Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-07-22
ARMY eORREsPoNaENeE.
From the 121st Regiment o. VI.
NEAR KENEsAw MOUNTAIN, Ga. |
July Ist, 1864,

tieulars of the capture of that city by our
forces. Also the particulars of this campaign
from May Ist to that date. Since then we
have had a rough time of it and have suffered
severe loss in our regiment. We moved from
Rome on the 26th ult. to Dallas, and took po-
sition on the front line, and after entrenehing,
changing positions and fighting almost day
and night, for about one week, the Johnnies
fell back and formed their lines about four
miles from this place, and fortified very strong
ly. Our army Immediately followed up and
threw up entertainments on their 'front.'
There we fought them for about week, ad-
vancng our lines daily, killed. and captured
many of them, while we suffered but slight
loss. Our fauks worked so successfully that
they were about to be surrounded, and they
again fell back and took their position along
the crest of the mountains at this place.
On the 18th we pulled up and pursued
them to these mountains. Here we found
them well fortified, both naturally and artif-
cialIy Our brigade was again thrown upon
the front, the 18th o. v. I. and our regiment
upon the advanced line. Here we laid under
one of the iercest showers Of shot and shell
that we ever experienced. But we being so
close and SO far under the muzzles Of their
cannon they did US but little damage, as they
wounded but few of our men, and killed few
of our mules and horses. Our artillery got
into position during the night and strongly
fortified. On the morning of the 2lst they
again opened with shot and shell upon cur
camps, but hardly had their first shell ex-
ploded ere the two batteries belonging to our
division opened upon them almost simultane-
ously, and after terrible counter eannonading
for near 80 minutes, our gunners sienced the
enemys guns and compelled them to hunt
their holes, and the heights, which the day be-
fore and that morning appeared alive with
JOhnnies. soon appeared to be destitute of any
living thing. When night came on they made
their works much stronger, and the next day
they attempted to she'll us from our works.
But no sooner had they commenced than our
boys sent their shot and shell whizzing 10 the
intended spot, tearing their works and burst
ing all around them
They then scattered their sharpshooters
along the sides of the mountains, who secreted
themselves behind rocks, trees, &C., and pick
ed many of our brave men off, whenever they
chanced to show themselves outside our in
trenchments We remained in th 1T position
until last Sunday night when we were re-
lieved by Division from the 18th Corps,
and received orders to report near General
Thomas headquarters. We arrived there
| near O'Clock the next morEiBg, went into
camp and supposed that we had been relieved
! from the front line to take little rest. But
we were disappointed. For on Tuesday (27th
ult.) our division received orders to fall in,
"leaving tents and knapsacks behind in care
of conValescents." We did so, and advanced
to our second line of battle from the front,
where our brigade (2d) and the Sd was formed
in two lines of battle, fixed bayonets and were
ordered TO charge upon the enemy's works.
/ Our regiment was in the second line in rear Of
the 18th, and while moving we were ordered
to deploy upon the right of the 18th, and
two other regiments were 10 deploy upon our
right. We advanced at donblR-quick speed,
passed through the two lines of battle, came
upon the enemy's outer-works, carried them,
killing and capturing the whole line of rebel
skirmishers, and continued to advance until
our left was within few feet of the enemy's
works, and they being constructed in an an
gular form, our right came around by left
wheel and captured number of the JOhnnies
from out their main line. It was at this
juncture, "when our men with bayonets fixed,
were about TO scale the enemy's works." that
an order came from the command upon our
left, who were Withdrawing, for US to retire
Our left had commenced retiring when Col
Banning ordered them to halt, lie down and
await for his orders to retire. He then dis
patched a messenger to the rear for ORDERS
who failed to find the brigade or division CON-
mander He then sent another to General
Thomas, and received orders for US to hold
our position and affect lodgment if possible
In the meantime the 18th, losing their com
mander and suffering severe loss, withdrew
from the front line and the regiments failing
to come up upon our right, both of our flank:
were left exposed. Two divisions of the 4tE
Corps advanced upon the left of our division
at the same time, but retired without effectine
lodgment.
Our regiment was the only one in the brig
ade that effected lodgment at that time
! Col. Banning ordered portion of the regi
ment to shelter themselves as best they coulC
and keep up heavy fire upon the enemy, tC
keep his head below his entertainments, whilt
t the rest of the men commenced with bayonet
and tins from their cartridge boxes, and wha
stones and chunks lay in their reach, TO for
tify; and by dusk they effected a temporar,
lodgment near the enemys line, and during
the night with picks and shovels they con
: strueted strong line of works, which the,
&. are yet Boldng.
f Our boys fired about $50 rounds of ammu
g milton and then borrowed more from Hooker
!, men on our right, as our ordnance train was to-
? far to the rear TO waste time 10 going to
8 for more. We suffered severely from thei
? grape aud canister, which they showered up
o on US like hail
y On our left fell Major Yager, Captains Ola
: son and Patrick, three gallant officers, a
g mortally wounded. When the command wa
,, received TO hold our position, Col, Bannin
closed the regiment TO the right for the pur
pose of concentrating our now thinned ranks
Nearly hundred of our gallant boys had al
70 ready fallen; our whole line was but tire
" hundred and seventy-fve, and this loss materi
2 ally lessened its strength and left these thre
le officers, with several other wounded layin
le around them, some twenty yards to our left
l. And now, having everything in shape, as bes
a we could, an effort was made to bring off thes
IN officers and men. We could crawl upon ou
8, hands and knees to within twenty feet of then
4 We could converse with Major Yager VIII
= lay groaning upon the ground. No repl
a. could be got from Patrick, who had doubles
Ell fallen dead for his wound was through the hear