Statewide County TN Archives Military Records.....Chapter XI 
Civilwar 1st TN Cavalry (Union)
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Chapter XI
CHAPTER XI

THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN—FROM CLEVELAND TO PINE MOUNTAIN—DUG GAP AND TILTON—ACROSS

THE COOSAWATTEE AND ETOWAH—SOLDIERING UNDER DIFFICULTIES—BURNT

HICKORY—BROWNLOW'S HILL.



    The spring of 1864 found the Union commanders east and west making extensive

preparations for a general advance. Lieutenant-General Grant, at the head of a

large and well-equipped army, was ready to move on Richmond, the proud city and

capital of the Confederacy. Blooming May found General W. T. Sherman at the head

of a veteran army the equal of Wellington's, and ready to move when the

Lieutenant-General issued the order. Lee, with the Army of Northern Virginia,

was protecting Richmond, while Johnson, at the head of a large and well-equipped

force, was in front of Dalton, ready to dispute the advance of Sherman's army.



    These two armies were the largest that ever had assembled east or west, but

were too far apart for co-operation, yet they could be helpful by a simultaneous

movement. General Sherman was at the head of a large army, composed of

well-seasoned veterans, and commanded by such able and distinguished fighters as

Thomas, McPherson and Schofield, who commanded respectively the Armies of the

Cumberland, Tennessee and Ohio. Grant was to strike at the head and Sherman at

the heart, of the Confederacy.



    Sherman entered the campaign with an effective force of nearly one hundred

thousand men and two hundred and fifty-four guns. Of these, the Army of the

Cumberland had sixty thousand men and one hundred and thirty guns; the Army of

the Tennessee, twenty-five thousand men and ninety-six guns, and the Army of the

Ohio, fourteen thousand men and twenty-eight guns. General J. E. Johnson, the

Confederate commander, who was reckoned by military men as almost the equal of

Lee, was at the head of an army numbering, at the opening of the campaign, about

fifty-three thousand men, but before the battle of Resaca was fought,

reinforcements increased it to seventy-one thousand, two hundred and thirty-five

men and one hundred and twenty cannon.



    General Sherman had issued an order for a general advance of his army the

first of May, consequently there was a great hurry and bustle in camp, getting

ready for the approaching campaign. The sound of the blacksmith's hammer was

heard throughout camp, shoeing horses, repairing wagons and ambulances for the

march "through Georgia."



    "Bring the good old bugle, boys, we'll sing another song,

     Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along,

     Sing it as we used to sing it, fifty thousand strong,

         While we were marching through Georgia."



    Winter had become a thing of the past, the biting winds of March had also

departed, and now May, with its warm sunshine, had aroused to action the dormant

germs of the vegetable kingdom. All the beauties of springtime were ushered in.

Beautiful flowers unfolded their petals to our view; fragrant odors freighted

the breezes, while upon every hand the birds were apparently trying to see which

could sing their sweetest songs; the bees were humming and buzzing among the

trees and clover for honey. As the army marched along, unmindful of the

surroundings, nature was quietly getting in her work, covering old "Mother

Earth" again with a rich, green carpet, and seemed to rebuke man, who was

engaged in a business so much at variance with the' beautiful world.



    Sherman's army was encamped at Cleveland and Chattanooga, and one of the

most difficult problems to be solved was that of supplies. This large army was

to be supplied by a single line of road from Nashville to Chattanooga, and

thence to Atlanta. This was a knotty problem, and its solution turned upon the

capacity of this single track to do the work. Chattanooga again, as in 1863,

became a place of great importance, and scenes of great activity were going on

night and day.



    Large store-houses were built in which quartermaster and commissary supplies

were stored. In addition to the supplies for the army this single line of road

must also transport artillery and cavalry horses, mules, cattle and ammunition.

Day and night the long, trembling trains were seen rolling into Chattanooga with

their precious cargoes. Long-street's army had left East Tennessee and joined

Lee in Virginia, while Martin, with his cavalry, was sent to Johnson. This left

the Union troops that had wintered in East Tennessee free to join either Grant

or Sherman.



    The Ninth Corps was sent east, and McCook's cavalry returned to the Army of

the Cumberland, followed soon after by Schofield's Twenty-third Corps. The order

to march was issued and soon myriads of tents disappeared like snow before the

sun. Knapsacks were packed, horses caparisoned, letters answered, and on the

third day of May the army began to move. The First Tennessee broke camp at

Cleveland and moved with the remainder of the division along the Dalton road.

The march was continued to Red Clay, where it bivouacked for the night. This

move placed McCook's division in advance and to the left of Stanley and Schofield.



    Early on the morning of the 4th, we advanced toward Catoosa Springs, and

during the day had several skirmishes. On the 7th, we moved to Varnell's

Station. At this place the First Brigade encountered Wheeler's cavalry, and

lively skirmishing was kept up during the day. Late in the afternoon the enemy

advanced in such numbers that LaGrange's brigade was sent to our support.



    The 8th was spent in maneuvering and skirmishing. On the 9th, the Second

Brigade was ordered to advance on the Dalton road to develop the position and

strength of the enemy. A short distance from Varnell's Station, LaGrange struck

the advance of the enemy and drove it back on their main line. Here a brisk

engagement ensued, in which the Second Brigade was driven back with serious

loss, the brigade losing one hundred and thirty-nine killed, wounded and

missing. Among the latter was Colonel LaGrange, First Wisconsin, commanding

Second Brigade, who was badly wounded and captured.



    General McCook, in his report of the Georgia campaign, says: "During these

days the services called from and rendered by the division were of the most

arduous kind. Potato Hill, a strong natural position, was assaulted and the

first line of the enemy's breast-works taken by the First Tennessee regiment,

under Colonel Brownlow."    *    *    *



    On the 11th, the whole division moved through Tunnell Hill to Dug Gap, an

important position on the left of the Union army, relieving General Geary's

division, Twentieth Corps. On the morning of the 13th, we crossed Rocky Face

Ridge, at Dug Gap, and joined Howard's Fourth Corps, and during the afternoon

engaged the enemy near Tilton.



    The next day we moved forward in the direction of Resaca, covering the

advance of the Fourth Corps, and during the early part of the day met and drove

back the enemy's outposts upon his main force. During the operations around

Resaca a part of the division was dismounted and placed in the rifle-pits, while

the remainder held the left of Hooker's line. After the battle of Resaca, the

enemy retreated south through Calhoun to Adairsville. At this place Johnson

expected to make a stand and offer battle, but finding his army hard pressed and

his flanks threatened, continued to fall back to Cassville.



    We were still on the left flank of the army and on the 16th crossed

Connasauga River and camped for the night near Field's Mill, on the Coosawattee.

On the 17th, we took the advance again and moved toward Cassville, leaving

Calhoun and Adairsville to our right. On the 19th, McCook's division was pushed

rapidly forward toward Cassville, and a short distance north of town the enemy's

cavalry and a force of infantry were encountered, and after a brisk engagement

they were driven back "pell-mell" into town, losing thirty-eight by capture.



    The First Tennessee Cavalry was in the advance, and near sundown drove

Wheeler's advance back upon the infantry, who were behind rifle-pits. The

regiment captured several prisoners. Lilly's battery was sent to the front and

shelled the enemy vigorously until dark. The regiment had two men wounded and

several horses shot.



    We moved to Kingston on the 20th, where we remained for a few days, resting

and waiting for the railroad to be repaired and the accumulation of supplies at

Resaca. In our front were the rough hills and gorges around Allatoona, with but

few roads and these very indifferent, penetrating the densely wooded country. On

the 23rd, the First Tennessee, with the remainder of the division, crossed the

Etowah River at Island Ford, and, taking the advance of the army, moved through

Euharlee to Stilesborough.



    At this place we met and defeated Morgan's and Ross's brigades. The next two

days we continued to advance, skirmishing almost continuously with the rear of

Johnson's army, and during the time crossed Raccoon and Pumpkin Vine Creeks in

advance of the Army of the Cumberland.



    On the 26th, we caught up with Wheeler's cavalry near Burnt Hickory, and

after a sharp engagement he was driven back upon the intrenchments held by the

infantry, with a loss of seventy-two prisoners. We captured a courier with a

dispatch from Johnson to one of his subordinate commanders, in which he outlined

his plan for the next move, which was of great value to Sherman.



    In this engagement the First Tennessee lost two men captured, as follows:

Samuel Carnes, Company C, and Corporal W. D. A. Schrade, Company E. Samuel

Carnes, after surviving all the horrors of Andersonville, was exchanged, and on

his reutrn was lost on the ill-fated Sultana, April 27, 1865.



    The heavy rains that had fallen during the past few days had almost put an

end to the operations of the army, for in that part of Georgia turnpikes were

unknown. For the next two or three days the boom of cannon could be heard in the

direction of Pickett's Mill, New Hope Church and Dallas, where the Union troops

were hammering away at Johnson's intrenched lines. In this engagement Howard's

Fourth Corps suffered heavily, losing about fifteen hundred men killed, wounded

and captured.



    Johnson was holding Allatoona Pass, a very strong position on the Western &

Atlantic railroad, with his left extending to New Hope Church and Dallas. From

now until the 4th of June there was almost continuous fighting, night and day.

The battle-lines were some six or eight miles long, and the whole country was

almost a battle-field, with trenches running in all directions. This was

possibly the strongest and best fortified position on the whole campaign. and

around these hills and mountains, whose crests were covered with hostile guns,

flanked with rifle-pits, desperate fighting was carried on for several days,

amid drenching rains and thunder-storms.



    General McCook, in his report of the Georgia campaign, says: "From this time

until the 3rd of June, the division remained without infantry support, without

forage for its horses and but half rations for the men, holding successfully a

hilly, wooded country, utterly unfit for cavalry operations, subject to

continued and persistent attacks of all three arms of the service, both by night

and day."



    On the 3rd, the army advanced, with McCook's division on the left of

Schofield's corps, and in this position moved forward and took possession of the

Dallas and Acworth roads. We remained near this place, holding this part of our

line, reconnoitering and picketing heavily the country some distance from our

position. In the advance on Acworth we found the enemy in force and ready for a

fight. As we approached the town, the First Tennessee, being in the advance,

found the enemy strongly posted on a high hill, and after considerable

skirmishing, Colonel Brownlow led his regiment in a charge, drove the enemy back

and captured the hill.



    This was the key to the position, and the Confederates, knowing its

importance, made several attempts to recapture it, but were unsuccessful, and

fell back, leaving the First Tennessee in possession of the hill. The skill and

courage displayed by Colonel Brownlow in capturing and holding this important

place and the equal determination of the enemy to retake it, made it a noted

place, so much so that we called it "Brownlow's Hill," in honor of the gallant

commander of the First Tennessee. After we had captured the hill, one section of

Lilly's battery was sent forward and from its summit the enemy's lines were

shelled for some time. Some of the Union commanders made mention of Brownlow's

Hill in their reports.



    On the 5th, we moved to Acworth and drove the enemy out and occupied the

place. The morning of the 6th found us again in the saddle and moving toward Big

Shanty, where we met the Confederates and after a light skirmish they fell back

and we occupied the place.



    The Union army threw up earthworks as it advanced, and no doubt they are

still visible in many places, and serve as a reminder of what real war is. All

this time the national lines were being gradually extended to the left. This

movement of Sherman's army alarmed Johnson, and on the night of the 4th he

abandoned his whole line and fell back to a new line of defense, extending from

Powder Springs on the left to Lost Mountain, and thence to Pine and Kennesaw

Mountains on the right.



    Cold, drenching rains had been falling almost continuously since the first

of the month, making the roads almost impassable. Streams were up and the earth

was so well soaked with water that activity was impossible, while dry places

commanded a premium, and, like all mountainous countries in wet weather, it was

cold and chilly, consequently our bivouacs were very unpleasant. The Union

soldiers from the East and West were about to be disappointed in their

anticipations of the beautiful summer weather they had expected to find in the

"Sunny South," the land of cotton. While nature was profuse in its gifts of

hills and mountains, her valleys seemed to have been overlooked in this part of

Georgia.



    The bridge over the Etowah had been completed and the welcome sound of the

locomotive was heard in our camp. When the Confederate soldiers heard the

whistle, they would sing out, "There comes your hardtack, Yank;" and when a

whistle was heard from the Confederate side, the boys in blue would shout back

the reply, "Here comes your corn-meal, Johnny." The opportunity for this bit of

pleasantry did not occur very often to soldiers of either army, but was a

pleasant and agreeable change from the "pop-pop" of the rifle on the skirmish line.



    Just here I want to digress and make reference to two incidents that have

made the name of Big Shanty and Allatoona memorable in the history of the civil

war. In April, 1862, while the Union army under General O. M. Mitchell lay in

camp near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, J. J. Andrews, a citizen of Kentucky, then in

the secret service of the government, planned an expedition for the purpose of

destroying the bridges on the Western & Atlantic railroad, between Chattanooga

and Atlanta. Twenty-one soldiers were detailed from the Second, Twenty-first and

Thirty-third Ohio Volunteers to assist him in his enterprise. They were picked

men, and among them were engineers, firemen and brake-men of experience, all of

them known to be strong men, men of great courage and cool under the most trying

and difficult circumstances. This ill-fated expedition has already passed into

history as one of the most daring exploits of the war, and the writer will not

attempt to go into all the details of the pursuit, capture and tragic death of

the leader and seven men of the famous raid, familiarly known as "A Race for

Life." They all wore citizens' dress and received their instructions from their

leader. They secretly left camp and moved to the appointed rendezvous, a thicket

near Shelbyville, where, in the darkness and amid the low, muttering sounds of

thunder and the vivid flashes of lightning, these brave, determined men

perfected their plans.



    After receiving their instructions they broke up into small squads and made

their way on foot to Chattanooga, where they took the train and went as far

south as Marietta. From this place they turned back and at Big Shanty, a station

that had no telegraph office or an extra locomotive, and while the train-men and

passengers were at breakfast, they detached the engine and three box-cars and

started toward Chattanooga at full speed. These brave men had been drilled by

Andrews until each one knew what to do and the part he was to perform.



    It was a thrilling moment. Andrews and his engineers mounted the engine,

known on the Western & Atlantic road as the "General," and the first three cars

from the tender were cut loose. Those selected for brakemen climbed nimbly to

the top and lay flat on the box-cars, while the remainder jumped inside and

closed the doors. The brakes were loosened, the steam turned on and the captured

train started on its perilous journey. There was a small detachment of

Confederate soldiers at the station, and when the alarm was given the soldiers

and citizens fired on the now rapidly moving train.



    The locomotive, with its precious freight, behaved splendidly for a while,

but soon came to a "halt" for want of steam. During a five minutes' stop the

fire was renewed and sufficient wood gathered to run some distance. While

obtaining wood and waiting for the engine to steam up, the wires were cut. At

Cass' Station, Andrews secured water for his engine and a time-schedule of the

road, which was of great value to him. Nothing special occurred until Kingston

was reached. Here a railroad leaves the main line and runs almost due west,

following the meanders of the Etowah River, terminating at Rome.



    The track was blocked with cars and matters looked gloomy for Andrews and

his devoted men, for all knew full well that they were being pursued. Much

valuable time was lost in clearing the track at this and other points, to avoid

a possible collision. It is true Andrews had the start of his pursuers, but was

compelled to run slow to avoid accidents on a crowded track, yet he usually kept

the track clear and was given the right of way by telling those he met that he

was running a "special train" loaded with powder for General Beauregard's army

at Corinth.



    It will be necessary now to follow the movements of those left at Big

Shanty. When the alarm was first given, the conductor, W. A. Fuller, and his

engineer, Jefferson Cain, and one or two others, rushed excitedly from the

breakfast table and started at once on foot up the track after the captured

train. After a chase of two or three miles, Fuller and his party found the wires

cut. The pursuers rushed madly on after the fugitive train and, fortunately for

them, came upon a squad of trackmen with a hand-car.



    The almost exhausted men, now elated at this piece of good luck and with the

aid of the brawny workmen, tugged away at the cranks, up and down grade alike,

as well as around curves, making almost eight miles an hour. At one time, while

running at this break-neck speed, the hand-car reached the point where a rail

had been removed, and the car, with its living freight, was tumbled headlong

into the ditch. This caused them to be more careful and run on a slower schedule.



    Near Etowah, Fuller saw the "Yonah," a splendid engine that was used to haul

iron from the extensive furnaces of Major Cooper, which were several miles from

the main line. This locomotive was standing on the main track, fired up and

headed for Kingston. With this powerful locomotive, Fuller almost made a mile a

minute between this place and Kingston. When Fuller reached Kingston, he found

the track badly blocked and Andrews with his captured train only a few minutes

the start.



    After working some little time in trying to clear the track, Fuller became

impatient at the delay, abandoned the "Yonah" and took possession of the

"Shorter," an engine used on the Rome branch.



    On leaving Kingston, Andrews found by consulting his time-table that there

was still a freight and a passenger train between Adairsville and Chattanooga.

Before reaching Adairsville, Andrews halted long enough to cut the wires and

obstruct the track. Andrews reached Adairsville a few minutes before the freight

train. Here Andrews again worked his powder-train racket and moved out as fast

as steam would move his train, while the men in the rear boxcar dropped

cross-ties upon the track and poured oil on the rails.



    Calhoun, the second station north, was reached, and here the long-expected

passenger train was met, and as the fugitive train glided by, Andrews and his

men breathed easier, as the track was now clear to Chattanooga. The next stop

made by Andrews was near the bridge over the Oostenaula River. Here the pursued

halted for the purpose of oiling their engine, removing a rail and burning the

bridge, but before this task was accomplished they were startled by the whistle

of Fuller's engine.



    Andrews' only hope of escape was to either burn a bridge or wreck the train

of his pursuers. So far not a bridge had been burned and but little damage had

been done to the track. The rear car of Andrews' train was dropped for the

purpose of wrecking Fuller's engine, but he, being an old railroader, slowed up

and, picking up the abandoned car, continued the pursuit. The exciting chase was

continued mile after mile, crossing bridges and passing stations at a high rate

of speed.



    At Dalton a branch road leaves the Western & Atlantic and runs to Cleveland,

Tennessee, where it connects with the main line running from Knoxville to

Chattanooga. Andrews took the left-hand road at Dalton and dashed madly on

toward Chattanooga. Andrews made another attempt to cut the wires and obstruct

the track a short distance from Dalton, but before it was accomplished Fuller

again came in sight and the flight was continued. Andrews now placed all his men

on the engine and tender, set fire to his remaining car and left it in the

center of a small covered bridge, hoping as a last resort that the structure

might burn.



    Fuller was so close that he was able to push the burning car across before

doing any damage, sidetrack it and continue to pursue the intrepid soldiers. The

"General," though jaded and almost without fuel, was still urged on to its

utmost speed, hoping yet that it might be able to reach the Union line with its

precious load.



    But it was hope against despair, and when near Graysville, Georgia, nineteen

miles from Chattanooga, Andrews and his devoted men abandoned the noble old

locomotive that had made such a long run without accident. The men now fled in

all directions to avoid capture, but after enduring great hardships all were

captured and placed in jail at Chattanooga. Strenuous efforts were now made by

the Confederate authorities at Chattanooga to obtain from Andrews and his men

the name of the leader and the principal participants in this great military

enterprise, but all efforts were in vain.



    Mistreatment and short rations were resorted to in hope of accomplishing

what other methods had failed in, but all was naught—even Sims' dungeon had no

effect. Later on, Andrews and seven of his men were hung in Atlanta. Eight of

this daring band made their escape from the Atlanta prison the following

October; the remaining members were exchanged in March, 1863. The remains of

Andrews and his seven companions who were executed in Atlanta, now sleep in the

National Cemetery at Chattanooga, a beautiful monument marking their last

resting-place.



    A part of these men were confined for a short time in the Knoxville jail.

Some were tried in the old courthouse, that stood at that time on Main street,

opposite the old Franklin House, the present site of the new courthouse. Hon. O.

P. Temple, a lawyer and one of the great Union leaders of 1861 and one of

Knoxville's prominent citizens, not only defended them in that dark and trying

hour, but also befriended them the best he could under the circumstances. Thus

ended a great military enterprise. The damage done to the railroad was so light

that it amounted to nothing. If Andrews could have destroyed all the bridges on

the Western & Atlantic road as contemplated, the loss would have been a serious

one and greatly embarrassed the Confederates at Chattanooga and elsewhere.



    Allatoona Pass, the natural fortress on the line of the Western. & Atlantic

road, had already fallen into our hands by one of Sherman's flank movements. It

was well fortified and was made a secondary base for storing supplies. This

place shortly afterward became noted in "story and song." After the fall of

Atlanta and when General Hood was making his famous movement north for Tennessee

and in the rear of Sherman's army, French's division of Stewart's corps was

ordered forward in advance of Hood's army to capture this stronghold. At this

place Sherman had a very large amount of rations stored for his army. This

unexpected movement of Hood caused Sherman to feel anxious about their safety,

and was at a loss to know where he would strike first.



    Allatoona was garrisoned by eight hundred and ninety men under the command

of Colonel Tourtellotte, Fourth Minnesota Volunteers. Sherman signaled from

Vining's Station, on the W. & A. road, to the station on Kennesaw Mountain, and

from there the message was sent over the heads of the marching Confederates,

"through the sky," eighteen miles away to the commander at Allatpona for General

Corse at Rome to be notified that he must hasten at once to Allatoona with

reinforcements for the garrison at that place. Sherman hastened to the top of

Kennesaw Mountain and during the day received a message from Corse, stating that

he was badly wounded and hard pressed. Sherman sent back the following answer:

"Hold the fort, for I am coming." General Cox's division, Twenty-third Corps,

was then rapidly approaching with reinforcements. From this message and the

thrilling circumstances under which it was sent has come this great gospel hymn,

now sung by all Christian people the world over:



     "Ho! my comrades, see the signal,

        Waving in the sky, Reinforcements now appearing,

      Victory is nigh!

 CHORUS :   Hold the fort, for I am coming, etc."



    This bloody engagement was fought October 5, and a victory won by the Union

troops after a desperate struggle in which French's division sustained heavy

loss. The day after the battle, General Corse wrote to General Sherman as

follows: "I am short a cheek-bone and one ear, but am able to whip all hell

yet." French sent a flag of truce, summoning the garrison to surrender, "to

avoid the needless effusion of blood," to which Corse promptly replied that he

was prepared for "the needless effusion of blood" whenever it would be agreeable

to General French.



    In no instance during the war was the value of the Signal Corps more fully

illustrated than in the battle of Allatoona, Ga.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:



HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT OF

Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry



IN THE GREAT WAR OF THE REBELLION,

WITH THE ARMIES OF THE OHIO AND CUMBERLAND,

UNDER GENERALS MORGAN, ROSECRANS,

THOMAS, STANLEY AND WILSON.



1862-1865.



BY



W. R. CARTER, COMPANY C.



ILLUSTRATED.



KNOXVILLE, TENN.:



GAUT-OGDEN CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS.

1902.



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1896, by

W. R. CARTER,

in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.





TO THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE FIRST TENNESSEE CAVALRY; TO THE MEMORY OF OUR

DECEASED COMRADES AND THEIR KINDRED; TO THE MARTYRED PATRIOTS OF EAST TENNESSEE

WHO DIED ON THE GALLOWS AND IN PRISON, AND TO THE LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC PEOPLE WHO

SYMPATHIZED WITH THEM, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, IN FRATERNITY,

CHARITY AND LOYALTY, BY THE AUTHOR.

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