Appling-Bacon County GaArchives Military Records.....Moody, George W June 18, 1901
Civilwar 54th Regiment Company B
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Shane Forrester shaneforrester@mrhs.org June 9, 2009, 3:12 pm

Kennesaw
George’s tears that night had mixed with the 
Georgia rain and clay that was covering his face. On June 16th 1864, Sherman decided
to 
attack Johnston’s army head on again; General Johnston had already established a
convex line 
centered at Kennesaw Mountain. The 54th soon joined Polk’s corps, now commanded by 
General Lowery. Johnston had 43,000 men lined parallel with Sherman. Behind George 
laid the town of Marietta. Moody’s men were positioned on the extreme right of
Cheatham. 
Cheatham towered over a place called dead angle. Moody was at the spur that lay
beneath 
Pigeon Hill. It was a glorious sight to see. The hill gleamed as early morning
cotton tops back 
home. To George’s immediate right ran “Burnt Hickory Road”, which lead to “Billy
Yank”. 
“Johnny Reb” rested for a while. Moody’s men peered constantly from their raised
positions, on the South Spur, where across was a large pasture or meadow that lead
to their pickets ahead, which was the 63rd Georgia Regiment. It was the 63rds turn
to man the pickets. A number of pits were dug ahead of the pickets ten yards apart.
Ahead of the pickets were rifle pits or salients that were dug about 100 yards away
from the Union Troops. George thought, “A watched pot never boils”. When will they
strike? 
Finally, on the 27th at 8:15 am all was quiet. Then out of the woods charged the
Union Troops. 
Sherman would make his first attack on George’s men. The Union charged down Burnt 
Hickory Road, out of the forest, right on top of the 63rd Georgia, who was manning
the 
breastwork in the pits. The Yanks were a surprise to the men of the 63rd. They were
in such 
numbers that many could not re-load and had to use hand-to-hand combat to survive.
If the 
Georgia men were to retreat then they would have to contend their own main line,
under the 
smoky conditions. They could be shot easily by friendly fire. The main line suddenly
fired upon 
the Yankees as they approached. Suddenly Middleton Miles ran ahead to help the 63rd
retreat, 
only to find a minnie lodged into his lung. He fell. The Yankees were met with a
heavy pelting 
and were vulnerable in the middle of the pasture along with the 63rd. The Yankees
hope to use 
the 63rd as their shield for advancement. Some of the 63rd ran toward Union lines
and were 
captured. Within ten minutes Billy Yank retreated back to their lines. The 63rd lost
most of its men. 
George would lose a son-in-law. The Yankees took a lickin as well as the 63rd. Later
General Walker 
would commend the men and their heroic duty.


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