Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas

by George W Pepper

  Early in the morning, Colonel Strickland's Brigade, of the Second Division, was sent forward, to take possession of the ridge, from which the enemy had been driven the day previous. He reported the enemy fortifying a line but a short distance beyond the ridge, of which I have just spoken. General Hooker ordered General Butterfield, with his Division, to take position on the Left of this brigade. General Hascall moved Colonel Cooper's and Colonel Hobson's Brigades to the right of Colonel Strickland. These troops went energetically at work, and soon were in position to hold the line against any assault that might be attempted. While these preparations were being perfected, General Cox moved a brigade on the right of General Hascall and the remainder of his troops into such a position as to render assistance wherever needed.

  On the left of General Hooker's line a much more important movement was being executed. In front of General Geary was a high hill or ridge, one of the group, of which Kenesaw is the nucleus, which was of great importance, and which it was determined to carry. A heavy and destructive fire, from a score of guns, was directed upon the enemy's works, which was continued for some time. Under cover of this fire a force was formed, and in season was ordered forward, and in one of the most brilliant, daring charges of the war, carried at the point of the bayonet. Our loss was not heavy, though the position gained was of great importance. With this hill and other positions, now in our possession, it is thought the enemy can be driven from Kenesaw, which they hold with a tenacity that proves its great importance.

  Their lines now run in the shape of the letter V— the point of the letter being Kenesaw Mountain, and the letter extending toward the Chattahoochie, one of the sides crossing the railroad.

  To those who are growing impatient at the progress General Sherman is making in his extended operations, we have only to say, "Be of good cheer," for the work is progressing to “the entire satisfaction of the army and its officers. They too have an interest in the campaign that is being carried out here, and are willing to work day and even night to expedite the work; but are little encouraged to feel that some are caviling because they are not rushed on to works of strength, defended by brave men, to satisfy the eagerness of a few who can see progress only in frightful losses of life and long lists of casualties.

  To those who claim that General Sherman is inactive we would say that there has been scarcely a day but what an engagement, that in the earlier days of the war would have been called a battle, has not been fought. This country is one extended wilderness. Hill rises after hill, frowning with batteries and strong earth-works. Ridge after ridge rises before us, lined with rifle-pits, manned with men. To attack these—to assault these, would be madness—would be criminal, and would insure the destruction of this Grand Army, now so confident and conscious of its strength and success. Where hills and ridges can only be gained by carefully prepared and skillfully executed movements, these have been accomplished, and General Sherman, by a series of brilliant and rapidly executed movements, has wrested from the powerful army, under General Johnston, a country, which is one vast powerful fortification, and is, today, completing the movements which will force the rebel army over the river to its stronghold, which is the key to Atlanta. Let the country rather rejoice that her army is under the guidance of such an accomplished soldier, and be glad that her triumphs are the results of well executed strategic movements, rather than of frightful loss of life. When the final movement comes, when the opportunity for dealing a crushing blow to Johnston's army, in an open encounter, this army will not be found weakened and discouraged by past unsuccessful assaults, but will be ready and confident, with ranks yet full, to deal the decisive blow. Until then, let the country be confident, and confide in this army, for the work that is before it.

  THE SITUATION.

  The problem here has not yet been solved, though our troops go to sleep every night expecting to find no enemy in their front. Kenesaw Mountain is still in the hands of the enemy, though our right wing has wheeled nearly around it, and threatens directly and imminently their rear. Yesterday morning we were within three miles of Marietta — this morning but two. Our shell go into the pretty and aristocratic town, and the roar of musketry is never out of the ears of the startled inhabitants, ever growing near and more ominous, and, what must be peculiarly demoralizing, extending far to the South. Universally the rebels are expected to fall back within the next few days, and their position is now so constricted that no one would be surprised to wake up in the morning and find the enemy across the Chattahoochie.

  There has been something of a lull in the tremendous skirmish fire that has been maintained day and night for the last three or four weeks, and in which our troops, by great odds, bore the most active part. An enormous quantity of ammunition has been expended. Some of the regiments have fired three or four hundred rounds per man, and some batteries had their caissons replenished regularly twice per week. Thanks, however, to the integrity of the great railroad in our rear, belonging to the State of Georgia, there is plenty on hand and to spare, though our batteries should continue to fire by volleys, and our skirmishers with their minies cut down additional young saplings around the Johnnies' dirt-piles, before breakfast.

  The army was never jollier, more determined, or more confident. They complain of one thing only, a want of sleep. They must fight all day, stealthily secure an advanced position (though a point has now been reached where this is no longer possible) at night, and fortify. Daylight comes early these mornings, and its initial shade is hailed by the spiteful salute of the watchful outposts. In the first gray of dawn the spade is thrown aside for the musket. The country around Kenesaw is scored with toilsome parallels, thrown up when all in nature, save the soldier, slept. Rest has been said to be simply a substitution of one kind of labor for another; the correctness of which established, our army has been uniformly and comprehensively refreshed.

  The fatigue of the campaign since the first day's march from Ringgold has been enormous; indeed beyond computation. The cautious approach on Dalton, the sleepless, laborious nights and bloody days at Resaca, the fortnight of carnage and vigilant toil near Dallas, and the many even more wearisome and sanguinary days consumed in investing the rebel position at Kenesaw, are without parallel (unless it be Grant's present campaign) during the war. The losses of both these armies in killed and wounded during this period of grand activity, fully equal those of one of our great encounters, without the decisiveness that sometimes pertains to a pitched battle of the first class. Men have fallen daily by scores, hundreds, and sometimes by thousands, but the morale of neither army is shaken. That Sherman has gained overpowering advantages—advantages that will give him Atlanta—will be nearly conceded. But the army of Johnson has not been destroyed, and until that is done the immense labor performed and blood spilled have no adequate return. We hope to do this when we have forced the enemy from his present formidable position, which has been held, and is held with more than usual tenacity. That he has suffered equally, to say the least, with ourselves, is a matter of certainty. The fact is confirmed in a dozen ways.

  No one believes, however, as some mysterious correspondents have hinted, that Sherman will refrain, on Grant's account, from pushing Johnston to the wall. We have wrested every inch of territory we could from the enemy, and invested his position with the greatest possible celerity. If Johnston retreats to Atlanta, our army will probably halt north of the Chattahoochie River for a season of rest and preparation. Both are necessary, the former, perhaps, the more imperatively. Another retreat cannot but greatly demoralize the enemy. The rebel rank and file were promised a grand and decisive battle here. It was with this explicit understanding that they retreated from Resaca and turned upon us at Kenesaw. But Sherman, the absurd fellow, wouldn't rush upon them in headlong assaults; consequently another retreat, with another congratulatory promissory order from Johnson, may be looked for. Would anybody of men in the world, save the ignorant masses in the South, be gulled in this way for the twentieth time?
/>   THE LEFT.

  Has not advanced today, and the skirmishing has been light. There are indications that McPhersons' Corps will be transferred to the right, as the rebel position can be much more easily flanked on that wing.

  THE CENTER — JUNE 23.

  Today we have had one of the briefest and severest engagements that have occurred since the Dallas affair, in which Woods and Johnson lost so heavily in a fatal attack upon a position which was impregnable. During the morning, and in fact up to three o'clock in the afternoon, quietude reigned along the whole line. The sharp music of the rifle was hushed and not a dozen shots per hour were heard upon the line, while the loud booming of the Rodmans, Parrots and Napoleons no longer echoed through the hills. "After a calm comes a storm," and in this case it proved too true. Immediately in front of the Fourth Corps was a long ridge on which the enemy had extensive fortifications, upon which were mounted three batteries, the fire of which had become very troublesome. Besides, it was an important position for us to possess. General Thomas ordered General Howard to assault this ridge today, and if possible to carry it. The General at once set about preparations to carry out his orders, and as all the details were left to his discretion, the General consulted his Division commanders, and arranged the plan of attack. Placing all of his artillery in position where it could be most effective, strengthening the points of the line in front of the ridge, and giving instructions to his subordinate commanders that could not be misunderstood, the General dispatched Colonel Fullerton, Assistant Adjutant General, to give instructions to the commanders of batteries and superintend the execution of the orders. The Colonel placed a bugler in the center of Newton's Division, with others in either division on the right and left. Stanley on the right and Woods on the left. The batteries of the Corps were instructed to open simultaneously upon the enemy, and cannonade them for fifteen minutes, at the expiration of which time they were to cease firing, and the line was to advance. At a quarter before four, P. M., the batteries opened and then so vigorous was the cannonading that for fifteen minutes all other noise was swallowed up in the thunders that echoed through the sultry air, while from every hill and knob along the whole line, the volumes of smoke that arose filled the valleys and shut out all opportunities of viewing the bloody carnage that so soon was to follow.

  THE ADVANCE.

  At four o'clock the batteries quieted down, and instantly the bugle sounded the advance. It was taken up and repeated along the whole line, and in less than two minutes the whole line was in motion. The ground over which the advance was to be made, was covered by large trees and very little undergrowth, so that a good view could be obtained of the line as it moved forward. All the brigades moved off together, with the peculiarity of veterans, and as they neared the rebel line-pits, on the slope of the hill, behind which was posted a strong skirmish line, a destructive skirmish fire was opened upon the enemy, who, sheltered by the rifle-pits, suffered but little. On Stanley's front, over four hundred yards were the enemy driven, to these rifle-pits, when regiment after regiment reinforced our skirmishers — the 84th Indiana and details — until it had assumed the proportions of a line of battle, when they advanced on the double-quick, drove the enemy from his pits, over some distance of ground, and into his main line of earthworks, where were massed heavy forces of the enemy. So formidable were the rebel works, situate on the crest of the hill, and so numerous the guns that were mounted, and poured a raking fire into our line, that to attempt an assault upon it would be sheer madness. Consequently, Stanley held his position, over four hundred yards in advance of the starting point, and fortified within seventy-five yards of the enemy's main works. Wood's and Newton's positions, before the line was moved, was much nearer the rebel works than was Stanley's, yet they pushed their divisions forward under the deadly fire, drove the skirmishers from their rifle-pits, and advanced almost up to the rebel reserve, but were forced to fall back to the rifle-pits, where they also fortified, and held their position, within about fifty yards of the enemy's works.

  The troops behaved with great gallantry, and in the charge I learn that not a regiment faltered. All are deserving of equal praise for the spirit manifested, and the energy with which they "moved on the enemy's works." That all that was desired by the commanding General was not accomplished was no fault of the men or the fearless brigade and division commanders who led them. No troops could have accomplished more under the circumstances. The brigades commanded by Whitaker, Kimball, Wagner, Kirby, Hazen, Harker and Gross, deserves honorable mention — that of Whitaker especially, which captured twenty-nine men and two commissioned officers before they had time to get out of their rifle-pits.

  THE ATTACK FROM THE ENEMY.

  About seven P. M., the enemy attacked along the whole line, but the heaviest blow was upon Whitaker. Here again our men had an excellent opportunity to display their valor. Lying behind their hastily thrown up breastworks, they met the assault with shot for shot, and handsomely repulsed them.

  OUR LOSSES

  Today, in wounded alone, will amount to two hundred in the Fourth Corps alone. The Fourteenth Corps, on the left, supported, but did no heavy fighting. The Twentieth Corps was on the right, but only participated with one of Geary's batteries, and experienced little or no loss. Among the killed and wounded are a number of valuable officers, whose loss will be deeply felt. Colonel Bartleson, of the 100th Illinois, as brave an officer as ever marched at the head of a regiment, who lost an arm at Shiloh, was captured and wounded at Chickamauga, and only a few weeks ago released, fell dead while bravely leading the skirmish line on Wagner's front: Captain Eastman, 93d Illinois, another esteemed officer, was mortally wounded, and breathed his last a few hours after. Captain Bierce, late engineer on General Hazen's staff, was slightly wounded while following the General along the lines. The names of other officers killed and wounded have not yet been obtained.

  HOW SHERMAN TREATS GUERRILLAS.

  Various and strange as have been the modes suggested to stop guerrilla operations, attacks on railway trains, &c, none seem to have been successful. General Sherman, I believe, deserves the credit of having unraveled the knotty problem of suppressing guerrilla depredations.

  On our lines of railway, between here and Chattanooga, guerrillas have become somewhat troublesome, in the way of placing torpedoes on the track. General Sherman was determined to put an end to this cowardly mode of assisting the rebels, and accordingly arrested a number of prominent secession sympathizers along the route, whom he placed in an old box car, and daily run them over those portions of the road where torpedoes are supposed to have been placed. The old traitor rapscallions do not enjoy the boon of free railway transit, but the medicine administered has cured guerrillaism effectually.

  RIGHT WING— GENERAL BUTTERFIELD TAKES A HILL.

  The fighting of General Butterfield's Division, (3d) on the 22nd, it turns out, was more severe than at first supposed. It was on the left of the Corps, and had as its task to carry and hold a difficult and important hill, or rather ridge. The whole division charged right up the hill, as usual, under a severe musketry fire, pushed the rebel skirmishers into their works, approached the latter as nearly as could be done, without needless waste of life, (which, with the Twentieth Corps, meant very close,) threw up breastworks 'bright under the rebels noses," all the while under fire, and planting Smith’s and Geary's Batteries and training them upon the rebel works, finally dislodged them, and drove them back entirely off the hill.

  The heaviest loss was suffered in Colonel Coburn’s Brigade, (2nd). The entire loss in killed and wounded, in estimated at one hundred and forty-six. Early in the day Captain William R. Thomas, of the 105th Illinois, Assistant Adjutant General to General Ward, received a severe flesh wound in the right leg. Captain C. E. Graves, of the 33d Massachusetts, was also slightly wounded in the ankle. The losses suffered by the 33d Indiana, 56th Ohio and 26th Indiana, were particularly severe.

  WORK OF THE 14TH KENTUCKY.

  The Second
Division, of the Twenty-Third Corps, moved out a little, on the morning of the 23d, from its position of the previous night, sufficiently to pass over the rebel skirmish line, and ascertain the effect of the firing of the 14th Kentucky. In front of this regiment alone, about twenty dead rebels were found unburied. Their own loss, it will be remembered, was but eight killed.

  All the rebel wounded had been carried away. One man was found under a tree dreadfully bruised and crushed, and upon looking into the tree above him, traces of blood were discovered on a limb, where he had evidently posted himself to pick off our men at his leisure.

  QUIET DURING THE DAY.

  After the first slight advance in the morning, the Corps lay quiet throughout the day, content to forego the perilous sport of pociet-firing and seek in the shade, some relief from the scorching rays of the sun. A single battery in General Geary's Division, was called into requisition to assist the 4th Corps, and with this exception the right wing maintained a dignified silence. On the extreme right a portion of the 3d Division was refused to assist the "dismounted" in repelling any attempt that might be made by guerrillas upon our populous and ponderous train in that vicinity; but all apprehension of attack, in that quarter proved, groundless.

  THE POSITION.

  The extreme of the right wing extends southward to the latitude of Neal Dow, a station on the railroad about three miles below Marietta, and in the morning the sun rises directly on our front. How desperately the rebels cling to Kenesaw; with this long line on their flank, may be seen from this statement. But they can scarcely be blamed. With Kenesaw, they abandon the last peak of the great mountain ranges through which they have struggled so long, and where, it was supposed, we would find the key and heart of their strength, and go down into the thick woods of Georgia, where they can no longer see their foe, but must grope in the dark for their Via Dolorosa to the Gulf.