Cassville, Ga., May 20, 1864.
I take this, my first opportunity since the fight of the
15th, to let you know that I am alive and well. I will tell you briefly what we
have done since my last letter was written from near Ringgold.
May 7th, we marched about seven miles to Trickam P. O.,
taking up our position in line opposite Buzzard's Roost, which the enemy held
in force. On the 8th and 9th we lay quietly in bivouac.
About seven A.M., on the 10th, we were moved off by a
circuitous route to the southwest, passing through Snake Creek Gap in the
afternoon, and camping at its outlet in the rear of McPhereon's force. During May
12th the whole army, with the exception of the Fourth Corps and Stoneman's
cavalry, concentrated in our vicinity. On the 13th everything moved forward
towards Resaca, going into position near the enemy, and endeavors were made to
bring on a general engagement; nothing more than skirmishing resulted, however.
On the 14th, fighting began early and lasted throughout the
day; late in the afternoon we moved to the extreme left, where Howard (who had
come down from Dalton) had been heavily engaged and worsted. We double-quicked
into line, and opened on the rebels as they were advancing with a yell to take
a battery from which they had driven our men; our fire checked them, then drove
them back, and we advanced with a cheer, regaining all the lost ground. By the
time we had done this, it was eight o'clock and bright moonlight, so our line
was halted and strengthened during the night by a strong line of works. Early
next morning, our regiment was selected to make a reconnoisance in our front to
discover the position of the enemy. This was a very delicate manoeuvre, but was
capitally executed by Colonel Coggswell with the loss of only two men; the
regiment behaved perfectly, not firing a shot, though under quite a
disagreeable fire from skirmishers.
We developed the enemy's line and then returned, having done
exactly what we were ordered to do. Soon after our return, our whole corps (now
about twenty-two thousand strong), was massed for a tremendous attack on the
enemy's right. At one P. M., we moved rapidly forward and became at once
engaged; our regiment was in the front line, supported on the left by the
Twenty-seventh Indiana and on the right by the Third Wisconsin. We advanced
about a half mile and then were stopped by a line of breastworks. Our
skirmishers crawled to within a hundred yards of them, and our line formed
close in the rear. We were hardly settled in position when the enemy massed
quite a body of troops in our immediate front and advanced to the attack, with
the evident intention of turning our left, which had become somewhat exposed;
our regiment and the Twenty-seventh Indiana marched forward and met them with a
cheer half way, and poured a terrible fire into their ranks, following it up
with the “Virginia” style of shooting. The enemy seemed perfectly astonished,
and fired wild and high; in less than half an hour, we had fairly whipped, with
our two regiments, a rebel brigade of five regiments, killing and capturing
large numbers of them; our right and left did equally well. Night came on and
the fighting ceased. The next morning, on advancing, we found no enemy. Since
then, by a series of marches, we have reached this place. Yesterday, we came up
with the enemy and had a very lively skirmish; they left during the night.
To-day we have been resting. The news from Virginia is grand, but the details
terrible. So far, our losses in the regiment have been about thirty killed and
wounded, no officers hurt. This is written in haste and with very little idea
when it can be mailed.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 164-6
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