17^th July, 1864.

 

My Dear Sister:

                        This morning the we again take up our line of march after having enjoyed a season of rest for one week. We all feel much invigorated and are ready to renew active operations. I could have wished however that our movement began on some other day than the Sabbath. Circumstances however may have made it necessary that the move should not be delayed. In the midst of such untoward circumstances I find the truth of Christ's last promise, "Lo, I am with you alway", for although far away from the religious privileges of home, I yet feel that He is present with me. We have orders to be ready to move at 5 o'clock A.M., but as we have to wait until the 15^th Corps which is in advance, gets under way it is about 10½ o'clock before we get under way. Whither are we going? is the question. Some think we are to make a flank movement and strike Decatur, a station on the railroad east of Atlanta. / Time will determine. We move slowly. Finally about 3 P.M. we diverge from the road taken by the 15^th Corps. Soon our skirmishers find the rebs. and drive them before them until we come to a deep hollow, with a hill on either side. Here they make a stand. We form in line of battle, and divest ourselves of our knapsacks, and prepare for an advance upon them. Our line of battle is concealed and protected by being formed behind the brow of the hill. Skirmishers are sent forward. The rebs. open a couple of small pieces of artillery and send us a few shell. No damage done. We bring up a battery and reply. Rebs. soon leave. We go into camp for the night. A great abundance of blackberries, deliciously sweet, are found, and besides many obtain potatoes, honey, apples, etc. I never saw blackberries so plenty. Passed over a pretty good country to-day. There are some fine corn fields; we will find roasting ears in two or three weeks. Marched about seven miles. Are said to be on the direct road to Atlanta. 

 

18^th July.

            About 7 A.M. get under way. Leave the road we are on and go back to that taken by the 15^th Corps. Follow in their track. Are now on the Decatur Road. Pass through a fine rolling country. Saw a magnificent pine grove. A beautiful fine, downy grass covered the ground, which was well shaded by numerous well trimmed pines. I never saw a more beautiful place. Move about 6 or 7 miles. Camp about 1 P.M. An abundance of forage again.

 

            A beautiful moonlight evening. Whilst passing along going for water, my attention was attracted by the sound of a man's voice evidently engaged in speaking. Pausing to listen for a few moments I found it a chaplain, whose audience were seated upon the grass. He was making some very practical remarks, and denouncing in no measured tones some disgraceful acts of pillage that had lately occurred. Houses had been entered, and everything turn upside down, drawers ransacked, clothing stolen and destroyed. / These things are done by a few unprincipled scoundrels and are almost universally denounced by our army, but of course the act of these few brings disgrace upon us all. I wish that the scoundrels could be caught and shot. As for anything that we can find out doors to eat, such as apples, potatoes, beans, chickens etc, we think we are justified in taking them, but this disgraceful home robbery of defenceless women and children cannot be too severely punished.

 

19^th July                     

            About 5 o'clock get under way. Are about 6 miles from Decatur. Move about 3 miles and then are stopped for a long time in consequence of another Corps coming in ahead of us. Cannonading is heard ahead and we are moved off in a cross road in order to get into position. Before this move is completed, word comes that Decatur is in our possession and we are ordered to move into the town on the main road. This we do, passing the 23^rd Corps by the roadside. As we enter the town already filled with our men, we talk in a lively manner concerning the small opposition we have encountered, and are surveying objects which we pass, all unsuspecting of danger as firing ceased some time since. Suddenly the boom of a cannon is heard, and the screech of a shell, which burst just in the edge of town, coming like a peal of thunder in a clear sky. It is followed by others, one of which bursts amongst a Regiment of our Brigade, mortally wounding a Doctor and two men. Our battery is brought up as soon as possible, and we are placed behind it to support it. Our guns open and not a rebel gun is fired afterwards. We are all thankful for this result, for if they had dared to reply to our batteries, we must have suffered severely on account of our poor position. Probably our quick and well directed fire combined with the fact that they could not have shelled us with out shelling the town saved us. /

 

            The greatest consternation prevailed in the town when the shelling commenced. Women and children fled in terror from the place, leaving their homes. A few however bravely remained. Advantage was taken of the absence of the inhabitants to pillage the houses in many cases. After the firing ceased many returned only to find their houses torn upside down. It was distressing to witness the shameful vandalism in some cases, and I almost blushed for my uniform. Decatur is a pleasant little railroad village, distant six miles from Atlanta, east of it. There was a large tin factory here, and we captured a large number of coffee pots. The rebels burned a number of wagons to keep them from falling into our hands. Our Regiment was placed on provost guard.

 

20^th July.        

            Other corps move out, we remain in town. Talk with a number of citizens. Find two Baptist preachers. Both very pleasant men. Marvelous stories of prices. Flour 80 dollars per hundred pounds. Corn meal 15 dollars per bushel. Bacon $1.25 per pound. Butter $4 per pd. Shoes $40 to $80 per pair. Coffee pots, common tin, $6 to $12 each. Other things in like proportion.—About 7 P.M. start toward Atlanta, following in track of 15^th Corps. Move up to about 3 miles from the city, and about a mile in rear of our front line where we bivouac. Verily we are now thundering at the gates of Atlanta. Our flank movement has evidently taken them by surprise, as they had no works constructed to hinder our advance, previous to our appearance.

 

21 July.          

            Remain in our position until about 4 o'clock P.M. Then move farther to the left, and act as a support to part of the 17^th Corps. A severe fight took place in the 17^th Corps in the morning. A charge was made by them. They succeeded in taking a position on a hill, driving the rebels from their works. There are very contradictory stories / concerning our loss in the charge, and I shall not repeat them.—We are ordered to sleep upon our arms, as it is apprehended that the rebels may attack our flank. We are well prepared for them if they attack us here.

 

22^nd July.        

            In the morning we find that the rebels have evacuated their works immediately in our front. Our skirmishers advance and form their new position. Atlanta is plainly visible, distant perhaps a mile and a half. A line of fortifications is seen in front of the town. It is reported that they have evacuated the city, but when they open with a battery, an effectual quietus is given to that report. There is very little firing however during the morning. About 12 M. we are in readiness expecting soon to go forward and occupy the rebel works. Suddenly skirmishing is heard in our rear and on our flank. What does it mean? Can they have outflanked us? Soon there is heard a yell. Evidently the rebs. are on our flank. Speedily come the orders to move double quick. We move into an open field and form quickly in line of battle. The skirmishing is rapid and rapidly approaching us. The 2^nd Division of our Corps is already in line on our left, it being providentially on the move when the firing began. The skirmishing is now replaced by a steady roar of musketry. Soon the rebel line appears coming out of the woods in front of the 2^nd Division. Boldly they charge with a defiant yell. They are met with grape shot and canister from our batteries, and a rapid fire of musketry. Gallantly the rebels come on however, boldly waving their flags, and part of our line wavers for a moment. Soon however the fire grows too warm for the rebels, and they begin to give back. Then with a loud cheer the 2^nd Division charges after them, and a large number of the rebels are captured, together with several stand of colors. Thus far we have not been engaged although we have every moment expected the rebels to charge us also. Soon now the balls begin to whistle over us, but inspirited by the success of our men on our left, we no longer wait for the rebels / to charge, but with a tremendous cheer rush forward to meet them. Coming to the top of a little elevation we find ourselves not over 30 or 40 feet from the rebels who turn their backs and flee. We pour into them our fire, and advance to the edge of the woods. Remaining here a short time we find that the rebels are on our flank and that we are exposed to an enfilading fire. Our men begin to drop dead and wounded, and we fall back a few yards in some confusion. But soon we rally again although under a tremendous fire, and stand our ground returning the rebel fire with interest. As the rebels are not in sight however we cease firing, and lie down. The balls rattle over and around us like hail, and many are wounded. The rebels have a cross fire on us. We fall a little farther back. Our batteries throw grape and canister over our heads, and many pieces fall around us. After being exposed to a fierce fire for about three hours, out in an open field under the scorching heat of a midday July sun, we fall back into a ravine and ascending to the other side of it form a new line. The rebels also fall back leaving the battle field, and many of their wounded. Our skirmishers advance and occupy the field. Our dead and wounded are removed. We have suffered severely. Our Regiment lost 109 dead and wounded. Our Company suffered least, we losing five wounded: Sergeant Steen, Sergeant Congden, George Moore (since dead), Benjamin Yardley, and Adoniram Parker. The loss in our Brigade will probably reach 400. The whole 16^th Corps was engaged. Sprague's brigade, at Decatur was also attacked and driven back but being reinforced regained their ground. It is reported that Hardee was wounded and taken prisoner by him. The movement of the rebels was a surprise to us, but we have gloriously repulsed them. Their loss in killed and wounded is much greater than ours, and besides we have taken about 2000 prisoners, besides a large number of wounded who also fell into our hands. Our small Corps, strung out in one line of battle repulsed Hardee's Corps, charging us on open ground, they being two or three lines deep. The whole of our / Corps fought splendidly. Gen. Dodge highly compliments our Regiment, for reforming when thrown into some confusion, under a heavy fire. Everybody gives us high praise, and it was our decided stand that saved the left wing of our army from rout. For my part I feel like giving God the praise of our victory. But for his Providential interposition we should have been defeated. Individually I feel that I have again great cause of gratitude to God for preserving my life amidst such dangers. Trusting in Him I went forward confidently to the post of danger, and although many a bullet passed very near me yet I suffered no harm. How can I be thankful enough to Him for all his mercies.

 

            But our victory has not been without loss. McPherson our brave and skilful General is dead. He had the confidence of us all, and we deeply lament his loss. We lost a battery which was surprised before it could be removed. The horses were all killed, and the rebels were unable to remove the caissons, although capturing the guns.

 

            Fuller and Dodge displayed great courage and good Generalship. Fuller is now commanding our Division, as Gen. Veatch is sick. Col. Merril of the 64^th Illinois, commanding our Brigade was severely wounded. At night we throw up breastworks.

 

23^rd July.        

            The morning opens quietly. An occasional shot only is heard. We are busy in carrying off rebel wounded and burying the dead. The rebel dead lay very thick on the field. Talk of the battle is in every mouth. There is said to have been a general engagement along the line, in which the rebels were everywhere repulsed. But I will not repeat these rumors, for you will receive a full account before this reaches you probably.—We receive a mail for the first time in a week. A letter from mother of date of the 14^th. I am very sorry that you do not receive my letters more promptly, as you must be very anxious. I know not when I shall have opportunity to send this, but will send it as soon as possible.

 

            A mail is just going out. Am in good health.

                                                           

Hastily,

Your Brother

SOURCES