Near Dallas, Ga., May
27, 1864, 8 a. m.
There has been some very heavy fighting on our left this
morning, and everywhere along the line. We have been moving in line since 6
o'clock, supporting skirmishers and the 3d Brigade. Have driven the Rebels
about three-quarters of a mile. The 14th Corps must have had a severe fight
about 6:30. The bullets have whistled pretty thick this a. m.
Skirmish line, 11 a. m. — Osterhaus and Smith (I think),
have just had a big fight on our left. At 8:30 I was ordered to take Companies
E, K, B and G, deploy them and relieve the 3d Brigade skirmishers. Deployed and
moved forward over one-half mile through the very densest brush—couldn't see
six feet, expecting every minute to find the 3d Brigade skirmishers, but they
had been drawn in, and we were right into the Rebels before we saw them. Three
of my company were wounded in an instant and three of K's taken prisoner, but
our boys made the Rebels skedaddle, and all of them got away. Twenty-one Rebels
came up in rear of Captain Smith and two of his men. Private Benson shot one of
them, and Smith roared out for the rest to surrender, which they did. They
(Rebels) said they would not have been taken if the Georgia brigade had not
fallen back. I think that is doing pretty well for four companies of our
regiment, running a whole brigade. Firing is very heavy all around us.
Twelve thirty m. — A chunk of Rebel shell lit 15 feet from
me. Lively artillery firing right over head.
Four p. m.—At 2:15, after firing a few shells, the Rebels
set up a yell along our whole front. I knew a charge was coming. At 2:30
another yell was much nearer. My men then commenced firing on them, but they
came on yelling pretty well, but not as heartily as I have heard. They came
jumping along through the brush more then, making the bullets rain among us. I
think they could not fly much thicker. My men did nobly,but they were too many
for us, and we had to fall back. I heard their officers halloo to them, “to
yell and stand steady,” and they were right amongst us before we left. Our line
of battle checked them and made them run. I lost A. Huffard — killed; Seth
Williams — died in two hours; Wm. Gustine — severely wounded; E. Suydam — ditto;
S. Hudson — ditto; H. Stearns — slight wound; J. H. Craig — ditto; F. Cary — ditto;
W. Roberts — ditto; W. G. Dunblazier — captured.
Seven p. m. — I tell you this was exciting. My men all stood
like heroes (save one), and some of them did not fall back when I wanted them
to. The bush was so thick that we could hardly get through in any kind of line.
Gustine and Suydam were about 20 feet on my left when they were shot, but I
couldn't see them. The Rebels were not 15 feet from them. I had 31 men on the
line, and nine killed and wounded, and one prisoner, is considerable of a loss.
They took six more of Company K prisoners, but three of them got off. I don't
think anyone can imagine how exciting such a fracas as that is in thick brush.
As quick as our line started the Rebels running, I went back on the ground, and
found a lot of dead and wounded Rebels. Every prisoner of the 20th Georgia had
whiskey in his canteen, and all said they had all issued to them that they
wanted. I never say such a dirty, greasy, set of mortals. They have had no rest
since they left Dalton. On account of my skirmishers losing so heavily, we have
been relieved from the line, and are now in rifle pits, and are supporting
those who relieved us.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 248-50
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