Near Atlanta, July 31, 1864.
The evening of the 29th, I went on duty as Field Officer of
the day of this brigade. After posting my picket and seeing that all was right,
I lay down to take a little sleep.
I must now explain our position. The right of our brigade
rests on the Chattanooga Railroad and connects with the left of the Fourteenth
Corps; the picket line was about one hundred and fifty yards in advance of the
line of works. The rebel rifle pits extended along a crest about two hundred
and fifty yards in front of their works, which consist of strong redoubts
connected by a heavy line of breastworks ; at a point about in front of the
centre of my picket, the ridge rose into a prominent mound. It was swept by the
guns of two forts and several batteries, and appeared to be untenable even if
taken.
About half-past two A. M., on the 30th, I received an order
to advance and take the rifle pits in my front, if possible, and then hold the
position. I was told that the pickets on my right and left would advance with
me and protect my flanks. My picket consisted of one hundred and sixty-one men
and five officers. At a given signal, just at dawn, the whole line rose up and
moved out of their little works; for fifty yards not a shot was fired, then the
enemy discovered us and opened their fire. I gave the order, “Double-quick,”
and in a moment we were upon them; in less than two minutes we had captured
seventy-two prisoners, including four captains and three lieutenants. I caught
one fellow by the collar as he was making off; he seemed almost frightened to
death. Says he, “Don't kill me, — I surrender, I surrender.” I told him that I
wouldn't kill him, but he must tell me truly if there was anything between the
pits and the works. He said no, but that there were lots of men and guns in the
works. On my left, the picket had come up well, refusing its left so as to
connect with our old line. On my right, as I soon learned, the Fourteenth Corps
picket, seeing that we were being peppered a good deal, thought they would stay
where they were, so I had to bend my right away round to cover my flank. The
mound was now ours; the question was, could we hold it? The instant that we
were fully in possession, I set to work fortifying. The men were in high
spirits, knowing that they had done a big thing, and I felt confident that they
would fight well. In a very few minutes we had rails piled along our whole
front, and bayonets and various other articles were in requisition for entrenching
tools.
As soon as the rebels were fully aware of our proximity, and
just as it was becoming fairly daylight, they opened on us along our front with
musketry and artillery, throwing enough bullets, cannister and shell for a
whole corps instead of an insignificant picket detail.
Work, of course, was now suspended. Our greatest annoyance
was the fort, which mounted heavy guns, and these were so near that they seemed
almost to blaze in our faces and were doing a great deal of damage. I ordered
part of the men to fire into the embrasures. In less than five minutes, heavy
doors were swung across the openings, and the fort closed up business for the
day; the other batteries were out of sight, and kept up their fire. After about
an hour of this kind of work, I found that I had lost a good many men, and the
others were much exhausted. I sent off an orderly with the report that I must
have reinforcements, if I was expected to hold my position. Word came back that
I should have more men, and that General Thomas said that the position must be
held. Shortly after, three companies reported to me, and about six A. M., the
old “Second” came up.
All the men who could be spared from their muskets were kept
at work digging, so that every minute we were becoming stronger, and the danger
was growing less; still the artillery fire was terrible. At ten o'clock,
Colonel Coggswell sent in word that his men could stand it no longer; they had
fired over a hundred rounds of cartridges apiece; they were perfectly exhausted
and must be relieved. The Thirteenth New Jersey came out and the Second went
in; this regiment was under command of a captain, so that it came under my
control. At eleven the fire began to decrease, and from then till two P. M., as
the rebels found we were to hold on, it continued to subside. A little after
two, an officer was sent out to relieve me. My loss was forty-nine killed and
wounded, at least half having been hit by solid shot and shell.
I had a whole chapter of wonderful escapes. One shell burst
within ten feet of me, throwing me flat by its concussion and covering me with
dirt. As I was trying to eat a little breakfast, a rifle bullet struck the
board on which was my plate, and sent things flying; but it seemed that my time
to be hit had not come.
Our regiment lost three killed and seven wounded. George
Thompson was slightly wounded by a piece of shell, nothing serious. The
recruits behaved well, without exception.
The best news we have is that General Slocum is coming back
to this corps.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 182-5
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