Near Kenesaw Mountain, October 10, 1864. Was on the ground we charged on the 27th of June, and also on top of Kenesaw to-day. Very fine view, but nothing like equal to that from Lookout. The signal station here communicates direct with Atlanta, Allatoona and Roswell. I picked up some black oak acorns to-day from [...]
Two miles north of Kenesaw Mountain, October 9, 1864. About 5 o’clock last night, just when we should have been relieved, we heard the “General” sounded through the camp, and in half an hour more the “Assembly.” The corps started toward Marietta, and in another half hour we assembled, and in charge of the division [...]
On picket four miles south of Marietta, October 8th. We occupy the old Johnny skirmish pits. It was outrageously cold last night. I elected myself fireman and did not neglect my duties. I have men from every regiment in the brigade (seven). There are an abundance of chestnuts here, and at every post the boys [...]
October 7, 1864. The Rebels have left the railroad after being whipped by General Corse at Allatoona Pass. The 14th Corps drove them out to Lost Mountain yesterday. No hard fighting. They tore up not more than eight miles of railroad, which will be rebuilt in a very few days. Deserters report the whole Rebel [...]
October 6, 1864, 12 m. Rained all last night, and has just suspended for a few minutes, I expect. Kept dry, thanks to our rubber blankets. Drew five days’ rations this morning, full of everything except beans; plenty of beef, though. We only drew one-quarter of a pound per man for the whole five days. [...]
Six miles south of Marietta, October 5, 1864. Had an awful day’s march yesterday, full 20 miles and the road very muddy and slippery. County peculiarly Georgian, the like of which, I hope, is to be found nowhere else in Uncle Sam’s domain. When we started the “spring or grapevine” dispatch said that Hardee’s headquarters [...]
October 4, 1864. We have been expecting to move for several days. The Rebels have crossed the Chattanooga and are moving on our rear, a la Jonesboro. If half the force they took over get back I’ll be much disappointed. We yesterday sent our extra baggage to Atlanta to store, and at 11 last night [...]
The following complimentary orders were issued, as dated immediately after our going into camp at Eastpoint: __________ Headquarters Dept. and Army of the Tennessee, Eastpoint, Ga., September 9, 1864. General Field Orders, No. 16 It is with pride, gratification, and a sense of Divine favor that I congratulate this noble army upon the successful termination [...]
Near Eastpoint, September 8, 1864. We are again in camp for a rest; don’t know for how long. What do you think now of the confidence I have so often expressed to you in Sherman and his army? I have every hour of the campaign felt that a failure in it was impossible.
September 7, 1864. At 7 a.m. moved out on our return, and camped for the night on the left bank of Flint river, six miles south of Eastpoint. The Rebels had fortified to this place, and I don’t know how much farther south. As soon as Hood found out that Sherman was attempting to turn [...]
September 6, 1864. Lay quiet all day. Some Rebel cavalry followed us up and fired a few shots into our regiment’s works from the old Rebel fort, but Osterhaus swung his pickets around and gobbled 25 of them, and the rest troubled us no more.
September 5, 1864. News of the capture of Fort Morgan. Orders to march at 8 p.m. I was detailed to bring off the pickets, which was accomplished without trouble. Rebels did not know when we left, as we heard them shooting after we got back in our old works at Jonesboro. The whole army moved [...]
September 4, 1864. Received a half official notification to-day that the campaign and fighting are over. Orders to clean up arms came also, and the boys, showing their contempt of the enemy’s power to do harm, took their guns all to pieces and set to polishing the should-be bright parts, right in view of the [...]
September 3, 1864. Rebels still here. Congratulatory order from Sherman commences, “Slocum occupied Atlanta yesterday at 11 a.m.” We can see nothing of our position here. I don’t know where the 23d and 14th are. Our line here is very crooked, but generally faces southeast. Commencing at our right our line runs 17th, 15th, 16th [...]
Six miles south of Jonesboro, September 2, 1864. At daylight our skirmish line moved forward and found the Rebels gone. When our boys reached the railroad a train of cars was just loading some wounded; the boys made for it, but it outran them. They left a number of their wounded, and when the 14th [...]
September 1st, ’64. A real autumn morning. We were aroused at 3 a.m. and the air was then almost crisp. A breath of cold air is a luxury we can appreciate. A fresh, cool breeze is now stirring and I can almost hear the leaves falling. It is a real yellow fall and does me [...]
Near Jonesboro, August 31, 1864. We were afraid we would have no battle this month, but our fears were disappointed in a very summary manner this p.m. Hardee, in command of his own and Hood’s old corps, attacked the Army of the Tennessee again, the weight of the assault being on our corps. The second [...]
August 29, 1864. I would much like to know what the Chicago Convention is doing to-day. We hear there is a possibility they may nominate Sherman. How we wish they would. He would hardly accept the nomination from such a party, but I would cheerfully live under Copperhead rule if they would give us such [...]
August 24, 1864. The Johnnies in our front are either tired out or short of ammunition or inclination, or else, like the quiet swine, “studying devilment.” Certain it is, that they shoot but little lately. Five Rebel batteries which have thrown shell into our division line did not on the 20th or 21st fire a [...]
August 20, 1864. During the last few days cavalry has been operating on the right against the enemy’s communications. We have been making demonstrations, as they call it, or diversions in favor of the cavalries; that is, one, two or three times a day we raise a yell along our corps line, and open on [...]
August 11, 1864. We have lost 35 men since Colonel Wright left us. There has been a tall artillery fight this p.m. right here, but as usual no one hurt.
August 10, 1864. Our “color” that has floated over the 103d for nearly two years has become much worn and torn. One shell and bullets innumerable have passed through it. It is entitled to be inscribed with the following battles: Vicksburg, Black River, Jackson, Miss., Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Big Shanty, Kenesaw [...]
August 8, 1864. Never was army better cared for than this. No part of it has been on short rations during the campaign. Extra issues of dessicated potatoes, mixed vegetables, etc., have bundled the advance guard of General Scurvy neck and heels outside the pickets. Extraordinary dreams of green corn, blackberries, new potatoes, etc., have [...]
August 5, 1864. After the fight of the 28th July, we advanced on the 30th, 31st and April 1st 1, when we came to a strong line of Rebel rifle pits, densely populated, and their main works about 400 yards behind the pits. On the 2d details from each brigade in the corps were ordered [...]
August 1, 1864. Since the glorious battle of the 28th, everything has been quiet in our immediate front, though the heavy artillery firing continues to the left. I think it is between the 14th and 20th Corps and some Rebel forts. Prisoners say that our shells have hurt the city very much. We all think [...]