| Report of Richard Johnson, 1st Division, XIV Corps Army of the Cumberland When the assualt of the 27th had failed, I withdrew my division to the position upon which the column had originally formed for the assualt, a short distance to the south of Pickett's Mill, on what I understand to be the little Pumpkin Vine Creek. That night Carlin's brigade, which had before been in reserve during the day, was placed in position on the extreme left. My line was an exceedingly bad one, but it seemed impracticable(sic) to correct it. Here the division remained, skirmishing heavily with the enemy at periods and suffering considerable loss, until the evacuation by the enemy of their position on the 5th of June. From the morning of May 29 to the morning of June 6, I was unfitted for duty by the injuries before alluded to, and during this time the division was in command of Brigadier-General King. (from Official Records) Report of Lt. Colonel Douglas Hapeman, 104th Illinois Infantry, Carlin's Brigade On the 27th they moved to the left of the line until they reached Brown's Mill Creek, where they remained until after dark, then crossed the creek and occupied a ridge on the west side. On the 28th they moved to the front before daylight, and occupied the side of a wooded hill. Before the line was well formed the enemy made a demonstration with cavalry and infantry, but were easily driven back; no casualties. We immediately threw up strong works. The skirmish line did not reach the top of the hill and the line was exposed to a severe fire form the enemy's skirmishers on the hill, making it necessary for the men to keep in the trenches. The Fifteenth Kentucky was on the right and the Ninety-fourth Ohio on the left. Remained on this line until the 2nd of June. On the 30th the skirmishers were ordered forward to occupy the top of the hill, which they did without loss, but were obliged to fall back on account of the skirmishers on our left falling back. In falling back Company E lost 1 man, mortally wounded. On the 2nd of June the One hundred and four Illinois, with the Eighty-eight Indiana on the right, moved forward to support the skirmish line, which was ordered to carry the hill. The skirmishers of the one hundred and fourth connected with those of the Twenty-third Corps on the left. The skirmishers charged gallantly, driving the rebels form their rail pens and across the field. The regiment lost 2 men wounded, 1 mortally. The regiment was relieved at 6 o'clock in the evening by troops of General Baird's division and moved back in reserve to Brown's Mill creek. (from Official Records) Journal of Carlin's 1st Brigade, by Captain R. J. Waggoner and Captain J. W. Ford May 27. - The command moved in two miles, supporting the Second and Third Brigades, to a point on Pumpkin Vine Creek near Pickett's Mills. At 11 p.m. the brigade was placed in two lines on the left of General King. May 28. - Early next morning the line was advanced about one-quarter of a mile and the brigade was formed in single line extending from right to left along the ridge in front of Leverett's and Brand's houses. About 3 p.m. the First Wisconsin, (Third Brigade) was put in position on the right of the brigade, to complete the line to Pumpkin Vine Creek. Brish skirmishing was kept up all day and night along the whole front. Captain R. J. Waggener, assistant adjutant-general, was killed about 10 a.m. of to-day. May 29. - Heavy picket-firing has been kept up all day; the Twenty-first Ohio (Third Brigade) was put into position about 4 p.m. to support the right of the brigade. May 30. - The works along the front of the whole brigade were strengthened this morning. At 6 o'clock this p.m. the right to Brand's house on the left was attacked by a part of Hood's corps, which advanced form the rebel works in line of battle. After a brisk engagement of several minutes the enemy fell back with considerable loss, leaving a part of his killed and wounded in our front. The following are the names of the regiments engaged: Tenth Wisconsin, Forty-second Indiana, Twenty-first Wisconsin, and First Wisconsin (Third Brigade.) June 2. - Nothing of importance has occured since the evening of the 30th of May. At 2 p.m. the four regiments forming the left of the brigade were advanced about 400 yards, driving the enemy from a ridge in front, and gaining a very favorable position. At 7 o'clock the brigade was relieved by General Baird's division, and it moved to the rear to a postion of close support to General Baird. (from Official Records) Extract from Capt. Leighton's diary, Co. A, 104th Illinois Infantry. May 27th, 1864 We had to wade Pumpkin Vine Creek, the water coming above our knees and it was cold. At three a.m. of the 28th, line of battle was formed on a ridge east of Pumpkin Vine. We had coffee and at half-past four moved to the front near the enemy's breastworks. Soon after moved to the left two hundred yards and intrenched. In half an hour the Regiment advanced three hundred yards to check the rebels moving towards us. They drove our skirmishers but were checked by the fire of two regiments on our right and fled to the rear. We then built breastworks and lay behind them all day, but the bullets were flying ove us every few moments. The 29th was spent within our works, which we strengthened in the afternoon as a report came that the rebels were going to advance in force. At nine p.m. heavy firing began on the skirmish line and we stood in line ready to receive the enemy, but they had failed to dislodge the skirmishers and did not come. We lay on our arms all night. May 30th we felled trees and further strengthened the breastworks. Skirmishing was going on all day and we remained in line of battle until midnight, then lay down with accoutrements on and arms by our sides. A sharp skirmish was kept up all night. On the 31st brisk skirmishing was going on at daylight, and at seven the rebels drove in the picket line with Company A at six. We skirmished with the enemy on the 31st and were relieved from picket on June 1st at 6 a.m., when we took our place behind the works. Rested on arms all day. (from articles on file with the 104th Illinois re-enactment unit, courtesy Rick Keating) A quote from Sherman's Battle for Atlanta by Gen. Jacob B. Cox The corps moved northeast through a wood so tangled with undergrowth that the direction of column could only be kept by the compass; then advancing to the right, the position of Howard's Corps (Fourth) was reached, and forming on its left the two swung forward to the right, reaching the open ground. They crossed Little Pumpkin Vine Creek at the saw-mill and continued the wheeling movement until the extreme left crossed and covered the Dallas and Altoona(sic) road. The whole front of the two corps was along the crest of a series of hills, a narrow open valley intervening between this wing and the right of the Confederate lines. The movement was made with continuous hot skirmishing, and the hostile lines were at nightfall intrenched so close to each other that for several days a bickering fire was almost incessant from the breastworks on both sides, and skirmishers could only be relieved in the darkness; indeed they could only be kept out at all by making each man cover himself by means of a pit, or by help of a log or a few fence-rails. Casualties were of frequent occurrence within the lines; and there were openening between the knolls across which no mounted officer could ride without being a target for the enemy's sharpshooters, who were constantly on the watch for an opportunity to pick off whoever came within range." |