No. 78. report of Capt. Lyman Bridges, Illinois Light artillery, corn. Manding artillery brigade, Fourth Army Corps.
Hdqrs. Artillery brigade, Fourth Army Corps, Atlanta, Ga., September 9, 1864.
Colonel: In accordance with your order of the 4th instant, I have the honor to forward the following report of the operations of the artillery of this corps during the campaign from Chattanooga.
and Cleveland, Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga.:
The assignment of the artillery on May 3 ultimo, at the commencement of the campaign, was as follows: First Division (Major-General Stanley)-Fifth Indiana Light Battery, Lieut. A. Morrison commanding;
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Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery, Capt. S. M. McDowell commanding; Capt. Peter Simonson, Fifth Indiana Light Battery, chief of artillery. Second Division (Brig. Gen. John Newton)-Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, Capt. W. F. Goodspeed commanding; Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, Capt. George W. Spencer commanding; Capt. C. C. Aleshire, Eighteenth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery. Third Division (Brig. Gen. T. J. Wood)-Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, Capt. Lyman Bridges commanding; Sixth Ohio Light Battery, Lieut. O. H. P. Ayres commanding; Capt. Cullen Bradley, Sixth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery.
On May 3 the batteries moved with their respective divisions, the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Batteries, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, marched via Red Clay to Catoosa Springs.
Bridges' Battery and Sixth Ohio Light Battery marched via Ooltewah to Catoosa Springs. Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, joined the Second Division for duty May 6.
On May 7 the batteries marched with their respective divisions to Tunnel Hill, the Fifth Indiana being the only battery engaged on that day. May 8, the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Batteries shelled the enemy upon Rocky Face Ridge. May 9, the Fifth Indiana, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, and Bridges' Battery were placed in position on a small ridge between Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face Ridge, and engaged the enemy's batteries and lines, silencing his batteries.
On the same day Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, placed a section on the top of Rocky Face Ridge and opened an enfilading fire down the ridge.
May 10, the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, Bridges' Battery, and Battery M, First, Illinois Light Artillery, were engaged in shelling the enemy upon Rocky Face Ridge.
The Sixth Ohio Light Battery was placed in position in front of Rocky Face Ridge, but was not engaged.
At 4 p. m. two sections of Bridges' Battery were placed in position two miles to the left of Tunnel Hill, by order of Major-General Howard. May 11 and 12, no particular demonstrations were made by any of the batteries.
May 13, the artillery moved with the corps through Dalton to Resaca, Ga. May 14, the Fifth Indiana, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, were engaged; the Fifth Indiana was charged, and repulsed the enemy in the most gallant manner.
May 15, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery, Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery; Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery; Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania and Fifth Indiana Batteries were engaged.
May 16, the enemy having evacuated Resaca, the artillery crossed the Coosa River and marched with their divisions to Adairsville, when, on May 17, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery was placed in position near the Adairsville and Resaca road, and Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position one mile to the right and front on General Wood's division front, each doing good execution.
May 20, the Fifth Indiana Light Battery, Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Battery were engaged with General Hardee's corps, C. S. Army.
The corps camped near Cassville three days, at which place Lieut. George W. Freeman, inspector of artillery and ordnance officer, and acting chief of artillery, was relieved by reason of the expiration of his term of service, and I was appointed, by order of Major-General Howard, acting chief of artillery in the absence of Maj. T. W. Osborn, absent 31 R R-Vol XXXVIII, Pt I
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wounded.
May 23, the corps moved to Dallas via Euharlee and Raccoon Creek and Pumpkin Vine Creek. May 26, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery and Fifth Indiana Light Battery and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, were engaged in front of New Hope Church. May 27, all the batteries of the corps were placed upon the front main line of works, in the positions assigned and prepared for them by order of Major-General Howard, where they remained, changing positions with their divisions until June 6, when they marched to Morris' Hill Church, Ga., and remained in camp from June 7 until June 10, when the corps marched toward Pine Mountain.
The enemy having been met in force at that place, by General Howard's [order] the Fifth Indiana Battery and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery were placed in position near the Marietta road.
June 11, Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position upon the left front of General Newton's division.
General Wood's division being in reserve his batteries were not engaged.
June 14, by order of Major-General Howard, the Fifth Indiana, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, opened fire upon Pine Mountain at 11 a. m. June 15, the enemy having evacuated Pine Mountain, Major-General Stanley's division occupied it, placing one section of the Fifth Indiana Battery in position upon Pine Mountain, the remaining two sections and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, upon a ridge, midway between Pine and Kenesaw Mountains. June 16, the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania were placed in position in front line of General Stanley's division; Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, in front line of General Newton's division.
Capt. Peter Simonson, chief of artillery, First Division, was killed while placing a battery in position in front of his division.
June 17, the enemy having evacuated their position, General Wood's division advanced one mile, by order of Major-General Howard.
Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position at 8 a. m. on a commanding position, on the left of the Marietta road, and shelled the enemy.
At 4 p. m. Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery; Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery; Sixth Ohio Light Battery; Fifth Indiana Battery, and Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, were placed in position, and, by order of Major-General Howard, at 5 p. m. concentrated their fire upon the enemy's works and lines in front of General Wood's left and General Newton's right front for one-half hour, after which our lines advanced across a large open field and secured a lodgment within the enemy's first line of works, which line was strengthened and turned upon the enemy during the night.
June 18, Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery; Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery; Sixth Ohio Light Artillery; Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Twenty-Sixth Pennsylvania Light Artillery were advanced from 600 to 700 yards in their respective fronts, occupying some hastily-constructed works, and were each engaged.
Captain McDowell, with the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery without works, placed a section of his battery within 250 yards of the enemy's works, and assisted very materially in driving the enemy from General Kimball's right front.
During the night Capt. George W. Spencer, with the pioneers of General Harker's brigade and his command, constructed works upon the line of works captured from the enemy the day before for four guns of Battery M,
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First Illinois Light Artillery, and placed them in position so as to enfilade the enemy's line for nearly a mile.
June 19, the enemy having evacuated their line, the batteries marched with their divisions to a small ridge in front of Kenesaw Mountain.
By General Howard's order Battery A, First Ohio; Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery; Sixth Ohio Light Battery; Fifth Indiana Light Battery; Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, were placed in position and engaged in driving the enemy to Kenesaw Mountain. June 20, by command of Brigadier-General Brannan, chief of artillery, Department of the Cumberland, at 2 p. m. the artillery of the corps concentrated their fire upon the right of Kenesaw Mountain, silencing the enemy's batteries at that point.
The batteries of the Second Division were relieved at dusk by the Fourteenth Army Corps, and marched with their division two miles to the right of their former position.
June 21, four guns of Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and four guns of Sixth Ohio Light Battery, and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, were placed in position in General Wood's front line, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, in General Newton's left front, all bearing upon two rebel batteries in General Wood's left and General Stanley's right front, which were doing much damage to each of the last-named divisions.
By Major-General Howard's order these batteries opened upon the two rebel batteries and the advance line of the enemy while Colonel Kirby's brigade, of General Stanley's division, secured a position in advance of the one then occupied.
Major-General Howard pronounced the firing the most accurate and effective he ever witnessed.
June 22, General Howard having received a communication from Major-General Hooker that the enemy was pressing him and requesting assistance, the Fifth Indiana Light Battery and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery marched with Major-General Stanley's division and relieved the batteries of Major-General Butterfield's division, Twentieth Army Corps. Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position in open field on right of Marietta road. June 23, in accordance with orders from Major-General Howard, all the artillery of the corps was placed in position, and at 4 p. m. opened fire for twenty minutes upon the enemy's batteries and lines, after which General Wood's division made a feint and General Stanley's division advanced and occupied an advance ridge.
In accordance with orders received from Brigadier-General Brannan, there was no more artillery firing until June 26, on account of the small supply of ammunition.
Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in park in rear of the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Battery. June 27, by order of Major-General Howard, all the batteries of the corps opened fire upon the enemy for fifteen minutes at 8 a. m., after which the corps charged the enemy's works, led by General Newton's division, supported by General Wood's division.
July 1, in accordance with orders received from Major-General Thomas, the artillery of the corps opened fire upon the enemy at 6 p. m., and resumed firing one-half hour at 6 a.m. July 2. July 3, the enemy having evacuated Kenesaw Mountain, the batteries marched with their divisions through Marietta to Neal Dow Station, where the Fifth Indiana and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Batteries were placed in position on the left of the railroad and engaged the enemy.
July 4, the Fifth Indiana Light Battery, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania
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Light Battery, Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, were engaged with two of the enemy's batteries.
July 5, all the artillery marched on the right and parallel with the railroad to the Chattahoochee River, and was placed in position upon the north bank of the river in intrenched positions commanding the ferry near Vining's Station and the pontoon bridge captured from the enemy by Brigadier-General Hazen. July 7, by order of Major-General Howard, the range of the enemy's works and batteries was obtained from all the batteries of the corps, and at 8 p. m. opened fire from all the artillery of the corps for half an hour as a demonstration in favor of General Wood, who secured the rebel pontoon bridge the same night.
July 9, at 12 m. Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery; Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and Sixth Ohio Light Battery, silenced the enemy's batteries in General Wood's front.
July 10, corps moved to Powers' Ferry, eight miles above Vining's Station; First Division crossed the Chattahoochee River; the artillery was placed in position near Powers' Ferry. July 12, Generals Wood's and Newton's divisions crossed the river, and all the artillery but Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position.
July 18, corps marched to Buck Head in the advance.
One section of Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, in command of Lieutenant Burton, was engaged in three skirmishes, with credit to the lieutenant commanding. July 19, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery and Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, engaged the enemy upon the Atlanta and Buck Head road, driving a battery from two positions.
At sundown Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, were placed in position on the left of the Atlanta and Buck Head road.
July 20, the Fifth Indiana Battery was engaged on the Roswell and Atlanta road.
Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, marched with the Second Division on the main Atlanta road, when that division was charged by the enemy.
Both batteries acquitted themselves in the most prompt and creditable manner.
July 21, by General Howard's order, Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, was placed in position one and a half miles to the right of the Fourth Army Corps, and played upon a column of the enemy then passing.
July 22, the enemy having retired within his works immediately around the city, the corps advanced, and all the artillery was placed in position and intrenched.
July 23, by order of Major-General Howard, the rifled batteries of the corps opened fire upon Atlanta at 2 p. m. Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, Captain Schultz, reported for duty.
July 25, Maj. . W. Osborn, chief of artillery, reported for duty.
July 26, the artillery was organized into an artillery brigade, in accordance with General Orders, No.--, July 18, headquarters Department of the Cumberland. July 28 and 29, the range and distance having been given each battery from actual survey, in accordance with orders received from Major-General Stanley, commanding Fourth Army Corps, the rifled batteries opened fire upon Atlanta.
July 29, the following assignment of artillery officers was made: Maj. T. W. Osborn, First New York Light Artillery, as chief of artillery; Capt. Lyman Bridges, Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, as assistant chief of artillery; Capt. Theodore S. Thomasson, First Kentucky Light Battery, inspector of artillery.
July 30, Major Osborn was relieved and I was appointed
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chief of artillery of the corps.
July 31, Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, was placed in position on General Newton's left front.
August 2, one section of the Fifth Indiana Light Battery was placed in position on line formerly held by General Schofield near the Howard house.
Opened fire upon Atlanta by order of Major- General Stanley. August 3, the two remaining sections of the Fifth Indiana Light Battery were placed in position near the Howard house. August 5, by order of Major-General Stanley, all the batteries fired into Atlanta once every 15 minutes from meridian until sundown.
August 6, by order of Major-General Thomas, the batteries of the corps opened fire upon Atlanta at 4 p. m August 10, the artillery in front of the Third Division was advanced to more commanding positions and thoroughly intrenched.
August 13, in accordance with orders received from Brigadier-General Brannan, chief of artillery, Department of the Cumberland, all the artillery .of the corps fired into Atlanta from 4 p. m until daylight August 14.
Signal stations having been established in front of each division the effect of the firing was seen, as nearly every shot was fired.
August 25, the artillery of this command was withdrawn from the lines between the Augusta railroad and Peach Tree Creek and placed in position near Proctor's Creek. August 26, all the artillery of the corps marched at 6 a. m. to Utoy Creek, except Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, reported to General Wood, and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, reported to General Kimball, and marched with their divisions, covering the retiring from Proctor's Creek. August 27, the Sixth Ohio Light Battery and Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, marched with the advanced division (General Wood's) on Sandtown road, and took position on right of Mount Gilead Church. Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, was placed in position in General Kimball's front.
August 28, Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery, marched with advance to Red Oak. August 29, one section of Sixth Ohio Light Battery and one section of Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, marched with General Wood's division to Bacon, Ga., on the East Point and West Point Railroad, destroying the railroad.
August 30, marched from Red Oak, on Jonesborough road, to Widow Long's house, some eight miles. All the artillery of the corps was placed in position.
August 31, Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, was placed in position near Cobb's Mills, and opened fire upon the enemy, who fell back to the Macon railroad.
All the artillery was placed in position near Cobb's Mills.
September I, Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery; Fifth Indiana Light Battery, and Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery, marched with First and Second Divisions on Macon railroad south, destroying the railroad within two miles of Jonesborough.
At 4 p. m. Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, and one section of the Fifth Indiana Light Battery were placed in position on General Kimball's front, and advanced with his division, occupying several positions, punishing the enemy severely.
September 2, the artillery marched through Jonesborough to near Lovejoy's Station, where the Sixth Ohio Light Battery, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery, Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, and Battery M, First Illinois Light Artillery, were placed in position.
September 3, Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery, was placed in position one mile to the left of First Division front; one section of Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light
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Artillery, and one section of the Sixth Ohio Light Battery, upon the advance line of the Third Division, three-fourths of a mile in advance of their former position.
September 5, in accordance with orders received from Major-General Stanley, all the artillery of the corps was withdrawn from the front, and marched at sundown to a position two miles north of Jonesborough.
September 7, marched at 3 a m. to Rough and Ready, seven miles. September 8, command marched from Rough and Ready, arriving at the city of Atlanta at 12 m.
In conclusion, I have the honor to state that there has been no loss of guns, carriages, or material upon this campaign.
The animals have been furnished with half forage a good portion of the time, and but for the indefatigable efforts of the division chiefs of artillery and battery commanders to procure forage from the country, and the timely reception of two small installments of artillery horses from Brigadier-General Brannan, chief of artillery, Department of the Cumberland, to replace those lost in action, our efforts in this particular might not have been as successful.
Capt. Peter Simonson, Fifth Indiana Light Battery, chief of artillery, First Division, who lost his life while placing a battery in position, was untiring in securing everything possible, and the best and most commanding positions for his command.
Capt. S. M. McDowell, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Light Battery,! Captain Simonson's successor, was equally brave and energetic, and lost his life at his guns upon the morning of June 27, in the terrible charge upon the enemy's works at Kenesaw Mountain. Lieut. O. H. P. Ayres, commanding Sixth Ohio Light Battery, who was killed while reconnoitering in front of his position July 6, was a valuable officer, and lost his life while endeavoring to obtain all the information possible bearing upon his position.
Capt. Theodore S. Thomasson, First Kentucky Light Battery, succeeded Captain McDowell as chief of artillery of First Division, June 27, and has proved a valuable and thorough officer.
Capt. C. C. Aleshire, Eighteenth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery, Second Division, was relieved by Capt. W. F. Goodspeed June--ultimo, who, while in command of the artillery at Peach Tree Creek, July 20 ultimo, placed the two batteries of his command and one battery of the Twentieth Army Corps in position, and repulsed the enemy in his attempt to turn the flank of the Second Division. Capt. Cullen Bradley, Sixth Ohio Light Battery, chief of artillery, Third Division, also procured all supplies possible for his command, and discharged his duties as chief of artillery to the entire satisfaction of his commanding general, until the organization of the Artillery Brigade, when he returned to the command of his battery.
To Capt. T. S. Thomasson, First Kentucky Light Battery, inspector and assistant chief of artillery, and Lieut. L. D. Immell, Battery G, First Missouri Light Artillery, acting assistant adjutant-general of this brigade, I have the honor to acknowledge repeated and timely assistance in the discharge of their respective duties.
The organization of the Artillery Brigade has been an era for good in this corps; although organized upon an active campaign good results have already resulted.
The batteries can be more promptly equipped and supplied, all unnecessary marches avoided, the labor equally distributed, and all the artillery of the corps used to advantage.
The animals of the batteries are in much better condition than when the brigade was organized.
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Below is the amount and kinds of ammunition expended by each battery in this command during the campaign.
Also the casualties in each battery in this command during the campaign :
| Zzz |
| Zzz |
lyman Bridges, Captain Bridges' Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, Chief of Artillery, Fourth Army Corps, Commanding. Lieut. Col. J. S. Fullerton
, Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Army Corps.
, Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Army Corps.
