31st General Baird, with his own and one brigade of General Morgan's division, was ordered to make a reconnaissance in the direction of the Macon railroad. The road was reached and a party kept at work destroying the track until the following day. Baird intrenched his command on the Rough and Ready road, near Smith's house, where it remained until joined by the corps the next day. Carlin's division moved in the morning to Renfroe's Cross-Roads, for the purpose of guarding the different trains collecting at that place. Late in the evening this division was hurriedly ordered to the support of the Army of the Tennessee, then reported to be engaged with the enemy, and Morgan's division was ordered to take its place at Renfroe's and to picket well to the front on the Fayetteville road; this he did. The emergency for which Carlin's division had been called to the support of General Howard's troops ceased to exist, the enemy having been repulsed, and the fact being reported to me, I ordered Carlin to return to his camp of the previous night. On the morning of the 1st of September I received orders from department headquarters to move with Morgan's division and two brigades of Carlin's and join with Baird's, and then to move in support of General Howard's left. Leaving one brigade at Renfroe's to guard the trains, as directed, Carlin marched promptly to the Rough and Ready road and halted his command a short distance in advance of Baird's field-works on the right. Morgan, with two brigades, marched promptly from Renfroe's, and, following Carlin, reported to me at General Baird's headquarters, where, in compliance with orders, Mitchell's brigade rejoined its division. Here I was informed by the department commander of the movement of Major-General Stanley's corps (Fourth) down the railroad, and of his desire that the two corps should move in co-operating distance toward Jonesborough. I immediately put the column in motion in the following order: Carlin in advance, followed by Morgan; Baird in reserve. In this order the whole corps moved rapidly until the head of the column reached Smith's house, near Mokers Creek, where it found the pickets of the Army of the Tennessee. As the next movement of my troops would evidently be made over the ground lying between the left of the position of the Army of the Tennessee and the railroad, along which Stanley was moving, I directed Carlin to send a brigade to make a reconnaissance of the ground in that direction. While this was being executed I conferred with Major-General Howard and received from him the position of his own troops and such information concerning the enemy's as he was able to give. An inspection of the ground between the head of the column and that part of the enemy's works which could be seen, and which was supposed to be his extreme right, showed a commanding ridge, immediately beyond the creek, from which an attack could be made with advantage. The enemy occupied this ridge in some force, both of infantry and artillery, but how strong could not be determined until Edie's brigade, in executing its reconnaissance, solved the question by gallantly advancing, and after a sharp skirmish took possession of the hill, pressing the enemy's artillery very close. The department commander arriving at the head of my column at this time, I reported to him, and he ordered me to move forward in the direction of Jonesborough, expressing at the time some apprehensions that General Stanley's column might be in advance of mine. To advance beyond the ridge now held by Edie's brigade 33 R R-VOL XXXVIII, PT I with a view to pushing our success on this flank after the position had been carried. At a quarter to 5 o'clock I ordered the lines, as now formed and represented by the accompanying map,* to advance and attack. The desultory firing which had been kept up by the enemy during the temporary pause in the advance, did but little damage, but served to locate the enemy's lines more definitely, which, owing to the dense thicket intervening, could not be well defined. The attack was promptly and vigorously made along the whole line. The enemy, self-confident and exultant at our audacity in attacking lines thus defended, made a most determined resistance. The fight was short and bloody. The entire line of works was carried, except the extreme left, formed of Moore's brigade. Here from natural obstructions, heavy timber, and underbrush, as well as a severe fire from his left, coming from the opposite side of the railroad, this brigade operated under great disadvantage, and was for awhile held in check, notwithstanding the troops fought with great gallantry and were well handled. Elsewhere, at all points, the assault was decisive and complete along the entire line. Eight hundred and sixty-five officers and men surrendered themselves in the works. About 1,000 more were captured, or surrendered themselves to different commands during the night and the following day, which should be credited to the assault, as a result of it. Two field batteries, consisting of four guns each, were captured complete. troops charged these batteries, under a murderous fire of canister, and took them in the works. Seven battle-flags and 14 officer's swords were captured, and have been forwarded, as required by existing orders, to department headquarters. These trophies were won behind the breast-works of the enemy at the point of the sword and the bayonet. They will ever be preserved and cherished as evidences of the discipline and valor signalizing the conduct of the troops in this bloody conflict. The A want of knowledge of the ground over which the several commanders were required to maneuver their troops, and its exceedingly rough surface, rendered their duties sometimes exceedingly difficult, and I deem it both a duty and pleasure to report the energy and skill displayed in the execution of them. To the division commanders, Brigadier-Generals Baird, Morgan, and Carlin, and their staffs, my thanks are due for their active assistance and co-operation during the engagement. The immediate presence of these old and well-known commanders among the troops during the movements of heaviest battle did much toward inspiring that coolness and determination so strikingly exhibited on this occasion. As so often occurs, night came with our victory and prevented us from reaping the full fruits of it. An entire corps of the enemy was completely routed, and could beyond all doubt have been captured had pursuit been possible. The corps bivouacked on the field during the night, and the following morning formed and took position in the column of pursuit, but was immediately afterward ordered by the major-general commanding the department to form the rear guard of the army in its movements farther south. Colonel Taylor's brigade, of Carlin's division, here joined its division. Going into camp at Jonesborough awaiting orders, it remained in reserve during the intervening days of active operations of the troops near Lovejoy's Station until the morning of the 7th, when, in compliance with orders announcing the evacuation *Not found, of Atlanta, and directing the movements of the troops in the return to that place, it withdrew from Jonesborough and marched to Rough and Ready and went into camp. On the morning of the 8th marched and went into permanent camp at this place, thus ending the long and eventful campaign. A list of casualties* showing the loss in the corps from the beginning of the campaign is transmitted; also the reports of the several division, brigade, and regimental commanders are transinitted, and attention called to them as valuable records of the operations of their respective commands. They will aid the commanding general in reviewing that part of the operations of the corps from the commencement of the campaign to the date of my assuming command, during which time the corps was commanded by Major-General Palmer, now absent, but who will no doubt in time furnish this part of the corps record. The efficiency and morale of the corps is excellent. A return of absentees and a few recruits to fill the vacancies in the ranks is all that is required to make it as efficient as at the commencement of the campaign. The organization of the staff has undergone a number of changes since the commencement of the campaign, but consisted during the time above described of Capt. A. C. McClurg, assistant adjutantgeneral and chief of staff; Capt. T. W. Morrison, assistant adjutantgeneral; Capt. John F. Squier, Seventy-fourth Illinois Infantry, aide-de-camp; Lieut. T. J. Carney, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, aide-de-camp; Lieut. Col. A. von Schrader, U. S. Volunteers, assistant inspector-general; Lieut. Col. J. R. Paul, U. S. Volunteers, chief commissary of subsistence; Capt. J. E. Remington, U. S. Volunteers, chief quartermaster; Maj. Charles Houghtaling, First Illinois Artillery, chief of artillery; Surg. F. Salter, U. S. Volunteers, medical director; Maj. John B. Lee, One hundred and twentyfifth Illinois Infantry, provost-marshal; Capt. Jesse Fulmer, Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, commissary of musters; Capt. L. H. Drury, Third Wisconsin Battery, assistant chief of artillery; Capt. J. Č. Martin, Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, staff quartermaster; Capt. A. L. Messmore, One hundred and thirteenth Ohio Infantry, staff commissary of subsistence; Capt. A. S. Cole, chief signal officer; Capt. William H. Collins, One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry, chief of ambulances, and Capt. George Estep, artillery ordnance officer. The efficiency of these officers in their respective duties has been highly satisfactory, and it affords me pleasure to recommend them to the consideration of the general commanding, and also to acknowledge my indebtedness to them for their valuable assistance. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. WILLIAM D. WHIPPLE, Asst. Adjt. Gen. and Chief of Staff, Dept. of the Cumberland. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, At McPeak's House, September 2, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that at an early hour yes. terday morning, in obedience to the orders of the army commander, * See statements with reports of subordinate commanders, two brigades of General Carlin's division and General Morgan's entire division moved from their respective positions near Couch's and Renfroe's to the support of General Baird, whose division lay in a northeasterly direction upon the Rough and Ready and Jonesborough road and upon the railroad. Forming a junction at this point, the corps moved south upon the Jonesborough road, General Carlin in advance, followed by General Morgan and General Baird. Marching two or two and a half miles south upon this road the pickets of the Seventeenth Corps were found. One brigade of General Carlin's division was immediately pushed eastward on a reconnaissance. They advanced a mile, driving in the enemy's skirmishers and gaining possession of a ridge in their front with but small loss. The other brigade of this division was pushed forward and formed upon their right. General Morgan's division moved south upon the Jonesborough road, formed his lines to the east of the road and to the east of Flint River (which General Carlin had also crossed), and advancing began to feel for General Carlin's right. Meanwhile Captain Prescott's battery gained a commanding position, enfilading the enemy's lines and silencing a battery upon General Morgan's front. Connection was formed between General Morgan and General Carlin, and the lines of battle were formed. The lines of attack consisted of Carlin's two brigades and Morgan's entire division. The enemy was vigorously attacked and driven back several hundred yards to their main works. By this time the regular brigade of Carlin's division had suffered so heavily that I directed it to be relieved by one of General Baird's brigades, and a general assault of the enemy's position was ordered. The works were carried along the entire line after very heavy fighting and a loss in killed, wounded, and missing of about 1,000 men. This is only an estimate, as it is impossible to get accurate returns at this time. Two field batteries (consisting of 10 guns) were captured in the enemy's works. Probably about 1,000 prisoners were captured, with Brigadier-General Govan and a number of officers. Several (10 reported) battle-flags were taken. am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Major-General, Commanding. Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Report of casualties of the Fourteenth Army Corps for September 1, 1864. |