| Report of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, commanding Army of Tennessee. "The usual skirmishing was kept up on the 28th (of May.) Lieutenant-General Hood was instructed to put his corps in position during the night to attack the enemy's left flank at dawn next morning, the rest of the army to join in the action successively from right to left. On the 29th Lieutenant-General Hood, finding the Federal left covered by a division which had intrenched itself in the night, thought it inexpedient to attack; so reported, and asked for instructions. As the resulting delay made the attack inexpedient, even if it had not been so before, by preventing the surprise upon which success in a great degree depended, he was recalled. Skirmishing continued until the 4th of June, the enemy gradually extending his intrenched line toward the railroad at Acworth. On the morning of the 5th (of June) the army was formed with its left at Lost Mountain, its center near Gilgal Church, and its right near the railroad." (from Official Records) Reports from Stewart's Division: Col. John A. Minter, 54th Alabama Inf., Baker's Brigade. Relieved by Lieutenant-General Polk's command about 4 a.m. on the morning of the 26th. Ordered to the right in reserve; remained in camp during the night. We were then ordered to the right of New Hope Church about three miles, on the 27th. On the evening of the 28th threw up breast-works. One man killed in working on the 29th. Remained in the entrenches during the night. On the evening of the 30th, about 4 o'clock, ordered in front of the works with my regiment to ascertain the position of the enemy if possible. After throwing out skirmishers. advancing about 400 yards in front of the works, encountered the enemy's skirmishers. Drove them from their position about 300 yards, enemy losing 3 killed and, in my opinion, not less than 10 wounded. Finding that we were under an enfilading fire right and left retired about 1000 yards; there remained until sundown, with a loss of 1 killed, 1 missing, 1 wounded and brought in. Relieved in the trenches next morning (31st of May) by General Clayton. Ordered behind the hill in reserve; remained one day and night; ordered to reoccupy the trenches again at dark on the evening of June 1 - positon we now hold. (from Official Records) Report of Gen. Alpheus Baker June 2, 1864: At daylight on the morning of the 28th ultimo I left the breast-works at New Hope Church and occupied a position on the right of the army, during which time we have been engaged in throwing up breast-works and in skirmishing with the enemy. (from Official Records) Report of Gen. Henry D. Clayton May 29, 1864: On the morning of the 28th the brigade, with the balance of the division was withdrawn and moved to another part of the field. (From Official Records) Diary of Quartermaster Sgt. Charles A. Rowland, 43rd Ga. Inf., Stovall's Brigade; May 23 1864: Last night shoes were sent up and we shod 179 barefooted men (in this brigade.) The men seem to feel in good spirits and not discouraged by the retreats. May 27, 1864 New Hope Church: We have lost in wounded 5 field officers and our Brigade is growing small. . . We have had no mails since Wednesday and dont suppose we will have another until we can send to Atlanta for it. I understand our wagons are near Decatur. Marietta May 29: Col. Kellogg was wounded Thursday and this makes 6 out of 8 field officers in the Brigade. We have suffered so much I hope our Division will have an easy place in the general fight. . . We have had no mail in some days but hope to make some arrangements to get it from Atlanta in a day or two. Wednesday morning June 1 1864 between Dallas and Marietta: A continual popping is kept up along the lines by skirmishers and sharpshooters and every now and then a litter goes by bearing some poor fellow who has fallen in front. Now and then a battery opens as so it goes. . . Our young men are daily falling and I see no hope of any being left if this masacre(sic) goes on in the future as it has done in the past. (from transcription of diary on file at Ga. Dept. of Archives and History, Atlanta) Maj. Lovick P. Thomas, 42nd Ga. Inf. Stovall's Brigade Near Lost Mountain 10 miles from Marietta June 5th, 1864: For the last two days before leaving our entrenched positions near New Hope, I was out with the entire Reg't. on picket. We were skirmishing all that time day and night, and as last night we left our position about daylight. . . but rather our Reg't. remaining and all the Brig'd. moving out while we skirmished untill(sic) daylight, and we then left. . . We were sent out to relieve men from other Reg'ts. who were driven in by the enemy, and ordered on yesterday morning to drive them off, if possible and feel there(sic) position. I moved on them early in the morning, drove them before me untill(sic) they were near their main line of entrenchments, and to where they were entrenched in their picket post. They made three different trials to drive us off, but we held our position with the exception of a little alteration I made in the center of my line, by posting them a little to the rear of an eminence. I lost in the Reg't. 4 killed, 1 mortally wounded, 5 or six seriously wounded, perhaps more as I have not called for the reports from companies. We were highly praised for our course as others who had occupied the position had been so frequently driven in. (from microfilm at Ga. Dept. of Archives and History, Atlanta) Pvt. Zachariah J. Armistead, Co. H, 42nd Ga. Inf., Stovall's Brigade In Camps, May 31 1864: The boys all look bad, out of 75 men we only have 44 left. But a good many of the Regt., are coming every day. . . Sunday (May 25th) knight(sic) some heavy fighting was going on all knight(sic). several charges was made by the Yankees. Our boys drove them back every time. . . Our Regt., was not half as bad cut up as bad as we heard it was. . . Capt. Mitchell is in fine health, hasn't forgot how to sing yet. . . Our Reg is held back as reserve fifty yards from our diches, ain much dangerous a place than in the breastworks. . . We get a plenty of rashons. Still we are very so badly worn out. . . Skirmishing is going on all the time. . . Water is very good. Yankees plentiful. (from UDC letters collection at Ga. Dept. of Archives and History, Atlanta) Pvt. Wiley J. Baggett, Co. K, 42nd Ga. Inf. "We did not see the Yankees any more till we got to New Hope Church. There we halted after resting awhile, we formed a line of battle. . . In a short time the Yankees made a charge on our line. . . We repulsed them. They charged us again and again till they charged us five times. We held our ground. Our loss was five or six killed and a few wounded. The ground in our front was almost covered with dead Yankees. After the battle, they flanked us again. We met them at Pumpkinvine." (from microfilm at Ga. Dept. of Archives and History, Atlanta) |