Appling-Bacon County GaArchives Military Records.....Moody, George W June 18, 1901 Civilwar 54th Regiment Company B ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ 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. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/appling/military/civilwar/other/moody130nmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb