Part I - Don's Metal Detecting Forum

file:///I|/civil war books/war of rebellion/38a.txt
• brigade for duty, and was put in the right in line. July 21, Colonel
Dilworth was ordered to make a reconnaissance with one regiment
to the front. He ordered out the One hundred and twentyfifth
Illinois, and, connected with Colonel Mitchell’s brigade on the
left and General Morgan’s on the right, moved too far to right;
found rebels near Moore’s house, on the Marietta and Atlanta road,
CHAP. L.] REPORTS, ETC.—ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. 713
and came back to camp. July 22, no enemy in our immediate front;
moved toward Atlanta to within two and a half miles of the city;
heavy firing to our front and left; went into camp at night in reserve.
July 23, position unchanged. July 24, relieved a regiment of Baird’s
division with the One hundred and twenty-fifth Illinois; remained
in this position with a slight change of camp until the morning of
the 28th of July; one regiment on outpost duty daily. July 28, in
connection with the division, made a reconnaissance to Turner’s
Ferry; returned late at night to near our old position and went
into camp. After this date our (luties were various. We built ‘several
lines of works, did picket duty, and changed position toward
the right frequently until Angust,A, when we move(l to the right
and front about ~hree miles and went into position in the evening,
connecting with General Baird on the left; One hundred and
twenty-fifth Illinois in left front line; Twenty-second Indiana in
right front line; Eighty-fifth Illinois on picket. On the following
morning the picket-line moved nearly three-quarters of a mile to the
front and took 15 prisoners, with no loss to ‘us. Main line moved
forward, still keeping up the connection with General Baird on the
left and also connecting with Colonel Mitchell on the right; took a
position near the Sandtown road, One hnndred and tenth Illinois
on the left and One hundred and twenty-fifth Illinois on the right
front line. At night four companies of the Fifty-second Ohio relieved
the Eighty-fifth Illinois pickets. August 6, brigade in same
place and same position; enemy almost constantly shelling our lines.
At night seventy-five men from One hundred and tenth Illinois relieved
the Fifty-second Ohio on picket. I quote below substantially
Colonel Dilworth’s minutes of the operations of the brigade on the
7th of Abgust:
Received orders about 10 o’clock that the division was to swing to the left, and
that the movement would comnience on the left. About noon went to the lines;
saw General Baird. who said he could not advance until evening. As soon as he
had gone I received orders that General Morgan had commenced the movement on
the right, and for me to conform my movements to Mitchell’s. I then went to the
right and found Colonel Mitchell had advanced. The skirmish line was advanced,
and the One hundred and twenty-fifth Illinois was ordered forward. The Fiftysecond
Ohio was ordered up, also the Twenty second Indiana; advanced and connected
with Colonel Mitchell on the left and facing northeast. At night Eightysixth
Illinois relieved One hundred and tenth Illinois on picket.
In gaining this new and important position the brigade was exposed
to a galling fire of musketry and artillery from the enemy’s
lines and with but little chance to us to successfully return the fire.
The brigade took possession of and extended its lines across the
Sandtown road and, as speedily as possible, erected strong fortifications.
The loss to the brigade in this day’s operations was 42 officers
and men killed and wounded. Nothing of further importance
than frequent changes of positions, picket duty, &c.. occurred until
August 20, upon which day the brigade started at daybreak and
marched to the rear lines of the works of the Twenty-third Corps;
lay in close column for two or three hours, when orders caine to move
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