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No. 156. reports of Col. Benjamin D. Fearing, Ninety-second Ohio Infantry.

Hdqrs. Ninety-Second Regt. Ohio Vol. Infantry, Camp in the Field, August 16, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Ninety-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the campaign of the past three months now ending. Breaking up our camps at Ringgold, Ga., on the 7th of May, stripped of all incumbrances of material and men, we marched with the brigade to and through Tunnel Hill and sat down in front of the enermy's stronghold at Dalton. Moving with the brigade on the 12th day of May to the right, along the base of John's Mountain through Snake Creek Gap, we first met the enemy on the morning of the 14th of May. In line of battle, in the first line, on the left of the brigade, we followed the enemy, steadily pushing him back with our heavy lines of skirmishers, until he was forced to take refuge in his works in front of Resaca. Gaining the ridge in plain view of the rebel works, I had portions of my command engaged during the afternoon advantageously posted as sharpshooters. In the day's operations we had 2 men killed and 2 wounded. Taken from the line in the evening, on the morning of the 15th we moved to the right, and on the morning of the 16th we entered Resaca with the brigade. We followed the retreating enemy over the Oostenaula River and to the banks of the Etowah, where with the army we rested. Again we moved forward on the 23d of May, fording the Etowah, crossing the Euharlee, and marched to Raccoon Creek, returning with the brigade to escort a supply train from Kingston to the army in the field. Returning we joined our division near Dallas, Ga., and with [786] the brigade acted as train guard for the corps train until the 11th of June at Acworth, Ga., when we were relieved and went into the front line, taking part in the movement that forced the enemy to evacuate his works on Pine Knob. Swinging forward through the blinding rain and dense thickets on the morning of the 18th of June, in reserve to the brigade, we saw the enemy driven from their last line of works north of Kenesaw Mountain. Skirmishers from my command took an active part on the 19th of June in forcing the enemy from the valley to take shelter among the rocks on the side of Kenesaw. During the sharp and protracted skirmish of the 19th and 20th I had 1 officer wounded, 1 man killed and I man wounded.

It may not be out of place to mention here the operations of the skirmish line from my command on the 21st of June, as the amount of ammunition expended during that tour of duty may serve to exhibit the pertinacity of some of the many skirmishers, they being the most important feature in this remarkable campaign. The detail from the command was 200 men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Morrow, Ninety-second Ohio. It was while the brigade was operating around the base of Kenesaw Mountain explicit orders were given the officers in charge of the lines that they were to permit no firing unless it was absolutely necessary. Yet during the tour of twenty-four hours, the firing being as incessant through the night as in the day, they expended 24,000 rounds of cartridges. So extraordinary did this seem to me, that I was careful to learn if some of this was not consumed extravagantly, but all the officers united in saying that it was not. On the Kenesaw line we moved with the brigade, occupying with it various important positions on that line. On the morning of the 3d of July we moved over the abandoned works of the enemy through Marietta, Ga., and followed the enemy until we found him some four miles southwest of Marietta in works. We took no part as a regiment in forcing the enemy from this line; but on his falling back to the new line on the north bank of the Chattahoochee, we followed in close pursuit, and again found the enemy confronting us behind strong works. Here we operated with the brigade in the movements that compelled the enemy to abandon his position, burn the bridges, and give us all the territory north of the river. After a few days of rest we again took up the line of march, crossing the Chattahoochee at Pace's Ferry on the 17th of July, 1864. Acting with the brigade, we wrested one of the fords over Peach Tree Creek from the enemy and secured a lodgment on the south bank with no loss of life. Moving forward on the 22d of July, we went into line in front of Atlanta, in the movement losing but 1 man, wounded by shell. Remaining on that line until the 3d of August, when the brigade commenced the movement to the right, crossing Utoy Creek at Herring's Mill, and to this date have taken part with the brigade in the important moves made on the lines of the Fourteenth Corps. We are in an intrenched camp, healthily located, with the enemy in our immediate front, our line running nearly parallel with, and not very far removed from, the Macon railroad. Though we have taken part in all the movements of the First Brigade, it has been our good fortune in all the campaigns to retain each company organization intact. During the incessant skirmishing, running back to the very inception of the campaign, the battle in miniature of 100 days duration, we have had the honor to take part in some of the most brilliant, [787]

Seemingly not worthy of official mention, recurring so often, yet I find by the official reports of the commanding officers of the companies that each company has, at different points in the campaign when detached from my command, taken active part in the advances of the lines, by which important positions have been gained, many prisoners and arms taken; and the officers in charge have handled their men with so much care, precision, and skill, and they themselves have acted their part so gallantly as to gain our admiration and esteem. I cannot commend too highly the men of my command for the part taken in the arduous labors of the campaign. Ever willing to do and dare everything, working with the ax, pick, and spade through the day, and, without a murmur, continuing the labor through the long watches of the night, they have thrown up two temporary works and constructed twelve lines of field-works complete, and in addition remodeled many works that in the shifting of the lines we have occupied and found incomplete. Your inspector will report the condition and effectiveness of my command at the present time. My reports will give you our effective strength as compared with it at the opening of the campaign. Appended please find report of casualties,1 men sent to hospital and retured to duty.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Benj. D. Fearing, Colonel Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. W. B. Curtis
, Asst. Adjt. Gen., lst Brig., 3d Div., 14th Army Corps.

Hdqrs. Ninety-Second Regt. Ohio Vol. Infantry, Atlanta, Ga., September 8, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Ninety-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers in the late movements of the army that resulted in our occupation of the city of Atlanta:

Field report made on the 16th of August gave you our operations to that date. Passing over the days of incessant skirmishing, and the minor moves made in them, we come to the retiring of our lines from the enemy's front on the morn of the 27th of August. It was a difficult feat to perform, so close were the lines of the enemy, and doubly so that early., In the evening they discovered that we were making changes in the lines, and all night we were subjected to a heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, but we left the line before daylight and drew off without the loss of a man. Equally fortunate were the skirmishers in our front. We moved down the Sandtown road less than a mile, when we acted with the brigade in covering the trains of the Army of the Cumberland, going into line of battle and making arrangements for a vigorous defense of these important trains so much imperiled. After the trains were in safety we moved forward with the brigade; acted as escort to the trains of the army. On the 28th of August, relieved of this duty, we moved with the brigade during the day's march, crossing the Montgomery railroad near Red Oak, Ga., and going into camp one-half mile south of the road, where we remained until August 30, when we moved toward the Macon railroad. On the evening of the 30th ordered on picket [788] with my regiment; advanced the lines as ordered by you. On the morning of the 31st of August, with my regiment, I was ordered to move forward and build bridges over Flint River and the canal near the river (creek), secure a lodgment on the south bank of Flint, and command the approaches to the bridges. In this move I was ably supported by Colonel Ward, of the Seventeenth Ohio. We passed the canal and the Flint, meeting with no opposition from the enemy; moved forward and secured a fine position commanding the Atlanta and Jonesborough road. Striking this road at two points, we discovered a column of the enemy east of the road moving south on a by-road between the Jonesborough road and the railroad. Here we secured 12 prisoners. We here awaited the brigade, and with them went into camp at this point. Moving with the brigade, September 1, south on the Jonesborough pike, we went into the second line, the brigade forming line of battle one mile from Jonesborough. With the brigade we took part in the action of the 1st of September at Jonesborough. After the evacuation of this point by the enemy, with the brigade we guarded the approaches to the town from the east, and on the 6th of September, the campaign being at an end, we withdrew, covering the withdrawal of our corps to this point. Appended please find report of casualties2 from the 6th day of August to the 8th day of September, 1864.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Benj. D. Fearing, Colonel Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. W. B. Curtis
, Assistant Adjutant-General.

1 Shows 3 men killed and 1 officer and 15 men wounded.

2 Shows 1 man killed and 5 men wounded,

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