| 140 Years Ago this Month, the 26th OVVI... |
| May, 1864 to October, 1864 |
May, 2004 ~ May, 1864 May began with the 26th OVI leaving its camp near Cleveland, Tennessee and slowly moving due south towards Georgia. The 26th OVI, along with the 4th Corps encamped near Catoosa Springs, Georgia on May 5. The 26th OVI was part of the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by General George H Thomas, the 4th Corps, commanded by General Oliver O Howard, Second Division, commanded by General John Newton, Second Brigade, commanded by General George D Wagner. The Atlanta Campaign began in earnest on May 7, as the 4th Corps advanced towards Tunnel Hill and the Rocky Face Ridge. Skirmishing began that day. The 26th OVI advanced along the eastern slope of the Rocky Face Ridge supporting Harker's and Wood's Brigades who had taken the summit. This position was held while the Army of the Tennessee advanced on the right flank to attempt to take Snake Creek Gap near Resaca. The hope was to catch the Confederate army by surprise in its concentrated position at Dalton, close off its escape route and effectively surround the army. However, due to timidity on part of General McPherson, of the Army of the Tennessee, this objective was not totally fulfilled. Thus, the Confederate army was able to escape due southward. The 26th OVI then joined in pursuit of the retreating Confederates, first occupying Stony Face Mountain, and then went in battle at Resaca, driving the Army of Tennessee from its fortifications on May 10. A temporary line of works was built just 200 yards from the Confederate works. This position was held until May 13, when the advance began again, passing over the abandoned Confederate works at Resaca. On May 15, the 26th OVI crossed the Oostenaula river at Resaca using the only available bridge that was saved from burning by the retreating Confederate forces, as well as pontoon bridges. On May 17th, the 26th OVI was in the advanced position of the brigade, as the 4th Corps advanced due south towards Adairsville. Heavy fighting was encountered, and the 26th OVI lost 20 men wounded. General Sherman was present with Newton's Division during this advance. The Confederate forces again retreated, and the 4th Corps continued to pursue due southward. The night of May 18th was spent near Kingston, Georgia. On May 19th, the 4th Corps advanced on Cassville, and stiff resistance was encountered. Sgt Cole described this terrain as: " where the brush and woodticks were as thick as fleas in a pig pen..." That night, the Confederates again abandoned their fortifications, and crossed the Etowah River. The 4th Corps remained at this location while the railroad bridges were rebuilt. On May 23, the 4th Corps crossed the Etowah River at Cassville, west of the Altoona Mountains towards Dallas, Georgia. On May 25, at New Hope Church, General Joseph Hooker's 20th Corps was heavily engaged, and Newton's Division was deployed to assist on Hooker's left flank. The intense battle was made all the more dramatic by the severe thunderstorm it was fought in. For the remainder of the month of May, the 26th OVI was in this fortified position, engaging in daily intense cannonading, skirmishing,and attacks by sharpshooters with the Confederate forces just a few hundred yards away. June, 2004 ~ June, 1864 AT the start of June, the 26th OVI remained in similar position as at the end of May. On June 4th, the skirmishing intensified. On this date, the 26th OVI played a " Yankee trick" on the rebel forces in their front by raising a shout as though on the attack. When the rebel soldiers arose to repel the attack, tyey receive a volley of musketry and canister from the still entrenched union forces. As Sgt Cole put it, " The joke was well played, and with effect." On June 6th, the 26th OVI moved to near Ackworth, south of Altoona. They remained encamped on the railroad at that location until June 10th. On June 10th, the regiment moved southeastward to Pine Mountain, fixing bayonets and charging the retreating Confederate forces. Nearly everyday, it rained very hard, resulting in very muddy roads that made movement very slow. From Pine Mountain, the regiment advanced slowly daily to Lost Mountain, and then to Muddy Creek. Throughout this movement, the regiment was engaged in heavy skirmishing with the confederate forces. On June 18, the regiment was heavily engaged as it charged the second line of rebel works, taking a large number of prisoners. The regiment had 22 soldiers wounded in the encounter. On June 19th, the regiment was now before Kennesaw Mountain, and received heavy cannonading fire from the Confederate artillery on the summit. On June 20th, the regiment received orders to prepare to move, but these orders were cancelled. All the while, heavy cannonading went on by both the union and confederate forces. At one point, the brigade was ordered into columns to support the First Division which received and repulsed three rebel attacks that day. On June 22th, heavy fighting again occurred. The 97th Ohio ( 26th OVI's brother unit) sustained severe losses of 91 soldiers and 6 officers killed or wounded. This occurred during an attack on the lower level of rebel works, that resulted in the rebel forces being driven back to their main works on the summit of Kennesaw Mountain. At the end of the day, the 26th OVI went out on the skirmish line in front of the rebel forces. On June 23rd, the 26th OVI was ordered to advance on the rebel works, and did so sustaining 4 killed and 6 wounded. The advance began at 5 pm and continued til dark with little sustained effect. Heavy cannonading occurred for the next three days, while the 26th OVI remained entrenched just below the rebel works. On June 27th, the battle of Kennesaw took place. The 26th OVI, along with the rest of the brigade, was put into assault column. At 8:30 am, the order came to begin the assault. The 26th OVI occupied the front line. The regiment suffered severe losses in the unsuccessful assault, including three killed and 23 wounded. About noon, the assault was called off, and the 26th OVI moved back to its original position and went out on the skirmish line. The next day, the regiment was relieved from its position, and moved more to the reserve. Captain Welden Kelly provides a detailed accounting of the assault on Kennesaw Mountain in his company E history ( page 27-28), but a few excerpts are highlighted here: "...The ground in our front was heavily timbered, descending for 200 yards to a ravine, thence a thirty per cent rising grade for 300 yards to their line of works, consisting of heavy embankment with head logs, so mounted as to give space for firing underneath. A wide and deep ditch was in front of the works... through this in double column we strugged, a few of the men falling very near the ditch and others actually reaching their embankment, but they could not reach them in mass sufficient to drive the enemy..." " A new stand of colors, presented to the regiment by the ladies of Chillicothe, Ohio was carried into this desperate charge. The color sergeant was killed and several of the color guards killed and wounded and the staff of the colors was shot in three places with fifty-seven bullet holes through the colors. Go see the flag in the State House, Columbus. The marks on the staff are still showing..." On June 29th, a flag of truce was shown whereby both sides could go onto the battlefield to collect their wounded and dead. This was primarily an operation for the union forces. The soldiers took this opportunity to exchange coffee and sugar to the rebs for tobacco and greenbacks. One pint of coffee was exchanged for seven pound of tobacco, and one pint of sugar for $2 in federal currency (greenbacks). The month ended with the 26th OVI still in position below Kennesaw Mountain, awaiting orders for their next movement. July, 2004 ~ July, 1864 July, 1864 began with the 26th OVI in position in front of Kennesaw Mountain. The weather was hot and the soldiers had to contend not only with continuous skirmishing and artillery fire but also the annoying bluebottle flies, which it was alleged these flies had " blown clean clothes while being worn." On July 3, the confederates retreated from their impregnable position at Kennesaw. On that date, the 26th OVI, in close column by regiments, moved past Kennesaw and Marietta. That evening, the 26th OVI encamped on the grounds of the Marietta Military Institute. July 4, 1864 marked the 89th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The anniversary was celebrated by spirited skirmishing with entrenched Confederate forces, and at one point, making a successful assault on their advanced rifle pits, capturing many prisoners, but also suffering several casualties. On July 5th, the 26th OVI was on the march again, and that evening, many of the officers were able to climb a nearby hill and see the distant skyline of Atlanta just 10 miles away. ( This event is notable, as it is also mentioned by General Sherman in his memoirs, and General Cox in his book about Sherman's march on Atlanta.) Also, on this hill were the skeletal remains of several confederate soldiers, including one who was still hanging from a tree ( an apparent poignant example of what happens to deserters.) On July 6, the 26th OVI was now stationed on the north bank of the Chattahoochee river, with the confederate forces on the south bank. On July 7, the regiment was ordered to set up a more permanent camp by setting up bunks. For the next week, the 26th remained on picket duty at this location while the rest of the 2nd Division was sent to Roswell where they captured and burned two large cotton factories that tried to feign belonging to France in an attempt to be spared. The ruse did not work, and along with the burning, hundreds of women factory workers were sent to the rear. On July 16th, the regiment crossed the Chattahoochee River and advanced slowly as the Union armies began to solidify their positions. On July 20th, the regiment crossed Peach Tree creek and encamped on a ridge about a half mile south. The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought that day, as the Confederate forces, now under command of General John Bell Hood assaulted the troops as they were in the process of crossing the Peach Tree Creek. The assault was bloody, but failed. The union forces counter charged and drove back the Confederate forces. This repulse emboldened the union forces who successfully withstood a spirited assault, without fortifications, while in transition, and without superior forces. July 22, the 26th OVI advanced in line to the main fortifications surrounding Atlanta. The Army of the Cumberland's position was to the north and northeast of Atlanta. On this date, further to the southeast, the Battle of Atlanta was fought by the Army of the Tennessee, and during the battle, the army's commanding General, James McPherson mistakenly ran into a Confederate picket position and was killed while attempting to escape on horseback. The 26th OVI and the Army of the Cumberland remained in this position for the remainder of the month, engaging in incessant spirited skirmishing and artillery duels. Andersonville Beginning in early May and continuing through at least October, 1864, many of the 26th OVI who had been captured at Chickamauga and other battles, had been transferred from Libby, Danville and other prisons and were now enduring the overcrowded and unbearable conditions at Camp Sumter, better known as Andersonville Prison, southwestern Georgia. By the end of July, there were over 33,000 men confined in an area only meantt to incarcerate a third that number ( and that would be very crowded! ) The prisoners were now dying on an average of 100 a day, primarily from scurvy, malnutrition, exposure, typhoid fever, and chronic diarrhea. Some prisoners were shot by the guards for stepping across the "dead line" that separated the prisoners from the prison fence. Some prisoners were killed by the dogs who tracked them down in their vain attempt to escape. Some prisoners died in the stocks and other appartus of punishment. There were essentially no sanitary conditions provided, which only increased the disease and suffering. Many of the 26th OVI did not survive this captivity at Andersonville ( they are buried at the National Cemetery there.). Those that did survive were removed from Andersonville in September and October and transferred to other prisons felt a safer distance from Sherman's advancing army. The principal prison of transfer was to Charleston SC and then onto Florence, SC.. In July, a terror reign came to an end at Andersonville perpetrated by fellow union prisoners known as the raiders. In early July, in various large scale violent encounters, the raiders ( who numbered in the hundreds) had been captured by their fellow prisoners and then put on trial for murder and other serious crimes against union prisoners. On July 11, after being found guilty by the prisoner court and with approval by the Confederate head of the prison, Captain Wirz, the six principal raiders were executed by hanging inside the south end of the prison. The six principal raiders are buried at the National Cemetery, but are purposely buried separated from the rest of the buried union soldiers. The rest of the raiders, convicted of lesser crimes ( primarily theft), were ordered to run the gauntlet stretching 150 yards of aggrieved union soldiers. August, 2004 ~ August, 1864 For nearly entire month, the 26th OVI remained in the same position as the seige of Atlanta went on. The artillery firings were nearly continous as well as the skirmishing. On August 25th, General Sherman began a new tactic in addition to the seige. The Union army moved counter clockwise to the west and southwest as it moved to take control of the only remaining rails into Atlanta, those entering Atlanta at her southern border from West Point and Macon.. On August 28th, the 26th OVI engaged in heavy skirmishing at Mount Gilead Church, and drove the confederate forces past the West point railroad. In the next forty-eight hours, the Union forces had added the Macon railroad to its list of captured. The month ended with the 26th OVI, and the rest of the Army of the Cumberland in position to the south of Atlanta, on the Macon railroad line. They were ordered to destroy the railway southward to Jonesboro. This was done by burning the wooden ties, and then heating the rails on the fires until they could be bent and twisted around a tree and the shape became known as " Sherman's bow ties." It now was just a matter of time, until Hood would have to vacate Atlanta, and the city would fall to the Union forces. At Andersonville Prison, the suffering and dying continued as the cramped, unsanitary conditions became even worse day by day, and the number dying increased to 100 per day. The overcrowding became so severe, that it was estimated that the ground per prisoner amounted to the size of a grave site. By the end of August, there were over 30,000 prisoners at Andersonville. Andersonville Prison was now the fifth largest "city" in the Confederacy. September, 2004 ~ September, 1864 It was to be, in fact, a short matter of time, as on September 1, General Hood ordered his army to vacate Atlanta and proceed southward as quickly as possible. Their departure was marked by a huge explosion as they blew up the ammunition depot located in Atlanta. The 26th OVI was 20 miles south just above Jonesboro, but the sound of the explosion could be heard by them. The 26th OVI engaged in heated skirmishes with the rear guard of Hood's army and it, as part of the Army of the Cumberland, followed the retreating confederate army to Lovejoy's Station. On September 5th, the 26th OVI was ordered to enter occupied Atlanta. The 26th OVI remained encamped at Atlanta until September 20th. Captain Clark of Company E was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and now put in charge of the 26th OVI. On September 25th, the 26th OVI was ordered to move rapidly by rail to Chattanooga; the 26th OVI taking the lead guard position on the train.. This was in response to General Hood's northwest flank around Atlanta and concern that he might try to attack Chattanooga or sever Sherman's supply line. For the remainder of the month, the 26th OVI was shuffled around Chattanooga vicinity, from Bridgeport, Ala. to Dalton, Ga, in response to perceived threats. Often this was done riding on top of railroad cars, which resulted in choking conditions through the Missionary Ridge tunnel. The relatively close proximity of Sherman's forces to Andersonville created great concern for the Confederacy, and culminated in the decision to start moving the prisoners out of Andersonville. In early September, the prisoners were informed they were being removed from the prison and being paroled. This was just a ruse, as the prisoners were gradually removed from Andersonville and sent to other Confederate prisons, principally Charleston SC, and then onto the newly constructed prison at Florence SC. The movements out of Andersonville began September 7th and took months to complete. October, 2004 ~ October, 1864 With General Hood's Confederate army advancing into northwestern Georgia in early October, there was fear that General Hood might try to retake Rome and sever the Union armies supply and communications. As a result, 26th OVI as well as the rest of the 4th Corps were ordered to consolidate west of Rome, Georgia. Mid October, Hood moved his army westward from Resaca into northern Alabama. Again the 4th Corps and the Army of the Ohio shifted to protect Bridgeport, Ala and Chattanooga. ?In doing so, the the 26th OVI crossed the Lookout and Sand Mountain ranges to Stevenson, Alabama., on the north shore of the Tennessee River. This movement was designed to keep the 4th Corps between Hood's army and Tennessee ( which was considered to be the possible objective of Hood's movement) At the same time, Hood's movement into northern Alabama opened the way for General Sherman to take the bulk of his army ( 5 corps plus a cavalry corps) and begin his march to the sea through central and eastern Georgia. Gnereral Sherman determined that General Thomas ( now in Nashville) could handle well Hood's army with the troops at his disposal, including the 4th Corps and the Army of the Ohio. This was risky gamble, but one felt worth taking. By the end of October, Hood's Army had crossed the Tennessee River near Florence, Alabama and was making preparations for advancing into Tennessee. The 26th OVI had moved by rail to Athens, Alabama in late October. When it became clear that Hood was now on the north bank of the Tennessee River, the 26th OVI and the rest of the 4th Corps were marched due north to Pulaski, Tennessee. The month ended with Hood's Army poised to enter Tennessee and with the 4th Corps still positioned between the Confederate army and Nashville. |
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