[199]
The daily report of the regiment has been no casualties.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. Merrill, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Seventieth Indiana Vols.
Major Elliott's Report.
History of the Sixtieth regiment New-York veteran volunteers, from September second to December twenty-first, 1864:
First.
From the second to the fourteenth of September, the regiment was occupied, in pursuance to orders, with the remainder of the brigade, in constructing quarters and occupying works for defence, south of the city of Atlanta.
On the fourteenth, under orders received from the division commander, the regiment proceeded to Chattanooga as an escort to paymasters, awaiting an opportunity to pay the army.
Returning on the twenty-third, it took its former position, which was retained without material change, till the eleventh of October, when, with the brigade, it proceeded as a portion of an expedition sent out in the direction of Yellow River, for forage.
A large amount of forage was obtained, very fortunately, supplying the command when much needed.
Second.
The enemy having destroyed a portion of the railroad in rear of Atlanta, on the twenty-first of October, the regiment forming a portion of the command assigned in replacing it by iron obtained from the road in the vicinity of East-Point, which duty was continued till all railroad iron was removed from East-Point to Atlanta.
On the twenty-fourth of October, as a portion of one of the various foraging expeditions, the regiment a second time assisted in procuring a large amount of forage, being absent three days in the direction of Stone Mountain.
From the time of returning, nothing of moment transpired in the command to the fifteenth of November, other than ordinary camp duty, with the necessary preparations for an active campaign.
Third.
The regiment left Atlanta on the fifteenth of November, and on the twenty-second, was among the first troops that entered the capital of Georgia.
During the march to Milledgeville, all public property and matter available to the enemy was either destroyed or appropriated; among the rest, the noted and extensive Dunham tannery and shoe manufactory, near Eatonton, in which duty the regiment participated.
On the twenty-third, the command was engaged and assisted in destroying the railroad from Milledgeville, in the direction of Gordon Junction, returning the same night, and leaving Milledgeville on the twenty-fourth.
On the twenty-sixth, the Georgia Central Railroad was struck and the work of destruction commenced, which duty was repeated at times through the remainder of the campaign.
On the twenty-eighth of November, while engaged in this duty near Davisboro, the regiment was attacked by and became engaged with about two hundred cavalry of the enemy, who were driven from position, and were among the first of the enemy seen since the campaign began.
On the thirtieth, after crossing the Ogeechee River, the regiment was assigned to guard and destroy the bridge, which duty was thoroughly performed on the morning of December first.
The regiment rejoined the brigade the same day. On the morning of the eleventh, the regiment was assigned to the right of the brigade, and before the day closed, was in line confronting the enemy in front of Savannah.
From the first to the eleventh of December, the duty of the regiment has been the usual destruction of public property and the laborious work of crossing Georgia swamps with heavy trains.
The position taken by the regiment on the eleventh was retained till the morning of the twenty-first, resulting in the following casualties: Two (2) officers and four (4) enlisted men, wounded.
At half-past 3 o'clock, morning twenty-first, the regiment was in line, constituting a portion of the command that entered Savannah at sunrise.
The regiment was assigned the duty of guarding approaches to the city near the canal.
In performing this duty, a body of the enemy was soon discovered, consisting of two commissioned officers and thirty-four enlisted men, who were guarding an extensive arsenal, which was duly surrendered, with its guard, to a detachment sent out for the purpose.
Besides these, a number were captured on the occupation of the city.
With the capture of Savannah closes the campaign.
History will record the results as a monumental record to the master mind conceiving it.
A grateful nation await with a hearty greeting for the “willing hearts and strong arms that have executed.”
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Thomas Elliott, Major Commanding Sixtieth Regiment New York Veteran Volunteers.
Lieutenant G. W. Clark's Report.
History of the command of the One Hundred and Ninth regiment Pennsylvania veteran volunteers, from November fifteenth to December twenty-first, 1864:
November 15, 1864.--Left Atlanta, Georgia, at seven o'clock A. M., and encamped near Stone Mountain, Georgia, at half-past 2 A. M., on the Rock Ridge road.
16th.
On the march from half-past 8 o'clock A. M., until night.
17th.
On the march.
18th.
Left camp at half-past 7 A. M., and encamped at night near Madison, Georgia.
19th.
Passed through Madison, Georgia, at daylight; regiment in advance of the division, destroying railroad.
20th.
On the march, destroying railroad at night, and encamped.
21st.
On the march.
22d.
On the march.
Reached Milledgeville, Georgia, at six P. M.
23d.
Lay in camp near Milledgeville, Georgia.
24th.
Left camp at seven A. M.; Third regiment in line as train-guard.
Encamped at eleven o'clock P. M., near Gum Creek.
