1864/06/28 Report of Col. J.Coburn

On the 25th of May the brigade marched toward Dallas at 9 a.m. During the day there was cavalry skirmishing in front. In the afternoon at 2 p.m. the brigade crossed Pumpkin Vine Creek. At 4 p.m. the division arrived in the rear of a position held by the First and Second Divisions of the Twentieth Corps, and in which they had but a short time before been attacked by a heavy force in front, on the Dallas road, near New Hope Church. The brigade was formed in line of battle by battalions in mass and moved forward on the right of the road to support the Third Brigade of this division the distance of a mile through the woods in the direction of the firing. That brigade bore off to the left of the sound of firing and I was directed to advance to the front. This advance, although in woods and hills, was executed as though on the drill ground. Coming under a rapid fire of artillery, the brigade was deployed in two lines, the Thirty-third Indiana and Nineteenth Michigan in front, the Eighty-fifth Indiana and Twenty-second Wisconsin in the rear. The brigade was advanced a short distance and halted. The country just here is an unbroken forest with undulations from twenty to fifty feet in height. The enemy was posted on one of these ridges and had fortified, having his artillery in position commanding the ground of our advance. I soon received an order to relieve Robinson's brigade, of the First Division, and began the advance with the brigade, but the Nineteenth Michigan was ordered by General Hooker to halt and then to go to the left, to relieve a regiment of the Second Division (Geary's), sorely pressed, which it did at once, pouring in a destructive fire. The Thirty-third Indiana was continued on the advance to the front to relieve Robinson's line, the Twenty-second Wisconsin and Eighty-fifth Indiana being held in reserve. The line before named had given way and could not be found, but I soon did find the front line, occupied by General Knipe's brigade, of the First Division. The general requested me to relieve his line, their supply of ammunition being almost exhausted. This I did, in so far as I could with the Thirty-third Indiana, with its 550 muskets. This regiment advanced without a falter, in line, passing through Knipe's men and delivering volley after volley, soon silenced the musketry, which had been heavy and was increasing in front. During this advance the enemy poured in upon us a tremendous fire of artillery, raking the ground on which we stood. Shells, grape-shot, canister, railroad spikes, and every deadly missile rained around us. I now aver that no regiment could have borne with more unfaltering daring this fearful cannonade and musketry fire than did the Thirty-third Indiana that day. So, too, with the Nineteenth Michigan on the left of the road. The fight continued until long after dark; a cold and heavy rain closed it, and the men went to work in the darkness to hunt up logs and sticks with which to make rude breast-works. The Nineteenth Michigan was relieved at 1 o'clock in the morning. The Thirty-third Indiana continued on the front line and fortified, laboring the entire night. The losses in this action are as follows: Thirty-third Indiana, 3 men killed, 2 officers and 43 men wounded; Nineteenth Michigan, 1 officer killed and 3 wounded (Captain Bigelow mortally), 3 men killed and 44 wounded; the Twenty-second Wisconsin, 1 man killed, 1 officer and 8 men wounded; the Eighty-fifth Indiana, 1 officer and 6 men wounded, making in all, 1 officer and 7 men killed and 7 officers and 101 men wounded: a total of 116. Many of the wounded died, among them Captain Bigelow, Nineteenth Michigan, an intelligent, active, energetic, and most efficient officer. In this battle the Second Brigade while engaged covered at least a fourth of the entire fighting front of the corps, and held it until the contest closed in the impenetrable darkness of a midnight storm. Not a gun was fired by our troops on its right, and it boldly held its position there, with the possibility of a flank attack at any moment. Late at night the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania, Colonel Cobham, came from the left and took position, erecting breast-works on the right, and on his right the First Brigade of this division formed and continued the line of works, refusing it almost directly to the rear. In this battle Major Miller, commanding the Thirty-third Indiana, and Major Griffin, the Nineteenth Michigan, greatly distinguished themselves for coolness and daring. Early in the morning of the 26th the Twenty-second Wisconsin and Eighty-fifth Indiana took their position in the front line, relieving the Thirty-third Indiana and One hundred and twenty-third New York. The fortifications were strengthened and a continual and destructive skirmish fire continued, in which the brigade lost 2 officers and 27 men. At dark the brigade was relieved and moved to the right, in rear of the First Brigade. May 27, the brigade moved forward and occupied the line of works made by the First Brigade, which advanced some fifty yards and fortified. May 28, remained in same camp, under constant skirmish fire and occasional shots from artillery. May 29, remained in same camp. At 11 o'clock at night the enemy made a demonstration on our left, which resulted in a furious discharge of musketry and artillery for nearly an hour. We heard heavy firing at a distance on the right of the army, which proved to be an attack on the Army of the Tennessee. May 30, the brigade moved into the front line, relieving the Third Brigade. May 31, the brigade remained in the same camp.

June 1, the brigade was relieved by a part of General Morgan L. Smith's division, of the Fifteenth Corps, at 1 p.m., and with the division marched in rear of the army lines northeast about four miles, passing the Fourth, Fourteenth, and Twenty-third Corps, encamping on a precipitous and rocky ridge occupied in part by the First Division of the Twentieth Corps. June 2, the brigade marched northeasterly two and a half miles and halted in rear of the Twenty-third Corps, forming a single line and throwing up works with bayonets, cups, and plates in an incredibly short time under a fire from the enemy's artillery. Here Major Miller, commanding Thirty-third Indiana, was wounded in the head. June 3, the brigade, with the division, moved still farther to the left and northeast toward Acworth, following Hovey's division, of the Twenty-third Corps, and in support of it. After moving a mile we halted near Morris' Hill Church and encamped on the extreme left flank of the army, the Twenty-second Wisconsin, in support of a battery, erected fortifications. By this movement the right flank of the enemy was turned and he began to retreat. June 4, the brigade moved forward and occupied the lines of Hovey's division which had advanced. June 5, remained in same camp. June 6, the brigade moved at 6 a.m. southeasterly about five miles and struck the Sandtown and Acworth road. After moving upon it a short distance the brigade took position at Mount Olivet Church, near Kemp's Mill, on the left of the road. The church was burning as we approached, the enemy having just passed to the left and east toward Pine Knob and Kenesaw Mountain on the Marietta road. Pine Knob on the left and Lost Mountain on the right were plainly visible from this position. Here breast-works were erected beginning at the road and running eastward. The lines were refused on the right of this brigade by the First Division, Twentieth Corps, and on the left by the First Brigade of this division. The brigade encamped here until the 15th of June, taking upon the skirmish line 6 prisoners. The rain which began on the 1st of June continued almost daily. The roads became very muddy and rations scarce, so that the regular ration was not issued for a short time. While here the Twenty-third Corps moved to our right and toward Lost Mountain, and the Fourth and Fourteenth Corps to our left toward Pine Knob, on which could be seen the rebel camps.

On the 15th of June the brigade moved with the division, and crossing the small stream just below Kemp's Mill, advanced on the road toward Gilgal (wrongly called Golgotha) Church, in a south-easterly direction, leaving Lost Mountain to the right and west a mile and a half, and halted near to a line of the enemy's works just abandoned upon the left of the road, and here formed in line of battle in rear of the First Brigade, the Twenty-third Corps being on the right of our division and the remainder of the Twentieth Corps on the left. Here the brigade remained about two hours. At this time the First Brigade advanced in line of battle across an open field, broken perpendicularly to our line by a ravine almost a quarter of a mile to a wood beyond, where the enemy's skirmishers were posted. They were soon dislodged. The Second Brigade was ordered to advance in support of the First Brigade in line of battle, the Nineteenth' Michigan, Major Grifin, on the right, on its left the Eighty-fifth Indiana, Colonel Baird, the Thirty-third Indiana, Major Miller, on its left, and the Twenty-second Wisconsin, Colonel Utley, on the left. This movement was made with regularity and promptness, the right somewhat advanced. On arriving in the wood a deep ravine was encountered in part of the line, and still farther forward the ground ascends, forming a broken ridge thickly covered with trees. The First Brigade met with considerable resistance from the enemy's skirmishers, and advanced bearing off toward the right, a portion of it crossing the road. Here it was subjected to a tremendous fire of artillery and musketry, coming from what proved to be the enemy's great line of earth-works, about 200 yards in front, and returning heavy volleys of musketry upon the retreating enemy. The First Brigade soon exhausted their ammunition, and upon the request of Brigadier-General Wood, I relieved his line, sending the Eighty-fifth Indiana and Nineteenth Michigan to his relief on the right of the road, and the Thirty-third Indiana and Twenty-second Wisconsin on the left of the road. The troops on the right were subjected for a short time to the same heavy fire the First Brigade had borne; but, having been directed by Colonel Baird not to return the fire, it soon ceased. It had by this time become dark. The troops on the left of the road at once began the work of fortification, and continued it all night. Those on the right were withdrawn and placed on the left of the brigade, and in like manner fortified. The front of the brigade was the front of the Thirty-third Indiana and eight companies of the Twenty-second Wisconsin. The remainder of the line was refused on the left along the edge of a ravine, a portion of the Eighty-fifth Indiana line crossing it on the extreme left. An effort was made throughout the night to connect our line with the First Division on the left, but such was the darkness and the distance that it was not effected till after daylight. While with his regiment upon the right of the road Major Griffin was mortally wounded, and died during the night. He was a gallant, faithful, and intelligent officer, and did nobly his duty at all times. His death was a public loss. Ten men were wounded in the brigade during the fight. Colonel Baird be-hayed with remarkable coolness and skill in managing the troops on the right of the road under a galling and destructive fire, and in withdrawing them when ordered, preserving them almost unhurt, when a want of caution might have sacrificed many of the men. During the night one regiment of the Twenty-third Corps joined my right, refusing its line squarely to the rear along the left of the road. The men labored with untiring patience at the earth-works, and by morning built a strong line in 200 yards of the rebel lines and under fire of musketry and artillery. On the 16th of June the brigade remained in same camp strengthening the works and skirmishing, the enemy in many places having a fatal range upon us from his principal line of works. The loss of the brigade this day was 4 killed and 24 wounded. On the morning of the 17th of June the enemy evacuated his position, and our skirmishers at 5 o'clock occupied his works, which were found to be very heavy and strong. The skirmishers were advanced at once, and found the enemy about three miles ahead, toward Marietta. At noon the brigade, with the division, moved forward in advance, formed in line with the Eighty-fifth Indiana as skirmishers. The enemy were soon found by our skirmishers posted on a wooded ridge beyond a small stream and well fortified. The brigade was advanced through a very dense wood half a mile to a large field and formed in line between the Second Division on the right and the First Division on the left, about 400 yards from the enemy's position. Earth-works were at once built under a slight fire from the enemy's artillery. On the 18th of June the brigade remained in the same camp skirmishing sharply, 6 men being killed and wounded; the artillery meanwhile playing with great activity on the enemy; the rain was excessive. June 19, the enemy evacuated his position and our skirmishers occupied his works at 4 o'clock in the morning. They were found to be quite strong, with well-prepared abatis. Six prisoners were captured. At 10 a.m. the brigade marched in rear of the division. The rain fell in torrents: notwithstanding, we advanced a mile and crossed a branch of Noyes' Creek after a few hours' delay on account of the sudden rise of the water, which carried away the bridges and covered the road. Having crossed this «25 R R--VOL XXXVIII, PT II» stream we advanced along the road toward Marietta and formed in line of battle on a wooded ridge half a mile to the right of the road in the rear of the division, already formed in two lines in our front. The division advanced three-quarters of a mile, finding the enemy in front and on the right flank. A- position was here taken and the brigade again took the front, building fortifications. During the night it was moved to the left, building other works on that line, being under orders to connect with the Second Division, but failed to find it before morning. On the 20th of June the brigade moved again to the front and left, and connected with the Second Division, Twentieth Corps, building a new line of works. On the 21st the brigade was relieved by General Kimball's brigade, of the Fourth Corps, and advanced soon after with it, connecting on the left with it, building another line of works half a mile in advance.

On the 22d of June the brigade was ordered to march, and did so at 8 a.m., in support of the Third Brigade. It advanced half a mile and found the enemy in front, posted on a high fortified ridge with a strong skirmish line in front. The Third Brigade advanced across an open field without resistance. Two regiments of my brigade were ordered to advance through a wood and form on its left. The Twenty-second Wisconsin and Thirty-third Indiana moved forward in line of battle at once. The enemy fell back after a short but sharp resistance, and we took a position on a ridge to the left of the Third Brigade. Very soon we received a severe flank fire on the left, the Fourth Corps not having advanced with us. The left of the Thirty-third Indiana was refused at once, and I had the Nineteenth Michigan and Eighty-fifth Indiana immediately brought up and formed on the left, facing in that direction except on the extreme left, which faced to the front. During this time the brigade received and gave a severe and fatal fire. I at once requested General Kimball, of the Fourth Corps, to advance on my left and connect with my line, which was done with great promptness and the enemy checked. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon the enemy charged our line with great vigor, but was repulsed in half an hour with heavy loss. In the morning my brigade pioneers had reported under division orders to Colonel Wood, of the Third Brigade, and were with him the most of the day. The intrenching tools of the division were all given to the First and Third Brigades, but, notwithstanding this, my men fortified with rails and bayonets, scooping the dirt with their hands and tin cups until quite a safe work was constructed. At 5 p.m. the brigade was relieved by Kimball's and Harker's brigades, of the Fourth Corps. In this battle the Twenty-second Wisconsin and Thirty-third Indiana, by their prompt and bold advance under fire, distinguished themselves and their commanders, Colonel Utley and Major Miller. Adjt. Charles H. Porter, of the Thirty-third Indiana, was instantly killed while endeavoring to check the attack on our left. Thus fell in his early manhood a bright, brave, active officer, whose promise was that of a most useful and brilliant career. Captain Burton, Lieutenant Chandler, and Lieutenant McKinney, of the Thirty-third Indiana, and Lieutenant Shaffer, of Nineteenth Michigan, were severely wounded during the day. On being relieved the brigade, in advance of the division, marched two miles to the right to relieve and re-enforce a part of General Williams' division, Twentieth Corps, which had also been severely engaged, the enemy having attacked them soon after his repulse in our front. On arriving here the brigade rested four hours and again advanced to the immediate rear of Knipe's brigade. The losses in this engagement in the brigade were 1 officer killed and 4 wounded, 5 privates killed and 53 wounded; in all, 63. Of these 4 officers and 32 men were from the Thirty-third Indiana, 12 men from the Twenty-second Wisconsin, 4 men from the Eighty-fifth Indiana, and 1 officer and 10 men from the Nineteenth Michigan. On the 23d of June the brigade, again in advance of the division, moved to the right at 9 a.m., and, moving toward the east on the Powder Springs and Marietta road past Scribner's Female Institute, took position on the left of the road in front, within musket-range of the enemy's works on the immediate left of Hascall's division, of the Twenty-third Corps. The brigade was formed in single line and at once put up earth-works. This was at a point three miles west of Marietta. Immediately in front was the line of the enemy's works, inclosing that town and Kenesaw Mountain, vast in length and made formidable by great labor upon strong natural positions. The brigade occupied the camp taken on the 23d up to the evening of the 26th of June, in the front. On that day it was relieved by the First Brigade and encamped a short distance in the rear. On the 27th of June, along the whole line of the army, the artillery opened upon the enemy. The brigade was ordered to be ready to move at once. An attack was made on the left by the Fourteenth and Fourth Corps in great force, but, failing of success, we did not move. On the 28th of June we remained in the same camp, during this entire time skirmishing constantly with the enemy (who was in close proximity) with considerable loss.

In the period covered by this report the brigade did an unparalleled amount of labor, almost daily making lines of works, and this with astonishing alacrity and cheerfulness. In all that constitutes the true soldier, in hard fighting, hard working, long endurance, cheerful bearing, and manly promptness, they filled full the measure of the trying hours. In the battles of New Hope Church, in Dallas woods, May 25; of Lost Mountain, or Gilgal Church, June 15, and of Kolb's farm, June 22, officers and men vied with each other in heroic daring. I forward herewith the reports of regimental commanders, and with them the lists of killed and wounded. In them will be found more especial mention of the worthy deeds of the officers and men of my command. My staff officers during this arduous struggle rendered me most valuable aid. In the field Captain Kellam, Lieutenants Crawford, Booth, and Farr, gallantly met every required emergency, shrinking from no danger, and cheerfully performing most laborious duties. Lieutenants Bachman and Harbert, as quartermaster and commissary of subsistence, discharged their duties most acceptably, as also Lieutenant McKnight, in command of the brigade pioneers. The entire losses during this period were as follows: 4 officers killed, 15 wounded; 30 men killed, 274 men wounded, and 7 missing; making a total of 337.