisons not absolutely in the presence
of the general-in-chief. The commanding generals of the departments,
Armies of the Ohio and Tennessee, will forthwith send abstracts of their
returns to General Thomas, at Nashville, in order that he may understand
the position and distribution of troops ; and General Thomas may call
for such further reports as he may require, disturbing the actual condition
of affairs and mixing up the troops of separate departments as little as
possible consistent with the interests of the service.
Bv order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp,
182 MAECH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland^
Nashville, November 1, 1864 — 9.30 A. m.
Brigadier-General Jno. F. Croxton, Shoal Creek, via Pulaski :
Your dispatch of yesterday, reporting your position on Shoal creek, re-
ceived. Hold that position as long as possible, so as to enable General
Stanley to get into position at Pulaski. Should you be compelled to fall
back, do so with the view of covering Stanley's march from Athens. I
have ordered General Hatch to co-operate with you. Acknowledge receipt
and report state of affairs.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General TJ. jS. V. Commanding^
Nashville, November 1, 1864 — 7 p. m,
Major-General Hallech, Washington, D. C. :
Your dispatch of 11.30 a. m. this date, received. General Croxton re-
ports that last night he held the fords of Shoal creek, eight miles east
and nine miles north of Florence, and that he will retard the enemy as
long as possible. Stanley's troops are now arriving at Pulaski. I hope
they will all be there at 12 m. to-morrow.
I have halted General Hatch at Pulaski, and he is co-operating with
General Croxton against the enemy. If I had General Schofield, should
feel perfectly easy. I have given such instructions as ought to expedite
his arrival. It will be necessary to hold the usual guards on the railroad
until the troops can pass over. I will give instructions to have them con-
centrated as soon as the troops have passed. I despair of getting any
troops from Missouri in time to be of any service. None of my tele-
grams have been answered by General Rosecrans. Be assured I will do
the best I can.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General TJ. iS. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In THE Field, Rome, Ga., November 1, 1864.
Lieutenant-General TJ. S. Grant, City Point, Va. :
As you foresaw, and as Jeff. Davis threatened, the enemy is now in the
full tide of execution of his grand plan to destroy my communications
and defeat this army. His infantry, about thirty thousand (30,000), with
Wheeler's and Roddy's cavalry, from seven to ten thousand (7,000 to
10,000), are now in the neighborhood of Tuscumbia and Florence, and
the water being low, are able to cross at will. Forrest seems to be scat-
tered from Eastport to Jackson, Paris, and the lower Tennessee, and Gen-
eral Thomas reports the capture by him of a gunboat and five trans-
ports. General Thomas has near Athens and Pulaski, Stanley's corps,
about fifteen thousand (15,000) strong, and Schofield's corps, ten thousand
(10,000), en route by rail, and has at least twenty to twenty-five thousand
(20,000 to 25,000) men, with new regiments and conscripts arriving all
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 183
the time ; also, General Rosecrans promises the two divisions of Smith
and Mower, belonging to me, but I doubt if they can reach Tennessee in
less than ten (10) days. If I were to let go Atlanta and North Georgia,
and make for Hood, he would, as he did here, retreat to the southwest,
leaving his militia, now assembling at Macon and Griffin, to occupy our
conquests, and the work of last summer would be lost. I have retained
about fifty thousand (50,000) good troops, and have sent back full twenty-
five thousand (25,000), and have instructed General Thomas to hold de-
fensively Nashville, Chattanooga, and Decatur, all fortified and provis-
ioned for a long siege. I will destroy all the railroads of Georgia, and do
as much substantial damage as is possible, reaching the seacoast near one
of the points hitherto indicated, trusting that Thomas, with his present
troops, and the influx of new regiments promised, will be able in a few
days to assume the offensive.
Hood's cavalry may do a good deal of damage, and I have sent "Wilson
back with all dismounted cavalry, retaining only about four thousand
five hundred (4,500). This is the best I can do, and shall, therefore,
■when I get to Atlanta the necessary stores, move south as soon as pos-
sible.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
City Point, November 1, 1864 — 6 p. m.
Major-General Sherman :
Do you not think it advisable, now that Hood has gone so far north, to
entirely ruin him before starting on your proposed campaign ? With
Hood's army destroyed, you can go where you please with impunity. I
believed, and still believe, if you had started south while Hood was in the
neighborhood of you, he would have been forced to go after you. Now
that he is so far away, he might Jook vipon the chase as useless, and he
will go in one direction while you are pushing the other. If you can see
the chance for destroying Hood's army, attend to that first, and make
your other move secondary.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., November 2, 1864.
Lieutenant-General TJ. S. Grant, Citi/ Point, Va. :
If I turn back, the whole effect of my campaign will be lost. By my
movements, I have thrown Beauregard well to the west, and Thomas will
have ample time and sufficient troops to hold him until reinforcements
meet him from Missouri and recruits. We have now ample supplies at
Chattanooga and Atlanta to stand a month's interruption to our com-
munications, and I do n't belive the Confederate army can reach our lines,
save by cavali'y raids, and Wilson will have cavalry enough to checkmate
184 MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC.
that. I am clearly of opinion that the best results will follow me in my
contemplated movement through Georgia.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
City Point, Va., November 2, 1864—11.30 a. m.
Major-General Shermhn :
Your dispatch of 9 a. m. yesterday is just received. I dispatclied you
the same date advising that Hood's army, now that it had worked so far
north, ought to be looked upon more as the object. With the force, how-
ever, you have left with General Thomas, he must be able to take care of
Hood, and destroy him. I really do not see that you can withdraw from
where you are, to follow Hood, without giving up all we have gained in
territory. I say, then, go on as you propose.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., November 10, 1864.
General Thomas, Nashville :
Your dispatch of 5 p. m. is received. All will be ready to start from
here the day after to-morrow. Keep me well advised. I think you will
^ find Hood marching off, and you should be ready to follow him. Decatur,
Tuscaloosa, Columbus, and Selma are all good points to forage and feed
an army.
Let me keep Beauregard busy, and the people of the South will realize
his inability to protect them.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., November 11, 1864.
Major-General Thomas, Nashville, Tenn. :
Dispatch of to-night received. All right. I can hardly believe Beau-
regard would attempt to work against Nashville, from Corinth as a base,
at this stage of the war, but all information seems to point that way. If
he does, you will whip him out of his boots ; but I rather think you will
find commotion in his camp in a day or two. Last night we burned
Rome, and in two more will burn Atlanta, and he must discover that I
am not retreating, but, on the contrary, fighting for the very heart of
Geoi'gia. About a division of rebel cavaliy made its appearance this
morning south of the Coosa river, ojDposite Rome, and fired on the rear-
guard, as it withdrew. Also, two days ago, some of Iverson's cavalry —
about eight hundred (800) — approached Atlanta from the direction of De-
catur, with a section of guns, and swept round toward Whitehall, and
disappeared in the direction of Rough and Ready. These also seem to
MARCH TO THE NORTH, ETC. 185
indicate tliat Beauregard expected us to retreat. I hear of about fifteen
hundred (1,500) infantry down at Carrollton, and also some infantry at
Jonesboro, but what numbers I can not estimate. These are all the en-
emy I know to be in this neighborhood, though a rumor is that Breckin-
ridge has arrived with some from West Virginia. To-morrow I begin the
movement laid down in my Special Field Order No. 1 15, and shall keep
things moving thereafter. By to-morrow morning all trains will be at or
north of Kingston, and you can have the exclusive use of all the rolling
stock. By using detachments of recruits and dismounted cavalry in your
fortifications, you will have Schofield and Stanley and A. J. Smith,
strengthened by eight or ten new regiments and all of Wilson's cavalry.
You can safely invite Beauregard across the Tennessee, and prevent his
ever returning. I still believe, however, that the public clamor will force
him to turn, and follow me ; in which event, you should cross at Decatur,
and move directly toward Selma, as far as you can transport supplies.
The probabilities are the wires will be broken tp-morrow, and that all
communication w' ill cease between us ; but I have directed the main wire
to be left, and will use it if possible, and wish you to do the same. You
xnay act, however, on the certainty that I sally from Atlanta on the 16th,
with about sixty thousand (60,000) men, well provisioned, but expecting to
live liberally on the country.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General,
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE RESISTANCE TO GENERAL HOOD's ADVANCE PROM THE TEN-
NESSEE RIVER, CULMINATING IN THE BATTLE OP PRANKLIN.
The responsibility of repelling General Hood was now
thrown upon General Thomas, and the most stupendous in-
terests turned upon his success. l!Tot in figure, hut in fact, the
territory gained by all the battles in Kentucky, Tennessee, and
Georgia was in jeopardy. The peril was not such as is in-
evitable when two equal armies meet in battle, but such as is
intertwined with the contingencies of improvising an army
against a bold invasion. It is true that General Thomas ex-
pressed himself hopefully in his last dispatch to General Sher-
man, but his assurance was based upon the fact that General
Smith's forces were then due at ISTashville, and the expectation
that his cavalry would be speedily remounted, and that the
coming of the promised reinforcements from the ilTorth would
not be delayed. In these expectations he was disappointed,
and the situation in Tennessee was most unpromising during
the month of IS'ovember. General Hood's army was stronger
than when, under General Johnston, in May, it boldly con-
fronted a hundred thousand men. His three corps of infantry,
under Generals Lee, Cheatham, and Stewart, comprised from
forty to forty-five thousand men, and his cavalry corps from
ten to fifteen thousand, under Forrest, one of the boldest gen-
erals in the South. Against this compact army, at least fifty
thousand strong. General Thomas had a movable army of
twenty-two thousand infantry and four thousand three hun-
dred cavalry. He had, in addition, the garrisons at Chatta-
nooga, Bridgeport, Stevenson, Huntsville, Decatur, Murfrees-
boro, and J^ashville, and the detachments in block-houses
(186)
BATTLE OF FKANKLIN, ETC. 187
on the railroads ; but it was not considered safe to withdraw
the troops from either of the two raih'oads leading from. ISTash-
ville to the Tennessee river, until General Hood should indi-
cate his line of advance. General Hood, with the exception
of Forrest's raid in West Tennessee, contined himself to oper-
ations near Florence, during the first half of the month. His
main reason for clinging to the Tennessee river was doubtless
the uncertain attitude of General Sherman in Georgia, He
may have still hoped that reinforcements from the other side
of the Mississippi might join him as previously anticipated.
But though refraining from positive offense, he was preparing
for it. His forces which crossed the Tennessee river on the
29th of October, drove back General Croxton and covered the
laying of a pontoon bridge. Lee's corps soon after crossed and
intrenched, having cavalry in front. IsTovember 4th, General
Croxton was driven across Shoal creek, but the enemy ad-
vanced no farther. General Hatch, with his division of cav-
alry, joined General Croxton on the line of Shoal creek on
the 7th, and these ofiicers then watched closely and reported
the movements of the enemy. Wishing to ascertain the ene-
my's strength in his front. General Hatch crossed the creek on
the 11th, and drove back the enemy's cavalry upon the in-
fantry, and ascertained that there was a large force on the
Waynesboro road. The next day telegraphic communication
between General Sherman and General Thomas was severed ;
and as soon as it was thus known that General Sherman had
started on his great expedition, there was the most anxious
watching in Hood's front, in the endeavor to ascertain how
the " march to the sea " would affect the situation in Tennes-
see. The alternative to General Thomas and his little army
was the defensive in Tennessee, or the offensive in Alabama,
accordingly as Hood should advance or retreat, and all were
eager for the development of his intentions. Generals Hatch
and Croxton watched closely for decisive indications, and
although the high stage of water in the Tennessee delayed a
general advance, it was soon evident that such a movement
was meditated. To delay Hood's advance as much as pos-
sible, General Hatch obstructed the roads crossing Shoal
creek, and sent rafts down the swollen river to break lii»
188 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
bridges. Reports were current, subsequently, that bis bridges
did part, and from this or other causes, he did not complete
the transfer of his army to the north bank until the 19th,
when his movement was completely developed. Colonel
Coon, commanding Greneral Hatch's right brigade, crossed
Shoal creek, which still separated the opposing cavalry, had
a severe conflict, and did not return until he had discovered
the advancing infantry. The possibility of Greneral Hood fol-
lowing General Sherman was now at an end.
Up to this time General Thomas had hoped that the enemy
would be so delayed, that he could concentrate his forces to
give battle south of Duck river, but this was now plainly im-
possible. General Smith had not arrived, new regiments had
not come as fast as old ones had been discharged upon expira-
tion of terms of service, and the dismounted cavalry had made
but little headway in securing horses, arms, and accouterments.
His only resource then was to retire slowly, and delay the
enemy's advance, to gain time for reinforcements to arrive
and concentrate. It was hoped that the state of the roads
would prevent the advance of infantry, but Hood appreciated
the effect of delay, and pressed forward. He advanced on the
19th, on the Waynesboro and Butter Creek roads, with his
cavalry mainly on his left. The direction of his advance indi-
cated that he would strike Columbia, rather than Pulaski, and
General Thomas authorized General Schofield to move to the
former place, if Hood's approach to that point should be
developed. General Hatch concentrated his division at Lex-
ington, and on the 21st, withdrew to Lawrenceburg, where he
was attacked the following morning.
A severe tight continued through the day, but General Hatch
held the position against a heavy force of cavalry, with nine
pieces of artillery in action. The same day. General Schofield
commenced the removal of the public property from Pulaski,
preparatory to falling back to Columbia, and moved with the
divisions of Generals Cox and Wagner to Lyimville, the latter
covering the passage of the trains. The next day General Cox
advanced ten miles toward Columbia, and General Stanley , with
the divisions of Generals Wood and Kimball, reached Lynnville.
Colonel Capron was before the enemy on the Mount Pleasant
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 189
road, and Generals Hatch and Croxton covered the movement
from Pulaski, the latter having a severe fight at the junction
of the roads to Pulaski and Campbellsville, maintaining his po-
sition and retiring at leisure by night to Campbellsville.
In the meantime, General Thomas made dispositions looking
to the defense of the line of Duck river, and the Nashville and
Chattanooga railroad. He ordered the two brigades of Gen-
eral Ruger's division of the Twenty -third Corps to move from
Johnsonville — one by rail through ITashville to Columbia, and
the other by road through Waverly — to occupy the crossings
of Duck river at Williamsport, Gordon's ferry, and Centerville.
General Granger was instructed to withdraw his command from
Decatur, Athens, and Huntsville, and reinforce the garrisons
of Stevenson and Murfreesboro, to protect the ISTashville and
Chattanooga railroad. He sent Colonel Yon Schrader, his
inspector-general, to Chattanooga to assist in the organization
of the detached troops belonging to General Sherman's army,
and another ofl3.cer — Lieutenant M. J. Kelley — to Paducah, to
hasten the coming of General Smith. His engineers were busy
with the construction of fortifications at various points, espe-
cially at l^ashville, while effort was made to provide pontoon
trains in room of those which had gone to Savannah.
General Hood's rapid advance from Florence had been made
with the hope of cutting off General Schofield from Columbifv,
and barely failed in this object, as the national troops gained
the place by a night march. General Stanley, having been w -
formed after midnight that Colonel Capron had been driven
from Mount Pleasant by an infantry force, roused his corps
and hastened toward Columbia, twenty-one miles distant. Gen-
eral Cox started at the same hour, and reached Columbia in
time to save Capron from defeat and the town from capture.
When within three miles of Columbia, General Cox crossed
to the Mount Pleasant road and intercepted the enemy's forces,
which were pressing Capron back upon the town. As the di-
visions of the Fourth Corps arrived, they formed in line of bat-
tle south of Duck river and intrenched. General Hatch was
attacked at Campbellsville by cavalry supported by infantry.
Colonel Wells, commanding first brigade, at first repulsed the
enemy, but subsequently the whole command was compelled
190 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
to retire to Lynnville ; there the fighting was continued until
after dark, when General Hatch withdrew to Columbia.
With a view to check the enemy and hold the place, heavy
works were thrown up before Columbia, and the cavalry, Gen-
■eral Wilson commanding in person, was disposed to watch
against turning movements up and down the river. Hatch's
division and Croxton's brigade were stationed on the Shelby-
ville road, six miles east of Columbia, and Capron's brigade at
Hally Hill, on the Lewisburg turnpike. Colonel Stewart, with
three regiments from Hatch's division, was sent to the right to
the fords between Columbia and Williamsport ; Capron's bri-
gade, and the Eighth Iowa and Seventh Ohio Cavalry regiments
were here formed into a i^rovisional division under command
■of General E-. W. Johnson.
During the 24th and 25th, the enemy skirmished before Co-
lumbia, but showed nothing but dismounted cavalry, until the
26th, when his infantry appeared, and during that day and the
next he pressed the lines, but made no assault. General Scho-
field constructed an interior line of works, but these were soon
regarded as untenable, as the enemy manifested an intention
to pass round the position. An efibrt was made to cross to the
north bank the night of the 26th, but failed on account of a
severe storm and entire darkness. The night following, the
movement was accomplished, and General Schofield left Gen-
eral Ruger to hold the crossing at the railroad bridge ; placed
General Cox's division before the town, and directed General
Stanley to station his corps on the Franklin turnpike, in read-
iness to meet the enemy should he attempt to cross near Co-
lumbia. These dispositions were made by General Schofield
in hope that he could hold the line of Duck river, until
reinforcements should arrive ; but the promised reinforce-
ments had not reached ISTashville. General Thomas had re-
ceived twelve thousand raw troops, and had sent ISTorth,
either on final discharge or to vote, fifteen thousand veterans.
General Smith had not come, and only one thousand cavalry
had found horses and the front. General Thomas had ob-
tained permission to call upon the governors of the Western
States for troops, but was cautioned to use such troops spar-
ingly.
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 191
The 28th was passed in quietness, at Columbia, though
there were palpable indications that quietness there meant ac-
tivity in another quarter. At noon the enemy's cavalry ap-
peared at various fords, between Columbia and the Lewisburg
turnpike, in such force as to indicate plainly the purpose to
cross. General Hood's cavalry was especially massed at
Huey's Mills, eight miles above Columbia, and having there
driven in General Wilson's pickets, began to pass over the
river. At 2.10 p. m. General Wilson notified General Scho-
j&eld of the enemy's movements, and informed him that he
would concentrate his cavalry at Hunt's creek, on the Lewis-
burg turnpike, expressing the belief that the enemy would
swing in between them and strike the road to Franklin, at
Spring Hill.
General Wilson's cavalry detachments, at the various fords,
held their respective positions as long as possible, but all were
finally driven back, and it was then evident that three divisions
of cavalry — Chalmers', Buford's, and Jackson's — had crossed
Duck river. By 7 p. m. General Wilson had concentrated his
command, as far as practicable, at Hart's Cross-roads. Major
Young, of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, commanding detachments,
was intercepted, but cut his way through the enemy's lines
with trifling loss. During the night General Wilson ascer-
tained that General Forrest was moving toward Franklin,
and also that General Hood's infantry forces were expected to
cross before morning. In view of the palpable peril, he ad-
vised General Schofield to withdraw to Franklin, and sug-
gested that his command should be at Spring Hill by 10 a. m.
the next day. When General Thomas was informed of the
probable state of things at Columbia, he directed General
Schofield to withdraw to Franklin, as soon as he should gain
certain knowledge of the reported movements of the enemy.
And very soon afterward, at 3.30 a. m. on the 29th, he directed
him to withdraw from Columbia, as by this time he was con-
vinced that General Hood had turned General Schofield's
position.
The situation at Columbia on the morning of the 29th, and
during that day, was exceedingly critical. General Hood's
infantry forces were crossing the river during all the early
192 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
hours, at Huey's Mills, on a road leading directly to Spring
Hill ; liis cavalry forces had very early cut off all communica-
tion between Generals Schofield and Wilson, and were press-
ing the latter back upon Franklin, on the Levvisburg turn-
pike. General Wilson having chosen this line of retreat as
the one upon which he could best resist General Forrest, and
cover the retirement of the infantry on the direct road from
Columbia to Franklin.
To develop the facts fully, before withdrawing altogether
from Columbia, General Schofield directed General Wood to
send a brigade up the river to watch the enemy ; ordered Gen-
eral Stanley to move with two of his divisions to Spring Hill,
to hold that point and cover the trains and spare artillery ; left
General Cox to guard the crossing at Columbia, and ordered
Ruger's division to take position on the turnpike, in rear of
Rutherford's creek, leaving one regiment to hold the ford at
Columbia, near the railroad bridge — this bridge having been
partially destroyed and all the others entirely.
General Wood sent Post's brigade early, to reconuoiter up
the river; and at 8 a. m. General Stanley moved toward
Spring Hill with Wagner's and Kimball's divisions. Before
reaching Rutherford's creek, four miles distant, he learned
that the enemy was crossing infantry and trains above Colum-
bia, and was moving to the north on a converging road which
touched General Schofield's line of retreat at Spring Hill.
Apprehending that the forces that Colonel Post reported to be
crossing the river might make a flank attack upon the troops
between Duck river and Rutherford's creek, he halted Kim-
ball's division and formed it facing east, and then proceeded
to Spring Hill with Wagner's division. When within two
miles of the place, at 11.30 a. m., he was informed that the
enemy's cavalry was approaching from the direction of Rally
Hill. The noise of firing east of the village immediately
called the division to rapid motion, and the town was gained
in time to meet the enemy, who was driving back a small force
of national toops, composed of infantry and cavahy. Colonel
Opdycke immediately deployed his brigade and drove back
the enemy's cavalry, when General Stanley threw forward the
division to hold the town and protect the trains. Opdycke's
BATTLE OF FRANKLIX, ETC. 193
and Lane's brigades were deployed to cover such space as
served to park the wagons, and Bradley's Avas advanced to
hold a wooded knoll nearly a mile to the east, which com-
manded the approaches from that direction.
At the time these dispositions were made, it was not known
that heavy forces of infantry were near ; but this fact was soon
after developed by a fierce assault upon General Bradley. The
nature of the attack, confirming the first reports of the ad-
vance of the Confederate army to the east of Columbia, gave
demonstration of the greatest peril, not only to General Stan-
ley, but to the four divisions behind him. General Hood's
columns had now passed General Schofield's left fiank, and
were enveloi3ing a single division, twelve miles in his rear, or
twelve miles in advance, when he should face to the north to
retreat.
When the enemy's infantry attacked General Bradley from
the east, his cavalry on the west of the town threatened the
railroad station, and then fell upon a small train, composed of
some baggage-wagons, at Thompson's Station, three miles north.
About the same time. General Stanley received a dispatch
from General Schofield, confirming the reports that had first
indicated the strategy of General Hood, and led him to fear
that a heavy force was enveloping his position. He could not
therefore reinforce General Bradley, lest he should thereby
expose his trains to capture or destruction.
General Bradley repulsed two fierce attacks, but in the third
his right flank was overlapped by the enemy's line, and he was
compelled to fall back to the town, where his shattered bri-
gade was rallied and reformed. The enemy followed, but fell
under the fire of eight pieces of artillery, at good range for
spherical case shot, and was also taken in flank by a section
on the turnpike, south of the town. A portion of the attack-
ing troops then fled to the rear, and other portions sought
cover in a ravine between the opposing lines. General Stan-
ley reported Bradley's loss at one hundred and fifty men killed
and wounded, and the enemy's at five hundred. General
Bradley received a severe wound while encouraging his men
VOL. II — 13
194 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
to resist the last attack, and the command of the brigade
passed to Colonel Conrad.
As darkness fell, the enemy's lines were extended until a
corps of infantry was in order of battle facing the Franklin road.
Two other corps were near a little later, one deployed also, and
Forrest's troopers were on the main road, both north and
south of Spring Hill. It seemed hardly possible in this post-
ure of affairs that General Schofield's forces and trains could
elude this involution by General Hood's army, and yet this
result was achieved without a serious contest.
During the day, the enemy covered his movement past
General Schofield's left to his rear by earnest efforts, as Gen-
eral Schofield believed, to force a crossing and lay a pontoon
bridge at Columbia, that he might thus secure a passage for
his artillery, which was impracticable at Huey's Mills. His
repeated attacks were all repulsed by General Cox, and at 3
p. M. General Schofield became satisfied that the enemy would
not attack on Duck river, but was moving two corps directly
to Spring Hill. He then gave orders for the withdrawal of all
the troops when darkness would cover the movement, and
with General Ruger's division hastened forward to open com-
munications with General Stanley. At dark, he brushed away
the enemy's cavalry from the road, three miles south of Stan-
ley, and joined him at 7 p. m. Whittaker's brigade of Kim-
ball's division followed Euger's closely from Rutherford's
creek, and upon arrival was posted parallel to the turnpike,
where the enemy's left rested within eight hundred yards of
the road, to cover the passage of the troops still in the rear.
General Schofield, leaving the management of the march and
the safety of the trains to General Stanley, then moved again
with Ruger's division to clear the road to Franklin. As he
approached Thompson's Station, the enemy's cavalry disap-
peared, and then the road was open from Columbia to Frank-
lin, though an army of at least fifty thousand men was in
closest proximity to it, and along its front four divisions and
an immense train were at rest or in motion, and yet there was
only slight skirmishing here and there, and occasional picket-
firing. There was momentary expectation that this great
army would take a step forward, and press troops, artillery, and
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 195
trains from the road in confusion and rout ; but still the move-
ment went on without interruption by the enemy.
Having cleared the road at Thompson's Station, General
Schofield returned to Spring Hill to make arrangements and
dispositions to avert his extreme peril. He did not anticipate
the possibility of his getting his army out of the reach of the
enemy that night, and feared that he would be forced to fight
a general battle the next day, or lose his wagon train. In the
emergency he had dispatched a staff officer to Franklin to
bring forward the command of General A. J. Smith, which he
supposed had reached Franklin.
At 11 p. M. General Thomas, believing that General Scho-
fiield had, in obedience to his order of 3.30 a. m., withdrawn
from Columbia earlier in the day, telegraphed to him at Frank-
lin to withdraw from that place also, should the enemy attempt
to get on his flank with infantry. As General Smith's troops
had not yet arrived at ISTashville, he considered it necessary,
should the enemy advance quickly upon General Schofield, to
concentrate his forces at Kashville.
General Cox left Columbia at 7 p. m., followed by General
"Wood, and the latter by General Kimball. There was some
delay at Rutherford's creek, as the bridge was inadequate for
the emergency, but nevertheless the divisions, one after an-
other, arrived at Spring Hill — the foremost of the three at 11
p. M. The enemy's pickets fired into the column frequently,
but when they did not come upon the road, the national troops
gave no response. The enemy was so close to the road, that
when a column was not moving upon it, it was difficult for a
single horseman to pass.
The danger did not end with the arrival of the last division
at Spring Hill. It was 1 a. m. before a train of .eight hundred
wagons, including artillery and ambulances, could move to-
ward Franklin, in rear of Cox's division, as at starting the
wagons had to pass singly over a bridge. This caused deky,
and consequently peril, as an attack was inevitable, unless the
train and troops could be put on the road and in motion be-
fore daylight. General Stanley was advised to burn at least a
portion of the wagons, to avoid an attack, but he determined
to save all, if practicable. At 3 a. m. an attack upon the head
196 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
of the train, nortli of Thompson's, was reported, and all
wagons on the road were stopped until General Kimball could
rush forward to clear the road, and General "Wood deploy his
division on the east of the road. The attack was repulsed by
Major Steele, with stragglers that he had gathered together,
and then the train, bereft of ten wagons burned by the enemy,
moved on, with Wood's division on the right and Wagner's
in the rear. At 5 a. m. the last wagon crossed the bridge, and
then all was in motion. The enemy's cavalry was on the hills
to the right for awhile, and made one or two dashes, but these
were easily repulsed by Wood's skirmishers, with the help, at
one time, of a section of Canby's battery. Colonel Opdycke's
brigade formed the rear-guard, and though skirmishing
with the pursuing forces of the enemy, kept them so well in
check as to save the weary and lame from capture. Rarely
has an army escaped so easily from a peril so threatening. It
has been accepted as true that General Hood ordered one corps
general and then another to attack the national troops when
passing so near the front of his army, at Spring Hill; but
these generals disobeyed the orders, so plainly imperative from
the situation itself, as well as from the voice of the com-
mander-in-chief. From whatever cause the failure resulted,
the opportunity of the campaign was lost to the Confederate
army.
General Schofield, with the head of his column, reached
Franklin before daylight, and he immediately made prepara-
tion to pass the Harpeth river, as he had been ordered b}^
General Thomas to fall behind this stream. The railroad
bridge was fitted as rapidly as possible for the passage of
wagons, and a foot-bridge was constructed, which also proved
adequate for them. General Schofield's aim was to get his
train and artillery over the river before the enemy could at-
tack him, but he nevertheless instructed General Cox to put
the troops in line around the town, as the several divisions
should arrive. The Twenty-third Corps formed the left and
center — Cox's division on the left with its left flank on the
river, Ruger's on its right, and Kimball's completing the cir-
cuit to the river on the right. Wood's division crossed to the
north bank to be directed to the support of either flank in the
BATTLE OF FEANKLIN, ETC. 197
event of a turning movement, and "Wagner's was left in front
to clieck the enemy, should he form his army to attack. Colonel
Opdycke reached the heights two miles south of the town at
noon, and was ordered to halt to observe the enemy. Crox-
ton's brigade of cavalry was pushed back by infantry on the
Lewisburg turnpike, and at 1 p. m. Colonel Opdycke re-
ported heavy columns of infantry advancing on the Columbia
and Lewisburg roads, when the division was withdrawn to
the more immediate front of the army on the Columbia road.
Colonel Opdycke, at his own notion, came inside the main line,
and halted his brigade on the Columbia road in rear of the
junction of the right and left flanks of Cox's and Euger's di-
visions of the Twenty-third Corps.
The line as formed, was about one mile and a half long,
inclosing the town, except on the north where the Harpeth
river was the boundary, with its flanks touching the river.
The line rested on a slight elevation, or series of low hills,
which encompassed the town. The troops threw up breast-
works, and a slight abatis was also constructed in places.
The artillery of the Twenty -third Corps was on the north side
of the river, and a portion of it placed in Fort Granger — a
fortification previously constructed so as to command the rail-
road, which leaves the town near the river, and runs in paral-
lelism with it for some distance. The batteries of the Fourth
Corps were held on the south side, some of them having been
placed on the line and others in reserve. The Sixth Ohio Light
Artillery and the First Kentucky battery were in position
on the right and left of the Columbia road, before the bat-
tle opened. Battery " M," Fourth United States Artillery,
and battery " G," First Ohio Light Artillery, were placed
with the left brigade of the Twenty-third Corps, and Bridge's
battery, Illinois Light Artillery, was posted in the center of
Strickland's brigade of Ruger's division. The position was a
good one for defense, and the undulations of the ground in
front exposed the enemy in approaching. The key-point was
Carter's Hill on the Columbia road, and was opposite the cen-
ter of General Hood's army, which was advancing on the
Lewisburg, Columbia, and Carter's Creek turnpikes.
General Croxton resisted the enemy's infantry on the Lewis-
198 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
burg road until 2 p. m., when, having learned that Forrest was
moving to his left, as if to cross at Hughes' ferry, he crossed
at McGarock's ford. He had hardly gained the north bank
before it was reported that the enemy's cavalry were endeavor-
ing to cross at several points above Franklin. General "Wil-
son now threw his whole force before General Forrest, and
held him in check during the day and following night, in
some cases driving back detachments after they had succeeded
in crossing the river. Had General Forrest succeeded in
crossing with his whole force, he could have caused a heavy
detachment offerees from the little army to protect the trains
already in motion toward Nashville, in anticipation of the
withdrawal of the army from Franklin at 6 p. m., should Gen-
eral Hood make no attack.
At the time that General Croxton was forced to cross the
river, General Hood's infantry began to appear in great force
in front of Wagner's two brigades, but it was not believed by
the ranking generals of the national army, until 4 p. m., that he
would attempt to carry the position by assault. But at this
hour his army emerged from the woods, in splendid array,
heavily massed on the Columbia road, two corps in front and
one in reserve, and soon brushed away the two brigades of
Wagner's division, posted in extreme exposure on the plain,
opposite the massive center of the Confederate army. Gen-
eral Wagner had been instructed to check the enemy with
these brigades, without involving them in an engagement with
superior forces, but had, notwithstanding, directed their com-
manders, Colonels Conrad and Lane, to hold their position as
long as possible. Conscious of their extreme peril they threw
up barricades, and when General Hood finally advanced
against them with his main lines, uncovered by skirmishers,
their eifort to check him precipitated a conflict so unequal as
to have been hopeless from the first. When broken by the
attack of an army, they fell back in great haste and disorder,
and formed a shield for the enemy following upon their steps.
The veteran troops mainly succeeded in reaching the main
line of the national army, but a large portion of the raw
troops were captured. The pursued and the pursuers broke
through the intrenched line in company, carrying away por-
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 199
tions of Reilley's brigade, on the right of General Cox's divis-
ion, and Strickhmd's, on the left of General Ruger's. And
thus, without conflict on the immediate front of the national
army or on the parapet. General Hood gained a lodgment at
the key-point of the position, and commanded the direct ap-
proach to the bridges. He had gained this advantage, almost
without firing a shot, after the rout of Conrad and Lane, and
without receiving one, except that a portion of the troops of the
brigade of the latter, having loaded guns, wheeled and fired
as they crossed the intrenchments. Such an advantage, to an
army of more than double the strength of the divisions
holding the position, according to the precedents of war, was
decisive of complete victory. But in this case it was not,
though at first it seemed to be entirely so. The enemy's cen-
ter, made strong to thrust itself through the national line,
had gained its immediate objective, and commenced at once
to use two captured batteries in enfilading the national line,
right and left, to double each fraction upon the flanks, and
grasp the bridges between them. Two of the three brigades of
Wagner's division, the only troops south of the river not in
the main line, were so shattered that they could not be rallied
for the emergency, and every moment of delay in attacking
the enemy's forces that had gained the center, permitted their
reinforcement from his rear lines. The teams from the cap-
tured batteries galloped to the rear, and intensified the im-
pression that the disaster was fatal. Conrad's brigade had
entered the intrenchments near the Columbia road, and on the
right of this road the enemy gained at the first dash three or
four hundred yards of the line. Lane's brigade had crossed
the parapet several hundred yards to the right, without dis-
turbing the troops at that point, and its volley had a marked
eftect upon the enemy. Toward the breach, the enemy's
heavy central lines began at once to press, and to it his lateral
lines Avere turned, in seemingly overwhelming convergence.
To General Hood, the advantage so easily gained, promised
the capture or destruction of the national army, and he and
his army were inspired to quickest action to maintain and
utilize it for this grand achievement. And he certainly could
have maintained his hold of the national line, and used it for
200 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
extreme success, had time been given liim to thrust into the
breach his rapidly-advancing and massive rear lines ; and as
it was, he began to gain ground right and left from the^ Co-
lumbia road.
"When General Stanley first heard the noise of battle, he
was with General Schofield, at his headquarters on the north
bank of the river, a fifteen minutes' ride from Carter's Hill,
and Avas entertaining the conviction, from the strength of the
position and the former course of the enemy, that an assault
was entirely improbable. But as soon as an attack was indi-
cated to him and others, in their distant view, he rode rapidly
to his troops, and reached the left of Opdycke's brigade to find
that a disaster, seemingly prophetic of the overthrow of the
army, had came with the first onset of the enemy. In quick
provision for the emergency, he approached this one reserve
brigade, to order it to charge the enemy in the breach ; but
seeing its gallant commander in front of its center leading it
forward, he gave no orders, for none were needed, and taking
position on the left of the line, the corps and brigade com-
manders, with common purpose to hurl back the enemy and
restore the continuity of the line, cheered as they led this
heroic brigade. When Colonel Opdycke had first seen the
enemy within the intrenchments, he turned to his men from
the front of the center of his brigade, to find they had already
fixed bayonets for the encounter, which they plainly foresaw
would be desperate and decisive ; for they were veterans who
had charged the enemy on other fields, and yet they had never
been called by orders, soldierly instincts, or patriotism to such
a conflict as was now plainly before them. Their commander
saw, in this unbidden act of preparation, and in their eyes and
attitude, the response to his own purpose, and his ringing
order, " First brigade forward to the lines," was in harmony
with the stern will of every ofiicer and man of that brigade.
And when he dashed on the breach, he gave expression to the
courage and purpose of every man in that self-appointed for-
lorn hope, while those near General Stanley shouted : " We
can go where the general can." Opdycke rode forward until
he reached the enemy, followed closely by his brigade. He
first emptied his revolver, then clubbed it in the hand-to-hand
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 201
conflict, and as the deadly struggle raged more fiercely, lie
dismounted and clubbed a musket. His men fought as did
their leader, and with bayonets baptized in blood, they hurled
the enemy from the intrenchments and saved the army. This
was one of the supreme moments of battle which heroes rec-
ognize, and by which only the bravest of the brave are in-
spired to deeds of daring, transcendent from motive and mo-
mentous results. Four regimental commanders fell in the
charge, but other ofiicers of similar temper maintained the
gallant leadership. Colonel Oydycke, foremost in the charge
and throughout the ensuing conflict in the intrenchments, es-
caped injury. General Stanley also escaped for a time, but in
leaving this brigade to look after other dispositions, was pierced
in the neck by a bullet, and was compelled to leave the field.
Colonel Opdycke's brigade recaptured eight pieces of artil-
lery, and with them four hundred prisoners ; wrenched ten
battle-flags from the hands of the enemy, and left the ground
behind them strewn with a greater number, which dropped
under their blows. The number of prisoners and battle-flags,
shows most plainly that General Hood was holding the po-
sition with an exceedingly strong force.
The recaptured guns again changed the direction of their
missiles of death, while the sheet of flame from Opdycke's bri-
gade and others in reach revealed to the enemy the necessity
of other charges upon new and less promising conditions, or
the abandonment of the conflict. Opdycke's charge regained
nearly all the line that had been lost, but the enemy still held
a small salient to the right of the Columbia road, and to main-
tain this point and widen the breach. General Hood and his
subordinate commanders exerted themselves to the utmost.
In counter efibrt, small portions of Conrad's and Lane's bri-
gades were directed to Opdycke's support. The enemy's first
heavy line in his front was not more than fifty yards distant,
and in addition to a direct fire from this line, he was subjected
to an enfilading one from the troops still in the intrenchments
on his right. It was next to impossible for his brigade to
maintain position under this deadly cross-fire, but yet, in
twenty minutes, through the vigorous support of troops on
right and left, the enemy was entirely expelled, and the con-
202 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
tinuity of the line re-established. Then, in seeming retribution
for General Schofield's escape at Spring Hill, and his own dis-
lodgment from his hope-giving grasp of the key-point of the
national line. General Hood repeated his assaults with the
expression of frenzied vengeance and valor. His subordinates,
with a recklessness of life in keeping with the charge of
Opdycke and his heroic brigade, led their columns to the mus-
kets of the national troops, charging repeatedly, mainly at
Carter's Hill, and only desisted with the fall of night. In
leading a charge. General Cleburne, the most dashing division
commander in the Confederate army, fell upon the parapet in
front of Opdycke's brigade, and in the whole contest, live
other generals were killed, six wounded, and one captured —
a fact which reveals how the columns of the enemy were led ;
while the loss of thirty-three battle-flags manifests the
strength of the columns which gained the national lines.
The defensive fire was so rapid from 4 p. m. to nightfall that
it was diflicult to supply the troops with ammunition. One
hundred wagon-loads of artillery and infantry ammunition
were used from the Fourth Corps train alone, and this ex-
penditure wrought fearful havoc in the ranks of the enemy,
whose boldness placed them much of the time at short range.
Firing, of more or less severity, was maintained until nearly
midnight, the enemy continuing his activity to determine the
time of the withdrawal of the national army, and to embarras
such a movement.
General Hood buried seventeen hundred and fifty men on
the field. He had three thousand eight hundred so disabled
as to be placed in hospitals, and lost seven hundred and two
captured — an aggregate of six thousand two hundred and fifty-
two, exclusive of those slightly wounded.
General Schofield lost one hundred and eighty-nine killed,
one thoiisand and thirty-three wounded, and one thousand one
hundred and four missing — an aggregate of two thousand three
hundred and twenty-six. More than half of this loss was from
Wagner's division, from the exposure of Conrad's and Lane's
brigades, and from the charge and subsequent fighting of Op-
dycke's brigade.
The battle of Franklin, for its proportions, was one of the
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 203
grandest of the war. The salient features of this battle were
the position and action of the two brigades posted in front of
the main line, and the gallantry of the third, after the enemy
had carried the intrenchments on Carter's Hill.
The reports of Generals Schofield, Stanley, and Cox declare
that it was not the expectation that the brigades in front should
resist until they should be compromised in an engagement with
superior forces, and that General Wagner was so instructed.
Nevertheless, the two brigade commanders were instructed by
General Wagner to hold their position as long as possible, and
having been thus impressed with the necessity of extreme re-
sistance, they did not abandon their position until forced to do
so by the bayonets of the enemy, and then their hurried retreat
brought disaster to their own army. Their resistance, if not
prudent, was exceedingly gallant, and veterans and new troops
alike displayed the highest qualities of soldiers in confronting
in actual conflict an army of three corps, and deserve mention
in history as brave and heroic, under circumstances of extreme
trial and peril.
With regard to the second prominent feature of this battle,
it may be said that seldom in the history of war has a single
brigade''^ made itself so conspicuous in saving an army, and its
transcendent action must be accepted as proof that its previous
training and experience, and the manhood of its members had
given the morale — the elan requisite for such an emergency.
It was no new experience for Colonel Opdycke to ride in a
charge in advance of his men, for this he did in developing the
enemy in front of General Thomas' right, after the great dis-
aster at the battle of Chickamauga. He charged, too, with a
demi-brigade on Missionary Ridge, and with his regiment, the
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio, on Rocky Face Ridge,
and the oflicers and men of his brigade were meet for such a
leader. And General Stanley, sick as he was, manifested his
appreciation of the emergency as well as his personal gallantry,
in descending from the command of a corps to take the left
*This brigade comprised the One Hundred and Twenty-fiftli Ohio; the
Twenty-fourth Wisconsin; the Thirty-sixth, Fourty-fourth, Seventy-third,
Seventy-fourth, and Eighty-eighth Illinois regiments.
204 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
of a brigade, in an action plainly decisive of the battle. For
beyond all power of generalship to mold the battle or control
its issue, the simple charge of Opdycke's brigade stands in bold-
est relief.
The enemy having been repulsed and the trains transferred
to the north bank of the Harpeth river, the problem to solve
was the safe withdrawal of the army to Nashville. It was
still in General Hood's power, having great superiority in both
infantr}^ and cavalry, to cross the river above General Scho-
field's position, and unless prevented by battle or withdrawal,
to throw his army between Franklin and ITashville. As to
the propriety of withdrawal, there was no question, either
with the general officers at Franklin, including General Scho-
field, or with General Thomas. So that the movement to the
rear, meditated before the battle, was commenced as soon as
the quietness of the enemy permitted. Daring the early part
of the night the artillery was transferred to the north bank,
and at midnight the army crossed the river without loss or
special hinderance. General "Wood retained his position until
3 A. M., and then moved northward as the rear-guard of the
army. General Hood perceived the retirement early, and
though following closely, wrought no damage. General Wood
had destroyed the bridges before leaving position, and his divis-
ion in rear of the army, with Wilson's cavalry on its flanks,
was able to beat back General Hood's head of column, which
he could not under the circumstances make strong in time,
even to greatly harass so strong a force. With the exception
of a brush between Hammond's brigade of cavalry and some
portion of Forrest's command at Brentwood, the enemy pro-
voked no engagement, and the army marched quietly to l!Tash-
ville. The rear column reached that city at 1 p. m., and the
difterent corps were assigned to positions on the defensive line
which General Thomas had selected. The Twenty-third Corps,
under General Schofield, was assigned to the left, extending
to the ITolensville turnpike ; the Fourth Corps, General Wood
commanding, in room of General Stanley, disabled by his
wound, took position in the center ; and the corps from the
" Army of the Tennessee," General A. J. Smith commanding.
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 205
having arrived the day before, held the right, with its flank
touching the river beloAV the city.
In view of General Hood's superiority of force, his opera-
tions thus far had fallen behind just expectations. He had
allowed General Schofield to pass safely before his army, after
he had touched his communications, while he was yet at Co-
lumbia, and he had met most disastrous defeat at Franklin, in
assaults that could not be repeated with greater vigor. The
consequent depression in his army was doubtless excessive.
Thus far, none of the grand results of his northward march,
as announced with prophetic emphasis by Mr. Davis, had been
achieved, although General Sherman had swept southward
from Northern Georgia and on toward Savannah, with sixty-
five thousand men ; and the Confederate army, of which so
much had been expected, was now far from its base, thus far
defeated in the accomplishment of its great aims, with the
consciousness that the conditions of ultimate success were
passing day by day beyond the range of possibilities. To go
back would express total defeat; and before General Hood
was a fast-increasing army, posted on a strong defensive line,
with a deep river behind, and its key-points fortified early in
the war ; and as he could not at once go round IsTashville, he
sat before the city and extended his lines in semblance of a
siege, which should last until General Thomas should be fully
ready to throw him upon the defensive.
General Thomas had hoped to deliver battle at some point
farther to the south ; but his reinforcements had come too
slowly, and his cavalry horses had come as tardily as his acces-
sions of troops. His forces were not fully in hand, and those
that had fought their way from Columbia were physically ex-
hausted beyond the ordinary experience of veterans on long
marches and months under fire. During the seven days of
Hood's advance from the Tennessee, he had hurried his prep-
arations for the battle now palpably imminent. On the 29th
of ISTovember, he had ordered General Milroy to abandon
Tullahoma and retire to Murfreesboro, leaving a garrison in
the block-house at Elk River bridge. The same day, he had
ordered General Steedman, with a provisional division of five
thousand men, composed of detachments from the corps with
206 BATTLE OF FEANKLIN, ETC.
General Sherman and a brigade of colored troops, to move to
ISTashville. ITasliville had been placed in a state of defense;
additional fortifications had been constructed under the direc-
sion of Brigadier-General Tower, and the whole had been
manned by the regular garrison, reinforced by a provisional
force, under Brevet Brigadier-General Donaldson, chief quar-
termaster, composed of the employes of the quartermaster
and commissary departments. No other forces were now ex-
pected, except the brigade of General Cooper, of Ruger's
division, which having watched the fords of Duck river, below
Columbia, was now marching to ISTashville by a detour to
evade the enemy. With the cavalry remounted, and this hete-
rogeneous force organized, General Thomas proposed to
assume the offensive and dispute with General Hood the pos-
session of Tennessee.
Nashville, November 12, 1864 — 8.30 a. m.
Major-General Sherman :
Your dispatch of 12 o'clock last night received. I have no fears that
Beauregard can do us any harm now, and if he attempts to follow you I
will follow him as far as possible. If he does not follow you, I will then
thoroughly organize, and, I believe, shall have men enough to ruin him,
unless he gets out of the way very rapidly. The country of Middle Ala-
bama, I learn, is teeming with sui^plies this year, which vrill be greatly to
our advantage. I have no additional news to report from the direction
of Florence. I am now convinced that the greater part of Beauregard's
army is near Florence and Tuscumbia, and that you will at least have a
clear road before you for several days, and that your success will fully
equal your expectations.
GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Major-General.
ViCKSBURG, November 8, 1864, via Cairo, November 14, 1864.
Major-General Sherman :
Major-General Thomas:
Your dispatch of October 30th was received yesterday. Hatch's divis-
ion of cavalry was at the Tennessee river at last account. Two infantry
divisions under General A. J. Smith, and a brigade of cavalry, are in Mis-
souri in pursuit of Price. They have been ordered to Memphis by nearest
route, but this is contingent on where the orders may reach them, and the
time uncertain. The eflfective field force left on the river is very light, and
the posts from Cairo to Natchez are held by small garrisons, but I will, to
the extent of my force, carry out your instructions. A demonstration of
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 207
three thousand cavalry from Baton Rouge i^romised into Lower Missis-
sippi. Magruder is moving in force on Major-General Steele, at Little
Eock. The enemy is threatening to (move on) cross to the east side of
the Mississippi, at Gaines' Landing, where Major-General Reynolds is
ready for them.
N. J. P. DANA,
Major-General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 10, 1864 — 9 a. m.
Adjutant-General U.S. A., Washington, D. C. :
Please direct the return to this department immediately of all conva-
lescents belonging to the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twen-
tieth Army Corps, to report at Chattanooga, and those of the Fourth and
Twenty-third Army Corps to report at Decatur, Alabama. These men
were furloughed by direction of the War Department to permit them to
vote in their several States.
GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 11, 1864 — 11 a. m.
Major-General Stanley, Pulasli :
Have Capron make a scout out in the direction of Clifton, and ascertain
the truth of rumors which are constantly coming to these headquarters,
that a large force of the enemy's cavalry is on the Lawrenceburg road,
between Lawrenceburg and Columbia.
GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, November 14, 1864.
Brigadier-General Hatch, Tyler Sjmngs via Pulaski :
Your telegram of 2 a. m. to-day is received. Keep a good lookout.
Report all you observe, to General Schofield, at Pulaski, as well as myself.
GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, November 14, 1864.
Major-General W. S. Rosccrans, St. Louis :
Your dispatch received. Please send a courier to overtake Colonel
Winslow and direct him to this place, via Louisville, as rapidly as
he can.
GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Major-General.
208 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
City Point, November 15, 1864 — 11 a. m.
Major-General Thomas, Nashville:
If Hood commences falling back, it will not do to wait for the full
equipment of your cavalry to follow. He should, in that event, be pressed
with such forces as you can bring to bear upon him.
U. S. GEANT,
Lieutenant-General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 15, 1864 — 4 v. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va. :
Your telegram of this morning just received. I am watching Hood
closely, and, should he move after General Sherman, will follow him with
what force I can raise at hand. The reports this morning are that he is
moving in the direction of Waynesboro. A cavalry force has been sent
to ascertain the true state of facts.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 16, 1864 — 10 a. m.
Major-General Schofield, PulasJd :
Your dispatch of yesterday just received. Send me the first reliable
news you have from Hatch. Smith telegraphed me two days ago, that
his troops had been delayed by bad roads and impassable streams, but
that he would make all possible speed. I can not say when he will be
here.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the West,
TuscuMBiA, November 17, 1864.
General J. B. Hood, Commanding, etc., General :
General Beauregard directs me to say that he desires you will take the
offensive at the earliest practicable moment, and deal the enemy rapid
and vigorous blows, striking him whilst thus dispersed, and by this
means distract Sherman's advance into Georgia. . . .
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE W. BRENT,
Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.
Cherokee, Ala., November 17, 1864 — 3.30 p. m.
Major-General Howell Cobb, Macon or Griffin, Ga. :
Have ordered General Taylor to send at once all troops he can possibly
spare, and General Hood to send immediately one brigade of Jackson's
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC, 209
cavalry division, or the whole division, if it can possibly be spared at this
juncture. A victory in Tennessee will relieve Georgia.
*********
G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General.
Pulaski, November 18, 1864.
Major-General Thomas .
I have received no report from General Hatch this evening. His re-
port yesterday indicated that Hood was about to move, but I think there
is no probability of his moving this way while this weather continues.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major- General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 19, 1864.
Major-General A. J. Smith, or commanding officer of troops en route for Nashville,
Paducah, Ky. :
Start for Nashville, via Cumberland river, as soon as possible after re-
ceiving this, with what troops you have, and leave orders for the balance
to follow the same route.
Acknowledge receipt,
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. 8. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 19, 1864 — 2.30 p. m.
Major-General Schofield, Pulaski :
If the enemy advance in force, as General Hatch believes, have every-
thing in readiness to fight him at Pulaski, if he advances on that place,
or cover the railroad and concentrate at Columbia. Should he attempt
to turn your right flank, in the latter case — that is, the attempt to turn
your right flank — General Hatch should cover the fords and ferries across
Duck river, and hold them when you concentrate at Columbia. Report
to me at once, should you be compelled to leave Pulaski, that I may give
the necessary orders for the concentration of the troops on the Nashville
and Chattanooga railroad. I can hardly think, however, that the enemy
will attempt to advance in such weather as we now have. I shall send
an officer to-morrow morning to hurry General Smith's troops along as
fast as possible to this place. Give the necessary orders to Hatch and
Croxton, in case of a decided advance of the enemy.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
VOL. n — 14
210 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
Pulaski, November 19, 1864.
Major-General Thomas :
Your dispatch of 2.30 p. m. is received. I have already given the neces-
sary preliminary instructions to Hatch, and will have everything ready
to carry out your orders in the event of Hood's advance. I do not be-
lieve he will attempt to move his infantry in this state of roads, but
Forrest may make a raid on our railroads.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major-General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 20, 1864 — 2.30 p. m.
Major-General Scliofield, Pulaski :
If Forrest makes a decided advance, I think it would be best for you to
go to Lynnville with two divisions, leaving Stanley two at Pulaski. In
order to have everything out of your way, the construction party which-
went to Pulaski a few days since had better come bade to Columbia, and
all surplus stores should be prepared to be sent back in case Hood's army
advances. Give Hatch instructions according to your movements, and
urge upon him the necessity of getting the most reliable information he
■can. I will order Euger with one brigade to Columbia.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, November 20, 1864 — 5.30 p. m.
Major-General A. J. Smith, St. Louis, Mo. :
Your dispatch of this date just received. I wish you to make every
exertion to reach this place with all possible dispatch. Bring with you
all the troops ordered to report to you at Paducah, as well as all others
belonging to your command. You will come to Nashville, via the Cum-
berland river. I have sent an officer with orders to bring Winslow's cav-
alry to this place without delay.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 21, 1864.
Major-General Schojield, PulasJci :
Have you seen General Hatch's dispatch from Lexington at 8 a. m. to-
day? It is very detailed, and he thinks it reliable. I have just received
your two telegrams of 11 a. m. and 12 m., and approve the move. I have
sent General Wilson out to take general charge of the cavalry, and di-
rected him to report to you. He will reach Lynnville to-morrow morning.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 211
Nashville, Tenn., November 23, 1864 — 10 p. m.
Major-General H. W. Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
It has occurred to me since my last dispatch was sent to you that it
might be advisable to call on the governor of Indiana for some of the
militia of that state, and I would like to know whether 1 am authorized
to make the application. There are no available troops in Kentucky.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Comr)ianding.
Nashville, Tenn., November 23, 1864 — 1 v. m.
Major-General W. S. Rosecrans, St. Louis, Mo. :
Has General Smith and command embarked for this place yet? If so,
when ? They should hurry forward as rapidly as possible. Please answer
on receipt of this.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commandinff.
Nashville, November 23, 1864.
Colonel Wm. E. Merrill, Chattanooga :
The major-general commanding directs that you organize a pontoonier
battalion out of your regiment. Yours about the canvas received ; will
be attended to.
WM. D. WHIPPLE,
Brigadier-General.
Columbia, November 24, 1864.
Major-General Thomas :
1 now have j^our dispatch of 9 a. m. 1 do not believe Forrest has had
time to get across Duck river yet, and hope the troops you have sent will
be in time to prevent him. Capron was driven in very rapidly, and by a
pretty large force. Cox arrived just in time to beat it back, and punished
it very severely. Hood had ten miles the start of Stanley at noon yester-
day, but Stanley outmarched him, and reached here at 10 o'clock to-day.
His troops are all here and in position. Colonel Moore got here last
night. My orders to Hatch are as you suggested. I have not heard from
him to-day.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major-General.
Columbia, November 24, 1864 — 1.30 p. m.
Major-General G. H. Thomas:
Do you think it important to hold Columbia? My force is not large
enough to cover the town and the railroad bridge. I can hold a shorter
line covering the railroad bridge, leaving the town and the railroad depot
•outside; but in any case the enemy can turn the position by crosssing above
212 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
or below, and rendering withdrawal to the north bank very difficult.
Please give me your views soon.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
\ Major-General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 24, 1864 — 3 p. m.
Major-Oeneral Schofield, Columbia :
If you can not hold Columbia, you had better withdraw to the north
bank of the river. From the description given, I supposed the line was
sufficiently short to enable you and Stanley to hold it securely and have
a reserve. But it is better, of course, to substantially check the enemy
than to run the risk of defeat by resisting too much. Where is Stanley?
Is he with you?
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Washington, November 25, 3864 — 12 m.
Major-General Thomas :
Secretary war authorizes you, if you deem it necessary, to call upon the
governor of Indiana and of any other Western states for troops. As this
force is very expensive, if compared with its value against an enemy, it
should be used as sparingly as circumstances will admit. Dispatches just
received from Hilton Head indicate that General Sherman has captured
Milledgeville and Macon, and that Beauregard has been recalled from
Tennessee to fall on General Sherman's rear. This is also indicated
through Beauregard's proclamation to the people of Mississippi, sent
from Corinth through Selma.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
City Point, Va., November 24, 1864 — 4 p, m.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville :
Following proclamation just taken from papers of 21st. Do not let
Forrest get off without punishment.
U. S. GRANT,
lAeutenant-General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 25, 1864.
Lieutenant- General Grant, City Point, Va. :
Your dispatch of 4 p. m. yesterday just received. Hood's entire army
is in front of Columbia, and so greatly outnumbering mine at this time,
that I am compelled to act on the defensive. None of General Smith's
troops have arrived yet, although they embarked at St. Louis on Tuesday
last. The transportation of General Hatch's and Grierson's cavalry was
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 213
ordered by General Washburne, I am told, to be turned in at Memphis,
Jvhich has crijjpled the only cavalry I have at this time. All of my cavalry
5\'as dismounted to furnish horses to Kilpatrick's division, which went
with General Sherman. My dismounted cavalry is now detained at
Louisville, awaiting arms and horses. Horses are arriving slowly, and
arms have been detained somewhere en route for more than a month.
General Grierson has been delayed by conflicting orders in Kansas and
from Memphis, and it is impossible to say when he will reach here. Since
being in charge of affairs in Tennessee, I have lost nearly fifteen thou
sand men, discharged by expiration of service, and permitted to go home
to vote. My gain is probably twelve thousand of perfectly raw troops ;
therefore, as the enemy so greatly outnumbers me, both in infantry and
cavalry, I am compelled for the present to act on the defensive. The
moment I can get my cavalry, I will march against Hood, and if Forrest
■can be reached, he will be punished.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major- General U. S. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 25, 1864 — 11.20 a. m.
Major-General Schofield, Columbia :
In case you have to move to the north bank of Duck river, I wish you
to keep some cavalry on the south side of it, to observe and delay Hood's
advance on Chattanooga railroad as miuch as possible. I hope to have
five (5) regiments of Granger's troops in Murfreesboro to-day. Have
made arrangements for Milroy to fall back to Murfreesboro on this side
of Duck river ; also, if the enemy advances, the cavalry on the south side
of Duck river should cover the approaches to Shelbyville, and cross at
that place, and hold the bridge in case of an advance in force. I have
asked Steedman how large a force he can raise to threaten tha enemy's
rear, should he get on the Chattanooga road, and expect an answer soon.
About one thousand of Hatch's cavalry have arrived here from Mem-
phis dismounted, and they will be mounted here as soon as possible, and
sent to the front. Three regiments should start to-day, making about
one thousand men. Have not heard of any of Smith's troops yet. Some
of them will surely be here to-day. If Hood moves on the Chattanooga
road, I will send Smith to Murfreesboro, as we shall be enabled thereby
to concentrate more rapidly. If you can hold Hood on the south side of
Duck river, I think we shall be able to drive him back easily after con-
centrating. Answer, giving your views.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding,
214 BATTLE OF FEANKLIN, ETC.
Headquarters Department of the Cumbebland
Nashville, November 26, 1864.
Hear-Admiral Lee, Mound City :
If you have any iron-clads which can resist heavy shot, I will be obliged
if you will order them up the Tennessee river as far as they can go, on a
reconnoissance. Hood is threatening Columbia, and I am anxious to know
positively whether he has all his force with him or not.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Washington, November 26, 1864 — 12 m.
Major-General Thomas :
All troops ordered from Missouri are under your orders, and will
be subject to your disposal. Any others, embracing all officers. and
troops belonging to Sherman's force in the field, left behind by their com-
mands, will be under your orders till they can again join their pi-oper
corps. If you call for any militia, notify adjutant-general's office.
H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 27, 1864.
Major-General Schofield, Columbia, via Franklin :
Your dispatch of 10 a. m. yesterday received. I will send you all the
available infantry I can raise. I expect some of Smith's command here
to-day, and will send it forward as rapidly as possible. Sent you two
regiments of cavalry day before yesterday, two yesterday, and will send
another to-day. If you can hold Hood in check until I can get Smith
up, we can whip him.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Paducah, November 27, 1864.
Major-General Thomas :
I have just arrived at this point. The brigade, Seventeenth Army
Corps, and First division, Sixteenth Army Corps, will proceed immediately
to destination, in obedience to your telegram of the 19th inst. The Third
division will be up early in the morning. Telegraph me at Smithland.
A. J. SMITH,
Major-General.
Ducktown, November 27, 1864 — 12.30 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
The enemy has made no real attack, and I am satisfied he does not
mean to attack. My information, though not very satisfactory, leads me
to believe that Hood intends to cross Duck river above Columbia, and as
near it as he can. I shall withdraw to the north bank to-night, and en-
BATTLE OF FRANKLIX, ETC. 215
deavor to prevent him from crossing. Wilson is operating mainly on my
left, with a portion of his command south of the river. I have no late in-
formation from him. I have succeeded in getting your cipher of the
25th translated. I believe your dispositions are wise.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major-General.
Near Columbia, November 28, 1864 — 3.30 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
The enemy has crossed in force a short distance this side of the Lewis-
burg pike, at noon to-day, and has driven our cavalry back across the
river on that pike at the same time. The force is reported to be infantry,
but I do not regard it as being probable. Wilson has gone with his main
force to learn the facts, and drive the enemy back, if possible.
J. M. SCHOFIELD
Major- General.
Nashville, November 28, 1864.
Major-General Sclwjicld, near Columbia :
Your dispatch of 3.30 is just received. If General Wilson can not suc-
ceed in driving back the enemy, should it prove true that he has crossed
the river, you will necessarily have to make preparations to take up a new
position at Franklin, behind Harpeth, immediately, if it becomes neces-
sary to fall back.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General TJ. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, November 28, 1864.
Major-General Schojield:
You can have some of the pontoons you used at Columbia sent to
Franklin, to lay a bridge there. I will answer your other telegram in a
few moments.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Near Columbia, November 28, 1864 — 11 a. m.
Major-General Thomas:
I am in doubt whether it is advisable, with reference to future opera-
tions, to hold this position or retire to some point from which we can
move offensively. Of course, we can not recross the river here. I could
have easily held the bridge-head at the railroad, but it would have been
useless, as we could not possibly advance from that point. Please give me
your views and wishes.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major-General.
216 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
Near Columbia, November 28, 1864 — 6 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
The enemy's cavalry in force has crossed the river on the Lewisburg
pike, and is now in possession of Eally Hill. Wilson is trying to go on
the Franklin road ahead of them. lie thinks the enemy may swing in
between him and me and strike Spring Hill, and wants Hammond's bri-
gade halted there. Please give orders, if you know where it is.
J. M. SCUOFIELD,
Major-General.
Near Columbia, November 28, 1864 — 9 p. m,
Major-General Thomas:
If Hood advances on the Lewisburg and Franklin pike, where do you
propose to fight him ? I have all the force that is necessary, and Smith's
troops should be placed with reference to the proposed point of concen-
tration.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major- General.
Nashville, November 29, 1864 — 3.30 a. m.
Major-General Schofield, near Columbia :
Your dispatches of 6 p. m. and 9 p. m. yesterday are received. I have
directed General Hammond to halt his command at Spring Hill, and re-
port to you for orders, if he can not communicate with General Wilson,
and also instructing him to keep you well advised of the enemy's move-
ments. I desire you to fall back from Columbia, and take up your posi-
tion at Franklin, leaving a sufficient force at Spring Hill to contest the.
enemy's progress until you are securely posted at Franklin. The troops
at the fords below Williamsport, etc., will be withdrawn, and take up a
position behind Franklin. General A. J. Smith's command has not yet
reached Nashville. As soon as he arrives, I will make immediate disposi-
tion of his troops, and notify you of the same. Please send me a report
as to how matters stand, upon your receipt of this.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General TJ. 8. V. Commanding.
Headquarters, Hart's Cross-roads, on Franklin and Lewisburg Pike,
November 29, 1864 — 3 a. m. ; via Franklin, 9.30 a. m.
Major-Geveral Thomas :
Forrest's cavalry, Buford's, Chalmers', and Jackson's brigades, a part of
Hanley's and Biffle's regiments, crossed Duck river on this road, and at
several fords between it and Iluey's Mills, seven miles above Columbia,
yesterday. A pontoon train, sufficient for three bridges, had arrived at
Iluey's just before dark. The bridges were 'expected to be ready by 11
o'clock last night, and their infantry across by daylight this morning.
The cavalry began crossing about noon, at Davis' fords, near Huey's, but
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 217
could not get across at Hardison's, on the pike. Capron's and Garrard's
brigades were struck in flank and rear by rebels, at Rally Hill. I have
kept Major-General Schofield fully informed, and, at 1 a. m., sent him
the information above, advising him to get back to Franklin at once. I
have all of my command, except Hammond's and Hatch's first brigade,
here. I do n't know where the former is. The latter has been watching
the river at Knobgrass creek, and was ordered, at sunset last night, to
join him at S2:)ring Hill. I shall delay the enemy all in my power, if he
presses me, and follow him wherever he goes. I have information from
Franklin's Hill to-day. The Sixth Illinois is now probably near that
place to-night, having gone to Shelbyville on a scout. I am sure, from
what prisoners tell me, that the enemy is aiming for Nashville, via Frank-
lin; his present direction, location of his bridge, and other circumstances
point clearly to that conclusion. This being so, I shall probably cross the
Harpeth midway between Triune and Franklin, and aim for Nolensville.
Everything should be got off the railroad to-day. Hurry forward all cav-
alry, via Nolensville. I think everything should be concentrated at
Nashville.
J. H. WILSON,
Major- General.
Headquarters Army of the Ohio, November 29 — 8.30 a. m.
Major-General Thomas:
The enemy's cavalry has crossed in force, on the Lewisburg pike, and
Oeneral Wilson reports the infantry crossing above Huey's Mills, about
five miles from this place. I have sent an infantry reconnoissance to
learn the facts. If it prove true, I will act according to your instructions
received this morning. Please send orders to General Cooper,® via
Johnsonville ; it may be doubtful whether my messenger from here will
reach him.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major- General.
Headquarters, 4J Miles Southeast of Franklin,
November 29, 1864 — 2 p. m., via Franklin.
Major-General Thomas :
The enemy pressed the rear of my column closely as far as the Ridge
Meeting-house, and by marching around my left prevented me from
getting upon the Fayetteville road. My impression is that Forrest is
aiming for Nashville, via Triune and Nolensville. A part of his force
may have cut into Spring Hill. Heavy artillery firing heard in that
direction since 11 a. m. I can not hear from Schofield, but fear he may
not have reached Franklin. I shall hold Hatch's second brigade and
* Commanding a brigade of General Euger'e diTiBion.
218 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
Hammond's here till I know all is clear. In the meantime, Johnson and
Croxton are crossing the Harpeth at Henderson's ford, with orders to
push strong parties to Triune Zend Grove, and thereby to push on
to Nolensville to-night, if they find the enemy moving in that direction.
I shall go in the same direction as soon as I can leave here with safety.
You had better look out for Forrest at Nashville to-morrow noon. I '11
be there before, or very soon after he makes his appearance.
J. H. WILSON,
Brevet Major-General.
Nashville, November 29, 1864 — 11 p. m.
Major-General Schojield, Franklin :
General Wilson has telegraphed me very fully the movements of the
enemy yesterday and this morning. He believes Forrest is aiming to
strike this place, while the infantry will move against you, and attempt
to get on your flank. If you discover such to be his movement, you had
better cross Harpeth at Franklin, and then retire along the Franklin
pike to this place, covering your wagon train and the railroad. I directed
General Cooper, in accordance with your wishes yesterday, to withdraw
from Centreville, by the Nashville road, crossing Harpeth at widow Dean's,
and to report to you from that place for further orders. You had better
send orders to meet him.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Franklin, November 29, 1864 — 10 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
Major-General Schofield directs me to inform you that the enemy's
cavalry crossed Duck river in force at daylight this morning, at Huey's
Mills, six miles from Columbia, and pushed at once for Spring Hill. Their
cavalry reached that point at 4 p. m., and their infantry came in before
dark, and attacked General Stanley, who held the place with one division
very heavily (engaged?). General Schofield's troops are pushing foi
Franklin as rapidly as possible. The general says he will not be able to get
farther than Thompson's Station to-night, and possibly not farther than
Spring Hill. He regards his situation as extremely perilous, and fears ha
may be forced into a general battle to-morrow, or lose his wagon train.
General Wilson's cavalry have been pushed off toward the east, and do
not come with our infantry, nor cover the pike. Thinking that the troops
under General A. J. Smith's command had reached Franklin, General
Schofield directed me to have them pushed down the Franklin pike to
Spring Hill, by daylight to-morrow. I left General Schofield two hours
ago, at Thompson's Station.
W. J. TWININGS,
Captain, Aid-de-Gamp, and Chief Engineer, Army of Ohio.
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 219
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL THOMAS' REPORT.
The important result of this signal victory can not be too highly appre-
ciated, for it not only seriously checked the enemy's advance and gave Gen-
eral Schofield time to move his troops and all his property to Nashville,
but it also caused deep depression among the men of Hood's army,
making them doubly cautious in their subsequent movements. Not
willing to risk a renewal of the battle on the morrow, and having accom-
plished the object of the day's operations — viz., to cover the withdrawal of
his trains — General Schofield, by my advice and direction, fell back during
the night, to Nashville; in front of which city, line of battle was formed,
by noon of the 1st of December, on the heights immediately surrounding
Nashville.
EXTRACTS FROM GENERAL SCHOFIELD'S REPORT.
The troops rested in this position on the 28th, and I had strong hopes
of being able to hold the line of Duck river until reinforcements should
arrive; but I learned from General Wilson, about 2 a. m. on the 29f-h, that
the enemy's cavalry had forced a crossing near the Lewisburg pike, and
about daylight in the morning, that his infantry was also crossing at
Huey's Mills, five miles above Columbia, from which a road leads into the
Franklin pike, at Spring Hill. The enemy might endeavor to reach the
latter place in advance of me, and thus cut oS" my retreat, or strike me
in flank near Duck river, or both. He had already forced a column of
cavalry between General Wilson and me, and cut off all communication
between us. I therefore sent General Stanley with a division of infantry
to Spring Hill, to hold that point and cover the trains ; General Cox was
left in his position, to hold the crossing at Columbia ; Generals Wood and
Kimball were put in line facing Huey's Mills, with a brigade thrown for-
ward to reconnoiter, and General Ruger was ordered to move on to the
pike, in rear of Rutherford's creek, leaving one regiment to hold the ford
near the railroad bridge, the bridges having been destroyed.
«• **•):-«■ * -j:- ii -x-
About 3 p. M. I became satisfied that the enemy would not attack my
position on Duck river, but was pushing two corps direct for Spring Hill.
I then gave the necessary orders for the withdrawal of the troops after
dark, and took General Euger's troops and pushed for Spring Hill, to re-
open communication with General Stanley, and was followed at a short
distance by the head of the main column. I struck the enemy's cavalry
at dark, about three miles from Sj^ring Hill, but we brushed them away
without diflRculty, and reached Spring Hill about seven o'clock.
I arrived at Franklin with the head of the column a little before day-
light on the 30th, and found no wagon-bridge for crossing the river, and
the fords in very bad condition. I caused the railroad bridge to be pre-
pared for crossing wagons, and had a foot-bridge built for infantry, which
fortunately proved available for wagons, and used the ford as much as
possible. I hoped, in spite of the difficulties, to get all my material, in-
220 BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC.
eluding the public property and a large wagon train, across the river, and
move the army over before the enemy could get up force enough to
attack me ; but I put the troops in position as they arrived on the south
Bide — the Twenty-third Corps on the left and center, covering the Colum-
bia and Lewisburg pikes, and General Kimball's division of the Fourth
Corps on the right, both flanks resting on the river. Two brigades of
Wagner's division were left in front to retard the enemy's advance, and
General Wood's division, with some artillery, was moved to the north
bank of the river, to cover the flanks, shovild the enemy attempt to cross
above or below. The enemy followed close after our rear-guard ; brought
up and deployed two full corps with astonishing celerity, and moved
rapidly forward to the attack. Our outposts, imprudently brave, held
their ground too long, and hence were compelled to come in at a run.
In passing over the parapet, they carried with them the troops of the
line for a short space, and permitted a few hundred of the enemy to get
in ; but the reserves sprang forward, regaining the parapet, and capturing
those of the enemy who had passed it. The enemy assaulted persistently
and continuously with his whole force, from about 3.30 p. m. until after
dark, and made numerous intermittent attacks at a few points until
about 10 o'clock p. m. He was splendidly re2)ulsed along the whole line
of attack.
It is to be observed that more than half our loss occurred in Wagner's
division of the Fourth Corps, which did not form part of the main line
of defense. This loss arose in two brigades of that division, from their
remaining in front of the line after their proper duty as outposts had
been accomplished, and after they should have taken their position in
reserve ; and in the other brigade (Colonel Opdycke's), in its hand-to-
hand encounter witli the enemy over the parapet, Avhich had been tem-
porariljr lost by the precipitate retreat of the other two brigades.
* * * ^- * * * -X- *
My experience on the 29th had shown how entirely inferior a force
my cavalry was to that of the enemy, and that even my immediate flank
and rear were insecure, while my communication with Nashville was en-
tirely without protection. I could not even rely upon getting up ammu-
nition necessary for another battle. To remain longer at Franklin, was
to seriously hazard the loss of my army, by giving the enemy another
chance to cut me off from reinforcements, which he had made three
desperate futile attempts to accomplish. I had detained the enemy long
enough to enable you to concentrate your scattered troops at Nashville, and
had succeeded in inflicting upon him very heavy losses, which was the
primary object. I had found it impossible to detain him long enough to
get reinforcements at Franklin. Only a small portion of the infantry
and none of the cavalry could reach me in time to be of any use in
battle, which must have been fought on the 1st of December, for these
reasons. After consulting with corps and division commanders, and ob-
taining your approval, I determined to retire the night of the 30th toward
Nashville.
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, ETC. 221
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL STANLEY'S REPORT.
From 1 o'clock until 4 p. m. in the evening, the enemy's entire force
was in sight, and forming for attack; yet, in view of the strong position
we held, and reasoning from the former course of the rebels during the
campaign, nothing appeared so improbable as that they would assault.
I felt so confident in this belief, that I did not leave General Schofield's
headquarters until the firing commenced. About 4 o'clock the enemy
advanced with his whole force, at least two corps, making a bold and
persistent assault, which, upon part of the line, lasted forty minutes,
when Wagnei-'s division fell back from the heights south of Franklin.
Opdycke's brigade was placed in reserve, in rear of our main line on the
Columbia pike; Lane's and Conrad's brigades were deployed, the former
on the right, the other on the left of the pike, and about three hundred
yards in advance of the main line. By whose mistake I can not tell, it
certainly was never a part of my instructions, but these brigades had
orders from General Wagner not to retire to the main line until forced
to do so by the fighting of the enemy.
Speaking of the effect of their retreat. General Stanley said: "It was at
that moment I arrived at the scene of disorder, coming from the town
on the Columbia pike. The moment was critical beyond any I have ever
known in battle. Could the enemy hold that part of the line, he was
nearer our two bridges than the extremities of our line. Colonel Opdycke's
brigade was lying down about one hundred yards in rear of the works.
I rode quickly to the left regiment and called to them to charge ; at the
same time I saw Colonel Opdycke near the center of his line, urging his
men forward. I gave the colonel no order, as I saw him engaged in
doing the very thing to save us, namely, to get possession of our line
again."
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL J. H. WILSON'S REPORT.
At 1 A. M. (November 29), I sent a dispatch to General Schofield, in-
forming him that the force at Huey's Mill was Forrest's cavalry, consisting
of Chalmers', Jackson's, and Buford's divisions, and BifHe's regiment;
that the rebel infantry were to have began crossing two hours before, by
three pontoon bridges under construction at the same place. Believing
the information to be perfectly correct, I therefore suggested that our
infantry should reach Spring Hill by 10 a. m. of that day.
CHAPTER XXXV.
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE AND PURSUIT OF THE ROUTED ENEMY.
The arrival of General Steedman with his command from
Ohattanooga, December 1st, in the evening, completed the
concentration of forces, which had been so nnexpectedly de-
layed. Three lines of defence had been abandoned because
the promised troops had not appeared in Tennessee. And
now that the concentration had been efiected, the improvised
army contained three corps, each one of which represented a
distinct department ; a provisional division made up of de-
tachments from almost every organization, large and small,
embraced in the sixty -five thousand men, then on " the march
to the sea ;" an infusion of raw infantry regiments ; the greater
portion of the cavalry of the Military Division of the Missis-
sippi, but still largely dismounted ; and colored soldiers, who
were to have their first opportunity in the central theater of
war, to fight by brigades.
General Thomas had held General Steedman's command,
on the line of the ITashville and Chattanooga railroad for two
reasons — one, the complications in East Tennessee, of which a
narrative will be given in another chapter ; and the other, the
probability that General Hood would strike that important
railroad south of Nashville. Having arrived, General Steed-
man took position about a mile in advance of the left center
of the main line, and east of the Nolensville turnpike. Gen-
eral Wilson, with his cavalry, had previously taken a strong
position at Thomson's Chapel, on the I^Tolensville turnpike,
covering the space between General Schofield's left and the
Cumberland river.
General Hood being still greatly superior in cavalry, there
(222)
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 223
was danger that he would detach a large portion of it to inter-
rupt the vital communications with Louisville. To guard
against the passage of his cavalry over the Cumberland, above
ITashville, General Hammond's brigade of cavalry was sent
to Gallatin on the 2d, to watch the river as far up as Carthage.
And the day following General Thomas threw all the remain-
ing cavalry across to Edgefield, and then General Steedman's
command covered the space between General Schofield's left
and the river.
General Hood's infantry did not approach ISTashville until
the 3d, when General Thomas' outposts were driven in, and
soon after the enemy began to establish his main line. The
next morning his salient was seen on Montgomery Hill, within
six hundred yards of the center of the national line. Gen-
eral Hood's investing lines occupied the high ground on the
southeast side of Brown's creek, extending from the l!^olens-
ville turnpike, across the Granny White and Franklin turn-
pikes, in a southwesterly direction, to the hills south and south-
west of Richland creek, and down that creek to the Hillsboro
turnpike. From his right, on the Kolensville road to the
river, above the city, and from his left, on the Hillsboro road
to the river below, his cavahy were posted. Intent upon com-
pleting and strengthening his line, General Hood made no re-
sponse to the fire of artillery, which opened upon him from
several points. It was doubtless necessary, too, that he should
be economical in the use of his ammunition, as it was difficult
for him to replenish from his base at Corinth.
Although not active at Nashville, General Hood was enter-
prising in other directions. He sent Bate's division of Cheat-
ham's corps to reduce Murfreesboro and other minor points
in the vicinity, and on the 4th the block-house, at Overall's
creek, five miles north of Murfreesboro, was attacked by this
force. But such was the strength of the block-house con-
structed for the defense of the railroad bridge, that although
seventy-four artillery shots were fired against it, the garrison
held out until General Milroy arrived with reinforcements
from Murfreesboro, consisting of three regiments of infantry,
four companies of cavalry, and a section of artillery. General
Bate was then attacked and driven away. During the 5th,
224 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
6th, and 7tli, having been reinforced by a division from Lee's
corps, and twenty -five hundred cavalry, General Bate demon-
strated heavily against Fortress Rosecrans, near Murfrees-
boro, held by eight thousand men, under General Rousseau.
The enemy declining to make a direct attack. General Milroy
was sent against him on the 8th, with seven regiments of in-
fantry. ' He was found on the "Wilkinson turnpike behind rail
barricades, which were carried by assault — General Milroy
capturing two hundred and seven prisoners and two guns, and
suffering a loss of thirty men killed, and one hundred and
seventy-five wounded. The same day Buford's cavalry, after
shelling Murfreesboro, entered the town, but Avere driven out
by a regiment of infantry and a section of artillery. The
whole force then moved to Lebanon and down the bank of
the Cumberland river to I^ashville, threatening to cross, to in-
terrupt the Louisville and itlTashville railroad.
A portion of the enemy's cavalry, under General Lyon, suc-
ceeded in crossing the Cumberland river above Clarksville, on
the 9th. The object of the movement was to reach the Louis-
ville and Nashville railroad, at some point in Kentucky, and
to prevent its accomplishment General Thomas directed Gen-
eral McCook, who was in Kentucky, to remount "Watkins' and
La Grange's brigades of cavalry, and to look after Lyon with
these brigades.
Daring the first half of December, General Grant felt great
uneasiness with regard to the situation in Tennessee, fearing
that General Hood Avould pass round Nashville and march
into Kentucky reproducing the scenes and issues of the sum-
mer and autumn of 1862. Believing that General Thomas
should have delivered battle immediately after the engagement
at Franklin, he urged him thereafter, from day to day, to at-
tack General Hood. General Thomas, on the other hand,
thought it advisable to remount his cavalry and make other
preparations, that he might be assured of victory, before as-
suming the offensive, and at the same time gain the full results
of victory by a vigorous pursuit of the enemy, when defeated
and routed. He was confident of final success, and was vigi-
lant in guarding the river with his cavalry, and secured the
services of the o:unboats of the Eleventh Division of the Mis-
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 225
Bissippi Squadron, under Lieutenant-Commander Leroy Fitcli,
to patrol the river above and below the city. During the
first eight days of the month. General "Wilson had raised his
cavalry to good strength, by the influx of new horses and
by ransacking the corrals for convalescent animals, and in
this time much had been done to supply the army with the
transportation essential to successful pursuit, and with pon-
toons for the full rivers. Eut delay for any cause was dis-
pleasing to General Grant, as besides the supposed danger
to Kentucky, the troops under General Canb}^ on the Mis-
sissippi river, intended for co-operation with General Sher-
man, were detained to prevent the trans-Mississippi Confed-
erate forces, from joining General Hood, and on the 9th of
December at the suggestion of the lieutenant-general, an
order was issued by the President, relieving General Thomas,
and placing General Schofield in command. General Thomas
himself preferred to be relieved rather than be responsible for
a battle fought under unfavorable conditions. The order re-
lieving ]iim, however, was subsequently suspended ; but there
was no respite to the urgent communications requiring the
deliverance of battle without delay.
General Thomas at first hoped to be ready for battle on the
Ttli, but on account of delay in remounting his cavalry, he
was not ready until the 9th. But with the completion of his
preparations there came a sleet which rendered the movement
of troops for any purpose, especially for battle, an impossi-
bility. Reconnoissances on the 11th and .13th — the first by
Colonel J. G. Mitchell, and the second by Colonel A. G. Mal-
loy — developed the fact that infantry could move only with the
greatest difficulty upon the surface of the uneven ground.
On the 9th, General Thomas ordered General Wilson to move
his command to the south side of the river to take position
between the Hillsboro and Harding turnpikes, to be in readi-
ness to participate in the attack, projected for the next day ;
but even this movement could not be executed upon the ice
with cavalry, except with horses shod expressly for such a
surface. As the refusal of General Thomas to give battle,
after a peremptory order on the 6th to attack without waiting
VOL. II — 15
226 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
longer for a remount for his cavalry, called for tlie order re-
lieving liim from command, with General Schofield as his suc-
cessor, so his unwillingness to attack upon the ice first
•elicited an order from General Grant, on the 11th, to delay no
longer for weather or reinforcements, and then another on the
13th, directing Major-General John A. Logan to proceed to
Nashville, reporting arrival at Louisville and Nashville, And
on the 15th, General Grant reached "Washington, on his way
to Nashville to take command in person.
However, hy midday on the 14th, the ice had so far melted
that General Thomas resolved upon attacking the enemy the
next day, and at 3 p. m. he called together his corps com-
manders to announce to them his plan of hattle, and give
them instructions with regard to the specific action of their
respective commands in its execution. The following is the
text: "Major-General A. J. Smith, commanding detachment
of the Army of the Tennessee, after forming his troops on
and nearthe Harding pike in front of his present position, will
make a vigorous assault upon the enemy's left. Major-Gen-
eral Wilson, commanding the cavalry corps Military Division
of the Mississippi, with three divisions, will move on and sup-
port General Smith's right, assisting as far as possible in car-
rying the left of the enemy's position, and he in readiness to
throw his force upon the enemy the moment a favorable
opportunity occurs. Major-General Wilson will also send one
division on the Charlotte pike, to clear that road of the enemy
and observe in the direction of Bell's landing, to protect our
right rear until the enemy's position is fairly turned, when it
will rejoin the main force. Brigadier-General T. J. Wood,
commanding Fourth Corps* after leaving a strong skirmish
line in his works from Lawrens' Hill to his extreme right, will
form the remainder of the Fourth Corps on the Hillsboro
pike to support General Smith's left, and operate on the left
and rear of the enemy's advanced position on Montgomery
Hill. Major-General Schofield, commanding Twenty-third
Army Corps, will replace Brigadier-General Kimball's di-
vision of the Fourth Corps with his troops, and occupy the
trenches from Fort Negley to Lawrens' Hill with a strong
skirmish line. He will move with the remainder of his force
* Gen. D. S Stanley was absent on account of wounds received at Franklin.
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 227
in front of tlie works, and co-operate witla General Wood,
protecting the latter's left flank against an attack by the
enemy. Major-General Steedman, commanding District of
Etowah, will occupy the interior line in rear of his present
position, stretching from the reservoir on the Cumberland
river to Fort ISTegley, with a strong skirmish line, and mass the
remainder of his force in its present position, to act according
to the exigencies which may arise during these operations.
JBrigadier-General Miller, with troops forming the garrison of
itTashville, will occupy the interior line from the battery on
hill 210, to the extreme right, including the inclosed work on
the Hyde's Ferry road. The quartermaster's troops, under
the command of Brigadier-General Donaldson, will, if neces-
sary, be posted on the interior line from Fort Morton to the
battery on hill 210. The troops occupying the interior line
will be under the direction of Major-General Steedman, who
is charged with the immediate defense of Nashville during the
operations around the city. Should the weather permit, the
troops will be formed to commence operations at 6 a. m. on
the 15th, or as soon thereafter as practicable."
General Thomas modified this plan, by ordering General
Steedman to make a most positive feint against the enemy's
right, to divert his attention from the dominant movement
against his left, and also by calling General Schotield's corps,
first to the reserve, and afterward directing it to move upon
General Smith's right, after other movements had been suc-
cessfully accomplished.
The weather and the ice, which from the 9th had prevented
General Thomas from assuming the offensive, had also for six
days barred all activity on the part of the enemy, who was
meditating a movement* round Nashville from the conscious-
ness that he could not successfully assault the army intrenched
before it. The morning of the 15th being favorable for the
tactical dispositions required by General Thomas' plan of
operations, the two armies were thrown into deadly conflict,
* This statement is not supported by official testimony, but upon the
declarations of prisoners and citizens within General Hood's lines. H«t
too, was delayed bv the ice-covered ground.
228 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
to contest not only the possession of Tennessee, but to decide
tlie supremacy of tlie national arms in all the West.
At 4 A. M. on the 15th, the provisional division composed
of troops from corps and other organizations of General Sher-
man's army, under command of Brigadier-General Cruft,
moved forward and relieved the Fourth and Twenty-third
Corps, occupied their exterior line of works, and picketed the
front of this line from the Acklin place to Fort ITegle}', com-
manding the approaches to the city by the Granny White,
Franklin, and Kolensville turnpikes. At the same hour. Gen-
eral J. F. Miller occupied the works with the garrison of the
'city, from Fort ISTegley to the Lebanon turnpike, covering the
approaches by the Murfreesboro, Chicken, and Lebanon turn-
i:)ikes. Brigadier-General Donaldson, w^ith his command, occu-
pied the defenses from General Cruft's right to the Cumber-
land river, commanding the approaches by the Harding,
Hillsboro, and Charlotte turnpikes. General Steedman was
instructed to support General Wood's left, when his corps
should take position, and make a vigorous demonstration in
Ms front to cover the grand effort to turn the enemy's left
flank.
About daylight the other commands began to move to their
several positions as prescribed in the modified plan of battle.
General Smith advanced his second division, Brigadier-
General Garrard commanding, on the Harding turnpike, and
deployed to the left of that road ; he threw forward his first
division, Brigadier-General J. McArthur commanding, on the
Harding and Charlotte turnpikes, and formed it on the right
of Garrard; his third division. Colonel J. B. Moore, Thirty-
third Wisconsin commanding, he held in reserve opposite the
junction of the right and left flanks of the other two divisions.
Owing to the divergence of the roads upon which he moved,
and the stubborn resistance of the enemy, McArthur did not
get into position until 8 A. M. He silenced a batttery, and
skirmished heavily as he advanced.
General Wood formed the Fourth Corps, with the Second
division, Brigadier-General Elliott commanding, on the right ;
tlic First division, Brigadier-General Kimball commanding,
in the center; and the third division, Brigadier-General S.
.BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 229
Beatty commanding, on the left. Elliott's right was refused,
in echelon with Smith's left. The other divisions were formed
in similar manner — the right of each in echelon — to facilitate
the wheel of the ^vhole line to the right, on the left of .the
Fourth Corps as a pivot. The formation of the Fourth Corps
was a double battle-line — the first deployed, and the second in
column, by division, opposite the intervals in the first. The
front was covered with a line of skirmishers, and a similar
force remained in the works in the rear.
The Twenty-third Corps, when relieved from position on
the left of the Fourth, moved to the right of Wood. The
Third division, Brigadier-General J. D. Cox commanding,
excepting one brigade left to support General Steedman,
moved by the Hillsboro turnpike, and formed in the rear of
Elliott's right ; the Second (recently General Ruger's), Major-
General D. ']^, Couch commanding, advanced on the Harding
turnpike, and took position in rear of Garrard's left.
When the infantry on the right had given room for the
movements of the cavalry. General Wilson at once assumed
position. The Fifth division, Brigadier-General E. Hatch
commanding, took position on the right of McArthur, of
Smith's corps. General Croxton, with his brigade of the First
division, formed on the right of Hatch. The Seventh divis-
ion, one brigade mounted, Brigadier J. F. Knipe commanding,
was held in reserve, to render aid wherever emergency might
demand. The Sixth division, Brigadier R. W. Johnson com-
manding, one brigade mounted, was ordered to move by the
Charlotte turnpike, to clear that road of the enemy, and keep-
ing connection with Croxton by skirmishers or patrols, to push
as far as Davidson's house, eight miles from the city, so as to
cover the remainder of the corps from the enemy's cavalry,
and look well to the guns of the enemy at Bell's landing,
commanding the Cumberland river, and the force supporting
them.
A dense fog hung oA^er the two armies during the early
morning, which, with the undulations of the ground, con-
cealed the movements of the national army, though from
these causes the evolutions were also greatly retarded. When,
.about noon, the fog lifted, there was doubtless to General
230 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
Ilood an unexpected revelation. He had tlius far in tlie cam-
paign monopolized the offensive, and during the days of en-
forced inaction, he had been maturing his plans to turn
Nashville and move into Kentucky. This would have been
an exceedingly rash adventure, and after his experience at
Franklin, where three divisions beat back his army, with the
help of extemporized intrenchments, he could not, even in the
wildest forecast of the consequences of an attempt to carry
Kashville, with its elaborate fortifications, held by an army
of equal strength, decide to take such a risk. JSTeither could
he stay long before the city, and supply his army. It was
imperative that he should move in some direction, and in his
desperate extremity, he no doubt meditated an early advance
into Kentucky, hoping, despite all the dangerous contin-
gencies, that he could at least escape destruction. He had
not anticipated the necessity of so soon acting on the defen-
sive, and even when he saw an army deployed before him in
aggressive attitude, he did not expect an attack upon his left
flank. The troops opposite his right, during the twelve
days of his nominal investment, alone had made the pretense
of aggression, in contesting the defenses which General
Steedman had constructed when he was before Wilson, on
the left of the national line. And now, while the strength of
the Army of the Cumberland was on his left, he was to be
still further misled by a feint, which, from its spirit and
force, might easily be mistaken for a positive assault.
Wlien the combination to turn General Hood's left had
been fully completed, Brigadier-General Whipple, chief of
staff to General Thomas, bore an order to General Steedman
to advance against his right, in semblance of actual assault.
General Steedman had previously formed a column for this
movement, composed of three strong detachments — the first
under Colonel T. J. Morgan, embracing his own regiment^
the Fourteenth Colored, the Seventeenth, Foi'ty-fourth, and a
detachment of the Eighteenth; the second under Colonel
Thompson, including his own regiment, the Twelfth Colored,
and the Thirteenth and One Hundredth ; and the third under
Lieutenant-Colonel Grosvenor, of the Eighteenth Ohio, com-
posed of his regiment, the Sixty-eighth Indiana, and the Sec-
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 231
ond battalion of tlie Fourteenth Army Corps ; and in addi-
tion, the Eighteenth Ohio and Twentieth Indiana batteries.
At 8 A. M. the detachments of Morgan and Grosvenor, the
former commanding both, moved forward from the Murfrees-
boro turnpike to Riddle's hill, drove in the enemy's pickets, and
assaulted his works, between the turnpike and the Nasliville
and Chattanooga railroad. These troops gained a lodgment
in the works, but were exposed, while holding them, to a se-
vere tire from General Hood's massed forces on that flank,
and General Steedman withdrew them. The charge was so
gallantly made, that General Hood was so deceived as to its
ultimate aim, that he drew troops from his center and left to
give strength to his seemingly endangered flank.
Soon after this action on the extreme left, the forces on the
opposite flank moved forward on the Harding and Hillsboro
roads with resistless force, in executing the grand initiative of
the battle. McArthur's division moved rapidly behind its
skirmishers, who were soon sharply engaged, and gradually
wheeling to the left, the direction of the line, was parallel to
the Harding road. Advancing thence a short distance, the
division was before a detached earthwork of the enemy, situ-
ated on the top of a hill, and inclosing four brass guns. This
fort was covered by a stronger one, some four hujidred feet to
the right, and containing the same number of guns. In the
meantime. Hatch's division of cavalry, with its left connected
with McArthur's right, had swept round on a longer curve and
was in readiness to co-operate in assaulting the forts. Hatch
had previously engaged Ecton's brigade of infantry beyond
Richland creek, and had driven it past Harding's house, near
which Colonel Spalding, commanding the Twelfth Tennessee
Cavalry, charged and captured forty-three prisoners and the
headquarter-train of Chalmers' division. Hatch's right bri-
gade, under Colonel Coon, having diverged too far from the
direction of the general movement, was now moved by the
left flank till it joined his other brigade on the flank of the
four-gun redoubt, which covered the extremity of the enemy's
line. Here, by direction of General Hatch, Coon's brigade
dismounted to charge, planting its battery — " I," First Illinois
Artillery — so as to enfilade the enemy's line. Four batteries
232 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
tlien opened upon the guns in tlie redoubt and soon silenced
tliem, and Coon's brigade charged the supporting infantry
force, and though under the fire of the second redoubt, cap-
tured the four guns. The skirmishers of McMillen's and Hub-
bard's brigades of IMcArthur's division were also charging
from an opposite direction, and entering the redoubt at the
same moment contributed to the successful issue. One hun-
dred and fifty prisoners were taken with the guns.
The two divisions immediately moved to the right, cavalry
and infantry vicing with each other in the effort to carry the
stronger redoubt on a hill whose acclivity greatly increased
the hazard of an assault. This position, however, was carried
in the same manner as the other. Coon's brigade, arined with
the Spencer rifle, supported by two fresh brigades, charged
up the hill and drove the enemy from position ; wdiile Mc-
Arthur's brigades were in such close proximity, in a sweeping
charge, as to lay claim to the guns and two hundred and fifty
prisoners.
During these successful movements, by the direction of Gen-
eral Thomas, General Schofield moved his corps to the right
of General Smith, and formed it for battle. This change be-
came necessary, as the latter had moved farther to the left
than had been anticipated, and the enemy's true flank had not
been found. General Schofield was directed to attack his
flank, which rested upon a group of hills ]iear the Hillsboro
turnpike, that the cavalry might operate in his rear. In order
to preserve continuity of line, General Smith threw ^Vard's
brigade of his reserve division to the front, to fill a space of a
half mile between his right and Schofield's left; and to give
full space to General Schofield, General Hatch moved to the
right, across the Hillsboro turnpike, and with his other bri-
gade attacked the enemy on another range of hills, drove him
from it, and captured a battery in the valley beyond. In the
meantime, Generals Schofield and Smith advanced their lines.
Colonel Hill's brigade of Mc Arthur's division carried a small
earthwork containing two guns, but lost its commander in the
assault. Colonel "Wolf 's brigade of Garrard's division crossed
the Hillsboro turnpike and gained the works on the left.
General Schofield moved to the ris^ht of the two redoubts first
BATTLE OF XASHVILLE, ETC. 233
captured, crossed tlie Ilillsboro road and a valley beyond, and
carried a series of liills overlooking the Granny White turn-
23ike — one of the two remaining lines of retreat available to
the enemy. The charge was made by General Cooper's bri-
gade of Couch's division. The enemy here made liis first
attempt on his left to give a counter-blow. He had previously
massed a heavy force on his left to hurl it against General
Thomas' right flank. When General Cooper had crossed the
valley to carry the hills beyond, this force appeared in his rear
in the low ground. General Couch then sent ISIehringer's
brigade against it, and though the enemy was of superior
strength. Colonel Mehringer checked him until Doolittle's and
Casement's brigades of Cox's division advanced in his sup-
port. The engagement was continued with sharp fighting
until dark.
The action of the Fourth Corps was equally successful. As
soon as General Smith became engaged on General Wood's
right, the latter moved his corps toward Montgomery Hill, the
salient of the enemy's defensive line. This position was very
strong, being an irregular cone rising about one hundred feet
above the general level of the country. The ascent, except on
the left and rear, is quite abrupt, and was covered with forest
trees. The intrenchments concealed the hill a little below the
crest, and the approaches were covered with abatis and sharp-
ened stakes firmly planted in the ground. During the forma-
tion of the corps for assault, the guns in position expressed
defiance, and in response and menace General Wood's guns
opened with vigor. As the corps advanced, it swung to the
left, in order that the more easy ascent should be in froni
of Beatty's division, which had been required to furnish an
assaulting column, of which Colonel Post's brigade was desig
uated for the front and Colonel Streight's for immediate sup
port. At 1 p. M. Colonel Post dashed up the hill and over the
intrenchments on the summit, and held the enemy's stronghold
This action was anterior to the more positive success of Smith
and Wilson on the right, and opened the way for General Scho-
field to move to the right of General Smith. When the Twenty-
third Corps was transferred to the right, General Thomas di-
rected General Wood to throw his reserves on his right, to extend
234 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
liis line to as great an extent as was compatible witli the se-
curity of liis front. In obedience, General Wood put the re-
serve brigade of each division on his right, and then engaged
the enemy with his entire corps. He brought three batteries
into play and pressed forward a strong skirmish line, but at
first made no threat of assaulting. Soon, however, he made
preparations to carry the enemy's works in his front ; moving
his right division, whose right had extended in rear of General
Smith's left, farther to his own left, and then advanced it and
his central division, so as to bring Kimball's division opposite
a fortified hill near the center of General Hood's main line.
Placing two batteries so as to throw a converging fire upon
the hill, he used them vigorously for an hour, and then ordered
General Kimball to charge with his whole division. With loud
cheers, the division ascended the hill and leaped over the in-
trenchments, capturing several pieces of artillery, stands of
colors, and a large number of prisoners. At the same time,
General Elliott carried the intrenchments in his front, and Gen-
eral Beatty crowned the enemy's works before his division with
captures of artillery and prisoners. In this general advance,
the right of General Wood's line became involved with the
left of General Smith's, and conflicting claims for the fruits of
victory were preferred. At 5 p. m. General Wood received an
order from General Thomas to move to the Franklin turnpike,
two and a half miles distant, and facing southward, to drive
the enemy across it. The corps moved as directed, but the
night fell too soon for it to reach its destination, but it bivou-
acked on a line parallel to the Granny White turnpike con-
necting with General Smith's left.
On the extreme left, other advantages were gained after
the feint of the morning. Colonels Morgan and Grosvenor
pressed the enemy from Raine's house and held the position,
using the buildings for defense. Colonel Thompson, with
his detachment, advanced across Brown's creek, between the
Murfreesboro and ISTolensville turnpikes, and carried the left
of the front line of fortifications on the latter road, holding his
ground firmly. In this succession of aggressive movements,
the colored troops were prominent and successful.
During the day the enemy had been driven from his original
BATTLE OF NASHYILIiE, ETC. 235
line of works, and forced back to a position on tlie Harpeth
hills, and his left had been completely turned, though he still
held two lines of retreat — one on the Granny ^Vhite road, and
the other on the direct road to Franklin. Seventeen pieces of
artillery had been taken from him, also twelve hundred pris-
oners and several hundred small arms. The cavalry had cleared
its front, covered the extremity of the infantry line, enveloped
the enemy's left flank and taken it in reverse, and had only
failed in the extreme possibility of reaching the Franklin turn-
pike in rear of Hood's army. General Wilson at dark directed
General Hatch to bivouac on the Hillsboro road, to cover Gen-
eral Smith's right flank. He placed General Knipe's division
on Hatch's right ; Hammond's brigade had reached the six-
mile post on the Hillsboro road, and turned thence up a branch
of Richland creek for three miles, bivouacking on the Granny
W bite turnpike. General Johnson's division had moved far
to the right during the day, to co-operate with the gunboats
in dislodging the enemy from Bell's landing, and bivouacked
in the vicinity, in prospect of co-operating with Lieutenant-
Commander Fitch in an attack the next morning. General
Croxton had moved on Johnson's left for several miles, and
having turned to the left, rested for the night at the six-mile
post on the Charlotte turnpike. The brigade of dismounted
cavalry took position on the Hillsboro turnpike, to cover Hatch
and Hammond against a possible advance of the enemy's cav-
alry on that road.
The whole army bivouacked with assurance of complete
victory on the morrow. The authorities at Washington and
the people of the country, after ten days of impatience at
General Thomas' delay in preparation for a battle now so glori-
ously begun, were in full sympathy with the troops lying on
their arms before the defeated enemy. General Grant, on his
way to JSTashville from City Point, Virginia, stopped at Wash-
ington, while General Logan, farther advanced toward the
same destination, halted at Louisville. Ofiicial congratu-
lations from the President, Secretary of War, and Lieutenant-
General sped their swift way to General Thomas and his army.
The defeat, total and immediate, of one of the two great
armies upon which the existence of the rebellion depended
236 K4.TT1lE of NASHVILLE, ETC.
was now assured, and the reaction from the historic uneas-
iness which had obtained throughout the country with re-
gard to the situation at Nashville to the extreme of hope-
fulness with respect to the immediate issue and the ultimate
consequences of the battle, was one of the most marked revul-
sions of opinion and feeling during the war. The army had
felt no uneasiness, and now looked forward with calm as-
surance to the result which had been anticipated during all
the days of peparation for battle.
During the night, General Hood drew back his center and
right to a stronger position, his right then resting on Overton
hill, and his left remaining on the Harpeth or Brentwood
range. His line extended along the base of the hills, his artil-
lery was massed at points most available for its effective use,
and his troops spent the night in fortifying the position. The
battle-front now presented by the enemy was on its left nearly
perpendicular in trend to the right of the national line, the
latter having so far wheeled to the left that its direction was
nearly at right angles to its original linear course. This rela-
tion of the army lines made General Schofield fearful vith re-
gard to his right ilank, and during the night he requested re-
inforcements from General Smith, who sent to him Colonel-
Moore's division. Before daylight. Colonel Moore was in re-
serve on General Schofield's right.
As General Hood's retreat was now probable, General
Thomas gave orders for movements on the 16th having ref-
erence to attack should he accept battle, and to pursuit should
he retreat. Each corps was ordered to move forward rapidly
at 6 A, M. until the enemy should be met. As General Hood's
left remained in proximity to General Schofield's line, he did
not move early in the morning. The Fourth Corps advanced
promptly as ordered toward the Franklin road. The enemy's
skirmishers were soon encountered, but were speedily driven
back, and the Franklin road was gained. Here the corps was
deployed — Elliott's division across the road facing southward,
Beatty's on the left, and Kimball's in reserve behind Elliott.
It then advanced rapidly three-fourths of a mile, and met a
strong skirmish line behind barricades, the main line being
plainly in view a half mile beyond. Simultaneously with the
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 237
movement of the Fourth Corps, General Steedman advanced on
the left, and General Smith on the right. The former soon
found that the enemy had left his front, and pressing forward,
took position between the Kolensville turnpike and General
"Wood's left, his own right resting on the railroad, and his left
on the IsTolensville road. To cover his rear against dashes of
cavalry, he ordered Mitchell's brigade of Cruft's division from
the defenses, to occupy Riddle's hill. General Smith ad-
vanced with two divisions, Garrard's and McArthur's, going
hito position, under the fire of the enemy's artillery, about
eight hundred yards from his main line. The Twenty -third
Corps was still at right angles with this liis new offensive line,
facing eastward. General Smith's right was opposite very
strong intrenchments of the enemy — in fact, was at the base
of the hill upon which they rested. lie simply held position
until 1 p. M., waiting for General Schofield, who was to take
the initiative againt General Hood's left. There being an in-
terval between his left and General Wood's right, the latter
threw into it Kimball's division, and completed the continuous
alignment of the infantry from left to right. In the meantime,
the artillery from all parts of the line kept up a measured fire,
and even muskets were used freely to induce the enemy to ex-
pend his limited ammunition.
Pending the movements of the infantry to perfect their
array. General AVilson was active in the formation of the cav-
alry on the right. Early in the morning, Hammond's pickets
on the Granny White turnpike had been attacked and driven,
back ; but in compliance with orders. General Hammond had
strengthed his line and regained his position. During this
action. Hatch's division had been directed to the enemy's rear,
passing to Hammond's left. The country Being hilly and
covered with a dense forest, was impracticable for the move-
ment of cavalry, mounted, and hence the whole force Avas dis-
mounted and pushed forward. General Croxton moved to the
front to support either Hatch or Hammond, and General
Johnson, who had ascertained early in the morning that the
enemy had abandoned Bell's landing, had been ordered to
move across to the Hillsboro turnpike. By noon, the cavalry
238 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
formed a continuous line from General Schofield's right to the
Oranny White turnpike. General Thomas' object now was
to turn both flanks of the enemy. His flanks were stronger
than his center, but success in turning either or both prom-
ised better results than to break through his center, as they
covered his lines of retreat. Could one or the other be turned,
there was the possibility of reaching his i-ear and cutting off his
retreat, and could both be turned at once, he would be thrown
in confusion on his only line of retreat through the Brentwood
Pass, and the probability would be doubly strong of cutting
him off. Having rode along his line from Wood to Schofield,
he ordered the latter and Smith to attack the enemy's left, and
the former and Steedman to move against Overton hill.
The Brentwood hills, rising about three hundred and fifty
feet above the level of the country, consist of two ranges
trending from their northernmost summits, on the one hand
to the southeast, and on the other to the southwest, and ter-
minating on opposite sides of the Brentwood Pass, through
which the direct road to Franklin courses, and situated about
nine miles from ITashville. These hills were the background
for General Hood's army ; his battle line coursed over the
detached hills in front, covered in great part with native for-
ests. Overton hill commanded the Franklin turnpike, run-
ning along its base, and was intrenched around its northern
slope, half-way from base to summit, with a flank running
round its eastern descent, and the approaches were obstructed
by abatis and other entanglements. This position was ex-
ceedingly strong, and the troops holding it had been heavily
reinforced during the forenoon.
General Wood sent Colonel Post to reconnoiter the position,
who reported that the northern slope was most favorable for
assault. As before, his brigade was chosen to form the head
of the assaulting column, with Streight's in support. General
Steedman designated Thompson's brigade of colored troops,
and Grosvenor's, to co-operate in the assault. As preparatory
to the advance of these columns. Major Goodspeed, chief of
artillery of the Fourth Corps, was ordered to pour a converg-
ing fire upon the enemy's batteries, and continue it as long as
it could be done with safety to the advancing troops. At 3
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 239
P. M. the assaulting columns moved up the steep ascent, cov-
ered with a strong line of skirmishers, to draw the enemy's
fire and annoy his gunners. The instructions required that
the columns should move steadily until near the intrench-
ments, and then to dash up the ascent and leap the abatis
and parapets. The movement promised success until the
moment of final issue. The leading men in each column
reached the parapets, and a few had gained the works, when
the enemy's reserves opened a fire so destructive as to drive
back both lines with heavy loss. The colored soldiers suffered
equally with the veteran white troops, and with them shared
the glory of a gallant but unsuccessful assault. The survivors
were reformed at the base of the hill, in readiness for another
attack ; but Colonel Post was not for the third time to lead, as
had received a severe wound.
The advance on the right soon followed the attack upon
Overton hill. It had been anticipated that the Twenty-third
Corps, facing east, would first advance ; but there was so much
delay that General McArthur requested permission to carry
the strong position before him and General Schofield equally,
and although General Thomas desired him to wait until he
could hear from General Schofield, and went himself to the
right, McArthur, fearing that an opportunity would be lost,
directed Colonel McMillen to charge with his brigade and
take by storm, the hill upon which rested the left flank of
the main line of the enemy. McMillen was directed to ascend
from the west, while the other brigades of the division should
attack in front, when he should be half-way up to the summit.
Colonel McMillen ordered his men to refrain from firing a
shot, and from all cheering, until they had gained the works.
The One hundred and Fourteenth Illinois, Ninth Indiana, and
Eighth Minnesota formed his first line, and the Seventy-second
Indiana and the Ninety-fifth Ohio his second. A heavy line
of skirmishers moved rapidly forward, and as it advanced, the
artillery, in sympathy, gave roar after roar with quick repeti-
tion, while between these sheets of flame and smoke, in the
stern silence of desperate valor, the brigade moved up the hill.
Hubbard, " eager in emulation," started directly up, followed
by Hill's brigade with another leader, and all by Garrard's
240 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
division. The enemy opened witli musketry, and the death-
dealing short-range missiles of his artillery; but on, without
halt or waver, moved the columns, and soon the position was
carried, with three general officers and a large number of
lower grades, and a corresponding number of men as prisoners,
and twenty-seven pieces of artillery, and twelve stands of
colors. The shout of these divisions in victory called forth
responsive cheers from those charging on right and left.
"Wilson, with his dismounted troopers, swept eastward, and,
, with Coon's brigade, gained the hill, against which the TAventy-
third Corps was advancing. Soon after, Doolittle's brigade of
Cox's division crowned a fortified position on the right of the
salient of the enemy's left flank, the division capturing eight
guns and from two hundred and fifty to three hundred pris-
oners. The noise of Smith's victory moved Wood and Steed-
man to renew their assault upon Overton hill — their entire
commands rushing forward and sweeping all before them, on
the summit and beyond as they moved in rapid pursuit.
Beatty's division crowned the hill, and captured four pieces of
artillery, a large number of prisoners, and two stands of colors ;
Kimball's cleared the intrenchments in its front, and captured
a large number of prisoners and small arms ; and Elliott's car-
ried the line throughout its front, and captured five guns and
several hundred prisoners and small arms. This general
charge was resistless, and the enemy was hurled from every
position in utter rout and demoralization. The success of
the first day was the inspiration of the second, and officers
and men vied with each other in personal daring and persist-
ent, steady courage. General Hood must have regarded his
second position stronger than his first, or he would not have
attempted to hold it, for all other conditions of the second
battle were much more unfavorable to successful resistance
than those of the first. The prestige was with the national
army, and, on the second day of his last battle, he ought to
have known that a victorious iniatitive by a l!*[orthern army
had more significance than when attained by a Southern one.
The Northern armies seldom lost a battle which had a prom-
ising beginning, and they often gained them, after the South-
ern people had been electrified by the rash assumption of vie-
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 241
tory by their generals, when afterward, on the same field^
their initial success was turned into positive defeat, by the
pluck and persistence of ISTorthern soldiers.
Wlien General Wilson's command had gained their saddles,
which unfortunately was delayed in consequence of the fact,
that they had gone far from their horses, as those leading them
made slow progress over the broken ground and dense forests,
Hatch and Knipe hurried in pursuit. General Hatch was di-
rected to move on the Granny White road and make effort to
reach the Franklin turnpike that night. He had, however,
proceeded but a short distance, when he met Chalmers' divis-
ion, strongly posted across the road behind a barricade of rails.
Dismounting a portion of his command, he deployed on both
sides of the road. While his skirmishers were advancing.
Colonel Spalding charged, broke the line, and scattered the
force in all directions, capturing Brigadier-General Rucker,
for the time in command of the division. The cavalry then
bivouacked for the night — Hatch, Knipe, and Croxton on the
Granny White road, and Johnson on the Hillsboro road, near
the Harpeth river.
The Fourth Corps followed the enemy on the Franklin
turnpike, and the frequent discharges of its artillery increased
the confusion of the retreat. At dark the corps bivouacked
a mile from the village of Brentwood. The line of retreat
revealed the fact that General Hood's army had abandoned
itself to a most disorderly withdrawal. Small arms and ac-
couterments were strewn thickly along the road, while no
effort was made to carry off the wounded or dispose of the
dead. The army was not only defeated, but it was broken
and crushed, and had the conditions of pursuit proved favor-
able, even the fragments would have been gathered in capture.
The action of the 15th removed from all in the North the
fear of disaster at Kashville, or the invasion of Kentucky.
That of the 16th announced the overthrow of the rebellion in
the West, and foretold its speedy utter annihilation. There
was now no formidable Confederate army between the Missis-
sippi river and Virginia. One of the two armies, upon whose
organic life, strength and activity the rebellion rested, was
VOL. n — 16
242 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
fleeing southward in disorganization and dismay. On no
other field of the war had two armies of equal proportions
fought with similar issue. Drawn battle or indecisive victory
had usually resulted. But now, the Confederate Army of the
Tennessee, which had fought with historic honor at Donel-
son, Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Lookout
Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, ITew Hope Church,
Kenesaw Mountain, Peachttee Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, in
all the minor battles of " the hundred days under fire," and at
Franklin and Nashville, found its grave on a field in close
proximity to its first line of defense. iN'either was its demor-
alization rife before its last conflict. There were too many
ofiicers and men captured with swords, guns, and colors, within
their intrenchments, to warrant the supposition that this his-
toric army, with its traditions of valor and unity on every
previous field, came far north in the mere semblance of the
boldest aggression, to throw down its arms in shameless dis-
regard of its glorious antecedents. There was, indeed, less
loss of life to the victors than usual, but may not this result
find explanation in the nice adjustment of strategic and tac-
tical combinations and the almost unprecedented vigor of as-
sault. Successful assaults are never as costly as those which
fail, all other things being equal. Thompson's brigade of
■colored troops lost twenty-five per cent, of its strength in
thirty minutes, on the slope of Overton hill ; but had not the
gallant leader of the main column fallen at the critical mo-
ment when a leader's presence and heroism is the ruling condi-
tion of successful assault, the soldiers who fell on the parapets
and within the enemy's lines might have lived to plant their
banners in room of those of treason and rebellion. The story
is half told, and the philosophy of the victory is half revealed,
by the declaration of a captured general officer, " that powder
and lead were inadequate to resist such a charge." The other
half of the history of the battle, and the cause of victory,
come to light in the palpable co-operation of the chief sub-
ordinates with the commander-in-chief in the execution of a
definite plan of battle, and the personal supervision of the
vital movements by General Thomas. There were no exposed
flanks, and no opportunities for stunning oflfensive returns.
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 243
There was only one unsuccessful assault, and that was upon
the strongest position of the enemy, manned hy the heaviest
concentration on his line, Wo battle of the war manifests
more complete prevision of contingencies, or more full pro-
vision for emergencies and possibilities. This battle moved
on gloriously from its initial feint to the final charge, in the
revelation of the highest type of generalship and the highest
martial virtues of an entire army. Its immediate fruits were
four thousand four hundred and sixty-two prisoners, including
•one major-general and three brigadiers, and two hundred and
^eighty ofiicers of lower grades, all the wounded upon the field,
fifty-three pieces of artillery, thousands of small arms, and
twenty -five battle-flags.
General Thomas and the officers and men of his army were
fully alive to the importance of vigorous pursuit. But it had
been impossible to make full preparations before the battle,
and the bridges on the line of retreat being at the mercy of
the enemy, the difficulties in prospect were by no means slight.
It was the season of rain, and there were bad roads, and the
rivers and creeks which crossed the line of pursuit were full,
us well as bridgeless in prospect. In the conduct of the pur-
suit. General Thomas was put under orders and exhortations,
as he had previously been to fight the battle before he con-
sidered himself prepared and the conditions promising.
During the evening of the 16th, he gave orders for the move-
ments of the next day, and in one single direction to a staflF
officer he failed to express what he intended. Being roused
from rest in his tent, by an officer who was to receive instruc-
tions regarding the movement of the pontoon train, he di-
rected it upon the Murfreesboro road instead of the one to
Franklin. He did not discover his mistake until the next
morning, when he asked as he was riding on the latter road,
if the train had passed to the front. It was immediately re-
called from the wrong road, and hurried forward, but never-
theless a serious delay resulted.
Having given orders for the care of the wounded, and the
collection of the captured and abandoned property. General
Thomas commenced the pursuit early in the morning of the
17th. The Fourth Corps pushed on to Franklin through
244 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
Brentwood, and the cavalry followed the Granny White road
to the junction of the two roads, and then General Wilson
hurried past the infantry. In moving upon Franklin, General
"Wilson kept General Knipe's command on the direct road^
and sent Generals Hatch and Croxton to cross the Harpeth
above the town.
General Knipe found the enemy strongly posted at Hollow
Tree Gap, four miles north of Franklin, and charging him,
front and flank, carried the position, and captured four hun-
dred and thirteen men and three flags. At Franklin, he again
made a show of resistance, but upon Johnson's approach on
the south bank of the river, he retreated toward Columbia.
Beyond the town. Generals Knipe and Hatch moved in par-
allel columns on the Columbia and Carter's Creek roads, while
Johnson followed Knipe, and Croxton advanced on the Lewis-
burg road. The extreme flanking columns were instructed to
press round the flanks of the enemy's rear-guard, composed
almost entirely of infantry, while a strong line of skirmishers
should attack in the rear — the object being to break up the
last organized force which was covering the fugitive and
broken columns in rapid retreat. This rear-guard, however,
proved very efficient and subtle, preventing any successful
flanking, and skirmishing with spirit in the rear, while moving
rapidly. Late in the evening, the enemy took a strong posi-
tion in the open field, about one mile from the West Harpeth.
The rapid movement of the cavalry had thrown them into
some confusion and intervolutiou with the enemy, which,
with the fog and falling darkness, caused some doubt as to the
fact that the force in fi'ont was the rear-guard of the enemy.
The consequent hesitation gave the enemy opportunity to
form his line and post his batteries. As soon as the true state
of affairs was ascertained. General Wilson ordered Hatch and
Knipe to charge both flanks. The batteries from both sides
opened briskly, when Lieutenant Hedges, commanding the
Fourth United States Cavalry, with his regiment in column by
fours, dashed forward in a saber charge, and broke through the
battery. Hatch's division and Hammond's brigade, dismounted,
charged at the same time, and the enemy was completely
routed. Lieutenant Hedges was three times captured, but
BATTLE OF XASHVILLE, ETC. 245
•escaped at last. The pursuit was vigorous, notwithstanding
the darkness. General Hatch, with the Tenth Indiana Cav-
alry, forded the "West ITarpeth, and struck the enemy in flank.
Being pressed on all sides, the enemy abandoned his guns,
and fled in disorder, under cover of the darkness. This rear-
guard was Stevenson's division of Lee's corps, under Forrest.
The Fourth Corps reached Franklin a little after noon, but
the river had risen so rapidly after the cavalry had crossed,
that the infantry were delaj'ed to extemporize a bridge. Gen-
eral Steedman foUoAved General Wood, and encamped near
by on the north bank of the Harpeth ; the other two corps
were in the rear. Trains followed, with rations for ten days,
and a hundred rounds of ammunition to each man.
Early on the 18th, General "Wilson pursued and endeavored,
with Johnson's and Croxton's commands, to strike the enemy
at Spring Hill, but he had passed on over Rutherford's creek,
destroying the bridges behind him. The roads, even the turn-
pikes, had become exceedingly bad from the heavy rains and
their use by the enemy, and in consequence the pursuit was
greatly retarded. General Wood crossed the Harpeth in the
morning, and joined General Wilson at night at Rutherford's
■creek.
The difliculties of the pursuit were now fully apparent, and
anticipating the failure of all eflbrts to intercept Hood's army
with his own in direct advance. General Thomas, on the 18th,
ordered General Steedman to march his command to Murfrees-
boro ; that passing through Stevenson by rail, he should take
the troops of General R. S. Granger, including the former gar-
risons of Huntsville, Athens, and Decatur, and proceed to the
latter place. His instructions required that he should re-
occupy the important posts on that line, abandoned at the time
■of General Hood's advance, and with the remainder of his
forces cross the Tennessee river, and threaten the enemy's com-
munications west of Florence.
On the morning of the 19th, Generals Wilson and Wood
advanced to Rutherford's creek, whose deep swift current
formed a better rear-guard for the enemy than his dispirited
infantry and cavalry. During the day, several eflbrts were
made \o cross the stream, but all were fruitless. The rain con-
246 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
tinued and the pontoon train was still in the rear. While the
leading columns were thus detained, General Smith reached
Spring Hill, and General Schofield crossed the Harpeth at
Franklin.
The next morning, General Hatch formed a floating bridge-
from the debris of the railroad bridge, and crossing with his
division advanced rapidly to Columbia, to find that the enemy
had succeeded, the evening previous, in passing Duck river
and lifting his pontoon bridge. General Wood also crossed
by various expedients and encamped near Columbia.
The pontoon train reached Rutherford's creek at noon on
the 21st. A bridge was immediately thrown, and the troops
and trains passed over and moved to Columbia. The weather
now changed from excessive rain to extreme cold ; and this
greatly retarded the throwing of the bridge over Duck river.
The rapid subsidence of the water caused repeated alterations
in the length of the bridge, and protracted the delay. Gen-
eral Wood, however, crossed in the evening of the 23d, and
encamped two miles south of Columbia. The cavalry crossed
the next day and the pursuit was resumed ; but by this time
General Hood had reformed his rear-guard, and this accom-
plishment was one of the conditions of his escape. All his
best troops had been thrown to his rear, and the interval
between his disorganized forces and their pursuers had been
greatly increased. Such, too, was the topography of the coun-
try, that a small force could compel the deployment of the
leading troops, with loss of time. Another difiiculty was the
impossibility of moving the cavalry off the turnpike on the
flanks of the infantry column, as General Thomas had directed^
on account of the softness of the soil. As a consequence, the
infantry fell in rear of the cavalry ; and in this order Gen-
erals Wilson and Wood moved toward Pulaski. The former
encountered the enemy in the vicinity of Lynnville, and the
country being open he was driven rapidly. At Buford's Sta-
tion, while Hatch was pressing directly forward, Croxton struck
the enemy's flank, when he was thrown into rapid retreat.
A number of prisoners were captured, and General Buford was
wounded.
The enemy moved hurriedly through Pulaski, closely fol-
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 247
lowed by Colonel Harrison's brigade. Harrison's quick move-
ment compelled the enemy to leave the "bridge over Richland
creek, and hurrying forward he found him intrenched at the
head of a ravine through which the road passed. Here his
infantry leaped quickly from the intrenchments, brushed back
Harrison's skirmishers, and captured one gun of Smith's bat-
tery— "I," Fourth United States Artillery. The enemy
retained the gun, but left iifty prisoners when Hatch and
Hamnaond moved upon his flanks. On the 26th, the pursuit
was continued to Sugar creek, where the enemy was again
found in intrenchments, but which he abandoned upon the
development of a line of attack.
Here the pursuit was abandoned, as it had been ascertained
that General Hood's infantry forces had effected the passage
of the Tennessee river at Bainbridge. The gunboats under
Admiral Lee had reached Chickasaw, Mississippi, on the 24th,
and soon after captured two guns from a battery at Florence.
General Steedman reached Decatur on the 28th, having met
resistance in crossing the river at that place.
When the pursuit terminated, General Thomas gave orders
for the disposition of his forces in winter cantonments, on the
line of the Tennessee river, having ulterior aggressive aims.
His orders located the Fourth Corps at Huntsville and Athens,
Alabama ; the Twenty-third Corps at Dalton, Georgia ; General
Smith's corps at Eastport, Mississippi, and General Wilson's
cavalry at Huntsville and Eastport. On the 30th, he an-
nounced in orders the conclusion of the campaign, and con-
gratulated his army upon its eminent success.
This was the last invasion of the State of Tennessee by the
Confederate Army of the Tennessee, composed largely of
troops from that state, many of whom, in the final rout, scat-
tered in all directions, and never again stood under their ban-
ners. Indeed, the banners of this army, as such, were never
again borne in battle. Exclusive of the multitudes who wan-
dered from his army, General Hood lost by capture thirteen
thousand one hundred and eighty-nine men, including seven
general officers, sixteen colonels, and nearly one thousand of
lower grades, and two thousand by formal desertion. He lost
seventy-two pieces of serviceable artillery, seventy stands of
248 • BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
colors, and immense quantities of small arms, wagons, pon-
toons, and other material. If, to the fifteen thousand men
reported as prisoners and deserters, there should be added his
losses in battle and the never-reported desertions, it is safe
to conclude that scarcely one-half of his army recrossed the
Tennessee river. The portion of it which did cross, was too
dispirited to give further support to the sinking cause.
In the whole campaign. General Thomas lost, in all the
forms of casualty, about ten thousand men, a large portion
of this aggregate having been slightly wounded.
This campaign, as also the Atlanta campaign, had intimate
relations with the operations of General Canby on the Missis-
sippi river. Twice had the Confederate President ordered the
armies under Generals Smith and Magruder, west of the great
river, to cross to the east — once to aid General Johnston
against General Sherman, and again, to join General Hood in
his projected advance through Kentucky. General Canby 's
success in preventing the transfer of these forces in the two
cases, eliminated from each the ruling condition of success.
He achieved this result by holding the best crossings with
strong detachments, and keeping a floating army, in con-
junction with the gunboat fleet, in constant motion up and
down the river.
Nashville, November 29, 1864.
Major-General Steedman, Stevenson:
Your dispatch of 11.30 a. m. to-day received. Concentrate your troops
at Cowan, as previously directed, and if the enemy moves over to the N.
& C. railroad, act according to instructions given in my telegram of the
25th. When General Smith arrives, and he begins to push the enemy
back, you can then proceed to execute the Tuscumbia expedition.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. iS. F. Commanding.
Nashville, November 30, 1864 — 3 p. m.
Admiral S. P. Lee :
As soon as the iron-clads return to Paducah, please order them into
the Cumberland river, to patrol that river and convoy transports up and
down. Hood at present has a cavalry force so much larger than mine
that I have been compelled to fall back and concentrate on Nashville.
But as soon as I can get my cavalry back from Louisville, 1 feel confident
I can drive him back.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 249
Nashville, December 1, 1864 — 9.30 p. m.
Admiral S. P. Lee :
Your communication by Commander Fitch "and telegram of 1 p. m., this
•date are received, and I am much indebted to you for having changed
the destination of the iron-clads. Commander Fitch thinks if the iron-
clads you expect at Smithland were stationed at Clarksville, the river
then would be made perfectly safe. Will you please order them to
Clarksville ?
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-Oeneral U. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, December 3, 1864.
Admiral S. P. Lee, Mound City :
Your telegram of yesterday received last night. My force of cavalry
and infantry at Franklin being so much less than that of the enemy, I
•determined to fall back to this place to concentrate my infantry and give
time to General Wilson to arm and equip sufficient cavalry to meet For-
rest. I have here now nearly as much infantry as Hood, and in a few
•days hope to have cavalry enough to enable me to assume the offensive.
In the meantime, Captain Fitch has cheerfully complied with my request
to patrol the river above and below the city. I am therefore in hopes we
shall, in a few days, be able to take the offensive on pretty even terms
with the enemy. I regret much that my telegram of the 30th implied
an order to you, which was not intended. With many thanks for your
previous prompt co-operations,
I am, yours truly,
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major- General U. 8. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
December 9, 1864.
Major-General J. M. Schojield, Commanding Twenty-third Army Corps :
Owing to the severity of the storm raging to-day, it is found necessary
to postpone the operations designed for to-morrow morning until the
breaking up of the storm. I desire, however, that everything be put in
condition to carry out the plan contemplated as soon as the weather will
permit it to be done, so that we can act instantly when the storm clears
away. Acknowledge receipt.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Sent to Major-General A. J. Smith, commanding detachment Army of
Tennessee ; Major-General J. B. Steedman, commanding District of
Etowah, and Brigadier-General Thomas J. Wood, commanding Fourth
Army Corps.
250 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
December 10, 1864.
Brigadier- General Thomas J. Wood, Commanding Fourth Army Corps :
What is the condition of the ground between the enemy's line and
your own ? Is it practicable for men to move about on it with facility ?
I would like your opinion about it.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General TJ. 8. V. Commanding.
Nashville, December 11, 1864.
Major- Generals Schqfield, iSteedman, Smith, and Brigadier-General Wood:
Have your commands put in readiness to-morrow for operations. I
wish to see you at my headquarters at 3 p. m. to-morrow. Acknowledge
receipt.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General TJ. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, December 1, 1864 — 9.30 p. m
Major-General Halleclc, Washington, D. C :
After General Schofield's fight of yesterday, feeling convinced that the
enemy very far outnumbered him both in infantry and cavalry, I deter-
mined to retire to the fortifications around Nashville, until General Wilson
can get his cavalry equipped. He has now but about one-fourth the
number of the enemy, and consequently is no match for him. I have
two iron-clads here with several gunboats, and Commander Fitch assures
me that Hood can neither cross the Cumberland nor blockade it. I
therefore think it best to wait here until Wilson can equip all his cavalry.
If Hood attacks me here, he will be more seriously damaged than he was
yesterday. If he remains until Wilson gets equipj)ed, I can whip him,
and will move against him at once. I have Murfreesboro strongly held,,
and therefore feel easy in regard to its safety. Chattanooga, Bridgeport,
Stevenson, and Elk river bridges have strong garrisons.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. iS. V. Commanding..
War Department,
Washington, December 2 — 10.30 a. m.
Lieutenant- General Grant, City Point:
The President feels solicitous about the disposition of Thomas, to lay
in fortifications for an indefinite period "until Wilson gets equipments."
This looks like the McClellan and Rosecrans strategy of do nothing, and
let the enemy raid the country. The President writes you to consider
the matter.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War^
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 251
City Point, Va., December 2, 1864—11 a. m.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville :
If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, we will lose-
all the roads back to Chattanooga, and possibly have to abandon the line
of the Tennessee river. Should he attack you, it is all well, but if he
does not, you should attack him before he fortifies. Arm and put in the
trenches your quartermaster's employes, citizens, etc.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
City Point, Va., December 2, 1864—1.30 p. m.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville:
"With your citizen employes armed, you can move out of Nashville with
all your army, and force the enemy to retire or fight upon ground of your
own choosing. After the repulse of Hood at Franklin, it looks to me
that instead of falling back to Nashville, we should have taken the offensive
against the enemy, but at this distance may err as to the method of deal-
ing with the enemy. You will suffer incalculable injury upon your rail-
roads, if Hood is not speedily disposed of Put forth, therefore, every pos-
sible exertion to attain this end. Should you get him to retreating, give
him no peace.
(Signed,) U. S. GEANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, Tenn., December 2, 1864 — 10 p. m.
General XJ. 8. Grant, City Point, Va. :
Your two telegrams of 11 a. m. and 1.30 p. m. to-day are received. At
the time Hood was whipped at Franklin, 1 had at this place but about five
thousand (5,000) men of General Smith's command, which, added to the
force under General Schofield, would not have given me more than
twenty-five thousand (25,000) men. Besides, General Schofield felt con-
vinced that he could not hold the enemy at Franklin until the five thou-
sand could reach him. As General Wilson's cavalry force also numbered
only about one-fourth that of Forrest, I thought it best to draw the troops
back to Nashville, and await the arrival of the remainder of General
Smith's force, and also a force of about five thousand (5,000) commanded
by General Steedman, which I had ordered up from Chattanooga. The
division of General Smith arrived yesterday morning, and General Steed-
man's troops arrived last night. I now have infantry enough to assume
the offensive, if I had more cavalry ; and will take the field anyhow as
soon as the remainder of General McCook's division of cavalry reaches
here, which I hope it will in two or three days.
We can neither get reinforcements nor equipmonts at this great dis-
tance from the North very easily, and it must be remembered that my
command was made up of the two weakest corps of General Sherman's
252 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
army, and all the dismounted cavalry except one brigade ; and the task
of reorganizing and eqviipj^ing has met with many delays, which have en-
abled Hood to take advantage of my crippled condition. I earnestly
hope, however, in a few more days, I shall be able to give him a fight.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
City Point, Va., December 5, 1864 — 6.30 p. M.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville, Tenn. :
Is there not danger of Forrest's moving down the Tennessee river
where he can cross it? It seems to me, while you should be getting up
your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after Forrest, Hood should be
attacked where he is.
Time strengthens him, in all probability, as much as it does you.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Nashville, December 6, 1864.
Lieutenant- General U. S. Grant, City Point :
Your telegram of 6.30 p. m., December 5th, is just received. As soon
as I get up a respectable force of cavalry I will march against Hood.
General Wilson has parties out now pressing horses, and I hope to have
gome six or eight thousand cavalry mounted in three days from this time.
General Wilson has just left me, having received instructions to hurry the
cavalry to remount as rapidly as possible. I do not think it prudent to
attack Hood with less than six thousand (6,000) cavalry to cover my
flanks, because he has under Forrest at least twelve thousand (12,000).
I have no doubt Forrest will attempt to cross the river, but I am in hopes
the gunboats will be able to prevent him. The enemy has made no new
developments to-day. Breckinridge is reported at Lebanon with six
thousand (6,000) men, but I can not believe it possible.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
City Point, Va., December 6, 1864 — 4 p. m.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville:
Attack Hood at once, and wait no longer for a remount for your cav-
alry. There is great danger in delay, resulting in a campaign back to the
Ohio.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
Lieuteiiant- General.
Nashville, December 6, 1864 — 9 p. m.
Lieutenant-General TJ. S. Grant, City Point :
Your dispatch of 4 p. m. this day received. I will make the necessary
disposition and attack Hood at once, agreeably to your orders, though I
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 253
believe it will be hazardous with the small force of cavalry now at my
service.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
"War Department,
Washington, December 7, 1864 — 10.20 a. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant:
You remember that when Steele was relieved by Canby he was ordered
to Cairo, to report to this department. What shall be done with him?
The order superseding Rosecrans by Dodge has been issued. Thomas
seems unwilling to attack because it is hazardous, as if all war waS any
but hazardous. If he waits for Wilson to get ready, Gabriel will be blow-
ing his last horn.
EDWIN M. STANTON.
City Point, Va., December 8, 1864.
Major-General Hallech, Washington :
Please direct General Dodge to send all the troops he can spare to Gen-
eral Thomas. With such an order, he can be relied on to send all that
can properly go. They had probably better be sent to Louisville, for I fear
either Hood or Breckinridge will go to the Ohio river. I will submit
whether it is not advisable to call on Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, for
60,(-i00 men for thirty days. If Thomas has not struck yet, he ought to
be ordered to hand over his command to Schofield. There is no better
man to repel an attack than Thomas, but I fear he is too cautious to take
the initiative.
U. S. GEANT,
Lieutenant-General.
War Department,
Washington, D. C, December 8, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point :
If you wish General Thomas relieved, give the order. No one here
will, I think, interfere. The responsibility, howevei', will be yours, as no
one here, so far as I am informed, wishes General Thomas removed.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major- General, Chief of Staf.
Nashville, Tenn., December 7, 1864 — 9 p. m.
Major-General H. W. Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
The enemy has not increased his force on our front. Have sent gun-
boats up the river above Carthage. One returned to-day, and reported
no signs of the enemy on the river bank from forty miles above Carthage
to this place. Captain Fitch, U. S. navy, started down tlie river yester-
day, with a convoy of transport steamers, but was unable to get them
down, the enemy having planted three batteries on a bend of the river,
between this and Clarksville. Captain Fitch was unable to silence all
"254 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
three of the batteries yesterday, and will return again to-morrow morn-
ing, and, with the assistance of the Cincinnati, now at Clarksville, I am
in hopes will now be able to clear them out. So far the enemy has not
materially injured the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad.
(Signed), GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
City Point, Va., December 8, 1864 — 7.30 p. m.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville :
Your dispatch of yesterday received. It looks to me evidently the
•enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland, and are scattered. Why not
attack at once? By all means avoid the contingency of a foot-race to see
which, you or Hood, can beat to the Ohio. If you think necessary, call
on the governors of states to send a force into Louisville to meet the
enemy if he should cross the river. You clearly never should cross, ex-
cept in rear of the enemy. Now is one of the fairest opportunities ever
presented of destroying one of the three armies of the enemy. If de-
stroyed, he can never replace it. Use the means at your command, and
you can do this and cause a rejoicing from one end of the land to the
other.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
City Point, Va., December 8, 1864 — 10 p. m.
Major-General Hallech, Washington :
Your dispatch of 9 p. m. just received. I want General Thomas re-
minded of the importance of immediate action. I sent him a dispatch
this evening, which will probably urge him on. I would not say relieve
him until I hear further from him.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
Nashville, Tenn., December 8, 1864 — 11.30 p. m.
Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, Citg Point, Va. :
Your dispatch of 7.30 p. m. is just received. I can only say, in further
extenuation why I have not attacked Hood, that I could not concentrate
my troops, and get their transportation in order, in shorter time than it
has been done, and am satisfied I have made every effort that was possible
to complete the task.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General Commanding.
Washington, December 9, 1864 — 10.30 a. m.
Major-General George H. Thomas, Nashville, Tenn. :
Lieutenant-General Grant expresses much dissatisfaction at your delay
in attacking the enemy. If you wait till General Wilson mounts all his
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 255
cavalry, you will wait till doomsday, for the waste equals the supply.
Moreover, you will be in the same condition that Rosecrans was last year,
with so many animals that you can not feed them. Reports already come
in of a scarcity of forage.
(Signed,) H. W. HALLECK,
Major- General and Chief of Staff.
City Point, Va., December 9, 1864 — 11 a. m.
Major- G eneral Hallech, Washington, D. C :
Dispatch of 8 p. m. last evening, from Nashville, shows the enemy scat-
tered for more than seventy miles down the river, and no attack yet made
by Thomas. Please telegraph orders relieving him at once, and placing
Schofield in command. Thomas should be ordered to turn over all orders
and dispatahes received since the battle of Franklin, to Schofield.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
[GENERAL ORDERS NO. — .]
War Department, Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, December 9, 1864.
The following dispatch having been received from Lieutenant-General
Grant, viz, " Please telegraph orders relieving him (General Thomas) at
once, and placing (General) Schofield in command," the President orders :
I. That Major-General J. M. Schofield relieve at once Major-General
G. H. Thomas in command of the Department and Army of the Cumber-
land.
II. General Thomas will turn over to General Schofield all orders and
instructions received by him since the battle of Franklin.
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Nashville, December 9, 1864 — 2 p. m.
Major-General H. W. Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
Your dispatch of 10.30 a. m. this date is received. I regret that Gen-
eral Grant should feel dissatisfaction at my delay in attacking the enemy.
I feel conscious that I have done everything in my power to prepare, and
that the troops could not have been gotten ready before this. And if he
should order me to be relieved, I will submit without a murmur.
A terrible storm of freezing rain has come on since daylight, which
will render an attack impossible till it breaks.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
256 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
Nashville, Tenn., December 9, 1864 — 1 p. m.
Lieutenant-General JJ. S. Grant, City Point :
Your dispatch of 8.30 p. m. of the 8th is just received. I have nearly
completed my preparations to attack the enemy to-morrow morning, but
a terrible storm of freezing rain has come on to-day, which will make it
impossible for our men to fight to any advantage. I am therefore com-
pelled to wait for the storm to break, and make the attack immediately
after. Admiral Lee is patrolling the river above and below the city, and
I believe will be able to prevent the enemy from crossing. There is no
doubt but Hood's forces are considerably scattered along the river, with
the view of attempting a crossing, but it has been impossible for me to
organize and equip the troops for an attack at an earlier time. Major-
General Halleck informs me that you are very much dissatisfied with my
delay in attacking. I can only say I have done all in my power to pre-
pare, and if you should deem it necessary to relieve me, I shall submit
without a murmur.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General TJ. jS. V. Commanding.
War Department, "Washington, December 9, 1864 — 4 p. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point :
Orders relieving General Thomas had been made out when his telegram
of this p. M. was received. If you still wish these orders telegraphed to
Nashville, they will be forwarded.
H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff.
City Point, Va., December 9, 1864—5.30 p. m.
Major-General HallecJc, Washington :
General Thomas has been urged in every possible way to attack the
enemy; even to the giving the positive order. He did say bethought
he should be able to attack on the 7th, but he did not do so, nor has he
given a reason for not doing it. I am very unwilling to do injustice to
an officer who has done so much good service as General Thomas has,
however, and will therefore suspend the order relieving him until it is
seen whether he will do anything.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
City Point, Va., December 9, 1864 — 7.30 p. m.
Major-General Thomas, Nashville :
Your dispatch of 1 p. m. to-day is received. I have as much confidence
in your conducting the battle rightly as I have in any other officer, but it
has seemed to me you have been slow, and I have had no explanation of
affairs to convince me otherwise. Receiving your dispatch to Major-
General Hallack of 2 p. m. before I did the first to me, I telegraphed to
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 257
suspend the order relieving you, until we should hear further. I hope
most sincerely that there will be no necessity of repeating the order, and
that the facts will show that you have been right all the time.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
City Point, Va., December 11, 1864 — 4 p. m.
3fajor- General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville :
If you delay attacking longer, the mortifying spectacle will be wit-
nessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio, and you will be forced to
act, accepting such weather as you find. Let there be no further delay.
Hood can not stand even a drawn battle so far from his supplies of ord-
nance stores. If he retreats and you follow, he must lose his material
and most of his army. I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you
to-day announcing that you have moved. Delay no longer for weather
or reinforcements,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Nashville, Tenn., December 11, 1864 — 10.30 p. m.
Lieutenant- General U. S. Grant, City. Point, Va. :
Your dispatch of 4 p. m. this day is just received. I will obey the order
as promptly as possible, however much I may regret it, as the attack will
have to be made under every disadvantage. The whole country is cov-
ered with a perfect sheet of ice and sleet, and it is with difficulty the
troops are able to move about on level ground. It was my intention to
attack Hood as soon as the ice melted, and would have done so yesterday
had it not been for the storm.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, Tenn., December 12, 1864 — 10.30 p, m.
Major-General HallecTc, Washington, D. C. :
I have the troops ready to make the attack on the enemy as soon as the
sleet which now covers the ground has melted sufficiently to enable the
men to march. As the whole country is now covered with a sheet of ice
so hard and slippery, it is utterly impossible for troops to ascend the
slopes, or even move over level ground in anything like order. It has
taken the entire day to place my cavalry in position, and it has only
been finally effected with imminent risk, and many serious accidents, re-
sulting from the numbers of horses falling with their riders on the road.
Under these circumstances, I believe that an attack at this time would
only result in a useless sacrifice of life.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
VOL. n — 17
258 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
[SPECIAL ORDERS, NO. 149.]
Headquarters of the Armies of the United States,
City Point, Va., December 13, 1864.
I. Major-General John A. Logan, United States Volunteers, will proceed
immediately to Nashville, Tennessee, reporting by telegraph to the lieu-
tenant-general his arrival at Louisville, Kentucky, and also his arrival at
Nashville, Tennessee.
By command of Lieutenant-General Grant.
(Signed,) T. S. BOWERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville:
It has been seriously apprehended that while Hood, with a part of his
forces, held you in check near Nashville, he would have time to co-operate
against other important points, left only partially protected. Hence,
Lieutenant-General Grant was anxious that j^ou should attack the rebel
forces in your front, and expresses great dissatisfaction that his order had
not been carried out. Moreover, so long as Hood occupies a threatening
position in Tennessee, General Canby is obliged to keep large forces on
the Mississippi river to protect its navigation, and to hold Memphis,
Vicksburg, etc., although General Grant had directed a part of these
forces to co-operate with Sherman.
Every day's delay on your part, therefore, seriously interferes with
General Grant's plans.
(Signed,) H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
Nashville, December 14, 18G4 — 8 p. m.
Major-General H. W. Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
Your telegram of 12.30 m. to-day is received. The ice having melted
away to-daJ^ the enemy will be attacked to-morrow morning. Much as I
regret the apparent delay in attacking the enemy, it could not have been
done before with any reasonable prospect of success.
(Signed,^ GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1864 — 9 p. m.
Major-General Halleck, Chief of Staff:
Attacked enemy's left this morning; drove it from the river, below
city, very nearly to Franklin pike, distance about eight miles.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major- General.
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 259
Washington, December 15, 18o4 — 11.30 p. m.
3fajor- General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville :
I was just on my way to Nashville, but receiving a dispatch from Van
Duzen, detailing your splendid success of to-day, I shall go no farther.
Push the enemy now, and give him no rest until he is entirely destroyed.
Your army will cheerfully suffer many privations to break up Hood's
army, and make it useless for future operations. Do not stop for trains
or supplies, but take them from the country, as the enemy has done.
Much is now expected.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 160.]
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Near Nashville, Tenn., December 16, 1864.
The major-general commanding, with pride and pleasure, publishes
the following dispatches to the army, and adds thereto his own thanks
to the troops for the unsurpassed gallantry and good conduct displayed
by them in the battles of yesterday and to-day. A few more examples
•of devotion and courage like these, and the rebel army of the "West, which
you have been fighting for three years will be no more, and you may
reasonably expect an early and honorable peace :
"Washington, D. C, December 16 — 11.20 a. m.
To Major-General Thomas :
Please accept for yourself, officers, and men the nation's thanks for
your work of yesterday. You made a magnificent beginning. A grand
■consummation is within your easy reach. Do not let it slip.
A. Lincoln,
Washington, December 15, 1864 — 12 midnight.
Major-General Thomas:
I rejoice in tendering to you, and the gallant officers and soldiers of
your command, the thanlcs of tliis department for the brilliant achieve-
ment of this day, and hope that it is the harbinger of a decisive victory
that will crown you and your army with honor, and do much toward
closing the war. We shall give you a hundred (100) guns in the morning.
E. M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.
Washingtom, December 15, 1864 — 12 midnight.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Nashville :
Your dispatch of this evening just received. I congratulate you and
the army under your command for to-day's operations, and feel a convic-
tion that to-morrow will add more fruits to your victory.
(Signed,) U. S. Grant,
Lieutenant- General.
By command of Major-General Thomas.
WM. D. WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
260 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
Headqcarters Department of the Cumberland
Six Miles from Nashville, December 16, 1864.
The President of the United States, Hon. E. M. Stanton, and General U. S. Grant,
Washington, D. C. :
This army thanks you for your approbation of its conduct yesterday,
and to assure you that it is not misplaced, I have the honor to report
that the enemy has been pressed at all points to-day on his line of retreat
through the Brentwood hills, and Brigadier-General Hatch, of Wilson's
corps of cavalry, on the right, turned the enemy's left and captured a
large number of prisoners; number not yet reported. Major-General
Schofield's troops, next on the left of cavalry, carried several heights,
captured many prisoners and six pieces of artillery. Brevet Major-General
Smith, next on the left Major-General Schofield, carried the salient point
of the enemy's line, with McMillen's brigade of McArthur's division,
capturing sixteen pieces of artillery, two brigadier-generals, and about
two thousand prisoners. Brigadier-General Garrard's division of Smith's
command, next on the left of McArthur's division, carried the enemy's
intrenchments, capturing all the artillery and troops on the line. Brig-
adier-General Wood's corps, on the Franklin pike, took up the assault,
carried the enemy's intrenchments in his front, captured eight (8) pieces,
something over six hundred prisoners, and drove the enemy within one
mile of the Brentwood Pass. Major-General Steedman, commanding de-
tachments of the Military Division of the Mississippi, most nobly sup-
ported General Wood's left, and bore a most honorable part in the
operations of the day. I have ordered the pursuit to be continued in
the morning at daylight, although the troops are very much fatigued.
The greatest enthusiasm prevails. I must not forget to report the opera-
tions of Brigadier-General Johnson, in successfully driving the enemy,
with co-operation of the gunboats, under Lieutenant-Commander Fitch,
from their established batteries on the Cumberland river below the city
of Nashville, and the of services of Brigadier-General Croxton's brigade, in
covering and relieving our right and rear in the operations of yesterday
and to-day. Although I have no report of the number of prisoners cap-
tured by Johnson's and Croxton's commands, I know they have made a
large number. I am glad to be able to state that the number of prisoners
captured yesterday greatly exceeds the number reported by me last
evening. ' The roads, fields, and intrenchments are strewn with the en-
emy's abandoned small arms, abandoned in their retreat. In conclusion,
I am happy to state that all this has been effected with but a very small
loss to us. Our loss does not probably exceed three thousand, very few
killed.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Comrrianding.
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 261
Washington, December 18, 1864 — 12 m.
Major-General Thomas :
The armies operating against Richmond have fired two prolonged guns
in honor of your great victory. Sherman has fully established his base
on Ossabaw Sound, with Savannah fully invested. I hope to be able to fire
a salute to-morrow in honor of the fall of Savannah. In all your opera-
tions, we hear nothing of Forrest. Great precaution should be taken to
prevent him crossing the Cumberland or Tennessee rivers below Eastport.
After Hood is driven as far as possible to follow him, you want to re-
occupv Decatur and all other abandoned points.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Washington, December 21, 1864 — 12 m.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas :
Permit me, general, to urge the vast importance of a hot pursuit of
Hood's army. Every possible sacrifice should be made, and your men
for a few days will submit to any hardships and privations to accomplish
the great result. If you can capture or destroj"^ Hood's army. General
Sherman can entirely crush out the rebel military force in all the South-
ern States. He begins a new campaign about the first of January, which
will have the most important results if Hood's army can now be used
up. A most vigorous pursuit on your part is therefore of vital impor-
tance to General Sherman's plans. No sacrifice must be spared to obtain
BO important a result.
(Signed,) H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
In the Field, December 21, 1864.
Major-General Halleck, Washington, D. C :
Your dispatch of 12 m. this day is received. General Hood's army is
being pursued as rapidly and as vigorously as it is possible for one ai'my
to pursue another. We can not control the elements, and you must re-
member that, to resist Hood's advance into Tennessee, I had to reorganize
and almost thoroughlj^ equip the force now under my command. I fought
the battles of the 15th and 16th insts. with the troops but partially equip-
ped, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather and the partial
equipment, have been enabled to drive the enemy beyond Duck river,
crossing two streams with my troops, and driving the enemy from posi-
tion to position, without the aid of pontoons, and with but little transpor-
tation to bring up supplies of provisions and ammunition. I am doing
all in my power to crush Hood's army, and, if it be possible, will destroy
it. But pursuing an enemy through an exhausted country, over mud
roads completely sogged with heavy rains, is no child's play, and can not
be accomplished as quickly as thought of I hope, in urging me to push
the enemy, tlie department remembers that General Sherman took with
him the complete organization of the Military Division of the Mississippi,
262 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
well equipped in every respect, as regards ammunition, supplies, and
transportation, leaving me only two corps, partially stripped of their
transportation, to accommodate the force taken with him, to oppose the
advance into Tennessee of that army which had resisted the advance of
the army of the Military Division of the Mississippi on Atlanta, from the
commencement of the campaign till its close, and which is now in addi-
tion aided by Forrest's cavalry. Although my progress may appear slow,
I feel assured that Hood's army can be driven from Tennessee, and event-
ually driven to the wall by the force under my command. But too much
must not be expected of troops which have to be reorganized, especially
when they have the task of destroying a force, in a winter's campaign,
which was able to make an obstinate resistance to twice its numbers in
spring and summer. In conclusion, I can safely state that the army is
willing to submit to any sacrifice to oust Hood's army, or to strike any
other blow which may contribute to the destruction of the rebellion.
(Signed,) GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major- General.
City Point, December 22, 1864.
Major- General Geo. H. Thomas :
You have the congratulations of the public for the energy with which
you are pushing Hood. I hope you will succeed in reaching his pontoon
bridge at Tuscumbia before he gets there. Should you do so, it looks to
me that Hood is cut off". If you succeed in destroying Hood's army, there
will be but one army left to the so-called Confederacy capable of doing
us harm. I will take care of that, and try to draw the sting from it, so
that in the spring we shall have easy sailing. You have now a big oppor-
tunity, which I know you are availing yourself of Let us push and do
all we can before the enemy can derive benefit either from the raising
of negro troops on the plantations, or white troops now in the field.
(Signed,) U. S. GRANT,
lAeutenant- GeneraL
Washington, December 22, 1864 — 9 p. m.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas:
I have seen to-day General Halleck's dispatch of yesterday, and your
reply. It is proper for me to assure you that this department has the
most unbounded confidence in your skill, vigor, and determination to
employ to the best advantage all the means in your power to pursue and
destroy the enemy. No department could bo inspired with more pro-
found admiration and thankfulness for the great deed which you have
already performed, or more confiding faith that human effort could do nO'
more, and no more than will be done by" you and the accomplished gal-
lant officers and soldiers of your command.
(Signed,) E. M. STANTON.
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 263
Washingtox, December 22, 1864 — 9 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
In order that the department may, as fully as the case will permit, award
due promotions to your army, please forward, some time before the 5th of
next month, a list of such promotions as you desire to recommend. There
is no vacancy in the number of major-generals by law, and only two —
but brevets can be granted, and some vacancies may be created by muster-
ing out useless officers.
E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Columbia, December 23, 1864 — 8 p. m.
Major-General H. W. Halleck, Washington, D. C. :
The troops are still crossing Duck i-iver, and all close up to the enemy's
rear-guard, on the Pulaski road. I hope to get the whole force across to-
morrow, and continue the pursuit. The railroad bridges between Spring
Hill and this place, five in number, have been destroyed, but the con-
struction corps is hard at work, and I am in hopes will have the road re-
paired up to Columbia in the course of four or five days. The railroad
between Chattanooga and Murfreesboro is in running order, and I am
assured that the road between Nashville and Murfreesboro will be re-
paired in a few days. General McCook has routed and scattered the rebel
General Lyon, who succeded in crossing the Cumberland river, and with
General Long, will soon join General Wilson, thus increasing my cavalry
force sufficiently to enable me to completely destroy Forrest, if I can
overtake him, which I shall make every exertion to do.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
December 23, 1864 — 8 p. m.
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. :
Your two dispatches of 9 p. m., 22d, are received. I am profoundly
thankful for the hearty expression of your confidence in my determina-
tion, and desire to do all in my power to destroy the enemy, and put
down the rebellion ; and in the name of this army, I thank you for the
complimentary notice you have taken of all connected with it, for the
deeds of valor they have performed. I will forward the list of merito-
rious officers to-morrow or next day.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
264 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Savannah, Ga., December 23, 1864.
Dear General : — Major Dixon arrived last niglit, bringing your letter
of the 10th December, for which I am very much obliged, as it gives me
a clear and distinct view of the situation of aflfairs at Nashville up to that
date. I have also from the War Department a copy of General Thomas'
dispatch, giving an account of the attack on Hood on the I5th, which was
successful, but not complete. I await further accounts with anxiety, as
Thomas' complete success is necessary to initiate my plans for this cam-
paign, and I have no doubt that my calculation, that Thomas had in hand
(including A. J. Smith's troops) a force large enough to whip Ilood in
fair fight, was correct. I approved of Thomas' allowing Hood to come
north far enough to enable him to concentrate his own men, though I
would have preferred that Hood should have been checked about Colum-
bia. Still, if Thomas followed up his success of the 15th, and gave Hood
a good whaling, and is at this moment following him closely, the whole
campaign in my division will be even more perfect than the Atlanta cam-
paign, for at this end of the line I have realized all I had reason to hope
for, except in the release of our prisoners, which was simply an impos-
sibility.
December 24. — I have just received a letter from General Grant, giving
a detail of General Thomas' operations up to the 18th, and I am gratified
beyond measure at the result.
Show this letter to General Thomas, and tell him to consider it ad-
dressed to him, as I have not time to write more now. I want General
Thomas to follow Hood to and beyond the Tennessee, and not hesitate
to go on as far as Columbus, Mississippi, or Selma, Alabama, as I know
that he will have no trouble whatever in subsisting his army anywhere
below Sand Mountain, and along the Black Warrior. In the poorest part
of Georgia, I found no trouble in subsisting my army and animals, some
of my corps not issuing but one (1) day's bread from Atlanta to Sa-
vannah.
Keep me fully advised by telegraph, via New York, of the situation of
affairs in Tennessee. I will be here probably ten (10) days longer, and in
communication for a longer time.
I am, very truly yours,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
General J. D. Webster, Nashville., Tenn.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Pulaski, Tenn., December 28, 1864.
Major-General Steedman, Decatur, Ala. :
Your dispatch of the 27th received. I am very much gratified with
your operations against Decatur. The roads from here to Florence are in
an almost impassable condition, and the country is so completely devas-
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 265
tated that we scarcely get any supplies ; but the enemy has been as vig-
orously pursued as circumstances will admit. It is reported that Hood
crossed at Lamb's ferry and Bainbridge, with what force he could get off.
He is represented as being in a most deplorable condition. I shall try to
interce^it him at luka, if he i-etreats that way, and I want you to j^ush a
strong reconnoissance toward Lamb's ferry, to see if he has retreated by
way of Courtland and Moulton.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 169.]
Pulaski, December 29, 1864.
Soldiers : — The major-general commanding announces to you that the
rear-guard of the flying and dispirited enemy was driven across the Ten-
nessee river, on the night of the 27th instant. The impassable state of
the roads, and consequent impossibility to supply the army, compels a
closing of the campaign for the present.
Although short, it has been brilliant in its achievements, and unsur-
passed in its results by any other of this war, and is one of which all who
participated therein may be justly proud." That veteran army which,
though driven from position to position, opposed a stubborn resistance to
much superior numbers during the whole of the Atlanta campaign, taking
advantage of the absence of the largest portion of the army which had been
opposed to it in Georgia, invaded Tennessee, buoyant with hope, expect-
ing Nashville, Murfreesboro, and the whole of Tennessee and Kentucky
to fall into its power, an easy prey, and scarcely fixing a limit to its con-
quests. After having received, at Franklin, the most terrible check that
army has received during this war, and later, at Murfreesboro, in its at-
tempt to capture that place, it was finally attacked at Nashville, and,
although your forces were inferior to it in numbers, was hurled back from
the coveted prize, on which it had been permitted to look from a distance,
and finally sent flying, dismayed and disordered, whence it came, impelled
by the instinct of self-preservation, and thinking only of how it could
relieve itself for short intervals from your persistent and harassing pur-
suit, by burning the bridges over the swollen streams, as it passed them,
until, finally, it had placed the broad waters of the Tennessee river be-
tween you and its shattered, diminished, and discomfited columns, leav-
ing its artillery and battle-flags in your victorious hands — lasting trophies
of your noble daring, and lasting monuments of the enemy's disgrace and
defeat.
You have diminished the forces of the rebel army since it crossed the
Tennessee river to invade the state, at the least estimate, fifteen thousand
men, among whom were killed, wounded, and captured eighteen general
officers.
Your captures from the enemy, as far as reported, amount to sixty-eight
pieces of artillery, ten thousand prisoners, as many stand of small arms —
266 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
several thousand of which have been gathered in, and the remainder
strew the route of the enemy's retreat — and between thirty and forty
flags, besides compelling him to destroy much ammunition and abandon
many wagons; and, unless he is mad, he must forever abandon all hope
of bringing Tennessee again within the lines of the accursed rebellion.
A short time will now be given you to prepare to continue the work
so nobly begun.
By command of Major-General Thomas.
W. D. WHIPPLE,
Assisf.ant Adjutant- General.
EXTRACTS FROM GENERAL GEO. H. THOMAS' REPORT.
On the morning of the 15th of December, the weather being favorable,
the army was formed, and ready at an early hour to carry out the plan
of battle promulgated in the special field orders of the 14th. The forma-
t/on of troops was partially concealed from the enemy by the broken
nature of the ground, as also by a fog, which lifted toward noon.
Finding General Smith had not taken as much distance to the right aa
i expected he would have done, I directed General Schofield to move his
command (the Twenty-Third Corps) from position in reserve, to which it
had been assigned, over to the right of General Smith, enabling the cav-
alry thereby to operate more freely to the enemy's rear. This was rap-
idly accomplished by General Schofield, and his troops participated, in
the closing operations of the day.
Our line at nightfall was readjusted, running parallel to and east of the
Hillsboro pike — Schofield's command on the right. Smith's in the center,
and Wood's on the left, with cavalry on the right of Schofield, Steedman
holding the position he had gained early in the morning. The total result
of the day's operations was the capture of sixteen pieces of artillery and
twelve hundred prisoners, besides several hundred stands of small arms,
and about forty (40) wagons. The enemy had been forced back at all
points with heavy loss. Our casualties were unusually light. The beha-
vior of the troops was unsurpassed for steadiness and alacrity in every
movement, and the original plan of battle, with but few alterations,
strictly adhered to. The whole command bivouacked in line of battle
during the night, on the ground occupied at dark, while preparations
were made to renew the battle at an early hour on the morrow.
* * -x- -x- * * * * -Jf
Immediately following the effort of the Fourth Corps, Generals Smith's
and Schofield's commands moved against the enemy's works in their re-
spective fronts, carrying all before them, irreparably breaking his lines in
a dozen places, and capturing all his artillery and thousands of prisoners —
among the latter, four (4) general oificers. <.)ur loss was remarkably
small, scarcely mentionable. All of the enemy that did escape were pur-
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 267
sued over the tops of Brentwood and Harpeth hills. General Wilson's
cavalry, dismounted, attacked the enemy simultaneously with Schofield
and Smith, striking him in reverse, and gaining firm possession of
Granny White pike, cut off his retreat by that route. Wood's and Steed-
man's troops hearing the shouts of victory coming from the right, rushed
impetuously forward, renewing the assault on Overton's hill, and although
meeting a very heavy fire, the onset was irresistible, artillery and many
prisoners falling into our hands. The enemy, hopelessly broken, fled in
confusion through Brentwood Pass, the Fourth Corps in close pursuit,
which was continued for several miles, when darkness closed the scene,
and the troops rested from their labors.
During the two days' operations there were 4,462 prisoners captured,
including 287 officers of all grades from that of major-general, fifty-three
pieces of artillery, and thousands of small arms. The enemy abandoned
on the field all of his dead and wounded.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL SCHOFIELD'S REPORT.
On the night of the 15th I waited upon the major-general commanding,
at his headquarters, and received his orders for the pursuit of the enemy
on the following day. Our operations during the 15th had swung the
right and center forward, so that the general direction of the line was
nearly perpendicular to that before the attack, only the right was in con-
tact with the enemy, and was therefore much exposed. Apprehensive
that the enemy, instead of retreating during the night, would mass and
attack our right in the morning, I requested that a division of infantry
be sent to reinforce the right, which was ordered accordingly from Major-
General Smith's command. In response to this order. General Smith
sent five regiments and a battery (about 1,600 men), which were put in
reserve near the right. In the morning it was found that the enemy still
held his position in our front, of which the hill in fi'ont of General Couch
was the key, and had thrown up considerable breastworks during the
night. He had also increased the force on his left during the night, and
continued to mass troops during the early part of the day. During the
morning, therefore, our operations were limited to preparations for de-
fense and co-operation with cavalry, which was operating to strike the
Granny White pike, in rear of the enemy.
About noon, the troops on my left (Generals Smith and Wood) having
advanced and come in contact with the enemy in his new position, the
enemy again withdrew from his left a considerable force to strengthen
his right and center, when I ordered General Cox to advance, in conjunc-
tion with caValry, and endeavor to carry a high wooded hill beyond the
flank of the enemy's intrenched line and overlooking the Granny White
pike. The hill was occupied by the enemy in considerable force, but was
not intrenched. My order was not executed with the promptness or en-
268 BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC.
ergy which I had expected, yet probably with as much as I had reason to
expect, considering the attenuated character of General Cox's line and
the great distance and rough ground over which the attacking force had
to move. The hill was, however, carried by General Wilson's cavalry
(dismounted), whose gallantry and energy on that and other occasions,
which came under my observations, can not be too greatly praised.
Almost simultaneously with this attack on the extreme right, the salient
hill, in front of General Couch, was attacked and carried by General
Smith's troops, supported by a brigade of General Couch's division, and
the fortified hill in front of General Cox, which constituted the extreme
flank of the enemy's intrenched line, was attacked and carried by Colonel
Doolittle's brigade of General Cox's division, the latter capturing eight
pieces of artillery and two to three hundred prisoners.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL SMITH'S REPORT.
During the night a request coming from General Schoefield, command-
ing Twenty-third Corps, for reinforcements, I sent him the Third division,
Colonel J. B. Moore commanding, just before daylight. On the morning
of the 16th, advancing my line in the same order as on the previous day,
the First on the right and the Second divison on the left, it was discovered
that the enemy had taken position at the base of a chain of hills, called
the Brentwood hills, with a front nearly perpendicular to our lines, and
had strongly intrenched themselves by throwing up breastworks and
massing artillery in every available position. Changing my front by a
half-wheel, by brigades the command moved slowly in echelon from the
right, so as not to break connections with the Fourth Corps, and took a
position directly in front of the enemy, at a distance of about six hun-
dred yards, my right resting at the base of a hill, on the top of which was
the enemy's left, and my line being the whole front of the two divisions,
extending about one mile. The enemy opening a heavy artillery fire
upon my brigades, as they went into position, all the batteries of the First
and Second divisions, six in number, were brought into action at a dis-
tance of about eight hundred yards, and after a fierce cannonading of
about two hours, succeeded in quieting the enemy's guns in our front.
The Twenty-third Corps was on my right in the intrenchments, thrown
up by them the night before, and nearly at right angles with my present
line. Expecting that corps to take the initiative, as they were on the
flank of the enemy, I held the command in its present position, keeping
up a slow artillery fire at their line without eliciting any reply. About
1 o'clock I received a request from General Schofield, and a few min-
utes later an order from you, to send another division to his assistance,
he having retained the one sent at daylight that morning, not having any
reserve, and my whole line being in front of the enemy, and liable to be
attacked and broken at any point wherever a brigade should be with-
drawn, I therefore sent a staff officer to him to state the condition of
BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, ETC. 269
my command, and ascertain if he could not get along without my divis-
ion. The officer reported to me that General Schofield's line was not en-
gaged, and upon my condition being reported to him, he said he did
not need the additional force, consequently it was not sent. About 3
o'clock p. M. General McArthur sent word that he could carry the hill on
his left by assault. Major-General Thomas being present, the matter was
referred to him, and I was requested to delay the movement until he
could hear from General Schofield, to whom he had sent. General Mc-
Arthur not receiving any reply, and fearing if the attack should be longer
delayed the enemy would use the right to strengthen his works, directed
the First brigade, Colonel N. L. McMillen, Ninty -fifth Ohio Infantry, to
storm the hill on which was the left of the enemy's line, and the Second
and Third brigades of the division to attack in front, when the first should
be half-way up the hill.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
MINOR OPERATIONS HAVING RELATIONS MORE OR LESS INTIMATE
WITH THOSE OF THE MAIN ARMY DURING NOVEMBER AND DE-
CEMBER.
General Steedman knew, up.on reacliing Decatur, tliat it was
too late to embarrass the enemy in crossing the Tennessee river,
but he determined to move toward his line of retreat south of
the river. He had been joined at Stevenson by Colonel W.
J. Palmer, of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with a force
composed of his own regiment and detachments from the Sec-
ond Tennessee, and the Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Indiana
Cavalry, in all about six hundred and fifty men. At 8 p. m. on
the 28th, Colonel Palmer moved from Decatur toward Court-
land. He encountered the enemy at a point two miles distant,
and attacking with his advance of thirty men pressed him back.
The force was Colonel Wines' regiment of Roddy's command,
and this commander was resisting to cover his artillery, but
against thirty men, yielded his position and two pieces of artil-
lery. Colonel Palmer the next day divided his force, sending
Colonel Prosser with the detachments on the main road, and
moving with his own regiment on the Brown's Ferry road.
Colonel Prosser soon met Poddy's whole force drawn up in two
lines, and without hesitation charged, broke his lines, captured
forty-five men, and drove the enemy through Courtland.
At Leighton, on the 30th, Colonel Palmer learned that Gen-
eral Hood's pontoon train of two hundred wagons had passed
through the day before en route for Columbus, Mississippi.
General Roddy was in the rear to protect this train, and al-
though Colonel Palmer felt safe in disregarding him in making
an effort to capture it, it was necessary that he should shun
(270)
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1864. 271
another cavalry force under General Armstrong, which was
also near. Making the venture, he moved to the rear of a por-
tion of Roddy's command, and captured Colonel Warren and
other prisoners. At Russellville, another portion was met and
routed, and Palmer then pressed on after the train and soon
captured it, consisting of two hundred wagons and seventy-
eight boats with appointments complete. Such was the con-
dition of the roads and the teams that it was not considered
safe to attempt its removal from the presence of the enemy,
and hence it was destroyed. Then having heard that a supply
train was moving from Barton Station to Tuscumbia, Colonel
Palmer moved to capture it. On the 1st of January, this train,
consisting of one hundred and ten wagons and five hundred
mules, was also taken in Itawamba county, Mississippi, and
mules enough saved to mount one hundred and fifty prisoners.
Losing one man killed and two wounded, Colonel Palmer re-
turned to Decatur.
In the meantime. General Steedman had been ordered to
Chattanooga. He put his sick men and his artillery on trans-
ports, and started his infantry by rail, under General Cruft.
When the force reached Huntsville, Colonel Mitchell's brigade
was hurried forward to Larkinsville, to intercept, if possible,
General Lyon, who, with a portion of his command, was in re-
treat from Kentucky. His expedition had proved disastrous
in the extreme in its general issue. He captured Hopkinsville,
but was met near Greenbury by General McCook, who had
been detached from the main army to protect the Louisville
and E'ashville railroad, and to pursue this raiding force. Col-
onel La Grange first met Lyon with his brigade. Engaging
him with spirit, after a short conflict he threw his troops into
confusion and rout, capturing one gun and some prisoners.
General Lyon then made a detour through Elizabethtown and
Glasgow, and crossed the Cumberland river at Burksville, and
thence proceeded through McMinnville and Winchester to the
]\Iemphis an d Charleston railroad. On the 7th of January, Gen-
eral Craft's command was disposed to capture him or drive him
across the Tennessee river at the approaches to Bellefont, Lar-
kinsville, and Scottsboro ; but he succeeded in eluding all the
detachments on the watch, and crossed the Tennessee river.
272 NOVEMBEK AND DECEMBER, 1864.
He was finally intercepted and captured, with one hundred of
his men and his remaining gun, at Red Hill. He, however, es-
caped, having shot the soldier in charge of him.
As General Thomas was in command of all the troops within
the limits of the Military Division of the Mississippi, the oper-
ations in East Tennessee were subject to his direction. There
had been complications there during the summer and early
autumn, and General Schofield had left his corps at Atlanta,
to give attention to afiairs in that region. General J. H. Mor-
gan had been killed by General Gillem's troops, but infantry
had been subsequently sent there, and when General Hood was
menacing Tennessee from Florence, General Breckinridge, sup-
ported by Duke and Yaughn, appeared before General Gillem
at Bull's Gap. At this period. General Gillem, commanding
three regiments of Tennessee cavalry and a battery, was acting
under the immediate instructions of Governor Johnson, having
been detached for this duty. On the 13th of IlTovember, Gen-
eral Breckinridge, with a force estimated at three thousand
men, attacked and routed the fifteen hundred under General
Gillem, capturing about one third, including his battery. Gen-
eral Gillem had repulsed two attacks of the enemy, but rein-
forcements having come, he concluded to withdraw, and while
retreating was attacked in rear. There was a lack of co-oper-
ation between General Gillem and General Ammen, which
Geueral Thomas considered the cause of the disaster. General
Gillem fell back upon Knoxville with the remainder of his
force, followed closely by General Breckinridge.
In the emergency, General Thomas directed General Steed-
man to hold troops in readiness to support General Ammen,
at Knoxville ; and General Stoneman, in command of the De-
partment of the Ohio, in the absence of General Schofield,
ordered a concentration of forces in Kentucky, to advance
from Lexington to Cumberland Gap, either to repel the en-
emy, should he advance into Kentucky, or to advance into
East Tennessee, should he continue to operate there.
On the 18th, General Breckinridge withdrew from the vicin-
ity of Knoxville, and General Ammen, reinforced by fifteen
hundred men from Chattanooga, reoccupied Strawberry Plains
the same day. About the same time, General Stoneman left
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1864. 273
Louisville to take the direction of affairs in East Tennessee,
and on liis way received his instructions from General Thomas,
at ]^ashville. He was directed " to concentrate the laro-est
force possible against Breckinridge, and either destroy his
force or drive it into Virginia, and, if possible, destroy the
salt-works at Saltville, and the railroad from the Tennessee
line as far into Virginia as he could go without endangering
his command." On the 6tli of December, General Thomas
repeated his instructions upon the receipt of information that
General Breckinridge was retreating.
General Stoneman had been delayed in consequence of the
deficiency of his command in the essential appointments for
the service proposed. On the 9th, he was ready for active
operations. His command comprised the infantry and dis-
mounted cavalry under General Ammen, General Gillem's
force, and the mounted troops under General Burbridge, forty-
two hundred men. He first sent the Fourth Tennessee and
Third North Carolina regiments to Paint Rock, to hold the
pass over the mountains into Korth Carolina. December 9th,
he moved two regiments of Ohio artillery from Strawberry
Plains to Blair's Cross-roads, and with General Gillem pro-
ceeded to that point the next day. At Bean's Station these
forces were joined on the 11th by General Burbridge's com-
mand. Hitherto the commander alone knew the service and
destination of the troops, but here the men were supplied
with all the ammunition and rations that they could carry on
themselves and horses. On the 13th, at daylight. General
Gillem reached the north fork of the Holston river, opposite
Kingston. Here was General John Morgan's command, un-
der his brother, in the temporary absence of General Duke.
After a sharp conflict, General Gillem crossed the river and
totally defeated the enemy, capturing Morgan and a portion
of his command, and killing or dispersing the remainder.
During the afternoon, Burbridge was pushed on to Bristol, in
the endeavor to intercept Vaughn, who had held Greenville
for some time with a force estimated at twelve hundred men.
At night, Generals Stoneman and Gillem followed, arriving
at Bristol early on the 14th.
Fearing that Vaughn would pass in the night and join
274 NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1864.
Breckinridge, Burbridge was sent to Abingdon with instruc-
tions to send a regiment forward to strike the railroad at
some point between Saltville and "Wytheville. When General
Gillem had completed the destruction of Bristol, which Gen-
eral Burbridge had commenced, he moved to Glade Springs,
followed by Burbridge. At 2 a. m. on the 16th, General
Stoneman learned that the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, sent
forward from Abingdon, after threatening the salt-works, had
destroyed two trains which had brought Breckinridge from
Wytheville with reinforcements, and decided to press on to
"Wytheville, destroy it and the salt-works on !New river, and
give attention to the destruction of Saltville on his return.
He therefore put his forces in motion eastward, and soon Gen-
eral Gillem overtook Vaughn at Marion, and attacking, routed
him, pursuing rapidly to Wytheville, capturing his trains, ar-
tillery, and one hundred and ninety-eight men, and destroying
the town. General Burbridge reached Mount Airy the next
day, where Buckley's brigade was dispatched by order of Gen-
eral Stoneman to destroy the lead mines twenty-five or thirty
miles beyond. ITothing now remained but the destruction of
Saltville, and General Stoneman, by a quick return, interposed
his command so that General Breckinridge was cut oif and
forced to retreat into Korth Carolina. The two main columns
were then ordered to converge upon Saltville. When they
were near, and General Stoneman was waiting for General
Burbridge, he sent Colonel Stacy with his regiment, the
Thirteenth Tennessee, to dash into the town and commence
the work of destruction with all possible noise. The brilliant
dash of Stacy put the enemy into retreat, and then the cele-
brated salt-works with all their machinery and supplies were
destroyed.
This expedition brought defeat to the enemy at every step,
and destruction to important manufactories of the material of
war, to vast quantities of material of every kind, and to rail-
roads and rolling-stock. General Burbridge destroyed five
trains filled with supplies, a thousand stand of arms, a vast
amount of fixed ammunition, and a large number of wagons
and ambulances, and captured seventeen officers and two hun-
dred and sixty privates ; Buckley ruined the lead-works in
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1864. 275
Wythe county ; Major Harrison, of the Twelfth Kentucky
Cavalry, captured two railroad trains, destroyed all the railroad
bridges from Glade Springs to Marion, and the large iron-
works at the latter place, and captured several hundred fine
horses ; General Gillem's brigade, reinforced- by the Eleventh
Michigan and the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, drove Vaughn
beyond Wytheville, destroyed that town, all the railroad
bridges from Marion to Reedy creek, vast amounts of stores
and supplies of all kinds, several hundred wagons and ambu-
lances, two locomotives and several cars, and captured ten
pieces of field artillery, and over two hundred prisoners. This
command made an average march of forty-two and a half
miles per day, completing its work of destruction on the 22d
of December. Then General Burbridge returned to Kentucky
by way of the Big Sandy valley, and General Gillem to Knox-
ville.
Washington, November 5, 1864 — 2 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
How much force and artillery had Gillem ?
A. LINCOLN,
President United States.
Headquarters Department op the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 15, 1864 — 10 p. m.
President A. Lincoln, Washington:
General Gillem's force consisted of three regiments of Tennessee cav-
alry, and one battery of six guns, belonging to the Governor's Guards —
about fifteen hundred men.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V, Commanding.
Nashville, November 17, 1864.
Major-General Stoneman, Louisville, Ky. :
Your dispatch of this date just received. Your intention and order to
General Burbridge to concentrate his mounted force is perfectly satisfac-
tory, and I wish you to report to me as soon as he has the concentration
of his troops completed.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
276 NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1864.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 17, 1864 — 4.30 p. m.
Major-General Stoneman, Louisville, Ky. :
Your dispatch of yesterday is received. I wish you to send all the
mounted force you can raise to East Tennessee. I have directed General
Steedman to send all the infantry he can spare from Chattanooga.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
Nashville, November 19, 1864.
Brigadier-General Amman, Knoxville :
Do not send the reinforcements from Chattanooga further than Knox-
ville, unless it is absolutely necessary, as they are not able to march. Re-
turn them to Chattanooga as soon as you can dispense with their services.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
City Point, November 27, 1864 — 9 p. m.
Major-General Thomas :
Savannah papers, just received, state that Forrest is expected in the
rear of General Sherman, and that Breckinridge is already on his way to
Georgia from East Tennessee, If this proves true, it will give you a
chance to take the offensive against Hood, and to cut the railroad up in
Virginia with a small cavalry force.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Nashville, November 28, 1864 — 10 a. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va. :
Your dispatch of 9 p. m. yesterday received. "We can as yet discover
no signs of the withdrawal of Forrest from Tennessee, but he is closely
watched, and our movements will commence against Hood as soon as pos-
sible, whether Forrest leaves Tennessee or not. My information from
East Tennessee leads me to believe that Breckinridge is either falling
back to Virginia, or is on his way to Georgia. He now holds Bull's Gap,
but Stoneman is moving on that place from Knoxville, and Burbridge from
Cumberland Gap. Stoneman already has orders to destroy the railroad
into Virginia if he possibly can.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. V. Commanding.
Knoxville, November 28, 1864.
Major-General G. H. Thomas:
As near as I can learn from scouts and deserters, all the mounted force
Breckinridge brought with him is now in the vicinity of Bull's Gap, say
2,500; a portion of his dismounted force, under Palmer, say 700, has gone
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1864. 277
back to Asheville, and Breckinridge, with the rest of the force, say 700, with
captured wagons and artillery, has gone back to Wytheville. Burbridge'g
troops will all be through Cumberland Gap to-morrow. They have been
detained by high water. I wrote you at length yesterday. Have you re-
ceived the letter ?
GEO. STONEMAN,
Major-General.
Knoxville, November 28, 1864 — 10.30 p. m.
Major-General Thomas:
Your telegram of 3 p. m. is received. A scout, a woman, and a negro
came in this evening, and report Breckinridge's force at Morristown and
in that vicinity. Breckinridge is no doubt with his command. He had
not left yesterday in pursuit of General Sherman, nor do I think he in-
tends to. His command is not formidable, and he can not get much the
start of us if he leaves this section to cross the mountains. I will keep
you informed. Burbridge is ordered forward.
GEO. STONEMAN,
Major- General.
City Point, Va., November 30, 1864^-11.30 a. m.
Major-General Thomas:
The Richmond Enquirer of yesterday says that it is no longer contra-
band to state that Breckinridge's command is now marching on a cam-
paign that will fill Kentucky with dismay, and that probably by this time
Burbridge has felt the shock. The Richmond papers of the 28th state
that Breckinridge was at Bristol on the 28th.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
Nashville, December 6, 1864 — 8.30 p. m.
Major-General Stoneman, Knoxville :
Your dispatches of 10.30 p. m., 5th inst., and 12.30 p. m. to-day, are just
received. If you can effectually destroy the railroad for twenty-five or
thirty miles beyond the Virginia line. East Tennessee will, I think, then
be perfectly secure from further invasion. After destroying the railroad
and the saltrworks, if you can, you had better draw your main force back
to the vicinity of Knoxville, for the defense of East Tennessee.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. 8. V. Commanding.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE MARCH TO THE SEA, AND THE CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
General Sherman's forces selected for his march to fhe sea-
coast coraprised sixty thousand infantry and five thousand five
hundred cavalry, and one piece of artillery for every thousand
men. These troops had been so thoroughly sifted that they
really represented a much larger army than this aggregate,
with the usual percentage of inefiective men. They were or-
ganized into right and left wings ; the former embracing the
Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, under the command of
Major-General 0. 0. Howard, and the latter the Fourteenth
and Twentieth Corps, under Major-General H. W. Slocum.
The Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, from the Army of the
Tennessee, were commanded respectively by Major-Generals
P. T. Osterhaus and F. P. Blair, and the Fourteenth and Twen-
tieth, from the Army of the Cumberland, were commanded
respectively by Brevet Major-General J. C. Davis and Brigadier-
General A. S. Williams. The appointments were ample be-
yond precedent, as selection had been made from the material
of the Military Division of the Mississippi ; in fact, each corps
had complete army appointments, that each might have the
independence of a separate army.
The last ten days of October and the first days of 'No-
vember had been devoted to preparation. Supplies had been
accumulated at Atlanta in such quantities that there were
forty days' rations of beef, sugar, and coftee, twenty days' of
bread, and a double allowance of salt for forty days. The
amount of ammunition was ample for all possibilities. There
was little forage, only for three days in grain ; but it was
(278)
THE MAECH TO THE SEA. 279
known tliat the lines of march penetrated regions abounding
in corn and fodder, and also in substantial supplies for men,
and those delicacies in great abundance which do not often
fall to soldiers. All the material at Atlanta not needed for
the expedition was sent to the rear, or devoted to destruction
with a large portion of the city. The garrisons north of
Kingston moved to Chattanooga, and the rails were lifted from
the railroad track from Resaca north ; but those between
Resaca and the Etowah river were left in place in view of the
probable occupancy of the country as far forward as the line
of that river.
JSTovember 11th, General Corse, in obedience to orders, de-
stroyed the bridges, foundries, mills, shops, machines, and all
property useful in war, at Rome, Georgia. The next day, the
telegraph wires extending northward from Kingston were cut,
and the several corps moved rapidly toward Atlanta. On
the 14th, the four corps and cavalry were grouped around that
city, and on the 15th, the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twen-
tieth Corps moved out upon their respective lines of march,
and that night the conflagration of a large portion of At-
lanta gave emphatic announcement that the grand movement
had begun.
As the great objects of this expedition were an illustration
of the weakness of the Confederacy behind its defensive and
offensive lines, and the diminution of its remaining resources
by the destruction of railroads and all property useful in war,
the lines of march diverged widely. Besides, there was an-
other end to be secured by this broad divergent front in mov-
ing from Atlanta — the concealment of the ultimate objective,
that the enemy might not know where to concentrate his
forces. The right wing, with Kilpatrick's division of cavalry
on its right flank, marched by Jonesboro and McDonough,
under orders to make a strong feint upon Macon, and then
turn eastward and rendezvous at Gordon on the 23d. The
Twentieth Corps advanced by Decatur, Stone Mountain, So-
cial Circle, and Madison, to turn southward to Milledgeville,
under instructions to tear up the railroad from Social Circle
to Madison, and burn the railroad bridge over the Oconee in
the same period. On the 16th, the Fourteenth Corps advanced
280 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
upon Milleclgeville, through Lithonia, Covhigton, and Shady-
Dale.
On the 23d, the right wing and the cavalry reached Gordon
and the left wing Milledgeville ; and this first stage of the cam-
paign was the realization of all anticipations. General Sher-
man had interposed his army hetween Macon add Augusta,
and the enemy, in his doubt as to his destination and his utter
inability to oppose him wherever he might go, was paralyzed
completely. He had not, in the eight days, shown any great
strength at any point, and it was evident that no strong force
was opposing either of the two main columns. His cavalry,
under General Wheeler, which had been dispatched as a corps
of observation, had engaged General Kilpatrick several times,
and General Cobb's militia and regular troops, from Macon
■and Savannah, had sallied from the former place to receive
severe punishment from Walcutt's brigade ; and besides these
feeble demonstrations there had been no opposition, and it was
manifest that no serious resistance could be organized in Cen-
tral Georgia. The veteran troops were either with General
Hood, in Tennessee, or in the large cities on the seaboard, and
General Sherman's plans had been discerned too late for any
troops in force to be directed to his front. When Genera]
Beauregard, who was at Corinth directing the great concen-
tration of forces which was to march in triumph to the Ohio
■river, learned that General Sherman with a large army was
marching southward from Atlanta, he committed to General
Hood the conduct of the Tennessee campaign, and hastened to
Georgia to arouse the people, by frantic proclamations, to re-
sist this overwhelming invasion. His own second great plan
of aggression from Corinth, Mississippi, was now, as far as he
was personally concerned, as palpabale a failure as was his
first, when he evacuated Corinth in May, 1862, with an army
embracing all the available Confederate troops in the West.
Appeals of similar fervor and futility were issued by the Con-
federate authorities at Richmond, including the President and
Congress — at least by the congressional representatives from
Georgia — and from the governor of the invaded state. While
there was a veteran army between the homes of the people
and the invader, there was some basis for appeal ; but now the
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 281
hopelessness of the situation was so apparent that the people
were paralyzed with fear and despair, and noisy proclamations
were as impotent as the cry of women and children.
The orders for the second stage of the campaign sent the
two wings on parallel lines toward Millin, and Kilpatrick to
destroy the railroad between Milledgeville and Augusta, and
then to hasten to Millin, to rescue the prisoners supposed to
be there confined. On tlie 26th, the heads of columns of the
left wing gained Sandersville, and then swept eastward toward
the Georgia Central railroad, and the right wing moved from
Gordon, on the line of the railroad. December 2d, the cen-
tral columns of the two corps were at Millin, and the extreme
corps were abreast. Immense damage had been done to the
railroads, mills, cotton-mills, and gins, and some fighting had
occurred on the flanks, especially by the cavalry — Kilpatrick
having had several brushes with Wheeler, but had been vic-
torious, whether in offense or defense. The heads of columns
had also been slightly annoyed, but not to an extent to greatly
embarrass their movements. The greatest obstacles on the
way to MilHn were the Ogeechee and Oconee rivers, and an
army behind these streams might have been successful in re-
sistance, but the enemy's slender forces were easily dislodged,
and the army passed over without delay. There had been no
rescue of prisoners from the enemy, as all had been removed
from Millin too soon.
Instructions for the third and last stage required the con-
vergence of the wings upon Savannah — the left wing and the
Seventeenth Corps moving on parallel roads, and the Fif-
teenth Corps deflecting to the right, on the right bank of the
Ogeechee, to cross at Eden Station. General "Wheeler followed
the columns on the east bank, but their rear was protected by
Kilpatrick's cavalry and Baird's division of the Fourteenth
Corps. As the army approached Savannah, the country be-
came more marshy, and the roads more obstructed by fallen
trees, especially where the roads crossed the swamps on cause-
ways that traverse the lowlands, which are overflowed arti-
ficially for the culture of rice. When within fifteen miles of
the city, the columns were confronted by earthworks and
artillery, in addition to the ordinary obstructions of the roads
282 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
and causeways. But these defenses were easily turned, and
on the 10th of December, the enemy was driven within the
fortifications of Savannah, and its investment in great part ac-
complished. The right and left wings closed in with connected
lines near the main defenses of the city. The left of the Twen-
tieth Corps rested on the Savannah river, and the right of the
Fourteenth Corps connected with the left of the Seventeenth,
beyond the canal, nearLawson's plantation. General Slocum
held the bridge of the Charleston railroad and the river itself,
and General Howard controlled the Gulf railroad and the
Ogeechee down toward Fort McAllister. Thus General Sher-
man held firmly all the railroads centering in Savannah, and
the two rivers forming the main channels of supply, and all
the roads leading out from the city, except the Union cause-
way, over which the road to Hardeeville and Charleston
passes, from the shore of the river opposite the town.
General Slocum grasped the Savannah river firmly with his
left flank, at a point about five miles from the city, and planted
batteries so as to command the channel. He was scarcely in
position, when Captain Gildersleeve, of the One Hundred and
Fiftieth New York, in command of a foraging party, captured
the steamer Ida, having on board Colonel Lynch of General
Hardee's staff, bearing dispatches to the gunboats up the river.
This boat was burned, to prevent recapture by the gunboats
patrolling the river below. ISTear General Slocum's left flank
were two river islands, Hutchinson and Argyle, whose pos-
session was essential to his complete mastery of the river.
These he promptly seized. During the evening of the 16th,
Colonel Hawley, of the Third Wisconsin, from Carman's bri-
gade, by order of General Williams, sent over two companies
of his regiment to Argyle Island, and the next morning six
more. While he was crossing with the latter, he discovered
tlu'ee steamers descending the river. He hastened across,
while Winegar's battery from the Georgia shore opened upon
them. The boats were driven back, and in turning the two
gunboats disabled their armed tender, which fell into Ilawley's
hands, at the head of the island. The next day. General
Geary, commanding First division Twentieth Corps, was di-
rected to occupy the upper end of Hutchinson Island with a
THE MAECH TO THE SEA. 283
detachment, to prevent the approach of the enemy's gunboats.
A sunken battery was also established on the Georgia shore,
whose guns commanded the river above and below the island,
and ranged over the island to the Carolina shore.
The defenses of the enemy had by this time been thoroughly
developed by reconnoissances along the whole front of the in-
vesting lines, and it was apparent that by means of irrigating
canals, traversing the rice plantations, the whole region could
be so flooded as greatly to embarrass the advance of assaulting
columns. It was equally apparent that there were but two
ways to take the city, by assault between the rivers, or the
completion of the investment by closing the road to Charles-
ton, which was General Hardee's only avenue of escape, and
force a capitulation by starvation.
Before, however, attempting either an assault or the com-
pletion of the investment. General Sherman made a successful
effort to open communications with the fleet known to be in
waiting for his coming, to secure supplies by the passage of the
boats on the Ogeechee river, to the rear of his encampments.
He was not yet in need, as he had large herds of cattle, and
his trains were filled with supplies, which had been gathered
on the march from Atlanta and with what had been loaded
in that city, and there was an open country for foraging in
his rear. Still he deemed communication with the fleet to be
of paramount importance. The barrier to this was Fort
McAllister, a redoubt on the right bank of the Ogeechee,
holding heavy guns, and to its reduction he addressed himself,
while he intrusted the immediate investment to his subordi-
nate commanders. On the 13th, General Kilpatrick was sent
over the Ogeechee on a pontoon bridge, under instructions to
reconnoiter Fort McAllister and the inlets in that vicinity,
and if practicable to take the fort ; subsequently he was di-
rected by General Sherman to examine St. Catherine's Sound
and open communication with the fleet. General Kilpatrick
having reported that Fort McAllister was manned by two
hundred men, and the bridge over the Ogeechee, known as
" King's Bridge," having been repaired in an incredibly short
time by Colonel Buell and his regiment — the Fifty-eighth In
diana, famous in the Army of the Cumberland for such ex-
284 THE MAECH TO THE SEA.
ploits — General Hazen, commanding the Second division of the
Fifteenth Army Corps, was ordered to be in readiness to move
against the fort. Early on the 13th, General Hazen crossed
King's bridge, and deployed his division before the posi-
tion, with its flanks resting on the river. Having at 3 p. m.
signaled his readiness for assault to General Sherman, who,
with Generg-l Howard, had taken post at Chase's rice-mill
for observation and direction, he received orders to make the
attack. In compliance. General Hazen assaulted at 5 p. m. ;
his troops broke through the abatis and leaped over the para-
pet, announcing their victory by shouts and the elevation of
the national flag. While observing Hazen's operations. Gen-
eral Sherman caught sight of a steamer, which came to herald
the proximity of the fleet at the very moment that the Ogeechee
was opened for its use. Supplies were now assured, and the
reduction of Savannah was the immediate problem for solu-
tion.
The day following, Generals Sherman and Foster, the latter
commanding the forces in South Carolina, met Admiral Dahl-
gren in conference, and arranged for co-operative movements
against Savannah. Siege-guns were to be brought from
Hilton Head ; the fleet was to bombard the lower forts, and
the investing forces were to carry the landward defenses of
the city. At this time General Sherman thought that he
could reach the " Union Causeway " — General Hardee's only
way of escape from his left flank — by throwing a column across
the Savannah river. He therefore returned from the fleet,
with announced determination to assault the lines of the
enemy as soon as the promised siege-guns should arrive.
On the 17th, General Sherman demanded the surrender of
the city ; but on the next day received a positive refusal from
General Hardee, who reminded him that his investment
was not complete, that his guns were four miles from Sa-
vannah, and that there would be no justification for capitu-
lation while he had an open road to Charleston. He had
probably less than fifteen thousand men, a force that was in-
adequate for successful defense against the armies and fleet
that were converging upon him, but the issue proved that the
necessity of surrender did not exist.
THE MAECH TO THE SEA. 285
The problem of reducing Savannah was not the only one
which now engrossed the attention of General Sherman, as a
greater one had been devolved upon him by General Grant —
one in comparison with which the other was merely inciden-
tal. This was the movement of General Sherman's army, to
assist in the reduction of Richmond. But as this enterprise
was contingent upon the accumulation of vessels sufficient to
transport fifty or sixty thousand men, the operations against
Savannah were continued as though its capture was paramount,
except that the ulterior objective induced General Sherman
to refrain from throwing one of General Slocum's corps across
to South Carolina.
Pending the opening of the Ogeechee and the coming of
the siege-guns, there was some activity on the left flank of the
army, and General Slocum was urgent to throw one of his
corps into South Carolina, to close General Hardee's only
avenue of escape. On the 15th, Colonel Hawley crossed to
the Carolina shore from Argyle Island, with five companies,
drove the enemy from Izzard's plantation, and made a recon-
noissance of the country two miles farther. Being isolated,
he thought it prudent to return, and in doing this he was vig-
orously pressed by the enemy, but recrossed to the island in
safety. Upon his return, he was reinforced by the Second
Massachusetts regiment, and on the next day the remainder
of the brigade. Colonel Carman commanding, and a section
of artillery, crossed to the island and took position on the
eastern point near the South Carolina shore. During the
night, Colonel Carman received orders from General "Williams
to cross to South Carolina and take position near the river,
threatening the Savannah and Charleston road. This was
not accomplished immediately for want of small boats, and
barges could not be used on account of low tide. In the
meantime. General Wheeler appeared on the opposite shore,
and opened with his light guns upon Carman's troops, the lat-
ter responding during the 17th and 18th, but made no effort
to cross.
In view of these revelations. General Sherman abandoned
the idea of closing the road to Charleston by operations from
his left flank, as the enemy held the river opposite the city
286 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
with iron-clad gunboats, and could, as was conjectured, de-
stroy pontoons between Hutchinson Island and the Carolina
shore, and isolate any force sent from that flank.
Upon the abandonment of this movement, General Slocum
was ordered to get the siege-guns into position and make
preparations for assault. The approaches to the city were
upon the narrow causeways, which were commanded by artil-
lery ; but nevertheless the reconnoissance from the left wing
had convinced General Slocum and his subordinate command-
ers that the works in their front could be carried. Two of
General Howard's division commanders were confident they
could attack successfully, though the conditions of assault on
their portion of the line was less favorable than on the left.
In abandoning the purpose to close the Charleston road
from his left flank, General Sherman did not forego the at-
tempt to shut it from another direction, as it was then threat-
ened by one of General Foster's divisions from the head of
Broad river, and on the 19th he set sail for Port Royal to
arrange with General Foster for a movement upon the cause-
way, so vital to General Hardee. His instructions, at depart-
ure, to Generals Howard and Slocum were to get ready, but
not to strike until his return.
At daybreak on the morning of the 19th, by order of Gen-
eral Williams, commanding the Twentieth Corps, Colonel
Carman threw the Third Wisconsin, the Second Massachu-
setts, and the Thirteenth ]^ew York regiments, under Colonel
Hawley, to the South Carolina shore. These troops landed
without opposition, and advancing to Izzard's mill, skirmished
into a good position. The enemy expressed his appreciation
of the position, which he had lost, by charging with his cav-
alry to regain it, but sufiered repulse. During the afternoon
and evening, Colonel Carman sent forward the remaining reg-
iments of his brigade, and assumed command at Izzard's mill.
His position was a strong one for defense, but the ground be-
fore him presented marked obstacles to an advance. His front
was a rice plantation, traversed by canals and dikes, the fields
being overflowed to the depth of eighteen inches. To move
forward under these circumstances, it was necessary to follow
the dikes, and these were easily defended. During the night
THE MAKCH TO THE SEA. 287
he intrenched his line, which extended from the Savannah
river, on his right, two and a quarter miles, to an inlet near
Clyesdale creek.
The next morning', in obedience to orders from General
Jackson, his division commander. Colonel Carman detailed
twelve companies under Colonel Hawley, and directed in per-
son a recounoissance to determine the relation of his line to
Clyesdale creek. This creek was reached, with loss of one
man. Works were then constructed for a regiment ; two com-
panies were left to hold them, and with the remainder of the
force an effort was made to reach the Charleston road. This
movement had been anticipated by the enemy, and a strong
force had been thrown before Carman. As he could not ad-
vance without crossing a canal under fire, he withdrew, but
remained sufficiently near the road to observe the passage of
vehicles of all descriptions, in motion toward Charleston.
During the afternoon he was shelled by a gunboat, and at 4
p. M. he was reinforced by three regiments. He was so near
the enemy's pontoon bridge, at Savannah, that from 7 p. m. to
3 A. M. he could distinctly hear the retreating army crossing
upon it. This noise was also heard by General Geary from
his position below Hutchinson's Island. These facts were
duly reported.
Thus, under the mantle of darkness, during a moonless
and windy night. General Hardee withdrew his entire force
along the front of a brigade of the investing army. The
approach of this brigade to his only line of retreat may have
hastened his withdrawal ; but his final haste, whatever its
immediate cause, was his salvation, and his stay at Savannah
for ten days with such possibilities in his rear, vindicates him
from the charge of abandoning his post before there was abso-
lute need.
General Sherman returned on the 22d, to find the city of
Savannah in the quiet possession of his army. General
Hardee had destroyed as much of his ma,terial as the security
of his retreat permitted ; but he left his guns unspiked, three
steamboats, his railroad rolling-stock, twenty-five thousand
bales of cotton belonging to the Confederate government, and
288 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
vast quantities of other public property of great value, un-
injured.
Except the failure to capture General Hardee's army at
Savannah and release the prisoners at Millin, the march from
Atlanta to that city was a triumphant success — the full
realization of all anticipated possibilities. It illustrated with
fearful emphasis the weakness of the rebellion, for no force
able to resist one of General Sherman's thirteen divisions was
met on the way. It left a track of desolation forty miles wide ;
broke up the railroad system of Georgia and of the South, by
the destruction of three hundred miles of track, all work-
shops, station-houses, tanks, and warehouses ; crippled the
industries of the empire state of the South, by burning all the
mills and factories on the broad belt of ruin, and made other-
wise a heavy draft upon the resources of the people, in con-
suming and transporting supplies in immense quantities, and
by the destruction of twenty thousand bales of cotton. The
general significance of these results spread gloom and despair
over the South. Coupled with the victory at JSTashville, " The
March to the Sea " brought near the collapse of the rebellion.
The death-throes of treason, organized in magnitude most
grand, were subsequently in harmony with its proportions and
persistence ; but all doubt of its quick destruction was now
removed. When General Lee should surrender, the end
would come ; and to hasten this result, the victorious Western
armies were under orders to move northward by sea or land,
as circumstances should determine.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 115.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., November 4, 1864.
I. In view of the contemplated movement, the commanding generals
of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twentieth Corps will hold
their commands prepared, on short notice, to march, provided with as
much bread, salt, sugar, coffee, and ammunition as they can transport
with their present means — each corps independent of all others, and in.
dependent of the general supply train. . , .
II. The general plan of movement will be as follows : As much notice
as possible will be given in advance to General Eaton at Atlanta, and
THE MAECH TO THE SEA. 289
General Steedman at Chattanooga, who are charged with the responsibil-
ity of causing all the rolling-stock of the railroad to be removed to and
north of Eesaca, from which point General Steedman will cover its re-
moval into Chattanooga. The railroad lying between Eesaca and the
Etowah bridge will be left substantially undisturbed. The bridge at
Eesaca and the iron north of it will be removed by cars into Chattanooga,
and stored for future use. The railroad from the Etowah bridge into
Atlanta will be destroyed. The Fourteenth Corps will be charged with
the destruction of that road from Etowah to Big Shanty ; the Fifteenth
and Seventeenth Corps with that from Kenesaw to Chattahoochee bridge ;
and the Twentieth Corps from the Chattahoochee into and including At-
lanta. . . .
III. The army commanders are enjoined to observe as much caution
and secrecy as possible, and to act with the utmost energy, as, after our
railroad communication is broken, every hour of our time is essential to
success.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
[SPECIAL FIELD OEDEES, NO. 120.]
Headquarters Military Division^ of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kixgstox, Ga., November 9, 18G4.
I. For the purpose of military organization, this army is divided into
two wings, viz :
The right wing, Major-General O. O. Howard commanding, the Fif-
teenth and Seventeenth Corps.
The left wing, Major-General H. W. Slocum commanding, the Four-
teenth and Twentieth Corps.
II. The habitual order of march will be, wherever practicable, by four
roads, as near parallel as possible, and converging at points hereafter in-
dicated in orders. The cavalry, Brigadier-General Kilpatrick command-
ing, will receive special orders from the commander-in-chief.
*********
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., November 11, 1864.
Major-General Hallech, Headquarters United States Army, Washington, D. C. :
My arrangements are now all complete, and the railroad cars are being
sent to the rear. Last night we burned all foundries, mills, and shops of
every kind in Eome, and to-morrow I leave Kingston with the rear-
guard for Atlanta, which I propose to dispose of in a similar manner, and
290 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
to start on the 16th on the projected grand raid. All appearances still
indicate that Beauregard has got back to his old hole at Corinth, and I
hope he will enjoj^ it. My army prefers to enjoy the fresh sweet-potato
fields of the Ocmulgee. I have balanced all the figures well, and am sat-
isfied that General Thomas has in Tennessee a force sufficient for all prob-
abilities ; and I have urged him, the moment Beauregard turns south, to
cross the Tennessee at Decatur, and push straight for Selma. To-morrow
our lines will be broken, and this is probably my last dispatch. I would
like to have Foster to break the Savannah and Charleston road about
Pocotaligo, about the 1st of December. All other preparations are to
my entire satisfaction.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 124.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Atlanta, Ga., November 14, 1864.
The armies will begin the movement on Milledgeville and Gordon to-
morrow, the 15th November, as follows :
I. The right wing will move viaMcDonoughand Monticello to Gordon.
II. The left wing (General Slocum's) will move via Covington, Social
Circle, and Madison to Milledgeville, destroying the railroad in a most
thorough manner, from Yellow river to Madison.
III. The cavalry (General Kilpatrick commanding) will move in con-
cert with the right wing, feigning strong in the direction of Forsyth and
Macon, but will cross the Ocmulgee on the pontoon bridge of General
Howard.
IV. Each column will aim to reach its destination — viz., Gordon and
Milledgeville — on the seventh day's march, and each army commander
will, on arrival, communicate with the other wing and the commanding
general, who will accompany the left wing.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
TuscuMBiA, Ala., JVbwmier 16,1864.
Generals. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector-General, Richmond, Va. :
Reports of General Wheeler indicate that Sherman is about to move
with three corps from Atlanta to Augusta or Macon ; thence probably to
Charleston or Savannah, where a junction may be formed with the en-
emy's fleet.
The threatened attack on Wilmington, in that event, must be intended
for Charleston. I would advise that all available forces which can be
spared from North and South Carolina, be held ready to move to defense
of Augusta, or crossing of Savannah river, in conjunction with forces in
the State of Georgia.
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 291
Should Sherman take Charleston, or reach Atlantic coast, he might
then reinforce Grant. General Taylor has been ordered to move with
his available forces into Georgia, and assume command of all troops oper-
ating against Sherman, should he move as reported.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Corinth, November 18, 1864 — via Selma.
To the People of Georgia :
Arise for the defense of your native soil ! Rally around your patriotic
governor and gallant soldiers. Obstruct ^nd destroy all roads in Sher-
man's front, flank, and rear, and his army will soon starve in your midst.
Be confident and resolute. Trust in an overruling Providence, and suc-
cess will crown your efforts. I hasten to join you in defense of your
homes and firesides.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Cobb's Plantation, November 22, 1864.
General : — I am directed by the general-in-chief to write you as follows:
The march of this wing has been, since leaving Atlanta, in two columns,
and very successful up to this time. The Fourteenth Corps is now on
the Hillsboro road, ten (10) ten miles west of Milledgeville, and the
Twentieth Corps must now be in the capital, having marched by the Eaton-
ton road. The Georgia railroad, from and including the Oconee bridge,
west of Lithonia, is well destroyed. Troops in fine condition, having fed
high on sweet potatoes and poultry. Stock is also doing well, though the
roads have been very heavy. The general desires you will report to him
at Milledgeville to-morrow (where he will go early), in detail, your oper-
ations since leaving Atlanta, and also the position of your command,
in view of his making further orders. In the meantime, you can not do
too much permanent damage to that railroad east of Macon and about
Gordon. You will also notify General Kilpatrick a similar report is de-
sired of him.
I am, general, respectfully yours, etc.,
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
General Howard, Commanding Army of the Tennessee.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 127.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Milledgeville, Ga., November 23, 1864.
The first movement of this army having proved perfectly successful,
and the weather now being fine, the following will constitute the second
stage of the campaign, and the movement will commence to-morrow,
November 24th :
292 THE MAECH TO THE SEA.
I. General Kilpatrick, with his cavalry command, unincumbered by-
wagons, will move, via Milledgeville, by the most practicable route east-
ward, break the railroad between Millin and Augusta, then turn and
strike the railroad below Millin ; after which he will use all possible effort
to rescue our prisoners of war now confined near Millin. He will com-
municate back to the wings of the armj^, as often as it is safe, any infor-
mation of roads and the enemy that may be of interest to them.
II. The right wing, General Howard, will move substantially along, but
south of the railroad, to a point opposite Sandersville, breaking and de-
stroying in the most thorough manner the railroad and telegraph; at
which point further orders will be issued.
III. The left wing. General Slocum, will move directly from Milledge-
ville to the railroad opposite Sandersville, and at once commence de-
stroying the railroad forward to the Ogeechee.
IV. Great attention should be paid to the destruction of this road, as
it is of vital importance to our cause. Besides burning bridges and
trestles, the iron should be carefully twisted and warped, so that it
will be impossible ever to use it again; to this end, the rate of travel will
be reduced to ten miles a day.
VI. The general-in-chief will accompany the left wing until it reaches
Sandersville, when he will join the Army of the Tennessee.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Divisi6n of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Milledgeville, Ga., November 23, 18G4.
Major-Gen&ral Hoioord, Commanding Army of the Tennessee :
By instructions of the general-in-chief, I give you the following direc-
tions : Continue to destroy the railroad eastward to the Oconee, in the most
complete and thorough manner, burning and twisting every rail, and the
same for a distance to the west toward Macon ; also destroy the Oconee
bridge. You may lay your pontoon over the Oconee, but do not cross
any of your command until further orders. Hardee has probably swung
around, via Albany, for Savannah, which, the general says, is all right,
and he do n't care particularly. Kilpatrick will be moved here or in this
vicinity for the present. The probability is we will concentrate at
or near Sandersville. Prosecute the railroad destruction in the most
thorough manner, and communicate with the general-in-chief frequently.
I am, general, respectfully yours, etc.,
L. M. DAYTON,
A id-de-Camp,
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 293
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Millin, Ga., December 2, 1864.
General: — The army will move on Savannah, delaying only to continue
the destruction of the railroad from Millin as far as Ogeechee Church.
General Howard will continue to move along the south bank of the
Ogeechee, General Blair along the railroad, and General Slocum by the two
roads lying north of the railroad, between it and the Savannah river.
The general wishes you to confer with General Slocum, to make a strong
feint up in the direction of Waynesboro, and then to cover his rear from
molestation by dashes of cavalry. I send you copies of two letters from
members of Wheeler's staff, which will interest you. After reading, please
return them for file in this office.
I am, general, respectfully yours, etc.,
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
General Kilpatrick, Commanding Cavalry Division.
Headquarters Armies of the United States,
City Point, Va., December 3, 1864
General: — The little information gleaned fi-om the Southern press in-
dicating no great obstacle to your progress, I have directed your mails,
which previously had been collected in Baltimore, by Colonel Markland,
special agent of the post-office department, to be sent as far as the blockad-
ing squadron off Savannah, to be forwarded to you as soon as heard from on
the coast. Not liking to rejoice before the victory is assured, I abstain
from congratulating you and those under your command until bottom
has been struck. I have never had a fear, however, for the result.
Since you left Atlanta, no very great progress has been made here.
The enemy has been closely watched though, and prevented from de-
taching against you. I think not one man has gone from here, except some
twelve or fifteen hundred dismounted cavalry. Bragg has gone from
Wilmington. I am trying to take advantage of his absence to get pos-
session of that place. Owing to some preparations Admiral Porter and
General Butler are making to blow up Fort Fisher, and which, while I
hope for the best, do not believe a particle in, there is delay in getting
this expedition off. I hope they will be ready to start by the 7th, and
that Bragg will not have started back by that time.
In this letter I do not intend to give you anything like directions for
future action, but will state a general idea I have, and will get your views
after you have established yourself on the sea-coast. With your veteran
army I hope to get control of the only two through routes from east to west,
possessed by the enemy before the fall of Atlanta, This condition will
be filled by holding Savannah and Augusta, or by holding any other post
to the east of Savannah and Branchville. If Wilmington falls, a force
from there can co-operate with you.
294 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
Thomas has got back into the defenses of Nashville, with Hood close
upon him. Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the roads, ex-
cept the main one leading to Chattanooga.
I hope Hood will be badly crippled or destroyed. After all becomes
quiet, and the roads up here so bad that there is likelj^ to be a week or
two that nothing can be done, I will run down to the coast and see you.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
Major-General W. T. Sherman, Commanding Armies near Savannah.
Headquarteks Armies of the United States^
City Point, Va., December 6, 1864.
General: — On reflection, since sending my letter by the hands of
Lieutenant Dunn, I have concluded that the most important operation
toward closing out the great rebellion will be to close out Lee and his
army. You have now destroyed the roads of the South, so that it will
probably take them months, without interruption, to re-establish a
through line from east to west. In that time, I think, the job here will
be effectually completed. My idea now is, that you establish a base on
the coast, fortify and leave it to your artillery and cavalry, and enough
infantry to protect them, and at the same time so threaten the interior
that the militia of the South will have to be kept at home. With the
balance of your command come here by water, with all dispatch. Select
yourself the officer to leave in command, but you I want in person.
Unless you see objections to this plan which I can not see, use every
vessel going to you for the purpose of transportation.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GEANT,
Lieutenant-General.
Major-General W. T. Sherman, Commanding J^Iilitary Division of the Mississippi.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Savannah, December 11, 1864 — 2 a. m.
General: — Your dispatch of December 10th, and also Special Field
Order 191, are just received. The general-in-chief wishes you to secure
the trains cut off on the Gulf road, and also describe to him what is the
position of King's bridge and Dillon's ferry ; neither are on the map. I
have had couriers looking for you since 5 p. m., with orders, but they are
unable to find your headquarters. I send inclosed another copy. The
general understands the trains to be between Way's and Fleming's
Station.
I am, general, very respectfully, etc.,
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Major-General 0. 0. Howard, Commanding Army of the Tennessee.
THE MAECH TO THE SEA. 295
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Savannah, December IG, 1864.
General : — I received day before yesterday, at the hands of Lieutenant
Dunn, your letter of December 3d, and last night, at the hands of Col-
onel Babcock, that of December 6th. I had previously made you a hasty
scrawl from the tugboat Dandelion in Ogeechee river, advising you that the
army had reached the sea-coast, destroying all railroads across the State
of Georgia, and investing closely the city of Savannah, and had made
connection with the fleet.
Since writing that note, I have in person met and conferred with Gen-
eral Foster and Admiral Dahlgren, and made arrangements which I
deemed essential to reduce the city of Savannah to our possession ; but
since the receij^t of yom-s of the Gth, I have initiated measures looking
principally to coming to you with fifty or sixty thousand (50,000 or 60,000)
infantry, and incidentally to take Savannah, if time will allow. At the
time we carried Fort McAllister so handsomely by assault, with twenty-
two (22) guns and its entire garrison, I was hardly aware of its importance ;
but since passing down the river with General Foster, and up with Ad-
miral Dahlgren, I realize how admirably adapted are Ossabaw Sound and
Ogeechee river to supply an army operating against Savannah. Sea-going
vessels can easily come to King's bridge, a point on the Ogeechee river,
fourteen and a half (14^) miles due west from Savannah, from which
point we have roads leading to all our camps. The country is low and
sandy, and cut up with marshes, which in wet weather will be very bad,
but we have been so favored with weather that they are all now compar-
atively good, and heavy details are constantly employed in double cordu-
roying the marshes, so that I have no fear of a bad spell of weather.
Fortunately, also, by liberal and judicious foraging, we reached the sea-
coast abutfdantly supplied with forage and provisions, needing nothing
on arrival except bread. Of this we started from Atlanta with from
eight to twenty (8 to 20) days' supply for corps, and some of the troops had
only one (1) day's issue of bread during the trip of thirty (30) days, and
yet they did not want, for sweet-potatoes were very abundant, as well as
corn-meal, and our soldiers took to them naturally. We started with about
five thousand (5,000) head of cattle, and arrived with over ten thousand
(10,000) ; of course consuming mostly turkeys, chickens, sheep, hogs, and
the cattle of the country. As for our mules and horses, we left Atlanta with
about two thousand live hundred (2,500) wagons, many of which were
drawn by mules which had not recovered from the Chattanooga starva-
tion ; all of w' hich were replaced, the poor mules shot, and our transj^orta-
tion is now in superb condition. I have no doubt the State of Georgia
has lost by our operations fifteen thousand (15,000) first-rate mules. As
to horses, Kilpatrick collected all his remounts, and it looks to me, in
riding along our columns, as though every officer has three or four led
horses, and each regiment seems to be followed by at least fifty (50)
negroes and foot-sore soldiers, riding on horses and mules. The custom
was for each brigade to send out daily a foraging party of about fifty (50)
296 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
men on foot, who invariably returned mounted, with several wagons
loaded with poultry, potatoes, etc., and as the army is composed of about
forty (40) brigades, you can estimate approximately the quantity of horses
collected. Great numbers of these were shot by my orders, because of
the disorganizing effect on our infantry of having too many idlers mounted.
General Easton is now engaged in collecting statistics on this subject ; but
I know that the government will never receive full accounts of our cap-
tures, although the result aimed at was fully attained, viz., to deprive our
enemy of them. All these animals I will have sent to Port Royal, or col-
lected behind Fort McAllister, to be used by General Saxton in his farm-
ing operations, or by the quartermaster's department, after they are sys-
tematically accounted for.
While General Easton is collecting transportation for my troops to
James river, I will throw to Port Royal Island all of our means of trans-
portation I can, and collect the balance hear Fort McAllister, covered by
the Ogeechee river and intrenchments to be erected, and for which Cap-
tain Poe, my chief engineer, is now reconnoitering the grounds ; but, in the
meantime, I will act as I have begun, as though Savannah city were my
only objective — namely, the troops will continue to invest Savannah closely,
making attacks and feints wherever we have firm ground to stand upon;
and I will place some thirty (30) pounder Parrots, which I have got from
General Foster, in position near enough to reach the center of the city,
and then will demand its surrender. If General Hardee is alarmed, or
fears starvation, he may surrender; otherwise, I will bombard the city,
but not risk the lives of my own men by assaults across the narrow-
causeways, by which alone we can reach it. If I had time, Savannah, with
all its dependent fortifications, is already ours, for we hold all its avenues
of supply. The enemy has made two desperate efforts to get boats from
above to the city, in both of which he has been foiled ; General Slocum,
whose left flank rests on the river, capturing and burning the first boat,
and in the second instance driving back two gunboats and capturing the
steamer Resolute, with seven naval officers and a crew of twenty-five sea-
men. General Slocum occupies Argyle Island and the upper end of
Hutchinson Island, and has a brigade on the South Carolina shore oppo-
site, and he is very urgent to pass one of his corps over to that shore.
But in view of the change of plan made necessary by your orders of the
6th, I will maintain things in statu quo till 1 have got all my transporta-
tion to the rear and out of the way, and until I have sea transportation for
the troops you require at James river, which I will accompany and com-
mand in person. Of course, I will leave Kilpatrick with his cavalry, say five
thousand three hundred (5,300), and, it may be, a division of the Fifteenth
Corps; but before determining this, I must see General Foster, and may
arrange to shift his force — now over about the Charleston railroad, at the
head of Broad river — to the Ogeechee, where, in co-operation with Kilpat-
rick's cavalry, he can better threaten the State of Georgia than from the
direction of Port Royal. Besides, I would much prefer not to detach
from my regular corps any of its veteran divisions, and would even prefer
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 297
that other less valuable troops should be sent to reinforce Foster, from
some other quarter. My four (4) corps, full of experience and full of
ardor, coming to you en masse, equal to sixty thousand (60,000) fighting
men, will be a reinforcement that Lee can not disregard. Indeed, with my
present command, I had expected, after reducing Savannah, instantly
to march to Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to
report to you. But this would consume, it may be, six weeks' time, after
the fall of Savannah, whereas, by sea, I can probably reach you with my
men and arms before the middle of January.
As to matters in the Southeast, I think Hardee hn Savannah has good
artillerists, some five thousand (5.000) or six thousand (6,000) good infan-
try, and it may be, a mongrel mass of eight thousand or ten thousand
(8,000 or 10,000) militia and fragments. In all our marching through
Georgia, he has not forced me to vise anything but a skirmish line, though
at several points he had erected fortifications and made bombastic
threats. In Savannah, he has taken refuge in a line constructed behind
swamps and overflowed rice-fields, extending from a point on the Savan-
nah river, about three miles above the city, around to a branch of the
Little Ogeechee, which stream is impassable from its salt marshes and
boggj"^ swamps, crossed only by narrow causeways or common corduroy
roads. There must be twenty -five thousand (25,000) citizens, men,
women, and children, in Savannah, that must also be fed, and how he is
to feed them beyond a few days, I can not imagine, as I know that his
requisitions for corn, on the interior counties of Georgia were not filled,
and we are in possession of the rice fields and mills, which alone could be
of service to him in this neighborhood. He can draw nothing from
South Carolina, save from a small corner down in the southeast, and that
by a disused wagon-road. I could easily get posessibn of this, but hardly
deem it worth the risk of making a detachment, which would be in
danger by its isolation from tlie main army.
Our whole army is in fine condition as to health, and the weather is
splendid. For that reason alone I feel a personal dislike to turnhig
northward.
I will keep Lieutenant Dunn here until I know the result of my de-
mand for the surrender of Savannah; but, whether successful or not,
shall not delay my execution of your orders of the 6th, which will de-
pend alone upon the time it will require to get transportation by sea.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General U. S. A.
Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, Commander-in-Chief, City Point, Va.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In THE Field, near Savannah, Ga., December 17, 1864.
General : — You have doubtless observed from your station at Rosedew
that sea-going vessels now come through Ossabaw Sound and the Ogeechee
to the rear of my army, giving me abundant supplies of all kinds, and
298 THE MAECH TO THE SEA.
more especially of heavy ordnance necessary to the reduction of Savan-
nah. I have already received guns that can cast heavy and destructive
shot as far as the heart of your city ; also, I have for some days held and
controlled every avenue by which the people and garrison of Savannah
can be supplied, and I am therefore justified in demanding the surrender
of the city of Savannah and its dependent forts, and shall await a reason-
able time your answer before opening with heavy ordnance. Should you
entertain the proposition, I am prepared to grant liberal terms to the in-
habitants and garrison ; but should I be forced to resort to assault, or the
slower and surer process of starvation, I shall then feel justified in resort-
ing to the harshest measures, and shall make little effort to restrain my
army burning to avenge the great national wrong they attach to Savan-
nah and other large cities, which have been prominent in dragging our
country into civil war.
I inclose you a copy of General Hood's demand for the surrender of
the town of Eesaca, to be used by you for what it is worth.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
General William J. Hardee, Commanding Confederate Forces in Savannah.
Headquarters Department South Carolina and Georgia and Florida,
Savannah, Ga., December 17, 1864.
Major-General W. T. Sherman, Commanding Federal Forces near Savannah :
General: — I have to acknowledge receipt of a* communication from
you of this date, in which you demand "the surrender of Savannah and
its dependent forts," on the ground that you "have received guns that
can cast heavy and destructive shot into the heart of the city;" and for
the further reason that you "have for some days held and controlled
every avenue by which the people and garrison can be supplied." You
add, that should you "be forced to resort to assault, or to the slower and
surer process of starvation, you will then feel justified in resorting to the
harshest measures, and will make little effort to -restrain your army,"
etc., etc.
The position of your forces half a mile beyond the outer line for the
land defense of Savannah is, at the nearest point, at least four miles from
the heart of the city. That and the interior line are intact.
Your statenaent that you have for some days held and controlled every
avenue by which the people and garrison can be supplied is incorrect. I
am in free and constant communication with mj^ dei^artment.
Your demand for the surrender of Savannah and its dependent forts
is refused.
With respect to the threats conveyed in the closing jDaragraph of your
letter, of what may be expected in case your demand is not complied
with, I have to say that I have hitherto conducted the military opera-
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 299
tions intrusted to my direction in strict accordance with the rules of
civilized warfare, and I should deeply regret the adoption of any course
by you that may force me to deviate frpm them in future.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
W. J. HARDEE,
Lieutenant- General.
Headquarters Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Savannah, Ga., Decemler 18, 1864.
General : — I wrote you at length by Colonel Babcock on the 1 Gth instant.
As I therein explained my purpose, yesterday I made a demand on General
Hardee for the surrender of the city of Savannah, and to-day received his
answer refusing. Copies of both letters are herewith inclosed. You will
notice that I claim that my lines are within easy range of the heart of
Savannah, but General Hardee claims we are four and a half miles dis-
tant. But I mj^self have been to the intersection of the Charleston and
Georgia railroad and the three (3) mile post is but a few yards beyond,
within the line of our picket. The enemy has no pickets outside of his
fortified line, which is a full quarter of a mile within the three (3) mile
post, and I have the evidence of Mr. R. R. Cuyler, president of the
Georgia Central railroad, who was a prisoner in our hands, that the mile-
posts are measured from the Exchange, which is but two squares from
the river. . . . General Slocum feels confident that he can make a
successful assault at one or two points in front of the Twentieth Corps
and one or two in front of General Davis' (Fourteenth) Corps. But all of
General Howard's troops, the right wing lie behind the Little Ogeechee,
and I doubt if it can be passed by troops in the face of an enemy. Still
we can make strong feints, and if I can get a suflScient number of boats,
I shall make a co-operative demonstration up Vernon river or Wassaw
Sound. I should like very much to take Savannah before coming to
you; but, as I Avrote to you before, I will do nothing rash or hasty, and
will embark for the James river as soon as General Easton, who is gone
to Port Eoyal for that purpose, reports to me that he has an approximate
number of vessels for the transportation of the contemplated force. . .
In relation to Savannah you will remark that General Hardee refers to
his still being in communication with his war department. This lan-
guage he thought would deceive me, but I am confirmed in the belief
that the route to which he refers — namely, the Union plank-road, on the
South Carolina shore — is inadequate to feed his army and the people of
Savannah, for General Foster assures me that he has his force on that
very road near the head of Broad river, and that his guns command the
railroad, so that cars no longer run between Charleston and Savannah.
We hold this end of the Charleston road, and have destroyed it from the
three (3) mile post back to the bridge, about twelve (12) miles above.
I do sincerely believe that the whole United States, North and South,
300 THE MAECH TO THE SEA.
would rejoice to have this army turned loose on South Carolina, to de-
vastate that state in the manner we have done in Georgia, and it would
have a direct and immediate bearing on your campaign in Virginia.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Lieutenant-General U. 8. Grant, City Point, Va.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Savanah, Ga., December 19, 18G4.
General: — The general-in-chief has gone to the bay. He wishes you
to push the preparations for attacking Savannah with all possible sjjeed,
but to await orders for the attack. He will see General Foster and the
admiral before returning, and will get co-operation from both, if possible.
Should anything occur that you would like to communicate to the gen-
eral, I will forward for you.
I am, general, with great respect,
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Major-General 0. 0. Howard, Commanding Army of the Tennessee.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Savannah, Ga., December 19, 1864.
General: — The general-in-chief has gone to the bay. He directs ine to
further instruct you to push preparations for the attack on the defenses
of Savannah as rapidly as possible, and then await further directions be-
fore doing more.
He will endeavor to get co-operation from Admiral Dahlgren and Gen-
eral Foster, with whom he will confer before returning. If, in the mean-
time, anything should occur you would wish to communicate to him,
please to send to me, and I will forward.
I am, general, with respect,
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Major-General Slocum, Commanding Left Wing.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL SHERMAN'S REPORT.
In the meantime, further reconnoissances from our left flank had de-
monstrated that it was impracticable or unwise to push any considerable
force across the Savannah river, for the enemy held the river opposite the
city with iron-clad gunboats, and could destroy any pontoons laid down by
us between Hutchinson's Island and the South Carolina shore, which
would isolate any force sent over from that flank. I therefore ordered
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 301
General Slocum to get into position the siege-guns, and make all the
preparations necessary to assault, and to report to me the earliest moment
when he could be ready, whilst I should proceed rapidly roimd by the
right, and make arrangements to occupy the Union causeway, from the
direction of Port Koyal. General Foster had already established a divis-
ion of troops on the peninsula or neck between the Coosawhatchie and
Tullifinney rivers, at the head of Broad river, from which position he
could reach the railroad with his artillery.
I went to Port Royal in person, and made arrangements to reinforce that
command by one or more divisions, under a proper officer, to assault and
carry the railroad, and thence turn toward Savannah, until it occupied
the causeway in question.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL HOWARD'S REPORT.
It having been intimated that our future plans would be modified by
specific instructions from the commander-in-chief, General Sherman and
his officers became anxious to crown our success by the capture of Savan-
nah. In order to accomplish this, every exertion was made. Heavy guns
were brought from Hilton Head and McAllister, and placed in position ; the
lines were worked up closer to the enemy, along the dikes ; good batteries
constructed for small guns, and every part of the front of General Oster-
haus and General Blair thoroughly reconnoitered; light bridges were
constructed, and fascines made, so as to span the streams and fill up the
ditches; in brief, every possible preparation was made to assault the en-
emy's works. The same was the case along General Slocum's front.
While these preparations were going on, the general-in- chief, having
demanded the surrender of Savannah on the 18th instant, and having
been refused, had gone to the fleet, in order to secure co-operation from
the admiral and General Foster, in the contemplated attack. He left di-
rections to get ready, but not to strike till his return.
Two at least of my division commanders felt perfectly confident of
success, in case the assault should be made.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL SLOCUM'S REPORT
Our line was established as close as possible to that of the enemy, and
the time spent in preparations for an assault upon his works. Batteries
were established on the river, in such positions as prevented any boats
from passing. The steamer Ida, while attempting to pass up from Savan-
nah, on the 10th of December, was captured and burned. On the 12th,
two gunboats and the steamer Resolute attempted to pass our batteries
from above, but both gunboats were driven back by Winegar's battery,
and the steamer was so disabled that she fell into our hands. She was
soon repaired, and has since been transferred to the quartermaster's de-
partment.
302 THE MARCH TO THE .SEA.
On the 18tli, a brigade of the First division, Twentieth Corps, was thrown
across the river, and established near Izzard's plantation, on the South
Carolina shore, in a position which threatened the only line of communi-
cation still held by the enemy. A bridge, in the meantime, had been
constructed by the enemy from the city to the South Carolina shore,
and on the evening of December 20th he commenced the evacuation
of the city.
EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF GENERAL WILLIAMS.
During the day of the 20th, the fire from the enemy's works and gun-
boats was unusually heavy and continuous. Reports from Carman's brig-
ade, that large columns were crossing to the Carolina shore, either to cover
their only line of communication, or preparatory to a final evacuation of
the city. In the night. General Geary reported to me that the movements
across the river were still apparently going on.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL GEARY'S REPORT.
I ascertained this morning, the 20th, that the enemy had completed a
pontoon bridge across to the South Carolina shore, from Savannah, and
notified the general commanding the corps of the discovery. This bridge
was about two and a half miles from my left. The usual artillery fire
was kept up by the enemy during the day and night. During the night,
I heard the movement of troops and wagons across the pontoon bridge
before mentioned, and sent a report of the fact to the general command-
ing the corps.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL JEFF. C. DAVIS' REPORT.
During the intervening days between the 12th and 21st, at which time
the enemy evacuated his position, my troops were assiduously engaged
in skirmishing with the enemy, reconnoitering his position, and making
genei'al preparations for an attack. Five (5) points in my front had,
several days before the evacuation, been reconnoitered, and pronounced
accessible to an attacking party. This information was duly forwarded
to the commanding general.
EXTRACTS FROM COLONEL CARMAN'S REPORT.
I then moved the remaining regiment of the brigade — One Hundred
and Fiftieth New York Volunteers — to the South Carolina shore, and es-
tablished there my headquarters at Izzard's mill. The position occupied
by the brigade was strong for defense, but the nature of the ground was
such that an advance was difficult. . . .
During the night, I transported the two pieces of artillery across the
river, and put them in position in the center of the line. The line as
THE. MARCH TO THE SEA. 303
then formed and held by my brigade was two and a quarter miles long,
the left resting on the Savannah river, and the right on an inlet near
Clyesdale creek. . . .
December 20. . . . During the day, a great number of vehicles of all
descriptions were seen passing our front, moving from Savannah toward
Hardeeville, which was reported to the headquarters of the division.
In the afternoon, a rebel gunboat came up the river in our rear, and
threw about thirty shells into my brigade, killing one man of the One
Hundred and Fiftieth New York. I could reach it with my artillery.
At 4 p. M. the enemy was reinforced by three regiments of infantry from
Savannah.
From 7 p. m. until 3 a. m. the noise of the retreating enemy could
plainly be heard as they crossed the bridges from Savannah to the South
Carolina shore.
Charleston, S. C, December 8, 1864.
Lieutenant- General Hardee, Savannah, Ga. :
Having no army of relief to look to, and your forces being essential to
the defense of Georgia and South Carolina, whenever you shall have to
select between their safety and that of Savannah, sacrifice the latter, and
form a junction with General Jones, holding the left bank of the Savan-
nah river and the railroad to this place as long as possible.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Headquarters of the Army,
Washington, December 16, 1864.
General : — Lieutenant-General Grant informs me that in his last dis-
patch sent to you, he suggested the transfer of your infantry to Rich-
mond. He now wishes me to say that you will retain your entire force,
at least for the present, and, with such assistance as may be given you by
General Foster and Admiral Dahlgren, operate from such base as you
may establish on the coast. General Foster will obey such instructions
as may be given by you. Should you have captured Savannah, it is
thought that by transferring the water-batteries to the land side, that
place may be made a good depot and base for operations on Augusta,
Branchville, or Charleston. If Savannah should not be captured, or if
captured and not deemed suitable for this purpose, perhaps Beaufort
would serve as a depot. As the rebels have probably removed their most
valuable property from Augusta, perhaps Branchville would be the most im-
portant point at which to strike in order to sever all connections between
the Virginia and the Northwestern railroads. General Grant's wishes, how-
ever, are that this whole matter of your future actions should be left en-
tirely to your discretion.
We can send you from here a number of complete batteries of field
artillery, with or without horses, as you may desire. Also, as soon as
General Thomas can spare them, all the fragments, convalescents, and
304 THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
furloughed men of your army. It is reported that Thomas defeated
Hood yesterday near Nashville, but we have no particulars nor official
reports, telegraphic communications being interrupted by a heavy storm.
Our last advices from you were in General Howard's note, announcing
his approach to Savannah.
Yours truly,
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-Qeneral, Chief of Staff.
Major-General Sherman, via Hilton Head.
Headquarters of the Army,
Washington, December 18, 1864.
My Dear General: — Yours of the 13th, by Major Anderson, is just re-
ceived. I congratulate you on your splendid success, and shall very soon
expect to hear of the crowning work of your new campaign, in the cap-
ture of Savannah. Your march will stand out prominently as the great
one of this great war. When Savannah falls, then for another wide
swath through the center of the Confederacy. But I will not anticipate.
General Grant is expected here this morning, and will probably write you
his own views.
Orders have been issued for all officers and detachments, having three
months or more to serve, to rejoin your army, via Savannah. Those hav-
ing less than three months to serve will be retained by General Thomas.
Should you capture Charleston, I hope that by soriic accident the place
may be destroyed; and if a little salt should be sown upon its site, it
may prevent the growth of future crops of nullification and secession.
Yours truly,
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General, Chief of Staff.
Major-General W. T. Sherman, Savannah.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Savannah, December 24, 1864.
General: — I had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the 16th
and 18th instant to-day, and I feel more than usually flattered by the
high encomiums you have passed on our recent campaign, which is now
completed by the occupation of Savannah.
I am very glad that General Grant has changed his mind about em-
barking my troops for James river, leaving me free to make the broad
swath you describe through South and North Carolina, and am still more
gratified at the news from Thomas in Tennessee, because it fulfills my
plans, which contemplated his being fully able to dispose of Hood in
case he ventured north of the Tennessee river. So I think, on the
whole, I can chuckle over J«ffi Davis' disappointment in not turning my
Atlanta campaign into a Moscow disaster.
THE MAECH TO THE SEA. 305
I will bear in mind your hint as to Charleston, and don't think " salt"
will be necessary. When I move, the Fifteenth Corps will be on the right
of the right wing, and their joosition will naturally bring them into it first;
and if you have watched the history of that cor^Ds, you will have re-
marked that they do their work up pretty well. The truth is, the whole
army is burning with an insatiable desire to wreak vengeance upon South
Carolina. I almost tremble at her fate, but feel that she deserves all that
is in store for her. Many and many a person in Georgia asked me why we
did not go to South Carolina; and when I answered that I was en route for
that state, the invariable reply was, "Well, if you make those people
feel the severities of war, we will pardon you for your desolation of
Georgia." I look upon Columbia as quite as bad as Charleston, and I
doubt if we shall spare the public buildings there as we did at Milledge-
ville.
I felt somewhat disappointed at Hardee's escape from me, but really
am not to blame. I moved as quick as possible to close up the " Union
Causeway," but intervening obstacles were such, that before I could get
my troops on the road, Hardee slipped out. Still, I know that the men
that were in Savannah will be lost in a measure to JeflP. Davis ; for the
Georgia troops under G. W. Smith declared they would not fight in South
Carolina, and they have gone north en route for Augusta, and I have rea-
son to believe North Carolina troops have gone to Wilmington — in other
words, they are scattered.
* * * * * * ** *
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-Oeneral.
Major-General H. W. Halleck, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C.
VOL. n — 20
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS, FROM SAVANNAH TO GOLDSBORO
AND RALEIGH ; THE BATTLES OF AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
Soon after the occupation of Savannah by General Sherman,
the movement of his army by sea was abandoned, and its
march through the Carolinas was adopted instead. General
Sherman had indicated to General Grant, in his letter of De-
cember 16th, his preference for the overland movement, and
in subsequent communications emphasized his choice. And
in view of the apparent advantages of this approach to Vir-
ginia, General Grant authorized General Sherman, December
27th, to move his army northward through the Carolinas as
soon as practicable. It was anticipated that this movement
would prevent, in great measure, the union of the fragments
of the defeated Confederate armies in the "West and South,
while it would repeat and intensify the effect pi'oduced by the
march from Atlanta to Savannah. The plan adopted, com-
passed the permanent occupancy of Savannah by troops from
a distance, that General Sherman might keep his army intact
to be able to resist General Lee until General Grant could give
him help from Virginia, should that general abandon the
capital of the Confederacy to oppose him.
The river defenses of Savannah, with slight modifications,
were deemed adequate. Forts Pulaski, Thunderbolt, and
McAllister were put in complete order. The forts bearing
upon the approaches by water were dismantled, and their
heavy guns sent to Fort Pulaski and Hilton Head. The
obstructions, including torpedoes, were removed from the ad-
jacent waters, and Admiral Dahlgren had the channels staked
out and indicated by buoys. Preparations were promptly
(306)
A.VERYSBOEO AND BENTONVILLE. 307
commenced and energetically prosecuted, that the army might
move northward by the 15th of January.
A portion of General Sherman's forces did move before the
15th of January ; but rain, swollen rivers, and flooded low-
lands so delayed co-operative columns, that they did not cross
the Savannah river until the first week of February. On the
14th, General Howard, with General Blair's corps, crossed
from Beaufort Island to the main land, flanked the enemy at
Gordon's Corner, and followed him to Pocotaligo, and on the
following morning took possession of the vacant fort at that
place. This movement was a feint upon Charleston, to deceive
the enemy as to General Sherman's first and second objectives,
which were Columbia, South Carolina, and Goldsboro, North
Carolina.
A pontoon bridge had been thrown at Savannah for the
passage of the left wing, and the Union causeway had
been repaired ; but the flood in the river had borne away the
bridge and submerged the causeway, and General Slocum was
compelled to move up the river to find a crossing. Jackson's
and Ward's divisions of the Twentieth Corps crossed at
Purysburg, and on the 19th were at Hardeeville, in com-
munication with General Howard at Pocotaligo. The Four-
teenth Corps, and Geary's division of the Twentieth Corps,
which had been relieved from garrison duty at Savannah, by
General Grover's division of the Nineteenth Corps from Vir-
ginia, did not leave Savannah until the 26th of January.
These troops then moved up to Sister's Ferry, and succeeded
in crossing the river during the first week of February. In
the meantime, the Fifteenth Corps, General John A. Logan
commanding, had crossed the river and lowlands, and joined
General Howard at Pocotaligo.
General Sherman's forces were now in readiness to enter
upon a campaign which involved strategic combinations of
widest range. When the northward march was first indicated,
Generals Bragg, Beauregard, and Hardee were intent upon
concentrating all fragments of armies far and near to oppose
it. Generals Beauregard and Hardee were in Charleston, and
General Bragg was in North Carolina.
North Carolina was open to attack from the coast, and
308 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
thitlier General Scliofield's corps of twenty-one thousand men
from the West and other forces were to move. General Sher-
man had an oflensive army of sixty-five thousand men, and
forces in his rear to hold Savannah and garrison such other
fortified places as should fall into his hands. Acting aggres-
sively on a broad field, with possible objectives in front, or
right or left, their antagonist could conceal his purposes, and
strike vital points uncovered by invitation of feints in other
directions. The disposition of his forces from Sister's Ferry
to Pocotaligo menaced equally Charleston, Columbia, and
Augusta, and which was General Sherman's immediate ob-
jective, the Confederate generals could not discern with cer-
tainty. And if they could have ascertained his aims, he could
change them with pleasure with crushing eftect. Having
passed by Augusta in his march from Atlanta that he might
menace that city with his left flank while feigning against
Charleston with his right, to concentrate between the divided
forces of the enemy upon Columbia as his first objective, he
proposed that his two wings should shake hands where seces-
sion first found positive expression through the convention of
South Carolina, and then stride on to Goldsboro and Rich-
mond.
The inevitable delay at Savannah was favorable to the
enemy, as it had given time for a sweeping conscription in the
states immediately threatened, for the fragments of Hood's
army to move far toward the Carolinas, and for Wlieeler to
obstruct the roads before General Sherman's columns, and
destroy the bridges that could not be utilized for defense.
These obstructions, the depth of the rivers, and the breadth of
the immediate lowlands on their margins, doubtless gave hope
to the enemy that the invasion of the Carolinas would be
greatly delayed, if not defeated. But though the obstacles
were almost insurmountable, General Sherman's victorious
troops did not hesitate to make causeways in the deep cold
waters for miles, nor to make roads through the swamps of
South Carolina in midwinter, and made a march not inferior
to the celebrated passage of the Alps, except in the low lines
of advance.
The infantry forces of the enemy occupied the line of the
AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 309
Salkehatchie river, while "Wheeler's cavalry hovered around the
heads of column or on the fianks of the two wings. The left
wing, with Kilpatrick on its left flank, moved upon Barn-
well, threatening Augusta; the right wing, accompanied
by General Sherman, moved westward to the Salkehatchie,
touching the river at Beaufort and Rivers' bridges, flanking
Charleston, and neutralizing the elaborate fortifications of that
city, which had so long defied the heavy guns of iron-clads
and land-batteries. The bridges of the Salkehatchie were de-
fended with spirit, but in vain ; and General Howard soon
forced the passages, when the enemy retired to Branchville,
burning all bridges behind him. These movements spread
alarm everywhere. The Confederate forces were feeble at
best, and there were now so many possibilities to General
Sherman, all fruitful of ruin, that extreme uncertainty and
foreboding of crushing disasters palsied the courage of troops
and citizens. They could only guess at General Sherman's
objective, and so many were possible and his' strategy so be-
wildering that no positions were held with adequate strength
for temporary resistance, and Columbia was uncovered almost
entirely.
General Sherman threw the Fifteenth and Seventeenth
Corps on the Orangeburg road — the latter by Binnaker's
bridge over the south fork of Edisto, and the former by Hol-
man's. Having reached Orangeburg, the right Aving moved
on the direct road to Columbia. The enemy was driven from
all points where resistance was made, and on the 16th, the
head of column approached the capital of South Carolina,
The left wing advanced steadily by Barnwell and Lexington
as the general direction, and destroyed the Charleston and
Augusta railroad for several miles. After a well-sustained
menace to Augusta, General Slocum gathered his forces and
touched the Saluda river above Columbia simultaneously with
the arrival of General Howard on the bank of the river oppo-
site the city.
General Sherman's maneuvers resulted in marked success.
Throwing his columns in diverging lines from Savannah, and
then converging them upon Columbia, he caused the evacua-
tion of Charleston, and drove General Cheatham, moving
310 AVERYSBOEO AND BENTONVILLE.
eastward with tlie remnant of Hood's army, to the north of
his projected line. It now remained to reach Goldsboro
through repetition of the same confusing strategy; but the
conditions of its success were now greatly changed, as the gar-
risons of Charleston, Columbia, and Augusta could be united
with the "Western troops and other forces on the Atlantic
coast, and endanger isolated columns. Besides, a great
strategist. General Joseph E. Johnston, had been appointed to
the command of all the forces available to resist General Sher-
man, in tacit recognition of the fact that his management of
defensive campaigns promised better results than that of any
other general who could be assigned to command in the Car-
olinas ; but General Johnston's conduct of the defensive was
now to be subject to conditions radically different from those
of the Atlanta campaign. His army, as before, was inferior to
that of General Sherman's, and was composed of fragmentary
troops, whose morale was in harmony with the condition of
the cause which they represented ; and, besides, he was to
meet his old antagonist, with an army whose spirit had risen,
if possible, with its successive triumphs, and not now, as before,
restrained in maneuver by connection with a railroad as its
only channel of supply. General Johnston could therefore
have no hope of success, unless he could strike unsupported
columns and defeat General Sherman in detail ; and past expe-
rience did not give promise of such an opportunity.
In advancing from Columbia, General Sherman, as before,
covered his real object by a menace in a different direction.
He now directed General Slocum to threaten Charlotte, North
Carolina, to create the impression that he would strike that
point on his way to Virginia, while in reality directing his
army to Goldsboro. Accordingly, General Slocum resumed
motion on the 17th, crossed the Saluda at IVIount Zion Church
on the 19th, and Broad river at Freshley's mills the day fol-
lowing, and arrived at AVinnsboro on the 21st, On this march
the left wing and cavalry destroyed several miles of railroad
north and south of Alston. The right wing, General Sherman
accompanying, left Columbia on the 20th, on the direct road
to Winnsboro, and destroyed the railroad between the two
places. Eighty squares in Columbia were left in ashes from a
AVERYSBORO AXD BENTONVILLE. 311
(ionflagration whose origin and progress lias bee'i a matter of
historical controversy.
From Winnshoro the two wings again diverged. General
Slocum moved to the north with his troops well spread out
and then turned east, crossed the Catawba, and advanced to
Sneedshoro. The cavalry on his left demonstrated toward
Charlotte, and then followed to Sneedshoro. The right wing,
in the meantime, advanced to Cheraw — the Seventeenth Corps
entering that place on the 2d of March. The enemy offered
some resistance, but did not retard a single column. Wheeler's
cavalry and the forces from Charleston appeared at times
before the columns. The other forces, including Cheatham's
from the West, were directed to Charlotte, under the impres-
sion that this was the objective.
From Pedee river the two wings moved toward Fayetteville,
crossing near Sneedshoro and at Cheraw — the corps moving on
separate roads, and the cavalry maintaining position on the
left flank. On the 9th of March, General Hampton surprised
one of General Kilpatrick's brigades, and gained a temporary
advantage over his whole force. General Kilpatrick barely
escaped capture on foot. The enemy, however, stopped to
plunder the camps, and this gave time for the national cavalry
to rally; and having done this, General Kilpatrick charged
and recaptured his camps and repelled all subsequent attacks.
General J. G. Mitchell, with his brigade of infantry, reached
the scene of conflict just as the enemy abandoned his effort to
regain his lost advantage.
On the 11th, the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Corps arrived
at Fayetteville and skirmished with Hampton's cavalry, which
covered General Hardee as he withdrew from the town on the
bridge spanning Cape Fear river, which he succeeded in burn-
ing. It was anticipated that General Hardee would contest
the possession of this place, but he abandoned it without resist-
ing and with it a vast amount of public property, including an
immense arsenal. At Fayetteville, General Sherman was met
by the army tug Davidson, Captain Ainsworth commanding,
and the gunboat Eolus, Lieutenant-Commander Young, with
the first intelligence of the fall of Wilmington, and he then
312 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
dispatched orders to Generals Scliofield and Terry to move
upon Goldsboro.
The march through South Carolina had left a track of deso-
lation more than forty miles wide. That state's special guilt
in taking the initiative in secession, was assumed by officers
and men as the justilication of its devastation. As many of
the Southern people who were originally opposed to secession,
blamed South Carolina for precipitating the movement, and
having themselves experienced the terrible retributions of the
war which resulted, desired that South Carolina should feel
war's heavy hand before peace should come, it was not strange
that the national troops in marching through the state which
originally suggested secession, and studiously endeavored to
induce the Southern States to withdraw from the Union, should
leave behind them the fearful evidences of vengeance achieved.
But it was easier for the veterans of the war to find justifica-
tion for sweeping desolation in their own feelings than it is for
others to find grounds for its historical vindication.
As General Johnston had now lost a large number of im-
portant places without losing their garrisons, and had been
joined by several thousand troops from the West, it was now
possible for him to unite all to resist General Sherman between
Fayetteville and Goldsboro. Altogether they did not consti-
tute an army equal to General Sherman's, yet, when united,
were formidable against either wing or a smaller fraction. Re-
ferring to these forces. General Sherman thus wrote : " These
made up an army superior to me in cavalry, and formidable
enough in artillery and infantry to justify me in extreme cau-
tion in making the last step necessary to complete the march I
have undertaken." In a letter to General Schofield, of March
12th, he said that General Johnston might concentrate at Ra-
leigh from forty to forty-five thousand men,andwrote:" I can
whip that number with my present force, and with yours and
Terry's added, we can go wherever we can live." To General
Grant, the same day, he wrote : " Joe Johnston may try to in-
terpose between me and Schofield about IsTewbern ; but I think
he will not try that, but concentrate his scattered armies at
Raleigh, and I will go straight at him as soon as I get my men
reclothed and our wagons reloaded."
AVERYSBORO AND BEN"TONVILLE. 313
General Sherman's maneuvers, after leaving Fayetteville,
were, in type, a repetition of his former strategy. He moved
his cavalry toward Raleigh, and followed immediately with
four divisions of the left wing, and more remotely with four
of the right, throwing all his trains and the four remaining
divisions farther to the east. He commenced these movements
on the 15th. At 3 a. m. General Kilpatrick advanced on the
direct road to Averyshoro to make the feint on Raleigh, and
then strike the railroad near Smithiield. General Slocum fol-
lowed with four uniucumhered divisions. General Howard
held four divisions in trim to march to General Slocum's help
should there he need. The trains of the left wing, with two
divisions, moved on the direct road to Goldshoro, and the trains
and two divisions of the right wing, toward Faison Station on
the Wilmington and Goldshoro railroad. General Sherman ac-
compaiiied the left wing. .
The heavy rains made quagmires of the roads, and it hecame
necessary to corduroy them for the artillery. So much of this
work had heen done in the swamps of South Carolina, that
great facility had heen attained, and the army moved on with-
out serious delays. During the evening of the 15th, General
Kilpatrick met a strong force of infantry near Taylor's Hole
creek, under the command of General Hardee. He skirmished
with the rear-guard and captured some prisoners, among whom
was Colonel Rhett of the heavy artillery. The next morning
General Slocum advanced his infantry columns to the vicinity
of Averyshoro, and found General Hardee intrenched on a nar-
row neck of swampy land hetween the Cape Fear and South
rivers. General Hardee's position was in front of the point
where the Goldshoro road through Bentonvillc leaves the main
road leading in the direction of Raleigh. This was the first
positive resistance which had heen offered hy infantry in strong
force north of Savannah, and was douhtless intended to retard
General Sherman's advance, until General Johnston could pre-
pare for still stronger opposition at some point farther north
or east. At this time the conjecture was that he would con-
centrate at Raleigh, Smithfield, or Goklshoro ; hut his point of
intended concentration was much nearer than either of these
towns. But the execution of General Sherman's plan, wher-
314 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
ever General Jolinston might offer battle, required that Gen-
eral Hardee should be dislodged. "Without this, the feint on
Raleigh could not be sustained or even fully initiated, and the
ultimate reunion of the columns, as contemplated, could not
be effected, as General Hardee barred the diverging road to
Goldsboro.
General Slocum was therefore ordered to advance against
General Hardee, whose position was not strong, except from
intrenchments and the softness of the ground before it, which
scarcely admitted the deployment and advance of infantry,
and rendered the movement of horses almost impossible.
N'otwithstanding * this obstacle, General Slocum advanced,
"Williams' corps leading and "Ward's division deployed. Gen-
eral "Ward's skirmishers soon developed Rhett's brigade of
artillery, acting as infantry, behind slight intrenchments,
whose trend was at right angles to the road, and was sus-
tained by a battery, which enfiladed the line of direct ap-
proach. Direct attack being perilous, General Williams
threw a brigade on the left of the enemy's line, when the
quondam artillerymen, in complete rout, fell back to a
stronger position. This success opened the way for a general
attack, to accomplish which Jackson's division formed on the
right of "Ward and General Davis' two divisions of the Four-
teenth Corps on his left. General Kilpatrick was directed to
reach out beyond Jackson's right flank and grasp the Benton-
ville road. One brigade of cavalry gained the road, but was
attacked furiously by McLaw's division, and driven back.
After this repulse, General Slocum's whole line advanced,
pushed General Hardee within his intrenchments, and pressed
him there so heavily that during the following dark and stormy
night he retreated. The next morning. General Ward fol-
lowed through Averysboro, but soon rejoined the main f6rce,
in motion on the Goldsboro road, which the engagement had
opened. General Slocum lost about eighty killed and four
hundred and eighty wounded. The enemy left one hundred
and seventy-eight dead on the field, and lost one hundred and
seventy-five men and three guns by capture. The number
of his wounded was not ascertained. General Ward's pursuit
AVERYSBOEO AND BENTONVILLE. 315
developed the fact that General Hardee had retreated toward
Smithfield.
The night previous, General Kilpatrick crossed South river,
and on the 17th advanced toward Elevation, on the east hank.
General Slocum huilt a bridge over the swollen stream, and
then advanced on the Goldsboro road. General Sherman con-
tinued with tlie left wing, and encamped with the head of
column, on the night of the 18th, on the Goldsboro road,
twenty-five miles from Goldsboro, and five from Bentonville,
at a point where the road from Clinton to Smithfield crosses
the one to Goldsboro. General Howard reached Lee's store,
a few miles distant, the same night, and the two wings were
sufficiently near to give support in battle, and were upon
roads which united a short distance to the east.
Up to this time, General Sherman had anticipated an attack
upon his left flank ; but he was now led to believe that Gen-
eral Johnston would not attack, as it was supposed that he
had retreated to Smithfield, and he gave orders for the two
columns to move upon Goldsboro — General Howard, on the
new Goldsboro road, by Falling Creek Church, to give the
direct road to General Slocum. His object was to concentrate
his forces at Goldsboro as soon as practicable, and he moved
to General Howard's head of column, to open communication
with Generals Schofield and Terry — the former coming to meet
him from ISTewbern, and the latter from Wilmington, having
conjointly from thirty to thirty -five thousand men. It was
not known that General Johnston's whole army was in imme-
diate proximity, but it was supposed that only cavalry would
be met on the way to Goldsboro.
Scarcely had General Carlin's division of the Fourteenth
Corps, in the advance of the left wing, wheeled into the road
to push on to Goldsboro, when Dibbrcll's division of cavalry
was met, whose stubborn resistance indicated that there was
support, or that its courage had given a new type to the con-
flict of cavalry with infantry. Being under orders to press
on, and supposing that cavalry alone was in his front. General
Carlin engaged the enemy vigorously, and soon the responsive
roar of artillery announced the opening of a battle w^hich
General Johnston was delivering, iu expectation of crushing
316 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE..
the Fourteenth Corps at least. But the magnitude of the
conflict was not yet apparent. As the resistance of the enemy
became more stubborn, Colonels Hobart's and Miles' brigades
were deployed, the former on the right, and Colonel Buell was
sent, by order of General Slocum, some distance to the left to
develop the enemy's line. The resistance offered by the en-
emy was supposed at first to be done by cavalry, and General
Slocum so reported to General Sherman, who had gone to the
right to join General Howard, whose columns were moving
toward Goldsboro.
As resistance increased. General Morgan was directed to
move to the right of Carlin in support. The former threw
General Mitchell's brigade to the right of Miles' brigade and
the road, and General Fearing's to the right and rear of
Mitchell — ^both in double lines. The Seventy-eighth Illinois
of the former was sent forward to skirmish. Under this
stronger formation, both division generals were directed to
press the enemy closely, and compel him to reveal his position
and strength.
General Slocum soon became convinced that he had before
him a force more formidable than a division of cavalry-
While still in doubt as to the strength of the enemy, a deserter
came to him, who had been a national soldier, Avho gave in-
formation that General Johnston had, by forced marches,
massed his entire army^in his front. This statement being
supported by actual developments, induced General Slocum
to prepare for defease, and immediately ordered General Wil-
liams to throw his train to the right, gather his forces, and
hasten to the support of General Davis. He then seiit a mes-
senger to General Sherman to announce that there was evi-
dence that an army was before him.
The direction of General Hardee's retreat from Averysboro,
had led to the belief that the way to Goldsboro was open.
And this was the impression that General Johnston desired
to make by all his movements. General Hardee meanwhile
had changed direction not far from Averysboro, and by a
detour, had united his command with the other forces con-
centrated and intrenched near Bentonville. Apparently, the
coveted conditions of the battle assured the success of General
AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 317
Johnston's strategy, for two divisions in isolation were within
his reach ; two more were distant a few miles, and the four
divisions of the right wing, intended for the support of the
left, in the event of battle, were in rapid motion toward Golds-
boro, far to the right. General Williams' defeat, in prospect,
was to follow that of General Davis, and the other corps and
detached divisions were to be defeated in turn, and the trains
destroyed. The plan miscarried, mainly, from two unex-
pected causes — the resistance of two divisions until the Twen-
tieth Corps could give support, and the lack of complete con-
cert of action in General Johnston's army, composed of the
commands of Generals Bragg, Hardee, S. D. Lee, and Cheat-
ham.
When General Slocum first ordered the Twentieth Corps
to move quickly to the field, it was his intention to form it on
the right of the Fourteenth, but when he became fully con-
vinced that General Johnston's army was in his front, he di-
rected General Williams to form his corps, as the several frac-
tions should reach the field, on the left of General Davis.
Robinson's being in the advance, was the first to come up, and
was placed in support of Carlin's division.
Anticipating that Colonel Buell would need support in his
movement. General Carlin was directed by General Davis to
move ITobart's brigade to the left, and place Robinson's
brigade in its place in the line, and support a battery, located
on the main road, which had been responding to the enemy's
artillery.
Colonel Buell, in advancing as directed, soon struck the
enemy's intrenchments, which he assaulted furiously. After
a somewhat protracted struggle, resulting in heavy loss. Col-
onel Buell was forced to withdraw his brigade, which had
been badly broken, when the enemy sallied from his works
in strong force in pursuit, and pressed him back, until checked
by Hobart's brigade, which offered most stubborn resistance.
When the action commenced, the small train of the corps,
in charge of General Yanderveer's brigade, was moved to the
right, until this brigade had reached the right of General
Mitchell, where the troops were formed in double lines, with
their right resting on a swamp. This was a timely disposi-
318 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
tion, as the advance of the enemy against Colonel Buell was
merely an incident in General Johnston's plan of aggression,
which was to wheel his whole line npon its left to envelop
and capture General Davis' two divisions. Colonel Hobart,
first, after Colonel Buell, felt the force of this general attack,
but he was not entirely encompassed, as Buell's attack had
broken the continuity of the enemy's movement, and General
Johnston's troops on the right of the point assaulted by Buell
failed to move forward promptly. This failure gave time for
General Davis to make such dispositions as were essential to
his safety, and afforded General Slocum opportunity to bring
up his reserve artillery and locate it with reference to the
arrest of the enemy and the formation of a new line to the
left and rear.
The front attack npon Hobart and Robinson on his right,
was so vigorous as to involve them speedily in the severest
conflict, and soon after in retreat upon the artillery, put in
position far to the rear, on the main road. The recession of
these brigades exposed the artillery on the right of Robinson,
three pieces of which were captured, and also caused the re-
tirement of Miles' brigade between Mitchell's left and the
road. There were now only two brigades, Mitchell's and
Vanderveer's, on the original line, and the flank of the former
was in air.
At this juncture. General Davis rode to his right and or-
dered General Fearing's brigade to move to the left, forming
line of battle as it advanced, and facing the Bentonville road.
This brigade moved quickly and was soon lost to view in the
thickly wooded swamp. General Morgan now directed Gen-
eral Mitchell to throw his second line on his left, but this
movement had been anticipated by the brigade commander
in provision for the stability of his left flank. Mitchell's brig-
ade was now in single line, bent at right angles in the center.
The full weight of the enemy's attack was soon after felt by
all the troops on the field. The forces that had driven back
Carlin's division and Robinson's brigade, pursued toward the
batteries in the rear, and heavy columns assaulted Mitchell
and Vanderveer with great impetuosity. General Slocum
had been active in forming a new line near his artillery, which
AVERYSBORO AXD BENTONVILLE. 319
covered the re-formation of the troopsthat had been driven back
on the left. To this result General Fearing rendered timely
co-operation, as he advanced against the flank of the columns
in parallelism to the road, and brought upon himself a counter
attack by overwhelming numbers. Wounded himself, and
his brigade decimated, he persisted in holding his position for
a time, but was finally compelled to give ground, to the expo-
sure of Mitchell's flank. In the emergency. General Morgan
threw Vanderveer's second line to Mitchell's left ; but his line
thus extended, was soon overlapped, and the two brigades, in
single line, were exposed to attacks in front and rear, as they
were cut oti:" from all support and from all communication
with the corps commander, and each brigade was separately
surrounded. Repulsing the enemy in front repeatedly, they
leaped their barricades and reversing the direction of their fire
repelled the enemy from their rear. In this state of affairs.
General Davis put into the action his escort and a train-guard
of four companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Topping. Gen-
eral Hoke and a part of his division were captured in the rear
of Mitchell and Vanderveer, but as a guard could not be
spared from the engagement, the prisoners passed round Van-
derveer's right flank and escaped.
In the meantime, the new line had been formed at right an-
gles to the road, at the batteries, and Fearing's brigade and
portions of Carlin's division faced the road, but not in con-
nection with Mitchell's left. The general line was now bent
twice at right angles — an improvised formation, but the most
effective possible'for defense ; for the enemy's columns of at-
tack to the left of Mitchell's salient angle were taken in flank
in assaulting either the line parallel to the road or the one
at right angles to it, while batteries enfiladed the road between
the two angles of the line, and to some extent covered the
opening between Mitchell and the troops on his left, and also
swept a wide open space to the left of the road. The firmness
of Mitchell and Vanderveer contributed largely to break the
offensive force of General Johnston's army.
Late in the evening, Cogswell's brigade of the First division,
Twentieth Corps, moved into the space between Fearing and
320 AVERYSBOEO AND BENTONVILLE.
Mitcliell, and drove the enemy back until nearly all the lost
ground was recovered.
Viewed in relation to the magnitude of the army, success-
fully resisted by eight brigades of infantry, and Kilpatrick's
division of cavalry, which held position on the left and rear,
the objects and hopes of the enemy and the character of the
fighting by Morgan's division, this engagement takes rank
amongst the great decisive battles of the war. The defense,
under such unequal conditions, was triumphantly successful,
and General Johnston here failed in the only special aggres-
sive effort against General Sherman in his march from Atlanta
to Ealeigh. That the issue turned upon the action of the
brigades of Mitchell, Yanderveer, and Fearing, can not be
doubted. The two former did not give an inch of ground to
the enemy, though thrown into single lines, cut off from sup-
port, surrounded, and compelled to fight in front and rear.
The action of Fearing's brigade was not less important, as it
disturbed and defeated General Johnston's combination to
utilize for complete success his first advantage. General Fear-
ing fought in complete isolation for some time, without de-
fenses, and when his right flank was struck by the enemy with
such force as to shatter it, he changed front upon his left, ral-
lied his shattered troops, and held the ground essential to the
stability of the new line. The later dispositions and resistance
by the whole command gave a symmetry and brilliancy to the
conflict which have seldom found expression in such urgent
improvision.
To the enemy the issue must have been dispiriting in the
extreme. Sadly and hopelessly must the Confederate chief-
tain have witnessed the failure of his initiative, in destroying
General Sherman's corps consecutively, in their isolation. He
had constructed his fortifications, which were strong and elab-
orate, to accomplish this object. His intrenchments crossed
the main Goldsboro' road at right angles, then extended to
the west one mile, and then curved more than two miles to
the west-northwest, nearly parallel to the road, but concealed
by distance and forests. He then resisted strongly on the
Bentonville road to conceal his fortifications at that point, that
he might throw his whole army around the Fourteenth Corps
AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 321
and interpose between it and tlie Twentieth, wliicli, at the
first, was nearly ten miles in the rear, and restrained from
swift motion by exceedingly boggy roads, made almost im-
passable by the wagons and artillery of the Fourteenth Corps.
The failure of the initiative of this elaborate plan, was there-
fore entirely unexpected to General Johnston, and was doubt-
less as much a surprise to himself as was the presence of his
army at Bentonville to General Sherman, who scattered his
columns the morning before the battle, believing that the Con-
federate army was far to the north, having abandoned the
purpose of ofifering further resistance to his advance to Golde-
horo.
In the evening the remainder of the Twentieth Corps
reached the field, and was placed on the left of the line of bat-
tle, with Kilpatrick's troopers covering that flank.
When General Sherman was informed by General Slocum,
through a messenger late in the day, that General Johnston's
army had been developed, he directed him to call up his
two divisions guarding the wagon trains, and also General
Hazen's division of the Fifteenth Corps, then in the rear of
the right wing, but several miles distant, and to act defensively
until he could direct the remaining divisions of the right wing
to the enemy's left and rear, from the direction of Cox's bridge
over the Neuse river. At the time. General Howard's advance
was near this bridge, about ten miles from Goldsboro. Gen-
eral Sherman did not give full credit to General Slocum's re-
ports of General Johnston's concentration at Bentonville, as
he did not believe that he would accept or invite battle with
the Keuse river in his rear.
On the morning of the 20th, Generals Baird and Geary,
each with two brigades, and General Hazen, with his entire
division, arrived on the field. General Hazen, by direction of
General Slocum, formed his command on the right of General
Morgan, and General Baird moved out in front of the line of
battle of the preceding day. These three generals received
orders to press the enemy, and General Morgan gained a por-
tion of his line on the right.
At 2 A. M., on the 20th, General Sherman informed General
VOL. II — 21
322 AVEKYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
Slocum that lie would go to his support with his whole army.
He turned back the right wing from the Keuse river, ordered
General Schofield to push for Goldsboro and then move
toward Smithfield, and instructed General Terry to move on
Cox's bridge and establish a crossing. By daylight, General
Howard's columns were in motion toward Bentonville. Cav-
alry was encountered earlier, but the first infantry was found
behind barricades near Bentonville, three miles east of the
battle-field. General Logan, in moving forward, ascertained
that General Johnston's left was refused behind a parapet,
connecting with the intrenchments before General Slocum,
with a salient on the main Goldsboro road between the two
wings. His flanks rested on Mill creek, covering the road to
Smithfield, which crosses the stream on a bridge. General
Sherman directed General Howard to approach cautiously,
who connected his left flank with General Slocum's right at
4 p. M., and then a strong line was presented to the enemy.
On the 21st, General Sherman gave orders to press the
enemy with skirmishers, use artillery freely, but not give
battle unless at an advantage. The same day. General
Schofield reached Goldsboro, and General Terry laid a pon-
toon bridge at Cox's bridge, and then the three armies, in the
aggregate nearly one hundred thousand men, were virtually
united.
During the day. General Mower's division of the Seven-
teenth Corps worked round the enemy's left flank, and neai-ly
reached the bridge so essential to General Johnston. This
movement and the approach of Generals Schofield and Terry
induced General Johnston to abandon his position the follow-
ing night. General Johnston, in this case as in all others dur-
ing the war, made a safe retreat. He sacrificed his pickets
and left his wounded in hospitals, but- lost nothing of value
besides.
General Slocum lost nine officers and one hundred and
forty -five men killed, fifty-one officers and eight hundred and
sixteen men wounded, and two hundred and tAventy-three
captured. The aggregate loss was twelve hundred and forty-
seven. He buried on the field one hundred and sixty-seven
of the enemy, and captured three hundred and thirty prisoners.
AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 323
General Howard's total loss was three hundred and ninety-
nine, and he captured twelve hundred and eighty-seven.*
General Johnston was pursued at dawn the next morning,
but the troops were soon recalled, when General Sherman
renewed his orders for the concentration at Goldsboro.
After the armies had been placed in encampments, General
Sherman visited General Grant to confer with rea-ard to the
final operations of the war on the Atlantic coast. He returned
with the impression that General Lee would unite with Gen-
eral Johnston after abandoning Richmond. But whatever the
specific action of the two Confederate generals might be, he
was to co-operate with General Grant by advancing against
General Johnston and then moving north.
At Goldsboro, General Sherman proposed a new organiza-
tion for his combined armies, giving General Schofield the
command of the " center," and thus designating his forces,
retaining for the right wing its old designation, Army of the
Tennessee, and styling the two corps of the Army of the
Cumberland, the Fourteenth and Twentieth, the " Army of
Georgia." The left wing had informally borne this name
during the march through Georgia and the Carolinas, but
these corps were only really detached from ihe Army of the
Cumberland after they had fought their last battle.
This fact gives the Fourth, Fourteenth, and Twentieth Corps
a community of fame and glory achieved at iN'ashville and
Bentonville. General Sherman had assigned them separate
fields of operation, but had not formally separated them until
it was too late to give them new historic relations. The fame
of " Bentonville," quite as much as that of " Franklin " and
" N"ashville," belongs to the Army of the Cumberland. At
Bentonville, the Fourteenth Corps, long under the personal
command of General Thomas, and the Twentieth, of more re-
cent connection with the Army of the Cumberland, but of
friendly alliance, achieved a great victory. Indeed, all the
achievements of these three corps, in union or separation, are
portions of the history of the same army, as by hearty consent
each has an interest in the aggregate glory. They have an
* General Sherman's statement in official report.
324 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
undivided tenure in the fame of the army, achieved in all the
battles from Lookout Mountain to Jonesboro ; not less do they
hold in common the glory of the fields so widely separated.
The shouts of the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps at Savan-
nah for victory at Nashville, in which the Fourth and their
own representatives had a share, and their beloved commander
the chief glory, was answered in glad response from every
camp in Tennessee and Alabama for the repulse of General
Johnston in his attemjjt to bring defeat and disgrace to the
oldest corps of the unequaled Army of the Cumberland.
On the 9th of April, General Lee surrendered himself and
his army to General Grant, and on the following morning. Gen-
eral Sherman's armies moved from the vicinity of Goldsboro
toward Smithfield and Raleigh, against the only remaining
Confederate army east of the Mississippi river. General John-
ston knew well that he could not resist the hundred thousand
men moving against him, but to make the most of his slender
possibilities, he retreated through Raleigh as General Sherman
advanced, and fell back to Greensboro. His objects were to
avoid the crime of waging a hopeless warfare, to get the best
possible terms in a surrender which would terminate it, and
disband his troops on such conditions as would prevent their
plundering their friends as they sought their homes. The last
campaigns had inflicted upon the South losses of a magnitude
transcending approximate estimation and a desolated country,
wasted resources and the traditions of a lost cause (but a cause
which, during the bloody trial of its existence and supremacy,
had commanded the persistent efforts and strongest aspirations
of millions) were now the sad inheritance of a proud people.
And General Johnston sought to save what material resources
remained, and to return his soldiers to their homes with as
little demoralization as possible.
At Smithfield, General Sherman heard of the surrender of
General Lee, and pressed forward with the conviction that he
would soon give the final blow. At Raleigh, he dropped his
trains, and directed General Howard to follow the line of re-
treat, and General Slocum to take a route to the south through
Pittsville and Ashboro, in expectation that General Johnston
would follow the railroad to Salisbury. On the 14th, he re-
AVERYSBORO AND BEXTONVILLE. 325
ceived a note which opened negotiations and resulted in a con-
vention embracing conditions of peace as well as the surrender
of the remaining Confederate forces and armies, and declaring a
truce until after notice should be given of its discontinuance,
on account of the disapproval of the government of the terms
agreed upon. The government did disapprove, and the stipu-
lated notice of forty-eight hours, as the limit of the truce, was
given on the 24th. Two days later, there was a second con-
ference at General Johnston's request, which resulted in the
surrender of all the forces of the Confederacy east of the Chat-
tahoochee river. The next day General Sherman announced
in orders the cessation of hostilities, and made provision for
the relief of the people. He then directed Generals Howard
and Slocum to move their armies through Richmond to
"Washington.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Fayettetille, N. C, March 12, 1865.
General: —
We must not lose time for Joe Johnston to concentrate at Goldsboro.
We can not prevent his concentrating at Raleigh, but he shall have no
rest. I want General Schofield to go on with his railroad from Newbern
as fast as he can, and you do the same from Wilmington. If we can get
the roads to, and secure Goldsboro by April 10th, it will be soon enough,
but every day is worth a million of dollars. I can whip Joe Johnston,
provided he don't catch one of my corps in flank ; and I will see that my
army marches hence to Goldsboro in compact form.
*********
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Major-General Terry, Commanding United States Forces, Wilmington, N. C.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Fayetteville, N. C, March 12, 1865.
Dear General : —
*********
I hope you have not been uneasy about us and that the fruits of this
march will be appreciated. It had to be made not only to secure the v.il-
uable depots by the way, but its incidents, in the necessary fall of Charles-
ton, Georgetown, and Wilmington. If I can add Goldsboro to the list
326 AVEEYSBOEO AND BET^TONVILLE:
without too much cost, I will be in position to aid you materially in the
spring campaign.
Joe Johnston may try to interpose between me here and Schofield
about Newbern ; but I think he will not try that, but concentrate his scat-
tered armies at Raleigh, and I will go straight at him as soon as I get my
men reclothed and our wagons reloaded.
Keep everybody busy and let Stoneman push toward Greensboro or
Charlotte from Knoxville ; even a feint in that quarter will be most im-
portant. . . .
I expect to make a junction with General Schofield in ten days.
Yours truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Lieutenant- General V. 8. Grant, Commanding United States Army, City Point.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, opposite Fatetteville, N. C, Tuesday, March 14, 1865.
General : — I am now across Cape Fear river, and to-morrow will draw
out ten miles, and next day, if weather is favorable, will begin to ma-
neuver on Goldsboro. I shall feign on Raleigh, by approaching, and it
maybe striking the railroad half-way between Goldsboro and Raleigh;
then, as soon as the wagons are well toward Faison's, will swing rapidly in
front of Goldsboro, but will not cross the Neuse till I hear from you.
You must push vigorously toward Kingston and Goldsboro, with the ab-
solute certainty that I will engage the attention of Joe Johnston's army
to the west and southwest of Goldsboro. . . .
I take it for granted Joe Johnston now has S. D. Lee's corps, four
thousand (4,000); Cheatham's, five thousand (5,000); Hoke's, eight thou-
sand (8,000) ; Hardee's, ten thousand (10,000) ; and detachments, about ten
thousand (10,000) ; making thirty-seven thousand (37,000), with near eight
thousand (8.000) cavalry. Our duty is to effect a junction south of the
Neuse ; but if you can get Kingston whilst Joe Johnston is engaged with
me, do so, and push on toward Goldsboro. I will attack the Raleigh
road. . . .
I am, yours truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General Schofield, Commanding at Newbern.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, opposite Fayetteville, Tuesday, March 14, 1865.
Dear General : — I am now across Cape Fear river with nearly all my
army, save one division, with orders to cross at daylight to-morrow. I
shall then draw out ten miles, and begin my maneuvers for the possession
of Goldsboro, which is all important for our future purposes.
AVERYSBOEO AND BENTONVILLE. 327
I was in hopes that 1 could get some shoes and stockings at Wilming-
ton, but the tug Davidson has returned with Brigadier-General Dodge,
chief quartermaster, with word that there is no clothing there ; but he
brings us some forage, sugar, and coffee. I can get along for ten days,
having forced the army to collect plenty of beef and a good deal of corn-
meal.
I shall to-night move my cavalry (5,000) straight toward Ealeigh, and
follow it with four divisions infantry, without trains, and keep the trains
•off toward the right rear. I will hold another four divisions in close sup-
port, and move toward Smithfield, or to strike the railroad half way be-
tween Goldsboro and Raleigh ; then, when my trains are well across
toward the Neuse, will move rapidly to Bentonville, and afterward, at
leisure, move opposite Goldsboro, and open direct communication with
General Schofield, who is ordered to push against Kingston and Golds-
boro. T may cross the Neuse about Cox's bridge, and move into Goldsboro ;
but will not attempt it till within close communication with General
Schofield. I have sent full orders to Schofield. It will not do to build
any determinate jolan until I am in full possession of Goldsboro. I have
oi'dered Genei'als Schofield and Terry to push toward Goldsboro as hard
as possible from the east, as I advance from the southwest. The enemy
is superior to me in cavalry, but I can beat his infantry man for man ;
and I do n't think that he can bring forty thousand (40,000) men for battle.
I will force him to guard Raleigh until I have interposed between it and
Goldsboro.
Weather is good now, but threatens rain. We are all well. Keep all
parts busy, and I will give the enemy no rest.
Yours truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
Lieutenant-General U. 8. Grant, City Point.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, opposite Fayetteville, N. C., March 14, 1865.
General : — I have notified General Howard that to-morrow night your
head of column will be near the cross-roads above Kyle's landing; the
next day across Black river, near Mingo, and third day near Bentonville ;
and have instructed him to have four (4) divisions in easy support, and a
little in advance of you — say, five or six miles — so that, on receiving
orders or hearing battle, he may come promptly up on your right.
I think Colonel Garber can promise you another boat, in wliich case it
would be well to send to Wilmington your prisoners of war You might
leave them to-morrow where the gunboat lies, two (2) miles below Gen-
eral Howard's bridge, and the guard, if unable to overtake you the day
after to-morrow, could follow direct to Bentonville. I want the first
marches to be made with prudence and deliberation. I am willing to ac-
328 AVERYSBOEO AND BENTONVILLE.
cept battle with Jolinston's concentrated force, but would not attack hin»
in position until I make a junction with General Schofield.
I am, truly yours,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General Slocum,, Commanding Left Wing.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
En the Field, opposite Fayettetille, March 14, 1865 — 7 p. m.
General : — I think I have studied the problem of the next move, and
will give you in confidence its analysis.
"We must make a strong feint on Ealeigh, and strike with cavalry, if
possible, the railroad near Smithfield. I take it for granted that the
bridge will be too strongly guarded for General Kilpatrick to surprise,
and therefore I will leave him to disable that road, of course only par-
tially, between the Neuse and Eureka. To this end the cavalry will
move to-night across the bridge, beginning at 3 a. m., and will push up
the plank-road to about Averysboro, General Slocum following up with
four disincumbered divisions to near the forks of the road, moving his
trains by a cross-road toward Bentonville. The next move will be the
cavalry to Elevation, and General Slocum will cross Black river. The
next move will bring General Slocum to Bentonville, and Kilpatrick, sup-
ported by a division of infantry, will make a dash for the railroad. This
is as far as I will now determine.
I want you to be as near in support as possible. I do think it is John-
ston's only chance to meet this army before an easy junction can be effected
with General Schofield.
I would like you to have four (4) divisions free to move rapidly to the
sound of battle in the direction of Mingo creek and Elevation, and, at any
event, to make a junction by head of column with General Slocum at
Bentonville. The weather looks bad, and I fear we may have swamps
about South river. I think it would be well for you to have four divisions-
to get ahead of General Slocum's trains on the direct road from Fayette-
ville to Bentonville, and keeping ahead of him about five or six miles, so-
as, in case of action, to come up on his right.
*-5«--X-*-X--7!--»-X-*
Yours truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding,
Major-General O. 0. Howard, Commanding Right Wine
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, 18 Miles northeast Fayetteville, March 17, 1865 — 7 a. m.
General : — General Slocum found the enemy covering the narrow neck
from Taylor's creek to Goldsboro road. He drove them from two succes-
AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 329
sive positions, taking three guns, some prisoners, wounded, but losing
himself pretty severely — I think as many as three hundred in all ; but'
the enemy lost heavily also, from appearances. . . .
General Slocum will feel out toward Averysboro, but move his column
on the Goldsboro road, which is tliat which crosses Black and Mingo
creeks, just ahead of where we are. Our true tactics would be to imsh all
our columns to Smithfield, but I will only follow Hardee far enough to
give him impulse, when we must resume our course.
I want you to-day to get to where the Goldsboro road crosses Mingo,
and have that bridge well repaired. You need not come on to General
Slocum unless you hear him engaged. We might cut his column at Ele-
vation, but it will be enough to think of that to-night.
General Blair is getting too far off; better draw him and all your trains
toward Troublefield's Store.
*********
Yours, etc.,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General 0. O. Howard, Commanding Right Wing.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Camp between North River and Mingo Creek,
March 17, 1865.
General : —
*********
I have examined your order, and it will do, only get on a right-hand
road as soon as possible, that you may not delay General Slocum's troops,
who will all be forced on the one road. Try and keep around the head
of Falling Water creek, viz., to the south. I will push General Slocum
to-morrow and next day, and think by day after to-morrow we will be in
position — viz., you directly in front of Goldsboro, and General Slocum at
Cox's bridge.
At the time I sent Colonel Ewing to you yesterday, the enemy had
brought General Slocum up all standing, and it was on the theory that he
would hold General Slocum there, that I wanted you at Mingo bridge.
But the enemy retreated in the night on Smithfield, and we are again on
the march, feigning to the left, but moving trains and troops as rapidly as
the roads admit on Goldsboro. You may do the same.
*********
Yours truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General
Major-General Howard, Commanding Bight Wing.
330 AVERYSBOKO AND BENTONVILLE.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Twenty-seven Miles from Goldsboro, N. C,
March 18, 1865.
General: — The Fourteenth Corps is here, but the Twentieth is well
back. It started from Averysboro and North river, with General Kilpat-
rick to the north of the road. We, heard some musketry and artillery in
that direction, but Colonel Poe left Mingo creek, which he bridged, at 11
A. M., at which time the Twentieth Corps was a half mile behind.
We can not get any fartlier to-day. General Davis may go a couple of
miles farther to the forks of the road. I think this road, the Averysboro
and Goldsboro road, will lead to Cox's bridge, though it is represented as
passing three (3) miles south of Bentonville.
Get on the right-hand road, so that General Geary and his trains may
take that to Goldsboro, via Cox's bridge.
I think the enemy is concentrated about Smithfield, and I can not
make out whether Goldsboro is held in force or not. I think it probable
that Joe Johnston will try to prevent our getting to Goldsboro.
I fear General Slocum will be jammed with all his trains in a narrow
space; but, at the same time, I don't want to push you too far till his
flank is better covered by the Neuse. General Slocum is back with the
Twentieth Corps, and as soon as I hear from him I will send over to you.
General Morgan's division found a couple of Hampton's regiments
here, but they cleared out to the north as soon as he deployed skir-
mishers.
I am, general, very respectfully, etc.,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General 0. 0. Howard, Commanding Right Wing.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, March 18, 1865.
General : — General Slocum is up. The firing j^ou heard was General
Kilpatrick, who found parties picketing the roads to the north. He re-
ports Hardee retreating on Smithfield, and Joe Johnston collecting his
old Georgia army this side of Raleigh. I know he will call in all minor
posts, which embraces Goldsboro. You may therefore move straight for
Goldsboro, leaving General Slocum the river road, and, if possible, the
one from Lee's Store toward Falling Waters. Make a break into Golds-
boro, from the south, and let your scouts strike out for General Schofield,
at Kingston, though I hope to moet him at Goldsboro.
Our roads are very bad, but I think the Fourteenth Corps will be at
Cox's bridge to-morrow night, and will aim to strike the railroad to the
northwest of Goldsboro. If any change occurs, I will notify you to-night.
Yours,
W, T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Howard, present. Major-General.
AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 331
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Ten Miles southwest of Goldsboro,
Sunday, March 19, 1865—2 p. m.
Major-General Schqfield, Kingstoyi :
To-night my left wing will be at Cox's bridge, and my right within ten
miles of Goldsboro. To-morrow we will cross the Neuse river at Cox's
bridge, and be near Goldsboro, to prevent the enemy from occupying
Goldsboro in force.
The scout Pike has arrived with dispatch of 17th. Continue to extend
to the right as fast as possible, and I expect you to move toward Golds-
boro, even if it be unnecessary, as I do n't want to lose men in direct attack,
•when it can be avoided. . . .
We whipped Hardee easily about Averysboro. All retreated on Smith-
field and Raleigh.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Falling Creek Church, March 19, 1865 — 2 p. m.*
General : — General Howard, with one division, is now at this point,
which is just three miles south from Cox's bridge and ten from
■Goldsboro. A scout is just in from General Schofield, who writes that he
will leave Kingston for Goldsboro to-day or to-morrow. I have sent him
& courier with orders to march straight for Goldsboro. General Howard's
four (4) divisions are strung out, but he will push them through to-night.
We occupy a position dangerous to the enemy, if he thinks he is in front
of the whole army. You may strengthen your position, but feel the en-
emy all night. If he is there at daylight we will move to Cox's bridge,
and then turn toward you. I think you will find him gone in the morn-
ing. General Howard has sent a regiment to Cox's bridge. It has not
reported yet. He has the bridge across Falling Creek, two miles east of
this, toward Goldsboro, and has some mounted men opposite Goldsboro,
where they find a tcte-de-pont occupied by the enemy. General Blair is
about five miles south of this with his trains.
1 will order General Kilpatrick to remain with you. Get up your
trains between Lee's Store and your camp, and keep the enemy busy
until we can get up the Fourth division of the Fifteenth Corps.
If you hear firing to your front, not explained by your own acts, you
must assault or turn the enemy, for it will not do to let him fight us sep-
arately.
Yours,
W. T. SHERMAN, •
Major- General.
Major-General Slocum, Commanding Left Wing.
*The date of this dispatch is thus given in the " Report of the Committee on the Conduct of
the War," Supplement, Part I., Second Session, Thirty-eighth Congress, page 358. But this
must be an error, for the P. S. mentions the reception of a dispatch of 2 p. M. from General
£locum, from the battle-field of Bentonville,
332 AVEEYSEORO AND BENTONVILLE.
P. S. — Your note of 2 p. m. is just received. General Howard's regi-
ments drove the pickets from the cross-roads, one mile this side of Cox's
bridge. That will disturb the force to your front. General Howard can
better help you from this quarter than by returning by Lee's Store.
SHERMAN.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Falling Creek Church, March 19, 1865 — 5 p. m.
General: — Your report of to-day is received. General Slocum thinks
the whole rebel army is in his front. I can not think Johnston would
fight us with the Neuse to his rear. You may remain with General Slo-
cum until further orders, or until the two wings come together.
If that force remain in General Slocum's front to morrow, I will move
straight on its rear.
Yours truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
General Kilpatrick, Commanding Cavalry.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Falling Creek Church, March 20, 1865 — 2 a. m.
General: — Yours of 8 p. m., 19th, is just received, and I acknowledge
receipt by the direction of the general-in chief, who instructed me to say
that the whole army is moving to your assistance as rapidly as possible.
Upon its approach he wishes you to be prepared to assume the offensive
against the enemy.
Major-General Slocum, Commanding Left Wing.
L. M. DAYTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Bentonville, March 20, 1865 — 2 p. m.
General Schofield : — Your dispatch of yesterday is received. You can
march into Goldsboro without opposition. General Terry is at Faison's,
and I have ordered him to Cox's bridge until the present action is over.
I am now within two miles of Slocum, but Johnston is between us. We
are now skirmishing.
After occupying Goldsboro, if you hear nothing to the contrary, join a
part of your force with General Terry's, and come to me wherever I
may be.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 333
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, near Bentonville, N. C, March 22, 1865 — 10 a. m.
General: — Your dispatch of yesterday is just received. We whipped
all of Joe Johnston's army yesterday, and he retreated in disorder in the
night. We are in possession of the field, and our skirmishers are after
his rear-guard, two miles north of Mill creek. We are not in condition
as to supplies, to follow up, but will gradually draw back to Goldsboro,
and refit. . . .
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Comrruiyuling.
General Schofield, Goldsboro.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Cox's Bridge, Neuse River, N. C, March Tl, 18G5.
General : —
-X- * * * * * * *'*
We resumed the march toward Goldsboro. I was with the left wing
until I supposed all danger passed; but when General Slocum's head of
column was within four miles of Bentonville, after skirmishing as usual
with cavalry, he became aware that there was infantry at his front. He
deployed a couple of brigades, which, on advancing, sustained a partial
repulse, but soon rallied, and he formed a line of the two leading divis-
ions, Morgan's and Carlin's, of JefF. C. Davis' corps. The enemy at-
tacked these divisions with violence, but was repulsed. This was in the
forenoon of Sunday, the 19th. General Slocum brought forward the two
divisions of the Twentieth Corps, and hastily disposed them for defense
and General Kilpatrick moved his cavalry on the left.
General Joe Johnston had, the night before, marched his whole army —
Bragg, Cheatham, S. D. Lee, Hardee, and all the troops he had from every
quarter — determined, as he told his men, to crush one of our corps, and
then defeat us in detail. He attacked General Slocum in position from 3 p.
M. on the 1 9th till dark, but was everywhere repulsed, and lost fearfully. At
the time, I was with the Fifteenth Corps, marching on a road more to the
right; but on hearing of General Slocum's danger, directed that corps to-
ward Cox's bridge, and that night brought Blair's corps over, and on the
20th marched rapidly on Johnston's flank and rear. We struck him
about noon, and forced him to assume the defensive, and fortify. Yester-
day we pushed him hard, and came very near crushing him.
*********
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Lieutenant- Creneral JJ. S. Grant, Commander-inChief, City Point, Va.
334 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Goldsboro, N. C, March 31, 1865.
Dear Sir: — I had the honor and satisfaction to receive your letter and
telegram of welcome when at City Point and Old Point Comfort.
I am back again at my post, possessed of the wishes and plans of the
general-in-chief, and think, in due time, I can play my part in the coming
campaign. All things are working well, and I have troops enough to ac-
comjDlish the part assigned me, and only wait the loading our wagons,
patching up and mending made necessary by the wear and tear of the
past winter. . . .
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
Uof. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Goldsboro, N. C, April 5, 1865.
Dear General: — I can hardly help smiling when I contemplate my
command. It is decidedly mixed. I believe, but am not certain, that
you are in my jurisdiction, but I certainly can not help you in the way
of orders or men, nor do I think you need either. General Cruft has just
arrived with his provisional division, which will at once be broken up,
and the men sent to their proper regiments, as that of Meagher was on my
arrival. You may have some feeling about my asking that General
Slocum should have command of the two corps that properly belonged
to you — viz.. Fourteenth and Twentieth; but you can recall that he was
but a corps commander, and could not legally make orders of discharge,
transfer, etc., which was imperatively necessary. I therefore asked that
General Slocum be assigned to command " an army in the field," called
the "Army of Georgia," comi^osed of the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps.
The order is not yet made by the President, though I have recognized it,
because both General Grant and the President sanctioned it, and prom-
ised to have the order made. . . .
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
Major-General Geo. H. Thomas, Commanding Department of the Cumberland.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, Goldsboro, N. C, April 7, 1865.
General : — The capture of Richmond, and the retreat of Lee's army to
the west (Danville and Lynchburg), necessitates a change in our plans.
We will hold fast to Goldsboro and its lines, and move rapidly on Raleigh.
I want you to be all ready to move early on Monday, straight on Smith-
field and Raleigh, by the most direct road. General Schofield will sup-
port you, with the Twenty-third Corps following you, and on the 10th the
cavalry will move from Mount Olive and Faison's, by Bentonville and Tur-
AVERYSBOEO AND BENTONVILLE. 335
ner's bridge, the right wing by Pikesville and Whitely's mill, with a division
around by Nahunta and Folk's bridge. If the enemy declines to fight
this side of the Neuse, I will of course throw the right wing up to Hin-
ton's bridge.
Yours,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Major-General Slocum, Commanding Army of Georgia.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 44.]
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Goldsboro, N. C, April!, 1865.
VI. The following is announced as the organization of this army :
Eight wing — Army of the Tennessee, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps,
Major-General 0. 0. Howard commanding.
Left Wing — Army of Georgia, Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps, Major-
General H. W. Slocum commanding.
Center — Army of Ohio, Tenth and Twenty-third Corps, Major-General
J. M. Schofield commanding.
Cavalry — Brevet Major-General J. Kilpatrick commanding.
VII. Each of these commanders will exercise the powers prescribed by
law for a general commanding a separate department or army in the field.
By order of Major-General W, T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Aid-de-Camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Raleigh, April 14, 18G5.
General: — The general-in-chief has arranged for a meeting with General
J. E. Johnston, near Durham's Station, North Carolina railroad, at 12 m.,
April 27th, and to accomplish it will leave here at 8 a. jM. to-morrow, by rail-
road. Until further orders he directs that all troops will remain as they
are at this time, the movements as directed in Special Field Orders No.
55, being for the time suspended.
I am, general, with great respect,
L. M. DAYTON,
Assistant Adjutant- General,
General H. W. Slocum, Commanding Army of Georgia.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Raleigh, N. C, April 2^, 1865 — 6 a. m.
General Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army, Greensboro :
You will take notice that the truce or suspension of hostilities agreed
336 AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE.
upon between us, will cease in forty-eight hours after this is received at
your lines, under first article of our agreement.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi,
In the Field, Raleigh, April 24, 1865.
General Johnston, Commanding Confederate Armies :
I have replies from Washington to my communication of April 18th.
I am instructed to limit my operations to your immediate command, and
not to attempt civil negotiations. I therefore demand the surrender of
your army on the same terms as were given General Lee at Appomattox,
of April 9 th instant, purely and simply.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
GENERAL GEORGE STONEMAN's CAVALRY OPERATIONS IN TENNES-
SEE AND NORTH CAROLINA.
In terminatiDg the pursuit of General Hoo'd's army, Gen-
eral Thomas' first thought was to put his forces in winter can-
tonments to rest after their severe service since early spring,
and to prepare for such operations as the future movements
of the enemy might render necessary, or such as might promise
the entire supremacy of the national government within the
limits of the Military Division of the Mississippi or throughout
the Southern States; but General Grant ordered otherwise,
and on the 31st of December the troops of the military division
were disposed with a view to immediate active operations. Gen-
eral A. J. Smith's corps, and four divisions of cavalry under
General Wilson, were ordered to Eastport, Mississippi, and the
Fourth Corps to take post at Huntsville, Alabama, according to
previous arrangement, for a difi'erent purpose, and the Twenty-
third Corps was left at Columbia, instead of taking position at
Dalton, Georgia.
General Sherman was desirous that General Thomas should
conduct a campaign in E'orthern Alabama and Georgia, and
expressed this wish to General Grant ; but the latter had
formed other plans before this wish had been expressed, and
had ordered General Schofield's corps, and the detachments
from the corps with General Sherman, to North Carolina, to
co-operate with him. Subsequently, he directed General
Thomas to send General A, J. Smith's forces and five thousand
cavalry, by river, to report to Major-General Cauby, at New
Orleans, to take part in the operations against Mobile. Ac-
cordingly, General Smith's troops started from Eastport on the
VOL. 11—22 (337)
338 stoneman's cavalry operations.
6tli of February, and General Kuipe's division of cavalry from
Eastport and Nashville on the 12th. These transfers of forces
reduced the troops under General Thomas to the Fourth
Corps, the infantry and artillery garrisons of the military
division, the cavalry divisions under General Wilson, and the
one under General Stoneman in East Tennessee.
Early in February, General Thomas ascertained from various
sources that a remnant of General Hood's army, under Gen-
erals Cheatham and S. D. Lee, were on their way from Mis-
sissippi to South Carolina, moving through Selma and Mont-
gomery, Alabama, to reinforce the army opposing General
Sherman, and that other fragments of the Confederate Army
of the Tennessee — a skeleton corps — under General Richard
Taylor, and seven thousand cavalry, under General Forrest,
remained in Mississippi, with headquarters at Meridian.
February 6th, General Grant directed that General Stone-
man should be sent on an expedition to penetrate l!^orth Car-
olina and well down toward Columbia, South Carolina, to
destroy the enemy's railroads and military resources which
were out of the reach of General Sherman ; and on the 13th,
General Grant directed General Thomas to prepare a cavalry
expedition to penetrate ISTorthern Alabama and co-operate
with General Canby in his movement against Mobile. Prepa-
rations for both expeditions were completed about the same
time, and on the 22d of March Generals Stoneman and "Wil-
son moved as respectively directed.
The cavalry division in East Tennessee, commanded by
Brigadier- General A. C. Gillem, comprised three brigades, under
the respective command of Colonel Palmer, Brigadier-General
Brown, and Colonel Miller. It was concentrated at Mossy creek
on the 22d of March, in readiness for movement into ITorth
Carolina under the personal direction of General Stoneman.
It was known at this time that General Sherman had captured
Columbia, South Carolina, and was moving into JSTorth Caro-
lina. Rumors were current that General Lee's army would
evacuate Richmond and Petersburg, and might force a pas-
sage through Lynchburg to Knoxville. To guard against
such a contingency, General Stoneman was directed to move
toward Lynchburg, to destroy the railroad and resources of
stoneman's cavalry operations. 339
that region, and then sweep through "Western North Carolina
with the same destructive intent ; and the Fourth Corps was
ordered by General Thomas to advance from Huntsville as far
into East Tennessee as it could supply itself, to repair the
railroad as it advanced, and form at last with General Tillson's
division of infantry, a strong support to General Stoneman,
should he meet the enemy in such force as to drive him back.
On the 24th, General Stoneman moved to Morristow^n, and
there detached the Third brigade. Colonel Miller commanding,
to make a detour from Bull's Gap, to reach the railroad between
Jonesboro and Carter's Station, in the rear of a force reported
to be in the vicinity of the former place. The other two bri-
gades advanced directly forward, and encamped on the night
of the 25th ten miles west of Jonesboro. Here all incum-
brances were left, save one ambulance, one wagon, and four
guns with their caissons.
At noon on the 26th, the division was reunited at Jones-
boro. Colonel Miller had complied with his instructions, but
the Confederate general, Jackson, had fled in haste the night
previous. General Stoneman then moved forward, and reached
the Watauga river on the 27th, and the town of Boone, i^orth
Carolina, on the 28th. At the latter place, Major Keogh, pf
General Stoneman's staff, with a detachment of the Twelfth
Kentucky, routed a company of home guards, capturing
sixty. Here the brigades again separated — General Stoneman,
with Palmer's brigade, moving on Wilkesboro, by Deep Gap,
and General Gillem, with the other two brigades and. the ar-
tillery, to the same point, by the Flat Gap road. From "Wilkes-
boro, the whole command moved through Mount Airy, and
over the Blue Ridge, to Hillsville, Virginia, with no incidents,
save the capture of a small forage. train. At Hillsville, Col-
onel Miller, with five hundred picked men, moved on Wythe-
ville, destroyed a depot of supplies there, and a bridge over
Reedy creek, and another at Max Meadows. The command
then advanced to Jacksonville, where Major "Wagner, of the
Fifteenth Tennessee, with two hundred and fifty select men,
dashed on to Salem, "Virginia, and destroyed bridges and the
railroad track extensively. On the 6th of April, two brigades
were at Christianburg, and had possession of ninety miles of
340 stoneman's cavalry opeeatioxs.
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, from Wytheville to Sa-
lem. From Christianburg, after destroying twenty miles of
railroad, and several bridges over Roanoke river, and disabling
the bridge over 'New river, Colonel Palmer moved to Martins-
ville, and General Brown to Taylorsville, and at 10 a. m. on
the 8th, Palmer and Brown united at that place, and then the
whole command converged upon Danbury, ISTorth Carolina,
arriving there on the 9th. At Germantown, beyond. Colonel
Palmer was detached, and ordered to Salem, ISTorth Carolina,
to destroy the large factories, which were supplying the Con-
federate armies with clothing, and then to send parties to
destroy the railroad south of Greensboro, and between that
place and Danville, the main column turned south from Ger-
mantown toward Salisbury, bivouacking at night on the 11th,
twelve miles north of Salisbury. A little after midnight, the
South Yadkin river was crossed, without opposition, as had
not been expected. From the river, the main force advanced
on a new road on the left, while a battalion of the Twelfth
Kentucky was sent on the road to the right, to demonstrate
strongly at the crossing of Grant creek, and, if successful in
passing that stream, to attack in rear the forces defending the
upper bridge. At daylight, the head of the main column
met the enemy's pickets, who were driven back to the bridge
over Grant creek, and his artillery and musketry opened
from the other side. A reconnoissance developed the fact
that a portion of the floor of the bridge had been taken
up from two spans of the bridge, and trains could be heard
leaving the town on the South Carolina and Morgantown
railroads. General Gillem now ordered Colonel Miller and
General Brown to close up their brigades, and a section of
Reagan's battery to move forward. At this juncture. Gen-
eral Stoneman directed that a detachment should cross the
creek two and a half miles above, cut the railroad, and, if
^practicable, capture the train, and then get in the rear of the
town, and annoy the enemy as much as possible. Lieutenant-
Colonel Slater, of the Eleventh Kentucky, was designated with
his regiment for this service, and Captain Morrow, of General
Stoneman's staff", joined the detachment. At the same time.
Major Donnelly, of the Thirteenth Tennessee, with one hun-
stoneman's cavalry operations. 341
drecl men, and Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, witli a party of
dismounted men, were ordered to cross at lower points. As
soon as these parties engaged the enemy across the stream,
and the rattling fire of the Spencer rifles of the Eleventh Ken-
tucky announced that the enemy's left had been turned, Col-
onel Miller's brigade was ordered to advance on the main
road. A detachment of the Eighth and Thirteenth Tennessee
regiments restored the floor of the bridge, and Miller charged
across. By this time the enemy was falling back along his
entire line. Brown was thrown forward to support Miller,
who continued to press the enemy back. The retreat soon
terminated in rout. Major Keogh, who had led the charge of
the Eleventh Kentucky on the right, having been joined by
Major Sawyer's battalion of the Eighth Tennessee, charged
the enemy again at the intersection of the States ville road
with the one upon which Colonel Miller was advancing, and
captured all the artillery which had been used on the enemy's
left flank. The pursuit was continued until the enemy's
iToops lost even the semblance of organization, and all who
escaped capture, hid themselves in the woods. Three thousand
men, under command of Major-General W. M. Gardener, with
eighteen pieces of artillery, in charge of Colonel J. C. Pem-
berton, recently a lieutenant-general, were thus routed.
I^early thirteen hundred prisoners were captured, eighteen
pieces of artillery, and public property of immense value,
most of which was destroyed. At 2 p. m. Major Barnes, to
whom the destruction of public property had been committed,
reported having destroyed ten thousand stand of small arms,
one million pounds of (small) ammunition, ten thousand
pounds of artillery ammunition, six thousand pounds of
powder, three magazines, six depots, ten thousand bushels of
corn, seventy-five thousand suits of uniform clothing, two
hundred and fifty thousand blankets (English manufacture),
twenty thousand pounds of leather, six thousand pounds of
bacon, one hundred thousand pounds of salt, twenty-seven
thousand pounds of rice, ten thousand pounds of saltpetre,
fifty thousand bushels of wheat, eighty barrels of turpentine,
fifteen million of Confederate money, and medical stores
worth over one hundred thousand dollars in gold. Besides
342 stoneman's cavalry operations.
the detaclimeiits which had been sent to Virginia, destroyed
the raih'oad nearly to Lynchburg, seven thousand bales of
cotton and two large factories, and captured four hundred
prisoners. The railroad south of Salisbury having been de-
stroyed for some distance, and it having been determined to
send the prisoners, and captured artillery, not destroyed, to
East Tennessee, the forces withdrew on the 13th, and reached
Lenoir on the 15th.
Here General Stoneman turned over the command to Gen-
eral Gillem, with instructions as to the disposition and service
of the troops. Colonel Palmer was to take post at Lincoln-
ton, and scout down the Catawba ; General Brown, at Morgan-
town, to connect with Colonel Palmer on the Catawba, and
Colonel Miller, at Asheville, to open communications through
to Greenville, Tennessee. The objects in leaving the cavalry
on this side of the mountains, were to obstruct, intercept, or
disperse any troops moving south, and to capture trains.
"Wlien General Gillem, with Brown's and Miller's brigades^
reached the Catawba, two and a half miles from Morgantown,
he found the bridge torn up, the ford blockaded, and his pass-
age of the stream disputed by Major-General MeCown, with
about three hundred men and one piece of artillery. He then
sent Major Kenner, of the Eighth Tennessee, to cross up the
river and reach the enemy's rear, and threw forward another
battalion of the same regiment as directly toward the bridge as
shelter could be found. Opening with his artillery, he disabled
the enemy's gun and drove him from his defenses, and the
dismounted men charging over the sleepers of the bridge,
drove him from the ford, and captured his gun and fifty men.
On the 19th, General Gillem moved toward Asheville, byway
of Swananoa Gap. He found the gap the nex day, to be held by
about five hundred men, with four pieces of artillery. Leaving
Colonel Miller to make feints, he moved rapidly to Rutherford
forty miles distant, and at sundown on the 22d, he passed the
Blue Pidge, at Hammond's Gap, and was in the rear of the en-
emy, %vho retreated through Andersonville, pursued by Slater,
who, in a charge, captured the four guns and seventy men
At this time he learned that Colonel Palmer had not moved
as he had been ordered, in consequence of information through
stoneman's cavalry operations. 343
General Ecliols, that a truce had been proclaimed. Deeming
it essential to the safety of his command that he should hold
one of the gaps of the Blue Eidge, General Gillem ordered
Palmer to move as previously directed, and advanced with his
own column to attack Asheville. At 3 p. m. on the 23d, he re-
ceived a flag of truce from Asheville, covering a communication
from General Martin, which stated that he had received official
notification of a truce. Later, General Martin proposed a meet-
ing for the next day. That night at 11 o'clock, the fact of the
existence of a truce was established by an official announce-
ment, coming from General Sherman, and at 11 p. m. he received
an order from him, directed to General Stoneman, requiring
the command to move to Durham Station or Ilillsboro, Being
convinced that this order had been issued by General Sherman,
under the conviction that this cavalry division was at or near
►Salisbury, he decided to draw back to his base at Greenville,
Tennessee, rather than advance two hundred miles to Durham's
iStation. At the meeting with General Martin, he announced
this decision, and requested three days' rations for his men, to
save the people on his route from supplying his wants by con-
straint. General Martin furnished supplies, but demanded the
rendition of the artillery which had been captured the day be-
fore ; but General Gillem positively refused to do this, as the
capture had been made prior to his reception of any authentic
announcement of a truce.
This expedition was ably conducted and eminently success-
ful. General Stoneman's strategy put the enemy under positive
disadvantage, at each objective, in receiving the intended blow.
"When the Blue Eidge was first passed, the enemy supposed
that Salisbury was menaced. This supposition placed the Ten-
nessee and Virginia railroad at General Stoneman's mercy, and
the advance for its destruction was a surprise, and cost the enemy
three trains, and the loss of more than two hundred wagons,
and twenty-one pieces of artillery, spiked and abandoned, while
the troops that were separated from the main body by this move-
ment, returned to Kentucky. Again, when the column turned
southjColonel Palmer's divergence toward Danville and Greens-
boro, by Martinsville, caused the enemy to withdraw troops
from Salisbury jwhich fell more easily in consequence when it was
344 stoxeman's cavalry operations.
attacked, as the paramount object of tlie advance southward.
The enemy discovered his mistake, and made effort to reinforce
Salisbury when the danger was apparent, but the raih^oad being
cut in five places south of Danville, the effort miscarried, as
the reinforcing division of infantry and brigade of cavalry did
not reach the vicinity of the town until after the destruction
of the depots, magazines, and stores. And at last a brigade
held the enemy at Swananoa Gap, until another passed to the
rear and surprised and cajotured a large portion of his force.
The captures were twenty-j&ve guns taken in action, twenty-
one abandoned in Southwest Virginia, and over six thousand
prisoners and seventeen battle-flags.
Washington, December 31, 1864 — 11.30 a. m.
Major-General Thomas :
Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant directs all of your available force not es-
sential to hold your communications, be collected on the Tennessee river
— say, at Eastport and Tuscumbia — and be made ready for such move-
ments as may be ordered. It is supposed that a portion of the troojas in
Louisville, and other parts of Kentucky and Tennessee, can now be avail-
able for active operations elsewhere. They should be made ready for
that purpose. General Dodge wishes you to return to St. Louis the
Thirty-ninth Missouri Infantry, now at Louisville, so that he may com-
plete its organization. Please give us the earliest possible notice of
Hood's line of retreat, so that orders may be given for the continuance
of the campaign. Lieutenant-General Grant does not intend that your
armj^ should go into winter-quarters. It must be ready for active opera-
tions in the field.
H. W. HALLECK,
3Iajor-Gcneral.
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL THOMAS' REPORT.
On the Gth of February, a communication was received from Lieuten-
ant-General Grant, directing an expedition, commanded by General Stone-
man, to be sent from East Tennessee to penetrate North Carolina and
well down toward Columbia, South Carolina, to destroy the enemy's rail-
roads and military resources in that section, and visit a poiiion of the
state beyond the control or reach of General Sherman's column. As the
movement was to be merely for the purpose of destruction, directions
were given General Stoneman to evade any heavy engagements with tiie
enemy's forces.
stoxeman's cavalry operations. 345
Again, on the 13th of February, General Grant telegraphed me to pre-
pare a cavalry expedition of about ten thousand strong, to penetrate
Northern Alabama, acting as a co-operative force to the movement on
Mobile by General Canby. Before leaving Eastport, Mississippi, I had
directed General Wilson to get his command in readiness for just such a
campaign, of which the above was simply an outline — my instructions
being for him to move on Selma, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama,
and to capture those places if possible, after accomplishing which he was
to operate against any of the enemy's forces in the direction of Missis-
sippi, Mobile, or Macon, as circumstances might demand.
Cliptox, Tenn., January 14, 1865.
H. W. Halleck, Major-General, Washivgton, D. C. :
I arrived here this morning, and from all I can learn. Hood has gone
south of Corinth. Accordingly, Schofield's corps, in obedience to your
orders, has been ordered to Annapolis, and will commence embarking to-
morrow.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General Commanding.
Eastport, Miss., February 2, 1865.
H. W. Hallech, Major-General^ Washington, D. C. :
A telegram just received from Louisville, from General Allen, states
that your order to me of the 26th January, means five thousand cavalry
instead of five divisions, as I have informed him. Which is correct — five
thousand or five divisions ? Are they and General Smith to take their
•wagon transportation with them ?
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. A.
Nashville, Tenx., February 16, 1865.
U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General, City Point, Va. :
It seems to be now pretty certain that Cheatham's and Lee's corps of
Hood's army have left Mississippi, and gone eastward. They left Colum-
bus and Tupelo about the 17th of January last, and I have traced them
through difierent persons so regularly, that I can no longer doubt their
having gone. The last person reported their having passed Opelika on
the 27th of January, and all agree in reporting that they were going to
South Carolina. 1 have also received two or three reports during the
past week, that Forrest is about to remove his troops to Georgia, if he
has not already .started. 1 think my cavalry expedition from Eastport
will overtake him. It will be ready about the 20th inst. 1 have taken
measures to equip General Stoneman as rapidly as possible, and have
substituted another regiment for the Fourth Missouri Cavalry, but would
like to get that regiment as soon as possible, as I could make it very use-
ful south of Chattanooga, as there are a number of scouting parties of
346 stoxeman's cavalry operations.
the enemy about Rome, Resaca, Lafayette, and other towns in that re-
gion.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. A. Commanding.
Nashville, Tenn., February 27, 1865.
U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General, City Point, Va. :
Your telegram of the 26th inst. is just received. General Stoneman
has not yet started, but informed my chief of staff a few days since at
Louisville, that he would be ready to start about the 1st of March. I
will notify you as soon as he gets off. He has been delayed for want of
horses. I have just returned from Eastport, having completed the ar-
rangements for the cavalry expedition from that point. Owing to the
recent stormy and rainy weather. General Wilson will be delayed a few
days for the roads to dry up. He will be able to start in a few days with
at least ten thousand men.
GEO. II. THOMAS,
Major-General U. 8. A. Commanding,
CHAPTER XL.
GENERAL J. H. WILSON's CAVALRY OPERATIONS IN ALABAMA AND
GEORGIA.
General Wilson's column of cavalry, comprising Generals
McCook's, Long's, and Upton's divisions, having crossed the
Tennessee river on the 18th of March, was put in motion
southward on the 23d. General Hatch's division not havins:
a full remount, was deprived of all horses for the other divis-
ions, and left at Eastport, to join the column subsequently,
should horses be obtained in time. General Wilson's wagon
and pontoon trains, including about two hundred and fifty
teams, were put under the direction of Captain Brown, pro-
tected by fifteen hundred dismounted men, under Major
Archer. The destitution of forage, in the region immedi-
ately south of the Tennessee river, imposed the necessity of
starting the troops in detachments to glean over a broad belt
of country, what little produce might be left, where war had
so long and so heavily laid its hand. This diff'usion, however,
involved no hazard, as General Forrest's command was at
West Point, Mississippi, one hundred and fifty miles south of
Eastport, and General Roddy's forces were holding Monte-
vallo, on the Alabama and Tennessee railroad, as remote, to
the southeast. There was, besides, an important advantage
in this divergence in the beginning of the enterprise, as
thereby the enemy was put in doubt as to the first objectives,
and was compelled to watch equally the roads to Selma, Tus-
caloosa, and Columbus.
General Grant's orders required the movement of a force of
five or six thousand men, to demonstrate against Tuscaloosa
and Selma, to co-operate with General Canby. General
(347)
348 WILSOX'S CAVALRY OPERATIONS.
Wilson expressed the conviction tliat he could capture these
places and conduct other decisive operations, and General
Thomas gave him permission to take with him all his availa-
ble force, giving hina, such freedom of action as the nature and
proposed objects of the expedition, positive and contingent,
demanded. Thus, by General Grant's instructions, the license
given by General Thomas, and the conditions of his enterprise,
General Wilson became an independent commander, at least
as far as all special combinations and minor objectives were
concerned. He was subject still to General Thomas, as actual
commander of all the forces within the geographical limits of
the military division ; but he had discretion within exceed-
ingly extended limits.
General Upton's division, followed by his train, moved
rapidly on the most easterly route, passing Barton's Station,
Throgmorton's Mills, Russellville, Mount Hope, and Jasper,
to Sanders' Ferry, on the west fork of the Black Warrior
river. General Long's division marched through Cherokee
Station, Frankfort, and Bussellville, and then followed the
Tuscaloosa road to the Black Water creek, twenty-five miles
from Jasper. General McCook's division followed Long's to
the Upper Bear creek, then moved on the Tuscaloosa road to
Eldridge, afterward turning east to Jasper. The crossing of
the Black Warrior river was beset with difficulties, but the
knowledge that General Chalmers was moving to Tuscaloosa,
and the danger of a full river, permitted no delay, and the
corps Avas hurried across, with the loss of a few horses, and
then, with pack-mules bearing supplies, wagons and artillery
being far in the rear, the command moved rapidly through
Ely ton to Montevallo. At Elyton, General Croxton was de-
tached with his brigade to advance to Tuscaloosa, to burn the
public stores, military school, bridges, foundries, and factories
at that place, and then join the main column at Selma, if
practicable. The direction of Croxton's movement somewhat
covered the trains and artillery in the rear, and was intended
to develop any movement of the enemy in that quarter. On
the march. General Upton destroyed the Red Mountain, Cen-
tral, Bibb, and Columbiana iron-works, Cahawba rolling-mills,
and much valuable property. The other divisions followed,
WILSON S CAVALRY OPERATIONS. 349
and when General "Wilson reached Montevallo, on the 31st of
March, General Upton was ready to move forward. And for
this there was need, as the enemy had appeared on the Selma
road, and General Upton, with General Alexander's brigade
leading, was sent against him. Alexander soon provoked a
sharp conflict, which he terminated by a charge, driving the
enemy, a portion of Roddy's division and Crossland's Ken-
tucky brigade, in confusion toward Randolph. General
Roddy attempted to make a stand five miles south of Monte-
vallo, when General Upton threw Winslow's brigade to the
front, and opened Rodney's battery. Fourth United States
Artillery, causing the retreat of the enemy and loss of fifty
prisoners in the pursuit by Winslow. This action gave the
type of the campaign.
At night. General Upton bivouacked fourteen miles from
Montevallo, and the next day advanced to Randolph. Here
he turned to the east by Maplesville to the old Selma road,
while General Long pushed forward on the new road. A
message from General Croxton to the efi'ect that he was in the
rear of General Jackson's division, near Trion, and dispatches
captured from the enemy revealing his plans and the disposi-
tions of his forces, called for new combinations and their
prompt execution. General Forrest, with a portion of his
command, was in the front of the main column ; Jackson's
division was involved with Croxton.
General Chalmers was under orders to cross from Union, to
join Forrest, either in "Wilson's front or in the works at Selma,
and the enemy's dismounted men were holding an important
bridge over the Cahawba, at Centreville. To secure this bridge
and prevent the junction of Jackson's division with Forrest,
General Wilson directed General McCook to strengthen the
battalion en route to Centreville, by a regiment, and to follow
with La Grange's brigade with all speed, leaving even his j)ack
trains, to seize the bridge, and then hasten to support Croxton
against Jackson. Having provided for his right flank, he next
looked to the protection of his rear, against the traditional
strategy of Forrest, by ordering Upton and Long to push him
without rest toward Selma. These officers moved forward
rapidly, without changing roads, and brushing back small par-
350 Wilson's cavalry operations.
ties, developed Forrest in position for battle, on the north
bank of Bigler's creek, his right resting on Mulberry creek,
and left on a high wooded ridge, covered by a battery of artil-
lery. A portion of his front was covered by sla&hed timber
and rail barricades. His force comprised Crossland's brigade,
Armstrong's brigade of Chalmers' division, Roddy's division,
and a battalion just arrived from Selma, in all about five thou-
sand men. Perceiving the enemy in strength in his imme-
diate front, General Long reinforced his vanguard by a bat-
talion of the Seventy-second Indiana Mounted Infantry, with
the remainder of the regiment dismounted, and formed on the
left of the road. This regiment drove back the enemy in
broken ranks. At this juncture General Long ordered forward
four companies of the Seventeenth Indiana, Lieutenant- Col-
onel Frank White commanding, with drawn sabers. These
companies drove the enemy to his works, dashed against his
main line, broke through it, rode over his guns, and finally
turning to the left cut their way out, but leaving one officer
and sixteen men with the enemy. In this charge Captain
Taylor lost his life, having led his . men into the midst of the
enemy, and engaged in a running fight for two hundred yards
with General Forrest himself.
Hearing the noise of this preliminary fighting, Alexander's
brigade of Upton's division hurried up on the trot, and formed
on the left of General Long, and as soon as everything was in
readiness, the brigade advanced, dismounted. In less than an
hour, although Forrest resisted stubbornly, his forces were
completely routed. Alexander captured two guns and about
two hundred prisoners. Long's division took one gun. Wins-
low's brigade pressed forward in pursuit, but could not bring
the enemy to a stand. At sundown the corps bivouacked
near Plantersville, in sharp conflict with the enemy, who had
been driven twenty-four miles during the day.
At daylight the next day, the columns were in motion to-
ward Selma. General Long advanced to the town and crossed
to the Summerville road. General Upton moved on the Range
Line road, sending a squadron on the Burnsville road. Lieu-
tenant Rundlebrook, with a battalion of the Fourth United
States Cavalry, followed the railroad, burning stations and
Wilson's cavalry opeeations. 351
bridges to Burnsville. By 4 p. m. the troops were in position
and ready to assault. General "Wilson had previously ob-
tained a complete description of the defenses, and having cor-
roborated its correctness by observation and formal recon-
noissance, he gave orders for the assault. General Long was
instructed to move across the road, upon which his troops
were posted, and General Upton was permitted, as he had re-
quested, with three hundred picked men, to penetrate a swamp
on his left, and break the line covering it, thus to turn For-
rest's right, while the remainder of his division should conform
to his movements.
A single gun from Rodney's battery was to be the signal
for a general advance, and this was to be given as soon as
Upton's success was revealed. Before this signal gun could
be fired. General Long was informed that a heavy force of
cavalry was skirmishing with his rear-guard, and threatening
an attack from that quarter. He left six companies well
posted at the creek, in anticipation of the movement which
General Chalmers was now making in obedience to orders
from General Forrest. This force was known to have been
the day before at Marion, and fearing that its appearance on
the road, as had been expected, might compromise the assault
upon the town. General Long determined not to wait for the
development of General Upton's turning movement. He
simply strengthened his rear with a regiment, and then dis-
mounting four regiments from the brigades of Miller and
Minty, he, with these officers, led them in charging over an
open space for six hundred yards, over a stockade, a deep
ditch, and the parapet, and drove the enemy in confusion to
the city. At the moment of victory. General "Wilson reached
that part of the field, and directed Colonel Minty, who had
assumed command of the division in consequence of a severe
wound to General Long, to advance toward the town. He
ordered Colonel Yail to place his own regiment, the Seven-
teenth Indiana, and the Fourth Ohio, in line inside the works,
and the Fourth United States Cavalry and the Board of Trade
battery to participate in the attack. When the division again
advanced, the enemy was occupying unfinished defenses near
the town. The Fourth Cavalry, Lieutenant O'Connell com-
352 Wilson's cavaley operations.
manding, was repulsed, but formed agaiu on the left. In the
meantime, General Upton had succeeded in his movement,
and was now advancing on the left of Minty. A charge was
again made by the Fourth Ohio, Seventeenth Indiana, and
Fourth Cavalry dismounted, and the whole line participating
with wildest enthusiasm, the enemy was hurled from position,
and the city was penetrated in all directions.
The charge of General Long, his brigade commanders leading
with him, and fifteen hundred and fifty men following, was
brilliant in the extreme. A single line without support
advanced in utmost exposure for five or six hundred yards,
leaped a stockade five feet high, a ditch five feet deep and
fifteen wide, and a parapet six to eight feet high, and drove
Armstrong's brigade, the best of Forrest's command, over
fifteen hundred strong, in rout from works of great strength
and advantages of wonderful superiority, and this was
done while sixteen field-guns were playing upon them. In
the charge. Colonel Dobbs, of the Fourth Ohio, was killed.
General Long, and Colonels Miller, McCormick, and Biggs
were wounded. The general loss of the division was forty
killed, two hundred and sixty wounded, and seven missing.
The fruits of the victory were in correspondence with the
gallantry of the troops that won it. Thirty-one field-guns
and one thirty-pounder Parrott, two thousand seven hundred
prisoners, including one hundred and fifty officers, and public
property of groat value. Lieutenant-General Taylor sought
safety in flight early in the afternoon, and under cover of the
darkness. Generals Forrest, Rdddy, Armstrong, and Adams
escaped with a number of men. A portion of Upton's division
pursued on the Burnsville road till late in the night, capturing
four guns and many prisoners. The enemy destroyed twenty-
five thousand bales of cotton, but left the foundries, machine-
shops, arsenals, and warehouses of this immense depot of war
material, for the torch.
General Wilson placed Brevet Brigadier-General WinsloAV
in command of the city, and instructed Lieutenant Haywood,
engineer officer, to press the construction of pontoons for a
bridge over the Alabama river. The next day at daylight.
General Upton marched to draw General Chalmers to the
Wilson's cavalry operations. 353
west side of the Cahawba river and open communications with
General McCook, who was expected with the train from
Centerville. This movement looked to an advance of the
whole command toward Montgomery as soon as it could be
gathered together and other conditions were favorable. The
capture of Selma and so large a portion of Forrest's force gave
General Wilson the assurance of successful movements what-
ever objectives he might choose.
Generals McCook and Upton arrived at Selma, April 5th,
with the train. The former had been successful against Cen-
treville, but on reaching Scottsboro had found General Jackson
so strongly posted that he did not attack him, but burning
the cotton factories and the bridge, turned toward Selma.
General Croxton had not been found nor even heard from ;
but his protracted separation from the corps did not cause un-
easiness, as it was confidently believed that he had taken care
of himself and gone in a new direction.
On the 6th, General Forrest requested a conference with
General "Wilson, with reference to an exchange of prisoners.
His arrogance and manifest hope that he could recapture his
men made the interview brief, but through it. General Wilson
learned that General Croxton had had an engagement two
days before with General Adams at Bridgeville, forty miles
southwest of Tuscaloosa. His safety being assured, as also
General Canby's ability to take Mobile without support, there
was no barrier to the movement to Montgomery but the Ala-
bama river, whose deep, swift current gave an unsteady resting
to a pontoon bridge eight hundred and seventy feet long.
Three times the bridge was broken, but Major Hubbard, aided
by Generals Upton and Alexander and the staff of General
Wilson, succeeded in connecting the banks by the floating
bridge, and the command passed safely over by daylight on
the 10th of April Selma had been so far destroyed as to be
of no use to the enemy for military purposes ; and Forrest's
force had been so greatly diminished and so thoroughly de-
moralized that General Wilson moved fearlessly forward
toward Montgomery, intending to destroy railroads and army
supplies and material, and then sweep oa to th.e theater of op-
voL. II — 23
354 Wilson's cavalry operations.
erations in I^orth Carolina. His mounted force was now
stronger than at starting, as he had captured horses for all his
dismounted men, and he now disincumhered himself of all
wagons and pontoons which could he spared, to give him
facility for quick movement. The able-hodied negroes who
had joined his column were organized into regiments under
eificient oificers. These men, in the first flush of freedom, he-
came soldiers, keeping pace with the troopers, gathering
supplies from the country, and marching thirty-five miles
per day.
The march from Selma to Montgomery was retarded by had
roads and bridgeless streams ; but at 7 a. m. on the 12th, Col-
onel La Grange, whose brigade was in advance, received the
surrender of the capital of the State of Alabama, and the first
capital of the Southern Confederacy. But how great had
been the changes of four years of civil war ! On the 4th of
March, 1861, the insurgent Congress had asserted, with the
pomp and circumstance befitting a nation's birth, the inde-
pendence of seven slaveholding states. The national govern-
ment was boldly defied, and blindly ignoring the contin-
gencies of their venture, the members of this Congress boldly
assumed the independence of the South as an actuality, and
talked of war as if its invocation involved no guilt, and its
progress compassed naught but victories and speedy triumph.
The outlying crowds of men drawn to Montgomery by the
culmination of Southern frenzy in the assumption of a new
nationality, echoed the bold utterances of the provisional Pres-
ident and Congress in jubilant ecstasy through the streets.
The illuminated city was a blazing type of the fire that was
burning in the Southern heart, and all the assumptions of
prospective empire, in the frenzy of the moment, were removed
beyond the sphere of doubt. Now, the mayor of the city — the
dispirited representative of a conquered people — comes meekly
forth from the provisional capital of the war-broken Confed-
eracy and tenders its surrender to a commander of brigade.
How difierent the beginning and end of Montgomery in the
" great conflict ! " The burning of ninety thousand bales of
cotton, the ideal king of commerce, is now the illumination
which betokens the loss of his crown and the loyalty of his
Wilson's cavalry operations. 355
subjects, for it is they who, in their desperation, set fire to this
immense mass of royalty. The quiet streets and silent halls,
the fleeing troopers and hiding citizens, are in striking an-
tithesis to the pomp, the boast, and the maddened multitude
of a former day.
Having destroyed five steamboats, several locomotives, one
armory, and several foundries. General Wilson resumed motion
on the 14th. General Upton moved through Mount Meigs and
Tuskegee, toward Columbus, Georgia, and Colonel La Grange
followed the railroad through Opelika, to West Point. Two
days later. General Upton, with three hundred dismounted
men, assaulted and carried the breastworks at Columbus, sav-
ing by the impetuosity of his attack the bridges over the
Chattahoochee, and capturing fifty-two guns in position, and
twelve hundred prisoners. The ram Jackson, nearly ready
for the sea, and carrjdng six seven-inch guns, was destroyed ;
also the navy-yard, foundries, arsenal, armory, sword and
pistol factory, accouterment-shops, paper-mills, four cotton
factories, fifteen locomotives, two hundred cars, and one hun-
dred and fifteen thousand bales of cotton. The assault was
made at night, by men from the Third Iowa, Colonel Koble
commanding, the Fourth Iowa and Tenth Missouri being held
in support. Generals Upton and Winslow directed the move-
ment in person. The enemy opened a heavy artillery and
musketry fire as the troops advanced, but their Spencer rifles
gave response as they rushed through the abatis and over the
parapet. "Wlien this had been accomplished. General Upton
sent Captain Glassen, with two companies of the Tenth Mis-
souri, to get possession of the bridge over the Chattahoochee.
The captain passed through the inner line of defenses, under
cover of the darkness, and seized the bridge before the enemy
was aware of his movement. Then General Upton made a gen-
eral charge, swept away all opposition, seized the bridges, and
stationed his troops thoughout the city. The fortifications
were held by three thousand men, and yet three hundred
penetrated the main line, and this primal success was followed
by overwhelming victory, with a loss in all of twenty men
killed and wounded.
Colonel La Grange had spirited skirmishing on the way to
356 Wilson's cavaley opeeations.
West Point, but readied the vicinity with his advance at 10
A. M., April 16th. Beck's Indiana battery and the Second
and Fourth Indiana held the attention of the enemy until the
arrival of the remainder of the brigade. Then after a recon-
noissance, preparations were made for an assault. Detach-
ments from the First Wisconsin, Second Indiana, and Seventh
Kentucky regiments were dismounted to make the charge.
At 1 p. M. the signal was given, and these troops moved for-
ward, drove into the fort the skirmishers, and reached the
ditch, which was too wide to leap and too deep to pass.
Sharpshooters kept the enemy down until materials for
bridges were gathered, when the charge was sounded again,
and the detachments rushed over the parapets, on three sides
of the square fort and captured the entire garrison of two hun-
dred and sixty-five men. General Tyler commanding, and
eighteen officers and men were killed and twenty-eight
wounded. Colonel La Grange lost seven killed and twenty-
nine wounded. He captured three guns and five hundred
stand of small arms. Simultaneously with the storming of the
fort, the Fourth Indiana dashed through the town, scattered
a superior cavalry force Avhich had just arrived, and burned
five locomotives and trains; also securing the bridges over
the Chattahoochee. Colonel La Grange here destroyed two
bridges, nineteen locomotives, and two hundred and forty -five
cars loaded with quartermaster, commissary, and ordnance
stores. Before departure, he established a hospital for the
wounded of both sides, and left for them ample supplies with
the mayor. He then moved toward Macon, through La
Grange, Griffin, and Forsyth, breaking the railroad at these
points.
April 17th, General Wilson commenced his movement on
Macon, giving Minty's division the advance, and instructing
that commander to send forward a detachment to seize the
double bridges over Flint river. Captain Hudson, of the Fourth
Michigan, was put upon this service, and, at 7 a. m. the next
day, gained the bridges, scattering the guards, and capturing
forty prisoners. The whole command followed the detach-
ment on the 18th. Two days later, Colonel White, of the
Seventeenth Indiana in the advance, encountered two hundred
Wilson's cavalry opeeations, 357
cavalrymen, and driving them rapidly tow^ard Macon, saved
the Echconnee and Tobesofke bridges. When within thir-
teen miles of Macon, he met a flag of truce in charge of Gen-
eral Robinson, bearing a written communication addressed to
the commanding oflicer United States forces. Colonel White
halted and sent the communication to Colonel Minty, his
division commander, who, having read it, sent it to General
Wilson, but instructed Colonel White to resume his advance,
and so informed General Robinson. The communication was
from General Cobb, inclosing a dispatch from General Beau-
regard, advising that a truce was existing, which was applica-
ble to all the forces under Generals Sherman and Joseph
E. Johnston, and declaring that he was ready to comply with
the terms of the armistice, and proposing a meeting with the
commander of the United States forces, to make arrangements
for a more perfect enforcement of the armistice.
Without giving entire credence to the communication. Gen-
eral Wilson rode rapidly forward to halt his troops at the de-
fenses of Macon, and by seeing General Cobb to convince
himself with regard to the questions at issue, before acknowl-
edging the armistice. But Colonel White had been too quick,
and had dashed into the city and received its surrender before
General Wilson overtook him. The garrison made a show of
resistance, but promptly laid down their arms at the demand
of Colonel White. When, however, General Wilson arrived,
General Cobb protested against what he termed a violation of
the armistice, overlooking the fact that he could not claim to
be an authoritative channel of communication for a message
of such importance, and demanded that he should withdraw
his forces to the point where General Robinson had met his
advance. General Wilson had no reason to doubt the existence
of the truce, but he was unwilling to give it recognition, until
he had received notice and instructions from proper authority
authentically transmitted, especially as his subordinate officers
had captured the city before he could respond to the message
which had been sent under the flag of truce. His force, though
known as the cavalry corps of the Military Division of the
Mississippi, and organized under General Sherman's order,
had not yet served under his personal command, but had, by
358 Wilson's cavaley operations.
his direction, reported to General Thomas, as commander of
all the forces of the military division not present with the
commanding general, and all his orders subsequently had either
originated with General Thomas or had been transmitted by
him from General Grant. Without authentic instructions from
either General Grant, General Sherman, or General Thomas,
he hesitated to recognize the application of the armistice to
his command. He therefore determined to hold Generals Cobb,
Smith, Mackall, Robinson, and Mercer, and the garrison of
Macon, as prisoners of war, until his conduct was disapproved
by competent authority, after full investigation. However, to
relieve himself from suspense, at the earliest possible moment,
he sent a dispatch in cipher to General Sherman, the evening
of the 20th of April, and the next day received an official no-
tification from him of the existence of the armistice. Upon
receiving it, he suspended all operations until he should receive
orders to renew them, or until circumstances should justify in-
dependent action.
On the 1st of May, General Croxton, who during his sepa-
ration from the main column, had made a tortuous ride of six
hundred and fifty miles, arrived at Macon. He skirmished with
General Jackson near Trion, on the 2d of April, and finding
that his force was double his own, he declined battle and moved
rapidly in simulated flight to the Black Warrior river, crossed
to the west side, and reached N'orthport, April 4tli. Fearing
that his presence might be known, he moved at midnight, sur-
prised the force at the bridge, crossed into Tuscaloosa, captured
three guns and one hundred and fifty prisoners, scattered the
state militia and cadets, and destroyed the military school edi-
fice, and the public works and stores. Here he tried to com-
municate with General McCook, but failed. He then abandoned
Tuscaloosa, and moved to the southeast to avoid Jackson and
Chalmers. When near Eutaw, he heard of the arrival of Adams'
division, and fearing to risk an engagement with a force of cav-
alry more than double his own strength, supported by militia,
he countermarched toward Tuscaloosa; then diverging to the
left, moved through Jasper, crossed the Coosa, and marched to
Talladega. Near this place he defeated General Hill, capturing
one gun and one hundred and fifty prisoners, and then marched
Wilson's cavalry operations. 359
through Carrollton, Newnan, and Forsyth, to Macon. During
the period of his isolation, he had no knowledge of the move-
ments of the main column, but having faith in the success of
the general plan, he sought General Wilson at Macon.
Nashville, Tenn., March 6, 1865.
J. H. Wilson, Major-General, Eastport, Miss. :
Your note of the 26th February received. You remember the plan of
operations you propose in your note is essentially what I mentioned to
you last winter I should adopt if permitted. But General Grant wants
all my infantry held in readiness for operations in East Tennessee, and
has given directions accordingly.
He expects Canby to take Montgomery and Selma, and hold them after-
ward, and has directed your expedition as a co-operative one, which is
also expected to seize either Montgomery or Selma, or b6th, if you find
it can be done when the enemy is opposing the progress of Canby.
After Canby gets to Montgomery, your command will then be relieved
from further operations in that quarter.
GEO. II. THOMAS,
Major-Gencral U. S. A. Commanding.
Nashville, Tenn., March 9, 1865.
U. S. Grant, Lieutenani-General, City Point :
General Canby telegraphs me, March 1st, from New Orleans, that, in
consequence of the continued rains during the month of Februai-y, that
he can not start the cavalry expedition from Vicksburg, as he intended,
and has ordered Ivnipe to New Orleans. These heavy rains having ex-
tended as far north as this state, have also swollen the streams to an im-
passable condition, and General Wilson will be somewhat delayed thereby,
but will be able to move in time to co-operate with General Canby against
Mobile, Selma, and Montgomery. . . .
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. A. Commanding.
Chattanooga, Tenn., March 14, 1865.
J. H. Wilson, Major-General, Eastport, Miss. :
Your telegram of 9 a. m. 12th inst. received. If the report made to you
by the railroad man be true, then your expedition should be successful.
Canby will march against Selma the moment he gets to Mobile. He will
have over forty thousand infantry. General Hatch will get his horses in
time to have enough to do this summer. I am now on my way to Knox-
ville to get Stoneman off, and concentrate all my available infantry at
Bull's Gap, after which I may move on Lynchburg.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General U. S. A, Commanding.
360 Wilson's cavalry operations.
Chattanooga, Tenn., March 19, 1865.
Geo. Stoneman, Major- General, Knoxville, Tenn. :
Your telegram of 8.10 p. m. yesterday received. From our present
knowledge of the situation of affairs in Southwestern Virginia, I believe
the route agreed upon by us for your forces to take will be the most ef-
fective that can be adopted — viz., to go down the New Eiver valley, strike
the railroad beyond Christiansburg, unless you learn that Sheridan has
possession of Lynchburg ; then, should you learn the force at Danville is
weak, attack that place, and destroy the railroad as far as you can with
safety toward Richmond, and then withdraw toward Tennessee, and ob-
serve and report all movements of the enemy to me promptly.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major- General U. S. A.
Headquarters Department Tennessee and Georgia,
Macon, April 20, 1865.
General: — I have just received from General G. T. Beauregard, my
immediate commander, a telegraphic dispatch, of which the following is
a copy :
" Greensboro, April 19, 1865, via Columbia, 19 ; via Augusta, 20.
^* Major-General n. Cobb:
" Inform general commanding enemy's forces in your front that a truce
for the purpose of a final settlement was agreed upon yesterday between
Generals Johnston and Sherman, applicable to all forces under their com-
mand. A message to that eflPect from General Sherman will be sent to
him as soon as practicable. The contending forces are to occupy their
present position, forty-eight hours' notice being given in the event of the
resumption of hostilities.
" G. T. Beauregard,
"General, Second in Command.
My force being a portion of General Johnston's command, I proceed
at once to .execute the terms of the armistice, and have accordingly issued
orders for the carrying out of the same. I will meet you at any inter-
mediate point between our respective lines for the purpose of making the
necessary arrangements for a more perfect enforcement of the armistice.
This communication will be handed to you by Brigadier F. H. Robinson.
I am, general, very respectfully yours,
HOWELL COBB,
Major-General Commanding, etc.
The Commanding General of the United States Forces.
Wilson's cavalry operations. 361
Headquarters Cavalry Corps • Military Division Mississippi,
Macon, Ga., April 20, 1865—9. p. m.
Major-Genera I W. T. Sherman, through headquarters General Beauregard, Greens-
boro, N. a :
My advance received the surrender of this city this evening. General
Cobb had previously sent me, under flag of truce, a copy of a telegram
from General Beauregard, declaring the existence of an armistice between
all troops under your command and those under Johnston. Without
questioning the authenticity of this dispatch, or its application to my
command, I could not communicate orders to my advance in time to pre-
vent the capture of the place. I shall therefore hold its garrison, in-
cluding Major-Generals G. W. Smith and Cobb, and Brigadier-General
Mackall, prisoners of war. Please send me orders. I shall remain here
a reasonable length of time to hear from you.
J. H. WILSON,
Major-General CoTumanding Cavalry Corps.
Headquarters, Greensboro, N. C, April 21, 1865 — 2 p. m.
Major-General Wilson, Commanding Cavalry Army United States, through Major-
General H. Cobb :
The following is a copy of a communication just received, which will
be sent to you to-day by an officer :
" Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
" Raleigh, April 20, 1865.
^^Major-General Wilson, Commanding Cavalry United States Army in Georgia :
"General Joseph E. Johnston has agreed with me for a universal suspen-
sion of hostilities, looking to a peace over the whole surface of our coun-
try. I feel assured that it will be made perfect in a few days. You will
therefore desist from acts of war and devastation until you hear that hos-
tilities are resumed. For the convenience of supplying your command,
you may either contract for supplies down about Fort Valley or the old
Chattahoochee arsenal ; or, if you are south of West Point, Georgia, in the
neighborhood of Rome or Kingston, opening up communication and a
route of supplies into Chattanooga and Cleveland. Report to me your
position through General Johnston, as also round by sea. You may also
advise General Canby of your position, and the substance of this, which
I have sent round by sea.
" W. T. Sherman,
'^Major-General Commanding."
Please communicate above to the Federal commander.
J. E. JOHNSTON.
CHAPTER XLI.
CAPTURE OF THE CONPEDERATE PRESIDENT.
The two cavalry columns were arrested about the same time,
by the armistice established by Generals Sherman and John-
ston, under circumstances of embarrassment to the generals
commanding them, though fortunately there were no condi-
tions of great hazard, in suspending their operations, as each
had swept through the enemy's country in ceaseless success
and triumph. Their orders were so positive as to allow no
discretion, even had the suspension of their operations given
advantage to the enemy, through whom the knowledge of the
truce was communicated. ]^either did the embarrassments
produced by the truce stop with the commanders in the field,
but reached General Thomas, who was charged with the man-
agement of the affairs of the Military Division of the Missis-
sippi, and who had organized these expeditions under orders
from Lieutenant-General Grant. For, although telegraphic
communications did not reach either General Wilson or Gen-
eral Stoneman, General Thomas heard of the armistice through
each of these generals before he received official information
of its existence from the lieutenant-general. Referring to the
time of receiving information from his subordinates, he thus,
in his official report, mentioned his own embarrassments in
relation to the armistice and the manner of its announcement:
" Up to that period I had not been officially notified of the
existence of any armistice between the forces of Generals
Sherman and Johnston, and "the information only reached me
through my sub-commanders, Generals Wilson and Stoneman,
from Macon, Georgia, and Greenville, East Tennessee, almost
simultaneously. The question naturally arose in my mind,
(362)
CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT. 363
^Ylletlle^ the troops acting under my direction, by virtue of
General Sherman's Special Field Order JSTo. 105, series of 1864,
directing me to assume control of all the forces of the Military
Division of the Mississippi, ' not absolutely in the presence of
the general-in-chief,' were to be bound by an armistice or
agreement made at a distance of several hundred miles from
whei'e those troops were operating and of which they were
advised through an enemy, then in such straitened circum-
stances that any ruse, honorable at least in war, was likely
to be practiced by him to relieve himself from his difficult
position. Then, again, General Sherman was operating with
a movable column, beyond the limits of his territorial com-
mand, viz., the Military Division of the Mississippi, and far
away from all direct communication with it ; whereas ' the
troops not absolutely in the presence of the general-in-chief,'
were operating under special instructions and not even in co-
operation with General Sherman against Johnston, but, on the
contrary, General Stoneman was dismantling the country to
obstruct Lee's retreat and General Wilson was moving inde-
pendently in Georgia or co-operating with General Canby.
Before I could come to any conclusion how I should act under
the circumstances, and without disrespect to my superior
officer. General Sherman, Secretary Stanton telegraphed to me
from Washington, on the 27th of April, and through me to
my sub-commanders, to disregard all orders except those com-
ing from General Grant or myself, and to resume hostilities
at once, sparing no pains to press the enemy firmly, at the
same time notifying me that General Sherman's negotiations
with Johnston had been disapproved."
Having now full authority for independent action, and hav-
ing learned that President Davis with a party had started
south from Charlotte, Korth Carolina, on the cessation of the
armistice, General Thomas at once made dispositions to cap-
ture the fugitive President, apd those who still clung to him
and his fortunes. He directed General Stoneman to send the
brigades of Miller, Brown, and Palmer, to concentrate at An-
derson, South Carolina, and scout down the Savannah river
to Augusta, Georgia, in search of the fugitives. General
Gillem was absent from the command at the time, and Colonel
364 CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT.
"W. F. Palmer, of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, assumed
direction of the expedition. By rapid marching, he reached
Lind crossed the Savannah river in advance of Mr. Davis, and
so disposed his troops as to change the direction of the flight,
from the west toward the Mississippi river, to the Atlantic
coast. General Thomas also notified General Wilson, at Ma-
con, Georgia, of the issue of the negotiations in North Caro-
lina, and ordered him to resume hostilities at once, with
special reference to the capture of Mr. Davis.
These orders had scarcely heen issued before the surrender
of the Confederate forces east of the Chattahoochee river, to
General Sherman, by General Johnston, was officially an-
nounced to both General Thomas and General Wilson, and
the latter at once adopted measures looking to the surrender
of the enemy's military establishments at Atlanta, Georgia,
and Tallahassee, Florida, and to throw a cordon of cavalry
across the State of Georgia to intercept and capture Mr. Davis
and his party. He sent General Upton to Augusta ; General
Winslow, with the Fourth division, to march to Atlanta " for
the purpose of carrying into effisct the terms of the conven-
tion, as well as to make such a disposition of his forces, cover-
ing the country northward, from Forsyth to Marietta, so as
to secure the arrest of Jefi'erson Davis and party ;" General
McCook, with five hundred men of his division, to move to
Tallahassee, Florida, " to receive the surrender of the enemy
in that state ;" Colonel Minty, " to extend his troops along
the line of the Ocmulgee and Altamaha rivers, as far as Jack-
sonville ; and General Croxton, commanding a division (the
First), " to distribute it along the line of the Ocmulgee," con-
necting with Winslow, and reaching to Macon. Besides,
General Wilson directed that detachments should watch the
crossings of Flint river, and the stations on the railroad from
Atlanta to Eufala, as well as Columbus, West Point, and Tal-
ladega. These general and special dispositions, with thorough
scouting, promised the interception of all large parties and
the arrest of prominent persons.
Evading the terms of General Johnston's surrender, Mr.
Davis moved south from Charlotte, North Carolina, thrdugh
Yorkville, toward Unionville and Abbeville, South Carolina,
CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT. 365
with evident purpose of passing tliroiigli to the trans-Missis-
sippi Department, with a vague hope that he could there con-
tinue the war. He was, at first, accompanied hy his staff and
cabinet, under escort of cavah'y, from the commands of Fer-
guson, Duke, Harris, and Butler. Finding, upon reaching the
Savannah river from Abbeville, where his last council of war
was held, which expressed the utter despair of all but himself,
that he was enveloped by the national cavalry, Mr. Davis
dismissed his retinue, and with a few friends pushed on to
Washington, reaching that place on the morning of the 3d
of May. In dismissing his escort, he abandoned the idea of
fighting his way to the west, and attempted to accomplish the
passage by the most secret means. During the day, he left
"Washington, by rail, for Atlanta, but abandoned his car at
Union Point, and started southwest on horseback. Colonel
Palmer having ascertained this fact, scattered his forces to in-
tercept him, and at the same time gather up the fragments of
the Confederate forces roaming over the country. But, not-
withstanding great vigilance and activity, Mr. Davis slipped
through Palmer's detachments, to be caught by Wilson's
troopers, farther west and south. On the 7th of May, Colonel
Harnden, of the First Wisconsin, with one hundred and fifty
men, having advanced from Macon, ascertained that Mr.
Davis had crossed the Oconee at Dublin, fifty-five miles south-
east of Macon, and had fled on the Jacksonville road. He
pursued rapidly, marching forty miles on the 8th on the foot-
steps of the fugitive. On the 9th he crossed the Ocmulgee, at
Brown's ferry, and at Abbeville learned that Mr. Davis had
left that point at 1 a. m. on the road to Irwinsville. Hasten-
ing forward, he reached the vicinity of Irwinsville at nightfall,
and awaited daylight to make the capture.
Having learned at Abbeville of the approach of Colonel
Pritchard of the Fourth Michigan, Colonel Harnden went, after
halting, to meet him and inform him of his success in tracing
the steps of Mr. Davis. The former stated that he had been
sent to Abbeville to watch for Mr. Davis, but that he would
go no farther that night. However, after making this stipula-
tion, he moved into Irwinsville during the night, and at dawn
captured Mr. Davis in disguise, and the small party with him.
366 CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT,
Soon after this accomplishment, Colonel Harnden approached,
and having been hailed by Colonel Pritchard's detachment,
answered " friends," and fell back. In the mutual uncertainty
as to the identity of the two commands, several shots were
fired, killing several men — a sad issue of a misunderstanding
that should not have existed. The pursuit had been con-
ducted with great vigor by all the parties from the two general
commands. A reward had been ofiered of which they were
ignorant, from a conjecture that Mr. Davis was remotely con-
nected with the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, President of the
United States.
Mr. Davis would have made a better appearance in history,
had he met the final issue with General Johnston in preference
to seeking, by stealthy flight, the preservation of the life which
he had often declared should not survive the fall of his
country. This termination of his vaunted presidency, and
the disgrace of his flight, were foreign to his grand promises
and lofty aspirations. His humiliation and helplessness were,
however, the fitting symbols of the cause and the government,
of which in the days of his glory and power he was the most
prominent representative. His descent from power was as
sudden and as marked as the oft-repeated transfer of kings
and emperors from thrones to dungeons, but history furnishes
noparallel to such emphaticlossofacause whichcommanded the
real and nominal allegiance of so many millions of men. And
the philosophical historian must ask the question, could it
have collapsed so suddenly, had its foundation been laid at
the beginning in the hearts of the Southern people ?
The overthrow of the rebellion was doubtless due to a
variety of causes, which were strictly subjective. The mal-
administration of the Confederate government was a promi-
nent cause, but could not have been the most potential one.
It has been claimed, however, by Southern historians, that it
had this rank, as it demoralized the people and divorced them
from the cause which they at first so earnestly espoused.
The palpable immediate cause of the collapse of the rebellion
was the lack of soldiers to fight for it, not of supplies or strict
war material. And this need of soldiers did not result from
the failure of the conscription more than from the desertion
CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT. 367
of both volunteers and conscripts ; for, at the last, nearly a
moiety of those who had borne arms were deserters. The
first armies had been formed from volunteers, but soon mere
enlistment was abandoned, and then soldiers and supplies
could only be secured by despotic constraint. And it has
been assumed that the final despotic measures of the govern-
ment produced a fatal disaffection, which did not originally
exist. But it should be considered, in estimating the force
and exact influence of the severe measures of the government —
the conscription which enrolled for military service all able-
bodied male persons between the ages of eighteen and fifty-
five years, and the sweeping impressment of supplies — that
there was need of these expedients, or the government would
never have adopted them, and that consequently the potential
cause of failure produced the state of things from which
originated the objectionable demands of the government. Mr.
Davis and the Confederate Congress would never have ignored
the rights of the states, for the maintenance of which they
invoked the war, had it been possible to maintain the conflict
without trenching upon the sovereignty of the individual
states composing the Confederacy. It was a pleasant doctrine
for days of harmony and peace, but un suited to those of war.
The despotism of the government, then, was only a secondary
cause of the failure of the rebellion.
The ruling cause was that the war on the part of the South
was the expression of an insurrection and not a true revolu-
tion ; and the inherent vices of a false revolution may be
traced from the very beginning of the despotic measures of
the government. All true revolutions of popular expression
have their foundation and force in the sentiments of the masses
engaged in them, and will be maintained to the direst extrem-
ity. No insurrection that is impressed upon a people by a
few leaders or by an influential or powerful minority, can com-
mand the perpetual support of the masses. The people may
be deceived for a time by false issues and delusive hopes, and
the enthusiasm which may thus be called forth may take on
the appearance of genuine revolutionary sentiment, but it will
not survive the revelation of the real issues or the disappoint-
ments that follow groundless hopes. To say that the South-
368 CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT.
ern people were deprived of their moral force and patriotism
by their government, through mere errors in the conduct of
the war or absolute despotism, is to attribute to them character
too weak to warrant any movement which would involve a
protracted war of immense proportions ; and the only suppo-
sition that gives room for the existence of manhood and strong
character in the Southern people is, that the masses were
beguiled into insurrection against a good government by a few
men of great influence, and that they abandoned it when they
discovered the deception.
The original opposition to secession by a party of great
numerical strength, but of feeble and incomplete organization,
may be cited as evidence that the movement toward disunion
was not supported by the people generally with such hearti-
ness and spontaneous purpose as indicated a true revolution.
A fallacy, glaring in absurdity when strictly analyzed, yet sub-
tle, imposing, and of momentous force, when accepted, swept
a multitude of originally sincere Union men into the rebellion,
inducing their allegiance to the several seceding states and to
the Confederate government formed by them. The fallacy
was that a formal act of secession, though unconstitutionally
enacted and pronounced, bound all citizens of a state to serve
the state in the extreme consequences of the act. Its force
prevented all organization in opposition to the resulting war
in any stage of its progress, and long enforced its support ; but
it did not and could not create the foundations of a true revo-
lution, and when the awakening to the grand mistake did
occur, the seeming revolution failed in default of the general
support of the Southern people.
The want of sympathy between the leaders and the masses
was never so apparent as during the later campaigns of the
war, especially during the last operations of the national cav-
alry, when perhaps hundreds of millions of property might
have been saved from destruction if the leaders of the rebel-
lion had recognized the fact that the majority of the Southern
people had abandoned it.
CHAPTER XLIL
THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ARMY — SUMMARY OF ITS ACHIEVEMENTS.
The surrender of tlie remaining Confederate armies and
forces east and west of the Mississippi river soon followed the
capitulation of General Johnston and the capture of Mr.
Davis. Preparations were then promptly made to disband the
national armies, with the retention of such forces only as were
necessary to prevent political and social chaos in the Southern
States.
The formal unity of the Army of the Cumberland was re-
stored before its dissolution by the return of the Fourteenth
and Twentieth Corps within the territorial limits of the De-
partment of the Cumberland. This reunion of the grand
units under their revered commander was eminently appro-
priate as well as historically imperative. Their dismember-
ment at Goldsboro, IS'orth Carolina, occurring after their last
battle had been fought, did not really impair the historical
unity of this great army. Still, there would have been a
painful lack of complete roundness in its mere organic unity,
had two corps been disbanded outside the territorial limits of
the department.
During the summer of 1865, the Fourth Corps was also tem-
porarily detached, and sent upon a mission to Texas under
General Sheridan. But it, too, was soon remanded to the De-
partment of the Cumberland, to be disbanded, as were the
Fourteenth and Twentieth, by General Thomas.
From the 1st of June, 1865, to February 1, 1866, there were
mustered out of the service of the United States, from the
Army of the Cumberland, five thousand and eighty-three com-
missioned officers and one hundred and thirty-seven thousand
VOL. 11—24 (369)
370 DISSOLUTION OF THE AEMY.
five liiindrecl and tliirty-tliree enlisted men, exclusive of six-
teen regiments of cavalry, whose strength was not definitely
reported. About twenty thousand volunteer troops were re-
tained within the Military Division of the Tennessee, under
the command of Major-General George H. Thomas, until a
later period. From the data given, the strength of the Army
of the Cumberland, at the close of the war, may be placed,
with approximate correctness, at one hundred and seventy-five
thousand men. And when these heroic citizen soldiers were
remanded to the duties of civil life, the Army of the Cumber-
land passed from organic existence to live in history as an
army unsurpassed, if equaled, by any of the great armies which
participated in our gigantic civil war — as one of the grandest
that ever battled for country or freedom.
This army fought, unaided, the battles of " Mill Springs,"
" Perryville," " Stone River," " Chickamauga," " Wauhatchee,"
and " Bentonville ;" gave essential aid to the Army of the
Tennessee, at " Fort Donelson " and " Pittsburg Landing ;" in
combination with that army, but in twofold strength, gained the
decisive victories on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Eidge ;
furnished more than half the forces for the Atlanta campaign,
placing upon its banners the historic fields of " Buzzard's
Roost," " Resaca," " Rome," " 'New Hope Church," " Kenesaw
Mountain," " Peaghtree Creek," " Atlanta," and " Jonesboro ;"
at Jonesboro, represented by the Fourteenth Corps, made the
only successful assault, in force, during the Atlanta campaign,
carrying intrenchments held by Hardee's corps ; formed the
left wing of the army which marched from Atlanta to Savan-
nah, and then swept through the Carolinas to Richmond and
"Washington ; divided the glory of " Franklin " with the Army
of the Ohio, and that of " JSTashville " with the Armies of the
Tennessee and Ohio ; and, represented by the troopers of Gen-
erals Wilson and Stoneman, rushed through Alabama, Geor-
gia, Tennessee, and ITorth Carolina, in swift and brilliant
sequence to the great central battles of the war. This army,
in its unity, never gave but one field to the enemy. But when
it yielded the bloody ground of Chickamauga, it had revealed,
under conditions of battle greatly unequal, its invincibility
within fair terms of conflict. But even here it gained the
DISSOLUTION OF THE AEMY. 371
fruits of victory, uucler the semblance of defeat, as it held
Chattanooga, the objective of the campaign.
[GENERAL OEDERS, NO. 108.]
War Department, Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, D. C, June 2, 1865.
Soldiers of the Armies of the United States :
By your patriotic devotion to your country in the hour of danger and
alarm, your magnificent fighting, bravery, and endurance, you have
maintained the supremacy of the Union and the constitution, over-
thrown all armed opposition to the enforcement of the laws, and of the
proclamation forever abolishing slavery — the cause and pretext of the
rebellion — and opened the way to the rightful authorities to restore
order and inaugurate peace on a permanent and enduring basis, on every
foot of American soil.
Your marches, sieges, and battles, in distance, duration, resolution, and
brilliancy of result, dim the luster of the world's past military achieve-
ments, and will be the patriot's precedent in defense of liberty and right
in all time to come.
In obedience to your country's call, you left your homes and families,
and volunteered in its defense. Victory has crowned your valor, and
secured the purpose of your patriot hearts; and with the gratitude of
your countrymen, and the highest honors a great and free nation can
accord, you will soon be permitted to return to your homes and families,
conscious of having discharged the highest duty of American citizens.
To achieve these glorious triumphs, and secure to yourselves, your fellow-
countrymen, and posterity, the blessings of free institutions, tens of
thousands of your gallant comrades have fallen, and sealed the price-
less legacy with their lives. The graves of these a grateful nation be-
dews with tears, honors their memories, and will ever cherish and sup-
port their stricken families.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, NO. 76.]
Headuqarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Washington, D. C, Mat/ 30, 1865.
The general commanding announces to the Armies of the Tennessee
and Georgia that the time has come for us to part. Our work is done,
and armed enemies no longer defy us. Some of you will go to your
homes, and others will be retained in military service until further
orders.
And now that we are all about to separate, to mingle with the civil
372 DISSOLUTION OF THE ARMY.
world, it becomes a pleasing duty to call to mind the situation of na-
tional affairs when, but little more than a year ago, we were gathered
about the cliffs of Lookout Mountain, and all the future was wrapped in
doubt and uncertainty.
Three armies had come together from distant fields, with separate his-
tories, yet bound by one common cause — the union of our country and
the perpetuation of the government of our inheritance. There is no
need to recall to your memories Tunnel Hill, with Eocky Face Mountain
and Buzzard Roost Gap, and the ugly forts of Dalton behind.
We were in earnest, and paused not for danger and difHculty, but
dashed through Snake-Creek Gap and fell on Resaca; then on to the
Etowah, to Dallas, Kenesaw, and the heats of summer found us on the
banks of the Chattahoochee, far from home, and dependent on a single
road for supplies.
Again we were not to be held back by any obstacle, and crossed and
fought four hard battles for the possession of the citadel of Atlanta.
That was the crisis of our history. A doubt still clouded our future, but
we solved the problem, destroyed Atlanta, struck boldly across the State
of Georgia, severed all the main arteries of life to our enemy, and
Christmas found us at Savannah.
Waiting there only long enough to fill our wagons, we again began a
march, which, for peril, labor, and result, will compare with any ever
made by an organized army. The floods of the Savannah, the swamps
of the Combahee and Edisto, the high hills and i-ocks of the Santee, the
flat quagmires of the Pedee and Cape Fear rivers, were all passed in mid-
winter, with its floods and rains, in the face of an accumulating enemy ;
and after the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, we once more came
out of the wilderness to meet our friends at Goldsboro. Even then we
paused only long enough to get new clothing, to reload our wagons,
again pushed on to Raleigh and beyond, until we met our enemy, suing
for peace instead of war, and offering to submit to the injured laws of
his and our country. As long as that enemy was defiant, nor mountains,
nor rivers, nor swamps, nor hunger, nor cold had cheeked us; but when
he who had fought us hard and persistently offered submission, your
general thought it wrong to pursue him farther, and negotiations fol-
lowed, which resulted, as you all know, in his surrender.
How far the operations of this army contributed to the final overthrow
of the Confederacy, and the peace which now dawns upon us, must be
judged by others, not by us; but that you have done all that men could
do, has been admitted by those in authority, and we have a right to join
in the universal joy that fills our land because the war is over, and our
government stands vindicated before the world, by the joint action of the
volunteer armies and navy of the United States.
To such as remain in the service, your general need only remind you
that success in the past was due to hard work and discipline, and that
the same work and discipline are equally important in the future. To
such as go home, he will only say that our favored country is so grand.
DISSOLUTION OF THE AEMY. 373
so extensive, so diversified in climate, soil, and productions, that every
man may find a home and occupation suited to his tastes; none should
yield to the natural impatience sure to result from our past life of ex-
citement and adventure. You -will be invited to seek new adventures
abroad ; do not yield to the temptation, for it will lead only to death and
disappointment.
Your general now bids you farewell, with the full belief that, as in
war you have been good soldiers, so in peace you will make good citi-
zens; and if, unfortunately, new war should arise in our country, " Sher-
man's army" will be the first to buckle on its old armor, and come forth
to defend and maintain the government of our inheritance.
By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
L. M. DAYTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 30.]
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,"
Nashville, Tenn., il/ay 10, 1SG5.
The general commanding the department takes pride in conveying to
the Fourth- Army Corps the expression of his admiration, excited by
their brilliant and martial display at the review of yesterday.
As the battalions of your naagnificent corps swept successively before
the eye, the coldest heart must have warmed with interest iu contempla-
tion of those men who had passed through the varied and shifting scenes
of this great modern tragedy, who had stemmed with unyielding breasts
the rebel tide threatening to engulf the landmarks of freedom, and
who, bearing on their bronzed and furrowed brows the ennobling marks
of the years of hardship, suffering, and privation, undergone in defense
of freedom and the integrity of the Union, could still preserve the light
step and wear the cheerful expression of youth.
Though your gay and broidered banners, wrought by dear hands far
away, were all shred and war-worn, were they not blazoned on every
stripe with words of glory— Shiloh, Spring Hill, Stone River, Chicka-
mauga, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, and many other glorious names, too
numerous to mention in an order like this ? By your prowess and forti-
tude you have ably donq your part in restoring the golden boon of
peace and order to your once distracted but now grateful country,
and your commander is at length enabled to give you a season of well-
earned rest.
But, soldiers, while we exult at our victories, let us not be forgetful
of those brave, devoted hearts, which, pressing in advance, thi'obbed
their last amid the smoke and din of battle, nor withhold our sym-
pathy for the afflicted wife, child, and mother, consigned, far off at
home, to lasting, cruel grief.
By command op Major-General Thomas.
WM. D. WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
374 DISSOLUTION OF THE AEMY.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 15.]
Headquarters Army of Georgia,
Washington, D. C, June 6, 1865.
With the separation of the troops composing this army, in compliance
with recent orders, the organization known as "the Army of Georgia"
will virtually cease to exist. Many of you will at once return to your
homes. No one now serving as a volunteer will probably be retained in
service against his will but a short time longer. All will soon be per-
mitted to return and receive the rewards due them as the gallant de-
fenders of their country.
While I can not repress a feeling of sadness at parting with you, I con-
gratulate you upon the grand results achieved by your valor, fidelity, and
patriotism.
No generation has ever done more for the permanent establishment of
a just and liberal form of gevernment — more for the honor of their
nation — than has been done during the past four years by the armies of
the United States, and the patriotic people at home, who have poured
out their wealth in support of these armies with a liberality never before
witnessed in any country.
Do not forget the parting advice of that great chieftain who led you
through your recent brilliant campaigns. "As in war you have been
good soldiers, so in peace be good citizens."
Should you ever desire to resume the honorable profession you are
now about to leave, do not forget that this profession is honorable only
when followed in obedience to the orders of the constituted authority of
your government.
With feelings of deep gratitude to each and all of you for your uniform
soldierly conduct, for the patience and fortitude with which you have
borne all the hardships it has been necessary to impose upon you, and
for the unflinching resolution with which you have sustained the holy
cause in which we have been engaged, I bid you farewell.
H. W. SLOCUM, Major-General Commanding.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 17.]
Headquarters Fourteenth Army Corps,
Washington, D. C, June 15, 18G5.
Soldiers of the Fourteenth Army Corps :
Since he assumed command of the corps, your general has seen many
occasions when he was proud of your endurance, your courage, and your
achievements. If he did not praise you then, it was because your labors
and triumphs were incomplete. Whilst the enemies of your country still
defied you, whilst hardships and dangers were yet to be encountered and
overcome, it seemed to him premature to indulge in unnecessary praise
of deeds being enacted, or to rest upon laurels already won. But now,
when the battle and the march are ended and the victory yours ; when
many of you are about to return to your homes, where the sound of the
hostile cannon — now silenced, let us trust, forever in our land — will soon be
DISSOLUTIOX OF THE ARMY. 375
forgotten amidst the welcoming plaudits of friends; when the heavy armor
of the soldier is being exchanged for the civic wreaths of peace, he deems
it a happy occasion to congratulate you upon the part which you have
borne, in common with j^our comrades of the armies of the Union, in
the mighty struggle for the maintenance of the unity and integrity of your
country. You will join heartily in the generel rejoicing over the grand
result and the termination of the nation's peril. While the country is
welcoming her defenders home, and their noble deeds are being com-
memorated, you will ever remember with j^roud satisfaction that at
Chickamauga yours were the invincible battalions with which the un-
yielding Thomas hurled back the overwhelming foe and saved the day ,
that at Mission Ridge you helped, with your brothers of the Armies of the
Cumberland and of the Tennessee, to plant the banners of your country
once more on the cloud-clad heights of Chattanooga ; that at Jonesboro
your resistless charge decreed the final fate of proud Atlanta ; that at
Bentonville you for hours defied the frenzied and determined efforts of
the rebel hosts to crush seriatirn the columns of the victorious Sherman.
Years hence, in the haj^py enjoyment of the peace and prosperity of your
country, whose preservation your valor on many hard-fought fields se-
cured, it will be among your proudest boasts that you fought with Thomas
and marched with Sherman from the mountains to the sea ; that you
toiled and skirmished in midwinter through the swamps of Georgia and
the Carolinas ; that after years of bloody contest you witnessed the sur-
render of one of the enemy's proudest armies, no longer able to with-
stand your irresistible pursuit. Now the danger jjast, and the victory
won, many of you turn homeward. Let the same generous spirit, the
same pure patriotism that prompted your entry into your country's serv-
ice, be cherished by you, never forgetting that the true soldier is always a
good citizen and Christian.
Some remain yet for a time as soldiers. The same country that first
called you needs your further services and retains you. Let your future
record be a continuation of the glorious past, and such that as long as a
soldier remains of the Fourteenth Corps it shall continue bright and un-
tarnished.
Many of the noblest, bravest, and best who came out with us will not
return. We left them on the hills and by the streams of the South, where
no voice of mother, sister, or wifo will ever wake them — where no kind
hand will strew flowers upon their graves. But, soldiers, by us they will
never be forgotten. Their heroic deeds and last resting-places will often
be brought to mind in fond remembrance. Though dead, they will live
in the affections of their countrymen and their country's history. Whilst
passing events are fast changing our past associations and requiring us to
form new ones, let us seek to extend a warm greeting and the hearty
hand of congratulation to all who rejoice in our country's preservation
and return to peace.
By command of Brevet Major-General Jeff. C. Davis.
A. C. McCLURG,
Brevet Colonel A. A. G. and Chief of Staff,
376 DISSOLUTIO?^^ OF THE AEMY.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 39.]
Headquarters Cavalry Corps, M. D. M.,
Macon, Ga., July 2, 1865.
To the Oncers and Men of the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Missis-
sippi :
Youi" corps has ceased to exist I The rebellion has terminated in the
re-estabhshment of your country upon the basis of nationality and
perpetual unity. Your deeds have contributed a noble part to the
glorious result; they have passed into history and need no recital frora
me. In the nine months during which I have commanded you, I have
heard no reproach upon your conduct — have had no disaster to chronicle!
The glowing memories of Franklin, Nashville, West Harpeth, Eben-
ezer Church, Selma, Montgomery, Columbus, West Point, and Macon
may well fill your hearts and mine with pride.
You have learned to believe yourselves invincible, and, contemplating
your honorable deeds, may justly cherish that belief. You may be proud
of your splendid discipline no less than your courage, zeal, and endur-
ance. The noble impulses which have inspired you in the past, will be a
source of enduring honor in the future. " Peace has her victories no
less renowned than war." Do not forget that clear heads, honest hearts,
and stout arms, guided by pure patriotism, are the surest defense of
your country in every peril. Upon them depend the substantial progress
of your race and order of civilization, as well as the liberty of all man-
kind.
Let your example in civil life be an incitement to industry, sood order,
and enlightenment, while your deeds in war shall live in the grateful re-
membrance of your countrymen.
Having discharged every military duty honestly and faithfully, return
to your homes with the noble sentiment of your martyr President deeply
impressed upon every heart : " With malice against none and charity for
all, strive to do the right as God gives you to see the right."
js. H. WILSON,
Brevet Major-GeneraL
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE DEAD AND THEIR DISPOSITION.
The history of the Army of the Cumberland would not be
complete was the disposition of its heroic dead omitted ; for
never, in the history of war, have the slain of any other army
been so honored in burial.
The first permanent National Cemetery for soldiers estab-
lished by military order, was the one founded by General
George H. Thomas, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. The cir-
cumstances under which this site was selected, have historic
interest far transcending the mere fact of priority of estab-
lishment.
During the battle, which resulted in the dislodgment of
General Bragg's army from Missionary Ridge, a reserve force,
in line over a hill near the field position of General Thomas,
revealed its beautiful contour and suggested its use as a N"a-
tional Cemetery. This hill, conical in general outline, but
fruitful in lateral hillocks and varied in expression from every
point of view, is located equidistant from Cameron hill, which
rises abruptly from the Tennessee river, where it turns toward
Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge on the east, and is
central between General Hooker's point of attack on Lookout
Mountain, and General Sherman's, on the northern summit of
Missionary Ridge. Thus it is the center of this complex
battle-field.
Soon after the battle. General Thomas issued the following
order :
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 296.]
Chattanooga, Tenk., December 25, 1863.
It is ordered that a National Cemetery be founded at this place, in com-
memoration of tlie battles at Chattanooga, fought November 23d, 24th,
(377)
378 THE DEAD AND THEIR DISPOSITION.
25th, 26th, and 27th, and to provide a proper resting-place for the remains
of the brave men who fell vipon the fields fought over upon those days,
and for the remains of such as may hereafter give up their lives in this
region in defending their country against treason and rebellion.
The ground selected for the cemetery is the hill lying beyond the
Western and Atlantic railroad, in a southeasterly direction from the
town.
It is proposed to erect a monument upon the summit of the hill,
of such materials as are to be obtained in this vicinity, which, like all
the work upon the cemetery, shall be exclusively done by the troops of
the Army of the Cumberland.
Plans for the monument are invited to be sent in to these headquarters.
When the ground is prepared, notice will be given, and all-interments of
soldiers will thereafter be made in the cemetery, and all now buried in
and around the town removed to that place.
By command of Major-General George H. Thomas.
(Signed,) WM. D. WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
The exigencies of war prevented the execution of all the
work upon this cemetery by the troops of the Army of the
Cumberland, and the monument contemplated has never been
erected. ISTeither was it subsequently practicable to obtain a
brief history of the many thousands interred in this classic
ground, as at first contemplated. However, while the war
lasted, troops from the Army of the Cumberland continued the
work of burial and embellishment. When the volunteers were
mustered out of the service, employes of the quartermaster's
department completed the enterprise as far as practicable.
The establishment of the Chattanooga National Cemetery
was followed, first, by one upon the battle-field of Stone River,
and later, by one at Nashville, Tennessee, and another at Mari-
etta, Georgia. Chaplain William Earnshaw was charged with
the burial of the dead and the ornamentation of the grounds
at Stone River and JSTashville, and- another chaplain sustained
a similar relation to the cemeteries at Chattanooga and Mari-
etta. In these four cemeteries were finally interred the remains
of more than forty thousand soldiers. Many smaller ceme-
teries were established within the limits of the Department of
the Cumberland, within the States of Kentucky, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and more than one hundred
thousand soldiers were interred in cemeteries commemorative,
THE DEAD AJ^D THEIR DISPOSITION. 379
often, of great battles, and always of the nation's gratitude to
those who gave their lives to maintain the nation's life.
In expression of the value of each citizen who fell in the
war, the body of each was placed in a separate grave. And
so thorough was the search for the dead upon every battle-
field and over the whole country, that their friends may be as-
sured that, whether identified or not, all rest in grounds conse-
crated for their abode forever.
[EXTEACT FROM GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 8.]
Head-Quarters Army of the Cumberland,
Chattanooga, Tenn., January 8, 1864.
Commanding officers of regiments in this department will furnish, on
the application of Chaplain Thomas B. Van Home, 13th 0. V. I., in
charge of the Mortuary Record of the National Cemetery at this place,
full information in regard to the full name, rank, company, native state,
date, age, marital state, date of enlistment, address of nearest friends,
number of engagements participated in, soldierly character, special cir-
cumstances of death, if killed in action, and whatever else is worthy of
their history of record, of all soldiers who may be interred in the National
Cemetery at Chattanooga.
By Command of Major-General Thomas:
WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General.
Official: Wm. M.c'Kicb.a.y.i,, Assistant Adjutant-General.
APPENDIX.
OEGANIZATION DEPAETMENT OF THE CUMBBELAND.
[official.]
Organized August 15, 1861 (Gr. O. No. 57, W. D.), embracing
states of Kentucky and Tennessee. Brigadier-General Egbert An-
derson, U. S. A., to command. Discontinued November 9, 1861 (G.
O. ISTo. 97, W. D.), and the states embraced therein assigned as fol-
lows : Kentucky, west of Cumberland river, to Department of the
Missouri ; Kentucky, east of Cumberland river, to Department
of the Ohio; Tennessee, to the Departsient of the Ohio.
Eeorganized October 24, 1862 (G. O. No. 168, W. D.), embracing
State of Tennessee, east of the Tennessee river, and such parts of
Northern Georgia and Alabama as are taken possession of by
United States forces.
OEGANIZATION DEPAETMENT OF THE CUMBEELAND,
MILITAEY DIYISION, AND DEPAETMENT OF THE
TENNESSEE, ETC.
Department of the Cumberland.
Organized, and Major-General W. S. Eosecrans assigned to the
command, October 30, 1862 (G. O. No. 168, W. D., October 24,
1862), consisted of the Fourteenth Army Corps, the troops of
which were subsequently divided into three (3) army corps — the
Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty -first — as follows : The " Cen-
ter," under command of Major-General G. H. Thomas, to con-
stitute the Fourteenth Army Corps; "Eight Wing," under Major-
General A. M-cD. McCoOK, the Twentieth; and the "Left Wing,"
(381)
382 APPENDIX.
under Major-General T. L. Crittenden, the Twenty -first Army
Corps. (See G. O. jf^o. 9, W. D., February 2, 1863.)
The Twentieth and Twenty-first Array Corps were consolidated
October 9, 1863, to constitute one corps, to be known as the Fourth
Army Corps. Major-General Gordon Granger to command (G.
O. No. 228, D. C, 1863).
Major-General Eosecrans relieved from command of the De-
partment, October 19, 1863; General G. H. Thomas assumed com-
mand October 20, 1863. General J. M. Palmer to command
Fourteenth Army Corps, vice Thomas, assigned to command De-
partment OP the Cumberland, October 28, 1863 (G. O. No. 350,
W. D., 1863).
The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, consolidated, to constitute
the Twentieth Corps, April 4, 1864. Major-General Joseph
Hooker assigned to the command (G. O. No. 144, W. D., Series
of 1864).
By same order, General Gordon Granger relieved from com-
mand of the Fourth Army Corps, and General O. O. Howard as-
signed in his stead,
Major-General J. Hooker relieved from, and Major-General
Slocum assigned to, command Twentieth Army Corps ; and Gen-
eral Howard transferred from, and General Stanley assigned to,
command Fourth Army Corps (G. O. No. 238, W. D., July 30,
1864).
Brevet Major-General Jeff. C. Davis assigned to command the
Fourteenth Army Corps (G. O. No. 241, W. D., August, 1864).
The Twentieth and Fourteenth Army Corps accompanied Gen-
eral Sherman on his march to the sea.
By direction of the President (contained in telegram from W.
A. Nichols, Assistant Adjutant-General, Januar}^ 17, 1865), the De-
partment OP THE Ohio was united to the Department of the
Cumberland, to embrace such parts of Mississippi, Georgia, and
Alabama as were occupied by troops of General Thomas' com-
mand. On the 12th of February, the Department was divided
into the following Districts and Subdistricts, viz :
District op West Tennessee, headquarters at Memphis, Ten-
nessee, Major-General C. C. Washburne to command.
District op Middle Tennessee, headquarters at Nashville,
Major-General L. H. Eousseau.
District op Northern Alabama, headquarters at Decatur,
Brigadier-General E. S. Granger.
APPET^DIX. 383
First Subdistrict of Middle Tennessee, headquarters at
Tullahoma, Major-General E. H. Milroy.
Second Subdistrict'' op Middle Tennessee, headquarters at
Pulaski, Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson.
Third Subdistrict of Middle Tennessee, headquarters at
Kingston Springs, Colonel C. R. Thompson.
Fourth Subdistrict of Middle Tennessee, Colonel James
GiLFELLAN, Eleventh Minnesota Volunteers.
Fifth Subdistrict of Middle Tennessee, headquarters at
Clarksville, Colonel A. A. Smith, Eighty-third Illinois Volunteers.
District op Etowah, Major-General J. B. Steedman ; and
District op East Tennessee, Major-General George Stoneman.
By order of the Lieutenant-General commanding Armies of the
United States, dated May 27, 186.5, ISTorthern Mississippi was em-
bodied in District of W est Tennessee, DeparTxMent op the Cum-
berland discontinued, and Military Division op the Tennessee
organized, June 20, 1865.
The Military Division of the Tennessee
Consisted at its organization of five (5) Departments, viz :^
Department of Kentucky, Major-General J. M. Palmer to
command, headquarters at Louisville, Kentucky.
Department of Tennessee, Major-General George Stoneman
to command, headquarters at Knoxville, Tennessee.
Department of Georgia, Major-General J. B. Steedman to
command, headquarters at Augusta, Georgia.
Department of Alabama, Major-General C. R. Woods to com-
mand, headquarters at Mobile, Alabama.
Department of Florida and District of Key "West, Major-
General A. A. Humphreys to command, Tallahassc, Florida.
The Department of Mississippi, Major-General H. W. Slocum
commanding, added to the Military Division of the Tennes-
see, by direction of the President (G. O. No. 2, M. D. T., 1865).
By direction of the President, the oixlers annexing the Depart-
ments of Florida and MississijDpi were revoked, in General Orders
No. 4, M. D. T., 1865.
384 APPENDIX.
Department op the Tennessee.
Organized August 13, 1866, consisting of the following Districts
and Subdistricts, viz :
District op the Cumberland, Major -General Stoneman, head-
quarters at Memphis, to embrace Kentucky and Tennessee.
SuBDisTRiCT OP KENTUCKY, Brevct Major- General J. C. Davis.
SuBDisTRiCT of TENNESSEE, Brcvct Major-Gcneral C. B. Fisk.
District op Mississippi, Major-Gen eral Thomas J. Wood.
District op the Chattahoochee, Brevet Major-General C. E.
Woods, to embrace Subdistricts of Georgia and Alabama.
SUBDISTRICT OF ALABAMA, Major-General W. Swatne.
SUBDISTRICT OP GEORGIA, Brevet Major-General Davis Tillson.
Military Division op Tennessee was divided into Department
OP the Cumberland, consisting of the Districts (late Departments)
of Tennessee and Kentucky, Major-General George Stoneman to
command, Memphis (organized by G. O. No. B6, W. D., June 5, 1866) ;
Department op the South, consisting of the Districts (late De-
partments) . of Georgia and Alabama, Major-General C. E.
Woods to command, Macon, Georgia (organized by G. O. No. 32,
W. D., May .19, 1866) ; Department op Mississippi annexed to
Department by G. O. No. 142, W. D., October 7, 1865, Major-
General H. W. Slocum to command.
General T. J. Wood assigned to command of the Department
November 3, 1865 (G. 0. No. 159, W. D.)
APPENDIX. 385
OEGANIZATION OF THE DEPAETMENT OF THE OHIO.
[official.]
Organized May 3, 1861 (G. 0. No. 14, W. D.), embracing States
of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Major-General Geo. B. McClellan
to con^mand. Headquarters, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Extended May 9, 1861 (G. O. No. 19, W. D.), to embrace por-
tions of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Extended June 6, 1861 (G. O. No. 30, W. D.), to embrace Stato
of Missouri.
Eeorganized September 9, 1861 (G. 0. No. 80, W. D.), embracing
States of Ohio, Indiana, and so much of Kentucky as lies within
fifteen miles of Cincinnati, Ohio. Brigadier-General Mitchell to
command.
Eeorganized November 9, 1861 (G. O. No. 97, W. D.), embracing
States of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, east of the Cumber-
land river, and Tennessee. Brigadier-General D. C. Buell to com-
mand. Headquarters, Louisville.
Extended August 19, 1862 (G. O. No. 112, W. D.), to embrace
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kentucky, east
of the Tennessee river. Major-General H. G. Wright to command.
Extended September 19, 1862 (G. O. No. 135, W. D.), to embrace
West Virginia.
Major-General Burnside assumed command of the Department
March 25, 1863.
Major-General J. G. Foster relieved General Burnside from
command December — , 1863.
Department to embrace Kentucky, north of the Tennessee river,
and such portions of Tennessee as may be occupied by troojDS of
the Department.
Major-General J. M. Schofield assumed command February 9,
1864.
Department annexed to the Department of the Cumberland by
direction of the President, contained in telegram from W. A.
Nichols, dated January 17, 1865.
386 APPENDIX.
LIST OF OFFICEES OF AEMY OF THE CUMBERLAND
WHO WEEE KILLED IN ACTION OE DIED OF WOUNDS
OE DISEASE DUEING THE WAE, MAINLY COMPILED
FEOM THE "AEMY EEGISTEE."
CONNECTICUT,
Fifth Connecticut Infantry.
First Lieut. James P. Henderson. Killed March 16, 1865.
Twentieth Connecticut Infantry.
€aptain Oliver R. Post. Died, July 21, 1864, of wounds in action before
Atlanta, Ga.
First Lieut. Edward A. Doolittle. Died of disease, December 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Henry Lewis. Died December 26, 1864.
First Lieut. Wellington Barry. Died March 17, 1865.
ILLINOIS.
Brigadier-General E. N. Kirk. Died , 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River, December 31, 1862.
Battery B, Second Illinois Light Infantry.
First Lieut. William Bishop. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Second Lieut. Frankhn Seeborn. Died, November 11, 1864, of wounds received
in action.
Battery C, Second Illinois Artillery.
First Lieut. Elijah V. Moore. Died, February 5, 1863, of wounds received at
Fort Donelson.
Battery I.
First Lieut. Alonzo W. Coe. Killed near Savannah, Ga., December 9, 1864.
Tenth Illinois Infantry.
First Lieut. William W. Rice, Adjutant. Died at Chattanooga, Tenn., June
16, 1864, of wounds.
Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.
Major Samuel M. Hayes. Died, August 6, 1862, at Monticello, III.
Captain David Wells. Died of disease, at Macomb, 111., April 7, 1862.
Captain Calvin H. Wilson. Died at Quincy, 111., June 16, 1864.
■Captain Eben White. Died, May 18, 1865, of wounds received at Averys-
boro, N. C.
First Lieut. James Donaldson. Died, July 17, 1864, of wounds received at
Vining's Station, Ga.
APPENDIX. 387
Nineteenth Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Joseph Scott. Died, July 8, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River.
Captain Bushrod B. Howard. Killed by railroad accident, September 17, 1871/
Captain Charles H. Shepley. Died, March 23, 1862, from accident with his
revolver.
Captain Knowlton H. Chandler. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
First Lieut. Willington Wood. Died, January 5, 18G3, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Second Lieut. Thomas L. Job. Killed accidentally July 18, 1861.
Second Lieut. John H. Hunter. Died, January 9, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Chaplain Augustus H. Conant. Died February 8, 1863.
Twentij-Jirst Illinois Infantry.
Colonel John W. S. Alexander. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Benjamin F. Reed. Died, September 23, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain Andrew George. Died, January 15, 1864, of wounds received at Chicka-
mauga.
First Lieut. Charles L. Smedel. Died at Nashville, Tenn., April 27, 1863, of
disease.
Second Lieut. Emanuel M. Weigle. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. John F. Weitzel. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Assistant Surgeon Carl Muntz. Died, January 31, 1862, at Ironton, Mo.
Twenty-second Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Harrison E. Hart. Died of disease at Alton, 111., July 25, 1862.
Captain Milton French. Died, September 27, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. Cyrus M. Galloway. Died, January 24, 1863, of wounds received
at Stone River.
Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Geza Mihalotzy. Died, March 11, 1864, of wounds received at Buz-
zard's Roost, Ga.
Captain Ernst F. Pletschke. Died, October 9, 1861, at Louisville, Ky.
Captain Fred. Hartman. Died, November 9, 1862, of wounds received iu
action.
Captain George Heinricks. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Second Lieut. Ami Smith. Died, October 15, 1862, at Bowling Green, Ky.
Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Thomas D. Williams. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Charles A. Clark. Killed in quelling mutiny, November 25, 1863.
Second Lieut. David M. Richards. Died, December 10, 1863, of wounds
received in action.
Second Lieut. James K. Weir. Died, June 21, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
388 APPENDIX.
Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Fazelo A. Harrington. Died, January 1, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Captain William S. Bryan. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. William Shipley. Killed at Belmont, Mo., November 7, 1861.
First Lieut. Joseph Voellinger. Died, October 18, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Hugh M. Love. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Pirst Lieut. Andrew J. Slides. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
First Lieut. Alexander M. Boggs. Killed accidentally, near Atlanta, Ga.,
July 23, 1864.
Second Lieut. Herbert Weyraan. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Amos Bosworth. Died, April 23, 1862, of disease.
Major Charles H. Levanway. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Captain Mabry G. Greenwood. Died of wounds received December 31, 1862,
at Stone River.
Captain John A. Parrott. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
Captain Amos W. Hostetter. Died, July 26, 1864, of wounds received at
Atlanta.
First Lieut. Daniel Riley. Died at Nashville, Januar^^ 20, 1863, of wounds.
First Lieut. Henry D. Wood, Adjutant. Died, October 12, 1864, at Atlanta, of
disease.
First Lieut. Edward B. Hamer. Killed near Haywood, N. C, April 15, 1865.
Second Lieut. Henrj'^ Miller. Died of wounds. May 1, 1862.
Second Lieut. John M. Smith. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
Major John Mcllvain. Killed near Kenesaw Mountain, June 22, 1864.
Captain Collins P. Jones. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Joseph Moore. Died, April 7, 1862, of wounds received at Pea
Ridge.
First Lieut. Humphrey M. McConnell. Died, January 3, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived in action.
First Lieut. Moses C. Snook. Died, March 9, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. George F. Dietz. Died, July 8, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. John W. Snyder. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Daniel H. Kagaj'. Died, February 10, 1864, of disease.
Second Lieut. Joseph F. Clise. Died, October 7, 1861, of disease.
Second Lieut. James P. Butler. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Benjamin F. Smith. Died, November 9, 1864, of disease.
Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Silas Miller. Died, July 27, 1864, of wounds received at Kenesaw
Mountain.
Lieut. Colonel Porter C. Olson. Died, November 30, 1864, of wounds received
at Franklin.
APPENDIX. 389
Captain Theodore G. Griffin. Died, November 24, 1862, of wounds received at
Perryville. ,
Captain Aaron C. Holden. Died, December 1, 1862, of wounds received in
action.
Captain Sanford H. Wakeman. Died, September 20, I860, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Captain James B. McNeal. Died, September 4, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Edward S. Chappell. Died, October 16, 1861, at RoUa, Mo.
First Lieut. Orison Smith. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Charles F. Chase. Died, December 18, 1864, of wounds received
at Franklin.
Second Lieut. Soren L. Olson. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Mj^ron A. Smith. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Second Lieut. Sidney M. Abbott. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Daniel H. Gilmer. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Lieut. Colonel William T. Chapman. Died, November 23, 1864, at Pulaski,
Tenn., of disease.
Captain James P. Mead. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Thomas Cole. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain William C. Harris. Died, July 13, 1864, of wounds received at Kene-
saw Mountain.
First Lieut. Arthur Lee Bailhache, Adjutant. Died of disease, January 2, 1862.
First Lieut. John L. Dillon. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Benjamin G. Humes. Died, January 6, 1865, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. Peter N. Scott. Died, January 8, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Chaplain William M. Brown. Died at Springfield, 111., November 23, 1863, of
disease.
Forty-second IHinios Infantry.
Colonel William A. Webb. Died, December 24, 1861, at Smithton, Mo.
Colonel G. W. Roberts. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Major James Leighton. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Major D. Woodman Norton. Killed at New Hope Church, June 3, 1864.
Captain George Varden. Died, September 19, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn., of
disease.
Captain Levi Preston. Died, at Chattanooga, Tenn., December 31, 1863, of
disease.
Captain Charles A. Seaver, Killed before Atlanta, Ga., August 3, 1864.
Captain Gilbert A. Parshall. Died, December 3, 1864, of wounds received at
Spring Hill, Tenn.
First Lieut. Ezra A. Montgomery. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Edward H. Brown, Adjutant. Killed at Chickamauga, September
20, 1863.
First Lieut. George C. Smith. Died, December 7, 1863, of wounds received at
Missionary Ridge.
390 APPENDIX.
First Lieut. Alfred 0. Johnson. Died, December 8, ISG.S, of wounds received
at Missionary Ridge.
First Lieut. Edward Hurson. Died, May 18, 1864, of wounds received ut
Ilesaca.
Second Lieut. Gilbert L. Barnes. Died, October 24, 1861, of disease.
Second Lieut. Julius Lettman. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Jacob Y. Elliott. Died, December 7, 1863, of wounds received
at Missionary Ridge.
Forty-fourtli Illinois Infantry.
Captain Andrew I. Hosmer. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Ernst Moldenhauser. Died, February 27, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
Captain Carl R. Harnisch. Killed, at Chattanooga, in action, November 25,
1863.
Captain Benjamin F. Knappen. Died, July 4, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Martin Reminger. Died, August 20, 1862, of disease.
First Lieut. Peter Weyhrich. Died, July 6, 1864, of wounds.
Second Lieut. Silas L. Parker. Died, January 19, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
Fifty-first Illinois Infantry.
Captain John T. Whitson. Died, July 15, 1862, at Chicago, 111.
Captain George L. Bellows. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863,
First Lieut. Otis Moody. Killed at Cbickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Thomas T. Lester. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
First Lieut. Henry W. Hall, Adjutant. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27,
1864.
First Lieut. Archibald L. McCormick. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27,
1864.
Fifst Lieut. Calvin H. Thomas. Killed at Franklin, November 30, 1864.
Second Lieut. Albert G. Simmons. Killed at Cbickamauga, September 19,
1863.
Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry.
Captain David M. Bailey. Died, .October 10, 1864, of disease.
First Lieut. Albert H. Stookey. Died, March 14, 1862, of dis;:ase.
First Lieut. John Kelley. Died, September , 1862, at luka. Miss., of dis-
ease.
First Lieut. Charles F. Adams. Died, October 16, 1862, of wounds received at
Perryville.
First Lieut. Robert Gooding. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
Second Lieut. Andrew R. Johnson. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Surgeon J. D. S. Haslett. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Assistant Surgeon, James W. Gaston. Died, September 13, 1864, of disease.
Sixtieth Illinois Infantry.
Captain John Coleman. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
First Lieut. Amzi Kniflfen. Died, May 17, 1864, of wounds received before
Dalton, Ga.
APPENDIX. 391
Seventy-third Illinois Infantry.
Major William E. Smith. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Major Thomas W. Motherspaw. Died, December 18, 1864, of wounds received
in action.
Captain Edwin Alsop. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Julian R. Winget, Adjutant. Killed at Chickamauga, September
20, 1863.
First Lieut. "William R. Wilmer, Adjutant. Killed at Franklin, November 30
1864.
Seventy-fourth Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. ColonelJames B. Kerr. Died, July 3, 1864, of wounds, when prisoner.
Captain Henry C. Barker. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Captain Frederick W. Stegner. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864
Captain David 0. Buttolp. Died, June 29, 1864, of wounds received at Kene-
saw Mountain.
Captain Bowman W. Bacon. Died, July 21, 1864, of wounds received at Kene-
saw Mountain.
First Lieut. Lewis WiUiams, R. Q. M. Died November 25, 1862.
First Lieut. Cyrenius N. Woods. Died, August 12, 1863, at Winchester, Tenn.
Assistant Surgeon Sherman C. Ferson. Killed, October 7, 1864, by railroad
accident.
Seventy-ffth lllinios Infantry.
Captain Robert Hale. Killed in action, July 4, 1864.
Captain Addison S. Vorrey. Died, August 13, 1864, of disease.
First Lieut. Franklin H. Eels. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
First Lieut. William H. Thompson. Died, February 25, 1864, of disease.
Second Lieut. James Blean. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. Ezekiel J. Killgour. Died, December 26, 1862, of disease.
Second Lieut. Thomas G. Bryant. Died, April 12, 1863, of disease.
Second Lieut. Alfred K. Buckaloo. Died, March 14, 1864, of disease.
Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Carter Van Vleck. Died of wounds, August 23, 1864.
Major William L. Broaddus. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1864.
Captain Robert M. Black. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
First Lieut. Tobias E. Butler. Died, May 29, 1864, of wounds.
First Lieut. George A. Brown. Died, June 30, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Daniel W. Long. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
First Lieut. George T. Beers. Killed at Bentonville, March 19, 1865.
First Lieut. William E. Summers. Killed at Bentonville, March 21, 1865.
Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Sheridan P. Read. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain John H. Patton. Killed at Liberty Gap, June 25, 1863.
Captain Hezekiah D. Martin. Died, July 3, 1863, of wounds received at Lib-
erty Gap.
First Lieut. Martin L. Linninger. Killed by fall of tree, November 19, 1862.
392 APPENDIX.
Eightieth Illinois Infantry.
Captain Edmund R. Jones. Killed at Sand Mountain, Ala., April 30, 186H.
First Lieut. James C. Jones. Killed at Sand Mountain, Ala., April 30, 1863.
Second Lieut. Alex. Van Kendle. Killed in action, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. Samuel G. Andrews. Died. November 22, 1862, of wounds re-
ceived in action.
Second Lieut. John A. Armour. Died, June 11, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Second Lieut. Harvey Clendenin. Died, July 17, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Eighty-second Illinois Infantry.
First Lieut. Frederick Bechstein. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Eighty-third Illinois Infantry.
Captain Pliilo. E. Reed. Killed in action at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Captain John McClanahan. Died, February 23, 1863, of wounds received at
Fort Donelson.
Captain William W. Turnbull. Killed at Pine Bluff, Ark., in action, August
20, 1864.
First Lieut. E. D. Bissell, R. Q. M. Killed in action. Fort Donelson, Febru-
ary 3, 18G2.
Second Lieut. John Morton. Died, June 19,1864, at Fort Donelson.
Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry.
Captain Moses W. Davis. Died, January 20, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
Captain Thomas D. Adams. Died, September 21, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
First Lieut. Luther T. Ball. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Thomas F. Kendrick. Died, November 17, 1862, at Bowling
Green, Ky., of disease.
Second Lieut. Henry E. Abrocombie. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
Captain Charles H. Chatfield. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Captain John Kennedy. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 19, 1864.
Captain Samuel Young. Died, November 22, 1864, of disease.
First Lieut. Clark N. Andrews, Adjutant. Died, July 23, 1864, of wounds re-
ceived in action.
Eighty-six Illinois Infantry.
Colonel David D. Irons. Died, August 11, 1863, of disease, at Nashville, Tenn.
Captain Edward Vanantwerp. Died, July 15, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Captain John F. French. Killed at Averysboro, N. C, March 16, 1865.
Captain William B. Bogardus. Died, April 13, 1865, of wounds received at
Bentonville.
APPENDIX. 393
Eighty-eighth Illinois Injantry.
Lieut. Colonel George W. Chandler. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27,
1864.
Fir.st Lieut. Thomas F. \V. Gullich. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862,
First Lieut. Joshua S. Ballard, Adjutant. Died, April 9, 1863, of disease, at
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
First Lieut. Charles H. Lane. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
First Lieut. John P. D. Gibson. Killed accidentally at Loudon, Tenn., April
17, 1862.
First Lieut. Noah W. Rae. Died, June 2, 186-1, of wounds received at Adairs-
ville, Ga.
Second Lieut. Henry W. Meacham. Died, April 1, 1863, of disease, at Mur-
freesboro, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Henry L. Bingham. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Surgeon George Coatsworth. Died, June 9, 1863, of disease, at Murfreesboro,
Tenn.
Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Duncan J. Hall. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20,- 1863.
Captain Henry S. Willett. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Herbert M. Blake. Killed at Liberty Gap, June 25, 1863.
Captain William H. Rice. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Thomas Whiting. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain John W. Spink. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Henry L. Rowell. Died, December 3, 1863,* of wounds received at
Missionary Ridge.
First Lieut. Nathan Street. Died, August 6, 1964 (?), of wounds received in
action at Nashville, Tenn.
First Lieut. Peter G. Tait. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
Second Lieut. Amory P. Ellis. Died, October 4, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. Erastus 0. Young. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Second Lieut. William Harkness. Killed in action at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga.,
June 21, 1864.
Captain James D. Hill. Died, January 14, 1863, of disease.
Ninety-second Illinois Infantry.
Captain William Stauffer. Died of disease, January 21, 1863, at Danville, Ky.
First Lieut. David B. Colehour. Died, March 17, 1863, of disease, at Nashville,
Tenn.
First Lieut. James Daubon. Died, September 21, 1864, of wounds received at
Jonesboro.
Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Isaac L. Clack. Died, September 22, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickmauga.
Captain Evangelist J. Gillmore. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
€aptain David James. Died, July 20, 1864, of wounds received at Kenesaw
Mountain.
394 APPENDIX.
First Lieut. Caleb A. Montgomery. Died, January 28, 1863, of disease, at
Danville, y.
First Lieut. Nelson R. Sims. Died, September 29, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Captain George F. Barnes. Died, October 3, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Ninety-eighth Illinois Infantry.
Captain Orville L. Kelley. Killed September 8, 1862, by railroad accident, at
Bridgeport, III.
First Lieut. Lindsay D. Law. Died, January 26, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. William Tarrant. Died, April 19, 1863, of disease, at Murfrees-
boro, Tenn.
First Lieut. Silas Jones. Died, April 19, 1863, of disease, at Murfreesboro,
Tenn.
Second Lieut. George "W. Boggess. Died, March 3, 1864, at Charleston, Tenn.
One Hundreth Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Frederick A. Bartleson. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
Major Rodney S. Bowen. Died, December 3, 1864, of wounds received at
•Franklin.
Captain John A. Bunell. Killed near Dallas, Ga., in action, May 30, 1864.
First Lieut. George W. Rouse, Adjutant. Died, August 3, 1864, of wounds re-
ceived before Aslanta, Ga.
First Lieut. George C. Shoonmaker. Killed before Atlanta, in action, August
5, 1864.
Second Lieut. Morris Worthington. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Charles F. Mitchell. Died, January 4, 1863, of wounds received
at Stone River.
One Hundred and First Illinois Infantry.
Captain Thomas B. Woof Killed before Atlanta, July 20, 1864.
First Lieut. William S. Wright. Died, October 6, 1862, at Franklin, 111.
First Lieuf. Ferdinand A. Dimm. Killed skirmishing near Kenesaw, June 27,
1864.
First Lieut. Josiah H. Belt. Died, June 29, 1864, of wounds received near
Dallas, Ga.
One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry.
Captain John S. H. Doty. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Captain David C. Rynearson. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Captain Joseph P. Fitzsimmons. Killed in action before Atlanta, August 7,
1864.
First Lieut. Moses M. Randolp. Died, December 9, 1862, of wounds received
at Heartsville, Tenn.
First Lieut. William E. Brush. Died, April 13, 1863, at Chicago, 111.
First Lieut. Orrin S. Davidson. Died, December 5, 1863, of wounds received
at Missionary Ridge.
Assistant Surgeon Thomas B. Hamilton. Died, March 17, 1865, at Nashville,
Tenn.
APPENDIX. 395
One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry.
Second Lient. August H. Fischer. Killed on picket line, before Atlanta,
August 13, 1864.
Surgeon Horace S. Potter. Killed near Acworth, Ga., June 2, 1864.
One Hundred and Tenth Illinois Infantry.
Captain John F. Day. Died, January 27, 1863, of disease, at Nashville, Tenn.
Captain James L. Parks. Died, March 8, 1863, of disease, Readyville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Jesse G. Payne. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel William Kinman. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain S. Barlow Espy. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Stephen M. Huckstep. Died, December 9, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
First Lieut. John Beauchamp. Died, March 26, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. Jacob Porter. Died, May 14, 1864, of wounds received in action.
Second Lieut. Mathew Freeman. Died, March 30, 1863, of disease.
Second Lieut. David Reed. Died, September 27, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
Assistant Surgeon James A. Jones. Killed by Guerrillas, July 9, 1864.
One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Infantry.
Colonel James" Monroe. Killed at Farmington, October 7, 1863.
Captain Samuel Coblentz. Died November 30, 1862.
Captain Abram C. Van Buskirk. Killed in action, March 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Otho J. McManus. Killed at Selma, April 9, 1865.
One Hundred and Twenty-ffih Illinois Infantry.
Colonel Oscar F. Harmon. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Captain William W. Fellows. Killed at Ke'nesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Captain Marion Lee. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Captain Edward B. Kingsbur3^ Died, August 19, 1864, of wounds received
before Atlanta, Ga.
Captain Jackson Charles. Killed at Jonesboro, September 2, 1864.
Captain Andrew W. Ingraham. Died, February 15, 1865, of disease, at Savan-
nah, Ga.
Second Lieut. William Hart. Died, April 2, 1863, at Nashville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. James A. McLean. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Second Lieut. John L. Jones. Killed in action before Atlanta, July 19, 1864.
Second Lieut. John J. White. Killed in action before Atlanta, August 7, 1864.
Chaplain Levi W. Sanders. Killed in action at Caldwell's Ford, Tenn., No-
vember 17, 1863.
Chaplain George K. Buesing. Died, October 13, 1864, at Atlanta, Ga.
One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry.
First Lieut. John Haldcman. Died, November 15, 1864, prisoner, at Colum-
bia, S. C.
Second Lieut. Stephen K. Kyle. Died, December 1, 1862, at Bowling Green,
Ky.
396 APPENDIX.
IXDIANA.
Second Indiana Cavalry.
Major Samuel Hill. Died, April 6, 1863, of disease.
Captain Levi Ross. Died, March 8, 1863, at Louisville, Ky.
First Lieut. Henry H. Dunlap. Died, May 25, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. William D. Stover. Killed in action at Indian Creek, Tenn., July
28, 1864.
First Lieut. Asa S. Smith. Killed near Scottville, Ala., April 2, 1865.
Second Lieut. John G. Myers. Killed in action at Vinegar Hill, Ky., Septem-
ber 22, 1862.
Second Lieut. William C. Blaine. Killed in action, June- 11, 1863. .
Third Indiana Calvary.
Second Lieut. Thomas G. Sheatfer. Killed at Resaca, Ga., August 25, 1864.
Fourth Indiana Cavalry.
Major Joseph P. Leslie. Killed in action, at Fair Garden, Tenn., January 27,
1864.
Captain Jesse Keethle3^ Died at Madisonville, Ky., March 3, 1863.
Captain Christopher C. Mason. Killed in action at Fayetteville, Tenn., No-
vember 1, 1863.
First Lieut. George Lydick. Died, February 3, 18G3, of disease, at Munfords-
ville, Ky.
lirst Lieut. John Jackson. Died, in prison, at Columbia, S. C, November 20,
1864.
Second Lieut. Edmund J. Davis. Died, September 24, 1862, of disease, at
Louisville, Ky.
Second Lieut. Johnson M. Webb. Killed in action at Madisonville, Ky., Octo-
ber 5, 1862.
Second Lieut. Enoch S. Boston. Died, November 7, 1862, of disease, at Bowl-
ing Green, Ky.
Eighth Indiana Cavalry.
Captain Joseph C. Potts. Died, October 5, 1863, of wounds received in action.
First Lieut. John A. Stockdell. Died, April 1, 1862, of disease, at Columbia,
Tenn.
First Lieut. William R. Phillips, Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
First Lieut. William H. Garboden. Died, October 28, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
First Lieut. Wiley Baker. Killed in action at Puluski, Tenn., September 27,
1864.
First Lieut. James A. Gray. Died of wounds, October 2, 1864, at Nashville,
Tenn.
First Lieut. Clinton Lennen. Killed in action at Black River, N. C, March
16, 1865.
Second Lieut. Gabriel Woodmansee. Died, January 9, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. Moses M. Neal. Died, January 8 1863, of wounds received in
action.
APPENDIX. 397
Fifth Indiana Battery.
Captain Peter Simonson. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 16, 1864.
Seventh Indiana Battery.
Second Lieut. Frank W. Backmar. Died, January 16, 1863, of wounds received
at Stone River.
Eleventh Indiana Battery.
Second Lieut. Charles R. Scott. Died Januarj' 5, 1864.
Twelfth Indiana Battery.
First Lieut. Moody C. Dustin. Died March 16, 1863.
Second Lieut. Benjamin F. Lutz. Died April 18, 1862.
Eighteenth Indiana Battery.
First Lieut. Martin J. Miller. Killed in action, near Selma, Ala., April 2, 1865,
Nineteeiith Indiana Battery.
First Lieut. Samuel W. Webb. Died, May 20, 1865, of wounds received in
action.
Sixth Indiana Infantry.
Colonel Philomen G. Baldwin. Killed at Chickamanga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Samuel Russell. Killed at Chickamanga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Frank P. Strader. Died, December 15, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
Captain Andrew F. Connor. Killed in action near Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864.
Captain Andrew J. Newland. Killed in action near Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864.
Captain Samuel F. McKeehan. Died of wounds, July 15, 1864.
First Lieut. Alanson Solomon. Died, May 11, 1862, of disease, at Washington,
Ind.
First Lieut. George B. Green. Died, October 28, 1863, of wounds.
First Lieut. William A. Cummings. ' Killed at AUatoona Ridge, Ga., May 27,
1864.
Second Lieut. Jerome P. Holcomb. Died, June 12, 1863, of accidental wounds.
Second Lieut. Charles Neal. Died June 2"'2, 1864.
Ninth Indiana Infantry.
Captain James Houghton. Died, April 8, 1862, of wounds received at Shiloh.
Captain Isaac M. Pettit. Died, March 19, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
Captain De Witt C. Hodsden. Died, July 27, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Thomas J. Patton, Adjutant. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
First Lieut. Joseph S. Turner. Died, April 16, 1862, of wounds received at
Shiloh.
First Lieut. James J. Drum, R. Q. M. Died May 31, 1863.
First Lieut. Lewis S. Nickerson. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. William H. Criswell. Died, September 23, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived in action.
Second Lieut. Henry Kessler. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Seth B. Parks. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
398 APPENDIX.
Second Lieut. Benjamin Franklin. Died, October 17, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. Leander C. Shipberd. Died, October 20, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived in action.
Assistant Surgeon Alexander W. Gilmore. Died, May 13, 1863, of disease, at
Nashville, Tenn.
Tenth Indiana Infantry.
Colonel William B. Carroll. Died, September 20, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain Samuel H. Sbortle. Died, October 13, 1863, of disease, at Frankfort,
Ind.
Captain John W. Perkins. Died, November 16, 1863, of accidental wounds at
Chickamauga.
First Lieut. James H. McAdams. Killed at Mill Springs, Januarj' 19, 1862.
First Lieut. Martin T. Jones. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Israel H. Miller. Died, March 7, 1862, of disease, at Nashville,
Tenn.
Second Lieut. Jeremiah Batterton. Died, September 27, 1862, of disease, at
Bowling Green, Ky.
Fifteenth Indiana Infantry.
Captain Robert J. Templeton. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862
Captain Joel W. Foster. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain John F. Monroe. Died, November 26, 1863, of wounds received at
Missionary Ridge.
Second Lieut. William D. Sering. Killed at Missionary- Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Seventeenth Indiana Infantry. {Mounted.)
Captain James D. Taylor. Killed near Plantersville, Ala., April 1, 1865.
First Lieut. James T. Mooreland. Died, July 12, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
First Lieut. George B. Covington, Adjutant. Died, June 1, 1864, of wounds.
Chaplain John L. Craig. Died, July 11, 18G5, of disease.
Twenty-second Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Squire Isham Keeth. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain Robert K. Smith. Killed at Perryville, October, 8, 1862.
Captain Alonzo J. Moss. Died, June 29, 1864, of wounds received in action.
First Lieut. Lewis W. Daily. Died, March 2, 1862, of wounds.
First Lieut. Samuel H. McBride. Died, December 9, 1862, of Wounds received
at Perryville.
Second Lieut. Tyrus Tolb6rt. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. Francis L. M. Sibbitt. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. George R. RIdlen. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. David G. Linson. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Second Lieut. David R. Runzan. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
-Second Lieut. Nicholas Moser. Killed at Bentonville, March 19, 1865.
APPENDIX. 399
Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry.
First Lieut. George T. Chapin. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864
Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry.
Miijor Joseph P. Collins. Died, October 5, 1864, of disease, at Chattanooga,
Tenn.
Captain Frank A. Hardman. Died March 5, 1862.
Captain Frank Stebbins. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Thomas J. Henderson. Died, July G, 18(i:i, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Captain N. Palmer Dunn. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Asa H. Mathews, R. Q. M. Died April 21, 1862.
First Lieut. John Cutler. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Elijah A. Macomber. Died, September 19, 1864, of wounds re-
ceived in action.
Thirtieth Indiana Infantry.
Colonel Sion S. Bass. Died, April 7, 1862, of wounds received at Shiloh.
First Lieut. Edwin B. Scribley. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Douiilas L. Phelps. Died, September 19, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
First Lieut. Joshua Eberljr. Died, September 20, 1863, of wounds received ia
action.
Assistant Surgeon Delos W. Rupert. Died, October 2, 1862, of disease.
Thirty-first Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Francis L. Nefif. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 25, 1864.
Major Frederick Arn. Killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
Captain John S. Welch. Died December 26, 1861.
Captain George Harvey. Killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
Captain William I. Leas. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Jeremiah Mewhinney. Died, June 24, 1864, of distase, at Chicago; 111.
Captain Richard M. Waterman. Died, August 23, 1864, of disease.
Second Lieut. James W. Peckins. Died, January 7, 1863, of wounds received
at Stone River.
Second Lieut. John N. Pike. Died. April 16, 1863, of disease.
Second Lieut. Lucien Ray. Died, April 11, 1864, of disease.
Thirty-second Indiana Infantry.
Colonel Henry Von Trebra. Died, August 6, 18G3, of disea.3e, at Areola, 111.
Major Jacob Glass. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Captain Fred. A. Mueller. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Captain Frank Kodalle. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Captain John D. Ritter. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Henry SeyfiPert. Killed at Allatoona, Ga., May 27, 1864.
P^irst Lieut. Max Sachs. Killed in action, at Rowlett's Bridge, Ky., December
17, 1861.
First Lieut. Max Hupfauf. Killed at Allatoona Ga., May 27, 1864.
400 APPENDIX.
Thirty-third Indiana Infantry.
Captain Israel C. Dille. Killed by Guerrillas, at Fosterville, Tenn., July 17,
1863.
Captain James L. Banks. Died, June 22, 1864, of wounds received at Dallas,
Ga.
Captain George L. Scott. Killed on picket, before Atlanta, July 23, 1864.
First Lieut. Estees Wallingford, Adjutant. Died, April 21, 1864, of disease.
First Lieut. Charles H. Porter, Adjutant. Killed near Kenesaw Mountain,
June 22, 1864.
Second Lieut. Eli M. Adams. Died, December 8, 1861, of disease.
Thiriy-fifth Indiana Infantry.
Major John P. Dufficy. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 20, 1864.
Captain Frank Baggot. Died, January 5, 18C3, of wounds received at Stone
River.
Captain Henry Prosser. Died, January 9, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
Ptiver.
First Lieut. Bemald R. Mullin, Adjutant. Killed near Nashville, in action,
December 9, 1862.
First Lieut. William Kilroy. Died, January 10, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry.
Captain Abram D. Shultz. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain James H. King. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain George M. Graves. Died, September 28, 1863, of wounds.
First Lieut. Addison M. Davis. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
First Lieut. Joseph W. Connell, R. Q. M. Died, May 26, 1862, of disease, near
Corinth, Miss.
First Lieut. William H. Fentress. Killed at Dallas, Ga., May 31, 1864.
First Lieut. George W. Bowman. Killed before Atlanta, Ga., July 19, 1864.
First Lieut. Mahlon Hendricks. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
First Lieut. George 0. Williard. Killed before Atlanta, Ga., August 5, 1864.
Second Lieut. William Butler. Died, September 24, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. James Patterson. Died, September 24, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. Salathiel D. Colvin. Died, October 9, of wounds.
Thirty-seventh Indiana Infantry.
Captain James H. Burk. Died, July 9, 1864, of wounds, at Nashville, Tenn.
Captain Frank Hughes. Died, July 28, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.
First Lieut. Isaac N. Abernethy. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Jesse B. Holman. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. James M. Hartley. Died, April 26, 1862, of disease.
Second Lieut. William Speer. Killed in action, at Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864.
APPENDIX. 401
Tliirty-eighth Indiana Infantry.
Captain John Sexton. Died, November 10, 1862, of wounds received at Perry-
ville.
Captain James E. Fonts. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Joshua B. Jenkins. Died, November 13, 1864, of wounds received at
Jonesboro.
Captain James H. Low. Died, March 20, 1865, of wounds received at Benton-
ville.
First Lieut. Rufus H. Peck. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. John B. Southern. Died, October 13, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
First Lieut. Joseph H. Reeves. Died, March 15, 1864, of disease.
First Lieut. Adam Osborn. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
First Lieut. Charles S. Deweese. Killed at Bentonville, March 19, 1865,
Second Lieut. Thomas S. W. Hawkins. Died, January 23, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived at Stone River.
Fortieth Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel James N. Kirkpatrick. Drowned near luka, Miss., June 8, 1862.
Captain James K. Kiser. Died, May 17, 1862, of disease, near Corinth, Miss.
Captain Charles T. Elliott. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, ]864.
Captain Absalom Kirkpatrick. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Captain William L. Coleman. Killed April 27, 1865, by explosion of steamer
" Sultana."
Captain Henry L. Hazelrigg. Killed April 27, 1865, by explosion of Steamer
" Sultana."
First Lieut. Jeremiah C. Brower. Killed at Franklin, November 30, 1864.
Second Lieut. John H. Holmes. Died, June 24, 1864, of wounds, at Chat-
tanooga, Tenn.
Chaplain Allen D. Beaseley. Died, June 30, 1864, of disease, at Murfreesboro,
Tenn.
Forty-second Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel James M. Shanklin. Died, May 23, 1863, at Evansville, Ind.
Captain Charles G. Olmsted. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
First Lieut. Edmund M. Knowles. Killed, January , 1864, when prisoner
of war, at Augusta, Ga.
First Lieut. John D. A. Steel. Killed at Bentonville, March 19, 1865.
First Lieut. Ephraim Rutledge. Died, March 22, 1865, of wounds.
Second Lieut. Emory Johnson. Killed, before Atlanta, July 22, 1864.
Foriyfourth Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Baldwin J. Crosswait. Died, February 18, 1862, at Angola, Ind.
Lieut. Colonel Simeon C. Aldrich. Died, August 15, 1864, of disease.
Lieut. Colonel Joseph C. Hodges. Died, September 28, 1864, of injury by
railroad.
Captain John Murray. Died, April 9, 1862, of wounds received at Shiloh.
Captain William H. Cuppy. Died July 15, 1862.
Captain John Gunsenhouser. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Marcus W. Bayless, R. Q. M. Died June 9, 1862.
402 APPEXDIX.
First Liput. Sedgwick Liringston. Died, January 25, 1864, at, Nashville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. J. Delta Kerr. Died, March 25, 1862, at Evansville, Ind.
Second Lieut. Charles M. Hinman. Died April 27, 1863.
Second Lieut. David K. Stopher. Died, January 18, 1864, of disease, Knox.
villa, Tenn.
Assistant Surgeon Edward B. Speed. Died, September 14, 1864, of disease.
Fifty-first Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel James W. Sheets. Died, June 30, 1863, of wounds.
Captain Samuel Lingeman. Died, March 18, 1864, at Danville, Ind.
Captain Adolphus H. Wonder. Died, September 24, 1862, at Charleston, S. G.
First Lieut. Albert Light. Died, February 24, 1862, at Lebanon, Ky.
Second Lieut. Harvey Slavens. Died, March 21, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Samuel C. Owen. Died, February 26, 1863, at Murfreesboro
Tenn.
Second Lieut. Jeremiah Sailor. Died, March 19, 1863, near Murfreesboro,
Tenn,
Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel George "W. Lennard. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
Captain William S. Bradford. Died May 16, 1862,
Captain Joseph S. Stidham. Killed in action, June 23, 1864.
Captain Addison M. Dunn. Killed at Franklin, November 30, 1864.
First Lieut. Benjamin F. Beitzell. Killed in action, June 18, 1864.
First Lieut. Robert F. Callaway. Died, July 4, 1864, of wounds received in
in action.
Pirst Lieut. Charles W. T. Minesinger. Died, September 13, 1864, of wounds
received in action.
Surgeon Issac S. CoUings. Died, September 10, 1865, of disease.
Fifty-eighth Indiana Infantry.
Captain Charles H. Bruce. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. William Overlin. Died, March 19, 1862, of disease, at Nashville,
Tenn.
First Lieut. James D. Foster. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut.. George Raffan, R. Q. M. Died, May 13, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Francis B. Blackford. Killed at Stone River, December 31,
1862,
Second Lieut. Hugh J. Barnett. Died, September 24, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Sixty-eighth Indiana Infantry.
Colonel Edward A. King. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Charles C. Wheeler. Died, August 22, 1864, of wounds, at Dalton, Ga.
First Lieut. Robert J. Price. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. John Reese. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863,
Seventieth Indiana Infantry.
First Lieut. Edward B. Colestock. Died, May 30, 1864, of wounds, at Resaca,
Ga.
Second Lieut. Jeptha F. Bunta. Died, May 14, 1863, at Gallatin, Tenn.
APPENDIX. 403
Second Lieut. Josiah E. Lewes. Killed before Atlanta, July 20, 1864.
Assistant Surgeon John M. White. Died, August 31, 1863, of disease.
Seventy-second Indiana Infantry.
Captain William H. McMurtry. Killed at Rock Spring, September 12, 1863.
First Lieut. Liews C. Priest. Died June 24, 1864.
Second Lieut. John W. Gaskill. Killed at Hoover's Gap, in action, June 24,
1863.
Chaplain John R. Eddy. Killed in action, at Hoover's Gap, June 24, 1863.
Seventy-third Indiana Infantry.
Colonel Gilbert Hathaway. Killed at Blount's farm, Ala., May 2, 1863.
Captain Miles H. Tibbitts. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Peter Doyle. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantnj.
Lieut. Colonel Myron Baker. Killed before Atlanta, August 5, 1864.
Captain Philip F. Davis. Died, February 6, 1863, of disease.
Captain Everett F. Abbott. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
First Lieut. Stephen Hamlin. Died, December 27, 1862, of disease, at Galla-
tin, Tenn.
First Lieut. Thomas Bodley. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Ananias Davis. Died, October 11, 1863, at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Richard H. Hall. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Seventyffth Indiana Infantry.
Captain Francis M. Bryant. Died, December 2, 1863, of wounds received ai
Missionary Ridge.
Captain William McGinness. Died, August 31, 1864, at Savannah, Ga.
First Lieut. John B. Frazer. Died, July 4, 1863, near Tullahoma, Tenn.
Sevunty-ninth Indiana Infantry.
First Lieut. Thompson Dunn, Adjutant. Killed at Lovejoy's Station, Septem-
ber 2, 1864.
Second Lieut. John S. McDaniels. Died, December 2, 1862, of disease, at
Nashville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Benjamin T. Poynter. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Second Lieut. George W. Clark. Died, September 28, 18G3, of wounds received
at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chaplain Perry T. HaU. Died, October 26, 1862, of disease, at Indianapolis,
Ind.
Eightieth hidiana Infantry.
Captain Thomas J. Brooks, Jun. Died, February 26, 1863, of wounds received
at Pcrryville.
Captain Russell J. Showers. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
Captain William S. Emery. Died, May 28, 1864, of wounds received at Resaca.
First Lieut. William Archer. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
Second Lieut. Alexander Anderson. Died, October 13, 1862, of wounds re-
ceived at Perryville.
404 APPENDIX.
Second Lieut. James F. Ruark. Died, October 24, 1862, of wounds received
at Perryville.
Second Lieut. Lewis C. Turbett. Died, December 31, 1862, of accidental
wounds.
Eighty-first Indiana Infantry.
Captain Elijah R. Mitchell. Died, September 20, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain Eugene M. ScheU. Killed at Nashville, December 15, 1864.
First Lieut. William M. Morgan. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Samuel Wilde. Died, January 1, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Second Lieut. John Felkner. Died March 13, 1S63.
Eighty-second Indiana Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Paul P. Slocum. Died, May 3, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Captain George W. Kendrick. Died, January 23, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Captain Harrison McCallister. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. John W. Walker. Killed at Rasaca, May 14, 1864.
First Lieut. Jackson Woods. Died, May 27, 1864, of disease, at Macon, Ga.
First Lieut. Joseph Fraker. Died, September 30, 1864, of disease.
Second Lieut. Samuel Guy. Died, May 22, 1863, of disease, at Triune, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Thomas V. Webb. Died, March 3, 1864, at Madison, lud.
Assistant Surgeon Mathew KeUey. Died, August 23, 1864, of disease.
Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry.
Major William A. Boyd. Died, July 11, 1864, of wounds received at Rocky
Face Ridge.
Captain John H. Ellis. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. George C. Hatfield. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Noble B. Gregory. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
First Lieut. Frank M. Flickenger. Killed accidentally, March 13, 1865.
Second Lieut. William L. Steele. Died at Frfinklin, Tenn., May 16, 1863.
Second Lieut. Jerome B. Mason. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1864
Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry.
Major Robert E. Craig. Died, April 2, 1862, at Murfree-sboro, Tenn.
Captain Abner Floyd. Killed at Thompson's Station, Tenn., March 5, 1865.
Captain Wilson T. Stark. Died, March 28, 1863, at Franklin, Tenn.
Captain Caleb Nash. Died, May 20, 1863, ^t Annapolis, Md.
First Lieut. Mortimer Denny. Died, August 19, 1864, of wounds. '
Eighty-sixth Indiana Infantry.
Captain William M. Southard. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1864.
First Lieut. George W. Smith. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. James T. Doster. Died, December 10, 1863, of disease.
APPENDIX. 405
Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry.
Captain James M. Hollidaj'. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain George W. Baker. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Lewis Hughs. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Sloan D. Martin. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Fredus Ryland, Adjutant. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20,
1863.
Fii-st Lieut. Burr Russell. Died, November 29, 1863, of wounds received at
Missionary Ridge.
First Lieut. John Demuth. Killed at Atlanta, August 22, 1864.
Second Lieut. Franklin H. Bennett. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19,
1863.
Second Lieut. Abram C. Andrew. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Second Lieut. Elisha Brown. Died, September 24, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Surgeon Samuel Higinbotham. Died, 29, 1863, at Triune, Tenn.
Chaplain Joseph K. Albright. Died, December 5, 1862, at Gallatin, Tenn., of
disease.
Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry.
Major George W. Stough. Died, October 28, 1863, of wounds at Richmond, Va.
Captain Isaac H. LeFevre. Died, September 21, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain James H. Steele. Killed at Missionary' Ridge, November 25, 1863.
First Lieut. Samuel L. Stough. Died, April 20, 1863, at Waterloo, Ind.
First Lieut. William Forrest. Died, September 20, 1863, of disease, at Nash-
ville, Tenn.
First Lieut. David Caston. Killed in action at Resaca, Maj^ 15, 1864.
First Lieut. Walter E. Boley. Killed in action at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
First Lieut. Thomas E. Kimball. Died, October 1, 1864, in Libb}' Prison, Rich-
mond, Va.
First Lieut. George W. Seel3'e. Died, March 23, 1865, of wounds received at
Bentonville.
First Lieut. Isaac A. Slater. Died, April 26, 1865, of wounds received at Ben-
tonville.
Second Lieut. John G. Goheen. Died, January 24, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Second Lieut. Daniel Little. Died, December 15, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry.
Fi'-it Lieut. John H. Ellis. Died, October 20, 1863, of disease, at Chattanooga,
Tenu.
First Lieut, Andrew J. Barlow. Died, September 16, 1864, of wounds received
in action, at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Richard H. Busick. Died, October 16, 1863, of wounds received
at Chi6kamuaga.
Second Lieut. Henry W. Waterman. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November
25, 1863.
406 APPENDIX.
Fifth Iowa Cavalry.
Major William Kelsay. Died, February 28, 1862, of disease, at Ft. Heiman, Ky.^
Major Sliaeffer DeBoernstein. Died, May 7, 1862, of wounds.
Captain William Curl. Killed in skirmish at Coosa River, July 13, 1864.
First Lieut. Milton S. Summers. Died, August 28, 1862, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Michael Gallagher. Killed in action at Garrettsburg, Ivy., Novem-
ber 6, 1862.
First Lieut. Andrew Guler. Killed in action near Chattahoochee PJver, August
3, 1864.
Second Lieut. John W. Watson. Killed at Nashville, December 15, 1864.
Eighth loiva Cavalry.
Colonel Joseph B. Dorr. Died, May 28, 1865, of disease, at Macon, Ga.
Major H. Isett. Died, April 6, 1865, of disease, at South Bend, Ind.
First Lieut. James Horton. Killed at Lovejoy's Station, Ga., July 29, 1864.
Second Lieut. John B. Loomis. Killed at Newnan, Ga., July 30, 1864.
KANSAS.
Eighth Kansas Infantry.
Captain Edgar P. Trego. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. John L. Graham. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Zacharias Burckhardt. Died, October 28, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. William Becker. Died of disease, November 21, 1863.
Second Lieut. Seth Foot. Died of disease, at Famesburg, Iowa, May 14, 1864.
Assistant Surgeon Samuel E. Beach. Died of disease, at Nashville, Tenn.^
November 4, 1863.
KENTUCKY.
First Kentucky Cavalry.
Brigadier-General James S. Jackson. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862^
commanding division.
Captain Jarrett W. Jenkins. Killed in action, at Perryville, Kj-., October 8^
1862.
Captain Jesse M. Carter. Killed at Columbus, Ky., July 3, 1863.
Captain Francis M. Wolford. Killed in action near Hillsboro, Ga., Julj^ 31,
1864.
First Lieut. Jonathan P. Miller. Killed in action at Mill Springs, Ky., Jan-
uary 19, 1862.
First Lieut. James Humphrey. Died, September , of wounds.
Second Lieut. Alexander Thompson. Died, October 30, 1861, of disease.
Second Kentucky Cavalry.
Major William H. Eifert. Killed in action, September 3, 1864.
Captain Miller R. McCullock. Killed in action at Stone River, Tenti., Decem-
ber 30, 1862.
First Lieut. William G. Jenkins. Killed in action, June 29, 1863.
APPENDIX. 407
First Lieut. George A. Hosmer. Died October 6, 1863.
First Lieut. G. W. L. Batman. Died of disease, April 23, 1864.
First. Lieut. William Bradnej'. Killed in action, July 30, 1864.
Fonrih Eentuchj Cavalry.
Captain Basil N. Hobbs. Died April 30, 18G4.
First Lieut. Frank N. Sheets. Killed in action at Chickamauga, September
20, 1863. ^
Fifth Kentucky Cavalry.
Colonel William P. Sanders. Died of wounds received in action, November 20,
1863.
Captain John W. Forrester. Died of wounds, November 29, 1864.
First Lieut. W. D. Mitchell, Adjutant. Killed in action, March 10, 1865.
First Lieut. Amos M. Griffin. Killed in action, March , 1865.
Second Lieut. Edward Hughes. Died Julj^ 17, 1862.
Second Lieut. James Funk. Died, December 4, 1862, of disease.
Second Lieut. Francis B. McAllister. Died of disease, at Huntsville, Ala.,
July 28, 1863.
Second Lieut. Joseph G. Hardin. Died of disease, at Nashville, Tenn., Sep-
tember 29, 1863.
Second Lieut. George M. Vandover. Died July 9, 1864.
Sixth Kentucky Cavalry.
Colonel D. I. Halisey. Killed in action near New Market, Ky., December 31,
1862.
Major William H. Fidler. Died, April 28, 1865, from injuries by explosion of
steamer " Sultana."
Captain Edmund H. Parish. Died, April 28, 1865, from injuries by explosion
of steamer " Sultana."
First Lieut. James I. Surber. Died, April 28, 1865, from injuries by explosion
of steamer "Sultana."
First Lieut. William Murphy. Killed in action, July 4, 1863.
Second Lieut. William C. Hunter. Died at Louisville, Ky., December 7, 1864.
Seventh Kentucky Covalry.
Lieut. Colonel Thomas T. Vincent. Died at Dandridge, Tenn., June 16, 1864.
Captain Jesse H. Berry. Died of disease, at Carlisle, Ky., September 18, 1863.
Captain Seneca P. Goulding. Drowned at Benton, Ala., April 10, 1865.
First Lieut. John S. Stodgill. Died of disease, at Nashville, Tenn., March 2,
1864.
Second Lieut. Samuel H. Pioyce. Killed in action, at Big Hill, Ky., August
23, 1862.
Second Lieut. Alfred Mitchell. Died at Maj-svIUe, Ky., September 29, 1862.
Second Lieut. Lewis B. Vimont. Died of disease, at Chattanooga, Tenn.,
October 28, 1864.
Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry.
First Lieut. Elza C. Smith. Killed by guerrillas while sick at Saltville, Va.,
October 7, 1864.
Second Lieut. Joseph W. Cartwright. Drowned at Burksville, June 22, 1864.
408 APPENDIX.
Baitenj A.
Second Lieut. "William K. Irwin. Died at Nashville, Tenn., August 15, 1864.
First Keniucl-g Infantry.
First Lieut. Courtland W. King. Drowned in Bear Creek, Ala., June 15, 1562.
Second Kentucky Infantry.
Captain John H. Spellmeyer. Killed at Shiloh, Tenn., April 7, 1862.
Captain James M. Bodine. Killed in action at Chickamauga, Tenn., Septem-
ber 21, 1863.
Second Lieut. Daniel W. Finch. Died of disease, at Camp Lookout, Va., Sep-
tember 26, 1861.
Second Lieut. James A. Miller. Killed in action, at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Third Kentucky Infantry.
Colonel Samuel McKee. Killed in action, at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Henry S. Taylor. Killed in action, at Chickamauga, Ga., September
20, 1863.
First Lieut. Daniel Severance. Died of wounds received "at Stone River, Janu-
ary 10, 1863.
First Lieut. Alban D. Bradshaw. Died of wounds received at Chickamauga,
Ga., October 8, 1863.
First Lieut. G. D. Hunt, Adjutant. Died of wounds received at Missionary
Ridge, November 30, 1863.
Second Lieut. Matthew CuUen. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Fourth Kentucky Infantry. {Mounted.)
Captain John L. Williams. Died of disease, at Paris, Ky., April 28, 1864.
Captain E. R. Harrington. Died of disease, at Atlanta, Ga., October 3, 1864.
First Lieut. N. M. Kelley. Died of disease, at Lebanon, Kj-., January 12,
1862.
Second Lieut. James M. Kelle3^ Killed in action near Logan's Cross Roads,
January 19, 1862.
Chaplain John W. Jacobs. Died at Lebanon, Ky., January" 20, 1862.
Fifth Kentucky Infantry.
Major Charles L. Thomasson. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Alexander B. Ferguson. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Upton Wilson. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Captain John P. Hurley. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Captain Joseph E. Miller. Killed at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864.
First Lieut. Richard Jones. Died of disease, near Corinth, Miss., June 9, 1862.
First Lieut. John W. Huston. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Frank Dissell. Died of wounds received at Stone River, May 12,
1863,
Second Lieut. Milton W. Curray. Died November 20, 1861.
Second Lieut. John Ryan. Died of wounds received at Chickamauga, Sep-
tember 25, 1863.
APPENDIX. 409
Sixth Kentucliij Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel George T. Cotton. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Peter Enge. Died of disease, at Louisville, Ky., May 17, 18C2.
Captain Charles S. Todd. Killed at Stone Paver, December ol, 1862.
Captain Peter Marker. Killed at Cbickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain John McGraw. Killed at Cbickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Frederick Nierdoff. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 23, 1864,
First Lieut. Sundsfoi'd D. Carrington. Died of disease, January 4, 1862.
First Lieut. William H. Middletown. Died of disease, March 1, 18G3.
First Lieut. Richard Rockingham. Killed at Cbickamauga, September 20
1863.
Second Lieut. William B. Dunlap. Died of disease, March 10, 1862,
Second Lieut. Anton Hund. Died of wounds received at Shiloh, May 2.'?,
1862.
Second Lieut. Thomas Eubanks. Killed at Cbickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Frederick V. Lochman. Killed at Cbickamauga, September 19,
1SG3.
Second Lieut. William W. Furr. Killed near Dallas, May 27, 1864.
Assistant Surgeon Abner B. Coone. Died of disease, March 4, 1862,
Eighth Kentuclaj Infantry.
Captain Robert B, Hickman. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863,
Captain John H. Benton. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Captain Landon C. Minton. Died of wounds received at Stone River, Febru-
ary 15, 1863.
First Lieut. Wade B. Cox. Died of wounds received at Stone River, January
12, 1863,
First Lieut. Newton J. Hughes. Died of disease, Murfreesboro, Tenn., Febru-
ary 9, 1863.
Ninth Keniticky Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Allen J. Roark. Died of disease, April 10, 1862.
Captain William T. Br^an. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Captain Demetrius B. Coyle. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
First Lieut. Moses L. Norvell. Died March 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Charles R. Tate. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862,
First Lieut. Heurj^ W. Jenkins. Died of disease, July 9, 1862.
First Lieut. Algernon S. Leggett. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
First Lieut. Turner Hestand. Killed at Lovejoy's Station, Ga., September 2,
1864.
First Lieut, Fred. F. Carpenter. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Second Lieut. William S. Barton. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863,
Tenth Kentucky Infantry.
Major Henry G. Davidson. Died of disease, at Louisville, Ky., November 21,
1864.
Captain Seth P. Bevill. Died of wounds received at Cbickamauga, September
21, 1863.
Captain Henry Waller. Died March 13, 1864,
410 APPENDIX.
Second Lieut. John H. M3'ers. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Surgeon Will. Atkinson. Died April 9, 18G2.
Assistant Surgeon Thomas M. Knott. Died April 5, 1862.
Assistant Surgeon Charles Hardesty. Died July 7, 1863.
Eleventh Kentucky Infantry.
Captain Elijah C. Phelps. Died at Columbus, Tenn., March 29, 1862.
Captain Isaac W. Sketoe. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Captain Joseph S. Willis. Died February 10, 1863.
Captain Columbus H. Martin. Died of wounds received at Philadelphia, Tenn.,
December 18, 1863.
First Lieut. Vincent S. Hay, R. Q. M. Died in prison at Atlanta, Ga., March
, 1863.
Thirteenth Kentucky Infantry.
Captain Wallace Victor. Died, July 13, 1864, of wounds received at Chicka-
mauga.
Fifteenth Kentucky Infantry.
Colonel Curran Pope. Died, November 5. 1862, of wounds received at Perry-
ville.
Colonel James B. Foreman. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Lieut. Colonel George P. Jouett. Killed at Pei'rj-ville, October 8, 1862.
Major William P. Campbell. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain William T. McCure. Died of disease, July 12, 1862.
Captain Aaron S. Bayne. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain E. Irvine McDowell. Killed at Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864.
First Lieut. James A. T. McGrath. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
First Lieut. L. Frank Todd. Died, of wounds received in action, January 20,
186.3.
Second Lieut. Joseph L. McClure. Died, of wounds received in action, Octo-
ber 18, 1862.
Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry.
Captain Henry S. Barnett. Died March 22, 1862.
Captain Preston Morton. Killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
Captain John V. Boyd. Died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., March 22, 1863.
Captain James W. Anthony. Died, October 10, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain Robert L. Beckham. Died April 13, 1864.
Captain William J. Landrum. Killed at Cassville, Ga., in action. May 19,
1864.
Captain Robert C. Sturgis. Died, August 9, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. John M. Williams. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19,
1863.
Second Lieut. Isaac S. Condit. Died December 18, 1861.
Second Lieut. Albert E. Brown. Died, May 18, 1862, of wounds received at
Shiloh.
APPENDIX. 411
Eighteenth Kentucky Iiifantry.
Major Abram G. Wileman. Killed at Pendleton, Ky., by jiuerrillas, October
5, 1865.
Captain Orin M. Lewis. Killed in action at Richmond, Ky., Autrust 30, 1862.
Captain W. W. Culbertsou. Died, September 22, 1862, of wounds received in
action.
Captain Charles S. Williams. Died of disease, January 14, 1865.
Eirst Lieut. James Dunlap. Killed in action at Richmond, Ky., August 30,
1862.
Second Lieut. John "W. Washburn. Killed in action at Richmond, Ky., August
30, 1862.
Nineteenth Kentucky Infantry.
Captain Aaron Blakeman. Died, July 11, 1861, at Cumberland Gap, Tenn.
Twenty-first Kentucliy Infantry.
Colonel Ethelbert Dudley. Died of disease, February 20, 1862, at Columbus^
Ky.
Captain Williamson Irvin. Died of disease, January 21, 1862.
Captain William C. Edwards. Died of disease, January 27, 1862, at Campbell-
ville, Ky.
Captain Zachariah Taylor. Died of disease, February 7, 1862.
Captain G. W. Twyman. Died at Lexington, Ky., February 16, 1865.
First Lieut. Sebastian Stone. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
First Lieut. Hugh A. Hedger. Killed at Nashville, December 15, 1864.
First Lieut. James I. Bolton. Died at Indianola, Texas, July 17, 1865.
Second Lieut. John H. Bevill. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Twenty-third Kentiiclaj Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel James C. Foy. Died of wounds received at Vining's Station,
July 24, 1864.
Captain Ephraim P. Mavity. Died at Chattanooga, Tenn., September 17, 1864,
of wounds received in action.
First Lieut. John B. Konnan. Died, July 26, 1864, of wounds received in action,
at Chattanooga, Tenn.
First Lieut. Joseph C. Hoffman. Killed at Chickaraauga, September 19, 1863.
Twenty-eighth Kentuchy Infantry.
First Lieut. Granville J. Sinkham, Killed at Franklin, Tenn., in action, No-
vember 30, 1864.
Second Lieut. Isaac Everet. Died, January 8, 1863, at Louisville, Ky.
MARYLAND.
Third Maryland Infantry.
First Lieut. Frederick Pringey. Died January 3, 1863.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Thirty-third Massachusetts Infantry.
First Lieut. William P. Mudge, Adjutant. Killed in action, Lookout Valley,
October 29, 1863.
412 APPENDIX.
First Lieut. Edgar L. Bumpers. Killed in action at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
First Lieut. Henry J. Parker. Killed in action at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
Second Lieut. Joseph P. Barrage. Killed in action, Lookout Valley, October
29, 1863.
Second Lieut. James Hill. Killed in action, Lookout Valley, October 29, 1863.
Second Lieut. Oswego Jones. Died, November 12, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
MICHIGAN.
First Michigan Mechanics and Engineers.
Captain James W. Sligh. Died by railroad accident, November 15, 1863.
Second Michigan Cavalry.
Captain Philo. W. Rodgers. Died. May 17, 1862, at Evansville, Ind.
Captain James Hawley. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 186.3.
First Lieut. Russel T. Dawon. Killed in action, at Florence, Ala., October 7,
1864.
First Lieut. James. P. Scott, R. Q. M. Shot himself accidentally, at Cleve-
land, Tenn., May 15, 1865.
Fourth Michigan Cavalry.
First Lieut. Edward L. Tucker. Died, October 7, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Theodore W. Sutton. Killed in action, at Noonday Church, June
20, 1864.
Second Lieut. Charles F. McKenzie. Died November 18, 1863.
Second Lieut. Aaron F. Ismon. Died, December 21, 1863, of disease.
Second Lieut. Smith Randolp. Died, May 30, 1864, of wounds received at
Kingston, Ga.
Battery "^," Michigan Light Artillery.
First Lieut. George W. Van Pelt. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Ninth Michigan Infantry.
Captain Albert Nye. Died, June 23, 1862, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
First Lieut. Joseph H. Jott. Died, March 16, 1862, at Elizabethtown, Ky., of
disease.
First Lieut. Charles T. Fox. Died, September 22, 1862, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. Lambert Barshite. Died, February 19, 1862, of disease, at
Elizabethtown, Ky.
Second Lieut. Alpheus Chase. Killed at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in action, July
13, 1862.
Tenth Michigan Infantry.
Major James J. Scarritt. Died, November 16, 1863, of disease, at Nashville,
Tenn.
Major Henry S. Burnett. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Captain Bradford Cook. Died, June 29, 1864, of wounds received in action.
Captain Hannibal H. Ninus. Died, September 3, 1864, of wounds received at
Jonesboro.
First Lieut. Sylvester D. Cowles, Adjutant. Died May 26, 1862.
APPENDIX. 413
First Lieut. Daniel Leach. Died, July 7, 1862, of disease.
First Lieut. Frank M. Vanderburgh. Died, April 18, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. Richard Teal. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Second Lieut. John Knox. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Eleventh Michigan Infantry.
Major Benjamin G. Bennet. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Captain David Oakes, Jun. Died, January 30, 1863, of disease, at Murfrees-
boro, Tenn.
Captain Charles W. Newbury. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Li^ut. Christopher C. Haight. Died, February 5, 1862, of disease, at
Bardstown, Ky.
First Lieut. Joseph Wilson. Killed at Stone River, December 30, 1862.
First Lieut. Thomas Flynn. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Edward U. Catlin. Died, August 7, 1864, of wounds received be-
fore Atlanta, Ga.
Thirteenth Michigan Infantry.
Major Williard G. Eaton. Killed at Bentonville, March 19, 1865.
Captain Clement C. Webb. Died, February 4, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
Captain Clark D. Fox. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Daniel B. Hosmer. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Jerome S. Bigelow. Died, May 28, 1862, of disease.
Fourteenth Michigan Infantry.
Captain John C. Lind. Died, August 8, 1863, of disease, at Saginaw, Mich.
Captain James J. Jefifres. Died, July 10, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tenn.
First Lieut. Joseph Kirk. Killed before Atlanta, Ga., August 8, 1864.
Nineteenth Michigan Infantry.
Colonel Henry C. Gilbert. Died, May 24, 1864, of wounds received at Resaca
Major Eli A. Griffin. Died, June 16, 1864, of wounds received at Golgotha
Church, Ga.
Captain Charles H. Calmer. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
Captain Charles W. Bigelow. Died, May 29, 1864, of wounds received at New
Hope Church.
Captain Leonard Gibbon. Killed at Averysboro, March 16, 1865.
First Lieut. Charles G. Parseh Killed at Averysboro, March 16, 1865.
Second Lieut. Charles Mandeville. Killed at New Hope Church, May 25,
1864.
Twentyfirst Michigan Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel William L. Whipple. Died November 16, 1862,
Lieut. Colonel Morris B. Wells. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Leonard 0. Fitzgerald. Died, January 8, 1863, of wounds.
Captain Edgar W. Smith. Died, October 16, 1863, of wounds received at Chick-
amauga.
First Lieut. Herman Hunt. Died, December 16, 1862, of disease.
414 APPENDIX.
Twenty-second Michigan Infantry.
Colonel Moses Wisner. Died, January 5, 18G3, at Lexington, Ky.
Captain Henry Carlton. Killed on railroad, June 6, 1863,
Captain Elijah Snell. Died, September 25, 1863, of wounds received at Chick-
am auga.
Captain William Augustus Smith. Died, October 11, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
Captain Alexander G. Golbraith. Died, April 1, 1865, of disease.
Second Lieut. John Sackett. Died, January 1, 1863, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
Second Lieut. Joseph R. Nute. Died, October 8, 1864, in prison, at Millen,
Ga.
MINNESOTA.
Second Minnesota Battery.
First Lieut. Albert Woodbury. Died, October 29, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Second Minnesota Infantry.
First Lieut. Henry C. Simpson. Died December 1, 1861.
First Lieut. Charles Haven. Died, March 4, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn.
First Lieut. Samuel G. Trimble. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863,
Second Lieut. John C. Jones. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 18, 1864.
MISSOURI.
Battery " (?," Missouri Light Artillery
First Lieut. R. C. M. Taliaferro. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1865.
Second Missouri Infantry.
Colonel Frederick Schaefer. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Walter Hoppe. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain Charles Dej^hle. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Herman Hartmann. Died, December 7, 1863, of wounds.
First Lieut. William Aulbach. Killed accidentally, at St. Louis, Mo., Decem-
ber 31, 1863.
Fifteenth Missouri Infantry.
Captain M. Zimraermann. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain John V. Krebs. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain John G. Rees. Died, December 19, 1863, of wounds received at Mis-
sionary Ridge.
Captain William Hark. Killed at Franklin, November 30, 1864.
Captain Joseph B. Vourdon. Killed accidentall}', June 12, 1865.
First Lieut. Martin Schroeder, Adjutant. Died, January 19, 1863, of wounds
received at Stone River.
First Lieut. Hermann C. Koerner. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Second Lieut- Christian Guinzius. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Charles Kellner. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
APPENDIX. 415
*
Twenty-third Missouri Infantry.
Major John McCulIongli. Died, October 7, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. William P. Harlbut. Died, November 24, 1862, of disease.
First Lieut. William 0. Seaman. Died, July 31, 1864, of wounds.
First Lieut. N. Judson Camp. Killed accidentally, August 4, 1864.
Chaplain James M. Oyler. Died, December 30, 1862, of disease.
NEW JERSEY.
Thirteenth Neio Jersey Infantry.
First Lieut. Peter M. Ryerson. Died, July 1, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Thirty-third New Jersey Infantry.
Captain Samuel F. Waldron. Killed in action, November 23, 1863.
Captain William G. Boggs. Died, December 19, 1863, of wounds received ia
action.
Captain Henry C. Bartlett. Killed, May 8, 1864, at Rocky Face Ridge, Ga.
Captain Charles J. Field. Died, June 5, 1864, of wounds received in action.
First Lieut. Joseph L. Miller. Killed May 8, 1864, at Rocky Face Ridge, Ga.
First Lieut. William H. Cochrane. Killed, June 25, 1864, before Kenesaw
Mountain.
Battery "J," Neio Jersey Light Artillery.
Captain Nicholas Sohm. Died, May 1, 1864, of disease.
Second Lieut. Francis Henchew. Killed before Atlanta, July 27, 1864.
Thirteenth New Jersey Battery.
Captain William Wheeler. Killed at Culp's Farm, June 22, 1864.
NEW YORK.
Fifty-eighth Neio Yorh Infantry.
'Captain Albert Von Rosenburg. Died May 3, 1864.
€haplain Anthony Zyla. Died, April 5, 1865, of disease, at Nashville, Tenn.
Sixtieth New York Infantry.
First Lieut. John E. Wilson. Killed near Golgotha, Ga., June 18, 1864.
One Hundred and Second New Yorh Infantry.
Major Gilbert M. Elliott. Killed in action at Lookout Mountain, November 24,
1863.
One Hundred and Seventh New York Infantry.
Major Lathrop Baldwin. Died July 30, 1864.
Captain John F. Knox. Died, May 29, 1864, of wounds received near Dallas,
Ga.
Second Lieut. John D. Hill. Killed, near Dallas, Ga. (New Hope Church)
May 25, 1864.
One Hundred and Nineteenth New York Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Edward F. Lloyd. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
416 APPENDIX.
One Hundred and Twenty-third New York Infantry.
Colonel Archibald L. McDoutjall. Died, June 2o, 1864, of wounds received at
New Hope Church.
Captain Henry O'Wily. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
First Lieut. John H. Daicy. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
One Hundred and Thirty-fourtli New York Infantry.
Captain Edwin Forrest. Died, Maj^ 20, 1864, of wounds received at Rocky
Face Ridge.
First Lieut. C. P. Hunter. Accidentally drowned in North River, March 11,
1864.
First Lieut. Charles A. Ahreetz. Killed at Savannah, Ga., December 13, 1864.
One Hundred and TJiirty-sixth New York Infantry.
First Lieut. Charles F. Tresser. Died, December 16, 1863, of wounds received
in action at Chattanooga.
First Lieut. William C. Hall. Died, May 27, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.
One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Neio York Infantry.
Colonel David Ireland. Died, September 10, 1864, of disease, at Atlanta, Ga.
First Lieut. George C. Owen. Killed at Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1864.
Assistant Surgeon Taylor Elmore. Died, May 25, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tenn.
One Hundred and Forty-first Neio York Infantry.
Colonel William K. Logie. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
First Lieut. Alfred E. Barber. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
First Lieut. Theodore M. Warren. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
First Lieut. Eugene Egbert. Died, December 18, 1864, of disease.
One Hundred and Forty-third New York Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Joseph B. Taft, Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
First Lieut. William M. RatclifF, Adjutant. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July
20, 1864.
First Lieut. Peter L. Waterbury. Died, July 24, 1864, of wounds received at
Peach Tree Creek.
First Lieut. R. M. J. Hordenbough. Died, March 15, 1865, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. Edward Carrington. Killed in action at Natural Bridge, Fla.,
March 6, 1865.
One Hundred and Forty-ninth New York Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Charles B. Randall. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Captain David J. Lindsa3^ Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
One Hundred and Fiftieth New York Infantry.
First Lieut. Edgar P. Welling. Died, October 21, 1863, at Tallahoma, Tenn.
First Lieut. Henrj"- Gridley. Killed in action at Gulp's Farm, June 22, 1864.
First Lieut. David B. Sleight. Killed at Averysboro, March 16, 1865.
Second Lieut. John Sweet. Died August 13, 1864.
APPENDIX. 417
One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New York Infantry.
Captain Alansou Crosby. Died, July 9, 1864, of wounds received in action.
OHIO.
Brigadier General Eobert L. McCook. Killed in ambulance, April 1, 1862,
near New Market, Tenn.
Brigadier General J. W. Sill. Killed at Stone Eiver, December 31, 1862.
Brigadier General W. H. Lytle. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Brigadier General C. G. Harker. Killed at Kenesaw, June 27, 1864.
First Oliio Cavalry.
Colonel Minor Millikin. Killed in action at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Lieut. Colonel Valentine Cupp. Died, September 20, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Major David A. B. Moore. Killed in action, December 31, 1862, at Stone River.
Captain Andrew B. Emery. Died, July 15, 1862, of wounds received in action.
Captain John H. Robinson. Died October 31, 1862.
Captain William H. Scott. Died, September 22, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Second Lieut. John M. Renick. Died, May 28, 1862, at Corinth, Miss.
Second Lieut. Ira Stevens. Died, October 31, 1862, at Danville, Ky.
Second Lieut. Timothy L. Condit. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Third Ohio Cavalry.
Captain Daniel Gotshall. Died, June 17, 1862, of disease.
Captain William B. Amsden. Died, June 19, 1862, at Fremont, Ohio.
Captain Richard B. Wood. Killed, February 23, 1864, in action, at Dalton,
Ga.
Captain J. Samuel Clock. Died, July 2, 1865, of wounds received at Macon,
Ga.
Second Lieut. William G. Goodnow. Died, May 27, 1862, of disease.
Second Lieut. Ralf Devereaux. Died, June 21, 1862, of disease.
Fourth Ohio Cavalry.
Lieut. Colonel George W. Dobb. Killed, April 2, 1865, at Selma, Ala.
Captain Jesse P. Wilson. Killed, February 20, 1862, on picket, near Nashville,
Tenn.
Captain John C. Stewart. Died, November 18, 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
Captain Frank Robie. Killed, April 2, 1865, in action, at Selma.
First Lieut. Richard W. NeflP. Killed, September 20, 1863, at Chickamauga.
Tenth Ohio Cavalry.
Captain Samuel E. Norton. Died, December 5, 1864, at Waynesboro, Ga.
First Lieut. Henry H. Crooks. Killed in action, August 30, 1864.
First Lieut. James S. Morgan. Killed in action, at Bear Creek, Ga., Novem-
ber 16, 1864.
Surgeon James W. Thompson. Died, November 25, 1864, at Wrightsville, Pa.
418 APPENDIX.
First Ohio Light Artillery.
Lieut. Colonel W. E. Lawrence. Died, November 26, 1864, of disease, at Mur-
freesboro, Tenn.
Battery " B."
Second Lieut. George D. Eldridge. Died, March 24, 1863, at Nashville, Tenn.
Battery "F."
Second Lieut. John Lynch. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Battery "I."
Second Lieut. Charles Kotzebue. Died, July 16, 1864. of wounds received at
Kenesaw Mountain.
Sixth Ohio Battery.
First Lieut. Oliver H. P. Ayres. Died, July 8, 1864, of wounds.
Twentieth Ohio Battery.
First Lieut. Charles F. Nitschelm. Died, August 15, 1864, at Chattanooga,
Tenn.
First Lieut. John S. Burdick. Killed in action, at Franklin, Tenn., November
30, 1864.
First Ohio Infantry.
First Lieut. John W. Jackson. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Sylvanus S. Dixon. Killed in action, near Dallas, Ga., May 27,
1864.
First Lieut. George J. Grove. Killed in action, near Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864.
First Lieut. Alexander Varian. Died, June 2, 1864, of wounds received at
Resaca.
Second Lieut. Christopher WoUenhaupt. Killed at Missionary Ridge, Novem-
ber 25, 1863.
Second Ohio Infantry.
Colonel John Kell. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Alexander S. Berryhill. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain John Herrel. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain John C. Hazlett. Died, June 7, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Captain Jacob Fotrel. Killed in action, at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
First Lieut. Richard S. Chambers. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Lafayette Van Horn. Died, January 14, 1863, of wounds received
at Stone River.
First Lieut. George W. Laudrum. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 186.3.
First Lieut. John W. Thomas, Adjutant. Killed in action before Atlanta, Ga.,
July 20, 1864.
Third Ohio Infantry.
Captain Leonidas McDougal. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain Henry E. Cunard. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
First Lieut. C. L. Starr. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
First Lieut. James St. John. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Surgeon R. R. McMeens. , 1862.
APPENDIX. 419
Fifth Ohio Infantry
Colonel John H. Patrick. Killed at New Hope Church, Ga., May 25, 1864.
Major Henry E. Symmes. Died July 9, 1864.
First Lieut. Henry A. Fortman, Adjutant. Died, September 28, 1864, of dis-
ease.
Sixth Ohio Infantry.
Major Samuel C. Erwin. Killed at Missionary Eidge, November 25, 1863.
Captain Ezekiel H. Tatem. Killed by railroad accident, July 19, 1862.
Captain Henry McAlpin. Died, December 31, 1862, of wounds received at
Stone River.
First Lieut. Albert G. Williams, Adjutant. Killed at Stone River, December
31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Charles H. Foster. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Seventh Ohio Infantry.
Colonel William R. Creighton. Killed at Ringgold, Ga., November 27, 1863.
Lieut. Colonel Orrin J. Crane. Killed at Ringgold, Ga., November 27, 1863.
Ninth Ohio Infantry.
Captain Gustav Richter. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Ferdinand Mueller. Died, September 25, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain John Gansen. Died, October 28, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. Henry Liedke. Died, September 22, 1863, of wounds received in
action at Chickamauga.
First Lieut. Theodore Lammers. Died, October 7, 1863, of wounds received in
action at Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. Raymond Hermann. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19,
1863.
Assistant Surgeon James Davenport. Died March 29, 1863.
Tenth Ohio Infantry.
Captain Charles F. Nickel. Died, November 3, 1862, of wounds.
Captain James M. Fitzgerald. Died, November 17, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. John S. Mulroy. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. Sebastian Eustachio. Died, August 1, 1861, of disease.
Second Lieut. William Porter. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Eleventh Ohio Infantry.
Captain David K. Curtis. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
First Lieut. George E. Peck. Died, November 26, 1863, of wounds received at
Missionary Ridge.
Thirteenth Ohio Infantry.
Colonel Joseph G. Hawkins. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Lieut. Colonel Elhanon M. Mart. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Isaac R. Gardner. Died, May 31, 1862, of wounds received at Shiloh.
Captain Thomas F. Murdock. Killed, September 20, 1863, at Chickamauga.
Captain Thomas J. Loudon. Drowned, September 29, 1863, in Mississippi
River.
420 APPENDIX.
Captain Samuel McCulloch. Died, May 28, 18G4, of wounds received in action.
First Lieut. James A. Leisure, R. Q. M. Died, October 17, 1861, at Gallipolis,
Ohio.
First Lieut. John Murphy. Died, January 10, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Second Lieut. James C. Whittaker. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. John Fox. Died, January 1, 1863, of wounds receivedat Stone
River.
Fourteenth Ohio Infantry.
Major John W. "Wilson. Died October 3, 1864.
Captain Wilbur F. Spofford. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Second Lieut. "Walter B. Kirk. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Second Lieut. Ebenezer C. Tillotson. Died, September 24, 1864, on Lookout
Mountain, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Charles B. Mitchell. Died September 28, 1864.
Second Lieut. Nathaniel 0. Cobb. Died, October 3, 1864, of wounds received
at Jonesboro.
Fifteenth Ohio Infantry.
Captain James C. Cummins. Died, February 19, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Thomas N. Hanson. Killed at Nashville, Tenn., December 16,
1864.
Fist Lieut. Charles J. Rodig. Killed at Nashville, Tenn., December 16, 1864.
Second Lieut. Andrew E. Smiley. Killed in action, June 24, 1863.
Second Lieut. Nicholas M. Fowler. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20,
1863.
Second Lieut. Frank W. Sanders. Died November 26, 1863.
Second Lieut. Andrew L. Hadden. Killed in action, June 14, 1864.
Surgeon Henry Spellman. Died, June 9, 1862, of disease.
Sixteenth Ohio Infantry.
Captain "William Spangler. Died, January 19, 1862, of disease.
Captain Joseph Edgar. Killed near Tazewell, Tenn., August 6, 1862.
Seventeenth Ohio Infantry.
Major Benjamin F. Butterfield. Died, December 16, 1863, of wounds received
at Missionary Ridge.
Captain Ezra Ricketts. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Jacob Humphreys. Died, December 21, 1861, of disease.
First Lieut. Theodore C. Stewart. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
First Lieut. Lyman "W. Barnes. Killed in action, August 5, 1864.
First Lieut. Jacob M. Rufi'ner, Adjutant. Killed before Atlanta, August 9, 1864.
Second Lieut. Richard T. Foster. Died June 15, 1864.
Eighteenth Ohio Infantry.
Captain George Stivers. Died, January 4, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
Captain Philip E. Taylor. Died, January 5, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
APPENDIX. 421
Captain Ashbel Fenton. Died, April 14, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
Captain George "W. Dunkle. Died, June 9, 1863, of disease.
Captain Ebenezer Grosvenor. Killed at Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1864.
Second Lieut. William W. Blacker. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Samuel W. Thomas. Killed at Nashville, Tenn., December 15,
1864.
Nineteenth Ohio Infantry.
Major Timothy D. Edwards. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Captain W. Rakestraw. Died, December 17, 1861, at Columbus, Ky.
Captain Franklin E. Stowe. Died, April 30, 1862, at Pittsburgh Landing, Tenn.
Captain Urwin Bean. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Captain Uriah W. Irwin. Died, December 6, 1863, of wounds received at Chick-
amauga.
Captain Charles Brewer. Killed in action at Picket Mills, May 27, 1864.
First Lieut. Samuel F. Lentz. Died, February 16, 1862, of disease.
First Lieut. Daniel Donovan. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Job D. Bell. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. William F. McHenry. Killed before Atlanta, August 24, 1864.
Second Lieut. D. W. Heldenbrand. Died, July 21, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. J. Stanley Cochran. Died, May 6, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn.
Assistant Surgeon James H. Biteman. Died, September 25, 1865, near San
Antonia, Texas.
Twentij-Jirst Ohio Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Dwella M. Stoughton. Died, November 19, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived at Chickamauga.
Captain Daniel Lewis. Killed before Atlanta, July 21, 1864.
First Lieut. Amos E. Wood. Died. June 14, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
First Lieut. Robert S. Dilworth. Killed June 27, 1864.
Second Lieut. Enoch B. Wiley. Died, June 5, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Second Lieut. Asa C. Spafford. Died, October 14, 1864, at Columbia, S. C.
Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry.
Colonel Frederick C. Jones. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862,
Major Henrj^ Terry. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Enoch Weller. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Captain Dewitt C. Wadsworth. Died, September 21, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Captain Isaac N. Dryden. Died, October 1, 1863, of wounds received at Chick-
amauga.
First Lieut. Charles R. Harman. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry.
Captain William H. Ross. Died, September 20, of wounds received at Chick-
amauga.
First Lieut. David McClelland. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Francis M. Williams. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. James W. Burbridge. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
422 APPENDIX.
Second Lieut. John W. Ruley. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863,
Second Lieut. Samuel G. Piatt. Killed near Dallas, Ga., June 4, 1864.
Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry.
Major Myron T. Wright. Died, January 7, 1865, of wounds received before
Savannah, Ga.
First Lieut. Winthrop H. Grant. Killed at Piocky Face Ridge, May 8, 1864.
First Lieut. John W. Dice. Died, June 17, 1864, of wounds received at Kene-
saw Mountain.
Tliiriy-first Ohio Infantry.
Captain David C. Rose. Died, December 26, 1861, of disease.
Captain James A. Cahill. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
First Lieut. James K. Rochester. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Thirty-third Ohio Infantry.
Major Joshua V. Robinson. Died, March 23, 1862, at Portsmouth, Ohio.
Major Ephraim J. Ellis. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Samuel A. Currie. Died, April 16, 1862, at Shelbyville, Tenn.
Captain William McKain. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
First Lieut. Charles R. Pomeroy, Jun. Killed, before Atlanta, August 13, 1864.
Second Lieut. Enos A. Holmes. Died, December 24, 1861, at Elizabethtown^
Ky.
Second Lieut. Joseph H. Cole. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Edgar J. Higby. Killed at Resaca, May 14, 1864.
Second Lieut. Francis M. Campbell. Died, July 22, 1864, of wounds.
Second Lieut. John E. Sykes. Killed in action, September 6, 1864.
Tliirty-fifth Ohio Infantry.
Captain John S. Earhart. Died, August 10, 1863, at Winchester, Tenn.
Captain Oliver H. Parshall. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Joel K. Deardorf. Died, October 8, 1863, of wounds received at Chick
amauga.
Captain David M. Gans. Died, November 25, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. Thomas M. Harlan. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. James Sabin. Died, June 16, 1864, of wounds received in action..
Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry.
Colonel William G. Jones. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain James C. Selby. Died, September 14, 1864, of wounds.
Second Lieut. William A. Rhodes. Died, October 11, 1863, of wounds received
in action.
Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry.
Colonel Edward H. Phelps. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863,
Colonel William A. Choate. Died, September 12, 1864, of wounds.
Captain John H. Adams. Died, December 10, 1862, of disease.
Captain Edgar M. Denchar. Died, September 4, 1864, of wounds.
Captain John Crosson. Died, September 10, 1864, of wounds.
First Lieut. James C. Betts. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Second Lieut. Alphonso L. Braucher. Died, January 29, 1862; of disease.
APPENDIX. 423
Second Lieut. John Lewis. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Second Lieut. Joseph Newman. Died, December 12, 1863, of wounds.
Second Lieut. James McQuillen. Died, October 2, 1864, of wounds.
Fortieth Ohio Infantry.
Major Thomas Acton. Killed at Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1864.
Captain Clements F. Snodgrass. Killed before Atlanta, July 1, 1864.
Captain John C. Meagher. Died, August 15, 1864, at Liberty, Ohio.
First Lieut. Cyrenius Van Mater. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Daniel Collett. Died, May 30, 1864, of wounds received at Look-
out Mountain.
First Lieut. Charles Converse. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 30, 1864.
Forty-Jirst Ohio Infantry.
Captain William W. Munn. Died, December 2, 1863, of wounds received at
Missionary Ridge.
Captain William Hansard. Died, January 9, 1865, of wounds.
First Lieut. Franklin E. Pancoast. Died, May 16, 1862, of wounds received at
Shiloh.
First Lieut. Calvin C. Hart. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Lieut. Lester T. Patchin. Died, January 18, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
First Lieut. Samuel B. Asdel, Adjutant. Died, November 17, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut Henry S. Dlrlam. Died, December 18, 1863, of wounds received at
Missionary Ridge.
Second Lieut. Chauncey H. Talcott. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Second Lieut. William W. Watson. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Levi Drake. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Amos Keller. Died, January 1, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
Captain Hiram Chance. Killed at Liberty Gap, June 24, 1863.
Captain Shepherd Green. Died, November 27, 1864, of wounds received ia
action.
First Lieut. Aaron H. Keller. Died, January 27, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Jacob C. Miller. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
First Lieut. Silas W. Simons. Killed in action, at Pickett's Mills, May 27,
1864.
First Lieut. John C. Ramsey. Killed in action, at Pickett's Mills, May 27,
1864.
First Lieut. Theodore A. Pesso. Killed, August 25, 1864, at Vining's Station.
First Lieut. John K. Gibson. Died, January 25, 1865, of wounds received in
action.
Second Lieut. Henry F. Arndt. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, ,
1864.
Second Lieut. Issac H. White. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
424 APPENDIX.
Second Lieut. Jacob Wolf. Died, December 16, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
Second Lieut. William F. Gibbs. Killed at Pickett's Mills, May 27, 1864.
Second Lieut. Charles Wallace. Died, June 23, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Fifty-first Ohio Infantry.
Captain Willia,m Patton. Died, April 14, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn.
Captain Benjamin F. Heskett. Died, January 4, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Captain Samuel Stephens. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 20, 1864.
First Lieut. Frank Shriver. Died, July 9, 1864, of wounds received in action.
Second Lieut. Willis C. Workman. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 22,
1864.
Fifty-second Ohio Infantry.
Colonel Daniel McCook. Died, July 17, 1864, of wounds received at Kenesaw
Mountain.
Captain Salathiel M. Neighbor. Died, July 7, 1864, of wounds.
Captain Peter C. Schneider. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 19, 1864.
Captain James M. Summers. Died, April 16, 1865, of wounds.
First Lieut. Ira H. Pool. Died, July 30, 1864, of wounds received at Kenesaw
Mountain.
Second Lieut. James H. Donaldson. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 19,
1864.
Second Lieut. David F. Miser. Died, August 2, 1864, of wounds received at
Kenesaw Mountain.
Assistant Surgeon Arthur J. Rosa. Died February 20, 1864.
Fifty-fifth Ohio Infantry.
Colonel Charles B. Gambee. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
Major Rodolphus Robbins. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
Captain Albert E. Peck. Killed at Averysboro, March 16, 1865.
Second Lieut. Edward Bromley. Killed in action, at Missionary Ridge, No-
vember 24, 1863.
Fifty-ninth Ohio Infantry.
First Lieut. Frank H. Woods. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. John W. Shinn. Died, June 17, 1863, at Stone River Ford,
Tenn.
Second Lieut. Jesse Ellis. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Sixty-first Ohio Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel William H. H. Brown. Died, September 5, 1864, of wounds, at
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Major David C. Beckett. Killed in action, June 22, 1864.
Captain William H. McGroarty. Killed in Lookout Valley, October 28, 1863.
Captain Edward H. Newcomb. Killed July 21, 1864.
APPENDIX. 425
Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry.
Colonel Alexander Mcllvaine. Killed at Rocky Face Ridge, May 9, 1864
Captain Joseph B. Sweet. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain John K. Ziegler. Died, September 20, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain Henry H. Kling. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
First Lieut. Thomas H. Ehlers. Killed at Rocky Face Ridge, May 9, 1864,
First Lieut. George C. Marshall. Killed near Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864.
Second Lieut. Thomas McGill. Died, March 30, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn.
Sixiy-ffth Ohio Infantry.
Major Samuel C. Brown. Died, September 22, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain Jacob Christophel. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captain Nahan L. Williams. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, July 27, 1864.
First Lieut. Horace H. Justice, Adjutant. Died, February 14, 1862, of disease.
First Lieut. Clark S. Gregg. Died, May 11, 1862, of disease, at St. Louis, Mo.
First Lieut. William H. Massey, Adjutant. Died, April 7, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived at Stone River.
First Lieut. Nelson Smith. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Jonas Smith. Died, June 10, 1865, from accidental injury.
First Lieut. John T. Hyatt. Died, December 16, 1861, of disease.
Second Lieut. George N. Huckins. Died, April 2, 1862, of disease.
Second Lieut. John R. Parish. Died July 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Dolsen Van Kirk. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Samuel C. Henwood. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19,
1863.
Second Lieut. Eben Bingham. Killed at Big Shanty, Ga., in action, June 18,
1864.
Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry.
First Lieut. Harrison Davis. Killed at Ringgold, Ga., November 27, 1863.
First Lieut. Joseph W. Hitt. Killed at Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864.
First Lieut. John R. Organ. Killed before Atlanta, July 20, 1864.
Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry.
Captain Leonard Counseller. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
First Lieut. Joseph W. Boynton. Died, June 5, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Jacob S. Pierson. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
First Lieut. Martin V. Bailey. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Second Lieut. John S. Scott. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Seventy frst Ohio Infantry.
Major James W. Carlin. Perished on Steamer Sultana, April 24, 1865.
First Lieut. Nicholas Eidemiller. Died, May 16, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
First Lieut. Eliah A. Widener. Killed at Nashville, Tenn., December 16, 1864.
Second Lieut. William S. Hamilton. Drowned August 19, 1862.
Second Lieut. John M. Simmons. Died, August 24, 1863, of disease.
Second Lieut. Everah C. Le Blond. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864
426 APPENDIX.
Seventy-third Ohio Infantry.
Captain Luther M. Buchwalter. Killed in Lookout Valley, October 29, 1863.
Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry.
First Lieut. W. H. H. Moody. Died, September 28, 1864, of disease.
First Lieut. Geosge W. Bricker. Died, September 15, 1864, of wounds received
in action.
Second Lieut. John A. McKee. Drowned, February 1, 1864, at Cincinnati, 0.
Second Lieut. John Scott. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry.
First Lieut. Isreal D. Compton. Died, December 31, 1862, of disease.
Eighty-second Ohio Infantry.
Captain William J. Dickson. Killed at Eesaca, May 15, 1864.
Captain William Ballentine. Died, March 19, 1865, of wounds received in
action.
Second Lieut. Asa H. Gary. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry.
Captain George H. DeBolt. Died, February 3, 1865, at Savannah, Ga.
First Lieut. J. Riley Dixon. Died, December 18, 1862, of disease.
First Lieut. George W. Penn. Died, January 21, 1863, at Moscow, 0.
First Lieut. Granville Jackson. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Stephen V. Walker. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Dudly King. Died, August 13, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Otho P. Fairfield. Died, October 8, 1864, at Columbia, S. C, a
prisoner of war.
Second Lieut. Clement Thomas. Died, February 20, 1863, of disease.
Ninetieth Ohio Infantry.
Major George Angle. Killed near Marietta, Ga., July 2, 1864.
Captain Robert D. Caddy. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Thomas Rains. Killed before Atlanta, August 19, 1864.
First Lieut. Daniel N. Kingery, Adjutant. Killed at Chickamauga, September
20, 1863.
Second Lieut. Nelson A. Patterson. Died, October 10, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived at Chickamauga,
Ninety-second Ohio Infantry.
Captain John Brown. Died, October 7, 1863, of wounds received at Chicka-
mauga,
Captain William B. Whittlesey. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
Captain Edward Grosvenor. Died, November 27, 1864, of disease.
First Lieut. George B. Turner,- Adjutant. Died, December 1, 1863, of wounds
received at Missionary Ridge.
Second Lieut. Hugh Townsend. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25,
1863.
APPENDIX. 427
Ninety-third Ohio Infantry.
Colonel Hiram. Strong. Died, October 7, 1863, of wounds received at Chicka-
muaga.
Major William Birch. Died, November 25, 1863, of wounds received at Mis-
sionary Ridge.
Captain John Eastman. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
First Lieut. John M. Patterson. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry.
Captain John C. Drury. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain David Steel. Died, January 5, 1863, of wounds received in action.
First Lieut. John A. Beall. Died, January 2, 1863, of disease.
Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry.
Captain William Berkshire. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Second Lieut. William P. Gardner. Died, November 30, 1862, at Scottsville,
Ky.
Ninety-eighth Ohio Infantry.
Colonel George Webster. Killed, at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Lieut. Colonel James M. Shane. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Captain William C. Lochary. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Armstrong J. Thomas. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captaid Robert F. Williams. Died, August 10, 1864, of wounds received at
Vining's Station, Ga.
First Lieut. Samuel A. Rank. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
First Lieut. William McMillen. Died, October 27, 1862, of wounds received at
Perryville.
First Lieut. John H. Reeves, Adjutant. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1,
1864.
First Lieut. John M. Banum. Killed at Bentonville, March 19, 1865.
Second Lieut. Richard B. McGuire. Died, October 15, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived at Chickamauga.
Surgeon F. W. Marseilles. Died April 23, 1864.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Captain James Bryson. Died April 1, 1862.
Captain David G. May. Killed at Missionary Ridge, Tenn., September 21,
1863.
Captain James G. Taylor. Killed in action at Lovejoy's Station, August 20,
1864.
Captain Robert McCormick. Died, December 29, 1864, at Bardstown, Ky.
First Lieut. Joseph Castles. Died, March 13, 1862, at Munfordsville, Ky.
First Lieut. Amos B. Rhoads. Killed at Shelby ville, Tenn., June 27, 186.3.
First Lieut. Chauncy C. Hermans. Killed in action at Lovejoy's Station,
August 21, 1864.
First Lieut. Jacob Sigman. Killed in action at Selma, April 2, 1865.
Second Lieut. Harvey H. Best. Died, March 5, 1862, of disease, at Bardstown,
Ky.
428 APPENDIX.
Second Lieut. Nicholas Wynkoop. Killed in action at Gallatin, Tenn., August
21, 1862.
Second Lieut. Henry W. Lutz. Died, November 29, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn.
Second Lieut. James Henderson. Died, April 17, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Henry D. Calkins. Died October 7, 1864.
Surgeon John L. Sherk. Killed by guerrillas at Bardstown, Ky., December
29, 1864.
Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Lieut. Colonel Thomas C. James. Died, January 13, 1863, at Philadelphia, Pa.
Captain Hugh W. McCullough. Killed in action near Tompkinsville, Ky.,
June 6, 1862.
Captain Gilbert Waters. Killed in action at Shelbyville, Tenn., June 28, 1863.
Captain John Boal. Killed in action, March 16, 1865.
First Lieut. Theophilus J. Mountz. Killed at Dandridge, Tenn., December 24,
1863.
Second Lieut. Isaac B. KaufFman. Died June 7, 1862.
Second Lieut. David Nissley. Died, July 5, 1862, at Bowling Green, Ky.
Second Lieut. Aaron Sullivan. Killed in action at Tompkinsville, Ky., July
9, 1862.
Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Major Adolph B. Rosengarten. Killed at Stone River, December 29, 1862.
Major Frank B. Wai'd. Died, January 11, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
First Lieut. Harvey S. Lingle. Killed in action at Mossy Creek, December 29,
1863.
Battery " B," Independent Pennsylvania Artillery.
Captain Alanson J. Stevens. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Captain Samuel M. McDowell. Killed in action, May 27, 1864.
Battery " U," Independent Pennsylvania Artillery.
Captain Charles A. Atwell. Died, November 2, 1863, of wounds received at
Wauhatchie.
First Lieut. Edward R. Geary, Killed at Wauhatchie, October 29, 1863.
Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry.
Major Peter A. McAloon. Died, December 7, 1863, of wounds received at Mis-
sionary Ridge.
Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry.
First Lieut. Peter Kaylor. Died, December 5, 1863, of wounds received at
Ringgold, Ga.
Second Lieut. Isaiah B. Robison. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry.
Second Lieut. William Harrington. Killed by railroad accident, March 4, 1864.
Second Lieut. Ethan 0. Fulce. Killed in action, near Fayetteville, N. C,
March 14, 1865.
APPENDIX. 429
Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry.
Captain Dennis H. Cheesbro. Killed at New Hope Church, May 25, 1864.
Captain Sefrer T. Kettrer. Died, July 21, 1864, of wounds received at Peach
Tree Creek.
First Lieut. John H. Knipe. Died, May 15, 1864, of wounds received at
Resaca.
First Lieut. Luther R. "Witman, Adjutant. Died, July 20, 1864, of wounds re-
ceived at Peach Tree Creek.
First Lieut. David C. Selheimer. Died, September 21, 1864, of wounds received
at Peach Tree Creek.
Second Lieut. John W. Phillips. Killed at New Hope Church, May 25, 1864.
Second Lieut. Samuel Wolf. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Second Lieut. Howell J. Davis. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Seveniy-ihird Pennsylvania Infantry.
Captain Henry Hess. Died, June 19, 1864, of wounds received at Pine
Knob, Ga.
Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel Peter B, Housum. Died, December 31, 1862, of wounds received
at Stone River,
Captain John E. Walker. Killed before Atlanta, Ga., August 5, 1864.
First Lieut. William H. Thomas. Killed in action at Liberty Gap, June 25,
1863.
First Lieut. Henry B. Thompson. Killed at Lovejoy's Station, September 3,
1864.
First Lieut. Alexander T. Baldwin. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
Seventy-eight Pennsylvania Infantry.
Captain William S. Jack. Died, February' 5, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
First Lieut. Adam Lowry, R. Q. M. Died, September 28, 1863, of disease.
Second Lieut. Matthew J. Halstead. Killed at Stone River, January 2, 1863.
Assistant Surgeon William Morrow Knox. Killed accidentally, at Louisville,
Ky., April 27, 1862.
Assistant Surgeon T. P. Tomlinson. Died September 7, 1865.
Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry.
Captain John H. Dysart. Died, February 8, 1862, of disease, at Louisville, Ky.
Captain Samuel J. Boone. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain Lewis Heidegger. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Henry J. Test. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. Frederick Strasbaugh. Died, September 20, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived at Chickamauga.
One Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Infantry.
First Lieut. James Glendening. Killed at Wauhatchie, October 29, 1863.
430 APPENDIX.
One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry.
Colonel George A. Cobham, Jun. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864
Major John A. Boyle. Killed at Wauhatchie, October 29, 1863.
Captain Charles Woeltge. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
Captain Martellus H. Todd. Killed at New Hope Church, May 25, 1864.
Captain Hiram L. Blodget. Died, August 5, 1864, of disease.
Second Lieut. Marvin D. Pettit. Killed at Wauhatchie, October 29, 1863.
One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry.
Captain Charles S. Davis. Died, November 28, 1863, of wounds received at
Taylor's Ridge.
Captain Samuel F. McKee. Died, June 25, 1864, of wounds received in-action.
TENNESSEE.
First Teymessee Cavalry.
-Captain Alfred J. Lane. Killed in action, July 1, 1863.
Captain Elbert J. Canon. Died, January 3, 1864, of wounds received at Mossy
Cr^ek.
Captain Nelson Bowman. Died, October 22, 1864, of wounds, at Bull's Gap,
Tenn.
First Lieut. Adam L. Whitehead. Died, , 1862.
First Lieut. George W. Cox. Died, December 30, 1863, of wounds received at
Mossy Creek.
Second Lieut. John Roberts. Died, July 29, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Second Lieut. Thomas T. Hull. Died, February 9, 1865, at Memphis, Tenn,
Second Tennessee Cavalry.
Captain James H. Morris. Killed at Stone River, January 1, 1863.
Captain Aaron G. McReynolds. Died, October 27, 1864, of wounds received
in action.
Third Tennessee Cavalry.
Major Albert C. Catlett. Died, March 24, 1864, of disease, at Nashville, Tenn.
•Captain Gid. R. Griffith. Died, July 11, 1863, at Nashville, Tenn.
First Lieut. John W. White. Died, March 16, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
First Lieut. George E. Curton. Killed in action, September 25, 1864.
First Lieut. Robert B. Hanter. Died, December 22, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.
Assistant Surgeon Frederick Wagner. Killed in action, September 25, 1864.
Fourth Tennessee Cavalry.
Captain Daniel Meader. Drowned bathing, August 8, 1863.
Captain Henry C. Kerner. Died, October — — , 1864, of wounds received in
action.
Captain Robert W. Ragon. Died, June 4, 1865, of disease.
Second Lieut. John P. Harper. Died April 14, 1865.
Fifth Tennessee Cavalry.
Captain A. T. Julian. Killed in action, March 18, 1863.
Surgeon Joseph B. Moore. Killed by guerrillas, September 5, 1864.
APPENDIX. 431
Eighth Tennessee Cavalry.
Captain Willey Galyou. Died, at Nashville, Tenn., March 25, 1864.
First Lieut. Pryor L. Mason. Killed in action, July 29, 1863.
Ninth Tennessee Cavalry.
Captain William J. Trotter. Died June 28, 1854.
Tenth Tennessee Cavalry.
Major William P. Story. Died, December 27, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
First Lieut. Judson Wise. Died, June 3, 1864, of disease.
Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry.
Major Sater Boland. Died, December 31, 1864, of wounds received in action
at Franklin.
Captain Andrew J. Sullivan. Killed by guerrillas, April 20, 1864.
Captain John C. Rodgers. Killed in action, June 14, 1864.
Captain John C. Penoyer. Died, July 14, 1864, at Pulaski, Tenn.
First Lieut. Chauncey Cunningham. Killed in action, at Florence, Ala., August
10, 1864.
First Lieut. William T. Ford. Killed near Shoal Creek, Ala., November 8,
1864.
Second Lieut. William J. Rankin. Died, December 18, 1864, of wounds re-
ceived in action.
Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry.
Lieut. Colonel William H. Ingerton. Died, December 8, 1864, of wounds.
Captain Richard H. Luttrell. Died, January 20, 1864, at Camp Nelson, Ky.
Captain James B. Wyatt. Killed in action, December 12, 1864.
Captain William M. Gourley. Killed in action, in Marion, Va., December 13,
1864.
First Tennessee Infantry,
Lieut. Colonel Milton L. Phillips. Died December 25, 1863.
Second Lieut. Thomas Pierce. Died, January 17, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Second Tennessee Infantri
Captain William H. Cowan. Died April 12, 1862.
Captain Elihu E. Jones. Died, May 21, 1862, of disease.
Captain John L. Sneed. Died, February 14, 1863, of wounds received at Stone
River.
Captain Francis M. Skaggs. Died, May 19, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut Abraham Meyrs. Died, March 25, 1862, of wounds received in
action.
Seco.nd Lieut. John Brown. Died February 13, 1863.
Second Lieut. Charles 0. McBee. Killed in action, October 14, 1863.
Tenth Tennessee Infantry.
First Lieut. William C. Shelbey. Killed accidentally, August 26, 1863.
Second Lieut. Patrick Sullivan. Died, September 16, 1862, of wounds.
Assistant Surgeon Charles Johnson. Killed by a fall frem his horse, April 5,
1863.
432 APPENDIX.
WISCONSIN.
First Wisconsin Cavalry.
Second Lieut. Charles Clinton. Died, March 29, 1864, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Sheldon E. Vosburg. Died, April 16, 1865, of wounds received
in action.
Fifth Wisconsin Battery.
Captain Oscar F. Pinney. Died, February 17, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Second Lieut. Almon Smith. Died, August 23, 1862, of disease.
Eighth Wisconsin Battery.
Captain Stephen J. Carpenter. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
First Wisconsin Infantry.
Captain WiHiam S. Mitchell. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Abner O. Heald. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Robert J. Nickles. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Charles A. Searles. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Second Lieut. Jarius S. Richardson. Died, October 5, 1863, of wounds received
at Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. Collins C. McVean. Died, June 22, 1864, of wounds received
in action.
Assistant Surgeon Egbert Jamieson. Died, June 17, 1863, of disease.
Third Wisconsin Infantry.
Captain James W. Hunter. Died, June 8, 1864, of wounds received in action.
Captain Thomas E. Orton. Died, July 25, 1864, of wounds received before At-
lanta, Ga.
First Lieut. John H. Meigs. Died May 7, 1865.
Chaplain John M. Springer. Died, May 29, 1864, of wounds received at Resaca.
Tenth Wisconsin Infantry.
Lieut. Colonel John H. Ely. Died, October 4, 1863, of wounds received in
action.
Major Henry 0. Johnson. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain William Moore. Killed by guerrillas, July 4, 1862.
Captain George M. West. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Robert Rennie. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Chester A. Burdick. Died, September 17, 1864, of disease, at
Charleston, S. C.
Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry.
Colonel David E. Wood. Died, June 17, 1862, of disease.
Captain George E. Waldo. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Captain Levi W. Vaughn. Killed at Corinth, Miss., October 3, 1862.
Captain Samuel Harrison. Died of wounds received at Corinth, Miss.
APPENDIX. 433
Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry.
Colonel Hans C. Heg. Died of wounds received at Chickamauga, September
20, 1863.
Lieut. Colonel David McKee. Killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862.
Captai'n John Ingmandson. Killed at Stone River, December 30, 1862.
'Captain John M. Johnson. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
Captain Haus Hansen. Died, October 13, 1863, of wounds received at Chick-
amauga.
Captain Henry HaufF. Killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Andrew Clement. Died, September 23, 1864, of disease, at Briggs-
ville, Wis.
Second Lieut. Oliver Thompson. Killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Twenty-first Wisconsin Infantry.
Major Frederick Schumacher. Killed at Perrj^ville, October 8, 1862.
Captain George Bently. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Captain Hiram M. Gibbs. Died, October 15, 1862, of wounds received at Per-
ryville.
Captain John Jewett, Jun. Died, November 21, 1862, of disease, at Mitchells-
vi.ile, Tenn.
First Lieut. Edward T. Midgley. Killed at Bentonville, March 19, 1865.
Second Lieut. David Mitchell. Killed at Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Second Lieut. Henry C. Taylor. Died, December 12, 1864, at Charleston, S. C,
a prisoner.
Surgeon Samuel J Carolin. Died, November 4, 1862, at Bowling Green, Ky.
Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry.
Captain Gustavus Goodrich. Died, March 17, 1863, at Racine, Wis.
Captain Marshall W. Patton. Died, May 19, 1864, of wounds received at
Resaca.
First Lieut. John E. Holmes, R. Q. M. Died, May 8, 1863, at Annapolis, Md,
Second Lieut. Ephraim K. Newman. Died, December 25, 1862, as Nicholas-
ville, Ky.
Second Lieut. David Flint. Died, May 27, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tenn., of
wounds.
Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry.
Captain Gustavus Goldsmith. Died, October 3, 1863, of wounds received at
Chickamauga.
Captain Howard Greene. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Captain Frederick A. Root. Died, December 2, 1863, at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Captain Alvah Philbrook. Killed at Franklin, November 30, 1864.
First Lieut. Robert J. Chivas. Killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
First Lieut. Thomas T. Keith. Killed in action at Adairsville, Ga., May 17,
1864.
First Lieut. Frederick Schlenstedt. Killed at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864.
Second Lieut. Christian Nix. Died, January 1, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
Second Lieut. George Bleyer. Died, January 25, 1863, of wounds received at
Stone River.
434 APPENDIX.
Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry.
Captain John P. Seeman. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Captain Robert Mueller. Killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864.
Captain Carl Schmidt. Killed at Averysboro, March 16, 1865.
First Lieut. Christian Phillip. Killed at Resaca, May 15, 1864.
First Lieut. Nicholas Wolmer. Died, August 21, 1864, of wounds received at
Peach Tree Creek.
First Lieut. Francis Rudolph Klein. Killed at Averysboro, March 16, 1865.
Thirty-first Wisconsin Infantry.
Major William J. Gibson. Died, September 9, 1863, of disease, at Columbus,
Ky.
Captain James B. Mason. Died, October 17, 1868, of disease, at Nashville,
Tenn.
Second Lieut. Gilbert N. Rodgers. Died, August 12, 1864, of disease.
Twelfth Colored Infantry.
Captain Robert Headin. Died, January 1, 1865, of wounds received at Nash
ville, Tenn.
First Lieut. "William L. Clark. Killed, November 21, 1864.
Second Lieut. David G. Cook. Killed near Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 24,
1864.
Second Lieut. Dennis Dease. Died, December 25, 1864, of wounds received at
Nashville.
TJiirteenih Colored Infantry.
First Lieut. George Taylor. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
First Lieut. J. W. "Woodruff. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
Second Lieut. James A. Trom. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864.
Second Lieut, Luther L. Parks. Killed at Nashville, December 16, 1864
Fourteenth Colored Infantry.
First Lieut. George "W. Apthorp. Died, October 28, 1864, of wounds received
at Decatur.
Second Lieut. Frank Gillett. Died, October 28, 1864, of wounds received at
Decatur.
Second Lieut. Charles Woodworth. Killed in action at Decatur.
Fifteenth Colored Infantry.
Assistant Surgeon Eli M. Hewitt. Killed by guerrillas, near Springfield, Tenn.,
July 24, 1864.
Second Lieut. Edward Long. Died, March 15, 1866, of disease, at Nashville,
Tenn.
Seventeenth Colored Infantry.
Captain Gideon V. Ayres. Killed in action at Nashville, December 15, 1864.
Captain Job H. Aldrich. Killed in action at Nashville, December 15, 1864.
First Lieut. George L. Clark. Died of wounds received at Nashville, January
7, 1865.
APPENDIX. 435
Eighteenth Colored Infantry.
First Lieut. Leander Martin. Killed in action at Sand Mountain, Ala., Janu-
ary 27, 1865.
Forty-fourth Colored Infantry.
Captain Charles G. Penfield. Murdered, after capture, by Forrest's Command,
December 22, 1864.
One Hundredth Colored Infantry.
Assistant Surgeon Edward M. Wash. Died, September 20, 1865, of disease, at
Columbus, Tenn.
One Hundred and First Colored Infantry.
Captain Stephen H. Eno. Died, December 16, 1865, of disease, at Nashville,
Tenn.
One Hundred and Eleventh Colored Infantry.
Colonel "Wm. H. Lathrop. Killed in action at Sulphur Branch Trestle, Ala.,
September 25, 1864,
NAMES OF OFFICEES APPOINTED BY THE PEESIDENT,
IN THE VOLUNTEEE SERVICE, WHO FELL IN THE
WAR, OR DIED FROM WOUNDS OR SICKNESS.
Major-General William Nelson, U. S. N. Died at Louisville, Ky., September
29, 1862.
Brigadier-General Wm. R. Terrill, Captain U. S. A. Killed at Perryville, Oc-
tober 8, 1862.
Lieutenant-Colonel George E. Flint, A. A. G., Chief of Staff, Fourteenth
Corps. Died, 1864.
Surgeon Abraham L. Cox. Died on Lookout Mountain, Tenn., July 28, 1864.
Surgeon R. W. S. Jackson. Died on Lookout Mountain, Tenn., January 18,
1865.
Captain Henry Clay, A. A. G. Died, June 5, 1862, at Louisville, Ky.
Captain Richard Stevenson, A. Q. M. Died, October 5, 1862, at Louisville,
Ky.
Captain William C. Russell, A. A. G. Killed at Chickamaugua, September 20,
1863.
Captain Edward D. Saunders, A. A. G. Killed in action at AUatoona Creek,
June 2, 1864.
Captain R. J. Waggener, A. A. G. Killed at Dallas, Ga., May 28, 1864.
Captain Oscar 0. Muller, A. A. G. Killed at Jonesboro, Ga., September 2,
1864.
Captain John A. Irvine, C. S. Died, March 1, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn.
Captain Samuel A. Bonsall, A. Q. M. Died at Gallatin Tenn., July 19, 1865.
Captain S. H. Sunt, A. Q. M. Died, July 28, 1865, at Mobile, Ala.
436 APPENDIX.
JSTAMES OF OFFICEES OF THE EEGULAE AEMY, SE EY-
ING ACCOEDING TO AEMY EANK, WHO FELL IN
BATTLE OE DIED FEOM WOUNDS OE DISEASE
DUEING THE WAE.
Colonel Edward A. King, 6th U. S. Infanty. Killed at Chickamauga, Septem-
ber 20, 1863.
Colonel Julius P. Garesche, Chief-of-StafF to General Rosecrans. Killed at
Stone Pdver, December 31, 1862.
Major S. D. Carpenter, 19th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Stone River, December
31, 1862.
Major Sidney Coolidge, 16th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Stone River, December
31, 1862.
Captain Wm. H. Acker. Killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.
Captain Patrick T. Kayes, 16th U. S. Infantry. Died, May 3, 1862, of wounds
received at Shiloh.
Captain J. B. Bell, 15th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Stone River, December 31,
1862.
Captain Charles L. Kneass, 18th Infantry. Killed at Stone River, December
31, 1862.
Captain Wm. W. Wise, 15th U. S. Infantry. Died, January 3, 1863, of wounds
received at Stone River.
Captain Charles E. Dennison, 18th U. S. Infantry. Died, June 15, 1863, of
wounds received at Stone River.
Captain John A. Thompson, 18th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Hoover's Gap,
June, 1863.
Captain David Ireland, 15th U. S. Infantry. Died at Atlanta, Ga., September
10, 1864.
Captain Wm. H. Ingerton, 16th U. S. Infantry. Died at Knoxville, Tenn,,
December 8, 1864.
First Lieut. Irwin W. Wallace, 18th U. S. Infantry. Died at Pittsburgh, Pa.,
February 19, 1862.
First Lieut. William W. Stevenson, 16th U. S. Infantry. Died, February 27,
1862, at Louisville, Ky.
First Lieut. Edward L. Mitchell, 16th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Shiloh, April
7, 1862.
First Lieut. James W. Bingham, 16th U. S. Infantry. Died at Bardstown Ky.,
November 9, 1862.
First Lieut. Herman G. Radcliffe, 18th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Stone River,
December 18, 1862.
First Lieut. James L. Simonds, 18th U. S. Infantry. Died, June 14, 1863, of
wounds received at Stone River.
First Lieut. Joseph McConnell, 18th U. S. Infantry. Died, January 14, 1863,
of wounds received at Stone River.
First Lieut. Howard M. Burnham, Battery H, 5th U. S. Artillery. Killed at
Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.
First Lieut. Charles L. Truman, 18th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Chickamauga,
September 20, 1863.
APPENDIX. 437
First Lieut. Michael B. Fogarty, 19tli U. S. Infantry. Killed at Chickamauga,
September 20, 1863.
First Lieut. Lucius F. Brown, I8th U. S. Infantry. Died at Chattanooga, Oc-
tober 10, 1863, of wounds received at Chickamauga.
First Lieut. Homer H. Clarke, IGth U. S. Infantry. Died at Nashville, Octo-
ber 21, 1863, of wounds received at Chickamauga.
First Lieut. Tillinghast L'Hommedieu, 4th U. S. Cavalry. Died at Pulaski,
Tenn., December 31, 1863, of disease.
First Lieut. William H. Leamy, 19th U. S. Infantry. Died, July 11, 1864, of
disease, at Chattanooga, Tenn.
First Lieut. Samuel J. Dick, 18th U. S. Infantry. Died, December 28, 1864,
of disease, at Nashville, Tenn.
First Lieut. Edward Fitzgerald, 4th U. S. Cavalry. Died, February 16, 1865,
of disease, at Nashville, Tenn.
First Lieut. Elbridge G. Roys, 4th U. S. Cavalry, Killed at Selma, Ala., April
2, 1865.
First Lieut. Arthur N. Thompson, 16th U. S. Infantry. Died July 13, 1865, at
New Orleans, La.
First Lieut. George H. Burns, 15th U. S. Infantry. Died, October 15, 1865, of
disease, at Mobile, Ala.
First liiout. William A. Garland, 19th U. S. Infantry. Died, December 1,
1865, of disease, at Augusta, Ga.
First Lieut. Charles M. Reed, 19th U. S. Infantry. Died, December 8, 1865,
of disease, at Augusta, Ga.
First Lieut. Douglas Edwards, 19th U. S. Infantry. Died, December 24, 1865,
of disease, at Augusta, Ga.
Second Lieut. John F. Hitchcock, 18th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Stone River,
December 31, 1862.
Second Lieut. Thomas Healey, 4th U. S. Cavalry. Died of wounds, at Frank-
lin, Tenn., April 23, 1863.
Second Lieut. Francis C. Wood, 4th U. S. Cavalry. Died, May 23, 1863, of
wounds received at Middleton, Tenn.
Second Lieut. Charles F. Miller, 19th U. S. Infantry. Died of wounds re-
ceived at Chickamauga, September 22, 1863.
Second Lieut. John Lane, 18th U. S. Infantry. Died, October 15, 1863, of
wounds received at Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. Robert Floyd, 3d U. S. Artillery. Died, September 23, 1863, of
wounds received at Chickamauga.
Second Lieut. Henry C. Pohlman, 18th U. S. Infantry. Died, October 15, 1863,
at Richmond, Va.
Second Lieut. Peter J. Covenzler, 16th U. S. Infantry. Killed at Missionary
Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Second Lieut. Joseph C. Forbes, 15th U. S. Infantry. Killed at New Hope
Church, Ga., May 31, 1864,
BLOCK-HOUSES, ETC.
THE ENGINEEE SEEYICE IN THE AEMY OF THE CUM-
BEELAND.
(By Brevet-Colonel W. E. Merrill, Major Engineers, late Chief Engineer Army
Cumberland.)
The peculiarities of the country in which the Army of the
Cumberland campaigned, developed novel modifications of
many of the engineering appliances in general use by all fully
equipped armies, and some of these are deserving of record,
especially in a work that aims to be a complete history of the
gallant army by whom they were used and for whom they
were devised. In the present article, I will briefly call at-
tention to three points of military engineering in which the
experience of this army may be valuable to others that in the
future may have to tread in similar paths of difficulty and
danger. The three subjects to which I would invite attention
are block-houses for railroad defense, canvas pontons, and
military maps.
BLOCK-HOUSES FOR RAILROAD DEFENSE.
Among all the American armies that fought in the long
civil war, the Army of the Cumberland was exceptional in
being the only one that from the beginning to the end of its
career fought exclusively along lines of railroad, was supplied
wholly by railroad, had its depots at prominent railroad cen-
ters, fought for the possession of the railroad centers of the
enemy, and in general was compelled to adapt its strategy and
its tactics to the novel conditions imposed by the invention of
railroads, and the total change in methods of transportation
that had occurred since the great Napoleonic wars, from
whose records students of the military art had hitherto derived
(439)
440 APPENDIX.
their knowledge. Ko otlier American army acquired so great
an experience in the art of defending raih'oads through hos-
tile territory, and therefore it is believed that a brief state-
ment should be made of the means by which these results
were attained.
Supplies for the depot at !N"ashville were mainly received
by rail from Louisville (one hundred and eighty -five miles),
but whenever the stage of water permitted, the Cumberland
and Tennessee rivers (the latter with the aid of the railroad
from Johnsonville to Nashville — seventy-eight miles) were
used as auxiliaries. South of Nashville, the only communi-
cation was by railroad. When the army was at Chattanooga,
its only line of supply was the single-track railroad to Nash-
ville (one hundred and fifty-one miles), and when, with the
sister armies of the Tennessee and the Ohio, it pressed
southward to Atlanta, the narrow iron band that connected
them with their main depot at Louisville was lengthened out
to four hundred and seventy-three miles, the whole distance
being in territory either wholly or partly hostile. The success
of the Southern campaigns depended entirely on holding this
line with such tenacity that no serious break in it could be
made by cavalry raids, or by the disafiected population of the
district through which it passed. The destruction of a single
important bridge would have made matters in front look very
serious. The destruction of a number would have compelled
the army to retrace its steps. It was therefore a vital matter
to hold the railroads at all hazards, and it was almost equally
important to arrange a system of railroad defenses that would
require but few men at any one place, otherwise the invading
army would soon become too much reduced to continue the
offensive.
When, in January, 1864, 1 was appointed chief engineer of
the Army of the Cumberland, which position I held from that
time until the close of the war, the headquarters of the Army
of the Cumberland was in Chattanooga, that of the Army of
the Ohio in Knoxville, and that of the Army of the Tennessee
in ITuutsville — General Sherman being in chief command at
Nashville. As Middle Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and
Georgia, and the southern part of East Tennessee composed
APPENDIX. 441
the Department of the Cumberland, the defenses of the rail-
roads and fortified towns in this territory properly fell to my
charge. A very interesting report could he made on the de-
fenses of the three chief towns of ITashville, Murfreeshoro,
and Chattanooga ; but though the works at the first two were
very elaborate and highly creditable to the professional skill
of General St. Clair Morton, Captain of Engineers, who de-
signed them, there were no marked novelties in construction,
and the influence of the works themselves on the campaigns
was only indirect. Lack of space unfortunately prevents
more than this passing mention. During the long halt of the
Army of the Cumberland at Murfreeshoro, the seven bridges
on the thirty miles of railroad between it and Nashville were
defended by heavy stockades built in the form of a Greek
cross. These stockades were block -houses in all respects, ex-
cept the possession of a roof. During the campaigns that cul-
minated in the capture of TuUahoma and Chattanooga, de-
tachments were left at various points on the railroad, but no
systematic effort was made to erect engineering structures for
railroad defense. The army was so busily occupied in endeav-
oring to maintain itself east of the Cumberland mountains,
that it had no time to pay much attention to perfecting its
conquests by permanently holding the country gained. Be-
sides the main line of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad,
the course of events had given lis possession of the line from
Nashville to Decatur (along which the Army of the Ten-
nessee was supplied), the portion of the Memphis and
Charleston railroad between Decatur and Stevenson, the North-
western railroad to Johnsonville, the railroad to Clarksville,
and portions of the railroads extending northeast to Knox-
ville and southeast toward Atlanta. There was thus suddenly
thrown on my hands for defense about six hundred miles of
railroad, every foot of which lay in hostile territory, and was
exposed to injury, not only from raids of regularly organized
commands, but was also in danger from guerilla bands and
from nominally peaceful citizens.
' A similar problem had fallen to my lot, when, in the fall of
18G2, the Army of Kentucky, commanded by General Gordon
Granger, advanced from Cincinnati to Lexington, and had to
442
APPENDIX.
rebuild all the bridges on the Kentucky Central railroad, ex-
cept the trestle-work at Paris. General Granger ordered me
to plan such fortifications as would prevent a recurrence of
such a disaster. A brief examination showed me that the
bridges as a rule were located at points where the land rose
gradually on both sides for long distances, thus making it
very difficult to place a fort near enough to protect the bridge,
and at the same time to secure its occupants from plunging or
reverse fires. Safety from this kind of attack necessitated
cover over head, and as the requirements of the service called
for the minimum garrisons at bridges which would be con-
sistent with their adequate protection, I was naturally led to
select the block-house as the only available means of defense.
It did not seem at all probable that any cavalry command
that would be likely to get over the mountains into Central
Kentucky would be accompanied by artillery, and therefore
the block-houses were only planned to resist attack by mus-
ketry. I believe that some of them were captured in 1864 by
a cavalry command, but I have the impression that the garri-
sons either evacuated the block-houses, or else surrendered
them without a fight. I was with the army in Georgia at the
time, and news from Central Kentucky was very meager.
The plans of these Kentucky block-houses are shown in fig-
ures 1, 2, and 3, with the exception that the walls were of one
thickness of timber, and there were no towers.
Fig. 1. Plan op Rectangular Block-house.
APPENDIX.
443
Fig. 2. Elevation of Eectangular Block-house.
Fig. 3. Section ox A. B. (Fig. 1.)
When General Buell was campaigning in Kentucky and
Tennessee his engineers constructed stockades for defending
raih'oad bridges — a favorite form being that of a square re-
doubt with four circular bastions, the diameter of the latter
being made the same as that of a Sibley tent, so that the bas-
tions could be covered by these tents and used as men's quar-
ters. These stockades answered a good purpose against
infantry, but were worse than nothing against artillery, be-
coming at such times mere slaughter-pens. "With this expe-
rience before me, I determined to endeavor to make my block-
houses proof against such light artillery as cavalry might be
expected to take with them. The Michigan Engineers (Colonel
Innes) were assigned by General Thomas to the work of build-
ing the necessary block-houses, and accordingly I started out
with Lieutenant-Colonel Iluntoon (then commanding the reg-
iment) on a tour of location, stopping at every bridge and
selecting the most favorable sites for block-houses. While at
Lavergne, I decided to change the location of the heavy
stockade which had been built there while the army was at
Murfreesboro, and therefore took advantage of the opportu-
444 APPENDIX.
nity to try some experiments on its power to resist artillery.
After hitting it a number of times with solid shot from a six-
pounder, it became apparent that even the heavy timbers
(from twenty to twenty-four inches in diameter) of which it
was built, would not answer the purpose. I then decided to
double the walls, so as to secure at least forty inches of timber.
The tower, or second story of the block-house, was valua-
ble as giving a more elevated point from which to see the
enemy, and, if necessary, to look over the railroad bank. It
was set diagonally to the lower story so as to cover more
thoroughly all the country around. To avoid excessive weight
it was made log-house fashion of one thickness of logs, the
expectation being that it would be vacated in case of artillery
attack. Owing to the amount of work to be done, the con-
struction of towers was left to the garrisons after the engineer
troops had finished. As a matter of fact but few were built.
The usual course was to employ engineer troops to build the
block-houses of a single thickness of timber, without cellar
or tower, and to employ the garrisons to finish the work
under the direction of the inspectors of railroad defenses.
To resist plunging fire, the roof of the block-house was
made of a layer of logs laid side by side and covered with
earth. On top of all was a roof of shingles (when they could
be procured), or of boards and battens — it being very impor-
tant to keep the block-house dry, so that the garrison might
always live in it. With the same view the block-houses were
supplied Avith ventilators, cellars, water-tanks, and bunks.
It was foreseen from the first that a rectangular plan was
not the best for a block-house, but the extra cost and difiiculty
of making the best form, the octagonal, and the great num-
ber that had to be built immediately, made it necessary to use
the simplest plan that could be made to answer. Late in the
war the octagonal plan, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, was adopted,
and the result of my experience is, that this form is the best for
an independent block-house. In the rectangular block-house
each corner has but one loop-hole, and therefore the block-
houses are of little offensive power along the diagonals through
the corners. In the octagonal these corners are cut off", and
the angles of the loop-holes are such that the fire of two faces
APPENDIX.
445
Fig. 4. Elevatiox of Octagonal Block-house. Bank removed from m
Front op Entrance.
Fig. 5. Plan of Octagonal Block-house with Towek.
can always be concentrated on the diagonal through their in-
tersection ; the former weak points are thus made the strong-
est. I would therefore earnestly advise the use of octagonal
446 APPENDIX.
"block-houses for railroad defense. So much time was con-
sumed in making mortises and tenons, that I would advise for
future block-houses a greater simplicity of joints and the lib-
eral use of spikes, abolishing, as far as possible, all work re-
quiring skilled labor. Spikes answered admirably on the
Kentucky Central block-houses, but I was induced to try
tenons in Tennessee, on account of having skilled labor avail-
able. I am now satisfied that the first method of construc-
tion was greatly preferable.
As a rule, the small railroad bridges had one block-house,
and the larger ones two, on opposite sides of the track. At
the very high and long trestle-work across the Running "Water
gorge at Whiteside, four small block-houses were built. For
the protection of the east bridge over the Tennessee, at Bridge-
port, I thought it best to establish two block-houses for artil-
lery. The design of these works are given in Figs. 6 and 7.
Fig. 6. Elevation of Artillery Block-house.
An upper story (not shown in the .figure), resting diagonally on
the corners of the inner square, was added to the west block-
house as quarters for the garrison. To avoid an excess of
weight, this story was only made musketry -proof. On top of
all was a small lookout. The construction of these block-
houses reflected great credit upon the Michigan Engineers by
whom they were built. An artillery block-house was also
commenced in 1865, at Larkinsville, Alabama, but it was never
completed. It was intended to answer as a fort for the gar-
rison at this important point, which was much exposed to
attack from the south side of the Tennessee. It is proper to
add that my first idea of building a block-house for artillery
came from seeing a rude, half-finished work of this kind,
which was begun by the Confederates in 1863, at Strawberry
Plains, above Knoxville.
An artillery block-house is difficult and costly to build, and
is only justifiable in very exceptionable localities. I think
APPENDIX.
447
Fig. 7. Plan of Artillery Block-house.
that Bridgeport was such a locality, as the vital importance
to the army of the two long hridges over the Tennessee called
for defense by artillery, as well on the island as on the main
land, and the latter so thoroughly commanded the island that
artillery could only remain on it while thoroughly under cover.
It may be well to mention that an artillery block-house after
my designs was built in 1864, near Alexandria, Virginia, to
protect from cavalry raids down the valley of Hunting creek.
The enemy soon found that our block-houses were proof
against any Ordinary attack, and small bodies never molested
them. Injury to the track of the railroad was repaired almost
as soon as made, and after a while such annoyances ceased.
The only serious assaults received by our block-houses were
as follows ;
448 APPENDIX.
In August, 1864, General Wheeler, with a division of
cavalry, left Atlanta, traveled north to near Knoxville,
thence west to near Nashville, thence southwest to Northern
Alabama. Dunng this raid he swept along a large portion of
the railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and tore it up in
some places, but destroyed no bridge and attacked no block-
house. He struck the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad
between Nashville and Murfreesboro, and attacked block-
house No. 5, commanded by Lieutenant John S. Orr, One
Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio. Tbe artillery fire killed or
wounded one-third of the garrison (the garrison was probably
thirty men in all), but the gallant lieatenant did not surren-
der, and his bridge was not injured. One of the neighboring
block-houses was commanded by a sergeant, who got demor-
alized and surrendered after a slight show of resistance. His
bridge was burned, but I believe no other was damaged on
xhis railroad, and no bridge at all on the railroad to Decatur.
In October, 1864, General Hood started north from Atlanta
with his army, and General Sherman after him. All the block-
houses south of Dalton (except the one at Allatoona creek,
which was captured) were evacuated by order and burned by
his forces. After the capture of Dalton he wished to go west
through Buzzard Roost Gap. In this gap, and at the bridge
over Mill creek, was a block-house containing about thirty
men. This block-house commanded the wagon-road through
the gap, and no wagons or artillery could get through until it
was captured. Bate's division of infantry, with three bat-
teries of artillery, were detailed to capture the block-house.
The infantry kept up an ineffectual musketry fire, and the
artillery, after being driven from many positions, finally got on
the diagonal through one ' corner and concentrated their shot
on this corner. The weight of metal thrown soon made a
breach in the block-house, but the garrison did not surrender,
and at the close of the day they still held their position.
Durmg the night it was decided to organize a storming party,
part of whom should stop the loop-holes with fence rails, while
the other portion were to leap on the roof of the block-house
and dig down to the garrison below. At daylight the storm-
ing party crept as near the block-house as possible ; but before
APPENDIX. 449
giving the command to charge, the colonel, desirous to save
further bloodshed, in a loud voice summoned the garrison to
surrender. A white handkerchief was waved in reply, and
the block-house surrendered. Fully one-half of the small
garrison were killed or wounded, audit seems that during the
latter part of the preceding day, after many lives had been
lost and the block-house had become entirely untenable, they
had tried to surrender, but their signals were not seen and
they had concluded that the Confederates were enraged at
their obstinacy and were determined to kill them all. I re-
gret that I can not give the names of this heroic garrison, as
they were of course sent south with other prisoners, and I
never had the fortune to meet any of them afterward. The
details given above were obtained long after the war, from
Confederate sources.
In a series of articles published in the N'ew Orleans Times
in the spring of 1874, General Hood reviews "Johnson's
!N"arrative," and speaks as follows of the block-house in
Buzzard Roost Gap :
" When en route to Tennessee, during the campaign in
the fall of 1864, our army, having captured the troops
stationed in Dalton, attempted to march through Mill-
creek Gap, but was prevented from so doing by a squad of
men posted within a little fort, covered with railroad iron
and constructed of logs of large size, around which was thrown
up an embankment of earth to protect the troops against field
artillery ; port-holes were cut so as to allow the men to fire in
all directions, and especially upon the line of railroad.
" It was reported to me that field artillery had little or no
effect upon this impromptu fortification, and that when the
men charged up to it, they could not find an entrance ;. there-
fore it could not be taken without much loss of time and con-
siderable cost.
" Major Kinlocke Falconer was, I think, severely wounded
while experimenting with this little fortress, which obliged
me to march some twenty miles around it."
This account differs somewhat from the one which I have
given, but I think that General Hood is slightly in error in
8ome of the details. He leaves the impression that the block-
450 APPENDIX.
house was not captured, while I know that it was. He also
speaks of it as au " impromptu " fortification, which it was
not, having been carefully built by the Michigan Engineers,
and finished before the capture of Atlanta.
It may be proper to add in explanation that the block-houses
were not designed to defend bridges against a fully equipped
army, but only against cavalry raids, and that a raiding band
of cavalry is always too scantily supplied with artillery am-
munition to indulge in the luxury of battering down a block-
house.
The most serious destruction of block-houses occurred in
September, 1864, during a raid made by General Forrest on the
road leading south from Kashville to Decatur. The following
account of this raid I afterward obtained from General For-
rest himself. He first attacked ,an unfinished block-house near
the southern end of the road, and the first shell fired from
his battery entered the block-house and injured some of its
occupants. They at once surrendered, and the block-house
was burned. At the next block-house he ostentatiously pa-
raded the captured commander of the first one ; and on this
convincing proof that block-houses could be taken, quite a
number of them surrendered without a fight, and their bridges
were burned. One German captain refused to surrender, but
General Forrest had with him several bottles of a kind of
Greek fire, and some of his men crept up behind the railroad
embankment, and suddenly breaking the bottles on the ends
of the bridge, set it on fire, and it was destroyed. The gallant
captain and his command held their block-house, but un-
fortunately lost the bridge which it was to defend.
In all. General Forrest captured and destroyed eleven block-
houses*
When General Hood, with his army, advanced to Nashville,
the block-houses on the Nashville and Decatur railroad were
very sensibly abandoned. Fortunately for us, the Nashville
and Decatur railroad was not our main line, and the destruc-
tion of its bridges caused no serious loss.
From the time that the block-houses were built until the
close of the war, but six bridges (all small) were burned on
the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, our main line of
APPENDIX. 451
supply. These were the six nearest Nashville, one of them,
as recorded above, having been previously burned by General
Wheeler, and rebuilt. They were abandoned by order ; but
the seventh, at Overall's creek, five miles north of Murfrees-
boro, was ordered to be held. Its garrison consisted of about
thirty men of the 115th O. Y. I., commanded by Lieutenant
H. H. Glosser, Bate's division of infantry (the same that
fought the Buzzard Roost block-house), with a large force of
cavalry and three twelve-pound guns, operated in its vicinity
for two weeks, and fired seventy-two cannon-shot against it.
Once during this time, a sortie was made from Murfreesboro,
and the garrison's supplies of ammunition and provisions were
replenished. The block-house was not captured nor the bridge
burned.
To keep the block-houses and their garrisons thoroughly
efficient, I organized a special corps of block-house inspectors,
and placed at their head Major J. R. Willettj of my own regi-
ment, the First U. S. Yet. Yol. Engineers. To his professional
skill, zeal, and efficiency, the excellent results attained were
mainly due.
In his Memoirs (vol. 2, pp. 146 and 398), General Sherman
thus alludes to this system of railroad defense :
" All the important bridges were likewise protected by good
block-houses, admirably constructed, and capable of a strong
defense against cavalry or infantry."
" The Atlanta campaign would simply have been impossible
without the use of the railroads from Louisville to Kashville,
one hundred and eighty-five miles ; from Nashville to Chatta-
nooga, one hundred and fifty-one miles ; and from Chattanooga
to Atlanta, one hundred and thirty-seven miles. Every mile of
this ' single track ' was so delicate that one man could in a min-
ute have broken or moved a rail, but our trains usually carried
along the tools and means to repair such a break. We had,
however, to maintain strong guards and garrisons at each im-
portant bridge or trestle, the destruction of which would
have necessitated time for rebuilding. For the protection of
a bridge, one or two log block-houses, two stories high, with
a piece of ordnance and a small infantry guard, usually sufficed.
The block-house had a small parapet and ditch about it, and
the roof was made shot-proof, by earth piled on. These points
452 APPENDIX.
could usually be reached only by a dasb of the enemy's cavalry,
and many of these block-houses successfully resisted serious
attacks by both cavalry and artillery. The only block-house
that was actually captured on the main [line] was the one
described, near Allatoona."
General Sherman is mistaken about the piece of ordnance
in each block-'house. He was too far in front to be familial
with all these details.
He describes the capture of the block-house near Allatoona
as follows (Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 149) :
" Before finally withrawing [from the attack on Allatoona],
General French converged a heavy fire of his cannon on the
block-house at Allatoona creek, about two miles from the
depot, set it on fire, and captured its garrison, consisting of
four officers and eighty -five men."
The usual garrison of a block-house was from twenty to
thirty men.
Besides their use in railroad defense, block-houses were freely
employed in the defenses of IS^ashville, Murfreesboro, Steven-
son, McMinnville, Chattanooga, and other fortified positions,
occasionally as independent works, but usually as citadels or
keeps for earthern forts, so that the garrison might have a
secure place of retreat should the main work be carried by
assault.
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, 151 miles. Fifty block-
houses were built on this road, two being large block-houses
for artillery. The majority of the block-houses had double
walls, the chief exceptions being along Crow creek, where the
probability of attack by artillery was very slight. One block-
house near Nashville was captured by General Wheeler, three
by General Hood (one being the first mentioned that had been
rebuilt), and three were evacuated. These six had been partly
rebuilt at the close of the war.
Nashville, Decatur and Stevenson Bailroad, 200 miles. Fifty-
four block-houses were built on this road, almost all of which
had double walls. Eleven were surrendered to General For-
APPENDIX. 453
rest, in October, 1864, and burned, the greater number baving
made no attempt at defense. "When General Hood marched
north to Nashville, the remaining block-houses, except three
near Stevenson and four built in 1865, were abandoned, and
the majority were burned by the enemy. Three, near Decatur,
were not burned, but they were probably overlooked. When
the war closed, a large number of the burned block-houses
had been rebuilt on the octagonal plan, and work was under
way on the others.
Chattanooga and Atlanta Bailroa I, 187 miles. Twenty -two
block-houses were built on this road, all of which had double
walls. Three of these were captured by General Hood's army,
in October, 1864, and burned. Six others, south of Dalton,
were abandoned, by order, when General Sherman tore up the
railroad below Dalton, and left Atlanta for the sea. The
others were held until the close of the war.
Chattanooga and Knoxville Railroad to Charleston^ 42 miles.
The only bridge on this road (within the limits of the De-
partment of the Cumberland) that required defense was at the
crossing of the Hiawassee river. Two block-houses were built
here, which were held until the close of the war.
Nashville and Johnsonville Railroad, 78 miles. Twenty-three
block-houses were commenced on this road, but only a few of
them were finished. When Hood's army appeared before
j^ashville, the road was abandoned and the block-houses were
burned, except the one nearest Johnsonville. At the close of
the war twenty-five block -ho uses were under construction.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad to Kentucky line, 44 miles.
One single-wall block-house was built at Edgefield Junction.
The remainder of the road was protected by redoubts and
stockades, built in 1862 and 1863. ISTo serious damage was
done on this line after Bragg's Kentucky campaign.
Nashville and Clarksville Railroad, 52 miles. This line began
at Edgefield Junction, went to the Kentucky State line, by
the Edgefield and Kentucky Railroad, and thence to Clarks-
454 APPENDIX.
ville, by the Memphis Branch of the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad, It was opened, as a supply route, in 1864, but was
but little used. It was designed to connect at Clarksville
with steamboats on the Cumberland River, that were unable
to get over Harpath shoals. Eight single-wall block-houses
were built on this line, but three of them were never fully
completed. 'No damage was done to this road by the enemy.
CANVA.S PONTON-TRAINS.
The canvas ponton-train used by the Army of the Cum-
berland was somewhat peculiar. The ordinary canvas ponton
has long been in use in European armies, especially in Russia,
and is made by putting together a skeleton-boat and drawing
canvas over it. The usual length of such a boat is twenty-
one feet, and this is the length of the two side-frames. These
frames are usually carried on very long wagons, specially de-
vised for the purpose ; but as the Army of the Cumberland
had to campaign in a country where the only dependence was
upon a single-track railroad, it was of the utmost importance
to devise some way of carrying their pontons in the ordinary
army-wagon so as to avoid the cost of keeping up an inde-
pendent ponton-train, whose services would only occasionally
be required.
I believe that General Rosecrans first suggested cutting the
frames in two for transportation, and uniting them when
needed for use. At all events, when I became chief engineer I
found that one such boat had been prepared, and seemed to do
well. The two parts were connected by keys. After a care-
ful examination, I decided to adopt such a boat for our army,
but to replace the keys by permanent strap-hinges on the out-
side of the frames. I sent Captain O'Connell, of the Pioneer
Brigade, to Nashville, with a detachment of pontoniers, to
build a train of such boats, giving him authority to make any
additional improvements that he or any one else could suggest.
The result was the boat shown in the drawings (Fig. 8),
excepting that the framing of the sides has been changed so
as to conform more to the usual model. Some minor changes
have also beei* made, but the boat is in essentials the same
that was so successfully used to cross General Sherman's army
APPENDIX.
455
'O o o
' o o o
Mi © © ©
oil! <5 © ©
rrr-
-^
i^ ^-c v-/ \
Fig. 8. Frame oe Hinged Canvas Ponton, with Enlarged View of Hinge,
AND OF Middle Brace.
over all the rivers between Chattanooga and Atlanta, and
which afterward accompanied the army in its march to the
sea and through the Carolinas. It answered its pnrj^ose ad-
mirably. So many persons contributed their mite toward the
development of this boat that it is impossible to apportion the
credit properly ; bnt I think that Captain (afterward Major)
O'Connell and Lieutenant (afterward Major) Willett deserve
special mention.
General Sherman (Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 401) thus speaks of
canvas pontons, his reference to the hinge showing that he
had specially in mind the pontons of the Army of the Cum-
berland, as the frames of the other canvas ponton-train had
no hinges :
" For the passage of rivers each army corps had a ponton-
train with a detachment of engineers, and on reaching a
river, the leading infantry division was charged with the labor
of putting it down. Generally, the single ponton-train
could provide for nine hundred feet of bridge, which sufiiced ;
but when the rivers were very wide, two such trains would
be brought together, or the single train was supplemented by
456 APPENDIX.
a trostle-bridge, or bridges made on crib-work, out of the tim-
ber found near the place. The pontons in general use were
skeleton frames, made with a hinge, so as to fold back and
constitute a wagon-body. In this same wagon were carried
the cotton canvas cover, the anchor and chains, and a due pro-
portion of the balks, chesses, and lashings. All the troops
became very familiar with their mechanism and use, and we
were rarely delayed by reason of a river, however broad.
I saw recently, in Aldershot, England, a very complete
ponton-train ; the boats were sheathed with wood and felt,
made very light; but I think they were more liable to chafing
and damage in rough handling than were our less expen-
sive and rougher boats. On the whole, I would prefer the
skeleton frame and canvas cover to any style of ponton that
I have ever seen."
MAPS.
The topographical department of the Army of the Cumber-
land consisted of the acting topographical engineers on each
brigade, division, and corps staff, and the topographical en-
gineers at department headquarters. The army was so far
from Washington that it had to have a complete map estab-
lishment of its own. Accordingly, the office of the chief topo-
graphical engineer contained a printing press, two lithographic
presses, one photographic establishment, arrangements for
map-mounting, and a full corps of draughtsmen and assist-
ants.
During the first year of the war, maps for field use were
reproduced by photography ; but these maps were objectionable
on many accounts. Unless a very fine and expensive lens
was used they were inaccurate at the borders, and sections of
a large map would not join properly ; they faded when ex-
posed to sunlight ; copies could not be made at night nor on
rainy days ; nor could a sufficient number be made even on
the best days. For these reasons photography was gradually
set aside for lithography ; but as lithographic stones and
presses were too heavy for an active campaign, they were left
at the depot nearest to the front, and replaced by a fac-simile
photo-printing device invented by Captain Margedant, chief
assistant. This consisted of a light box containing several
APPENDIX. 457
india-rubber baths, fitting into one another, and the proper sup-
ply of chemicals. Printing wan done by tracing the required
map on thin paper and laying it over a sheet coated with
nitrate of silver. The sun's rays passing through the tissue
paper blackened the prepared paper except under the ink
lines, thus making a white map on black ground. By tliis
means copies from the drawing-paper map could be made as
often as new information came in, and occasionally there
would be several editions of a map during the same day. The
process, however, was expensive, and did not permit the print-
ing of a large number of copies ; therefore these maps were
only issued to the chief commanders.
The map of JSTorthern Georgia, on which the Atlanta cam-
paign was based, was made by first enlarging the best printed
map attainable, to the scale of one inch to the mile. This
being used as a basis, the details were elaborated by cross-
questioning refugees, spies, prisoners, peddlers, and any and
all persons familiar with the country in front of us. It was
remarkable how vastly our maps were improved by this pro-
cess. The best illustration of the value of this method is the
fact that Snake Creek Gap, through which our whole army
turned the strong positions at Dalton and Buzzard Roost Gap,
was not to be found on any printed map that we could get, and
the knowledge of the existence of this gap was of immense
importance to us. Sergeant Finnegan, of the Fourth Ohio
Cavalry, had charge of this branch of the office, and became
exceedingly expert in extracting information in this manner.
Two days before the army started from Chattanooga on the
Atlanta campaign I received notice of the intended march.
Up to this moment there was but one copy of the large map
of iTorthern Georgia, and this was in the hands of the
draughtsmen. I kept it back until the last moment so as to
get on it the latest information that Sergeant Finnegan might
be able to extract from the motley crew turned over by the
Provost-Marshal General for examination.
The map was immediately cut up into sixteen sections and
divided among the draughtsmen, who were ordered to work
night and day until all the sections had been traced on thin
paper in autographic ink. As_ soon as four adjacent sections
458 APPENDIX.
were finished they were transferred to one large stone, and two
hundred copies were printed. When all the map had thus
been lithographed the map-mounters commenced their work.
Being independent of sunlight the work was soon done — the
map-mounting requiring the greatest time ; hut before the
commanding generals left Chattanooga, each had received a
bound copy of the map, and before we struck the enemy, every
brigade, division, and corps commander in the three armies
had a copy.
The copies for the cavalry were printed directly on muslin,
as such maps could be washed clean whenever soiled and could
not be injured by hard service. Many officers sent handker-
chiefs to the office and had maps printed on them.
Although our map became less and less accurate as we ad-
vanced south from Chattanooga, it was still valuable even
where its information was defective, because every subordinate
commander had the same map as the commanding general, and
therefore knew at once from the nature of his orders what he
was expected to do. If a road could not be found, still the
general direction and the general object of his march could be
divined, and the spirit of the general's orders could be faith-
fully carried out.
I think that I am warranted in saying that the army that
General Sherman led to Atlanta was the best supplied with
maps of any that fought in the civil war.
INDEX.
AcKWORTH, Ga., U. S. forces at, ii, 82.
Adams, Gex., driven from Kodgers-
ville by U. S. ibrces, i, 131. Defeat-
ed by Col. Hambright, i, 132. Ee-
pulsed at 8tone River, i, 242.
Alabama, expedition of Gen. 0. M.
Mitchell into, i, 130. Gen. J. II.
Wilson's campaign in, ii, 347.
Alexander, Gen. .). W. S., charges
upon a battery at Stone River,
i, 224. Operations of, in Alabama
and Georgia, ii, 349.
Aleshire's Battery, 1, 291.
Allatoona Pass, the turning of,
ii, 75. .
Altamont, concentration of Buell's
forces at, i, 156.
Ammon, Gex. J., commands Tenth
Brigade, Army of the Ohio, i, 69.
In action at Shiloh, i, 107. Opera-
tions of, in East Tennessee, ii, 273.
Anderson Cavalry, charge of, upon
the enemy, i, 222.
Anderson, Gen. P., at battle of Mis-
sionary Ridge, i, 425.
Anderson, Gen. Robert, assigned to
command Department of Ken-
tucky, i, 20. Invokes Kentuckians
to arm for expulsion of rebel in-
vaders, i, 31. Proclamation of, i,
134. Relieved at his own request,
i, 31. General orders of, i, 35.
Andrews, J. J., secret expedition of,
to destroy railroad bridges in
Georgia, i, 136.
Army oe the Cumberland, under An-
derson, i, 22. Under Sherman, i,
35. Designation of, changed to
"Army of the Ohio," under Buell,
i, 46. Assumed its original name
under Rosecrans, i, 207. Concen-
tration of, at Nashville, i, 207.
Roster of organization of, at battle
of Stone River, i, 281. Re-equip-
ment of, at IMurfreesboro, i, 288.
Roster of organization of, at the
battle of Chickamauga, i, 378.
Thomas assigned to command of,
i, 394. .Attitude and condition of,
early in 18i)4, ii, 13. Impoi-tant
changes made in, at Chattanooga,
ii, 28. Sti-ength of, at Chattanooga,
ii, 30. Organization of, April, 1864,
ii, 31. Loss of, during June, 1864,
ii, 95. Casualties of, during the
Atlanta campaign, ii, 149. During
the campaign against Ilood in
Tennessee, ii, 248. Dissolution of,
and summary of its achievements,
ii, 369. Disposition of its heroic
dead, ii, 377. See also Appendix as
to organization of, ii, 381. List of
its officers killed in battle, or who
died in the service, ii, 386. En-
gineer service in, ii, 439.
Army of Kentucky, under Gen. G.
Granger, i, 290.
Army OF the Ohio, constituted under
Buell, i, 46. Strength of, i, 98.
Discipline and valor of, at the bat-
tle of Shiloh, i, 116. Designation
of, changed back to " Army of the
Cumberland," i, 207.
Army of the Te.xnessee, arrives at
Chattanooga, i, 410. McPherson
assigned to command of, ii, 24.
Howard succeeds McPherson in
command of, ii, 124.
AsHBO'iH, Gen. A., at siege of Cor-
inth, i, 126.
Athens, Ala., occupied by Mitchell,
i, 132.
Atlanta, Ga., campaign to, com-
menced, ii, 44. Advance upon, ii,
109. Siege of, ii, 123. Shelling of,
ii, 140. Siege of, raised, ii, 140.
Abandoned by Hood, ii, 147. Ef-
fects of the fall of, ii, 148. A large
portion of, destroyed by Sherman,
ii, 279.
AvERY.sBORo, battle of, ii, 314.
Baird, Gen. A., at Stevens' Gap, i,
320. Joins Negley, i, 322. At Chick-
amauga, i, 334. At Missionary
(459)
460
INDEX.
Ridge, i, 428. In movement toward
Dalton, ii, 20. Advance toward
Tunnel Hill, ii, 26. At Ringgold,
ii, 45. At New Hope Church, ii, 82.
Before Kenesaw Mountain, ii, 88.
Before Atlanta, ii, 127. At battle
of Jonesboro, ii, 144. At battle of
Bentonville, ii, 321.
Baker, Lteut. Col. M., killed before
Atlanta, ii, 128.
Baldwin, Maj. L., mortally wounded
at Peachtree Creek, ii, 116.
Baldwin, Col. P. P., at battle of
Stone River, i, 231. Reportof the
battle, i, 264. At Chickamauaa, i,
335.
Bate, Cen. AV. B.,at battle of Chick-
amauga, i, 362. On Missionary
Ridge, i, 430. At Buzzard Roost,
ii, 4y. Driven from Overall's Creek,
ii, 223.
Barnes, Col. S. M., at battle of Chick-
amauga, i, 337.
Barxet, Capt., at battle of Perrv-
ville, i, 187.
Barton, Gen., commands rebel forces
at Cumberland Gap, i, 133.
Bardstown, Ky., camp of instruction
at, i, 72.
Battle Creek, Gen. Mitchell at, i,
144.
Baum, Gen., refuses to surrender
Resaca, ii, 162.
Beatty, Gen. J., drives the enemv
at battle of Stone River, i. 26 f.
At battle of Chickamauga, i, 345.
At Missionary Ridge, i, 429.
Beatty, Gen. S., commands Eleventh
Brigade in Kentucky, i, 71. At
battle of Stone River, i, 236. At
battle of Cliickamauga, i, 336.
At battle of Nashville, ii, 229.
Beauregard, Gen. G. T., succeeded
A. S. Johnston in command at
Shiloh, i, 108. Sends jubilant dis-
patch to Richmond, i, 108. De-
feated, i, 114. Extract from report
of battle of Shiloh, i, 125. At
Corinth, i, 126. Withdi-aws his
army, i, 129. Dispatches of to
Hood and Cobb, ii, 208. To the
people of Georgia, ii, 291. To
Hardee at Savannah, ii, 303.
Movements of at Charleston, ii,
307.
Becket, Maj. D. C, killed near Ken-
esaw Mountain, ii, 92.
Bentonville, N. C, battle of, ii, 316.
Big Hill, engagement at, i, 179.
Big Shanty, a depot of supplies for
Sherman's army, ii, 88.
Blackburn, Dr., pledges Kentucky
to the rebels, i, 10.
Blair, Gen. F. P., at Mi.ssionary
Ridge, i, 426. On the Knoxville
campaign, ii, 1. Ordered to Kings-
ton, ii, 74. Reaches Ackworth, ii,
83. On the march to the sea, ii,
278.
Block-hocses, illustrations of, rec-
tangular, ii, 442 ; octagonal, ii, 445 ;
designs for artillery block-houses,
ii, 446, 447 ; effectiveness of against
Hood's forces, ii, 449. For railroad
defense, ii, 452-454.
Bloodgood, Lieut. Col., at Peachtree
Creek, ii, 113.
Board of Trade Battery, at the bat-
tle of Selma, ii, 351.
Boone, Col., raid into Georgia, ii, 17,
Bowling Green, Ky., capture of by
Gen. O. M. Mitchell, i, 68.
Boyle. Gen. J. T., opposed neutrality
in Kentucky, i, 15. Pla.ced in
command at Columbia, i, 52. Re-
sists Morgan in Kentuckj^ i, 146.
Bradley, Gen. L. P., report of battle
of Stone River, i, 270. At battle
of Chickamauga, i, 337. Engage-
ment near Spring Hill, ii, 193.
Bragg, Gen. B., repulsed at Shiloh,
i, 107. Succeeds Beauregard, i,
139. Puts his army in motion for
Tennessee, i, 140. Invades Ken-
tucky, i, 158. Strength of, i, 158.
Moves toward Nashville, i, 158.
Gives battle at Perry ville, i, 186.
Failure of his campaign in Ken-
lucky, i, 198. Extract from report
of, i, 204. Line of battle and attack
at Stone River, i, 228. Checked at
all points, i, 215. Retreat of, i, 251.
Strength and losses of at battle of
Stone River, i, 252. Report of the
battle, i, 255. Evacuates Tulla-
homa, i, 307. Retreats to Chatta-
nooga, 1, 308. Evacuates Chatta-
nooga, i, 316. Combination of
against Negley, i, 320. Position
of and plan of attack at Chicka-
mauga, i, 327. Strength of at
Chickamauga, i, 360. Losses of, L
302. Before Chattanooga, i, 38o.
Part of army driven from Look-
INDEX.
461
out Mountain by Hooker, i, 399.
Detaches Longstreet's corps, i,
408. Entire army on Missionary
Ridge, i, 425. Defeat of, i, 43:J.
Strength and loss at Chattanooga,
i, 437. Eemoved from command
in Georgia, ii, 14. Operations of
in North Carolina, ii, 307. At
battle of Bentonville, ii, 317.
Bramlette, Col. T. E.. takes arms to
Camp Dick Robinson, i, 22. Moves
to Lexington, i, 31.
Brannan, Gen. J. M., at Chicka-
mauga, i, 333. Chief of artillery,
i, 406. At Missionary Ridge, i,
430. Report of guns captured on
Atlanta campaign, ii, 150.
Brecki.\rii;ge, Gen. J. C, disloyalty
of, in Kentucky, i, 6. Entered
Rochester and Bowling Green, i,
71. Demands surrender of Nash-
ville, i, 207. At the battle of Stone
River, i, 227. At Chickamauga, i,
340. On Missionary Ridge, i, 425.
Drives Gillem from Bull's Gap, ii,
272.
Bridge's Battery, on Orchard Knob,
i, 416.
Bridgeport, Ala., capture of, i, 131.
Brown, Gen., cavalry operations of,
in North Carolina, ii, 342.
Brown, Lieut. Col. W. II. H., mor-
tally wounded at Peachtree
Creek, ii, 116.
Brown's Ferry, operations at, by
Gen. AV. F. Smith, i, 396.
Brownlow, Col., engagement of, at
Sparta, ii, 6.
Bruce, Col. S. D., commands
Twenty-second Brigade, Army of
the Ohio, i, 70. Routs a rebel
force, i, 212.
Buckner, Gen. S. B., disloyalty of,
i, 3. Inspector-General of militia
in Kentucky, i, 9. At Camp
Boone, Ky., i, 23. Attempt of to
capture Louisville, i, 28. With-
drawal to Bowling Green, i, 29.
Surrenders Fort Donclson to
Grant, i, 86. At Perry ville, i, 192.
Moves against Negley in Mc-
Lemore's Cove, i, 320. At battle
of Chickamauga, i, 364. At Mis-
sionary Ridge, i, 425.
Bctell, Gen. D. C, assigned to com-
mand Department of the Ohio,
i, 46. Early operations of, in
Kentucky, i, 47. Advance of, to
Nashville, i, 69. Sent troops to
Grant 'without solicitation, i, 85,
Movement of toward Shiloh, i,
100. Reaches Savannah, i, 103.
At the battle of Shiloh, i, 109.
Loss of, at Shiloh, i, 114. Letters
to Ilalleck, i, 120, 121. Extract
from report of battle of Shiloh, i,
124. At siege of Corinth, i, 126.
Moving to support Pope, i, 140.
Begins transfers of command to
East Tennessee, i, 142. Orders his
army to Murfreesboro, i, 158. Pre-
pares to offer battle at Altamont,
i, 150. Moves toward Louisville,
i, 159. Letters to Ilalleck, i, 162.
Letters to Thomas, i, 164-173.
Campaign of Perryville, i, 184.
Loss at battle of Perryville, i, 192.
Dispatches relative to his removal,
i, 200. Short report of, i, 201. Ex-
tract of letters to Ilalleck, i, 205.
Superseded by Rosecrans, i, 206.
BuELL, Col. G. P., at Chickamauga,
i, 337. Operations on Lookout
Mountain, ii, 5. At Savannah, ii,
283. At battle of Bentonville, ii,
316.
BuFORD, Gen. A., at Duck River, ii,
191.
Bull's Gap, Gillem defeated at, by
Breckinridge, ii, 272.
BuRBRiDGE, Gen., operations of, in
East Tennessee, ii, 273.
Burke, Lieut. Col., at Stewart's
Creek, i, 247.
BuRNSiDE, Gen. A. E., urged to co-
operate with Rosecians against
Bragg, i, 305-367. In critical po-
sition at Knoxville, i, 436.
Burnt Hickory, ii, 74.
Bush's Battery, at Perryville, i, 188.
Two guns of captured, i, 237.
BuscHBECK, Col. A., at Missionary
Ridge, i, 427. Near Dallas, ii, 76.
BuTTERFiELD, Gen. D., examination
of railroads by, ii, 22. At battle
of Resaca, ii, 65. At New Hope
Church, ii, 76. Before Kenesaw
Mountain, ii, 91.
Buzzard's Roost, operations at,
ii, 47, Hood's attack of block-
house at, ii, 452.
Camp Clay, established near Cincin-
nati, i, 14.
Cairo, strategic importance of, i, SO.
462
INDEX.
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., established
i, 16. Eflbrts to prevent transmis-
sion of arms to, i, 21.
•Camp Joe Holt, established by Rous-
seau, i, IG.
Campbell, Col. A. P., expedition
against Wheeler, i, 388. Action
of at Mossy Creek, ii, 16.
Canby, Gen. E. R. S., intercepts
President Davis' order to Smith
and Magruder, ii, 157. Dispatch
of, to Sherman, ii, 179.
Caxdy, Col. C, near Dallas, ii, 76.
Caklin, Gen. W. P., at Perrvville, i,
191. At Nolensville, i, 22U. Re-
port of battle of Stone River, i,
237. At Chickamauga, i, 336. At
Lookout Mountain, i, 421. At
Missionary Ridge, i, 429. Ex-
pedition toward Dalton, ii, 19. At
Buzzard Roost, ii, 49. At battle
of Resaca, ii, 66. At battle of
Jonesboro, ii, 144. At battle of
Bentonville, ii, 315.
Cakm.vk, Col., at Savannah, ii, 287.
Extract from report of the cap-
ture of Savannah, ii, 302.
Carter, Gen. S. P., ordered to join
Thomas in Kentucky, i, 46. At
battle of Mill Springs, i, 56. At
Cumberland Gap, i, 78. Raid into
East Tennessee, i, 216.
Chalmers, Gen. J. R., demands the
surrender of Munfordsville, i, 160.
At Duck River, ii, 191.
Charleston, S. C, evacuated, ii, 309.
Charlotte, N. C., threatened by
Slocum, ii, 301.
Chattahoochee River, Johnston re-
treats across, ii. 111.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Negley's de-
monstration against, i, 132.
Buell's advance toward, i, 139.
Importance of, i, 140. Occupied
by JBragg, i, 310. Evacuated by
Bragg, i, 316. Occupied by Crit-
tenden, i, 318. Battles of, i, 386.
Fortifications and topography of,
406. National Cemetery estab-
lished at, by Thomas, ii, 377.
Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad,
defenses of, ii, ,453.
Chattano(iga and Kloxville Rail-
road, defenses of, ii, 453.
Chattoooa Mountain, ii, 48.
Cheatham, Gen. B. F., at Perry ville,
i, 1 93. At battle of Stone River, i.
227. At Chickamauga, i, 335. At
Missionary Ridge, i, 427. In South
Carolina, ii, 309. At battle of Ben-
tonville, ii, 317.
Cheraw, S. C, entered by the Seven-
teenth Corps, ii, 311.
Chickamauga Campaign, and battle of,
., i, 310-385.
Childs, Liedt. J. W., captures rebel
general J. P. M. Maury, i, 136.
Childs, Col., i, 177.
Church's Battery, i, 245.
Cincinnati, O., Anderson's head-
quarters at, 1, 120. Threatened
by Gen. E. K. Smith, i, 183.
Cleburn, Gen. P. R., at Stone River,
i, 227. At Chickamauga, i, 337.
On Missionary Ridge, i, 423. At
Dalton, ii, 21. At New Hope
Church, ii, 79. Killed at Frank-
lin, ii, 201.
Cobb, Gen. H., I'outed near Macon
by Walcutt, ii, 2S0. Communica-
tion of, to Wilson, ii, 360.
CoBHAM, Col., at Lookout Mountain,
i, 420. Killed at Peachtree Creek,
ii, 116.
CoBUKN, Col. J., attacks Van Dorn,
i, 291. Surrenders, i, 292. Ex-
peditions against guerriUa bands,
ii, 6. At battle of Resaca, ii, 68.
Enters Atlanta, ii, 147.
Cocket.ill's Battery, at Chicka-
mauga, i, 339.
CoGSViELL, Gen., at battle of Benton-
ville, ii, 319.
Columbia, S. C, capture and burning
of, ii, 309.
Columbia, Tenn., occupied by U. S.
troops, i, 131.
Columbu.s, Ga., captured by Wilson's
forces, ii, 355.
Columbus, Kt., occupation of, by
Gen. Polk, i, 33.
CoNKLiNG, Maj., killed, i, 181.
CoNNELL, Col. J, M., at London and
Rock Castle Hills, i, 381. At
Chickamauga, i, 334.
Conrad, Col., at battle of Franklin,
ii, 198.
CooN, CoL., engages the enemy at
Shoal's Creek, ii, 188. Charge of
at battle of Nashville, ii, 232.
Cooper, Surgeon G. E., report of on
Atlanta campaign, ii, 150.
Cooper, Gen., at battle of Nashville,
ii, 332.
INDEX.
463
Corinth, importance of position of,
i, 97. Siege and fall of, i, 126.
Corse, Gex. J. M., at Missionary
Ridge, i, 427. Ordered to Rome,
ii, 158. Attacked at AUatoona,
ii, 101. Destroys foundries, mills,
etc., at Rome, ii, 278.
Couch, Gex. D. N., at battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 229.
Cox's Battery, i, 243.
Cox, Gen. J. D., takes Kentucky
regiments to West Virginia, i, 15.
At Lynnville, ii, 188. Intercepts
Hood near Columbia, ii, 189. Re-
pulsed enemy's attacks, ii, 194.
At battle of Fi'anklin, ii, 196. At
battle of Nashville, ii, 229.
Crakjhill, Lieut. W. P., constructs
fortifications, i, 176.
Crawfish Springs, i, 340.
Cre[ghtox, Col., at Lookout Moun-
tain, i, 42Q. Killed near Ring-
gold, i, 436.
Crittenden, Gen. George, in com-
mand of Confederates at battle of
Mill Springs, i, 55.
Crittenden, Gen. T. L., brigadier-
general of Kentucky militia, i, 9.
Urges members of the State
Guard to enter the U. S. service, 1,
31. Proclamation of, i, 34. As-
signed to command of Fifth Divis-
ion, i, 71. Moves to Nashville, i,
72. At battle of Shiloh, i, 109.
At Corinth, i, 126. Assigned to
command of a corps, i, 184. At
Perryville, i, 186. Hotly engaged
at Stone River, i, 242. Report of
the battle, i, 275. Occupies Chat-
tanooga and Rossville, i, 318. At
the battle of Chickamauga, i, 348
Crook. Gen. G., at Carthage, Tenn.,
i, 290. At Dougherty Gap, i, 327.
E.xpedition against Wheeler, i,
387. Saves Murfreesboro, i, 389.
Cuoxton, Gen. J. T., at the battle of
Chickamauga, i, 334. Attacks
Pillow at Lafayette, ii, 95. Near
Florence, Ala., ii, 170. Covers
movement from Pulaski, ii, 189.
At Rally Hill, ii, 190. At battle
of Nashville, ii, 229. Operations
of in Alabama and Georgia, ii,
348.
Cruft, Gen. C, commands Thir-
teenth Brigade, Army of the Ohio,
i, 71. Reinforces General Grant
at Fort Donelson, i, 72. At battle
of Richmond, Ky., i, 180. At
battle of Stone River, i, 225. Re-
port of the battle, i, 277. At
Chickamauga, i, 336. At Lookout
Mountain, i, 417. At Missionary
Ridge, i,428. Expedition toward
Dalton, ii, 19. At battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 228.
CuMi5Er.LAND Gap, occupicd by rebel
forces, i, 133. Evacuated by Gen-
eral Morgan, i, 178.
Cusiiing's Battery, at battle of
Chickamauga, i, 339.
Cutter, Capt., contest of with guer-
rilla band, ii, 6.
Daiilgreex, Admiral John A., co-
operates with Sherman, ii, 284.
Dallas, Ga., engagements at, ii, 76.
Dalton, Ga., movement against, ii,
18. Turning of, ii, 44. Capturetl
by Hood, ii, 162.
Dana, Gen, N. J. T., dispatch to
Sherman, ii, 206.
Davis, President Jeff., extract from
message on battle of Shiloh,
i, 125. Announces " grave re-
verses," ii, 10. Disregarded John-
ston's suggestions, ii, 26. Inca-
pacity of, ii, 27. Relieves John-
ston, ii, 113. Confers with West-
ern generals, ii, 156. Orders
Smith and Magruder to co-oper-
ate Avith Hood, ii, 157. Capture
of by Wilson's forces, ii, 362.
Davies, Gen. J. A., at siege of Cor-
inth, i, 126.
Davis>, Gkn. Jeff. C, joins Euell at
Murfreesboro, i, 158. At Nolens-
ville, i, 220. At battle of Stone
River, i, 224. Report of the bat-
tle, i, 266. At battle of Chicka-
mauga, i, 336. Sent to Hooker
at Lookout Mountain, i, 401. On
the Knoxville campaign, ii, 1. At
Buzzard Roost, ii, 49. At battle
of Resaca, ii, 66. Captures Rome,
Ga.', ii, 73. Assault of, near Ivene-
saw, ii, 93. At Peachtree Creek,
ii, 112. Before Atlanta, ii, 128.
Assigned to command of the Four-
teenth Corps, ii, 140. At battle of
Jonesboro, ii, 143. On the march
to the sea, ii, 278. At Averysboro,
ii, 314. At battle of Bentonville,
ii, 318. Congratulatory order of.
ii, 374.
464
INDEX.
Decatur, Ala., capture of, by Tur-
chin, i, 130. Hood's demonstra-
tion against, ii, 1G9.
De CotJKCY, Col. J. S., at Cumberland
Ford, i. 133. Defeats Stevenson, i,
177.
Delph, J. M., mayor of Louisville,
commander of " Home Guard," i,
11. Demands the keys of state
magazine, i, 13.
Dick, Col. G. F.,at Chickamauga, i,
336.
Dep-vrtmext of the Cumberland, con-
stituted, i, 22. Designation of,
changed, i, 46. Its original name
assumed, i, 207.
Department of Kentucky, consti-
tuted, i, 20.
Department of the Ohio, constituted,
i, 46. Discontinued, i, 207.
DoBBs, CoL., killed at the battle of
Salem, ii, 351.
Dodge, Col. J. B., at Chickamauga,
i, 335.
Donaldson, Gen., garrisons Nashville,
ii, 206. At battle of Nashville, ii,
227.
DooLiTTLE, Col., at battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 240.
DiLV/oRTH, Col., near Kenesaw Moun-
tain, ii, 94. At Peacbtree Creek,
ii, 111. At Jonesboro, ii, 144.
DuFFiELD, CoL., in command at Mur-
freesboro, i, 99. Pursues Morgan,
i, 136. Captures rebel detach-
ments, i, 136. Captured at Mur-
freesboro, i, 147.
Dunham, Col., surrenders Munfords-
ville, i, 160.
DuNLAP, Lieut., hung as a rebel spy
at Murfreesboro, i, 298.
DuMONT, Gen. E., commands Seven-
teenth Brigade, Army of the Ohio,
i, 6-7. In command at Nashville,
i, 99. Routs Morgan, i, 136.
Moves against E. K. Smith, i, 184.
Edgarton's Battery, captured, i, 230.
Edgefield, Tenn., occupied by Buell,
i, 69.
Edie, Col., at Jonesboro, ii, 144.
Elizabethtown, Ky., captured by J.
H. Morgan, i, 216.
Elliott, Gen. W. L., on the Knox-
ville campaign, ii, 1. At Athens,
ii, 5. Engagement at Mossy
Creek, ii, 16. At battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 228.
Elliott, Lieut. Col., finds rebel cav-
alry near Florence, ii, 158.
Ellsworth's Battery, i, 237.
Este, Col. G. P., at Jonesboro, ii,
144.
EsTEp's Battery, i, 243.
Etowah River, advance to, ii, 71.
Etowah, Dlstrict of, created, ii, 95.
Fayetteville, N. C, entered by the
U. S. forces, ii, 311.
Fearing, Gen. B. D., at battle of
Bentonville, ii, 316.
Fisher, Capt., at Perry ville, i, 180.
FiTZGiBBON, Maj., defeats guerrilla
bands, ii, 6.
Flat Rock, Ga., engagement at, ii,
124.
Foote, Com. A. II., at Fort Henry,
i, 85.
Fort Donelson, surrender of, i, 86.
Transferred to Rosecrans' com-
mand, i, 288. Attacked by
AVheeler, i, 289.
Fort Henry, surrender of, i, 85.
Transferred to Rosecrans' com-
mand, i, 288. Abandoned, i, 294.
Fort IIeiman, transfe^'red to Rose-
crans, i, 288. Gunboat No. 55
captured at by Forrest, ii, 171.
Fort McAllister, captured by Ila-
zen's division, ii, 284.
Fort Tyler, captured by La Grange,
ii, — .
Fourth Army Corps, formed bv con-
solidation of the Twentieth and
Twenty-first Corps, assigned to
Howard, ii, 30. Assigned to Gen.
D. S. Stanley, ii, 129. Fame and
glory of, ii, 323. See also Appen-
dix, ii, 382.
Fourteenth Army Corps, first de-
signation given to troops in the '
Department of the Cumberland
under Rosecrans, i, 207. Desig-
nated as the "Center," and
Thomas assigned to command
of, i, 210 Palmer succeeds
Thomas in command of, i, 411.
Davis assigned to command of, ii,
140. Fame and glory of, ii, 323.
See also Appendix, ii, 382.
FoRMAN, Col. J., killed, i, 252.
Forrest, Gen. N. B., cavalry dash to
Murfreesboro, i, 14'). Captures
Murfreesboro, i, 147. Captures
Athens, Ala., ii, 163. At John-
sonville, Tenn., ii, 171. Moving
INDEX.
465
toward Franklin, ii, 191. Held
by Wilson at battle of Franklin,
ii, 198. Defeated by Wilson at
Selma, ii, 352.
Fo.'iTKR, Gex. J. G., at Savannah, ii,
284.
Fox, Capt. p. v., at Brown's Ferry,
i, 398.
Fkankfout, Kt., secret meeting of
Union men at, i, 12.
Fraxklin, Tenn., battle of, ii, 198.
French, Gen., S. G., attacks Alla-
toona, ii, 161.
Fry, Col. J. B., at battle of Perry-
ville, i, 201.
Fry, Gex. S. S., at Camp Dick Rob-
inson, i, 17. Kills Zollicoff'er at batr
tie of Mill Springs, i, 57. Crosses
river at Decatur, i, 148. At Over-
all's Creek, i, 245.
Fyffe, Col. J. P., at the battle of
Stone River, i, 236.
Galbr.vith, Col., at Fayetteville, i,
309.
Garfield, Gex. J. A., Eighteenth
Brigade organized for, i, 76. Move-
ments in Eastern Kentucky, i, 76.
Defeats Marshall, i, 77. Drives
enemy from Eastern Kentucky,
i, 78. At battle of Chickamauga,
i, 355.
Garrard, Col. T. T., at Camp Dick
Robinson, i, 17. Sent to oppose
ZollicofFer's advance, i, 30.
Garrard, Gex. K., on right of Sher-
man's armv, ii, 71. Engagement
of at Flat Rock, ii, 124. At Chat-
tooga Vallev, ii, 162. At battle of
Nashville, i'i, 228.
Garesche, Liect. Col., killed, i, 251.
Gardexer, Gen. W. M., routed by
Stoneman, ii, 341.
Gardner's Battery at Joxesboro, ii,
144.
Gay, Capt. E., commanding cavalry
brigade at Perryville, i, 185.
Geary, Gex. J. W., at Wauhatchie,
i, 400. At Lookout Mountain, i,
419. At Missionary Ridge, i, 428.
Attempt to scale Chattooga Moun-
tain, ii, 48. NearKenesaw Moun-
tain, ii, 87. At battle of Resaca,
ii, 68. Engagements near Dallas,
ii, 76. At Peachtree Creek, ii, 114.
At Savannali, ii, 287. Extract
from report of the capture of Sa-
vannah, ii, 302. Moves northward
from Savannah, ii, 307.
General View at close of 1863, ii, 8.
Georgi.\, expedition to destroy rail-
road in, i, 136.
Gibson, Col. W. II., report of battle
of Stone River, i, 264.
Gilbert, Gen. C. C, assigned to com-
mand of a corps, i, 184. At Per-
ryville, i, 186. Extract from re-
port of, i, 203. Moves to Frank-
lin, Tenn., i, 290.
Gildersleeve, Capt., captures a
steamer on Savannah River, ii, 282.
GiLLEM, Gen. A. C, repulsed at Bull's
Gap, ii, 272. Operations of in East
Tennessee, ii, 273. In Tennessee
and North Carolina, ii, 338. De-
feats McCown, ii, 342.
Gist, Gen. S. R., at Missionary Ridge,
i, 425.
Gleason, Col., before Atlanta,'ii, 127.
Goldsboro, N. C, occupied by U.
S. forces, ii, 322.
Gooding, Col,, at Perryville, i, 190.
GooDSPEED, Ma J., at battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 238.
Gordon, Ga., entered by Howard, ii,
280.
Gracie, Gen., at Chickamauga, i, 353.
Granger, Gen. G., at Corinth, i, 127.
Defending Cincinnati, i, 183. At
battle of Chickamauga, i, 253.
Commands Armv of Kentucky, i,
290. Drives Van Dorn, i, 293. At
Missionary Ridge, i, 432. Report
of the battle, i, 453. On the Knox-
ville campaign, ii, 1.
Granger, Gen. R. S., at Decatur, ii,
132. Makes a sortie on Hood, ii,
169,
Grant, Gen. U. S., captures Fort
Donelson, i, 85. At battle of Shi-
loh, i, 103. Order to Nelson, i, 12-5.
Letters to Buell, i, 124. Extract
from official report of battle of
Shiloh, i, 125. Second in com-
mand at Corinth, i, 127. Assigned
to command Military Division of
Mississippi, i, 394. First order to
Thomas, i, 395. Reaches Chatta-
nooga, 395. Letters and orders
to Thomas at Chattanooga, i, 440.
Report of battle near Chattanoo-
ga, i, 448. Projected campaign of,
ii, 14. Directs an advance toward
466
INDEX.
Dalton, ii, 18. Dispatches and
orders to Thomas, ii, 39. Appoint-
ed lieutenant-general, ii, 40. Or-
ders to advance on Georgia cam-
paign, ii, 45. Extract from official
report of, etc., ii, 54. Dispatch to
Sherman, ii, 120. Dispatch on fall
of Atlanta, ii, 153. Advises against
a backward movement, ii, 155.
Discussion of Sherman's projected
inarch, ii, 172. Dispatches to Sher-
man, ii, 173, 183, 184. To Ilalleck,
ii, 177. Urges Thomas to attack
Hood, ii, 224. On his way to Nash-
ville to relieve Thomas, ii, 235.
Dispatches to Thomas during De-
cember, 1864, ii, 251, 252, 254, 257,
259, 261, 262. To Halleck, rela-
tive to relieving Thomas, ii, 253-
255. ToThomas, relating to Breck-
inridge's movements, ii, 276, 277.
Letters of to Sherman, relating to
the march to the sea, ii, 293, 294.
Congratulatory order of, ii, 371.
Green, Gen., wounded at Wau-
hatchie, i, 401.
Green, M.\j., captured by Col. Mc-
Cook, i, 388.
Greenville, Tenn., occuiDied by reb-
els, i, 71.
Grensel, Col. N., succeeds Sill at
battle of Stone River, i, 232. Re-
port of the battle, i, 269.
Grose, Gen. W., at Chickamauga, i,
336. At Lookout Mountain, i, 419.
At Buzzard Roost, ii, 49.
Grosvenoi!, Col. C. IL, at battle of
Nashville, ii, 230.
Groter, Col. W. W., fell at Jones-
boro, ii, 145.
Gunboats Tyler and Lexington at
Shiloh, i, 107.
Guntheu's Battery, i, 238.
Guthrie, Col. James V., authorized
to raise a regiment, i, 14. Takes
his regiment to West Virginia, i,
15.
Hall, Col. A. S., defeats J. H. Mor-
gan, i, 294.
Halleck, Gen. H. W., assigned to
command of the Western armies,
i, 98. Letters to Buell, i, 120, 121.
At Pittsburg Landing, i, 126. Or-
ganization of army at Corinth,
i, 126. Commander-in-chief at
Washington, i, 160. Dispatch to
Buell, i, 161. Assigns Thomas to
command of Army of the (Ohio, i,
184. Letter to Buell, i, 205. Re-
lieves Buell of command, i, 206.
Orders an advance against Chatta-
nooga, i, 310. Ordered Burnside
to support Rosecrans, i, 387. Au-
thorizes Thomas to call on West-
ern States for troops, ii, 212.
Places officers and troops at
Thomas' disposal, ii, 214. Dis-
patches to Thomas, ii, 177, 178.
Dispatch to Sherman, ii, 120. Dis-
patch of December 31, 1864, to
Thomas, ii, 344. Dispatches to
Grant relating to relieving Thomas
at Nashville, ii, 253, 256. Dis-
pjltches to Thomas, ii, 254, 258,
261. Letter to Sherman at Savan-
nah, ii, 304.
Hambright, Col. A., defeats Adams
at Jasper, i, 132. In movement
toward Dalton, ii, 20.
Hamilton, Gen. S., at Corinth, i, 127.
Hammond, Gen. J. H., fight at Brent-
wood, ii, 204. At battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 237.
Hampton, Gen. W., surprises Kilpat-
rick, ii, 311.
Hatch, Gen., drives enemy at Shoal
Creek, ii, 187. Attacked by Ilood
at Lawrenceburg, ii, 188. Covers
movement from Pulaski, ii, 189.
Withdraws to Columbia, ii, 190.
At battle of Nashville, ii, 231.
Hardee, Gen. W. J., at Bowling
Green, Ivy., i, 41. At Chattanooga,
i, 152. At battle of Perrvville, i,
193. At Stone River, i, 227. On
Missionary Ridge, i, 427. At Dal-
ton, ii, 47. Defeated at Jones-
boro, ii, 142. Retreats to Lovejoy
Station, ii, 146. At Savannah, ii,
283. Letter to Sherman, refusing
to surrender Savannah, ii, 298.
Withdraws his forces from Sa-
vannah, ii, 287. Movements of at
Charleston, ii, 307. Defeated at
Averysboro, ii, 314. At battle of
Bentonville, ii, 317.
Harding, Cot. A. C, repulses Wheel-
er, i, 289. '
Harker, Gen. C. G., assigned to com-
mand Twentieth Brigade, in Ken-
tucky, i, 73. At battle of Stone
River, i, 225. At Chickamauga, i,
INDEX.
467
348. Before Rocky Face Ridge, ii,
47. Assault at Kenesaw, and
mortally wounded, ii, 94.
Harlan, James, i, 12.
Harmax, Col., killed, near Kenesaw
Mountain, ii, 94.
Haknden, Col., in pursuit of Davis,
ii, 365.
Harris, Col., at Perry ville, i, 90.
Harrls' Battery, at Chickamauga,
i, 336;
Harrison, Col. T. J., expeditions
against guerrillas, ii, 17. In move-
ment toward Dalton, ii, 20.
Hascall, Gen. M. 8., assigned to
command Fifteenth Brigade, in
Kentucky, i, 72. Position at Stone
River, i, 225. Report of battle of
Stone River, i, 278. Before At-
lanta, ii, 127.
Hart, Maj. J. H., repulsed enemy
at Fort Donelson, i, 151.
Hartsville, Ky., captured by J. II.
Morgan, i, 214.
Haughtalixg's Battery, captured, i,
237.
Hawkins, Col. J. G., killed, i, 252.
Hawley, Col., at Savannah, ii, 282.
Hazen, Gen. W. B., commands Nine-
teenth Brigade, in Kentucky, i, 69.
Captures rebel battery, i, 112. At
Stone River, i, 224. Report of
battle of Stone River, i, 277. At
Chickamauga, i, 336. At Mission-
ary Ridge, i, 415. At New Hope
Church, ii, 79. Captures Fort Mc-
' AUister, ii, 284. At battle of
Bentonville, ii, 321.
Hazel Green, Ky., occupied by U. S.
troops, i, 74.
Hecker, Col., on the Knoxville cam-
paign, ii, 2.
Heg, Col, H. C, at Chickamauga, i,
336. Killed, i, 363.
Helm, Gen., killed, i, 346.
Hescock's Battery at Perry ville, i,
187.
Hescock, Capt., report of battle of
Stone River, i, 271.
Hill. Col., at battle of Nashville, ii,
232.
HiNDMAN, Gen. T. C, defeated at
Rowlett's Station, i, 66. Threatens
Columbia, i, 52. Moves against
Negley, i, 320. At Chickamauga,
i. 340.
Hobart, Gen. II. C, at battle of Ben-
tonville, ii, 316.
Hoblitzell, Capt., at Perryville, i,
189.
Hood, Gen. J. B., at Dalton, ii, 47.
At battle of Resaca, ii, 68. Cover-
ing Marietta, ii, 88. Attack of, at
Kulp's house, ii, 92. Succeeds
General Johnston, ii, 113. De-
feated at Peuchtree Creek, ii, 1 1 5.
Abandons Atlanta, ii, 147. Cross-
ing the Chattahoochee, in move-
ment north, ii, 159. Advancing
upon Allatoona, ii, 161. Demands
the surrender of Resaca, ii, 162.
Effect and object of movement
north, ii, 167. Makes an attack
on Decatur, ii, 168. Withdraws
from Decatur, ii, 169. Crossing the
Tennessee River, ii, 170. Strength
of before Thomas, ii, 186. Checked
at Franklin, ii, 198. Broken and
routed at Nashville, ii, 227-240.
Fragments of his army move to-
ward the Carolinas, ii, 308.
Hooker, Gen. Jos., joins army of the
Cumberland, at Bridgeport, i, 393.
Defeats Longstreet at Wauhatchie,
i, 398. At battle of Lookout Moun-
tain, i, 417. At Missionary Ridge,
i, 429. Assigned to command of
Twentieth Corps, ii, 28. At Snake
Creek Gap, ii, 50. Advances to-
ward Buzzard's Roost, ii, 47. At
battle of Resaca, ii, 64. At New
Hope Church, ii, 76. At battle of
Peachtree Creek, ii, 112.
Hoover's Gap, captured by Wilder,
i, 304.
Hotchkiss' Battery, at Knob's Gap,
• i, 220. At battle of Stone River,
i, 234.
IIosKiNs, Col., skirmish of his pickets
at Mill Springs, i, 48.
IIowAHD, Gen. 0. 0., at Lookout
Creek, i, 399. At Missionary Ridge,
i, 426. On the Knoxville cain-
paign, ii, 1. Assigned to com-
mand of Fourth Corps, ii, 28. Ex-
tract from report of, ii, 62. At
battle of Resaca, ii, 64. At New
Hope Church, ii, 78. Before Kene-
saw Mountain, ii, 87. Engagement
near Jonesboro, ii, 142. Assigned
to command of Army of the Ten-
nessee, ii, 124. Repulses Hood's at-
468
INDEX.
tack before Atlanta, ii, 125. On the
march to the sea, ii, 278. At Sa-
vannah, ii, 284. Extract from re-
port of the capture of Savannah,
ii, 301. Movement north through
the Carolinas, ii, 309.
Hubbard, Col., at battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 232.
HuuLBnT, Gek. S. H., at battle of
Shiloh, i, 104. At Corinth, i, 126.
HuNTsviLLE, Ala., capture of, i, 130.
Inms, Col. W. P., defends La Vergne,
Tenn., i, 247.
Iri;laxd, Col. D., at Lookout Moun-
tain, i, 420. At battle of Resaca,
ii, 68. Near Dallas, ii, 76.
Jackson, Gen. J. S., at Perry ville, i,
186. Killed, i, 189.
Jackson, Gex. N. J., at Savannah, ii,
287. At Averysboro, ii, 314.
Jackson, Gen. W., at Duck River, ii,
191.
JonxsowiLLE, Tenn., engagement at,
ii, 171.
Johnston, Gen. A. S., in command
of rebel forces at Bowling Green,
i, 41. Retreat from Bowling
Green, i, 68. Killed at Shiloh, i,
115.
JoHN.sTON, Gen. J. E., relieves Bragg,
ii, 14. Position and forces of at
Dalton, ii, 21. Extracts from re-
ports of, ii, 42, 62. At battle of
Resaca, ii, 64. Moves to Allatoona
Pass, ii, 73. At New Hope Church,
ii, 78. At Kenesaw and Lost Moun-
tain, ii, 86. Withdraws across the
Chattahoochee, ii, 96. Relieved
by Hood, ii, 113. Extract from
official report of, ii, 118. Opera-
tions of against Sherman in the
Carolinas, ii, 309, 312. Defeated
at battle of Bentonville, ii, 315.
Retreats through Raleigh, ii, 324.
Surrenders to Sherman, ii, 325.
Johnson, Gen. R. W., commands
Sixth Brigade, Army of the Ohio,
i, 63. Defeated by Morgan, i, 151.
At battle of Stone River, i, 224.
Report of the battle, i, 263. En-
gagement at Liberty Gap, i, 304.
At Chickamauga, i, 335. At Mis-
sionary Ridge, i, 429. In move-
ment toward Dalton, ii, 20. At
Ringgold, ii, 45. At battle of Re-
saca, ii, 66. At New Hope Church,
ii, 79. Before Atlanta, ii, 127,
Near Columbia, ii, 190. At battle
of Nashville, ii, 229.
JoNE.s, CoL. F. C., killed at Stone
River, i, 252.
Jones, Col. J. G., commands Four-
teenth Brigade in Kentucky, i, 72.
JoNERBORO, Ga., battle of, ii, 144.
Jordan, Col. T. J., charges the rebels
at Thompson Station, i, 291.
JuDAH, Gen. H. M., at Corinth, i, 127.
Kenesaw Mountain, operations near,
ii, 86.
Kennett, Col., enters Huntsville, i,
1 30. Routs rebel force, i, 213. At
Gallatin, i, 207. Recaptures a
train, i, 245.
Kentucky, legislature affirms armed
neutrality, i, 4. Timidity of loyal
citizens, i, 4. Opposition to seces-
sion, i, 6. Militia organized in, i,
8. Recruiting in for Union and
rebel armies, i, 15. Rebel citizens
plan the removal of loyal troops
from the State, i, 21. Efforts to
prevent arms reaching Camp Dick
Robinson, i, 21. Abandons neu-
trality, i, 23. Legislature directs
the Governor to order Confeder-
ate troops out of the State, i, 24.
Committed to support of the Na-
tional Government, i, 24. Opera-
tions in Eastern Kentucky, i, 74.
Operations of armies in, i, 159, 218.
Kentdcky Legion, recruit of, i, 16.
Knights of Golden Circle, propose
to control Louisville, i, 21.
Kilpatrick, Gen. J., advance toward
Tunnel Hill, ii, 26. Wounded
near Resaca, ii, 64. Engagements
at Fairburn and Lovejoy, ii, 133.
On march to the sea, ii, 279. At
Savannah, ii, 283. Movements of
in the Carolinas, ii, 309. Sur-
prised by Hampton, ii, 311. At
Averysboro, ii, 314. At battle of
Bentonville, ii, 320.
Kilpatrick, Col. R. L., at battle of
Resaca, ii, 68. Fifth Ohio near
Dallas, ii, 76.
Kimball, Gen. N., at New Hope
Church, ii, 80. Assault of, a *; Ken-
esaw, ii, 94. At Lovejoy Station,
ii, 146. At Lynnville, ii, 188. At
battle of Franklin, ii, 199. At bat-
tle of Nashville, ii, 226.
INDEX.
469
King, Col. E. A., killed, i, 363.
King, Gen. J. H., at Chickamauga,
i, 334. At battle of Resaca, ii, 65.
KiRBY, Col., near Kenesaw Moun-
tain, ii, 39.
Kirk, Gen. E. N., defeats Wheeler,
i, 213. Position at Stone River, i,
226. Mortally wounded, brigade
dislodged, i, 230. Reoort of the
battle,"], 265.
Knipe, Gen. J., at battle of Resaca,
ii, 68. At Kulp's house, ii, 91. At
Peachtree Creek, ii, 114. At bat-
tle of Nashville, ii, 229.
Knob's Gap, engagement at, i, 220.
Knoxville Campaign, ii, 1.
Kulp's Hodse, engagement at, ii, 91.
La Grange, Col. 0. H., action of, at
Mossy Creek, ii, 16. Repulsed at
Poj^lar Place, ii, 50. Routs Gen.
Lyon in Kentucky, ii, 271. Opera-
tions of, in Alabama and Georgia,
ii, 349. Receives the surrender of
Montgomery, ii, 354. Captures
West Point, Ga., ii, 356.
Laiboldt, Coi>. B., at battle of Perry-
ville, i, 187. Report of battle of
Stone River, i, 270. At Chicka-
mauga, i, 337. Routs Wheeler, ii,
7. Holds Dal ton against Wheeler,
ii, 131.
Landrum, Lieut. Col., defends Cyn-
thiana, Ky., i, 146.
Lane, Col., routed at Franklin, ii,
198.
La Vergne, cavalry engagement at,
i, 247.
Lebanon, Ky., captured by Morgan,
i, 146.
Lebanon, Tenn., Dumont defeats
Morgan at, i, 136.
Lee, Gen. R. E., surrender of, ii, 324.
Lee, Gen. S. D., at Jonesboro, ii, 142.
At battle of Bentonville, ii, 317.
Lester, Col., captured at Murfrees-
boro, i, 147.
Lexington, Ky., i, 22.
"Lexington," gunboat, at battle of
Shiloh, i, 107.
Liberty Gap, engagement at, i, 304.
LiDDELL, Gen., at Chickamauga, i,
334.
Lincoln, President, first call for
troops, i, 3. Reply to Magoffin's
letter, i, 18. Issued congratulatory
order to Thomas for victory at Mill
Springs, i, 57. War order No. 3, i.
122. Dispatch of, on fall of At-
lanta, ii, 153. At the suggestion
of Grant issues an order relieving
Thomas, ii, 225. Congratulatory
dispatch to Thomas for the victory
at Nashville, ii, 259.
Lister, Col. F. W., repulses J. H.
Morgan, i, 212.
Logan, Gen. John A., at Pocotaligo,
ii, 307. At Bentonville, ii, 322. On
his way to relieve Thomas, stops at
Louisville, ii, 235.
LoGiE, Col., killed at Peachtree
('reek, ii, 116.
Long, Gen. E., charges of, on Wheeler,
i, 389. Raid in East Tennessee, i,
437. On the Knoxville campaign,
ii, 2. In movement toward Dalton,
ii, 20. Operations of, in Alabama
and Georgia, ii, 347. Charge of, at
the battle of Selma, ii, 351.
Longstreet, Gen. J., at Chicka-
mauga, i, 343. Defeated at Wau-
hatchie, i, 400. Sent against Burn-
side, i, 408. Retreats from Knox-
ville, ii, 3. Sent to Lee, ii, 26.
Lookout Mountain, held by Bragg,
i, 386. Battle of, i, 418.
LooMis, Col. C. 0., commands artil-
lery in Kentucky, i, 68. At Per-
rvville, i, 187. At Missionary
Ridge, 1, 427.
LoRiNG, Gen. W. W., at Rocky Face
Ridge, ii, 52. At battle of Resaca,
ii, 64. Holding Kenesaw Moun-
tain, ii, 88.
Lost Mountain, operations near,
ii, 86.
Louisville, Ky., citizens raise na-
tional flag, i, 2. Loyal citizens elect
mayor of, i, 5. Union club, i, 5.
Home guard, i, 11. Primal base
of supplies, 1, 140. Organization
of troops at, i, 184.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad,
defenses of, ii, 453.
Lovejoy's Station, engagement at,
ii, 146.
Lowe, Col. W. W., at the Etowah,
ii, 74.
LuM, Col., at Jonesboro, ii, 144.
Lyon, Gen., expedition of into Ken-
tucky, ii, 271. Captured at Red
Hill, ii, 272.
Lytle, Gen. W. H., at Athens, Ala.,
i, 132. At Perryville, i, 190. At
battle of Chickamauga, 1, 340.
470
INDEX.
Mc Arthur, Gen. J., at battle of
Nashville, ii, 228.
McCleunand, Gen. J. A., at battle
of Shiloh, i, 104. At Corinth, i,
120.
McCooK, Gen. A. McD., assigned to
command of Second Division,
Armv of the Ohio, i, 6-3. At battle
of Shiloh, i, 111. AtCorinth, i, 126.
Assigned to command of a corps,
i, 184. At battle of Perry ville, i,
189. Extract from report of the
battle, i, 203. At battle of Stone
Eiver, i, 224. Report of battle, i,
262. At battle of Chickamauga,
i, 348.
McCooK, Col. A. G., at Peachtree
Creek, ii, 115.
McCooK, Col. D., at Perry ville, i,
186. At the battle of Chicka-
mauga, i, 361. At New Hope
Church, ii, SO. Assault at Kene-
saw Mountain, ii, 93. Mortally
wounded, ii, 94.
McCooK, Gen. E. M., expedition
against Wheeler, i, 389. Destroys
cotton at Rodgersville, i, 390. En-
gagement with Longstreet, ii, 15.
At battle of Resaca, ii, 67. En-
gagement with Stevenson, ii, 73.
Cavalry movements in Georgia, ii,
124. At McLemore's Cove, i, 327.
Burns Reed's bridge, 1, 331. Op-
erations of in Alabama and
Georgia, ii, 347. Moves to Talla-
hassee, Fla., ii, 364.
McCooK, Gen. R. L., assigned to
command Twelfth Brigade, Army
of the Ohio, i, 51. Wounded at
Mill Springs, i, 57. Advances to
Athens, i, 149. Killed by guerril-
las, i, 149.
McCowN, Gen., at Stone River, i, 227.
McGowAN, Maj., routed enemy at
Duck River, i, 151.
McKean, Gen. J. J., at Corinth, i,
126.
McKee, Col. S., captures rebel force,
i, 212. Killed at Stone River, i,
242.
McLemore's Cove, engagement in,
i, 324.
McMillan, Col., at battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 232.
McMiNNViLLE, Reynolds' expedition
to, i, 297. Captured by Wheeler,
i, 389.
McPherson, Gen. J. B., in command
of Army of the Tennessee, ii, 24.
At New Hope Church, ii, 81. Near
Kenesaw Mountain, ii, 87. Passes
through Snake Creek Gap, ii, 50.
At battle of Resaca, ii, 65. Killed
near Atlanta, ii, 117.
Mack, Capt. O. A., at Perrvville, i,
186.
Macon, Ga., surrendered to Wilson's
forces, ii, 357.
Magoffin, Gov. B., recommends
arming militia of Kentucky, i, 2.
Reply to President's proclamation,
i, 3. Proclamation of, i, 7. De-
manded removal of Camp Dick
Robinson, i, 17. Letter to the
President, i, 17. Proclamation of
to rebel authorities, i, 33.
Manderson, Col., at Orchard Knob,
i, 416.
Mansox, Gen. M. D., assigned to
command Second Brigade, Army
of the Ohio, i, 51. At battle of
Richmond, Ky., i, 180.
Marshall's Battery, at battle of
Stone River, i, 237.
Mason, Col. R., surrendered at
Clarksville, i, 151.
Marshall, Gen. H., invaded Ken-
tucky, i, 74. Defeated by Garfield,
i, 77.
Marttx, Gen. W., defeated at Mossy
Creek, ii, 16.
Matthews, Col. Stanley, defeats
Gen. Wheeler near La Vergne, i,
215.
Maury, M. T., London Times article
of, ii, 10.
Maury, Gen. J. P. M., capture of, i,
136.
Mendenhall, Capt. J., battery of
supports Nelson, i, 110. At battle
of Stone River, i, 249. Report of
the battle, i, 280. At Brown's
Ferry, i, 397.
Merrill, Col. W. E., examination
of railroads by, ii, 22. Fortifies
Chattanooga, ii, 166.
Metcalfe, Col., engagement of at
Big Hill, i, 179.
MiHALOTZY, CoL. G., mortally wound-
ed, ii, 21.
Miles, Col., at battle of Bentonville,
ii, 316.
Military Division of Missis.sippi,
constituted, i, 394.
INDEX.
471
Mill Springs, battle of, i, 56.
MiLLEPGEVTLLE, Ga., entered by
Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps,
ii, 280.
Miller, Col. A. O., charges through
Wheeler's line, i, 390. Defeats
rebel brigade, ii, 16. Operations of
in Tennessee and North Carolina,
ii, 341. At the battle of Selma, ii,
- 351.
Miller, Gex. J. F., at La Vergne, i,
210. Position at Stone Eiver, i,
225. Charges across Stone River,
i, 250. Report of the battle, i, 273.
At battle of Nashville, ii, 227.
MiLLiKEX, Col. M., killed at battle
of Stone River, i, 244.
Milroy, Gen., drives Bate from Over-
all's Creek, ii, 223.
MiNTY, CoL. R. H. G., captures rebel
regiment, i, 289. Routs rebels at
Unionville, i, 290. Charges into
Shelb3-ville, i, 306. Delays Bragg
at Reed's bridge, i, 331. At the
battle of Selma, ii, 351. Advances
toward Macon, Ga., ii, 356.
Mitchell, Gex. J. G., at Chicka-
mauga, i, 353. At the battle of
Resaca, ii, 66. At Jonesboro, ii,
144. At Kenesaw, ii, 93. At laat-
tle of Nashville, ii, 237. At battle
of Bentonville, ii, 216.
Mitchell, Gen. O. M., assigned to
command of Third Division, Army
of the Ohio, i, 67. (Dperations of
in Tennessee and Alabama, i, 130.
Moves against Chattanooga, i, 132.
Organized expedition to destroy
bridges in Georgia, i, 136. At
Athens, i, 142.
Mitchell, Gex. R. B., joins Buell, i,
158. At Perryville, i, 1S5. In
command of Nashville, i, 217. Ex-
pedition of against Wheeler, i, 389.
Mitciiellsville, a depot of supplies,
i, 211.
Missionary Ridge, held by Bragg, i,
386. Battle of, i, 433.
Moccasin Point, i, 397.
Monroe, Col., killed at Fannington,
i, 392.
Montgomery, Ala., surrendered to
Wilson's forces, ii, 354.
Moore, Col. A. B., surrenders to J.
H. Morgan, i, 214.
Moore, Col. J. B., at battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 228.
Moore, Col. L. P., at Tatlettsburg,
i, 74.
Morgan, Gen. (V. W., at Cumberland
Ford, i, 133. Demonstrations
against Cumberland Gap, i, 133.
Evacuates Cumberland Gap, i, 178.
Operations of in Kentucky, i, 176-
183.
Morgan, Gen. J. D., in movement
toward Dalton, ii, 20. At Buzzard
Roost, ii, 49. Before Kenesaw
Mountain, ii, 93. Before Atlanta,
ii, 128. At battle of Jonesboro,
ii, 144. At battle of Bentonville,
ii, 316.
Morgan, Gex. John H., assembles
"State Guards" at armory, i, 22.
Joins Buckner, i, 31. Moving
toward Lebanon, Tenn., i, 136.
Cavalry in Kentucky, i, 145. De-
feats Jordan at Tompkinsville —
captures Lebanon, i, 145. Re-
pulsed by Col. Lister, i, 212. De-
feated by Reynolds, i, 216. De-
feated by Stanley and Hall, i, 294.
Killed by Gillem's troops, ii, 272.
Morgan, Col. T. J., captures rebel
battery, ii, 169. At battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 230.
Morton, Capt. St. C, at Florence
and Decatur, i, 142. Posted on
Stone River, i, 225.
Mower, Gen. J. A., at Bentonville, ii,
322.
Muluraugh's Hill, captured by J. H,
Morgan, i, 216.
MuNDY, Col., at Cumberland Gap,
i, 177.
MuNFORDSViLLE, Capture of by Braag,
i, 160.
MuRFREESBORo, Tenn., occupied by
Gen. A. S. Johnston, i, 88. Under
Col. Duffield, i, 99. Captured by
Forrest, i, 147. Fortified by Nel-
son, i, 149. Occupied by Rose-
crans, i, 251. Fortification of, i, 288.
Nashville, a base of Confederate
supplies, i, 37. Occupied by
Army of the Ohio, i, 97. LTnder
command of Dumont, i, 99. Held
against Breckinridge by Negley,
i, 207. Fortified by Tower, ii, 206.
Battle of, ii, 222.
Nashville and Chattanooga Rail-
road, defenses of, ii, 452.
Nashville, Decatur and Stevexsox
Railroad, defenses of, ii, 452.
472
INDEX.
Nashville and Johnsonville Rail-
road, defenses of, ii, 453.
Nashville and Clarksville Rail-
road, defenses of, ii, 453.
Naylor, Capt., on Moccasin Point,
i, 421.
Negley, Gen. J. S., commands Sev-
enth Brigade, Army of the Ohio,
i, C3. Captures Rodgersville, Ala.,
i, 131. Bombards Chattanooga, i,
132. In command of Nashville, i,
207. Victory of, at La Vergne,
i, 210. At battle of Stone River,
^ i, 224. Report of the battle, i,
' 273. On the Tullahoma cam-
paign, i, 306. Seizes Cooper's and
Stevens' Gaps, i, 316. Moves into
McLemore's Cove, i, 318. Skillful
movements of against overwhelm-
ing forces, i, 322. At battle of
Chickamauga, i, 331. Letter of to
Baird, i, 368.
Nelson, Gen. W., obtains arms for
the Home Guards of Kentucky,
i, 11. Advice to President Lin-
coln, i, 12. Made agent for tran.s-
mission of arms to Kentucky, i,
12. Assigned to command of
Fourth Division, Army of the
Ohio, i, 69. Movements in East-
ern Kentucky, i, 74. At battle of
Shiloh, i, 113. Circular of, i, 123.
At Corinth, i, 126. Fortifies Mur-
freesboro, i, 149. At battle of
Richmond, Ky., i, 182. Opera-
tions of in Kentucky, i, 176-183.
New Hope Church, engagements at,
ii, 76.
Newton, Gen. J., at Rocky Face
Ridge, ii, 52. At battle of Resaca,
ii, 66. At New Hope Church, ii,
80. Before Kenesaw Mountain,
ii, 88. At battle of Peachtree
Creek, ii, 113. At Lovejoy's Sta-
tion, ii, 146.
Nolensville, Tenn., i, 220.
Opdycke, Col. E., drives back enemy's
cavalry at Spring Hill, ii, 192. He-
roic charge at the battle of Frank-
lin, ii, 2(J0. Brave actions of, ii,
203.
Orchard Knob, captured, i, 416.
Grant's position on, i, 426.
Orr, Lieut. J. S., defends bridge on
N. & C. R. R., ii, 448.
Osterhaus, Gen. P. J., at Lookout
Mountain, i, 417. At Missionary
Ridge, i, 428. On the march to
the sea, ii, 278.
Overall's Creek, effectiveness of
block-house at, ii, 223.
Owen, Col., at Munfordsville, Ky., 1,
160.
Paine, Gen. E. A., at Corinth, i, 127.
Palmer, Gen. J. M., at La Vergne, i,
210. At battle of Stone River,
i, 235. Report of the battle, i,
276. At Chickamauga, i, 335. At
Missionary Ridge, i, 434. Recon-
noissance toward Dal ton, ii, 19.
Drives enemy from Tunnel Hill,
ii, 47. At battle of Resaca, ii, 64.
Before Kenesaw Mountain, ii, 89.
At Peachtree Creek, ii, 111. Be-
fore Atlanta, ii, 127. Relieved of
command at his own request, ii,
128.
Palmer, Col. W. J., captures two of
Hood's trains, ii, 271. Operations
in Tennessee and North Carolina,
ii, 342. Attempts to intercept
Davis, ii, 365.
Parkhurst, Gen. J. G., reports men
captured on Atlanta campaign, ii,
150.
Parrott, John, captured and flogged
by rebels, i, 137.
Parsons' Battery, captured at Perry-
ville, i, 1'91.
Patrick, Lieut. Col., engagement of
at Sugar Creek, i, 390.
Payne, Gen., expeditions against
guerrilla bands, ii, 6.
Peachtree Creek, battle of, ii, 113.
Pemberton, Col. J. C, routed by
Stoneman, ii, 341.
Perbyville, Ky., campaign of, i,
184-206.
Pillow, Gen. G., attacks Lafayette,
ii, 95.
Pine Mountain, operations near, ii,
86.
Pinney's Battery, at Perry ville, i,
190. At Nolensville, i, 220.
Pittsburg Landing, U. S. forces at, i,
101.
PocoTALiGO, occupied by Howard, ii,
307.
Polk, Gen. L., in Tennessee and
Kentuckv, i, 23. At Perrvville, i,
193. At"^ battle of Stone River,
i, 227. Report of the battle, i, 258.
At Chickamauga, i, 324. Defends
Rocky Face Ridge, ii, 52. At bat-
INDEX.
473
tie of Resaca, ii, 65. Position at
New Hope Church, ii, 78. Killed
on Pine Mountain, ii, 76.
PoNTox-TRAiNS, description of, ii, 454.
Designs of boat of, ii, 455.
Pope, Gex. J., at siege of Corinth, i,
126.
Post, Col. S., at Nolensville, i, 220.
At battle of Stone River, i, 233.
Report of the battle, i, 266. Near
Columbia, ii, 192. At battle of
Nashville, ii, 232.
Prentiss, Gen. B. M., breaks up
Confederate camp in Kentucky,
i, 20. At battle of Shiloh, i, 104.
Prescott's Battery, at Jonesboro, ii,
144.
Preston, Gen., at battle of Stone
River, i, 242. At Chickamauga, i,
340.
Prestontille, occupied by rebel
forces, i, 74.
Prescott's Knob, Bragg confronting
Buell at, i, 161.
Price, Col. S. W., at battle of Stone
River, i, 236.
Prime, Capt., sent to superintend
fortifications, i. 48. Captured, i,
52.
Pritcharp, Col., captures Jefferson
Davis, ii, 365.
Pulaski, Tenn., repulse of Forrest at
by Rousseau, ii, 164.
Raleigh, N. C, occupied by U. S.
forces, ii, 322.
Randall, Lieut. Col., killed at
Peach tree Creek, ii, 116.
Rains, Gen., at Baptist Gap, i, 135.
Reed, Col. S. P., killed, i, 252.
Reilly, Col., at Franklin, ii, 199.
Resaca, battle of, ii, 64. Surrender
of demanded by Hood, ii, 162.
Reynolds, Gen. J. J., defeats J. H.
Morgan, i, 216. Expedition of to
McMinnville, i, 297. At Chicka-
mauga, i, 335.
Richmond, Ky., battle of, i, 181.
Ringgold, Ga., engagement at, i, 436.
Roberts, Col. G. W., killed at battle
of Stone River, i, 237.
Robinson, Col. J. S., at Kulp's house,
ii, 91. At Peachtree Creek, ii,
114. At battle of Bentonville, ii,
318.
Rock Castle Hills, battle of, i, 39.
Rocky Face Ridge, ii, 47.
Bodgersville, Ala., capture of, i.
132. Rebel cotton destroyed at,
i, 390.
Roddy, Gen., crosses Tennessee
River, ii, 15. Defeated by Upton,
ii, 349.
Rodney's Battery, at the battle of
Selma, ii, 351.
Rome, Ga., foundries, mills, etc., at,
destroyed, ii, 378.
Rosecrans, Gen. W. S., in command
of Department of the Cumberland,
i, 207. Reorganizes his army, i,
210. Restricts non-military ene-
mies, i, 217. Orders a move against
Bragg, i, 218. Defeats Bragg at
Stone River, i, 290. Strength and
loss of, i, 251. Enters Murfrees-
boro, i, 251. Orders at and report
of battle of Stone River, i, 253-
255. Reasons for not advancing
against Bragg, i, 298. Orders a
forward movement, i, 300. Tulla-
homa campaign of, i, 302. Strategy
of successful, i, 306. Barriers to
the advance of, i, 310. Maneuvers
to dislodge Bi'agg, i, 213. Crosses
Tennessee River, i, 314. At battle
of Chickamauga, i, 328. Aggre-
gate loss of, at Chickamauga, i, 362.
Report of the battle, i, 377. Aim
of at Chattanooga, i, 386. Relieved
by oi'der of the President, i, 394.
Farewell order of, i, 403.
Rosengarten, Maj., killed, i, 223.
Rossville, occupied by Crittenden, i,
318.
Rousseau, Gen. L. H., appointed
brigadier-general of militia, i, 11.
Requests authority to raise U. S.
troops in Kentucky, i, 15. In com-
mand of Fourth Brigade under
Gen. McCook, i, 63. Repulses a
charge at Shiloh, i, 113. At Per-
ryville, i, 186. At battle of Stone
River, i, 225. Report of the bat-
tle, i, 272. Operations of in Ala-
bama, ii, 110. Arrives at Marietta,
ii, 117. Drives Buford from Mur-
freesboro, ii, 224. Drives Forrest
from Pulaski, ii, 164.
Ruger, Gen. T. H., at battle of Re-
saca, ii, 68. Before Kenesaw Moun-
tain, ii, 91. At battle of Peachtree
-Creek, ii, 114. At Columbia, ii,
190. At battle of Franklin, ii, 199.
Russell's Battery, at Chickamauga,
i, 339.
474
INDEX.
Salem, N. C, public property at, de-
stroyed, ii, 341.
Saltville, Va., captured and de-
stroyed by Stoneman, ii, 374.
Salt Eiver, bridge of burned, i, 159.
Savannah, Ga., capture of, by the U.
S. forces, ii, 287.
Selma, Ala., battle and capture of,
by Wilson, ii, 352.
Schaefer, Col. F. C, at battle of
Stone River, i, 232. Killed, i, 243.
ScHOEPF, Gex. a., camp of bom-
barded, i, 49. Assigned to com-
mand of First Brigade, Army of
the Ohio, i, 51. Moves toward
Zollicotfer's position, i, 53. Crosses
river at Florence, i, 148. At
battle of Perryville, i, 189.
ScHULTz's Battery, at Stone River, i,
237.
ScHURZ, Gen. C, at battle of Wau-
hatchie, i, 400. At Missionary
Ridge, i, 426.
Schofield, Gen. J. M., relieves Foster
at Knoxville, ii, 18. At turning
of Dalton, ii, 50. At battle of Re-
saca, ii, 64. Near Kenesaw
Mountain, ii, 88. Before Atlanta,
ii, 127. Assumes command at
Pulaski, ii, 172. Operations of, at
Columbia, ii, 192. At battle of
Franklin, ii, 196. Dispatches to
Thomas during retreat before
Hood, ii, 210-218. Extract from
report of battle of Franklin, ii,
219. At battle of Nashville, ii,
226. Extract from report of battle
of Nashville, ii, 267. At Golds-
boro, ii, 322.
Scott, Col., rebel cavalry of, at Mun-
fordsville, i, 159.
ScRiBNKR, Col. B. F., at battle of
Chickamauga, i, 334. At New
Hope Church, ii, 79.
Sculley, Lieut. Col., defeats Haw-
kins, ii, 6.
Shane, Lieut. Col., wounded near
Kenesaw, ii, 94.
Sheerer, Capt., at Nolensville, i,
220.
Shelbyvillk, Tenn.. a depot of sup-
plies, i, 130. Sacked by Wheeler,
i, 390.
Shepherd, Col. 0. L., at battle of
Stone River, i, 238.
Sheridan, Gen. P. H., at Perryville,
i, 185. At battle of Stone River,
i, 224. Report of the battle, i,
268. At Chickamauga, i, 337. At
Missionary Ridge, i, 415.
Sherman, Gen. T. W., at Corinth, i,
126.
Sherman, Gen. W. T., assumes com-
mand of Department of the Cum-
berland, i, 31. Relieved by Buell,
i, 46. At battle of Shiloh, i, 104.
Arrives at Chattanooga, i, 410.
At the^battle of Missionary Ridge,
i, 423. Report of battle of Mis-
sionary Ridge, i, 448. On the
Knoxville campaign, ii, 1. As-
signed to command of Military
Division of the Mississippi, ii, 24.
Campaign of from Chattanooga to
Atlanta, ii, 25-155. Operations of
from Atlanta to Gaylesville, ii,
160-166. March from Atlanta to
the coast, ii, 168-305. Letter to
Gen. Webster at Nashville, ii, 264.
Operations of in the Carolinas, ii,
309-325. Dispatch of to Wilson
at Macon, ii, 361. Congratulatory
order of, ii, 371.
Shiloh, battle of, i, 106. Rebel
loss at, i, 114. National loss at, i,
114.
Slocum, Gen. H. W., assigned to
command of Twentieth Crops, ii,
141. On the march to the sea,
ii, 278. Dispatch to Sherman, ii,
179. At Savannah, ii, 282. Ex-
tract from report of the capture
of Savannah, ii, 301. At Averys-
boro, ii, 314. At battle of Ben-
tonville, ii, 316. Moves through
Richmond to Washington, ii, 325.
Congratulatory order of, iii, 374.
Sill, Col. J. W., commands Ninth
Brigade, Army of the Ohio, i, 67.
Captures Stevenson, i, 130. Moves
against Kirby Smith, i, 184. At
battle of Stone River, i, 226.
Killed, i, 232.
Simonson's Battery, enters Hunts-
ville, i, 130. At Perryville, i, 185.
At battle of Resaca, ii, 67. A shot
from kills Lieut. Gen. Polk, ii, 86.
Sirwell, Col. W., at Chickamauga,
i, 348.
Sister's Ferry, on Savannah river,
ii, 307.
Slade, Lieut. Col., repulses Buford
at Huntsville, ii, 164.
Smith, Gen. A. J., at Corinth, i, 126.
INDEX.
475
Defending Cincinnati, i, 183. At
battle of Nashville, ii, 22G.
Smith, Gen. C. F., enterprise of a
failure, i, 101. Debarks at Pitts-
burg Landing, i, 101. At battle
of Shiloh, i, 104
Smith, Gi;\. E. K., at Bridgeport, i,
131. Moves to relieve Chattanooga,
i, 132. At Knoxville, i, 152. Mov-
ing to Centi'al Kentucky, i, 153.
Defeats Nelson, i, 182. Advances
toward Cincinnati, i, 183.
Smith, Gex. G. C, in pursuit of J.
H. Morgan, i, 136. Opposes Mor-
gan in Kentucky, i, 146. At
Brentwood, Tenn., i, 290.
Smith, Gex. M. L., assault of at
Fort Donelson, i, 86. At Mission-
ary Kidge, i, 426.
Smith, Gen. J. E., at Missionary
Ridse, i, 426. At Chattanooga,
ii, 9o.
Smith, Gen. W. F., operations of at
Chattanooga, i, 396. Success of at
Brown's Ferry, i, 398. Activity
of at Chattanooga, i, 421.
Smith, Gen. W. S., at Perry ville, i,
196.
Smithfield, N. C, occupied by U. S.
forces, ii, 322.
So'jth Carolina, desolate track
through, ii, 312.
Southern States, character of legis-
latures of, i, 2.
Spalding, Col., successful charge of
at Nashville, ii, 241.
Speed, Gen. Jas., pati'iotic address
of, i, 2. Appointed brigadier-
general of militia in Kentucky,
i, 11.
Speed, Joshua F., i, 12.
Speers, Gen. J. G., at Cumberland
Ford, i, 133. At Stone River, i, 251.
On the Knoxville campaign, ii, 2.
Engagement with Wheeler, ii, 7.
Stand .rt's Battery, at Stone River,
i, 240. At Chickamauga, i, 339.
Stanley, Gen. D. S., at Corinth, i,
127. At battle of Stone River, i,
224. Engagement of at Overall's
Creek, i, 245. Attacks Van Dorn
at Hari^eth River, i, 296. Defeats
forces at Middleton, i, 297. Cap-
tures Wheeler's artillery, i, 306.
Movements in Alabama, i, 309. At
Buzzard Roost, ii, 49. At battle of
E,esaca, ii, 66. Engagement near
Cassville, ii, 72. Before Kencsaw
Mountain, ii, 88. At Peachtree
Creek, ii, 112. Assigned to com-
mand of the Fourth Corps, ii,
124. Before Atlanta, ii, 129. Eri-
gagement at Lovejoy's Station, ii,
146. At Pulaski, ii, 170. At Co-
lumbia, ii, 190. Goes with a brigade
into a charge at Franklin, ii, 200.
Wounded at battle of Franklin,
ii, 201. Extract from report of
battle of Franklin, ii, 221. Takes
Fourth Corps into East Tennessee,
ii, 339.
Stanley, Col. T. R., at battle of Stone
River, i, 250. Report of the bat^
tie, i, 273. At Chickamauga, i,
348. At Brown's Ferry, i, 397.
Starkweather, Col. J. C, at Perry-
ville, i, 188. At battle of Stone
River, i, 224. At Chickamauga,
i, 334.
Stanton, E. M., dispatches to Grant,
relating to Thomas at Nashville,
ii, 250, 253. Dispatches to Tliomas,
ii, 259, 262. Directs Thomas to
disregard all orders except those
coming from Grant and himself,
ii, 363.
Steedm.vn, Gen. J. B., at Perryville,
i, 190. Defeats Roddy, i, 293. At
Chickamauga, i, 353. In com-
mand of District of Etowah, ii,
95. Drives Wheeler from Dalton,
ii, 131. At battle of Nashville, ii,
227.
Steinwehr, Gen. A. V., at Wau-
hatchie, i, 400. At Missionary
Ridge, i, 426.
Stern, Col. L., killed, i, 252.
Stevenson, Gen. C. L., near Baptist
Gap, i, 135. Near Cumbei'land
Gap, i, 176. Defeated by De
Courcy, i, 177. At Missionary
Ridge, i, 427. At Buzzard Roost,
ii, 49. At battle of Resaca, ii, 67.
Stevenson, Ala., capture of, i, 130.
Works of defense constructed at,
i, 148.
Stewart, Gen. A. P., at Chicka-
mauga, i, 346. At Missionary
Ridge, i, 434. At Buzzard's Roost,
ii, 49. At Resaca, ii, 67. Retreats
from Atlanta, ii, 147. On railroad
near Marietta, ii, 160.
Stone's Battery, at Perryville, i,
188.
476
INDEX.
Stoxe River, campaign of, i, 219-286.
Stoneman, Gen. G. D., at Rocky Face
Ridge, ii, 52. Movement toward
Macon, and capture, ii, 124. Opera-
tions in East Tennessee, ii, 273.
Cavalry operations in Tennessee
and North Carolina, ii, 337.
Stoughtox, Col., at Missionary
Ridge, i, 434.
Straight, Col. A. D., expedition from
Decatur, i, 148. Expedition into
Alabama, i, 295. Surrendered to
• Forrest, i, 296. At battle of Nash-
ville, ii, 232.
Strickland, Col., at Franklin, ii,
199.
Swallow's Battery, at Chickamauga,
i, 336.
Tafel, Col., surrenders to J. H.
Morgan, i, 214.
Texnessee, importance of holding,
i, 139.
Terrell, Gen., at Perryville, i,_lS8.
Terrell's Battery, at Shiloh, i, 112.
Thomas, Gen. Geo. H., in command
of Camp Dick Robinson, i, 26.
Organized First Brigade, Army of
the Cumberland, i, 27. Opera-
tions of, in Kentucky, i, 30-54.
Victory of, at battle of Mill
Springs, i, 56. Moves his com-
mand to Nashville, i, 58. _ Coni-
mands the center at Corinth, i,
126. In the movement from Cor-
inth toward Kentuckv, i, 139.
Letters of, to Buell, i", 164-173.
Assiszned to command of the Army
of the Ohio, i, 184. At the battle
of Perryville, i, 186. Report of
the battle, i, 202. Commands the
center at laattle of Stone River, i,
224. Report of the battle, i, 272.
On the Tullahoma campaign, i,
302. Operations of, in moving
army over the mountains, i, 310.
Position of, at battle of Chicka-
mauga, i, 328. Left chief in com-
mand, i, 348. Saved the army, i,
358. Assigned to command of
the Army of the Cumberland, i,
394. Operations of, at Chatta-
nooga, i, 395, ii, 13. Assaults
Bragg's center on Missionary
Ridge, i, 429. Orders and reports
of, at Chattanooga, i, 445, 451.
Suggests movement of his army
through Snake Creek Gap, ii, 24.
Dispatches of to Grant, ii, 40. Ex-
tract of report of ii, 43. Opera-
tion of in the turning of Dalton,
ii, 44. Begins movements of At-
lanta campaign, ii, 45. Operations
of on the Atlanta campaign, ii,
45-152. Congratulatory order of,
at Atlanta, ii, 153. Ordered north
to secure communications, ii, 159.
Placed in command of all troops
not in Sherman's presence, ii, 165.
Strength of army left with him to
defeat Hood, ii, 186. Dispositions
of to repel Hood, ii, 186. With-
draws army fx'om Franklin, ii, 191.
Dispatch to Sherman, ii, 181. To
Halleck, ii, 182. Dispatches from
Nashville in November, 1864, ii,
208-218. Extract from report of
battle of Franklin, ii, 219. Prepa-
rations of for battle of Nashville,
ii, 222. Attacks Hood before Nash-
ville, ii, 227. Routs Hood and
drives him from Tennessee, ii,
228-247. Extract from report of
battle of Nashville, ii, 266. Dis-
patches from Nashville to Grant,
ii, 251, 252, 254, 256, 257, 261. To
Halleck, ii, 253, 255, 257, 258, 261.
To President Lincoln, ii, 260. Gen-
eral order of at Pulaski, ii, 265.
Dispatches to Grant in relation to
East Tennessee movements, ii,
276. Extract from report of, ii,
344. Dispatches from Clifton and
Eastport to Halleck, ii, 345. Dis-
patches to Grant in relation to
Hood's movements, ii, 345. Com-
munications of to Wilson, ii, 359.
Dispatch to Grant, ii, 359. Dis-
patch to Stoneman, ii, 360. Di-
rected to disregard all orders ex-
cept those of Grant and Secretary
Stanton, ii, 363. Congratulatory
order of, ii, 373. Order of, estab-
lishing a national cemetery at
Chattanooga, ii, 377.
Thompson, Col. C. R., engages For-
rest at Johnson ville, ii, 171. At
battle of Nashville, ii, 242.
Topping, Lieut. Col., mortally wound-
ed, i, 181.
Tower, Gen., fortifies Nashville, ii,
206.
Triune, Tenn., i, 221.
Tullahoma Campaign, i, 302.
TuRCHiN, Gen. J. B., commands
IXDEX.
477
Eiglith Brigade, Army of the Ohio,
i, 67. Occupies Bowling Green, i,
68. Brigade enters Huutsville, i,
130. Captures Decatur and Tus-
cumbia, i, 130. At Brown's Ferry,
i, 397. At Chickamauga, i, 336.
Charges and routs the enemy, i,
355. At Missionary Ridge, i, 429.
In movement toward Dalton, ii,
20. At battle of Resaca, ii, 06.
TuscuMBiA, Ai,A., capture of, i, 130.
Twelfth Army Corps, joins Army of
the Cumberland at Bridgeport, i,
392. See also Appendix, ii, 382.
Tw'EXTiETH Army Corp.s, organization
of, see Appendix, ii, 381.
TwENTY-Fir.sT Army Corps, organiza-
tion of see Appendix, ii, 381.
"Tyler," gunboat, at battle of Shi-
loh, i, 107.
Tyler, Gex., killed at West Point,
Ga., ii, 356.
Tyxdale, Gen. H., at Wauhatcliie, i,
400.
Underwood, Col. A. B., at battle of
Wauhatchie, i, 401.
Upton, Gen. E., operations of in Al-
abama and Georgia, ii, 347. At
the battle of Selma, ii, 351. Cap-
tures Columbus, Ga., ii, 355. At
Augusta, ii, 364.
Van Cleve, Gex. H. P., at battle of
Stone River, i, 224. Engaged at
Lee & Gordon's Mills, i, 325. At
Crawfish Springs, i, 327. At Chick-
amauga, i, 336.
Vanderveer, Col. F., at Chickamau-
ga, i, 334. At Missionary Ridge,
i, 429. Advance toward Tunnel
Hill, ii, 26. At battle of Benton-
ville,ii, 317.
Van Dorx, Gen., engagement of, near
Spring Hill, i, 292.
Vaughan, Gen., evacuates London,
ii, 2.
"Veteran Volunteers," grand name
of ii, 29.
Von Schrader, Lieut. Col. A., sys-
tem of pickets, i, 210. Sent to
Nashville to organize detached
troops, ii, 189.
Wagxer, Gen. G. D., assigned to
command of Twenty-first Brigade,
i, 73. At Perry vilie, i, 192. At
battle of Stone River, i, 243. Re-
port of the battle, i, 279. At Mi.s-
sionary Ridge, 1, 432. Assault at
Kenesaw, ii, 94. At New Hope
Church, ii, 80. At Lynnville, ii,
188. At battle of Franklin, ii,
198.
Walcutt, Gen. C. C, engagement
of, near Macon, ii, 278.
Walker, Col. M. B., at Stewarts-
boro, i, 224.
Wallace, Gex. L., at Fort Donelson,
i, 86. Atbattleof Shiloh,i, 109. At
Corinth, i, 127. Defending Cin-
cinnati, i, 183.
Wallace, Gen. W. H. L., at battle
of Shiloh, i, 104. Mortally wound-
ed, i, 108.
Ward, Gen. W. T., at battle of Re-
saca, ii, 68. At Peachtree Creek,
ii, 113. Moves northward from
Savannah, ii, 307. At Averysboro,
ii, 314.
W ATKINS, Col. L. D., captures part of
Texas Legion, i, 207.. Posted at
Rossville, ii, 5. Dash of upon La-
fayette, ii, 7. Holds Lafayette, ii,
95.
Wauh.atchie, battle of, i, 400.
Webster, Col., at Perry ville, i, 188.
Wells, Col., attacked at Campbells-
ville, ii, 189.
West Liberty, Ky., occupied by
U. S. troops, i, 74.
West Point, Ga., captured by Col.
La Grange, ii, 356.
Wharton, Gen. J. A., raid of in Ten-
nessee, i, 388.
Wheeler, Gen. J., defeated by Kirk,
i, 213. Defeated by Col. S. Mat-
thews, i, 215. Captures Coburn,
i, 292. Artillery of captured, i,
306. Expedition of in Tennessee,
i, 387. Defeats of, 1, 391. De-
feated at Calhoun, ii, 7. Driven
by Palmer, ii, 19. Attack of on
Dalton repulsed, ii, 131. At Savan-
nah, ii, 285. Operations of in the
Carolinas, ii, 308.
WiCKLlFFE, C. A., i, 12.
Wickliffe, Capt., at Perry ville, i, 187.
Whipple, Gen. W. D., at battle of
Nashville, ii, 230.
White, Col., receives the surrender
of Macon, ii, 357.
Whitaker, Gex. W. C, at Chicka-
mauga, i, 353. At Lookout Moun-
tain, i, 419. Near Kenesaw Moun-
tain, ii, 89.
Wilder, Col. J. T,, declines to sur-
478
INDEX.
render Munfordsville, i, 160.
Drives enemy from Hoover's
Gap, i, 304. Captures Manchester,
i, 306. Delays Bragg at Alex-
ander's bridge, i, 331. Engage-
ment at Leet's tanyard, i, 325.
At C'hickamauga, i, 337.
Williams, Gen. A. S., at battle of
Eesaca, ii, 68. At New Hope
Church, ii, 76. Before Kenesaw
Mountain, ii, 89. At Peachtree
Creek, ii, 114. On the march to
the sea, ii, 278. At Savannah, ii,
285. Report of on the capture of
Savannah,' ii, 302. At Averys-
boro, ii, 314.
William.^ Col. L. A., hung as a
rebel spy, i, 298.
Willi AM.s,CoL. T. D., killed, i, 252.
WiLLicH, Gen. A., defeats enemy at
Rowlett's Station, i, 65. At battle
of Shiloh, i, 113. At Stone R-iver,
i, 226. At Chickamauga, i, 335.
At Missionary Ridge, i, 415.
WiLsox, Gex. J. H., at Chattanooga,
i, 422. Chief of cavahy, Military
. Division of the Mississippi, ii, 192.
At Hart's Cross-roads, ii, 191.
Covers retirement of the infantry,
ii, 192. At the battle of Frank-
lin, ii, 198. Dispatches of from
Hart's Cross-roads and Franklin,
ii, 216. Extract of report of No-
vember 29, 1864, ii, 221. At bat-
tle of Nashville, ii, 222, 226. Pur-
sues retreating enemy, ii, 241.
Cavalry campaign of in Alabama
and Georgia, ii, 347. Captures
Selma, Ala., ii, 353. Moves toward
Montgomery, ii, 353. Advance
of upon Macon, Ga., ii, 356. Dis-
patch of, from Macon, to Sher-
man, ii, 361. Suspends operations
in compliance with the Sherman-
Johnston armistice, ii. 357.
Adopts measures to capture Da-
vis, etc., ii, 364. Congratulatory
order of, ii, 376.
Winegar's Battery, at Kulp's house,
ii, 91.
WiNSLow, Gen. E. F., at the battle of
Selma, ii, 352. At Columbus, Ga.,
ii, 355. Operations of, in Alabama
and Georgia, ii, 349.
Withers, Gex., at Stone River, i^
227.
Wolf, Col., at battle of Nashville,
ii, 232.
WouFORD, CoL. Frank, organizes First
Kentucky Cavalry, i, 17. Wound-
ed at Lebanon, Ky., i, 136.
Wool), Col. J., at battle of Eesaca,
ii, 68.
Wood, Gen. T. .J., assigned to corh-
mand Sixth Division, i, 72. At
battle of Shiloh, i, 114. At Cor-
inth, i, 126. At Perryville, i, 192.
At Stone River, i, 241. At Chick-
amauga, i, 347. Drives enemy
from Orchard Knob, i, 415. At
Rocky Face Ridge, ii, 52. At bat-
tle of Resaca, ii, 66. At New Hope
Church, ii, 78. Before Kenesaw
Mountain, ii, 88. At Peachtree
Creek,, ii, 112. Wounded at Love-
joy's Station, ii, 146. At battle of
Franklin, ii, 199. At battle of
Nashville, ii, 226.
Wood, Lieut. Col., of Morgan's rebel
command, captured, i, 136.
Woodbury's Battery, at Kulp's
house, ii, 91.
Woodruff, Col. W. E., loyalty of, i,
3. Authorized to raise a regiment,
i, 14. Takes regiment to West Vir-
ginia, i, 15. At Nolensville, i, 220.
At battle of Stone River, i, 231.
Report of the battle, i, 267.
Wright, Gen. II. G., relieves Nel-
son, i, 153.
Wyncoop, Col., Seventh Pennsylva-
nia Cavalry, i, 136.
Wytheville, Va., captured and de-
stroyed by Gillem, ii, 274.
Yarger, Ma,j. J., wounded near
Kenesaw, ii, 94.
YouxG, Lieut. Com., at Fayetteville
with gunboat Eolus, ii, 311.
Zahm, Col. L., at battle of Stone
River, i, 244.
Zollicoffer, Gen. F. R., occupies
Cumbei-land Gap, i, 23. Advanced
to Cumberland Ford, i, 30. Re-
pulsed by Gen. Schoepf's com-
mand, i, 39. Retreated to London,
i, 39. Issues proclamation to Ken-
tuckians, i, 53. Killed at battle
of Mill Springs, i, 57.
LIBRARY OF THE VETERANS,
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