the field, was relieved from duty and proceeded to his home to be mustered out of service, and the command of this brigade was assumed by myself.

Our casualties at this point before Atlanta were: Killed, 24; wounded, 125; missing, 3; total, 152.

Orders having been issued to move the entire army to the southwest of Atlanta, the same night, in concert with the other troops, we abandoned our works at 10 p. m., leaving the skirmishers in their usual position until midnight, when we withdrew by regiments, commencing on the left, and joined the division on the Peach Tree road, in rear of General Newton's division, and moved to the right and in rear of the Twentieth Corps, marching about four miles, and resting in bivouac at 4 a. m. in a position near the railroad and in rear of the Sixteenth Corps, where the men left on picket on our vacated lines joined us at daybreak. This movement was executed without the enemy discovering our withdrawal until the next morning, when awaiting in a defensive position until 9 a. m. we moved with the division in a southwesterly direction, striking the Sandtown road, which we followed until 4 p. m., when we went into camp, having marched about twelve miles. At 8 a. m. on the 27th we marched with the division, moving south on a neighborhood road in the direction of the West Point railroad to a point near Camp Creek, 6 miles from East Point, where, the cavalry covering our movement meeting with considerable resistance, we halted for the night and barricaded our front. At 6 p. m. on the 28th moved with the division on a road crossing Camp Creek and intersecting the West Point railroad near and north of Red Oak Station, bivouacking on both sides of the road, having marched about three miles. On the 29th, the Second and Third Brigades having been detached for the purpose of assisting in the destruction of the West Point railroad, this brigade took position on the left of Newton's division, our left refused, and built strong barricades. Later in the day the Twentythird Corps came into position on our left. August 30, at 6 a. m. marched with the division, crossing the West Point railroad near Red Oak Station and moving in an easterly direction. About 11 a. m. the brigade was detached from the division, for the purpose of guarding the corps' trains, which were moving on a road to the right leading toward the Fayetteville pike, rejoining and camping with the division that night at Church, southwest of Rough and Ready and four miles from the Macon railroad. At 8 a. m. August 31 marched with the division in an easterly direction, crossing Flint River at- Mills, where, striking a by-road to the right and south of the main road, we moved in the direction of the Macon railroad, striking the same near Rough and Ready about 4 p. m. and assisted in its destruction. Near night-fall we took position, fronting south, on the right of the road, throwing up temporary works. Next morning at 7 a. m. marched with the division, following the main Jonesborough road to a point four miles from the town, when, leaving the road to the right, over by-roads, we again struck the Macon road, and, following its line south to a point about one mile from town, where we massed in an open field in rear of General Newton's division, which, in connection with the Fourteenth Corps on its right, had engaged the enemy toward night-fall, our division being in reserve, this brigade did not become engaged. The enemy having retreated during the night from his position at Jonesborough, early in the morning of the 2d we marched with the division, following the

line of railroad toward Lovejoy's Station, where the enemy being found in force, this brigade, about 3 p. m., went into position on the left of the railroad, connecting our right with General Wagner's brigade, of Newton's. division, Colonel Post's brigade connecting with our left. We advanced to within 300 yards of the enemy's barricades and threw up temporary works. The campaign being ended, we retired to Jonesborough on the 4th, rested there on the 5th, and leisurely marched to the position we now occupy, passing through Atlanta, and arriving here the following day.

The total casualties in the brigade during this period have been Commissioned officers-killed, 9; wounded, 44; missing, 3; total, 56. Enlisted men-killed, 171; wounded, 869; missing, 150; total, 1,190. Total-killed, 180; wounded, 913; missing, 153. Aggregate, 1,246. For a detailed list I respectfully refer to the accompanying reports of regimental commanders. During the same time we have taken 301 prisoners, including 13 commissioned officers. The Twenty-fifth Illinois, Thirty-second Indiana, and Thirty-fifth Illinois having been relieved from duty before the close of the campaign, no reports were furnished by their commanding officers.

To Col. Frank Askew, commanding Fifteenth Ohio Veteran Volunteers; Lieut. Col. Samuel F. Gray, commanding Forty-ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteers; Lieut. Col. William D. Williams, commanding Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry; Col. Frank Erdelmeyer, commanding Thirty-second Indiana Infantry; Col. R. H. Nodine, commanding Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry; Lieut. Col. W. P. Chandler, commanding Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry; Lieut. Col. O. C. Johnson and Maj. George Wilson, commanding Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry; Col. John A. Martin and Lieut. Col. James M. Graham, commanding Eighth Kansas Veteran Volunteer Infantry, all brave and competent officers, are due the thanks of their country.

To the brigade staff-Lieut. S. Green, assistant inspector-general; Lieut. C. A. Norton, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. J. A. Beeman, topographical engineer; Capt. C. H. Askew, provost-marshal; Lieut. Wallace McGrath, aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant-general; Capt. C. Fouke, commissary of subsistence; Lieut. T. A. Pesso, acting assistant quartermaster; and Lieuts. V. Koehler and L. G. Nelson, aides-de-camp-I render my personal thanks for their valuable aid and cordial co-operation, and bear cheerful testimony to their bravery, industry, and the good judgment with which they performed, under the several commanders of the brigade, the arduous and important duties necessarily imposed upon

them.

Having now submitted the customary details, based upon the best data at my command, I should regard the report of operations in so great a campaign as the one just closed as incomplete did I omit to bear tribute to the excellent esprit de corps and veteran steadiness and bravery of the officers and men in the gallant old First Brigade. Tried on the fields of Shiloh, Stone's River, bloody Chickamauga, and Mission Ridge, they could not fail, even when put to the severe test of 123 days of active field duty, unrelieved by a consecutive night of secure rest; no maneuvers, however self-evidently dangerous, have called forth dissatisfaction or a spoken doubt; no murmurs have come from them of necessarily imposed, but heavy, duty in storm or sunshine; no officer or enlisted man mars the records of our courts-martial with a cowardly charge against his name; no flag has received a stain or been lost because its keepers shrunk in the

:

hour of action; none of our brave boys have fallen dishonorably or unregretted, and all our dead have received honorable sepulture, even when in the hands of the enemy. Once only has the old First Brigade met repulse in these 123 days-the sad, yet glorious, 27th of May-and the rude-made graves of 105 men on the slope of Cleburne's parapets give silent testimony to the pith of the old First's regiments. For a year past it has passed into a proverb with us that any battalion can fight itself," not that the officers are lessened thereby in the scale of skill or bravery, but that the men are so disciplined as to preserve the unit in battle or associated action in repulse or advantage. It is not for me to pass eulogy upon the First Brigade, of the Third Division. I only ask justice for and mention honorably of its works; for, under the skillful and watchful eye of its division commander, it has performed all acts worthy of honorable mention, and I, in all trustworthiness and candor, leave the same in his hands.

Believe me, captain, though the month of September, enjoyed in peace and glorious recollections in the empire city of the empire State of the South, finds the battalions of the First Brigade shorn of half their numbers, yet the old unconquerable spirit is in the ranks, ready at all times and seasons to battle for national liberty, national peace, national power, and the national unity of half a hemisphere. Respectfully submitted.

C. T. HOTCHKISS, Colonel Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, Comdg. Brigade.

Capt. M. P. BESTOW,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Division.

No. 55.

Report of Col. William H. Gibson, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, commanding First Brigade, of operations August 2.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., THIRD DIV., FOURTH CORPS,

Near Atlanta, Ga., August 3, 1864. CAPTAIN: I beg leave to submit the following as to my advance of yesterday:

The proper dispositions having been made, the whole skirmish line advanced in face of a heavy fire from the enemy's first line, and at several places reached points within twenty yards of that line, whilst on the right the skirmishers of the Fifteenth Wisconsin, Eightyninth Illinois, and Eighth Kansas gallantly swept forward and mounted the enemy's works. At this juncture a battery of four guns, near a house on our extreme right, opened rapidly with shell and grape, completely enfilading our line. At the same time the enemy opened with musketry volleys from his second, or main, line. Our right was then withdrawn to a sheltered position, where it remained until ordered to occupy its old position. In front of our center the enemy opened with artillery posted in rear of his lines and beyond, but near our left he used a battery of two guns. The movement demonstrated, first, that there is no point to which our skirmish line could be advanced and placed in a tenable position; second, that the enemy's skirmishers are not in pits, but behind continuous

works, well constructed; third, that the enemy's main work is from 200 to 300 yards in rear of his first line, well located, and strongly built and protected; fourth, that his main line is on higher ground and completely commands the first; fifth, that a strong skirmish line only occupies the first line of works. When we advanced the enemy's troops appeared in the main line, clearing it for action, by throwing down the arbors and formed in line of battle. These troops, or two regiments, appeared to move up from the rear opposite our left, and, filing left at their works, took position on the double-quick. My advance was under the immediate direction of Major Kidder, Eighty-ninth Illinois, picket officer of the day, who exhibited most commendable prudence, skill, and energy.

My loss was 1 captain severely wounded. 4; wounded, 10; missing, 2. Total, 17.

Enlisted men-killed,

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. H. GIBSON, Colonel Forty-ninth Ohio Vol. Infty., Comdg. Brigade. Capt. M. P. BESTOW,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 56.

Report of Lieut. Col. William D. Williams, Eighty-ninth Illinois

Infantry.

HDQRS. EIGHTY-NINTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLS.,

Near Atlanta, Ga, September 13, 1864.

SIR: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to report the operations of the Eighty-ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers from May 3 to September 9, 1864, embracing a period of more than four months, on a line of operations of more than 160 miles in length directly in the heart of the enemy's country.

In obedience to orders from superior authority, the Eighty-ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers, under the command of Col. Charles T. Hotchkiss, marched from McDonald's Station, on the East Tennessee railroad, in company with brigade, division, and corps, on Tuesday, May 3, 1864, at 12 m. Arrived at Catoosa Springs and encamped for the night. Marched again on May 7, and arrived at Tunnel Hill May 8; encamped for the night. May 9, moved forward to near Rocky Face Ridge, and took position in support of the Thirty-Second Indiana Infantry; same day the Eightyninth relieved the Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry as skirmishers, and drove the enemy's skirmishers up the hill called Rocky Face Ridge. In this affair the Eighty-ninth Illinois lost 2 killed and 15 wounded. (For names, rank, and character of wounds, see schedule, marked A,* accompanying this report.) May 10, were relieved as skirmishers, and took position in reserve. May 10 [11], again deployed as skirmishers in front of Rocky Face Ridge; no casualties. May 12, marched to the left of Rocky Face Ridge, took position and built breast-works. May 13, took up line of march in pursuit of the enemy * Omitted: It shows an aggregate during the campaign of 40 killed, 130 wounded, and 68 captured or missing.

26 R R-VOL XXXVIII, PT I

(he having abandoned his intrenchments during the night of the 12th), passing Dalton. May 14, took up position near Oostenaula River and built breast-works. May 15, enemy again abandoned their works and we took up line of march, following him southward. May 16, continued the march. May 17, still following the enemy. May 18, took up position in front of the enemy; during the night of the 18th the [enemy] abandoned his intrenchments. May 19, took up line of march, passing through Kingston; overtook the enemy near Cassville intrenched; tock up position, and built breastworks. May 20, 21, 22, remained in our works, the enemy in the mean time retreating southward; while remaining in our works near Cassville replenished our stores of rations, reduced baggage, and prepared to follow the enemy across the Etowah River to his stronghold at Atlanta. May 23, took up line of march southward, crossed the Etowah River. May 24, still going southward in pursuit. May 25, still in pursuit. May 26, deployed regiment as skirmishers; encountered the enemy's skirmishers. Casualties, 1 man wounded, since dead (see schedule, marked A). May 27, were relieved as skirmishers and immediately ordered to move to the left to form part of a column of attack on the enemy's works. We moved about five miles to the left to a place known as Pickett's Mill; were formed in a column of attack-the Eightyninth forming part of the first or front line, the Fifteenth Wisconsin and Thirty-second Indiana on our left; nothing on our right. Moved to the attack of the enemy's works at 5 p. m.; commenced the charge in fine order and good spirits'; was met with a destructive fire from the enemy of musketry and artillery; advanced to within about twenty-five yards of the enemy's works up a steep hill; here the fire was so murderous that the column paused, wavered, and sought such shelter as they could find. After sustaining this terrific fire for about an hour were recalled, but did not withdraw until after dark, then withdrew beyond range, re-formed, and after sending out details to pick up the wounded, retired a short distance to the rear. Our casualties were large, and attest the terrible character of the assault. Killed, 16; wounded, 71; missing, 67; among them 4 commissioned officers, Capt. L. F. Dimick, Company F; Capt. S. C. Comstock, Company I; Lieutenant Arenschield, Company F, and Lieutenant Wood, Company B. (For names, rank, and wounds, see schedule, marked A.) After retiring to the rear about 600 yards, built breast-works, worked all night at them, and remained in them May 28 and 29, the enemy occasionally feeling our lines and eliciting spirited replies, which sent them speedily back to their works. May 30, advanced the line 500 yards to front and right; built breast-works and remained in them May 31, June 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. During the night of the 5th the enemy abandoned his works on our front. June 6, took up line of march in pursuit via Acworth. June 7, 8, 9, remained in camp waiting orders. June 10, marched forward three miles. June 11, took position in line of battle in front of Pine Mountain. June 12, 13, remained in position. June 14, advanced in line of battle and found the enemy's works on Pine Mountain abandoned. June 15 and 16, remained within enemy's works on Pine Mountain. June 17, advanced, deployed as skirmishers, about two miles, encountered the enemy's skirmishers and steadily drove them back to their rifle-pits on the south side of a large open field, then charged across this field and drove the enemy from their rifle-pits, and occupied them with the Eighty-ninth's