No. 165. report of Maj. John W. Wilson, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, of operations May 10-August 20.
Hdqrs. Fourteenth Ohio Veteran Vol. Infantry, Utoy Creek, Ga., August 20, 1864.
Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the regiment during the advance of the Federal army thus far, since the opening of the present campaign:
May 10, broke up camp at Ringgold, and a march of ten miles brought us to two miles south of Tunnel Hill, and in front of and near Buzzard Roost Gap. May 11, marched as train guard seven miles southeast.
May 12, left bivouac at 6.30 a. m. to repair road; passed through and bivouacked one and a half miles southeast of Villanow; distance marched, six and a half miles. May 13, moved at 8 a. m., passed through Snake Creek Gap, and a march of eleven miles brought us within three and a half miles of Resaca, and in rear of the Twenty-third Corps. May 14, at 7 a. m. marched southeast two miles and took position at 8.30 a. m. on left of the division and in rear of first brigade. May 15, moved to our right one and a half miles and relieved part of the Fifteenth Army Corps; put one company out as skirmishers, who were hotly engaged throughout the day; casualties of the day, 3 men wounded, 1 mortally.
May 16, the rebels evacuated their works at 3 a. m: My skirmishers entered Resaca at dawn of day and the regiment followed at 7.30 a. m. May 17, left Resaca at 3 a. m., and a march of five miles brought us to Calhoun, Gordon County, through which we passed at 9 a. m.; marched south on the Atlanta road and bivouacked six miles from Calhoun.
May 18, took up our line of march at 7.30 a. m; passed through Adairsville, and went into camp near the railroad; distance marched, ten miles. May 19, left camp at 9 a. m. A march of five miles brought us to Kingston.
One mile south of Kingston an attack was anticipated.
Lines were formed, skirmishers pushed forward, and rebels fell back and permitted us to bivouac three miles east of Kingston.
May 23, marched at 11.40 a. m.; crossed the Etowah River below Gillem's Bridge, three miles south of which we went into bivouac.
The day was very warm, the roads dusty, and the march of eleven miles fatigued the men very much.
May 24, moved forward half a mile and took position on Dr. Jones' plantation.
May 26, moved to Burnt Hickory; distance, twelve miles. May 28, moved toward Dallas three miles and bivouacked.
May 29, marched northeast and camped two miles east of Burnt Hickory.
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June 1, marched southeast, crossing Pumpkin Vine Creek and camping in rear of Twenty-third Corps; distance marched, seven miles. June 2, marched at 9.25 a. m. one and a half miles and relieved the Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry inder heavy skirmish fire; put two companies on skirmish line, which at that time was the extreme left of the Fourteenth Corps; had 2 men wounded.
June 3, had two companies on skirmish line, which was sharply engaged all day. It was on my line that the much-lamented Maj. D. W. Norton was killed.
Casualty of the regiment, I man killed.
June 4, skirmishing very brisk all day; my regiment was relieved by the One hundred and forty-third New York Infantry and ordered in rear of the Tenth Kentucky Infantry; casualties, 2 men wounded.
June 5, rebels evacuated their works in our front at 7 a. m. June 6, moved six miles and camped two miles south of Acworth and near Proctor's Creek. June 10, moved two miles and took position in front of Pine Knob, on left of front line of brigade.
June 11, moved one mile southeast and took position on the right of the front line of the brigade, which was then the right of the Fourteenth Army Corps. June 14, at 11 a. m. moved southeast one mile with two companies on the skirmish line, which were hotly engaged till night; casualties of the regiment, 9 men wounded.
June 15, advanced one mile and took position on right of rear line of brigade, which was on the right of the Fourteenth Army Corps; casualties, 1 man killed and 3 wounded, 1 mortally.
June 17, rebels evacuated all their works on our right of the center of the Fourteenth Army Corps: heavy skirmishing all day; casualty, 1 man killed.
June 18, regiment moved forward at 9 a. m. one mile and took position on right of front line of brigade, which was held in reserve to the First and Second Brigades; heavy fighting in front of the Fourteenth Army Corps all day. June 19, advanced one mile and took up quarters in rear of brigade, which was posted one and a half miles from and west of the south point of Kenesaw; heavy picket-firing throughout the day. June 20, two companies on picket-line; heavy cannonading in front of the left of the Fourteenth Army Corps. June 21, the usual skirmishing to-day; 1 man wounded.
June 22, rebels commenced from the summit of South Kenesaw to shell our camp; casualties, 2 men wounded.
June 24, casualties on picketline, 3 men wounded, one mortally.
June 26, moved two miles south and bivouacked in rear of the right of Fourth Army Corps. June 27, moved forward at 10 a. m. one and a half miles and lay in rear of brigade, which lay in reserve to Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. June 30, moved southeast one and a quarter miles and relieved Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of the Twentieth Army Corps, which placed me on the left of the brigade.
July 3, rebels evacuated Kenesaw and all their works supporting that position, and fell back six miles toward the Chattahoochee , River.
Regiment moved to Marietta, thence south six miles, and bivouacked near junction of Atlanta and Sandtown roads. July 4, heavy artillery firing all day. July 6, rebels fell back to within nine and a half miles of Atlanta.
My regiment preceded the Tenth Indiana Infantry; moved forward two and a half miles, and engaged the rebel skirmishers; pushed them back and took position on railroad at ten-mile stone, the Fourteenth being on left of front line.
July 7, had 1 man wounded.
July 9, 3 men wounded, 1 mortally.
July 10, rebels evacuated north side of river; regiment moved and camped near Vining's Station. July 17, regiment crossed the Chattahoochee
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and bivouacked on the south bank.
July 18, moved south two and a half miles and bivouacked on south side of Nancy's Creek. July 19, advanced two and a half miles and took position one-quarter mile south of Peach Tree Creek; regiment on right of front line, joining First Brigade. July 20, advanced one-quarter mile and took position on left of front line of brigade; heavy skirmishing; had 1 man killed and 3 wounded. July 21, advanced a half mile II support of skirmishers, who made a charge, capturing rebel skirmish pits; had 1 officer and 5 men wounded; regiment on left of front line of brigade and division.
July 22, rebels abandoned their works at 2 a. m. and fell back to Atlanta; regiment advanced two and a half miles; took position a half mile west of railroad and two and a half miles from Atlanta on the Turner's Ferry road on left of front line of brigade, which was on left of the division, the right of which rested on Proctor's Creek; remaining in this position, skirmishing daily, having but I man wounded, until August 3.
Relieved by part of Twentieth Army Corps and moved southwest four miles and took position on right of Twenty-third Army Corps on right of rear line of brigade and near Utoy Creek. August 4, had two companies on skirmish line; lost 2 men wounded.
August 5, assisted in charging rebel skirmishers, a majority of whom were captured; lost 3 men killed, 9 wounded, 2 of whom proved mortal.
August 6, had 1 man mortally wounded and 3 captured. August 7, heavy picket-firing to-day; had 7 men wounded.
It affords me great pleasure to report that both officers and men under my command have acted nobly.
Their conduct under fire could not be excelled.
An interest was manifested by all to reach the point for which they started.
Therefore, in justice to all, it would be impossible for me to particularize.
The casualties since May 10 are 7 killed, 1 commissioned officer and 55 men wounded, 9 of which proved mortal, and 3 captured.
I am, captain, very respectfully,
