West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 34 by Charlie Miller
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN: Dr. Beach narrates the Atlanta Campaign.
On May 3, 1864, we marched on the road to Dalton, Ga. Our brigade was composed of 9 different regiments, including the 40th O. V. I. We fought at Tunnel Hill on the 7th of May and occupied it by noon of the 8th. We advanced on Rocky Face and fought there on the 9th and 10th. On May 13th we marched through Resaca. Early on the morning of the 16th the 4th Corps marched through Resaca pushing the enemy back all day and camped at Adairsville the next day. We advance to Kingston on May 18th then march toward Cassville. We were under fire from the 26th from Johnston’s army in front of Dallas, Ga. The enemy finally fell back and formed a new line a few miles north of Kennesaw.
Resting on the 5th of June we marched leisurely on the 6th, we went into camp at Ackworth. We remained there awaiting supplies and had pleasant weather. The rain had been almost continuous and the weather cold. On June 10th the whole army moved toward Kennesaw. On the afternoon of June 14th a shot from the 5th Indiana Battery posted with our brigade, killed Gen. Polk (CSA) who, with the Generals Johnston and Hardee, was observing our movement from the top of Pine Mountain. We continued to fight around Pine Mountain and skirmished all along our line. From a position on Pine Mountain, the night afforded the grandest exhibition of fireworks imaginable. During the night of the 16th, the enemy abandoned Lost Mountain and fell back to Marietta, Ga. We continued to advance for the next two days. The fighting continued through the 19th and 20th. June 20th was the bloodiest day for our regiment since Chickamauga. Around this time General Johnston was replaced by Gen. Hood. (CSA)
June 28th and 29th were comparatively quiet on our front, the sick and wounded being sent back to Big Shanty to be sent on to the hospital. On June 30th the enemy made a feeble demonstration but was easily repulsed. On July 2nd the enemy vacated their line around Marietta, and on the morning of the 3rd, we marched through their works and onto the direct road to Atlanta. On July 4th we charged the enemy in front and captured their skirmish line. About 100 in our division were wounded. The next day the enemy fell back.
From the high hill at Vinings’s Station, we got our first look at Atlanta, the “Spectral City” 8 or 10 miles in the distance. It seemed so near that we felt that our campaign was nearly ended, but it took us nearly two months longer to get into the city. On the 17th of July, our entire army crossed the Chattahoochee River. During the morning we marched on the road to Atlanta and halted at Buckhead 7 miles from Atlanta. On the 19th we secured a position on the south bank of Peach Tree Creek. We went into camp on the south side of the fork 5 miles from Atlanta.
Next, the taking of Atlanta.