154th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

HDQRS. SECOND Brigadier, SECOND DIV., 20TH CORPS,
Before Atlanta, Ga., August 1, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit, for the information of the brigadier-general commanding, the following report of the part taken by this brigade in the present campaign from the 7th day of June until the date hereof:

On the 7th day of June, 1864, I assumed command and found the brigade in position, forming the center of the division, upon the road leading southwest from Acworth, and about four miles distant, on a plantation known as Widow Hull's farm, in the following order from left to right: One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers, One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, Seventy-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers, and One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers, in one line, intrenched, the Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers in reserve. This position was maintained until the 14th, when the brigade moved into position in front of Pine Mountain, and in rear of works erected by the Fourth Army Corps, where we bivouacked for the night. The enemy having evacuated his position on Pine Mountain on the night of the 14th, I was ordered to advance with the brigade and take position about a mile and a half in advance and to the right of Pine Mountain, to detach a regiment, thence deploy it forward half a mile to observe the movements of the enemy. The One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson, was detached accordingly, taking orders from the division commander, and remained absent from the command until midnight, when Colonel Jackson returned and reported to me with his regiment. In the mean time Brigadier-General Geary, commanding the division, sent orders to me to report to him with the brigade, and sent Captain W. T. Forbes, of his staff, to conduct me. Upon arriving at the position indicated, I was ordered to form in line of battle, uniting my right with the left of the Third Brigade, and to advance in line with it upon the enemy's position across a ravine in our front. The brigade was formed in two lines-the One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers, and Seventy-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers in the first line; the Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers forming the second line or reserve, the One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers deployed to cover its front. At 2 p. m. I received the order to advance. The brigade accordingly advanced across the ravine and over the crest of the hill beyond, where it was halted to await the arrival of the Third Brigade and the crossing of the First Brigade at a point higher up the ravine to our left, our skirmishers driving in the light troops of the enemy, but meeting with no serious resistance as we crossed. As soon as the crossing was effected the entire division advance upon Pine Knob, the Second Brigade in the center. Sharp and continued skirmishing now took place between our skirmishers and those of the enemy. The enemy, however, retired, keeping up a running fire with us until we reached a point within about 200 yards of the rebel works, when the main body became engaged, and the action really began. It was now night. The infantry of the enemy retired to the cover of their works and opened a murderous fire upon us, artillery participating. Farther advance against such works and over abatis and other obstructions in their front was impossible, and we hastily threw up such works to screen ourselves as the nature of the ground and the means at our disposal admitted. Thus far the One hundred and nineteenth and One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers and the Seventy-third and One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers bore the brunt of the action, but at midnight the One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers arrived, whereupon that regiment and the Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers were ordered to relieve the first line. The regiments were thus alternately relieved, each adding to the strength and efficiency of our intrenchments during its tour in the front line, until the evacuation of that position by the enemy and our subsequent pursuit of him. The position of the enemy was well chosen for defensive purposes. A succession of small ridges extending toward us from the rebel works exposed those occupying them to a raking fire, while the depressions between were equally swept by the artillery or musketry from the works upon the knob. But the place must necessarily be held, and to advance against abatis and other obstructions in our front, against the fire of musketry and artillery of superior numbers, well posted and intrenched, was impossible, and no eligible positions farther to the rear and well covered were near enough to render our own fire effective. So we were compelled to remain upon the ground where we halted on the night of the 15th. The position occupied by the One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers was greatly exposed. The natural inaptness of this part of the line for defense could not be overcome by any artificial means that we could then avail ourselves of, and the loss of this regiment was very severe. Indeed, the losses of all the regiments in the brigade attest how exposed was the position, and how stubbornly and gallantry it was maintained, and reflects great credit upon the officers and men of the command. Captain F. L. Gimber, commanding the One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, was severely wounded in the early part of the engagement while gallantly directing the movements of his regiment, but continued with his command until borne down by loss of blood and physical exhaustion. Major C. C. Cresson, Seventy-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, was painfully wounded during the action, but continued in command of his regiment during the two days in which it was under fire. Captain Allanson Crosby, One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers, was mortally wounded and died on the 7th of July. Lieutenant William H. Cochrane, Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers, was killed instantly while directing a working party in front of the works. These were gallant and exemplary officers, brave and intelligent in the discharge of their duties, prompt to yield or enforce obedience. The army sustains in their death a heavy loss. To their friends I tender my most heartfelt sympathy, and to their respective States the assurance that the commissions of these officers were not unworthily bestowed. They have each sacrificed to the common cause a noble and devoted officer, and added luster to the name of the American soldier. A complete list of the casualties in the brigade is attached hereto, marked Schedule A,* making a part of this report. To Captain W. H. Lambert, acting aide-de-camp, and Captain W. T. Forbes, acting assistant inspector-general, of the division staff, I tender my thanks for the brave and intelligent manner in which they delivered to me the orders and instructions of the division commander, and remained with me during their execution, while the brigade was under the severest fire, and respectfully commend them to the general commanding the division. At daybreak on the 17th, the enemy having evacuated his works in our front, the brigade was put under arms by an order given personably by the division commander, and at sunrise we occupied the works of the enemy. About 9 a. m. the brigade was again put under arms, and moved forward in column with the division on the- road. After marching about three miles the advance guard of the division encountered the cavalry covering the rear of the enemy, his main force having intrenched itself on a range of hills on the southwest bank of Mud Creek. The division now formed line of battle, the Second Brigade on the left of the division, and advanced in line toward the position of the enemy. A strong skirmish line of the enemy was developed, giving way gradually, however, before our more vigorous advance, and falling back upon the main body. Arriving on the northwest bank of the creek, under the immediate orders of the general commanding division, I took position on a range corresponding to position held by the enemy in the following order from left to right: One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers, One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers, Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers, One hundred

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* Nominal list (omitted) shows 1 officer and 38 men killed, 12 officers and 167 men wounded; total, 218.

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and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers, Seventy-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, and One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, the left uniting with a brigade of the Third Division, the right with the Third Brigade of the Second Division. Skirmishers were deployed near the bank of the creek and intrenchments hastily erected. The banks and ridges on either side of the stream were of equal height, and the men greatly exposed to the fire of the enemy. During the night, by direction of the division commander, I ordered the brigade to the crest of the hill, and took a more eligible position for offensive purposes, and intrenched it securely, two regiments of the First Brigade, ordered to our support, occupying our late position. Continual skirmishing occurred between the pickets, in which many valuable officers and men were disabled.

On the morning of the 18th, suspecting that the enemy, had evacuated his position, a line of skirmishers from the One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers was advanced, and the general commanding division, being informed of this change, immediately came to the brigade and ordered the advance of a regiment in support of the skirmishers. The enemy having really abandoned the works, the balance of the One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers were sent in support under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson, the other regiments of the brigade moving with the division along the-road to a point about three miles farther in advance, when the division went into position upon the right of the First Division. The Second Brigade encamped in column as reserve and support to Knap's battery, where we remained in bivouac during the night. On the following morning the brigade was ordered to relieve the Third Brigade, in position on the right of the division on the Marietta road, and join the division, which had preceded us the preceding day. Here we remained during the night of the 21st, having intrenched upon our arrival. On the morning of the 22nd we moved forward on a range of hills about a mile and a half to our front and to a place known as Gur's farm, and near the Kenesaw range of mountains. During our advance slight skirmishing took place between our skirmishers and those of the enemy. The division here went into position, at that time forming the center of the corps. A space, however, between our division and the First was vacant, or covered only by the skirmishers arriving before the main body. I was ordered to place the brigade in this gap, the left resting on the Third Brigade, the right extending to a little knoll, upon which Wheeler's battery was posted. While the brigade was en route to the indicated position the enemy furiously attacked General Williams, advancing in force, driving in his pickets, and engaging the main body. The pickets of the First Division being thus driven in, exposed the flank of ours. But the fury of the rebel charge spent itself on General Williams, and was bloodily repulsed. Simultaneous with attack upon General Williams' main line the brigade arrived at its destination, and one-half of the command stood to arms during the fight while the other carried loose timber, rails, &c., erecting a slight cover for our front, which was subsequently strengthened. The enemy did not attack our main line, but assaulted the pickets very fiercely. They, however, held their line, although the pickets of the First Division were driven in, and their flank exposed to an enfilading fire. After the repulse of the rebels connection was again formed between the pickets of the respective divisions. The losses in the brigade were confined to the skirmish line, and they were slight, the skirmishers being well protected by the buildings and fences of the plantation. In this position the brigade remained until the 27th. On the night of the 26th I was informed by the general commanding division that on the following morning the Fourth Corps would assault the position of the enemy on Kenesaw Mountain, and that the Second Division was to participate by moving simultaneously upon the enemy in its own front, and to the right of the position of the Fourth Corps, and I was fold I must hold the command in readiness to advance from the position occupied by the Third Brigade at 8 o'clock of the following morning, that being the time designated for the combined movement. Accordingly, at 8 a. m. of the 27th I reported with the brigade to Brigadier-General Geary at the place indicated. The division was formed in three lines, the Second Brigade comprising the first, the One hundred and thirty-fourth and One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers on the left and right flanks, respectively. The order was given to advance and dislodge the enemy from the woods in front, and continue to advance through that belt of timber, and nearly to the open field beyond, and there await further orders. The brigade advanced as ordered, clearing the woods of the enemy. So rapid and well executed was the movement many of the enemy were captured in their pits, and we reached the open plain beyond with trifling loss to ourselves, the enemy suffering severely, particularly in prisoners. The command was now halted here and intrenched. The First Brigade moved up to our left, the Third Brigade to our right, forming a sort of semi-circle convex toward the enemy. This formation was necessitated by the repulse of the Fourth Army Corps, the command being much in advance of it on the left, while the First Division did not move forward from its position on our right. We remained in this position until the 30th, when we were relieved by a brigade of the Fourteenth Army Corps and moved about four miles to the right and across the Sandtown road, where we relieved a brigade of Cox's division, of the Twenty-third Army Corps, taking up their line of works for the night and throwing out a regiment, the One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers, Colonel J. T. Lockman, to a post of observation, also intrenched, and nearly a mile in front of main line of works. Here we remained, strengthening and extending our works, until the morning of the 3rd of July, when the enemy evacuated his position in our front and we were again started in pursuit, halting that night near Brown's Mill, on-Creek. Line was here formed, but the force in our front was deemed so insignificant that no intrenchments were thrown up. We again moved on the 5th of July, taking position eventually about three miles north of the Chattahoochee River and near Pace's Ferry, where we remained until the 17th of July. On the 17th July the brigade was ordered to march at 4 p. m., and moving to the left crossed the Chattahoochee River at Place's Ferry, and moving to the south of the ferry about two miles encamped for the night. On the 18th crossed Nancy's Creek, and on the 19th Peach Tree Creek, and, following the Third Brigade, moved up to the crest of a ridge on the south bank of the creek, intrenched the position, and remained there until the following morning. On the morning of the 20th the brigade was ordered to move about a mile farther in the direction of Atlanta and make position in rear of the First Brigade, already posted on a ridge or elevation of ground which afterward became the principal site of the engagement of that day. The brigade was conducted by Lieutenant H. F. Sherwood, of the division staff. Upon arriving there I reported with the brigade to General Geary, who then directed me to form in double line at supporting distance from the First Brigade, the left to rest near the open field afterward occupied by the Third Division during the operations of the day. The ground was cut by a dry ravine running through the position of the brigade from front to rear, so that when the line was formed, as directed, both banks were occupied. The brigade was formed in the following order: On the left of the first line the Seventy-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, the One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers in the center, and the One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers on the right; second line, the Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers on the left, the One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers in the center, and the One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers on the right. There was slight skirmishing during the forenoon in front of the division, attracting no particular attention. About 2 p. m. I received orders from the division commander to send the largest regiment of the brigade to a knoll in front of the First Brigade, and about 1,000 yards distant, to drive in the skirmishers of the enemy and establish itself upon the knoll and intrench the position. I accordingly ordered the Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers forward and accompanied it myself to the place indicated. The skirmishers of the division drove the skirmishers of the enemy to a morass or boggy stream at the foot of the knoll designated. After crossing this stream the Thirty-third cleared the woods in its line of march until reaching the crest of the knoll. The general commanding the division arrived upon the ground soon after and designated the line to be occupied by that regiment. The regiment immediately commenced its works. About a quarter of an hour after its arrival and assuming position the enemy advanced in strong force, his line extending far to the right and left of the regiment, the dense woods and undergrowth concealing the strength and extent of the enemy's line, and preventing the regiment from realizing in time the danger which threatened it. When within easy range the Thirty-third opened fire, but, powerless to resist the advance of the enemy, fell back toward the main body. It preceded the enemy but a few yards. The engagement now became general. The enemy striking the First Brigade, but finding no troops on its immediate right or left to oppose him, swung his left forward, taking the regiments of the Second Brigade, in position on the right of the ravine, in front and flank, and sweeping them on in his impetuous advance until, encountering the division of General Williams, just moving into position upon our right, his farther advance was stayed. The regiments of the Second Brigade rallied and formed line again to the left of the First Division, and connected with the other troops of the Second. This position was indicated by Major-General Hooker. I was ordered by him to occupy and intrench this line, and sent notice of this order to the general commanding the division. The regiments occupying this part of the line were posted as follows: The Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers on the right and joining the First Division, the One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers, One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers, and One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers to its left, the latter uniting its left with the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. The readiness and alacrity with which these regiments reformed their line under heavy fire and turned upon the enemy, after having been swept from their original position as presenting but an insignificant obstacle to the advance of the rebel hosts, does credit to their discipline and steady valor. In the mean time the regiments of the brigade occupying the left of the ravine, the One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers and Seventy-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, charged their front to the right, so as to confront the enemy sweeping past their flank and moving on the First Division, their left uniting with the First Brigade. The batteries of the division, Captain Bundy's (Thirteenth New York Independent), and Knap's (Pennsylvania) battery, also occupied this position, causing great havoc in the rebel line as it assaulted ours, and by the steady valor of the gunners, under the intelligent direction of the officers, greatly influenced the fortunes of the day. At the close of the day the enemy, being bloodily repulsed, withdrew his main line behind the hill in our front to the position from which he had moved upon us. That night and the following morning details from the brigade were sent out to pick up our wounded and bury the dead in our front. In this position we remained during the day of the 21st and until the morning of the 22d, when we moved forward upon Atlanta, taking position upon an eminence within about two miles of the city, and throwing forward skirmishers half a mile farther to the front. On the 25th our skirmishers were advanced still farther toward the city, and the entire division advance to a more commanding position and near the main works of the enemy, strong earth-works having been previously constructed by his as well as the other brigades of the division. The casualties on the 20th instant in this brigade were, [27] enlisted men killed, [8] commissioned officers and [50] enlisted men wounded, and [6] commissioned officers and [73] enlisted men missing. A complete list is attached, marked Schedule B.

At the date of this report the brigade still occupies the position to which it moved on the 25th. This report, compiled from rough notes and memoranda of my own simply, and in the absence of the sub-reports of regimental commanders, I am conscious is very defective. Many instances of conspicuous gallantry and deserving conduct remain without mention; indeed, many gallant affairs pertaining only to a part of the command are necessarily passed over in silence, while the affair of Mud Creek, June 18 and 19, amounting almost to a general fight, and the advance of the brigade upon the rebels' position at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain, on the 27th, and the subsequent two days upon which this command held that position, are only casually mentioned as connecting the narrative of this eventful campaign. The uniform gallantry of the brigade almost precludes the singling out of any officers or enlisted man for special mention where all behaved so admirably. The Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers, at the commencement of the campaign comparatively new to field service, acquitted itself with all the steady and tenacious bravery peculiar to the veterans of the State, and reflects great credit upon the accomplished officer who disciplined and trained it. It is worthy of the brave and veteran soldier who led it over so many well-contested fields, and of full participation in the honors pertaining to the White Stat Division. To the regiment commanders-Lieutenant Colonel E. Fourat, Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers; Major C. C. Cresson, Seventy-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers; Captains Gimber and Dunn, of the One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers; Colonel J. T. Lockman, One hundred and nineteenth New York Volunteers; Lieutenant Colonel A. H. Jackson, One hundred and thirty-fourth New York Volunteers; Lieutenant D. B. Allen, One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers, and Major L. D. Warner, One hundred and fifty-fourth New York Volunteers-who so nobly and intelligently executed all orders conveyed to them through me, and their hearty co-operation with me in the execution of every duty devolving upon us, gives them especial claim to my gratitude and respect as officers and men. To the officers of the brigade staff I am much indebted for their cheerful performance of all the duties pertaining to them. I commend them for their gallant conduct in action and the intelligent discharge of their administrative duties.



P. H. JONES,

Colonel 154th New York Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.