MATTHEW VAN BUSKIRK, First Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant. Station, near KING'S BRIDGE, GA. Date, December 23, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding. CHARLES C. FREEGUARD, } MATTHEW VAN BUSKIRK, CHARLES C. FREEGUARD, First Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant. Station, NEAR KING'S BRIDGE, GA. CAPTAIN DAY'S REPORT. } Report of Prisoners of War captured, and property captured and destroyed, by Third cavalry division, during the campaign terminating with the occupation of Savannah. Boxes fixed ammunition. Miles Macon and Savannah R.R. 26. 3 Miles Millen and Augusta R.R.. Waynesboro, Ga. 26. 8 Railroad-cars. "Waynesboro, Ga. Burned during the campaign. 80 Tons fodder. Grist-mills.. Saw-mills Cotton-gins. Hides.... Bushels corn-meal. Rebel commissary stores destroyed at Jonesboro, Ga. 66 66 66 In employ of rebel government, destroyed at Griswold, Ga. 46 66 LIEUTENANT COWEN'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, GA., December 25, 1864. The division returned to its former camp on Little River, where it remained till the twentyninth, when it crossed the Chattooga, and took up its march in the direction of Atlanta, arriv Captain H. J. Smith, Acting Assistant Adju-ing at Cave Springs the thirty-first. tant-General: SIR: I have the honor herewith to make a report of the number of prisoners captured during the months of November and December of this year: Captured near Bear Creek Station, November sixteenth, 24; Macon, November twentieth, 15; Waynesboro, December fourth, 60; Midway, 5. Total, 104. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your OPERATIONS OF THE FIFTEENTH ARMY RFPORT OF GENERAL HAZEN. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, SAVANNAH, GA., Jan. 9, 1865. To the A. A. General Fifteenth Army Corps, present: I have the honor to report the operations of this division since my last official report was furnished, as follows: Number of miles marched during the month, two hundred and seventy. Number of casualties, four. The march was resumed November first, and on the fifth, the division arrived at Smyrna CampGround, near the Chattahoochee, where it remained, receiving payment and breaking up railroad, till the thirteenth, when it moved across Turner's Ferry, and to Whitehall, two miles west of Atlanta. On the fifteenth of November, every preparation being completed, this division, with the army, broke camp at Atlanta and set out upon its march through Georgia. It then numbered an effective strength of four thousand four hundred and twenty-six officers and men, and was composed of seventeen regimental organizations. Its three brigade commanders being, Colonels John M. Oliver, Fifteenth Michigan; Wells S. Jones, Fifty-third Ohio; and Theodore Jones, Thirtieth Ohio. at Roach's Mills, reaching Hillsboro the twentieth, and Clinton the twenty-first, where Colonel Theodore Jones's brigade was left to cover the Macon roads till the next division arrived. Some skirmishing took place here, with a few casualties. The troops moved rapidly, passing through McDonough the seventeenth, Indian Springs the From that date till October fourth, it remain-eighteenth, crossing the Ocmulgee the nineteenth, ed in camp at East-Point, Ga. At nine A.M., it marched for Ruff's Mills, across the Chattahoo chee, continuing the march to a point three and a half miles south-west of Marietta, where it arrived on the fifth, remaining till the eighth, when it moved three miles north of Marietta, where it remained till the evening of the tenth, when it On the twenty-second, the Macon and Augusta march toward Rome via Allatoona. At that Railroad was crossed, and the march continued, point, Colonel Fowler's brigade (the Third) was passing Irwinton the twenty-fourth, and the put on cars and sent forward. The division ar- Oconee River, at Bull's Ferry, the twenty-fifth. rived at Rome the twelfth, and next day march- The enemy was found on the opposite bank, and ed toward Resaca, reaching that place, and pass-two regiments deployed to develop them. On ing through it and Snake Gap on the fifteenth. We passed Villanow on the sixteenth, and stopped for the night in Ship's Gap, on Taylor's Ridge. On the seventeenth, we moved to La Fayette, and on the eighteenth, to Summerville; on the nineteenth, to Alpine, and on the twentieth, to Gaylesville, and on the twenty-first, moved out seven miles on Little River, and went into camp, where we remained till the twenty-fourth, when the division, with the First of this corps, went in the direction of Gadsden on a reconnoissance. On the twenty-fifth, this division having been left in reserve at Blount's Farm, was ordered forward to form on the right of the First division, which was five miles in our front, deployed, and sharply engaging the enemy with artillery, from points considerably in front of the infantry-line. Taking a right-hand road, Colonel Wells S. Jones's brigade was deployed while marching, and moving forward without any halt, or use of any artillery, Wheeler's entire force was driven from a strong line of rail-works, and to a point near the town of Gadsden. There were four men wounded in this affair. the morning of the twenty-sixth, they had left, and preparations were at once made to cross, which was commenced by eleven A.M. The march was resumed without loss of time; passing Irwin's Cross-Roads the twenty-seventh, we moved toward Summertown, through continuous pine forests, crossing several low marshy branches of the Ohoopee, reaching Summertown the thirtieth. The number of miles marched this month, two hundred and seventy-five. Number of casualties, eleven. On December first, the march was resumed in the direction of Statesboro, along the right bank of the Ogeechee River. The remainder of the march was much impeded by low broad marshes, which it was invariably found necessary to corduroy. From Summertown to the Cannouchee River, which was reached the seventh, the Third division, General John E. Smith, with my own, formed a separate column, under my command, and was somewhat exposed to annoyance from the enemy endeavoring to reach Savannah from the west, before us. On the third, the Fifty-third Ohio lost by capture a foraging-party of one officer of many rare and valuable qualities, and who cer and eleven men. On the fourth, near Statesboro, the foragers met a brigade of the enemy's cavalry endeavoring to join Wheeler; were attacked by them, and driven to the main column, losing by capture twenty-seven, and by wounds, eight. The enemy lost two killed and two captured. The enemy defended the crossing of the Cannouchee with infantry and two pieces of artillery, having burned the bridge. led the first assault on Vicksburgh, was killed; and Colonel Wells S. Jones, Fifty-third Ohio, commanding brigade, severely wounded. The regiments most conspicuous in their gallantry, were the Seventieth, Forty-seventh, and Thirtieth Ohio. All the rest performed their duty equally well. After the proper commander of the Second brigade fell, Colonel James S. Martin, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois, assumed command of it, led it in the assault, rendering distinguish Colonel A. C. Parry, Forty-seventh Ohio, and Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, Seventieth Ohio, were also conspicuous in their performance of duty. During the night of the eighth, the enemy retired, and the bridge being repaired, at elevened service. A.M. the ninth, two brigades were crossed, one pushed to King's Bridge, the other to a point on the Gulf Railroad about six miles from King's Bridge, which was reached, and much of the road destroyed toward the river, by night, including the bridge. On the tenth, the division re-crossed the Cannouchee, moving to and crossing the Ogeechee at Dillon's Ferry, and proceeding to near the Anderson plantation, nine miles from Savannah. On the twelfth, the division moved back to King's Bridge, it having received orders to cross the Ogeechee there, and move down its right bank to Fort McAllister, and capture it. At daybreak the thirteenth, the troops were put in motion, reaching the vicinity of McAllister at about eleven A.M. About one mile from the Fort a picket was captured, revealing the whereabouts of a line of torpedoes across the road. Some time was lost in safely removing them, when, leaving eight regiments at that point, nine were carried forward to about six hundred yards from the Fort, and deployed, with a line of skirmishers thrown sufliciently near the Fort to keep the gunners from working their guns with any effect; those firing to the rear being in barbette. The grounds to the right of the Fort being marshy, cut through by deep streams, rendered the deployment of that part of the line slow and difficult, and was not completely effected till forty-five minutes past four P.M., at which time, every officer and man of the nine regiments being instructed what to do, the bugle sounded the forward, and at precisely five o'clock the Fort was carried. The troops were deployed in our line as thin as possible, the result being that no man in the assault was struck till they came to close quar ters. Here the fighting became desperate and deadly. Just outside the works, a line of torpedoes had been placed, many of which were exploded by the tread of the troops, blowing many men to atoms; but the line moved on without checking, over, under, and through abattis, ditches, palisading, and parapet, fighting the garrison through the Fort to their bomb-proofs, from which they still fought, and only succumbed as each man was individually overpowered. Our losses were, twenty-four officers and men killed, and one hundred and ten officers and men wounded. Captain John H. Groce, Thirtieth Ohio, an off Major Thomas T. Taylor, Forty-seventh Ohio, Acting Judge-Advocate of this division, preferring to serve with his regiment in the campaign, was severely wounded while fighting in the Fort. The captures were as follows: The garrison, including killed, two hundred and fifty men and officers; twenty-four pieces of ordnance, with their equipments; forty tons of ammunition; a month's supply of food for the garrison; the small-arms of the command; all the animals and equipments of a light battery; the horses of the officers, and a large amount of private stores, placed in the Fort for safety. To my entire staff especial praise is due, for their faithful and efficient conduct during the entire campaign. After the fall of McAllister, the division was directed to destroy the Gulf Railroad for a distance of twenty miles west of the Ogeechee, which it proceeded to do in the most thorough manner, completing the work December twenty-first. I would respectfully call attention to accompanying reports of brigade commanders. Also to drawing of Fort McAllister, and a map of the country passed over. The supply-train of this division on leaving Atlanta consisted of eighty-three six-mule wagons. I transferred to other commands, after reaching the vicinity of this place, twenty-two thousand rations. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GENERAL CORSE'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, ROME, GA., October 27, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of operations of this division since the twenty-fifth day of September, 1864, at which time two brigades of the division were lying at East-Point, Georgia, with the troops of our corps and department. The Third brigade, Colonel Richard Rowett commanding, garrisoned Rome, Georgia, on the twenty-sixth of September, ultimo. In pursuance to orders from MajorGeneral Howard, I moved that portion of the division at East-Point to Rome via Atlanta, where we obtained transportation, and arrived in Rome on the twenty-seventh of September, at two A. M. The Special Order No. 217, headquarters department and army of the Tennessee, directed that, on reaching Rome, I should unite the division, and be prepared to act against any force that might attempt to threaten Bridgeport from the direction of Gadsden. Verbal instructions from General Sherman, received while passing through Atlanta, indicated in addition, that the division was placed at Rome in observation, ready at all times to strike in any direction the enemy might be discovered taking. The commanding officer at Rome was relieved on the twenty-ninth, and I assumed command at once, bending all energies to organizing, drilling, and equipping the command for rapid work. The First Alabama cavalry, Colonel George E. Spencer commanding, was ordered to report to me, and the Ninth Illinois mounted infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel L. P. Hughes commanding, which came from East-Point with us together, furnished an excellent mounted brigade for offensive operations and reconnoissances. The lines were sealed against citizens, the earthworks overhauled and new ones commenced, and such disposition made of the troops as would insure safety and comfort to the command. On the twenty-ninth, a telegram was received from General Sherman, intimating that Hood was crossing the Chattahoochee, in the direction of Blue Mountain, and directed me to watch well for the appearance of infantry in or about Cedartown. Spies and scouts were sent out in every direction, frequent reconnoissances made with the cavalry, and no positive information gained of the enemy, except the whereabouts and movement of their cavalry, and that Hood had crossed a part, if not all his force, over the Chattahoochee. Kingston for cars, intending sending a brigade to Cartersville, to be placed at his disposal; but another signal from Sherman, directing me to move at once with my whole command, changed the programme, and I immediately got ready to move to Allatoona with the division, as soon as the cars arrived at Kingston. The train, in moving down to Rome, threw some fourteen or fifteen cars off the track, and threatened to delay us till the morning of the fifth, but the activity of the officers and railroad employés enabled me to secure a train of twenty cars, about seven P.M., of the fourth. On to them I loaded three regiments of Colonel Rowett's brigade, and a portion of the Twelfth Illinois infantry, with about one hundred and sixty-five thousand rounds of ammunition, and started for Allatoona at half-past eight P.M., where we arrived at one A.M., on the morning of the fifth instant, immediately disembarked, and started the train back with instructions to get the balance of the brigade, and as many of the next brigade as they could carry, and return by daylight. They unfortunately met with an accident that delayed them, so as to deprive me of any reënforcements until about nine P.M. of the fifth In justice to Messrs. Drake and Hughes, gentlemen stationed at Kingston, connected with the railroad, I would state that the late freshets had carried away the bridge at Resaca, about the time the railroad was destroyed south of Allatoona, leaving between the two points but two locomotives and very few cars; that the road had washed, so as to cause the track to spread frequently, and that they and their employés were in no wise responsible for the accidents that delayed me, and finally deprived me of the much-needed reënforcements. The ammunition being unloaded, and the train sent back for reënforcements, accompanied by I ascertained, on the second instant, that the Colonel Tourtelotte, the Post Commandant, I enemy's cavalry had destroyed the railroad at or rode around and inspected the ground, and made near Big Shanty, that Wheeler was at Villanow, such disposition of the troops as in my judgment and had sent a detachment to assault Dalton, was necessary to hold the place until daylight. which sent in a summons to surrender, but did I then learned from Colonel Tourtelotte, that the not await to attack. Later in the day a train garrison embraced the Fourth Minnesota infantry, was captured near Acworth, and the road torn four hundred and fifty men, Major J. C. Edson up three miles south of Allatoona, and on the fol- commanding; Ninety-third Illinois infantry, two lowing day, (October third,) General Sherman hundred and ninety men, Major Fisher commandordered me to suspend a movement I contemplat-ing; seven companies Eighteenth Wisconsin ined, stating that Hood was gradually developing fantry, one hundred and fifty men, Lieutenanthis plans, which were of a very extensive char- Colonel Jackson commanding; Twelfth Wisconacter. At noon, on the fourth instant, they were sin battery, six guns, Lieutenant Amsdon comsufficiently discovered to induce General Sher-manding-furnishing a force of eight hundred man to signal from Kenesaw (telegraph commun- and ninety men, commanded by Lieutenant-Colication having been destroyed) that Hood was moving on Allatoona, thence to Rome. Large fires were discovered from the Allatoona Heights along the track toward Big Shanty. In short, there remained no doubt of Hood's entire army being near the railroad, north of Kenesaw. onel J. E. Tourtelotte, Fourth Minnesota volunteer infantry. I took with me, of Rowett's brigade, of this division, eight companies Thirtyninth Iowa infantry, two hundred and eighty men, Lieutenant-Colonel Redfield commanding; nine companies Seventh Illinois infantry, two My command was in readiness to move in the hundred and ninety-one men, Lieutenant-Colonel morning, either on Wheeler, if he should attempt Pewin commanding; eight companies Fiftieth to pass south, or to the assistance of General Illinois infantry, two hundred and sixty-seven Raum, at Cartersville or Allatoona, in case these men, Lieutenant-Colonel Hanna commanding; place were threatented. At the request of Gen-two companies Fifty-seventh Illinois infantry, eral Raum for reënforcements, I telegraphed to sixty-one men, Captain Vanstienburg command |