Perryton Township (part 3 of 4)

The night had been one of acti\"ity in the federal army in changing positions and forming lines. About ten o'clock the dropping fire of the skirmishers and the deep bass of the artillery announced the opening of the battle. Gen. Thomas had ordered a recounoissance on the exti'eme left by Brannan's division, and Ci'oxton's brigade encountered a strong detachment of th-e iH?bel Gen. AValker's c*orps in front and flank, and drove it in confusion over half a mile to a massed body conceale^l in the forest. The rebels fjuglit savagely, and being reinforced by Cheatham's division, fell on the union troops with heatllong weight. The whole division was at once engaged ; its double Knes struggled heroically to keep their places, but finally crumbled into disorder. The enemy, still advamiiig in deep columns, rolled u]» against Baird like a huge wave ; and his deadly fire, though shattering their front lines, had no visible eflect in checking the foe. Swept by the remorseless tempest, this division was unable to stem its wrathful course, and gave way. Johnson, advancing now from his reserve position, struck the enemy in flank. Palmer's division came about this time to succor the struggling left, and Brannan's and Baird's divisions having been reformed, Gen. Thomas ordered the line to advance. The movement was as unexpected to the rebels as it was irresistible. They tried in vain to stand ; they poured desolating showers of bullets, grape-shot, and canister into the daring columns, but onward those invincible divisions went like a billow of the ocean. With frantic exertions officers tried to restore order and establish new lines, but as 'often as that was done the torrent of union victory swept them away like driftwood. Thomas' battalions stopped only when satisfied -with having driven the exultant and confident foe nearly a mile over the ground they had lost, and taken cannons, caissons, and eveiything else that the enemy in his flight had left. The account of a rebel writer says this "fight was one of great desperation," that the rebels "experienced fearful sacrifices," and that the union soldiers "pushed close upon the battery of the gallant Capt. Carnes and slew most of its horses and men," and the pieces "were therefore abandoned to the enemy." Opportunely for the rebels, Cleburn dashed up to the rescue of their endangered right and engaged Palmer's division with his usual impetuosity. Now the tumult drifts along the quaking earth. Heavy flanking columns crowd the right ; Palmer is overlapped, and his line is in danger of being doubled up, when Yan Cleve marches in to arrest the peril, but the dense battalions with which he grapples overcome him. Bragg is practicing his favorite plan of attack in commencing on one flank and hurling forward his divisions successively in search for a weak point, until the whole line is engaged. The tide of battle rolled heavily to the right, taking in Reynolds, who divided the pressure wdth Van Cleve, and covered his fron' with a terrific lead-storm ; but his division was shortly sundered in twain as if a hurricane had torn through his ranks. Davis was ordered up at the critical moment; and though his men struggled with raging energy, he could not long withstand the rebel momentum of increasing numbers. He gave back slowly till Wood arrived to swell the furious combat, when the enemy recoiled with heavy loss. At three o'clock Sheridan was ordered to leave Lytle's brigade to hold Gordon's mills, and with the rest of his division to move to the assistance of Wood and Davis. He was on the ground not too soon to save the former from disaster. The heavy sound which moves toward the right, shaking the deep woods, tells that the center has caught the storm. Gen. Negley, who has been lying at Owen's ford all day, is ordered to march down to the Widow Glenn's to be in momentary readiness for action. He reported with his division at half-past four ; and as soon as it became certain that the battle was going against the union arms in that quarter, his fresh veterans rushed upon the foe with ardor and drove him back steadily till darkness put an end to the fighting. Erannan had also been sent from the left, and at night took a position t(^ the right of Reynolds.

Perryton Townsuip

had held its ground, and the rebel general was foiled. The union troops, outnumbered, luid all bci'n called into action except two brigades. The rebel army was reinforced bv Ihickner, recently from Knoxville; by a detachment from Johnson's army in Mississi])])i ; and by another from Lee's army in Virginia. The battle-ground was heavy timber, so undergrown as to be an immense cop])ice. This was of great advantage to the rebels in nuissing and attacking, and of proportionate disadvantage to the federal side, allowing but small op})ortunity for the use of artillery. Everj^ incli of ground was contested with obstinate valor. As often as one rebel line melted out of sight a fresh one took its place ; but the union soldiers Ibught without respite, without hope of aid, aware of the momentous character of the struggle, and that if they won the stake it must be with a costly libation of blood. So they received the surge of rebel strength and fury with surly front, and when overwhelmed and forced to give ground did so with dogged reluctance.

By midnight the ])lans of the union commander for the morrow had been communicated to his corps commanders in a counsel at the Widow Glenn's house. Thomas was to maintain his present line, assisted by the divisions of Palmer and Johnson, with which he had been reinforced, and to hold Brannan in reserve. McCook, with the two divisions left him, was to close up to Thomas, with his right turned back to a strong position on Missionary ridge ; while Crittenden, with his remaining divisions, was to be posted in reserve at the junction of Thomas and McCook. On the rebel side the army was divided into two wings ; the right was given to Gen. Polk and the left to Gen. Longstreet, who had arrived with the rest of his corps at eleven o'clock that niglit. Polk was ordered to renew the battle at daylight, but owing to a disarrangement of his line he was prevented from making the attack until nearly nine o'clock. The morning opened sultry and oppressive. The fiery sky, as if it might reflect the bloody field below, was seen through a hazy, sulphurous canopy of battle-smoke, which enveloped hill, forest and glen, and the giants of war that lay among them. The union troops reposed on their anus, waiting for the first rude sound of conflict to disturb the glory of the Sabbath day. Between sun and sun what onsets shall rock the earth I what valor amaze the world and mark the bounds of human courage and endurance ! Every man in those worn and battle-begrimed legions says nuitely with his chieftain, this "day must be for the safety of the army and the possession of Chattanooga." The first move of the enemy was to turn the left fiank to secure Rosecrans' line of retreat. Palmer was in the front, near the center, and Grose's brigade was ordered to the left to meet the enemy, who was crawling around on the flank. The S4th retired from their barricade of logs and rails with a feeling of reluctance. Col. Waters had been the first to recommend the building of such a protection, and this regiment the first to begin the parapet. In moving to its new position it was first apprized of the presence of the enemy bv a sharp volley from an ambuscade, which killed and wounded several. This was followed by rapid discharges, but in spite of the severe fire the brigade formed in line. But being at once charged upon by a greatly superior force, it was driven in such confusion that detachments were separated and did not find their proper places during the day. Soon a deafening shout rises along the rebel front, and the line dashes forward in a thundering charge that envelopes Tliomas' position. The contending sides grapple in the herculean energies of despairing battle. An aid leaves Thomas' side and hurries off" to Gen. Rosecrans, to ask that Xeglay may be sent speedily. Thomas had been promised the return of this division early in the morning, and the order had been given for its transfer, but from some cause had but just started to move when the stafi" ofiicer galloped up. '- There it goes," said Eosecrans, as at that instant it was seen in motion. In a few minutes another aid came fi,)Tng from' the left, saying that Gen. Thomas was hotly pressed and needed Brannan. '"Tell Gen. Thomas our line is closing toward him, and to hold his ground at all hazards, and I will reinforce him, if necessary, with the entire army. Tell Gen. Brannan to obey Gen. Thomas' orders. " Gen. Yan Cleve, who has been lying behind AVood, is despatched in the same direction. The battle is increasmg in fury. jSTegley, with his veterans at a swinging pace, is hurrying to the relief of the suffering left. Yan Qeve follows rapidly. A cloud of smoke and perpetual fire roll from Thomas' solid front. lioaring batteries, double-shotted, pour the desolating iron into the frenzied foe, who is constantly re])laeing his dissolving ranks with fresh troops. Closer and more stubbornly they press, and deadlier grows the union fire. The line of conflict extends to the center. It is now eleven o'clock, and Longstreet assails the right fiercely. The rebels on Thomas' front, exhausted by their own tremendous exertions and frightful losses, fall back, at length, demoralized, out of the reach of the field guns. Smarting under this bloody and signal repulse, they close up their bleeding, ghastly ranks, revise their lines, strengthen them with reinforcements, and then the massive column is launched once more against the weakened line. In the meantime Gen. Thomas has ridden along the ranks, so that if it were necessary his presence should infuse new confidence, and his troops catch some of his own steadiness of character and loftv heroism. Maddened bv the memory of their defeat, and thirsting to avenge it, tliey advance witli remorseless vigor under cover of a terrific cannonade from tlieir batteries. Tliev meet ag-ain the same stern resistance and devouring fire whicli before .strewed tlie ground with tlieir dead. Tiight up they come till foeman looks foeman in eye, and the stormy lines interlock and and writhe in mortal embrace. The union troops, according to rebel authority, "withstood as long as human powers of endurance could bear up against such a pressure, then yielded and fell back." But not till two hours of raging slaughter told the story of their heroism. Ketiring a little way a stand would be made till the courageous foe came and received full in his face that relentless fire whicli shriveled his wasting ranks. Tlie batteries, changing from place to place, were served with great animation and accuracy. The enemy paused finally, and Gen. Thomas rested his right on Missionary ridge, covering the gap, his left on the Lafayette road, his center advanced, the line describing an arc of a circle, AVliile tliis had been occurring, terrible work had been done on the right. The commanding general had guarded carefully against a gap in his front, but was notified that Brannan was out of line, leaving Reynolds' right exposed. Tlie situation was not comprehended by Gen. Thomas' aid who brought the information. Brannan was in echelon, that is, in rear, with his right extending beyond Reynolds' right. Gen. Rosecrans promptly sent an order to Wood to close up on Reynolds. As Wood's left connected with Brannan he understood the order was for him to support Reynolds by withdrawing from the line and marching by the flank to liis rear. Acting on this fatal mistake, without reporting to the commanding general for further instructions, he moved to the left, and so opened a wide breach. lie was savagely attacked while executing this disastrous change, and his right brigade was severely handled. It is like a break in a levee. There is a wild rush of rebels into this gap. Then twelve cannon enter. Brannan's right is hurled back. Van (yleve, at this juncture, marching to the left, i» struck full and fair in flank ; two batteries at the same time moving the same wav are driven throuo;h two of his brigades. Half of the division instantly crumbles to atoms and goes like chaff to Rossville. On the right of the gap are Davis and Sheridan. The division of the former, taken in front, flank and rear, completely disintegrates. The latter is overlapped on the right by Longstreet's mammoth line, now sweeping forward in a grand onslaught. Laibold's brigade is carried awa}^ with Davis. Scorning to fly, Sheridan, with his two remaining brigades moving toward Reynolds, hurls a forlorn column with convulsive desperation against the massive front of the shouting foe. One trial is enough ; he is caught in flank ; then his troops hurry past the Dry vallej, and by a circuit arrive at Eossville, from whence, at night, he leads them to the support of Thomas. Between the wrecking of Davis' and Sheridan's divisions, Lytle's brigade was shivered ; the brave leader fell dead in the arms of an aid, and his horse dashed away with the straggling, panic-stricken throng. Generals McCook and Ci'ittenden search in vain for the remnants of their commands, which are scattered in twos and threes, scarcely the semblance of a formation anywhere. Guns, caissons, horses, wagons, and a bewildered, cursing multitude of fugitives obstruct the j^ass through Missionary ridge. These brave officers sicken at the tumult, but cannot stay the refluent tide, and are borne along by it till they arrive in Chattanooga. The commanding general, ignorant of the extent of the disaster, issued a few necessary orders, and despatched his chief-of-stafi, Gen. Garfield, to Gen. Thomas, to ascertain the situation of his command, and to communicate with him by telegraph at Chattanooga. Garfield performed the perilous journey over hills, through valleys and wild forests, heedless of lurking dangers, reached Thomas, and sent the grateful intelligence to his chief that the left wing was holding its ground, and would do so to the last. Rosecrans in the meantime returned to Chattanooga, ''to give orders for the security of the ])ontoon-brigade at Battle creek and Bridgeport, and to make preliminary dispositions either to foi-ward ammunition and supplies, should we hold our ground, or to withdraw the troops into good position."

Having routed the right of the union army, the eager foe, elated with that success, and confident of dashing the remainder in pieces, about one o'clock fell upon Thomas with remarkable force. The divisions of Baird, Johnson, Palmer, Reynolds, Brannan, and Wood, two brigades oi Negley's division, and one of Van Cleve's were the troops left to hold the rebel army in check. The devoted union army was now assailed by more than three times its numbers. Kershaw assaulted Missionary Bidge in front and was fearfully repulsed. Finding this part of the line impregnable, heavy columns were projected against the flanks. The fierceness of the onsets, combined with the overwhelming weight of numbers, carried them back. Thomas' lines after that described nearly a complete circle, and Longstreet was in control of the main road to Chattanooga. An immense toil was closing around the stalwart hero. A sheet of deadly flame and fiery sleet encircled this last stronghold, while his own lines blazed with withering volleys that bespoke, under the circumstances, the loftiest moral defiance and grandeur. Undaunted, the union troops received the repeated and staggerhig assaults of the exasperated foe. It was not dismay that lilhMl their hearts, but calm desperation. They stood witli their backs to the wall, and that wall was "the Rock of Chickamaiiga." The enemy, determined upon destroying the army, at lialf-past three found a low gap in the ridge, flanking Thomas' right and directly in his rear. Sanguine of a swift and crushing factory, they hurried into it in great numbers. "The moment was critical,'"' says Rosecrans. Twenty minutes more, ^nd our right would have been turned, our position taken in reverse, and, i)robably, the army routed. Struggling with grim valor at all points to beat back the rami)ant foe, Thomas could spare no troops for this new and appalling danger. For the first time in his life his countenance and manner betray emotions of distressing anxiety. lie knows that Granger is at Rossville, three miles away ; no time to send word ; at best, three miles against twenty minutes. Xothing but the providence of God can save the army. Nervously, painfully liis eye sweeps the horizon. A cloud of dust is rising. Doubtfiil whether it can be fiiend or foe, he exclains to Capt. Johnson, of Negley's staff: "Find out what troops those are, moving upon me.'' Bringing his glass to his eye, he watches intently the approaching column. On that hangs the fate of the army. Who can tell how hope and fear fluctuate in that heart that is almost still ( The seconds throb with conscious importance. A small object comes into view. His lips almost break out with thanksgiving; it is the battle-flag of Granger. One more chance for hope. All day long Granger had listened to the thunder on the left, and had marked its ebb and flow as had paced up and down uneasily, wondering why orders to march did not come, every minute straining his eye for the sight of a stafi" oflicer. It was an heroic occasion, and a hero was there. Something said : push for the front. ' ' The God of batttles held that forlorn hope of the union army in his hand." "With the instinct of a true soldier and general," he ordered his trained but mostly new soldiers to move instantly. Two miles down the road he came upon a small body of the enemy, but he "well knew that at that stage of the conflict the battle was not there." Leaving Col. Dan. C. McCook's brigade to take care of any force in that vicinity, he urged forward with i)ressing earnestness and reported to Gen. Thomas. ' ' The Rock of Chickamauga " sim})ly pointed out the right. The soldierly eye of Granger took in the i)erilous and astounding situation at a glance, "and quick as thought he directed his advance brigade upon the enemy." Gen. Steadman. inspired no less than Gi-anger, with an enthusiastic coy/p d"* a'/7, and M-orth at that moment a thousand men, 'seized a regimental color, and dashing to the head of the colunm, shouted the charge.

Language fails to describe the onslaught. As well as the leaders, every man is a giant. ' ' Right on into the desolating fire they pressed, reckless of numbers and of death, with a loud and thrilling shout. Over the batteries, over the astounded battalions of Hindman they went in a wild wave. It was marvelous, the charge of those two immortal brigades," and not less glorious than the charge of the light brigade at Bahiklava. The trampled earth is strewed with the harvest of war ; the enemy is routed with great slaughter, and the stars and stripes are on the ridge. Renowned victory was wrung from the hands of the rebels, and, stung with disappointment, Longstreefs veterans returned in successive charges riglit up to the six guns planted in the gorge, fighting with the ferocity of desjjair. This was borne with firm courage by Granger's shouting soldiers, who sent them reeling back each time, torn and bleeding, with a wild slogan that vied with the sanguinary uproar. It was madness to lavish their superb battalions in hopeless frenzy and onset, and in vain the rebel generals broke column after column to pieces on this granite front. As the sun went down the last attempt was made on the invincible band. They had exhausted all their ammunition, even all that could be gathered from their fallen comrades, and it was with much solicitude that the preparations for the last vigorous assault were watched by these fearless men who had stood in the deadly breach for hours. Should the triumphant reward for all their bloody sacrifice be torn away at the last moment? They are coming now, and are so near that their muffled tread is plainly heard. The ringing command comes : ' ' Give them the cold steel!" Springing forward "with fixed bayonets and a piercing yell, they rush upon the heels of the foe, who, struck with consternation, has broken and is fleeing in the wildest disorder. Weakened by their desperate endeavors, the rebels give up this hopeless point after frightful carnage, and thankful relief comes to Granger's men, of whom a thousand, nearly a third of the number that went into the fight, either dead or wounded, lie stretched upon the field. Believing that the left had been weakened to reinforce the right, Bragg sent a column to attack in that quarter. Being informed of its approach. Gen. Thomas ordered Reynolds to move with his division to meet it, and pointing out the rebels, bade him "go in there." Facing about to save time, and moving by the rear rank, the battle-smoked and blood-stained warriors were given the order to charge. With bayonets lowered, they struck the double-quick, while a wild battleshout sprang from their hoarse throats, and they pushed on over the enemy, taking more than a regiment prisoners. During the progress of all these exciting and decisive struggles a continuous battle had raged from Hank to flank, the enemy crowding with billowy front against the union line, assailing Wood and-Breiman with scarcely less vehemence than Granger, but remitting his fury somewhat toward the left. Tlie pc^sition was girdled by two lines ; as often as one delivered its Are it would step back a few paces, lie down and load, then rising, step again to the front and Are. So ended the battle of Chickamauga.

The 20th of September had.given us a Wellington in Gen. Thomas. In gratitude the people with one voice said of the modest warrior : "This is the rock of Chickamauga.'' Henceforth he ranked among the greatest generals of the war. It had been a day, too, when heroes sprang from the ground. Let it ever be heroes' d<iy. Illustrious Granger ! Gallant Steadman ! JN^ames forever bright on the scroll of their country's history.

The union loss in men was 15,851, one-third of the army; tliirtysix guns, twenty caissons, 8,450 small arms, and 5,831 infantry accouterments. The loss in prisoners was about 5,500, of whom nearly one-half were wounded ; against 2,003 captured. There were expended in the battle 2,650,000 rounds of musket cartridges and 7,325 rounds of cannon ammunition, being 12,675 rounds less of artillery, and 650,000 rounds more of musketry than at Stone River. Two divisions were routed and left the battlefield ; seven held their ground with the final assistance of Granger.

During the night of the 20th Gen. Thomas having been directed by Gen. Kosecrans to act according to his judgment, withdrew to Rossville, where he offered the enemy battle all the following day, which was declined, and the next night he retired to Chattanooga.

We now allude briefly to the individual part of the 81th in this battle. On Saturday morning Grose's brigade was ordered to make a reconnoissance forward, but being outflanked, escaped capture by the slightest chance. Very soon it went to the left, when Palmer's division was transferred. There it fought that day, and the next morning built breastworks, as i>reviously mentioned. When the brigade was sent out to reconnoiter on the flank and ran ujjon the enemy in ambush, the 81th, being driven into a heavy thicket, was separated into three pieces which were lost from one another until night. Capt. Ervin commanded one detachment and succeeded in joining the brigade ; Capt. lliggins had another, and Col. AVaters the third. Each bore its full share of the hard fighting. The loss was 11 killed, 77 severely wounded, and 12 missing. About fifty were slightly wounded and remained with the regiment. Company G lost fourteen out of thirty that went to battle.

war, but space will not permit more tlian a cm*sorj relation of its subsequently brilliant record. The reigment was shut up with the rest of the army in Chattanooga during the investment by Bragg. When the army was re-organized there, the third brigade, second division, twenty-first army corps, to which the 84th belonged, became the third brigade, first division, fourth corps, and so continued during the remainder of its active service. Gen. Palmer was soon called to the command of the 14th' corps, and was succeeded by Gen. Cruft in command of the division.

On October 25th, just prior to the change of commanders, the division was ordered to cross the Tennessee, and moving over the mountains to Shellmound, re-ci'ossed the river, when the third brigade was sent to "Wliiteside. On ISTovember 24th this division, with Geary's, of the 12th corps, fresh fi-om the Army of the Potomac, and Osterhous', from the Army of the Tennessee, assaulted Lookout Mountain and drove the enemy in handsome style from that eternal stronghold. The 84th was on the extreme left of the line, and it was due to this fact that its loss was only three wounded, all of whom recovered. When the enemy's main line gave way the regiment swung rapidly foi*ward, and in twenty minutes took more prisoners than there were men in its ranks, and for this success received the thanks of Gen. Hooker on the spot. Next day the stars and stripes floated from the summit of the mountain which had been a blazing citadel for weeks. The same day Hooker pushed across Chattanooga valley and ascended Missionary ridge at Poss^nlle, striking the rebel left and rear, while Sherman was battering their right, and at the same hour that Thomas made the splendid assault on the center, and the entire rebel army was routed with immense loss of men and munitions of war. Having pursued to Pinggold, on the 29th the regiment, on its way back to camp at Wliiteside, stopped on the battle-ground of Chickamauga and assisted in the sad but christian work of burrying the remains of the union dead, which the rebels, with characteristic inhumanity, had left in large numbers to decompose above the soil.

A period of ordinary service followed until the Atlanta campaign. On May 4, 1864, the 4th corps concentrated at Catoosa Springs and awaited the arrival of the 23d corps, which formed on its left. On the Tth the two marched south, when the right of the 4th connected with the left of the 14th at Tunnell hill, from which the rebels had been dislodged that morning. From this time till the 13th the regiment was before Eocky Face ridge, an impregnable natural stronghold, skirmishing most of the while, and once making a charge and driving the rebels out of their rifle pits. The loss on the 9th was eleven killed and woimded. The flank movement tlirougli Snake Creek gap, a pass tlirongli tliis ridge fifteen miles south, compelled the rebel anny to fall back. The 84th advanced through Buzzard Roost gap, and passing Dalton, skirmished forward to Resacca, where it took part in the fighting on the 14th and loth. On the 16tli, the rebel army having retreated, the command went forward, skirmishing desultorily, sometimes severely, down as far as Cassville, which was reached on the 19th. The army rested till. the 23d, then moved on Dallas. On the 25th Thomas' army found the enemy in strong force at New Hope Church ; the following day it was arrayed for steady work, and fi-om this time the regiment was in constant fighting for ten days. From the 7th to the 10th, the 84th was encamped three miles south of Ackworth ; on the latter date the army moved forward to confront Johnson's intrenched line from Pine mountain to.Kenesaw, and until the 18th the men were working their way up close to the enemy's breastworks by building successive lines of their own, under heavy fire, which did not relax day or night. After the 15th the contending sides were so close that all the firing was done from the main parapets. On the night of the 18th Johnson retired the fianks of his army, and next day the brigade was in advance feeling for the enemy. A part of the 84th was on the skirmish line and suffered severely, especially company G, which had two men killed and seven wounded. On the 21st the regiment had another killed and several more wounded. The rebel army retreated to the Chattahoocliee on the night of July 2d, and the 84th followed in pursuit on the 3d, overtaking the enemy in the neighborhood of Smyrna camp-ground, when ' ' they celebrated their fourth of July by a noisy but not desperate battle." On the 10th the 4th corps crossed the Chattahoochee, and after throwing up breastworks for use in case of need, rested till the 18th. Crossing Peach Tree creek on the 20th, the regiment advanced on the skirmish line, charged the rebel skirmishers and took all in their front prisoners. They moved their line forward 200 yards on the 21st, and were engaged nearly all day in sharp fighting. On the 22d, while the battle of Atlanta was in progress on the left, the 4th, 20th and 14tli corps swung in upon Atlanta, closely investing the city on the north and northwest. On August 3d Capt. Dilworth, of company F, with sixty-five men from the regiment, one-third belonging to company K, made a brilliant sortie and captured all the skirmish posts in front of the brigade, including twenty-six prisoners, witliout the loss of a man. On tlie 5th a simihir affair was planned by the brigade commander, and the skirmish line made an attempt to advance, but with ill success, and the 84th lost one killed and two severely wounded.

On tlie niglit of the 25tli Gen. Sheraian began his movement with the bulk of the army to strike and sever the West Point raih-oad south of Athmta. This was reached on the 28th, and the next day was spent in destroying several miles of it ; then on the 31st the Macon railroad was seized all the way from Rough and Ready to Jonesboro. At the last place Hardee's corps was fortified and made a sally against the loth corps which was easily repulsed. The following day the destruction of the railroad was continued, and in the afternoon the 14th corps stormed Hardee's defenses and carried them with slight resistance, capturing a brigade and ten pieces. The setting in of night prevented the 4th corps from reaching the enemy's reai-, which would have compelled his surrender. As it was he escaped that night, simultaneously with the evacuation of Atlanta by Hood. The 84th had one man killed and five wounded on this expedition ; and from the beginning of the campaign twelve were killed and seventy wounded. Six of the latter died in hospital. It was estimated that the regiment built, ii'om the time it encountered the enemy at Tunnel Hill, ten miles of breastworks.

The 84th encamped at the close of the campaign witli the rest of the corps three miles southeast of Atlanta. When Hood started north to invade Tennessee, all the army except the 20tli corps which was left to garrison the city and guard the bridges on the Chattahoochee, started in pursuit in the first week of October. The 4tli corps marched to Chattanooga; from there it Was transported by raib'oad to Athens, Alabama, where it awaited orders two days, and then marched north to Pulaski, Tennnessee. Gen. Sherman, about this time, turned from the pursuit of Hood back to Atlanta to set out on the march to the sea coast, and Gen. Thomas was left to watch and oppose his old antagonist. In the latter ])art of November the rebel army was in motion directly for Kashville, and the" 4tli and 23d coq^s began immediately to fall back, either not able or not designing to keep much in advance of the enemy. On the 29tli Columbia was abandoned, and while three divisions were moving toward Spring Hill, the rebels, by a forced march to cut them off", attacked the place which was defended by one division, but were repulsed. The heavy supply trains narrowly escaped capture. On the 30th tlie retiring army was concentrated at Franklin, ])osted behind hastily constructed breastworks on the south side of the town, the line in the form of a crescent, the flanks resting on the Ilarpeth river. About four o'clock in the afternoon Hood threw his army u})on this position, the chief weight against the center, with terrific energy. His men went over the first line of works in a furious charge, and

Eighty-Fourth Regevikxt, 385

- pausing under a destructive fire long enough to organize for an assault on the second line, they advanced with blind impetuosity; but the reserves having been brought up they tailed to make a lodgment. At ' five o'clock the union troops advanced to retake the works, and now occurred one of the most desperate encounters of the war. The soldiers stood up within arm's length of one another and fought like nuidnien with bayonets and clubbed muskets. This was continued till darkness ended the frightful combat, when Hood, having failed of his purpose to break the center, which would have been fatal to the whole, withdrew. Union loss, 1,500; rebel loss, 6,250. The first division was in a comparatively unexposed position, and not till the end of the fighting was the 84th on the front line, then it was deployed as skirmishers. Col. Waters and Adjutant Caswell were severely wounded, but afterward recovered ; these were the only ])ersons serving with the regiment who were injured. At night the march was continued toward xsashville, and early next morning the head of the weary, bloody column reached that city.

After two weeks of preparation Gen. Thomas was ready for the ofiensive, and on December 15th, moved as^ainst the enemv, turning his left and forcing back his whole line. The battle was continued next day, and the rebel army disastrously routed. Pursuit was made by Wilson's cavalry and the 4th corps. The 23d corps also went as far as Columbia. When the shattered and demoralized army was across the Tennessee, the end of the campaign was announced, and the troops went into winter quarters. This was the completest union victory of the war, not involving a surrender, for it practically destroyed the rebel army. In all these O])erations the 84th was with the foremost actors, and sliared the honors of the striking achievements.

The 4th corps was cantoned near Iluntsville, and this regiment was put on provost duty in the city. In March the corps was ordered to Knoxville, and on the 13th the first division was transferred by rail, the others following soon after. From there the command marched to Bull's gap, and was stationed six miles beyond, lying there till April 18th. On that day the troops were put on board the cars and sent to Nashville, where, on June 8, 1865, this war-worn regiment was mustered out of the service with 346 men out of 932 who had gone to the "greedy front of war" only thirty-two months before.

Company G had thirty men ; all but five of these had been wounded. On the Uth the regiment started for Illinois, and arrived at Camp Butler, on the 12th. On the 16th it was paid oft' and disbanded.

The One Hundred And Second Regiment Illinois Infantry

" 'Tis midnight in the camp, The tired soldiers sleep, and dream, perchance Of home, perchance of conflicts past, and others Coming on the morrow. Braves, sleep on ! Let the cool night winds soothe yoiir slumbers deej). That you may rise refreshed. Your country looks To you, and such as you, to guard her honor From traitors' foul contaminating touch.

Yet, one is vigilant ; With measured tread he paces on his beat - The midnight sentinel. The moonbeams play Upon his burnished bayonet, and its rays Fall gently on a calm, sweet, upturned face. That smiles upon the soldier from its frame."

The war of the rebellion had been in progress something over a year when recruiting for the 102d regiment began ; but as more men enlisted from Mercer county in that organization than in any other, we assign it the largest space.

Company C. - Frank Shedd commenced enlisting men on August 5, 1862, and on the 21st had eighty-nine enrolled. The company assembled at Berlin (Swedona) on the 26th, and taking wagons, went by the way of Oxford and Galesburg to Knoxville, and were assigned quarters in Camp McMurtry on tlie fair grounds. Ninety-six men went into camp, but ninety-two, including officers, were all that were mustered in. Shedd was elected captain, Almond Shaw, first lieutenant, and Watson C. Trego, second lieutenant. Alfred H. Trego was appointed first or orderly sergeant, Byron Jordan, second sergeant, George "W. Gregg, third sergeant, George W. Allen, fourth sergeant, and Sampson M. Tenny, fifth sergeant. The corporals were Isaac N. Roberts, S. F. Fleharty, Rodney C. Manning, Henry Bridgford, Jacob Clause, Brainard Vance, Phoenix R. Briggs, and John Lippincott.

Company E. - On August 7 a meeting was held at Brown's schoolhouse in North Henderson township, at which Dan. W. Sedwick enlisted eighteen men. Thomas Likely, of the same township (now of Norwood), was present and stated that he had enrolled eight men, and proposed to unite with Sedwick, which was done. By the 14th they had eighty-four. On that day the men met at the same place and organized by electing Likely captain, Sedwick, first lieutenant, and T. G. Brown, second lieutenant. The following were the non-commissioned officers appointed : Sam])le B. Moore, first or orderly sergeant; John Allison, William J. Abdill, Jonathan E. Lafferty, and

One Hundred And Second Regiment

Albert Bridger, sergeants; Thomas Simpson, Henry M. Carmicliael, Jolm Tidball, Lyman Bryant, Allen Dunn, Henry W. Maiick, Robert Godfrey, and John T. Morford, corporals. Some time in the last week of August Lieut. Sedwick started from Bridger's corners (now Suez) with thii'ty-two men, and going through Scott's grove, met Capt. Likely one mile south of that place with about the same number, from whence they proceeded in wagons through Galesburg to Knoxville, arriving there in the evening, where the rest of the company joined them.

Company G. - This company was raised by Joseph P. Wycoff, assisted by Isaac McManus. David Lloyd had begun a com])any, but as he did not make it up his i*ecruits, eight or ten in number, came into Wycoffs. Enlistments for this company were commenced in Keithsburg on the 6th of August; on the 15th over one hundred were enrolled, and runners were sent out to notify the men to meet on the ITth to organize. One hundred and twenty assembled at the 0])era house and AYycoff was elected captain. On the 19tli the comi)any embarked on a steamer for Burlington, where it arrived at midnight. The hotels were full and the men slept that night in a livery stable. Next day they took the cars and reached Knoxville, going into barracks on the north side of the fair ground. The organization of the company was next completed, the choice for first lieutenant falling on Isaac McManus, and that of second lieutenant on William II. Bridgford. The non-commissioned officers were also elected by the company, Caj^t. AVycotf promising to appoint whomsoever the men should declare were their preference. They were Luke P. Blackburn, Aaron G. Henry, John C. Reynolds, John McIIard, and Robert B. Seaton, sergeants ; and Wesley Hunt, Lemuel S. Gruffy, Elislia J. Grandstaff, Andrew J. Douglas, Richard H. Cabeen, Jolm G. Poague; George W. Thomas, and Andrew J. Campbell, corporals. Company G went into camp with 120, rank and file; but 101 was the maximum number allowed, and the excess were distributed among other companies.

Company K. - James M. Mannon, Sanderson H. Rodgers, and William A. Wilson raised this company in the month of August, and it was composed of men from the north part of the county, and chiefly from those residing in Eliza and Millersburg townships. It was oi-ganizfed in Aledo by the election of Mannon, captain, Rodgers, first lieutenant, and Wilson, second lieutenant. Late in the month the company went across the country by private conveyances to Knoxville, where the regiment was assembled and about ready to be organized. The original non-commissioned officers were : James Y. Merritt, orderly sergeant ; L. Volney Willits, second sergeant (names of the other sergeants unknown) ; and the following coi'porals : Peter Griffith, B. F. H. Reynolds, William Winders, J. E. Huston, Leander Officer, Eli Gook, AValter Smethers, and Allen Wilson.

Other Companies. - The foregoing companies belonged exclusively to Mercer county, if we except a very few in company C from Kock Island county. Company A was enlisted in the corners of Knox, Mercer, and Warren, and was credited to Knox, although of the eightyeight enlisted soldiers forty-three were ft'om j^orth Henderson and six from Rivoli townships in this county. Capt. Roderick R. Harding, of Galesburg, who had served in the 17th 111. reg. from Ma}', 1861, to May, 1862, associated Levi F. Gentry, of Kortli Henderson, with himself, and the two together raised the company. Harding became captain on the organization of the company. Gentry, first lieutenant, and Charles M. Barnett, of Korth Henderson, second lieutenant. The non-commissioned officers were : Robert W. Callaghan, Theodore H. Andrews, John Morrison, AVilliam Brown, and Adam jST. Tate, sergeants; and William H. Black, Hugh French, Daniel B. Randall, Fielding E. Scott, John R. Holmes, Albert Talbot, Xealy Daggett, and George W. Miller, corj^orals.

Company D was raised and organized in Knox county, to which one-half of the men belonged. Sixteen were from Fulton county, fourteen from Warren, seven from Henry, six from Mercer, and a few from other places.

Company F was made up of Knox county men, with two from Mercer. Companies H and I belonged to the same county, but the latter had eight men from Henry.

The Beyiinent. - The 102d regiment was raised by Col. William McMurtry, of Knox county, and the companies, as fast as they arrived at Knoxville, were rendezvoused on the fair grounds, where there were ample and convenient barracks. This camp of organization was named McMurtry in honor of the venerable and enthusiastic colonel. The several companies assembled between the 20th of August and the close of the month, and when the organization took place Franklin C. Smith, captain of company I, was elected lieutenant-colonel, and James M. Mannon, captain of company K, major. On the 2d of September the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States 931 strong. The men were uniformed, furnished with blankets, and regularly drilled ; and the transition to camp life had all the features of novelty until the rudiments of soldierly training were in coin"se of easy mastery.

One Iiundeed And Second Regiment

. On the 22d tlie riii;lit wing was tr<ansfeiTed by rail to Peoria, and next day the left followed. The regiment remained one week encamped on the beautiful plateau overlooking Peoria lake from the north, when orders came tr> move to the seat of war in Kentucky. Buell's army was intrenched around Louisville and Bragg was knocking at the gates of the city. Public apprehension was high, and the raw levies from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, were poured upon the "Kentucky shore" in immense numbers. The 30th of September dawned gloomily, but it found the regiment lively with hope and ardor, and before the morning was hardly passed it was in motion through the streets in a drizzling rain toward the depot of the Logansport, Peoria A: Burlington railroad. AVindows and balconies were ci'owded with old and young to get a view of the troops. Matronly women, total strangers, wiped their dimmed eyes as they watched the flower of the country's youth going to fields of blood and death. Next morning the regiment was in Logansport ; in the course of the day it passed through Lafayette, and toward evening reached Indianap<jlis, where were seen the first warlike signs : artillery in park and paroled prisoners in squads. A night ride brought the command to Jefliersonville, where it disembarked before the beams of morning streaked the eastern sky. Arms for the men, French rifled muskets, which had been brought unboxed from Peoria, were distributed during the day, and inferior as they were it cannot be said the soldiers were not as proud of their guns as the traditional small boy of his new jacknife. Rumors of fighting across the river were soon afloat, and this was the first acquaintance with the "grapevine telegraph "" - camp reports.

At one o'clock on the morning of the 3d, the long roll aroused the camp, and the men were ordered to prepare to march with three days' cooked rations. Very early the Ohio was crossed on an immense bridge 'constructed of flatboats^ and the regiment marched into Louisville. Amidst the interested spectators on the street leading up from the river stood a tottering old man, whose thin white locks were the toys of the morning air. "With uncovered head, and bony arms uplifted to hea^-en, he appeared like a silent supernatural prophet of the union. Without a spoken word, but in the most solemn and patriarchal manner did this patriotic Elijah call down upon the men pressing forward to the defense of the government God's blessing and protection.

The regiment was brigaded with the 105th Illinois and the 79th C)hio, and placed under the command of Brig. Gen. William T. AVard, of Kentucky, and attached to Gen. Dumont's divisi(m. Not long afterward the TOth Indiana and the 129tli Illinois were added.

At four o'clock in the afternoon this new command began the march to Frankfort, a march whose toils and pains will never fade from the memories of the jaded and exhausted men who pei'formed it. Only for the conditions was the distance great or the marching excessive. The weather was hot, the soldiers were overloaded, the country was suffering from extreme drouth, water was scarce, and parts of the pike were covered with a fine limestone dust that enveloped the column in a thick cloud. Haversacks were crowded with rations, cartridge boxes carried forty rounds, knapsacks contained extra clothing and blankets and other dispensable effects. Add to these a heavy musket, and the weight borne was too much for the endurance of nine-tenths of the soldiers in the field, old or new. To keep in ranks and march at a brisk pace encumbered with an unusual, ill-fitting, fretful load, was no ordinary hardship to raw recruits ; and long afterward when the men had become enured to war-like service, they reviewed the trials of this first march with a shudder. Inhalations of the finely-powdered dust excited and greatly jiggravated thirst, and under the circumstances these sufferings of the men were the most painfnl of the whole service, and were the entering wedge to subsequent disabilities which sent many a poor fellow home a miserable wreck and many another to his long account.

About midnight a small remnant of the command filed off" into a swarded field fifteen miles from Louisville, and were told to encamp. The brigade was disorganized, and the soldiers, prostrated with fatigue, were scattered along the line of march for a distance of ten miles. The road was strewn with blankets and clothing thrown away with indifference and relief. We believe it was never explained why our commanders forged ahead with such folly ; but the boys often jokingly charged it to that ever present factor, the double-barreled canteen. Probably orders had been given in Louisville for the brigade to march to a certain place that night. The 102d had not forgotten yet that Col. McMurtry declared at Knoxville his intention to "march us to glory or to death," and they could testify now that the promise was being religiously fulfilled, with the chances very much in favor of the alternative.

About all the men had straggled into camp by eleven o'clock next day, and then the march was renewed. Fifteen more tedious miles were drawn out and we encamped late at night in the neighborhood of Shelbyville, where we lay in a plowed fi^'ld under the burning sun until the afternoon of the 6th. In ra[)id time we marched to a new camp, two miles, east of Shelbyville. Ou the 8th we were again in motion, and the day Avas marked with the petty annoyances of starting and halting, and waiting in suspense, not knoAving whether to sit or lie down by the roadside or to stand and hold our heavy kjads. Through it all the sun poured down his blistering rays. This was the worst day of any for dust ; fine as fiour, in places it was two inches deep, and verily we had " a cloud by day,'' which veiled evei-y object from view a few yards in front. To get drinking water the soldiers were glad to brush away the heavy, green scum with which stagnant pools were mantled, and thousands of canteens were supplied with filthier water, but a little pennyroyal introduced through the nozzle overcame the unfragrant odor ; and doubtless others were moved to the same thankfulness as the soldier who expressed his satisfaction with the water hecause it was wet ! At nine at night, being suffered to bi^-ouac, we gave ourselves up to the welcome embrace of mother earth, and stretched our aching limbs upon the soft soil. The hour of midnight made its hasty round, and brought with it orders to resume the advance. A march of six miles, and then we were in Frankfort, at the bridge across the Kentucky river, where our cavalry had a skirmish and a few of the men were on guard. Toiling three-fourths of a mile, perhaps a mile, up the long, weary ascent east of the town, we at last reached the top- and threw ourselves u})on the naked sward for rest, just as the gleams of dayspring began to gild the eastern horizon. At nine o'clock orders came to prepare for a forced march of forty-eight hours without knapsacks, and two days' rations were issued. What more ''''forced^'' than the experience . of the last few days was needed? Happily, the order that would have ])ut us in motion never came.

With the end of this, our first march, we droj) the mass of details lest our space should be taken up before we discover the spires of Atlanta, or the music of tlie ocean falls upon our ears at Savannah.

At Frankfort the regiment was furnished with bell tents, drilling was continued, and standing at arms an hour or two in the morning before daybreak was practiced. On the evening of the 18th preparations were made for a forced march, and at midnight the brigade was called out and started for Lawi-enceburg, sixteen miles distant. The object was to intercept the partisan John Morgan, who was retreating from Lexington before a federal force. The command halted by the way an hour and did not reach the destination till daylight, when it was found that the rebel chieftain had j^assed an liour and a half before. Marching back leisurely the troops readied their old quarters at seven in the evening, tired and foot-sore.

A painful incident of history followed. Dissatisfaction with Col. Mc]\[urtiy was gaining ra[)i(lly, and the demand for his retirement was strong. We remember the hollow square, the stiri'ing speech from

Gen. Ward counseling liarmonj and subordination, t'le demand of the colonel for a vote to ascertain the feeling of the regiment towards him, and we see the large majority stej) out of ranks, whereupon he announces his intention to resign. Whatever defects he may have had they were those of old age. He had served in the Black Hawk war and was familiar with the obsolete tactics. He did not address himself with the alacrity of a young man to mastering the new, and this may have detracted from his popularity. Perhaps he was regarded as responsible for the hard marching that had been done ; if so, it was unjust. He was honest and terribly in earnest. In his care for the men and his intercourse with them he was less remote and more alive to their welfare than any other who ever commanded them. His influence went lar in raising the regiment, and to this length, if no further, he served his country well. Sickness obliged him to go to the hospital, and from there he repaired to his home. The regiment saw no more of him except when he paid it a brief visit at Gallatin in February.

On the 26th of October the brigade broke camp and began the march to Bowling Green. The distance of 150 miles' was accomplished in ten days. Toward the last the dust was veiy troublesome again, scarcely less so than on the first march, and when the soldiers camped at night they were unrecognizable. At Bacon Creek numbers were sent back to Louisville sick, while others were left to come on by rail.

Gen. Kosecrans reviewed our division there, and on the 11th of November the brigade left its camp at Lost river, and on the second day arrived at Scottsville, county seat of Allen county. Continuing southward on the 25tli the division marched in the direction of Gallatin, Tennessee, and camped that night at the Rock House. Arriving there the next evening a camp was laid out for the 102d west of the town. On the 12th of December the regiment moved into winter quarters at Fort Thomas, which was situated close to the depot, and which the brigade, working in reliefs by regiments, had been throwing up since its arrival. On the 13th companies I, K and G were detailed for patrol and provost duty in the town, and the next day were cantoned in brick buildings on the public square. Company C was put on duty at Station creek, three miles below Gallatin, where they spent the winter guarding the railroad bridge. On the 11th of February companies D and F and a part of A were ordered into the town to increase the provost force. About New Year a mounted squad, composed of a detail of two men from each company, was organized, and placed under the command of Sergeant Edward Courtney, of company I, making twenty-one altogether. Tliis was kept scouting until spring, and did much hard, etlicient service. On the 14th of March the several companies were relieved by a detail from the 105th Illinois, and were reunited in the old camp to finish and garrison Fort Thomas. The rainy, gloomy winter was over, the darkest period of the war passed. With the fresh breath of spring came new life and gladness^ Drilling was resumed with great energy, and most encouraging improvements were made in the health, and spirits, and skill, and tactical knowledge of the men.

April 27 a detachment of 150 frcjm the regiment was embarked on board the regular morning express train for Louisville, under the chief command of Col. B. J. Sweet, seconded by Col. Smith. Rebels were hovering near Franklin, twenty-seven miles above, and when that place was reached fifty soldiers were put off there in the belief that a skirmish would ensue. The train proceeded three or four miles farther, when it was stopped by a breach in the track, and a volley was received from a lot of rebel horsemen. The fire was instantly returned with deadly effect, and then the men sprang from the cars in pursuit, but the assailants disappeared in hot haste. Theii* loss was five killed and six wounded. Five of the 102d were wounded, two mortally. A little drummer boy on the train was wounded in the leg, which had to be amputated. This was the first baptism of fire.

June 1 the brigade left its encampment at Gallatin and was transported on the cars to Lavergne, fifteen miles south of Nashville ; and next day the 102d marched to Stewart's creek, six miles farther south, and nine miles north of Murf'reesboro. Companies E, K, and G were posted on the creek at the railroad crossing ; company H was stationed at OveralPs creek, adjacent to the Stone river battlefield ; and comjiany B at Smyrna. The right wing was encamped at a small earthwork surmounting an eminence on Stewart's creek and overlooking the crossing of the Nashville and Murfi-eesboro turnpike. When Gen. Rosecrans organized the Tullahoma camj^aign the dispersed forces at Nashville and elsewhere in the rear were formed into the reserve corps, under the command of Gen. Gordon Granger, who, at an earlv dav, entrusted the protection of the railroad between Nashville and Murfresboro exclusively to the 102d. Col. Smith was ordered to Lavergne with four companies, and, on August 19, companies C, E, G, and I marched to that place, while the other six were stationed at stockades along the railroad. Thus disposed the regiment was required to do mucli hai-d duty, and it could not have been more satisfactorily performed. Li addition to furnishing patrols, and men for a great variety of service besides, the comi)anies at Lavergne began in October to press horses from tlie disloyal for the purpose of mounting them- --selves. Companies G and E were first mounted and equipped, next I, -and then C; all of which was accomplished by the first week in Kovember. A great deal of scouting was done in actjoining counties, and the service was fraught with just enough risk to make it fascinating. Exj^loits of these commands when hunting and chasing guerillas increased the zest and excitement, and furnished not a little material for anecdote, and not a few thrilling personal adventures. By Christmas company B was mounted ; aiid another was partly so, when i-emoval of the regiment stopped the impressment of horses. Skillful management on the part of Col. Smith procured 225 of the breechloading Spencer repeating rifles for these companies, and each man was provided besides with a Colt's navy revolver.

The inclement winter of 1863-4 was hardly passed when final orders came to march to the front. February 26 the 102d left its cantonements and fell in with the rest of the brigade which had moved out from Nashville on the 2-itli. The weather was warm and balmy until the evening of the third day, when it began to rain ; throligh the fourth day it rained moderately, and was cold, and that night our camp was established on the naked creek bottom at Tullahoma. The temperature lowered, the stream rose and overspread a part of the ground; blankets and equipments were submerged ; and the men were driven out of their tents. About one o'clock in the morning the writer started a fire, using a cracker box, and by the light was enabled to pick up the tiniest parts of tree tops. Piling on these twigs the flames leaped up and danced a cheering and grateful invitation to the men who flocked from all parts of the brigade. It poured down the next forenoon, and 3,000 soldiers, wet, cold and hungry, stood shivering in the rainycamp. In the afternoon removal to high ground and timber was taken, and by liight, with the aid of huge fires, reasonable comfort and good feeling were restored. Trees groaned beneath the weight of ice and the gi'ound froze hard. Long will the first brigade remember its sojourn at Tullahoma. On the eighth day the column crossed the Raccoon moimtains, a spur of the Cumberland range, from Cowan, over the rockiest and roughest road in America, and camped on the other side at a place on the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad called Tantelon. The wagon train lay on the mountain all night and did not finish the passage till noon the next day. Stevenson was passed and Bridgeport reached March 7; the 8th we rested; the 9th we moved again ; and the 10th, being the fourteenth day from Lavergne, the command reached the Wauhatchie valley, at the foot of the frowning western encampment of Lookout mountain.

Here was made the most pleasant and beautiful camp the regiment ever had. Snugly concealed by an environment of towering eminences, and washed in rear by Lookout creek, it hicked nothing in natural scenery and surroundings to give it an air of the most quiet picturesqueness. Its elaborate and tasteful decoration was due mainly to the efforts of Lieut. A. IL Trego and Adjutant J. It. Snyder, gentlemen of the highest aesthetic endowment and culture. Space does not admit a description of the tall arches, elegant devices, military legends, the ornamented speaker's stand, and the chapel for religious worship. Camp life was not more agreeable anywhere than at this place ; but the stay of the regiment was one of hardening activity and preparation for the rigors of the approaching campaign ; re^^ews, inspections, company and battalion drills, and evolutions by brigade and division.

April 10 the last horses held by the mounted companies were turned over at Cliattanooga. The navy revolvers were surrendered, and an order came on the 29tli to exchange the Spencer rifles for Springfleld rifled muskets. This last order produced a gloomy shadow on the men's faces ; but as the time was short the change was never made. We anticipate a little to say that this arm gave the 102d great reputation in the army. " Give way for the Spencer regiment," "Let these Spencers up," and the like, were expressions often heard when the regiment was going up to relieve some other in a hot place on the front line. The rebels recognized the regiment by its fire, and often asked what kind of anns it had ; several times it was jocosely inquired if the boys "wound up their guns on Monday morning and fired all the week." The slow fact never dawned upon the sleepy authorities that this rifle was fit for anything but the mounted service, and the idea prevailed that soldiers armed with it would become addicted to laxitv of aim and waste ammunition. The 102d demonstrated the senility of these fears.

After the 11th and 12th army corps had been transfeiTed from the east, Ward's brigade was attached to the former and numbered the first brigade of the first division. On the consolidation of those two corps in March, to form the 20tli, it became the first brigade of the third division, and ever after retained that designation.

On the 2d of May simultaneous movements of all parts of the aiTny began. Ward's brigade camped that night at Gordon's mills. On the 4th it moved from there to the vicinity of Kinggold, and on the 6th to Leed's farm, near Xickajack Trace. Next day Taylor's ridge was crossed at Gordon's pass ; Gordon's Springs was left behind, and the command encamped near Yillanow. On the 11th, following up the movement through Snake Creek gap, begun by McPherson on the 9th, we halted for the night in the narrow defile between two of the immense ridges of the mountains. After cutting a new road through the woods the brigade moved out the next day two miles to Sugar Valley. The advance was resumed early on the morning of the 13th, and tlie command had gone but a short distance when it found itself in proximity to the enemy. During a brief halt here Gen. Kilpatrick, commanding the cavalry, was brought to the rear wounded. At intervals during the forenoon advances were made, and in the afternoon the brigade was formed in line with a company from each regiment deployed as skirmishers. Then moving forward a short distance the line halted, the skmnishers occupying the crest of a ridge in open timber in full view of the operations beyond, including the charge by the 15th corps and capture of the enemy's rifle pits, a redoubt, and two cannon. Meantime, having moved some distance, about eight in the evening our division took a position on the right of the 14th corps and on the summit of the wooded ridge overlooking Camp creek, on the other side of which about eighty rods was the enemy, working with vigor to strengthen his position.

Company G was ordered out as skirmishers and posted at the base of the hill. Early next morning company E was added, and then a bold advance was made to the stream. An attempt to outflank the line being discovered by Capt. Sedwick, he returned through great exposure to the reserve, and, advancing to the left, drove the rebels back. In the afternoon, while neighboring troops were engaged, our line was ordered forward to the brow of the hill as a feint. The movement unmasked the left of company I and a tremendous volley concentrated upon it killed one, wounded two severely, and two slightly. The day was very hot. The skirmishers in their advanced position could not move without fatal danger, and their sufferings from heat and thirst were intense. The condition of the wounded, beyond the reach of help until darkness, was more aggravated. The casualties in company G were : killed, John Gibson and Watson W. Hibbs ; wounded, Frederick Friebele, John Burnett (mortally), Lemuel S. Gruffy, William P. Ii-win (died in hospital), William S. Pearson, William M. Bunting, John B. Felton,- John Dunn, and William T. Todd (died in hospital). In company E the wounded were : Michael Oswalt (died in hospital), Jonathan P. Morrison, and Gilbert Zend.

On the morning of Sunday, the 15tli, the division was relieved and marched four miles to the left to join the rest of the corps, which had been ordered round the day before. A fortified hill on the Dalton road, north of Ilesacca, was selected for attack in the hope of piercing the line at that point. The enemy's breastworks, nearly 5U0 yards distant fi-om wliere our troops could be massed for assault without discovery, stretched away in the form of an arc upon the crest of a long, high hill covered with forest trees, hiding the position fi-om view. A spur, lower than the main ridge, jutted out in front, and on this a lunette had been constructed in which were planted four twelve-pound brass cannon. The brigade was marched up under cover of the hea\y and tangled woods to the crown of the loftv ridffe confrontinor this formidable position, and there organized for the assault, with the 70th Indiana in frout, the 102d next in order, followed by the 79th Ohio,, and the 105th and 129th Illinois, closed en masse. At noon a low command was given and the column moved down the hill without a word, concealed by the timber and the heavy undergrowth, down trees helping to obstruct the ground, and pushed its way through with fixed bayonets. Debouching suddenly upon the open, plain, (len. Ward gave the short, shrill command, "double quick," and with a bound and a prolonged yell the brigade sprang to the assault. At the same instant heavy skirmishing along the whole front and a brisk cannonade were begun to confuse the enemy and cover the charge. The rebels were taken by complete surprise, but responded at once with a terrible fire from the battery and the infantry posted behind. The smoke from the rebel "jjosition wrapped the hill in a lurid mantle, and the refrain from the artillery on both sides thundered above us. Men were dropping on every hand, but on and on with a continuous shout, like a thunderbolt of war, went the brigade. It seems but a minute and the broad valley is passed ; breath is shortened and speed slackened, but the column presses up the hillside. Some stoop beneath while others push aside the boughs. The cheer has died out and the men, unable to see the foe, clench their teeth for deadly work. A moment more and the rebel guns, shotted with grape and canister, vomit their red flame into the faces of the advancing column. At the last discharge the men are so close that the hot breath of the angry cannon sways the line for an instant. Then, on our side is the first musket fired. A tremendous roar convulses the earth. A few of the rebel gunners flee, but the rest remain, like the heroes that they are, at their pieces, and with the obstinacy of despair vainly endeavor 'to beat back our men with their sponge-stafis ! But all save five are slaughtered ; these are taken pi-isoners by members of companies E and I. Many impelled by the boldness of ardor dash still deeper into the woods that cover the rebel intrenchments, and a few go quite up to them.

almost at tlie beginning of the action the command devolved upon Col. Hari-ison of the 70th Indiana. He lost his coolness and ordered a retreat. Through misunderstanding the second brigade, brought up for support, fired into us from the rear. These evil occurrences caused confusion, and some fell back while others remained. The rebels had retired from their works, but rallied and returned. Had tlie situation of the breastworks been known to the men, or could thev have been seen bj most of them, the line would have been taken. But when the lunette was captured, no other works being in sight, it was supposed by the men generally that they were in possession of all the enemy had, and that the rebel infantry had ingloriously fled. This was their first battle, too, and they had no fixed and common idea as to what might be found on the field, or what should be expected. With their experience a month later they would have carried the entire parapet in handsome style and completely broken through the enemy's line.

The rebels having come back, they opened with shar]D volleys, and our men, lying down behind logs and ti'ees and under the redoubt, grimly resolved to hold all they had gained. The lines were but a few rods apart, and a galling fire was kept i^p by both sides during the day and a part of the night ; but the foe was well protected, while our men were greatly exposed to raking shots from the right and the left, as well as from the front.

When at the early stage the disorder was created, a part of the regiment was collected at the foot of the hill and marched to the left, where they took a share in a fierce engagement with Hood's corps, which charged our line and was disastrously repulsed.

At ten o'clock that night we were relieved and fell back a short distance to the rear for rest. The casualties in the 102d were IS killed, 76 wounded, and 1 missing. Six of the wounded soon after died. In this action the gallantry of both ofticers and men received flattering notice next day in orders from Gen. Buttei-field, and later, complimentary credit from the general of the army. Acts of individual heroism were numerous. Orderly sergeant John Morrison, of company A, who had been commissioned lieutenant but not mustered, and was wounded and afterward died, was much applauded for conspicuous bravery. Color-sergeant R. L. Carver displayed most courageous bearing and was seriously wounded. The banner-bearer, Corporal P. F. Dillon, fell an instant later, pierced through the breast. Adjutant J. H. Snyder caught up the banner and bore it with impetuous gallantry into the earthwork and subsequently planted it on the parapet. Fifty bulllets riddled its folds and two struck the stafl'. The colors of the 102d were the first raised over the works. Persistent valor shed luster on our flag. The des})erate courage which held the position from noon until ten o'clock at night was not sui'passed by the heroism which covered our arms with glory at Buena Vista or Cerro Gordo.

That night Johnson withdrew his army across the Oostanaula, and Sherman followed close behind the next day. Our brigade was left to bury its dead. A long trench, embowered by soughing pines, was dug, and the fifty-one slain of the brigade were given tender sepulture in this common grave. A prayer was said, a few remarks were made by a white-haired chaplain, the grave was filled, and the brigade, as , night was nearing, hastened to overtake the main army.

On the morning of the 27th we crossed the Coosawattee river and marched ten miles that day. The 18tli was hot and many straggled along the route of fifteen miles. Toward the close of the afternoon the enemy grew stubborn as he was closely pressed. Moving out very early next morning, the 19th, the brigade was shortly tlirown into line of battle, with companies B and G from the 102d in front as skirmishers. The enemy was in plain sight, and after taking a shelling from a single field piece an hour and a half, and losing Samuel Harvey, of company G, the brigade moved two miles to the right. As soon as this new ground was reached the rebels emerged from a dense woods on the opposite side of an extensive field, and advanced toward our line. AYith extreme energy a barricade of rails was made, while a battery on our right played upon them so effectively as to send them hurtling back whence they came. At 2 o'clock the order to advance was given, and we debouched into the cleared sjiace and marched in columns by company up the rising ground. Banners were unfurled and fluttered proudly over the heads of the men, as with handsome precision they executed the movement. As far as could be seen in either direction nothing met the eye but this imposing pageant. Gen. Hooker and his staff remained near our brigade during the afternoon, and when the highest ground was reached we were halted in that position for some time, our commander watching from this favorable point the movements of the enemy. We were close on the foe and there was expectation of a battle. Johnson had resolved to risk a general engagement at Cassville, and had his ai-my strongly posted and intrenched for that purpose, but later developments led him to adopt a different plan. Our skirmishers were thrown forward to a narrow strip of woods below us ; beyond this was another field into wliicli tlie rebels came. A battery in our immediate rear pitched a few shells over the ti'ee tops where onr skirmishers were sheltered, and as we had a view of the open ground on the other side, we presently saw the rebels raising the dust in retreat. They were followed by the skirmishers who disappeared in the timber wliich hid the enemy at the same time. At five o'clock we advanced over the same ground to the edge of Cassville. After a brief halt the command fell back and went into camp near the place from which it last moved up. AVe slept that night under orders from the commanding general for the whole army to close in upon Cassville at daylight, and "to attack the enemy wherever found. " But he was in full retreat before that hour.

Pausing a few days till the railroad was repaired we moved again at four o'clock on the morning of the 23d and crossed the Etowah. On the 24th, continuing in the direction of Dallas, the command camped at Burnt Hickory, and at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 25th was brought up to support Geary's division, which had struck the enemy in force at New Hope Church, and was under fire some hours. At dark the brigade was ordered to march over the four lines of our troops lying in front, and to attack the enemy vigorously. The 102d instantly began the forward movement, which was soon arrested by a member of Gen. Butterfield's staff till the 70th Indiana could make connection with it. When this was - done Col. Smith renewed the advance until we came upon the skirmishers belonging to the second brigade (Col. Coburn), where he halted the regiment and ordered the men to lie down while preparations were making for the attack. It was discovered that we were separated from the YOth, and Col. Coburn at the same moment gave information that the enemy was not more than 200 yards in front, strongly posted and six lines deep. One of Gen. Butterfield's staff appeared, and being notified of the situation directed Col. Smith to remain in that position, and, if possible, to find Col. Harrison. The latter was discovered some distance in the rear, and being temporarily in command of the brigade ordered the 102d to return, which it did, getting into position with the rest of the brigade about ten o'clock. It had begun to rain, the night was very dark, and the command was hopelessly mixed up in the forest. The bursting rebel shells lighted up the woods with a grand and weird appearance. Fatigued and rationless the men sank down upon the wet ground.

In his memoirs, speaking of this place, and events here. Gen. Sherman says: "The woods were so dense and the resistance so spirited that Hooker could not carry the position, though the battle was noisy and prolonged far into the night. This point, ' New Hope, ' . . . was four miles northeast of Dallas, and from the bloody fighting there for the next week was called by the soldiers 'Ilell-Hole.' The night was pitch-dark, it rained hard, and the convergence of our columns toward Dallas produced much confusion. I am sure similai- confusion existed in the army opposed to us, for we were all mixed uj). I slept on the ground, without cover, along side of a log, got little sleep, resolved at daylight to renew the battle, and to nuike a lodgment on the Dallas and Allatoona road, if possible, but the morning revealed a strong line of intrenchnicnts facing us, with a heavy force of infantry and guns. The battle was renewed, and without success." Descri]> tive of the style of fighting, he continues : " All this time a continual battle was in })rogress by strong skirmish-lines, taking advantage of every species of cover, and both parties fortifying each night by rifietrenches, with head-logs, many of which grew to be as formidable as first-class works of defense. Occasionally one party or the other would make a dash in the nature of a sally, but usually it sustained a repulse with great loss of life. I visited personally all parts of our lines nearly every day, was constantly within musket-range, and though the fire of musketry and cannon resounded day and night along the whole line, varying from six to ten miles, I rarely saw a dozen of the enemy at any one time, and these were always skirmishers, dodging from tree to tree, or behind logs on the ground, or who occasionally showed their heads above the. hastily-constructed, but remarkably strong, rifletrenches."

Companies A and F were detailed to build breastworks, and before daylight the regiment was brought to the line and engaged with a will in the same task. A thick fog obscured everything; still the enemy's sharp-shooters were able to annoy severely the working parties, and Capt. D. W. Sedwick was ordered forward with company E to drive them away. He advanced to within a few yards- of the rebel breastworks before discovering his proximity to them, and before he could withdraw had several men wounded. Posting his company behind trees and logs the rebel marksmen could not long endure the intense and accurate fire of the Spencer rifles. Company E was relieved early by company C, and this at one in the afternoon by company K. Capt. Sedwick had seven men wounded that morning. Battery M, 1st New York artillery, had been brought up to our line and kept in constant activity two or three hours, and the rebels, to silence or check its fii-ing, planted guns nearly opposite in their intrenchments. Information of this, coming to Col. Smith, he strengthened the skirmish-line with eight picked men, who were instructed to cover the guns, which could be seen through the foliage, with a torrent of lead, to prevent their use or removal. Gen. Hooker approved this and ordered that it be continued with vigor, and at five o'clock tlie skirmisliers were reinforced by twenty more marksmen* At eleven o'clock at night the rebels attempted to remove them, but were frustrated by the terrible fire concentrated on them from the Spencer rifles. The guns were held by occasional reliefs until the afternoon of the 2Tth, when the regiment was relieved by the 111th Pennsylvania. When the Spencers were gone the enemy got his battery off.

Moving to the right half a mile and joining the brigade on the right of the coi-jjs, we waited till after dark for orders, and then were placed behind breastworks, where we lay till the next morning, and were relieved by the 73d Ohio. Company F had one man wounded here just as the relief was taking place. The rebels opened on us warmly as we retired, and we had not more than reached a location 300 yards in rear, for rest, when they showed awakened activity, and ' ' several rounds of grape shot were fired by them, and the little iron crab apples barked the trees and rattled around so thickly it was marvelous no one was hurt. " Finally, dropping a little farther to the rear, we camped for the night. Loss during the four days, 4 killed and 14 wounded.

At ten at niffht on the 29th the 102d was ordered half a mile to the right to close a gap between the 15th and 20th corps, and on the morning of the 31st was relieved by the 129th Illinois, Cob Case. At noon of the 1st of June, being relieved by troops from the 15th corps, we moved with the brigade three miles to the left. Thus had passed a week in the " Hell-Hole, " and thus ended our share in "the di*awn battle of New Hope church," so-called by Gen. Sherman. '

At noon on the 2d a rainy period, which extended to the last days of the month, began with a descending torrent. An hour later the brigade again took up the movement to the left, and proceeding two and a half miles was formed in order of battle in support of the 2d brigade, before which the enemy fell back stubbornly. The other regiments were more exposed and their loss was considerable. Brigade Surgeon Potter, of the 105th Illinois, was killed by a shell. The 3d was rainy ; the troops were out of rations ; another move was taken three miles to the left. Next day another short move was made. Then on the 6th a march of five miles brought us to the Wet Tortugas^ where we raised a breastwork and lay in the rain till the 15th. Rations were short, and ox-tail soup and damaged " hard tack" in request. At one in the afternoon the brigade was thrown forward, with the 102d on the skirmish-line, companies E, F, G and I deployed, the rest in reserve. Crossing an ample field the rebel skirmishers were driven fi*om their outposts in the edge of the woods. Retreating to strong posts on higher ground thev hekl out a stubborn resistance, but our men pressed up under a brisk fire to within fifty yards, and at tlie next advance they drew off. The most important casualty was tlie wound received by Capt. Isaac McManus.

This phice was known as Golgotha cliurch, and it was here that Col. Smith received a flesh wound on the lOtli, which sent him to the rear till the 10th of August, when he rejoined the regiment before Atlanta. The loss in the 102d during the two days' operations was thirteen wounded, including the officers named. Alluding to these operations Gen. Sherman says : ' ' On the 1 5th we advanced our general lines, intending to attack at any weak point discovered between Kenesaw and Pine Mountain ; but Pine Mountain was found to be abandoned, and Johnston had contracted his front somewhat, on a direct line, connecting Kenesaw with Lost Mountain. ... On the 16th the general movement was continued, when Lost Mountain was abandoned by the enemy.""

We pause to give the general's description of how breastworks were built: "The enemy and ourselves used the same form of rifle-trench, varied according to the nature of the ground, viz : the trees and bushes were cut away for a hundred yards or more in front, serving as an abatis or entanglement ; the parapets varied from four to six feet high, the dirt taken from a ditch outside and from a covered way inside, and this parapet was surmounted by a ' head-log, ' composed of the trunk of a tree from twelve to twenty inches at the butt, lying along the interior crest of the parapet and resting in notches cut in other trunks, which extended back, forming an inclined plane, in case the head-log should be knocked inward by a cannon-shot. The men of both armies became extremely skillful in the construction of these works, because each man realized their value and importance to himself, so that it required no orders for their construction. As soon as a regiment or brigade gained a position within easy distance of a sally, it would set to work with a will, and would construct such a parapet in a single night. "

On the 17th the right of the army, composed of the 20tli and 23d corps, the latter slightly refused on the flank, swung forward in a kind of grand left wheel in the direction of Marietta. It will not be forgotten how Butterfield's division hunted its way through the low bushes and tangled timber to conceal its .own movement; for, as Gen. Sherman explains, the enemy's "position gave him a perfect view over our field, and we had to proceed with due caution." On reaching open ground we formed our camp, and lay here till'the morning of the 10th, when the bugle sounded the "general," to "pack up our kna])sacks and get ready to go. " It was here that we witnessed the shelling of a deep forest by a number of onr batteries occupying two tiers npon a lofty and extensive range, one holding the crest, the other halfway down the side on a ledge or shelf For adaptability to the purpose and the occasion the position was all that nature could have made it, and with so many guns in oi^eration, all in fiill view, the effect heightened by the exhibition beyond, the sharp explosions of shells, and the white puffs of lurid smoke rising above the trees, whose tops were lower than our feet, as we stood on the summit, was such an incident in war's realities as is not often seen. The enemy was sullen, responding only occasionally with his field-pieces, but his sharp-shooters were active and did some execution.

On the 19th the enemy, holding on to Kenesaw mountain, conti'acted his flanks to cover more completely Marietta and the railroad ; and the right wing moved foi-ward in another grand swing eastwardly, our own division, and perhaps others, executing a variety of pei'plexing maneuvers through the dense pines, and under conflicting orders. The 102d was refused on the extreme right of the coii^s, and company C held the skirmish line this and the following day. The men worked till midnight building breastworks. To work the whole night was a common occurrence. Rains continued frequent and excessive.

On the night of the 20th the men had scarcely fallen to sleep when they were roused up and ordered to move. This time it was but a short distance and only to straighten the line. Again were the soldiers building breastworks until midnight ; before they were finished orders came to cease using the axes and to be ready to march at six in the morning. The forenoon of the 21st was spent waiting in the rain for the order to move ; finally Gen, Hooker directed that the men be set to strengthening the works.

From eleven o'clock of the 22d the day was full of surprises and lively operations, and tremulous throughout with impending battle, which fell just at evening upon the first division (Williams'). At the former hour tlie brigade was formed for the support of the third brigade, Col. Wood, and we were under a chafing fire for several hours ; and in the meantime double-quicking across a plowed field to the timber, where we threw up a parapet of rails just behind Wood's men. The afternoon was passed in moving short intervals to the right and making barricades .and traverses each time. The last one was finished at one o'clock next morning ; at four the command was relieved and soon moved a mile to the right ; at noon it moved still farther to the immediatevicinity of the Kulp house, some three miles due west from Marietta. Casualties in the 102 on the 20th and the 22d were one killed and four wounded.

We lay here a little retired from the main line until nightfall of the 26th. At that time the brigade relieved the front line and held it till the evening of the 29th, when it M^ithdrew to the third line for rest, and its place was taken by Wood's brigade. Gen. Butterfield was relieved this day and Gen. Ward succeeded to the command of the division. Col. Harrison assumed command of the brigade.

The rebel chieftain having detected Gen. Sherman in the first stage of a movement for the possession of Kenesaw mountain and Marietta, similar to the one which gave him Atlanta, fell back suddenly during the night of the 2d of July within his defenses on the north bank of the Chattahoochee. The commanding general had so well calculated the effect of his strategy that he was expecting the retreat and had issued orders, which were received that night, for the troops to be ready to march at daylight. Starting out in the morning, Capt. Sedwick in advance with companies E, F, G and B, as skirmishers, we took the road leading to Marietta, and struck the enemy's rear-guard of cavalry a mile from the town. Capt. S. directed the movements of his command with his accustomed prudence, and kept up a running attack until he had driven them through the town, which he occupied an hour in advance of any other troops. From this time till the 6th we moved leisurly toward the Chattahoochee. We stopped that day within two miles of the river, and on the Sth began policing our camp under orders from brigade headquarters. At this place we - got first sight of the church spires in Atlanta. By climbing trees we could see them plainly in the distance, and we strained our eyes for the largest view.

The last of the enemy's forces crossed in the night of the 9th, and thenceforward the contending pickets were on opposite banks of the river. In front of our division the murderous fire between them ceased by mutual agreement. The foes basked within a stone's throw of one another ; occasionally they talked across, and always manifested the best of feeling. Swimming across from one to the other got to be a practice ; papers were exchanged, and traffic in coffee and tobacco was carried on. The- "Yanks" had the coft'ee and the "rebs" the "weed."" Gen. Ward, distrustful of this tamiliarity, forbade it in a special order. But the boys, tired of the constant strain, did not renew tlie firing.

and camped three miles on the other side. Next day we went two and a half miles farther south, and at three on the morning of the 19th threw up breastworks. Having orders to occupy the range of hills south of Peach Tree creek, the brigade moved on the 20th, and a little after noon it tiled along the northern base, the line of march for some distance being swept by the severe fire of the rebel skirmishers. At length a halt was made, and the men threw themselves on the side of the hill under the scorching sun for a rest, and the cooks engaged in making colfee on the creek bottom.

This was our situation when, at half-past three, the order was given to fall in. In a few minutes word came from those at the top of the hill that the rebels were coming. At that instant a rider was seen coming down from the right, in rear of the line, at full speed,' brandishing his sword. It was discovered to be Col. Harrison, and in a moment more was caught the command, "Forw'ard!" It was a magnificent sight to those who saw the "Old Iron Brigade" go up the hill that day in a counter onset.