1864/09/09 Report of Lt. Col. E.Bloodgood

May 1, the regiment reached Lookout Valley, having marched from Nashville, Tenn., a distance of 143 miles, in thirteen days. May 2, was occupied in reducing baggage, or stripping, for an active campaign. May 3, the regiment, containing 575 effective men, under command of Col. William L. Utley, marched around the base of Lookout Mountain, and passing over field of Mission Ridge, camped near it for the night. May 4, resumed march over Chickamauga battle-field and camped at base of Taylor's Ridge, when we joined the other brigades of our division. Lay in camp May 5, and sent back all surplus baggage and reduced transportation to one wagon and a pack-mule. May 6, broke camp at daybreak and marched to Leet's Tannery; formed line of battle and built breast-works. May 7, broke camp, and, marching eleven miles, took up position fronting the enemy's stronghold, Buzzard Roost. We lay here until May 11, when we marched to the right and passed about two-thirds the distance through Snake Creek Pass, where we made camp and built road (wagon and infantry) until dark. May 12, we moved out of the pass, camping on left and near the mouth of the same. The fighting for possession of Resaca commenced on the 13th instant, and on this day and the 14th our division was not engaged. Early on the morning of 15th instant the corps moved to the left of Fourth Army Corps and formed line. The Third Division was selected to storm a battery covered by rifle-pits. The First Brigade was the attacking column and the Second Brigade the line of support, the Twentieth Connecticut and Twenty-second Wisconsin in right rear and Eighty-fifth and Thirty-third Indiana and Nineteenth Michigan in left rear. The column advanced, was checked, rallied, and advanced again to meet such a withering fire from the enemy's rifle-pits that it was impossible for the men to live in range of their muskets; but the enemy were driven from the earth-work that contained the four-gun battery, and after the fight, which was kept up with [varying] results until after dark, was over our men succeeded in bringing off the four guns in triumph, and all had been done that stubborn courage could accomplish. We lay on the field during the night. Our loss in this engagement was 11 enlisted men killed and 3 officers and 61 enlisted men wounded. During the night the enemy retreated. Morning of 16th instant we buried our dead and marched with brigade and division to which we were attached some sixteen miles, halting for night at 11 p.m. on bank of Oostenaula Creek. May 17, marched at 3 p.m.; camped in field at 12 p.m. May 18, marched at 4 a.m. In afternoon the regiment was detailed as guard for division ordnance train; went into camp with ordnance train at 11 p.m. May 19, fearing attack from rebel cavalry, the regiment inclosed the train in a breast-work; at 2 p.m. we moved with train to a position near Cassville and camped. May 20, remained in same position. May 21, were relieved from train guard and rejoined brigade. May 22, remained in same position. May 23, marched ten miles, crossing Etowah River on pontoon bridge, and camping near bank of the same in line of battle. May 24, marched fifteen miles; camped near Burnt Hickory Gap, building breast-works. May 25, marched at 7.30 a.m., taking direct road to Dallas. The Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps, engaged the enemy, and at 4 p.m. the regiment, together with the brigade, were formed and moved forward as support to Second Division; the regiment was not engaged, but lost 1 man killed and 10 men wounded, including 1 officer. We lay in line all night. May 26, moved to the right and relieved Thirty-third Indiana on first line of works; improved the same; skirmished heavily, losing 1 man killed and 8 men wounded, including 1 officer; relieved from duty on first line; moved short distance to right and camped. May 27, took position in works in our front. First Brigade, Third Division, moved one-quarter of a mile to front, and, together with detail from Second Brigade, built line of works; regiment lost 1 man wounded. May 28, did not change position; lost 1 man wounded. May 29, remained in same position. May 30, advanced to works built by First Brigade and relieved Nineteenth Michigan. May 31, remained in same position.

June 1, the regiment, with brigade and division, was relieved by Fourteenth Corps, and marched to the left six miles and camped on large hill. June 2, marched farther to the left and formed line as support to Twenty-third Army Corps; was not engaged; built temporary breast-works; camped for night. June 3, marched at 2 p.m.; went into camp at 5 p.m.; regiment was ordered to support battery; moved into line with battery and built one-fourth of a mile breast-works, taking till 3 a.m. June 4, moved ten rods to front, in line with brigade; built works; camped for night. June 5, no move was made. June 6, marched five miles, formed line of battle, and built breast-works near Mount Olivet Church. The regiment lay in this position doing some picket duty until June 15, when we marched two miles to front. Brigade was formed as support to First Brigade, which charged the enemy, driving him into his works. At dark we relieved First Brigade on first line, and worked all night perfecting breast-works; lost 2 men wounded. June 16, still held same position. The enemy had a raking fire on our works; lost 3 men killed and 7 wounded. At night rebel batteries opened, doing no damage, and during noise made by their artillery they retreated. June 17, followed after the enemy and took position in open field facing their works, building breast-works and camping for the night. June 18, skirmishing in front; lost 1 man killed and 2 wounded. June 19, enemy retreated in night; at 10 a.m. marched, came upon the enemy, and the division moved forward in three lines, Second Brigade in rear; heavy skirmishing but no engagement. At dark the First and Third Brigades were withdrawn, and Second Brigade built works on first line. June 20, moved thirty rods to front and built breast-works. June 21, remained in same position. June 22, regiment with brigade moved out of works and advanced in line, driving in rebel skirmishers and taking position, which we fortified. The enemy charged our position but was repulsed; our loss was 2 men killed and 10 wounded; were relieved by Fourth Army Corps, and moved three miles to right and camped for night. June 23, marched a short distance to right and advanced our line to connect with Twenty-third Army Corps on our right; built breast-works. We lay in or near this position doing some picketing, and losing 7 men wounded, until July 3. Were mustered for pay June 30, July 3.

On the night of the 2d the enemy left their strong works in our front. At daylight our division took the main Marietta road, but were stopped by shells from a rebel battery. After going two miles brigade was ordered to reconnoiter ground between road and Geary's (Second) division on our right. Brigade advanced in line of battle, passed Second Division, threw out skirmishers, and the regiment was ordered to support skirmish line; advanced two and a half miles: drove enemy's outposts. Brigade took position and fortified it under fire from enemy's battery. At dark was relieved by Fourteenth Army Corps; went to right and rear and camped. July 4, we moved to the right, built breast-works, and camped. July 5, marched four miles to front through the works the rebels had left during the night and camped on hill in rear of line of battle. July 6, moved two miles to left and took position in second line of battle; made camp, where we remained until the 17th instant, drawing clothing and affording the men a much needed rest. On the 17th instant the regiment broke camp, and, marching to the left, crossed the river near the railroad bridge by means of pontoons, and moving to the left three miles went into camp in rear of Fourth Army Corps. At 10 a.m. July 18 the division moved to the left of the Fourth Corps, and forming--Third Brigade in line of battle, Second Brigade close column of division, and First Brigade by flank--moved forward on Atlanta turnpike. After marching about two miles our line of advance converged into that of other troops who had gone forward. We resumed our march by the flank, and camped again in rear of the Fourth Corps. On July 19 no move was made, the First Division working all day to construct a bridge across a deep stream called Peach Tree Creek, the enemy's skirmishers covering the creek by their fire. Early on the 20th instant the Third Division moved out, crossing the creek on bridge above mentioned. We now lay on a flat, beyond which lay two high ridges, the first covered by timber and occupied by the enemy's skirmishers. The second ridge was bare, a rail fence running along the top parallel to our lines. The Twenty-second Wisconsin Regiment, being at head of the brigade column, was ordered to deploy as skirmishers. This was done under fire, the line connecting with Fourth Corps on the left and with line of Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps, on the right. Three companies, A, C, and F, were held as grand reserve. At 11 a.m. orders came to drive the enemy from the first ridge, which was effected without loss, and at or near 12 m. we were ordered to cross the ravine between the two ridges, take and hold the second ridge under cover of a fire from battery on left of Second Division. We moved forward at double-quick, delivering our fire as we ran. The rebel pickets scattered at our approach and left us in possession of this ridge, which was an important position. The regiment immediately threw up some light skirmish pits, the reserve of three companies intrenching as well as possible in ravine at foot of ridge. Our brigade in two lines had been formed at edge of woods covering the first ridge. Immediately in front of the second ridge was an open field of nearly half a mile in width; then came timber, and in this lay the enemy; mounted officers and bodies of troops could be seen from our skirmish line moving about and apparently massing preparatory to a charge. At fifteen minutes before 3 p.m. the first rebel line of battle emerged from the woods and came across the open field. This line was followed by two others, and with the true rebel yell they came upon us. Messengers were dispatched to the brigade commander for support, and the whole brigade was at once ordered forward. The Twenty-second Wisconsin, which had been delivering a rapid fire from the time the enemy left the woods, still held their ground until the line was broken on their right and left, and grape and canister fired at the enemy fell among our men, but the enemy's line was now within thirty feet of our rifle-pits, and to stay longer was certain capture. The order was given to "rally on the reserve," which was done just as the brigade came cheering over the first ridge and down into the ravine. Now the enemy came pouring over the ridge we had just abandoned, and rushing down upon our lines in perfect crowds only to meet and fall before our fire. The fight raged in this way for nearly an hour, the enemy coming to the charge time after time and was always repulsed. Now a large body of the enemy was thrown upon the left of our division, but by a timely movement of the Third Brigade this was checked, and beaten at every point the enemy commenced falling back. Our men now rushed forward with cheers and volleys, and the victory was complete; the enemy fled in great confusion, our men following, taking prisoners, stand of colors, &c. In front of the Second Brigade the rebel dead and wounded strewed the ground, numbering upward of 200. The regiment went into this engagement with 18 officers and 315 men, and lost 7 men killed, 1 officer and 36 men wounded. Works were built and everything prepared to resist another attack. The Twenty-second Wisconsin, having been on duty all day, was in second line. July 21, no movement; lost 1 man wounded on skirmish line. During the night the enemy fell back to a strong position in the outskirts of the city of Atlanta. July 22, followed up, taking position within three-quarters of a mile of enemy's works and building shell-proof fortifications. The enemy's batteries were numerous in our front, and during the 23d, 24th, 25th, and 26th instant shells flew at all hours of the day, making it necessary that the men remain in their works. On the 26th instant the line was advanced some thirty rods and new works were built, occupying all day. At 10 p.m. the division was relieved by troops of Second Division and went into reserve in second line of works. The regiment lost this day 2 men wounded. July 27, nothing worthy of note occurred. July 28, moved to the right with division to re-enforce General Howard's command, but after going three miles returned to camp, there being no necessity for our help. July 29, marched to the extreme right of the army and were thrown back to protect the flank; building breast-works. July 30, changed position about half a mile and fortified; no enemy in our immediate front. Remained here until August 2, when the division marched back to railroad, and, relieving a division of the Fourteenth Corps, occupied line of works. August 4, constructed line of works twenty rods in advance of present line by details from regiment. August 5, advanced into new line, completing same; made demonstration on picket-line that developed another rebel battery in our front. August 10, commenced, by detail, constructing line of works thirty rods in advance of present line. At dark on the 12th instant advanced into new line and lay on arms all night to support skirmishers, who were expected to advance. From this date nothing of importance occurred until the 25th instant; there was the usual amount of picket and artillery firing, but nothing worthy of note. At 8 p.m. August 25 the entire corps abandoned their line and moved back to the Chattahoochee River. Our brigade and the Third Brigade covered Turner's Ferry, where there was a pontoon bridge; breastworks and obstructions were built. On the 27th instant the enemy with artillery drove in the skirmishers, felt of our position, and retired. Remained here, sending out scouting parties daily, who always found the enemy at a distance, until September 2 a reconnaissance of 900 men from both brigades, under command of Col. John Coburn, commanding Second-Brigade, moved out on the Atlanta road. On reaching the city limits the mayor of the city made a formal surrender of the city to Colonel Coburn, and the force advanced, driving the enemy's cavalry out without loss. In the afternoon of same day a re-enforcement of 500 men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Bloodgood, came from ferry to re-enforce Colonel Coburn, and on the following day the balance of the regiment, with baggage, marched to city and the whole regiment took position in the defenses of the city, to the right of Decatur railroad. With the exception of a few shifts to the right and left, no move took place up to September 2. At this time the casualties in the regiment during the campaign are 27 enlisted men killed and 6 officers and 148 enlisted men wounded. The regiment numbers 16 officers and 261 enlisted men for duty.