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.

The regiment moved from its winter cantonment at Rossville, Ga., May 2, to Ringgold, under command of Lieut. Col. D. B. Warner, in connection with its brigade and division, and went into position in front of Ringgold Gap. From 3d to 7th remained in camp, but changed position to east side of gap. 7th and 8th, marched to Tunnel Hill and Mill Creek Gap, and formed line of battle with Seventy-eighth Illinois on our right, with skirmishers in front, the balance of brigade in rear as supports. We charged and took the isolated hills in front of the gap, losing 1 man killed, and took position on the last hill, covering the mouth of the gap. 9th to 12th, position unchanged, but continued skirmishing. 12th, marched to mouth of Snake Creek Gap. 13th, marched through gap in the night and encamped. 14th, took position in front of Resaca in support of Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, One hundred and eighth Ohio [697] Volunteer Infantry, and Thirty-fourth Illinois, which had been deployed under heavy fire. In the afternoon the left wing of this regiment was ordered to relieve the Thirty-fourth Illinois, but was soon recalled. and with the balance of brigade took position farther to the right, relieving a part of the Twentieth Army Corps. 16th, marched to Rome via Snake Creek Gap. 17th, finding the enemy in front of Rome, we were formed in line on the right center, but were afterward moved by the right flank and took position on the right of the brigade, our front covered by skirmishers. We then advanced through a dense undergrowth of pine until night-fall, when we stopped and intrenched. In the morning, the enemy having disappeared, we encamped north of the city. On the 23d moved across the Oostenaula, through Rome, and then across the Etowah. 24th and 25th, marched to Dallas. 26th, remained in camp. 27th, the brigade took position on the left of the Army of the Tennessee. 28th, were deployed as skirmishers, connecting McPherson and Hooker. 29th, returned to our former position. 30th, position unchanged. 31st, relieved and marched to the left.

June 1, moved still farther to the left, and relieved a part of the Twenty-third Army Corps. 2d and 3d, position unchanged. 4th, relieved by a part of General Whitaker's brigade. 5th, moved to the left and relieved a part of General Williams' division, Twentieth Army Corps. 6th, went into position west of Big Shanty and remained until the 10th, when we advanced facing to the south. 11th, 12th, and 13th, advanced lines, skirmishing and intrenching. 14th, marched to the left and intrenched, occupying the right in front line, the left of brigade resting on the Atlanta railroad. 15th, remained in trenches. On this day Lieutenant Platt, commanding Company G, was killed by a stray shot. In his death the regiment lost a most brave and efficient officer. 16th, 17th, and 18th, no change in position, but constant skirmishing. 19th, advanced our lines to the foot of Kenesaw Mountain, and remained in same position until the 25th, all the time under a severe fire from artillery and musketry posted on the side and crest of the mountain. Our casualties here were 5 severely wounded. 25th, relieved at midnight, marched to the right, and went into camp at daylight. 26th, remained in camp. 27th, we received orders at daylight to be prepared to storm the enemy's works in our front. The brigade was formed and in position by 9 o'clock, the Thirty-fourth Illinois being deployed as skirmishers, and the One hundred and thirteenth leading the main force. At the signal for the advance, the whole line sprang forward at the double-quick. The skirmish pits of the enemy were passed over, when we proceeded through thick woods up one hill and down across a small creek. Owing to the rough nature of the ground, the lines were not kept in as perfect order as desirable, but every man moved forward with ardor and the highest courage. When crossing the creek we found before us a hill of some size, at the summit of which were the main works of the enemy. Our skirmish support having fallen back, our regiment advanced up, exposed to the full fire of the enemy. It was not until we had advanced half way up the hill that the enemy poured into our ranks his heaviest fire. Our left was then in close proximity to a salient angle in the hostile works, toward which Colonel McCook's brigade was charging with his entire line. The firing then became most terrific. The rebels opening up with two batteries upon either flank and delivering from the left a most galling musketry fire. The men, however, advanced [698] without faltering, the One hundred and twenty-first taking position on our right. We found before us a heavy abatis work and the enemy's line heavily fortified and defended with all the appliances of the most skillful engineering. We charged rapidly forward, and our men falling by scores, until the left had nearly reached the works, some of the men falling immediately upon them. At this time Lieutenant-Colonel Warner was severely wounded, and the brigade upon our left being forced to retire, the order was given to fall back, which was done with perfect coolness, and position taken back of our supports in the rear, and intrenchments rapidly thrown up under fire. Where the whole regiment displayed such bravery it would be almost invidious to mention individual instances of daring. Lieutenant-Colonel Warner was in the thickest of the fight, urging men and officers forward, until after he was wounded. Lieutenant Dungan, Company A, fell mortally wounded in advance of his company. Capt. John Bowersock, Company E; Lieut. Joseph Parker, Company G, and Lieut. Edward Crouse, Company F, each in command of their companies, were killed close up to the enemy's works, and their bodies were not recovered until the next day. It is sufficient evidence of the nature of the contest to say that in a space of not over twenty minutes the regiment lost 153 men. Of the 19 commissioned officers who went into the charge 10 were killed or wounded. Although the assault was not successful, still a most important advantage was gained, and we had the melancholy satisfaction of knowing that we failed only because we attempted impossibilities. 28th, remained in same position, within stone's throw of the rebel works, and heavy firing from the main lines, Major Sullivant in command. 29th and 30th, and 1st and 2d of July, no material change in position, but continued heavy skirmishing, with an occasional casualty. 3d, the enemy evacuated his works at night, we following through Marietta, came upon him and again intrenched. 4th, no change. 5th, the enemy fell back to his works at the Chattahoochee River, we following; in the morning found him strongly intrenched above and below the railroad bridge, in the form of a semi-circle, with each extremity of the arc resting on the river. We took position on the Marietta and Atlanta road and intrenched. 5th to 17th, no material change; constant skirmishing and artillery firing for much of the time. 17th, crossed the Chattahoochee River at Pace's Ferry; advanced skirmishers and crossed Nancy's Creek. 18th, advanced to Peach Tree Creek. 19th, our regiment, with the brigade, was ordered to advance across Peach Tree Creek to support the Third Brigade, which was heavily pressed. While the brigade was crossing we were ordered to form to the right, during which we suffered from a heavy flank fire, losing 2 killed and 2 wounded. At daylight the next morning we took position in a less exposed place across the creek. 20th, heavy firing, but no change. At night the enemy retired from our immediate front. 21st, our regiment was ordered on a reconnaissance toward the main Atlanta road. We advanced to within one-half mile of the river, discovering the enemy in force. 22d, advanced to within two and a half miles of Atlanta; formed lines and intrenched. 23d to 28th, remained in our works, except when on skirmish line. 28th, made reconnaissance to Turner's Ferry, and returning took position the right of Howard. 29th, advanced to White Hall road and intrenched. 30th, moved one mile to right and intrenched. 31st, reconnaissance to Utoy Creek and found the enemy in force. [699]

August 1, 2. and 3, position unchanged. Major Sullivant being unwell went to the division hospital, and the command of the regiment devolved upon myself. 5th, advanced toward the east, took position under heavy artillery fire, and intrenched. 6th, no change. 7th, advanced and captured line of skirmish pits; took some prisoners and several stand of arms; lost I killed and several wounded. 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, remained in trenches under constant fire, losing men every day. 12th, moved to the right, relieving a portion of the Twenty-third Army Corps. 13th to 19th, no change. 20th to 27th, constant skirmishing but no change of position. 27th, moved to the right across Utoy Creek. 28th, marched across Montgomery railroad, one mile to the southeast. 29th, lay in camp. 30th, marched at 6 a. m. and went into camp half way between Rough and Ready and Jonesborough. 31st, marched to one and a half miles distant from Macon railroad.

September 1, moved on Jonesborough road until opposite the enemy's intrenched position, and then filed to the left across an open field within plain view of his works. The march of the column was impeded by deep ditches, which it was necessary to bridge, during which time we were exposed to a raking fire from the enemy's batteries less than three-quarters of a mile distant. One shell exploding in our midst killed 2 and wounded 4 men. We moved forward and took position under cover of a skirt of woods within less than a half mile from the enemy, where we remained until 2 p. m. We then formed in line of battle, the Ninety-eighth Ohio deploying as skirmishers, and the One hundred and thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry being in the front line, with the Seventy-eighth Illinois on the right, and the balance of the brigade in the rear as support. Orders were then received to storm the rebel works in our front. The line crossed a corn-field into a deep ravine, where our progress was impeded by deep ditches and a thick canebrake. These obstacles being overcome, the line was well dressed up and again ordered forward. The men pressed on rapidly, and as we neared the enemy I ordered them forward on the double-quick. In an instant we were over the works, and our lines were thrown into considerable confusion by the rush of prisoners to the rear. There must have been from 100 to 150 prisoners passed through my command. We continued to move straight to the front until we captured 2 Parrott guns, limbers, ammuniton, and ammunition-wagon and 4 fine mules, which the enemy could not take away in his flight. We advanced until we were enfiladed by the enemy's fire and our own, the enemy still firing from the front. I halted the line and directed the men to lie down until I could get further orders. We then were ordered to fall back to the works just passed over, where we remained until nearly dark, when an order came to relieve the One hundred and twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, their ammunition being nearly exhausted. We moved to the right across a deep ravine up to the crest of a hill under a sharp fire from the enemy. A constant fire was kept up until about 9 p. m.. when the firing ceased. Here we captured the battle-flag of the Third Confederate Regiment, inscribed with the names of seven different battles. The next morning I fired a salute with canister from the guns captured by the Seventy-eighth Illinois, but received no response from the enemy. They had left during the night. None but the dead and a few wounded were found on the field. September 2, we moved into [700] Jonesborough, and our fighting campaign was ended. Our casualties in this engagement were small in comparison with the exposure. Our loss was 3 killed and 7 wounded.

I submit the following table, which recapitulates the casualties during the entire campaign:

To Capt. Otway Watson, who acted as second in command, I am much indebted for his cordial co-operation and active assistance in the management of the regiment.

In conclusion, I can only say that every officer and man of the regiment during the time it was under my command, and, so far as my own observation extends, during the entire campaign, exhibited under all circumstances a willingness to perform any duty and incur any danger for the common good, which should secure for them any reward those in authority can bestow upon the brave man, as he will unquestionably obtain the gratitude of posterity. To them all my most earnest gratitude is due and my warmest thanks extended.

All of which is most respectfully submitted.