The Georgia in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense

The regiment was under command of Col Shaw on the table of organization dated June 10, 1864, on June 30, Maj. James L. White, and on July 31, Captain Elijah W. Horne.

I have copied three reports taken from the OR, V 38, P.3, starting on page 783.
It appears that the regiments commanding officers didn't shirk their duties as they were replaced almost as soon as they assumed command.

George Martin

NINETEENTH SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT,
In the Field, July 31, 1864.
GENERAL: At about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of July 22, 1864, much firing having been heard for about two hours in the direction of General Hardee's corps, as if his troops were engaged, this regiment, simultaneously with your brigade, was ordered forward from the breast-works east of Atlanta at the Georgia Railroad. The Tenth South Carolina Regiment was on its right, the Twenty-fourth and Thirty-fourth Alabama Regiments on its left, the Twenty-eighth Alabama Regiment being then in front on picket. The regiment advanced over rough ground, hills, narrow swamps, and thick forest, about 1,200 or 1,400 yards, when it was halted and dressed with the brigade, which had become somewhat scattered by the distance marched over the impediments mentioned. There, within about 300 yards of the works of the enemy, it rested about five minutes and was ordered forward. It advanced up a gentle acclivity in good order under a fire becoming more severe, from infantry and artillery, as it advanced, until within about 100 yards of the works of the enemy, by which time the firing on its part became general and the advance slow. Soon it began to oblique to the left, and found partial protection behind a large building, near where the works cross the railroad, known as the white house. Captain Horne, who was acting second in command with the regiment, got some men over the balusters to fire from the windows of the house. Then getting in and passing to the front, he saw many of the enemy leaving their works. He informed the men in rear of the house of what the enemy were doing, and soon the men were leaping over the works and capturing prisoners. Then, mingling with men of other regiments, they passed about 150 yards left along the works, on the enemy's side of them, to the brick house, where they captured other prisoners. Maj. James L. White, who was in command of the regiment, acted well his part. Now the regiment, having been assembled on the right in front of the white house, is marched a short distance to the rear and thrown into line by the white house, the line being at a right angle with the works and facing to the left. About the time the brigade had formed on this line it was ordered to the rear. Marched back and halted near the line on which it was halted to dress and rest in advancing. Being ordered forward, the regiment now advanced, and under heavy enfilade fire from cannon on its left, and reoccupied the works. Then it was moved to the left and occupied the trench left of the brick house, Major White still in command; and now a few yards left of the house, the enfilade still very severe. Here Major White was severely wounded and carried off the field, when the command devolved on Capt. E. W. Horne.
Soon he found that the brigade, except the portion with him, had moved to the rear, and being satisfied that it had been ordered to do so, ordered his men to retreat. At about 300 yards in the rear he joined General Manigault, who was assembling his brigade; halted the regiment there and rested; then moved back half a mile; halted and rested until nearly dark; then returned to breast-works, and the regiment occupied the position from which the advance was made.
A report of casualties was ordered, which resulted as follows: Officers-killed, 3; wounded, 2; missing, 1. Men--killed, 9; wounded, 58; missing, 24. Total--killed, 12; wounded, 60; missing, 25.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. W. HORNE,
Captain, Commanding.
General A.M. MANIGAULT,
Manigault's Brigade, Army of Tennessee
-----

NINETEENTH SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT,
In the Field, August 1, 1864.
GENERAL: On the 28th day of July, 1864, this regiment, with the brigade to which it belongs, was moved from a position near the inner works west of Atlanta along the----road to a point outside the second works and near the Poor-House, where it was filed to the left 200 or 300 yards, where it was halted, dressed, and rested for awhile. Some infantry firing was heard in front and our line was shelled occasionally while here. Soon being informed that General Tacker's line was in front of us, we were ordered forward, Capt. T. W. Getzen being in command of the regiment and Capt. E. W. Horne second in command. The regiment advanced (considerable firing being heard in front) through a piece of forest and into an old field, where it was halted; line rectified and advanced; then passed into a skirt of forest and soon began to engage the enemy, the line that was in our front having been previously repulsed. Advanced (firing becoming more severe) through a narrow, old field, and a short distance into a thick forest beyond, where the regiment remained engaged for considerable time, and, exposed to cross-fire (from the fact that the regiment on its right did not cross the last old field), it retired. Reformed the regiment, advanced again from the point where it was halted to dress in the first advance, but became engaged and did not again reach the point to which it at first advanced. Repulsed; it was again formed. Captain Getzen having retired with a wound, the command devolved on Captain Horne. Again it advanced with but little success, and retired a short distance. Here a fresh line came up, and it was ordered to the rear and formed with the brigade at the point where it was halted to dress in the first advance. While it was resting here Captain Horne was slightly wounded, and Adjt. James O. Ferrell, who, I should have stated, acted with much gallantry during the engagement, reported to General Manigault that all his captains were now wounded or killed, and the general ordered the adjutant himself to take command of the regiment. Rested; moved back to the outer breast-works; moved back to a point near where the first advance commenced; moved a little to the left; advanced toward the enemy, and after other unimportant moves, rested and made a report of casualties. Rested about three hours and moved inside the outer breast-works by the road by which we went out. Moved left on the prolongation of that line; halted and commenced intrenching.
Report of casualties for the day: Officers--killed, 2; wounded, 7. Men--killed, 7; wounded, 27; missing, 8. Total--killed, 9; wounded, 34; missing, 8.
I am, general, with much respect, your obedient servant,
E. W. HORNE,
Captain, Commanding.
Brig. Gen. A.M. MANIGAULT,
Manigault's Brigade, Army of Tennessee

HEADQUARTERS MANIGAULT'S BRIGADE,
ANDERSON'S DIVISION, LEE'S CORPS,
Near Atlanta, August 6, 1864.
CAPTAIN: This brigade, together with the others of the division, known as Hindman's, and at the time under the command of Brig. Gen. J. C. Brown, moved at about 12 m. on the 27th of July, from the position it had occupied for some time previous in the trenches around Atlanta, and bivouacked that night, after marching to several points just within the breast-works, on the Lick Skillet road. On the following morning, at about 10.30, we received orders to march left in front, and bringing up the rear of the division, moved out on said road. When within a short distance of the Poor-House the division was placed in line of battle on the left of the road and nearly perpendicular to it, this brigade being placed in reserve and formed in rear of the center of the line, with orders to be in readiness to move to any point where our services might be needed. At about 12.30 p.m. were ordered to move to the front to the assistance of General Sharp, whose brigade was heavily engaged. The advance was ordered. Dressing to the left on the Thirty-fourth Alabama, Major Slaughter, and on their right the following-named regiments, composing the brigade, in the order enumerated, completed the line: Twenty-eighth Alabama, Lieutenant-Colenel Butler; Twenty-fourth Alabama, Capt. S. H. Oliver; Nineteenth South Carolina, Captain Getzen; Tenth South Carolina, Lieut. Col. C. Irvin Walker. The brigade advanced through a dense wood, then through an open wood, and halted for a minute or two to correct the alignment, its front here covered by a skirt of wood, beyond which was another open field, on the edge of which was a deep ravine, and a steep and high wooded ridge rising beyond this. On the slope of the ridge the enemy were posted, but in what force I believe was not known at the time. I was now ordered to move forward and carry the heights. The brigade advanced in good order, passing through the first wood, and immediately on reaching the field, came under a heavy fire poured in from the height in its immediate front, and extending to the right and left for a space of more than 300 yards. In spite of this galling fire, the open field was crossed in fair order, though many fell killed and wounded. The wood was reached, ravine crossed, and ascent commenced. The enemy were now to be seen behind their breast-works, and from which they kept up a steady and well-directed fire. The regiments on the right and left here suffered from a heavy flank fire, and the enemy, seeing that our front was but a short one, brought troops upon the right of the brigade, forcing the men back. Many of the enemy's troops were driven back by our fire, but fresh troops being immediately thrust forward, the opposition could not be overcome, and the brigade was forced back along its entire front, leaving many of their dead and wounded within a few feet of the enemy's intrenchments. The brigade was again rallied and a second attempt made, but with like want of success. A third time they were ordered to make the effort; formed and moved forward some distance, when the order was countermanded, and they retired to a point along an old road immediately in rear of the position where they were halted to rectify the alignment before their first advance upon the enemy. While remaining here two efforts were made by other commands to carry the same point, resulting in each instance in failure. During the remainder of the day we were moved to several positions both in the front and rear line, but were not again actually engaged, although experiencing some loss from stray balls, &c.
Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, Tenth South Carolina, received a painful wound while urging his men forward. His conduct was, as usual, cool, brave, and unassuming.
Captain Getzen, commanding Nineteenth South Carolina, was severely wounded, as also Captain Horne, second in command of same regiment.
The loss in officers, as will be perceived by the accompanying lists of casualties, has been exceedingly severe, thus showing how faithfully they endeavored to discharge their duties.
Lieut. George A. Jennison, acting assistant-adjutant-general, and Lieut. W. E. Huger, aide-de-camp, of my staff, were both severely wounded and forced to leave the field, thus leaving me temporarily without any assistance. They were both conspicuous for their courage and energy, and even their temporary loss will be severely felt by this command.
For the failure of the command to carry the point that they were ordered against I can scarcely blame either officers or men. They fought as gallantly as I have ever seen them do, but were outnumbered to too great an extent, and the position of the enemy, naturally a strong one, and rendered doubly so by their engineering skill, caused their able and well-sustained efforts to fail in any satisfactory results.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A.M. MANIGAULT,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Capt. H. J. CHENEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Messages In This Thread

Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense
Re: Johnston's Kennesaw Mtn. defense