Hdqrs. First Division. Fourteenth Army Corps,
Graysville, Ga., March 27, 1864
Sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the division under my command in the recent demonstrations before Dalton. This report has been delayed under the belief that none would be required, as the corps commander was present and superintended the movements in person:
The movement having been decided upon, I received an order to get my division in readiness to march, with three days� rations. A very few wagons were allowed each brigade, the teams of which were to be supplied with three days� forage. Owing to the bad condition of my horses it was deemed advisable to take only one section without the caissons.
At early dawn. February 22, the division moved in the direction of Rossville, with King�s brigade in advance, followed by Carlin�s, which latter was followed by the Third Brigade, commanded by Colonel Hambright. Arriving at Rossville we took the direct Ringgold road, preceded by a part of Colonel Harrison�s regiment, Thirty-ninth Indiana Mounted Infantry. On arriving at the Chickamanga a temporary bridge was constructed over which the men passed, while the artillery, wagons, &c., forded at a point near by. This proved to be a very tedious operation, and delayed our movements a good deal. On arriving at Ringgold it was found to be occupied by only a small picket of the enemy, which fled on the appearance of Colonel Harrison with his mounted men. The division entered and took possession of the village. The gap beyond the town was picketed and held by King�s brigade. In posting his pickets on the high bluff south of The pass Lieutenant Ayres, adjutaut Nineteenth [U. S.] Infantry, was captured by a few of the enemy, who fled with him in the direction of Tunnel Hill.
Febrnary 23, the mounted force was again placed in advance, followed by my division, led by Hambright�s brigade.
At Catoosa Station, 3 miles sonth of Ringgold, the rebel cavalry made a feeble stand, but were driven from point to point, continually forced back until they reached the neighborhood of Tunnel Hill, where they were re-enforced, and greatly outnumbered our mounted force. Carlin was moved forward to support Harrison with his brigade, which. for the occasion was re-enforced by the Nineteenth Illinois to replace the Second Ohio, which had been temporarily withdrawn, by direction of the corps commander, to occupy a hill to the right, to guard that flank. This duty, like all duty required of General Carlin, was performed promptly, and with his usual good judgment he made the following dispositions when he arrived near the enemy: The four regiments of his brigade were formed in single line of battle, the Eighty-eighth Indiana on the right of the road, the Ninety-fourth Ohio, Tenth Wisconsin, and Nineteenth Illinois on the left.
As soon as his skirmishers were thrown out, the command moved forward, Harrison moving on the road. Soon the skirmishers became engaged, but the resistance was feeble. The rebels continued to fall back for about 2 miles, where they had constructed temporary breast-works of rails, and here they determined on a vigorous resistance.
Carlin ordered the Eighty-eighth Indiana to advance under cover of the woods toward the right and rear of the line of works, and as soon as their movements were discovered the enemy saw he was flanked, fired one volley, and ingloriously fled. The pursuit was continued to Tunnel Hill. The infantry was halted and Harrison at the head of 25 of his men charged and drove about 500 cavalry through town and to the hills beyond, from which the enemy opened upon us with artillery. Not knowing the extent of the force in that neighborhood, and it being near dark, and having one brigade only, I deemed it advisable to push the pursuit no farther, but to fall back to the main body near Catoosa.
February 24, the division again moved to Tunnel Hill, Carlin in advance, followed by King and Hambright. On arriving near Tunnel Hill the enemy opened upon us with artillery. I had none to reply, as, owing to the neglect o~ Lieutenant Harris, commanding the section of First Michigan Artillery, * his animals, being without forage, had become so weak that I was compelled to leave the section at Ringgold. As soon as the firing commenced I halted Carlin�s brigade, and sent Hambright and King to the left to take possession of the heights to the right and left of the position held by the artillery. While these preliminaries were being arranged the major-general commanding corps arrived, who approved of my dispositions and sent a brigade of Davis� division to the left of King. The position was easily taken, and the enemy was soon in full retreat, followed by Davis� division, supported by King�s brigade. Here I encamped Carlin and Hambright for the night. February 25, constant skirmishing kept up all day between Davis and rebel skirmish lines, and late in the evening I ordered Hambright and King to relieve General Davis� line. Carlin was held in reserve.
About 12 o�clock at night, the rebel pickets advanced, and there was considerable firing, in which some men were killed and wounded. Among the latter was Col. Geza Mihalotzy, the gallant colonel of the Twenty-fourth Illinois. I regret to report that he has since died.
February 26, we remained holding our position, keeping up constant firing with our sharpshooters. At night I received an order to fall back to Catoosa.
February 27, was ordered to march to and take post at Tyner�s Station, which place I reached same day.
The officers and men of my command discharged every duty faithfully, and to each and all my thanks are due.
Loss: Commissioned officers killed, 1; enlisted men killed, 6; total killed, 7; enlisted men wounded, 6; total wounded, 6; total killed and wounded, 13.
I transmit herewith the sub-reports.
If I fully understand the object of the movement it was eminently successful. From prisoners captured I learned that several divisions sent to operate against General Sherman were ordered back to Dalton, and the rebel army under Johnston was in full force and prepared for battle. Sherman was relieved and enabled to finish his undertaking satisfactorily.
Very respectfully,
R. W. Johnson,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
Maj. D. W. Norton,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.