The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign: May 1 - September 8, 1864., Part I: General Report.
Maj. George B. Davis, Mr. Leslie J. Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Ed.

Captain: I have the honor to submit the following as my official report of the part taken by the Ninth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers [459] in the recent campaign during the time I was in command, viz, from the beginning of the campaign until the 26th day of June, 1864, at which time I was succeeded by Colonel Cram:

Left McDonald's Station on the 3d of May and reached Catoosa Springs, Ga., on the evening of the 4th, where we lay until the morning of the 7th, when we moved out on the Tunnel Hill road. The advance was attended with some skirmishing and occasional artillery firing. Reached Tunnel Hill at 2 p. m., from the top of which the enemy could be plainly seen occupying Rocky Face Ridge, little more than a mile distant. Lay on the hill until the next morning, the 8th, when we advanced toward the ridge, making a demonstration to detract the attention of the enemy from the movements of General Harker, who was trying to gain possession of the north end of the ridge. Bivouacked at night at the foot of ridge. The operations of the 9th were very similar to those of the previous day, consisting of demonstrations, but were attended with the loss of 2 men, struck by balls fired from the ridge. Bivouacked on the same ground we occupied the previous night. During the 10th we lay still in camp, exposed to a sharp fire from the enemy's sharpshooters, by which I man was mortally wounded. On the 11th moved back to a ridge beyond the range of the enemy's small-arms, and lay all day. Went on picket at dark, relieving Seventy-ninth Indiana,where we remained until 8 o'clock on the night of the 12th, when we were relieved by the Seventeenth Kentucky, and joined brigade, which had moved to a point near the north end of the ridge. Had 1 man killed on picket. The morning of the 13th showing the enemy had evacuated, we moved around the northern point of the ridge, passing down the, valley on the east side through Dalton, bivouacking several miles below. On the morning of the 14th moved on till the enemy was encountered in force near Resaca. Here we lay until the morning of the 16th; the brigade being held in reserve did not become engaged. Moved down railroad track, with but little detention until the evening of the 17th, near Adairsville, where we found enemy strongly posted, and were compelled to halt and make dispositions. Lost 1 man killed by enemy's shell. Enemy left during night, and we moved on without further opposition until reaching Cassville, on the evening of the 19th, where the enemy were found in heavy force, and dispositions for attack made. My regiment was the left of the second line and did not become engaged, as night came on before the enemy's position was found. Enemy left during night. Lay here until the evening of the 23d. Nothing unusual occurred until the evening of the 25th, when we crossed Pumpkin Vine Creek and bivouacked near the ground on which the Twentieth Corps had fought. On the morning of the 26th we took position to the rear of our division as reserve, which we maintained throughout the day. On the morning of the 27th we moved off to the left, where the entire division was formed for the purpose of striking a blow at the enemy's right. My regiment formed the left of the second line, under the immediate command of Col. C. F. Manderson, Nineteenth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. After much moving and maneuvering through a wilderness, occupying the greater part of the day, the enemy were found near Pickett's Mills, and the First and Second Brigades immediately became engaged, and in a very few minutes after the Third Brigade was ordered forward. We moved forward over a rough country, passing through the shattered remains of the First and Second Brigades, [460] subject to a vigorous shelling until we reached an cpen field, across which the enemy were posted, when we opened fire, which was kept up till our ammunition was exhausted. Night set in, and with it some cessation in the enemy's fire, though we were much annoyed, an enfilading fire coming from a hill to our left. All applications for ammunition were met with the reply that none could be had, and that we would fall back during the night. Details were made to carry off the wounded, and we lay quiet awaiting orders. About 10 o'clock the enemy formed in front of the right of the brigade, and, giving a signal with bugle, moved forward, intending to gain our rear and capture us. We met them with a volley — the last cartridge-and fell back in good order. After moving about through the dense woods for three hours we were placed in position on the right of the First Brigade, and the exhausted men lay down and slept. The loss of my regiment in this action was 4 killed and about 16 wounded; none captured.

On the morning of the 28th we threw up works, and later in the day, moving to the right, threw up another line, which we occupied until the night of the 30th, when we moved to the right and front, the brigade making connection with the Twenty-third Corps. On the 31st threw up works, which we occupied until the 4th of June, --when we moved to the right a short distance, relieving a part of the Fourteenth Corps. During the night of the 4th the enemy evacuated their works in our front, and on the morning of the 6th we moved out on the Acworth road, and went into camp, where we lay until the 10th. Nothing of interest occurred until the 14th, when we were engaged in the movement that caused the enemy to evacuate Pine Top and the works connected therewith., On the 15th moved on to Pine Top, where we lay until the morning of the 17th, when we moved out, relieving the First Division and taking the front. The enemy's skirmishers were soon encountered, and we advanced for some distance in line of battle, when we halted and lay till dark, when we threw up line of works. The next morning, the 18th, my regiment and the Seventy-ninth Indiana, also placed under my command, were ordered out to relieve the Seventeenth Kentucky on the skirmish line, with orders to advance the line at a signal. I relieved the line with the Ninth Kentucky, holding the Seventy-ninth Indiana in reserve. At the sounding of the signal the line was pushed forward some 200 yards, in the face of a heavy fire, when we were compelled to stop on account of the line of the Second Brigade on our right being unable to advance. Rain had set in before daylight and fell in torrents during the greater part of the day. The men had come out without breakfast, exhausted by the previous day's operations and a sleepless night, the immediate result of which was a very large increase in the number of sick. In the evening I relieved the Ninth Kentucky with tne Seventy-ninth Indiana. The loss in the Ninth Kentucky was 1 officer wounded, 1 man killed, and 5 wounded. That of the Seventyninth Indiana was 2 killed and 3 wounded. We were relieved before dark by the Thirteenth and Fifty-ninth Ohio Regiments. Enemy evacuated during the night, falling back to Kenesaw. Moved out on the morning of the 19th in rear of Stanley's division and bivouacked at night in rear of line occupied by that division, directly in front of Kenesaw. On the evening of the 20th moved to the right to relieve a part of the Twentieth Corps. On the evening of the 21st the rebel skirmishers were driven from their barricades in [461] our front and we moved out with other regiments of the brigade, advancing our main line 400 yards, fortifying the position gained. These were the last works we built north of Marietta, and covered the Marietta and Dallas road. On the 24th we had 3 men wounded on the skirmish line. No movement occurred between this date and the 26th, at which time I was succeeded in command of the regiment by Colonel Cram.

For casualty lists, &c., I would respectfully refer to his report.

I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant,