FEBRUARY 5-22, 1864.-The Florida Expedition. Report of Col. James Montgomery, Second South Carolina Colored Infantry, commanding brigade, of engagement at Olustee, or Ocean Pond, February 20. HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, Jacksonville, Fla., March 15, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following official report: When the battle of Olustee began my command, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts and First North Carolina Regiments, was in rear of the train. Thinking it might be a demonstration intended by the enemy to draw us away from the train, I immediately disposed my force so as to protect it, at the same time sending an aide to the front for orders. The aide was hardly out of sight when the fight thickened so rapidly that I moved forward with the Fifty-fourth without waiting for orders, leaving the First North Carolina to guard the train. We soon met the aide with orders to bring up both regiments. The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts was placed on the left of the line, while the First North Carolina moved directly forward. Fresh re-enforcements of the enemy came up at this time, and the fight, which had slackened a little, broke out again in all its fury, and continued till sunset, when the troops retired slowly from the field. The Fifty-fourth, commanded by Colonel Hallowell, lost 1 captain and 2 lieutenants wounded, and 84 men killed, wounded, and missing. The First North Carolina lost in killed, wounded, and missing, 199 men and 10 officers. I have the honor to be, captain, your most obedient servant, Capt. P. R. CHADWICK, JAMES MONTGOMERY, Assistant Adjutant-General. [35.] Report of Capt. John Hamilton, Battery E, Third U. S. Artillery, of engagement at Olustee, or Ocean Pond, February 20.* HILTON HEAD, S. C., February 24, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report, for the information of the commanding general, such operations as fell under my observation in the battle of the 20th, near Olustee, Fla.: Upon the general engagement of the pickets along the line, Colonel Henry went forward on our left flank to reconnoiter the enemy's position. Coming back he informed me, in General Seymour's presence, that by planting, say two sections of artillery at a point he would des. ignate, he thought I might enfilade their line, and that we might worst them in a short time. The sections were advanced, but received, on coming into battery, a fire from a more extended line of infantry than what had been first observed. My battery was under 250 yards from the enemy's right of infantry, while an oblique line of cavalry bore off to their right and nearly, as far as I could see, into the woods. The Eighth U. S. Colored, Colonel Fribley, then deployed, but its left wing filled all the intervals of my pieces and prevented their working to any * See also Myrick's report, Vol. XXXV, Part I, p. 319. advantage. As soon as I saw this position I felt that all hopes of withdrawing my guns to a more favorable position were gone, for the reason that the Eighth U. S. Colored were green troops, and should I have limbered to the rear I was sure they would run before the second line could come up to our support. As this line-Colonel Barton's brigade-was about deploying, I knew that the running of troops through or over them would subject us to an immediate defeat from the enemy's cavalry turning our left flank. I should judge the enemy's flanking line of cavalry to have been 500 strong. I was soon struck on the left hip, but not disabled. Then Lieutenant Eddy was badly wounded; then my horse. I could pay almost no attention to my battery, which was being mowed down as grass without the power to reply with any effect. My whole attention was involved in holding the Eighth on their ground. My heart bled for them; they fell as tenpins in a bowling alley; but everything depended on their sacrifice and that of my battery until we could be relieved or the new line formed. In about twenty-five minutes, out of 82 men and 4 officers, 44 men and 3 officers were disabled, and 39 horses were hit so as to be left behind. Langdon's battery then took position on my left, and bleeding heavily, and sick, I directed Lieutenant Myrick to get off the pieces, and I reported to General Seymour, who sent me off the field. Colonel Fribley had fallen, mortally wounded, some time before, and had been placed on the footboard of one of my limbers. I saw him dead, and directed one of his officers to take him off, as I had to use the limber to get off one of my guns. He was placed about twenty-five feet to the right and rear of my right piece, where I think he was left. I do not think that we, on the left, did much hurt to the enemy. Our time was occupied in filling gaps; my pieces were marred by the infantry commingling with my own men. The left wing of the U. S. Colored Infantry could have done little injury to the enemy; they fired very wildly and without purpose. It was not from cowardice as much as ignorance. Their officers appeared to do their duty as brave men, but without self-reliance, and I did not see any of the regiment run, yet they only served the purpose of keeping the enemy in check from charging. They should not be condemned, for I saw nothing wrong that could not be accounted for by want of experience and ignorance of object, apparently. My own men behaved well, devotedly, and individually so. My attached "Enfans Perdus" did not. They clustered and gabbled in all languages; some were punished. I It was impossible at the time of removing to a second line to bring off two pieces and two caissons for want of horses or cannoneers. regret to say they were left to the enemy with nearly full ammunition chests. All my officers were hit, four of us severely wounded, and the charge of the battery fell into the hands of Lieut. D. Irwin, Third Rhode Island Artillery, serving with the battery. As chief of artillery 1 can make no report that can be so called. I had to act on the line of infantry as a general staff officer. This is to be the more regretted, for could I have had the directing of Langdou's battery it would not have taken the position it did. I had not even time to communicate with the general. But personally I have nothing to regret. By the sacrifice of five pieces of artillery I saved the whole of our left flank from breaking and its disastrous consequences. We thus changed a rout into a simple defeat or beating back. For the dead, a very large majority died honorably; the wounded have all the sympathy a wounded man can extend. My thanks are due to Lieutenant Irwin for his labors. My officers discharged their duties unflinchingly, and only left when their presence would have been a drawback. To Lieut. J. R. Myrick is due the credit of withdrawing the two pieces saved. Messrs. Eddy and Dodge, Third Rhode Island Artillery, have my thanks for their coolness and steadiness in managing their sections. There is an officer, unknown to me, to whom I wish to pay a tribute of praise. I hear that he had been mustered out of service from the New York Independent Battalion. I handed him my pistol when I was wounded and he sent it to me afterwards. All I can say is that it is a brave man who would come where it was simply to give encouragement to troops by his example. He is worth seeking out. I shall ask Lieutenant Myrick to add his report to this.* I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt., Third Artillery, Comdg. Light Co. E, and Chief of Artillery. Captain CHADWICK, [35.] Assistant Adjutant-General. NOVEMBER 15-DECEMBER 31, 1864.-The Savannah (Georgia) Campaign. HEADQUARTERS SEVENTY-SIXTH OHIO INFANTRY, CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that this regiment left Smyrna Camp-Ground, Ga., on the 13th of September [November], 1864; marched to White Hall, near Atlanta, and camped two nights. On the 15th the line of march was again taken up, and came via Rough and Ready, McDonough, and Indian Springs, crossing the Macon and Charleston Railroad near Gordonsville, where, on the 22d, the regiment destroyed three miles and a half of the track. Marched thence via Irwinton and crossed the Oconee River eight miles from that place. Moved thence parallel with the railroad; crossed the Ogeechee River near Millen, and engaged with the rest of the brigade in destroying the railroad on the 3d of December. Recrossed river same day, and the day following renewed the march in the direction of Savannah. On the 10th again crossed the Ogeechee River on bridge of the Gulf railroad, and proceeded with the rest of the army to the investment of the city of Savannah. During the siege the regiment [was] actively engaged in making earth-works and skirmishing with the enemy. Had one man slightly wounded by bursting of enemy's shell whilst the regiment was supporting a battery. The health of the regiment has never been as good since its organization as during the last campaign. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. J. D. FEGAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. * See Vol. XXXV, Part I, p. 319. Sergeant-Major. Report of Maj. Ruel M. Johnson, One hundredth Indiana Infantry. HDQRS. 100TH REGT. INDIANA VOLUNTEER_INFANTRY, Savannah, Ga., January 3, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to respectfully report the following as the part performed by the One hundredth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Second Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, Department and Army of the Tennessee, in the great campaign of the Federal forces commanded by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, from Atlanta to Savannah, Ga.: In obedience to orders from headquarters Second Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, the One hundredth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry broke camp at Atlanta, Ga., at 6 a. m. November 15, 1864, and in conjunction with the remaining forces of the command moved toward McDonough, the county seat of Henry County, Ga., marching the distance of twenty miles. From thence forward our operations run as follows: November 16, marched at 7 a. m.; passed through McDonough at 4 p. m., and encamped at 6 p. m., having marched sixteen miles. November 17, marched at 1 p. m., and encamped on Indian Springs road at 11 p. m., having marched fourteen miles. November 18, marched at 7 a. m. and encamped at Indian Springs, having marched five miles. My regiment was placed upon provost duty in the town. November 19, marched at 10 a. m., crossing the Ocmulgee River on pontoon bridge near the Ocmulgee Mills, and bivouacked at 2 a. m. 20th November on the Hillsborough road, having marched fifteen miles through the rain and over the worst of roads. November 20, marched at 7 a. m., passing to the right of Hillsborough, in Jasper County, and Tranquilla, of Jones County; encamped near Clinton, county seat of Jones County, having marched fourteen miles. November 21, marched at 6.30 a. m., passing through Clinton, county seat of Jones County, and reaching the Macon and Savannah Railroad, crossed the same and encamped between Griswoldville and Gordon on the railroad, having marched eighteen miles. November 22, the Second Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, to which my regiment is attached, having been ordered to make a reconnaissance for the purpose of showing to the enemy a column of infantry moving toward Macon, Ga., I moved the One hundredth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry from their place of bivouac at 6 a. m. and joined the column of the brigade on the Griswoldville and Macon road, occupying my assigned place in the column. The column moved forward on the above-named road some two miles, when we encountered the enemy's cavalry in strong force posted upon Duncan's farm on the left of the railroad, proceeding toward Macon. We soon drove them from this position, and as they retreated the column moved forward, driving the enemy before us some two miles and a half, when, upon being informed by the major-general commanding the Fifteenth Army Corps that the object of our reconnaissance was obtained, the command was ordered to fall back and take up a position on Duncan's farm and remain there until the remaining troops of the column and trains passed by, and then act as rear-guard to the entire column. Having arrived at the point designated upon Duncan's farm, we formed line of battle covering the Macon road, with our flanks resting in the timber while our front and center was in the open field. The regiments composing the command were assigned positions on the line as follows: On the right of the road were placed the Sixth Iowa Infantry, One hundred and third Illinois Infantry, and Ninety-seventh Indiana Infantry; on the left of the road were posted the Fortieth Illinois Infantry, One hundredth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and Forty-sixth Ohio Infantry, while in the center and on the road the section of artillery which had accompanied the brigade took up a position. Having formed line and taken up the position assigned me, I immediately directed my men to build slight barricades of rails to guard as a precaution against any contingency that might arise, and then to get dinner, previously, however, covering my front with skirmishers to give warning of the approach of the enemy in time to be ready to meet him. In less than an hour after getting into position, as above stated, our skirmishers became engaged with the advance of the enemy, who was moving upon us, and it soon became apparent that a heavy battle must ensue, as it was evident the enemy intended to endeavor to drive us from our position, and with that view had formed in heavy force upon our front and opened upon our barricades with four pieces of artillery. Brig. Gen. Charles C. Walcutt, commanding Second Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, perceiving this, ordered me to take the three right companies of my regiment and support the section of the First Michigan Battery, occupying the center of the line, which order I immediately obeyed. I had no sooner done this than from the maneuvering of the enemy it became apparent that he would endeavor to turn our extreme right flank, and to checkmate him there, General Walcutt ordered me to withdraw three more companies of my regiment from the left flank, and putting them in position on the extreme right flank, take charge of that end of the line, and at all hazards hold the enemy at bay at that point. I accordingly moved Companies A, B, and C of my regiment to the extreme right of the brigade line, and placing Companies A and C on the line, deployed Company B as skirmishers to extend the line to the right, instructing the men to shelter themselves behind trees and to hold their positions at all hazards. Companies I, K, and H, having been placed in the center of the brigade line, and the Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry having, by order of General Walcutt, previously moved to the right, I had only Companies D, E, F, and G of my regiment with which to hold what had been the line occupied by the One hundredth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and the Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. These companies I deployed along the works so as to cover the two regimental fronts, and placed them in command of Edwin Goldsmith, lieutenant and adjutant, who managed them admirably during the remainder of the day. The three companies in the center I placed under the immediate command of Capt. John W. Headington, and he continued to manage them during the remainder of the fight with skill and sound discretion. On the right flank my men were much exposed, having no works to shelter themselves; but the ground being rather favorable, I succeeded in checking the enemy so suddenly in his effort to turn our line that he did not afterward attempt seriously to get around our flank, nor did he even have time to discover the strength of our line or number of our forces at that point. In this engagement, which lasted from 1 o'clock until dark, the enemy made some seven distinct assaults upon our lines, and was handsomely repulsed with heavy loss on his part each time. Toward evening I received an order from Col. R. F. Catterson, Ninety-seventh Indiana Infantry, who in the meantime had assumed command of the brigade, owing to Brigadier-General Walcutt's having been wounded, to be ready with a heavy skirmish line in my front to charge the enemy at the sound of the bugle, and to bring in such of the enemy as had remained behind in the last repulse and taken shelter under the cover of a ravine which ran along our front. This |