H’d Q’r’s 15th Iowa Infantry,
Nickajack Creek, Ga.
July 7th, 1864
Mr. Caverly:–
I have been so very busy night and day since writing you last, that it has been impossible to communicate with you. And now I can only give you a few items.
The weather is very warm. No rain has fallen for a week, so that the dust is quite unendurable. Health in this army remains quite good. Its spirit invincible. In front of Kennesaw mountain the usual skirmishing, picketing and fortifying continued until the 27th of June, when an unsuccessful charge on the rebel lines was made, resulting in considerable loss and no gain except to demonstrate that the enemy’s lines were strong and impenetrable.
Nothing unusual occurred after this until July 2d, 9 o’clock p.m. when the 17th A. C. withdrew, and marched to the right, getting in position about 3 o’clock p.m. after some severe skirmishing. Simultaneously with this movement the rebels retreated from Kennesaw mountain, and at dawn of day of the 3d, as we wended our weary way to the rear and right of Thomas, Hooker and Scofield [sic], our eyes were greeted with the sight of “Blue Coats” innumerable where we had left the “gray backs” the evening before bold and defiant; but such is war in the army, and this the result of the – to them – mysterious movement of our corps.
Early on the morning of the ever memorable “Fourth of July,” Col. Belknap, 15th Iowa, received an order from Gen. Gresham commanding Div. to proceed to Nickajack Creek four or five miles distant, with his Reg., a section of the 1st Min. Battery, and the 16th Iowa Inft., to reconnoiter and ascertain the force and position of the enemy, and if possible to obtain possession of the bridge across Nickajack Creek. At 9 ½ o’clock a.m. the expedition was underway, with five Cos. of the 15th Iowa as skirmishers, who were soon hotly engaged with those of the enemy. At one o’clock p.m. the Rebs were found strongly posted behind works made of rails, timbers, stones, &c. on the crest of a hill. The remaining Cos. of the 15th were at once thrown forward to re-enforce the skirmish line, which being accomplished, the order to “charge” was given, and the works carried in a jiffy. The enthusiasm of the men was raised to such a height, that with an impetuosity and intrepidity never excelled they leaped the works and rushed forward almost to the crest of the hill beyond. Lt. Col. Hedrick com’d’g Reg. observing the enemy strongly posted with two Regiments of Infantry and three pieces of artillery, ordered a retreat which was accomplished in good order, though under a terrific fire of shell, grape, and canister from the rebel guns. Col. Belknap, com’d’g expedition, being informed of the condition of affairs, at once notified the Div. Commander, who moved the remainder of the Brigade to our assistance. I ought to have stated that the skirmishers of the 15th were ably assisted by two Cos. of the 16th Iowa, deployed as skirmishers on their left.
At 3 p.m. Col. Hall, com’d’g Brigade, arrived and immediately placed the 12th and 13th Iowa Regiments in advance and pushed forward, the rebels abandoning their position almost without opposition, and posted themselves on the next hill. Falling back a short distance, the troops bivouacked for the night, and next morning started forward again in “line of battle,” the Battery and the 16th taking the advance. Cos. B, C, E, and I were thrown forward as skirmishers together with as many Cos. of the 16th. The sharp crack of the rifle soon showed that their advance was being hotly contested. By 9 o’clock a.m. the enemy were driven behind their works. The skirmish line halted until the Regts. were closed up, when the charge being ordered, regiments, skirmishers and all, with loud shouts and cheers rushed for the works, capturing them of course. Col. Hall, Gen. Gresham & Gen Blair road up [missing text] and three cheers for each [missing text] given with a zest that plainly sh[owed]
[The bottom inch of the paper has here been torn off taking with it several lines of text. The letter continues at the top of the next column.]
the regiments to the crest of a hill one-fourth of a mile to the rear, the curtain dropped, and the regular siege operations commenced and are still going on.
The 15th lost in the two days, two men killed and eighteen wounded. Co. I lost Sergt. J. C. Bonar, slightly wounded in hand, and Private L. Halfhill, severely wounded in arm.
Yesterday the 15th A. C. re-enforced us, and matters are assuming considerable magnitude and importance. This morning rebel bullets, shot and shell are flying thick around and among us, and one of these moments some of us may get hurt. But adieu.
E. H. King
– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 3, 1864
Nickajack Creek, Ga.
July 7th, 1864
Mr. Caverly:–
I have been so very busy night and day since writing you last, that it has been impossible to communicate with you. And now I can only give you a few items.
The weather is very warm. No rain has fallen for a week, so that the dust is quite unendurable. Health in this army remains quite good. Its spirit invincible. In front of Kennesaw mountain the usual skirmishing, picketing and fortifying continued until the 27th of June, when an unsuccessful charge on the rebel lines was made, resulting in considerable loss and no gain except to demonstrate that the enemy’s lines were strong and impenetrable.
Nothing unusual occurred after this until July 2d, 9 o’clock p.m. when the 17th A. C. withdrew, and marched to the right, getting in position about 3 o’clock p.m. after some severe skirmishing. Simultaneously with this movement the rebels retreated from Kennesaw mountain, and at dawn of day of the 3d, as we wended our weary way to the rear and right of Thomas, Hooker and Scofield [sic], our eyes were greeted with the sight of “Blue Coats” innumerable where we had left the “gray backs” the evening before bold and defiant; but such is war in the army, and this the result of the – to them – mysterious movement of our corps.
Early on the morning of the ever memorable “Fourth of July,” Col. Belknap, 15th Iowa, received an order from Gen. Gresham commanding Div. to proceed to Nickajack Creek four or five miles distant, with his Reg., a section of the 1st Min. Battery, and the 16th Iowa Inft., to reconnoiter and ascertain the force and position of the enemy, and if possible to obtain possession of the bridge across Nickajack Creek. At 9 ½ o’clock a.m. the expedition was underway, with five Cos. of the 15th Iowa as skirmishers, who were soon hotly engaged with those of the enemy. At one o’clock p.m. the Rebs were found strongly posted behind works made of rails, timbers, stones, &c. on the crest of a hill. The remaining Cos. of the 15th were at once thrown forward to re-enforce the skirmish line, which being accomplished, the order to “charge” was given, and the works carried in a jiffy. The enthusiasm of the men was raised to such a height, that with an impetuosity and intrepidity never excelled they leaped the works and rushed forward almost to the crest of the hill beyond. Lt. Col. Hedrick com’d’g Reg. observing the enemy strongly posted with two Regiments of Infantry and three pieces of artillery, ordered a retreat which was accomplished in good order, though under a terrific fire of shell, grape, and canister from the rebel guns. Col. Belknap, com’d’g expedition, being informed of the condition of affairs, at once notified the Div. Commander, who moved the remainder of the Brigade to our assistance. I ought to have stated that the skirmishers of the 15th were ably assisted by two Cos. of the 16th Iowa, deployed as skirmishers on their left.
At 3 p.m. Col. Hall, com’d’g Brigade, arrived and immediately placed the 12th and 13th Iowa Regiments in advance and pushed forward, the rebels abandoning their position almost without opposition, and posted themselves on the next hill. Falling back a short distance, the troops bivouacked for the night, and next morning started forward again in “line of battle,” the Battery and the 16th taking the advance. Cos. B, C, E, and I were thrown forward as skirmishers together with as many Cos. of the 16th. The sharp crack of the rifle soon showed that their advance was being hotly contested. By 9 o’clock a.m. the enemy were driven behind their works. The skirmish line halted until the Regts. were closed up, when the charge being ordered, regiments, skirmishers and all, with loud shouts and cheers rushed for the works, capturing them of course. Col. Hall, Gen. Gresham & Gen Blair road up [missing text] and three cheers for each [missing text] given with a zest that plainly sh[owed]
[The bottom inch of the paper has here been torn off taking with it several lines of text. The letter continues at the top of the next column.]
the regiments to the crest of a hill one-fourth of a mile to the rear, the curtain dropped, and the regular siege operations commenced and are still going on.
The 15th lost in the two days, two men killed and eighteen wounded. Co. I lost Sergt. J. C. Bonar, slightly wounded in hand, and Private L. Halfhill, severely wounded in arm.
Yesterday the 15th A. C. re-enforced us, and matters are assuming considerable magnitude and importance. This morning rebel bullets, shot and shell are flying thick around and among us, and one of these moments some of us may get hurt. But adieu.
E. H. King
– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 3, 1864
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