CAPTAIN: In submitting a report of the operations of the One hundred and
forty-ninth New York Volunteers during the campaign ending in the capture of Atlanta, I
would state first that the regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. C. B. Randall until June
20, when the undersigned joined the command from recruiting detail and sick leave and
assumed command. A report of the battle of Resaca was forwarded by the lieutenant-colonel,
and to his report I would call attention, as it is more complete than any I can give. The
data of the operations of the command previous to June 20 are obtained from the line
officers. Casualties having been reported from time to time as they have occurred are not
given in detail in this report, but a summary of the same is embodied herein. This paper
is necessarily more a record of events than an elaborate report of operations, owing to
the vast extent of country traversed and the length of time occupied.
May 2, the regiment left Stevenson, Ala., with 17 officers, 407 musket-bearing men, and
45 extra duty men, musicians, and noncommissioned staff, being an aggregate of 496
officers and men, and marched to Bridgeport, Ala., with brigade and division. May 3,
marched from Bridgeport to Shellmound, Tenn. May 4, detached as train guard and marched to
Lookout Valley, near Lookout Point. May 5, left train and joined brigade near Lee's Mills,
Ga. May 6, marched with brigade to Pea Vine Church. May 7, regiment and brigade marched as
train guard till 1 p.m., then marched to join division, and bivouacked at Gordon's Gap, in
Taylor's Ridge. May 8, regiment and brigade marched with Kilpatrick's cavalry division to
Villanow Gap to connect with the Army of the Tennessee; left Villanow at 3 p.m.; joined
Second Division at Mill Creek Church at 10 p.m. May 9, regiment on picket on Mill Creek in
front of Babb's Gap till May 12; relieved from picket by McCook's cavalry and marched to
Snake [Creek] Gap. May 13, battle of Resaca opened; regiment marched to within one mile
and a half of Resaca and occupied works erected by the Third Division, Twentieth Army
Corps, in reserve. May 14, left position at 4 p.m. and marched to the extreme left, past
the Fourth and Twenty-third Army Corps, and erected works on the Dalton road, confronting
the enemy. May 15, left position at about 8.30 a.m.: marched to the right about two miles
to support Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps. At about 1 p.m. the division charged the
enemy, passing over three lines of the Third Division; regiment became separated from the
advancing line, but with the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers and
detachments from other commands continued the charge up a hill of about 150 feet in height
and drove the enemy from four pieces of artillery placed on its summit in an earth-work,
but farther advance was checked by a heavy line of the enemy strongly intrenched in rear
of the guns. Our troops, however, held possession of the guns under a galling fire until
darkness ensued, when the guns were dug out and taken off the field. May 16, daylight
discovered the vacated works of the enemy; marched in pursuit, fording the Oostenaula
River at about 12 m., and ferried across the Coosawattee at about dark, and bivouacked on
left bank. May 17, marched to near Calhoun. May 18, marched to near Kingston. May 19,
marched through woods and bivouacked near Cassville at about 8 p.m., and remained in camp
till May 23; broke camp and crossed Etowah River near the mouth of Raccoon Creek;
picket-firing during the night. May 24, division advanced and formed line of battle;
relieved by Twenty-third Corps about 10.30 a.m. and marched to Burnt Hickory. May 25,
battle of Mount [New] Hope; marched toward Dallas and across Pumpkin Vine Creek; regiment
detached and formed line on left of Dallas road, two companies deployed as skirmishers.
Lieutenant Truair, with sixteen men, was sent scouting, by command of General Sherman.
Lieutenant Truair and his detachment passed around the left of the enemy and in rear near
to Dallas, and having accomplished the duty assigned him he reported to General Sherman.
Regiment remained till 6 p.m., and then joined brigade on the road; brigade formed in two
lines of battle and moved to the front, and went into action after dark; regiment in front
line; charged over one line of our troops and up to within a few rods of enemy's battery,
which opened with grape and canister, their infantry supports also opening on us; were
repulsed with severe loss, but remained during the night within 100 yards of enemy's
position. May 26, moved at about daylight to extreme right of line, and threw up works and
occupied them till dark; then moved to the left about 300 yards and formed in support of
Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers within 250 yards of enemy's works, and remained under
a scattering fire till May 28; moved before daylight regimental length to the left in
support of battery and Sixtieth New York Volunteers, and remained still under fire till
June 1; relieved by Fifteenth Corps at about 12 m., and marched to left of general line of
battle, and bivouacked at about 8 p.m. on the Allatoona road in rear of Fourteenth Corps.
June 2,marched still farther to left in support of Twenty-third Corps, which took
position left of Fourteenth Corps; bivouacked about 3 p.m. June 3, left position at about
2 p.m. and marched with brigade to bridge and ford on Allatoona Creek near Acworth,
arriving at about 9 p.m. June 4 and 5, worked in repairing bridge and road. June 6,
marched at about 9 a.m. and passed through Acworth, and took position near Big Shanty at
about dark, and put up works, and remained here till June 13; marched at about 12 m. and
took position on right of Fourth Corps, in front of Pine Hill and threw up strong works.
Occupied works till June 15; enemy having evacuated, regiment marched in pursuit. At about
12 m. moved about one mile, formed line of battle and advanced in line to within 100 yards
of enemy's main line, regiment in front line and under fire all night. June 16, before
daylight fell back about 100 yards and occupied works erected by pioneers during the
night; Captain May detailed with 100 men to drive back enemy's skirmishers, which was
gallantly performed. June 17, morning found the enemy's works evacuated; followed in
pursuit and found him intrenched southwest of Kenesaw Mountain. Regiment took position on
Marietta road and remained till June 19; followed enemy, who had evacuated during the
night, and came up with him to the south of Kenesaw Mountain, about four miles from
Marietta; erected works. Afternoon of June 20 moved to the right and bivouacked in rear of
Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps. June 21, moved to right of First Brigade and threw
up strong works. June 22, moved to front about one mile and occupied a ridge gained by
skirmishers, and threw up strong works. Occupied them till June 27; division moved
forward, drove enemy's skirmishers about half a mile; took position in support of Fourth
Corps, which attacked the enemy on our immediate left. Threw up works and remained till
June 30; relieved after dark by Fourteenth Corps, and moved to right and occupied works on
Powder Springs road till July 2. Early in morning moved back about 100 yards and occupied
a second line of works. July 3, moved early in morning in pursuit of retreating enemy, and
found him strongly intrenched near Nickajack Creek. Bivouacked till July 5; enemy had
evacuated during the night, and we moved forward in pursuit and found him again strongly
intrenched near mouth of Nickajack Creek; regiment advanced in support of Thirteenth New
York Battery. July 6, relieved by Twenty-third Corps and marched to rear and left; crossed
Nickajack Creek and bivouacked. July 7, moved to position on general line between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Army Corps, regiment in second line, near Carter's Ferry.
Remained here till July 17; enemy having again evacuated, broke camp, and marched to the
left and crossed the Chattahoochee River at Pace's Ferry; bivouacked near Nancy's Creek.
July 18, left bivouac at about 2 p.m.; crossed Nancy's Creek, and bivouacked on Decatur
road near Howell's Mill. July 19, marched at about 7 a.m. and approached Peach Tree Creek,
and found enemy's skirmish line on left bank; regiment selected to lead the corps in
crossing; Companies A, B, and F, commanded respectively by Captains May, Grumbach, and
Burhans, detailed as skirmishers; skirmishers and regiment advanced by the flank and
double-quick; deployed into line as soon as across and charged the enemy's rifle-pits, and
drove back his skirmish line on his main line about half a mile; division and corps
followed, and took up position and threw up works. July 20, early in the morning the First
and Second Brigades of division and Thirteenth New York Battery advanced about 350 yards
and took position; Third (our) Brigade took up position in woods about 100 yards in rear
at about 3 p.m., massed in column of regiments. At about 4 p.m. the enemy assaulted the
Third Division in great force, and almost immediately thereafter he hurled his heavy
columns upon the brigades in our front, striking them partially on right flank. These
brigades were very quickly broken and driven back in disorder. At this time Captain Nolan,
acting assistant inspector-general of brigade, deployed our brigade and ordered it forward
in echelon, the first regiment advancing immediately, and the others successively as they
uncovered, except the Sixtieth New York Volunteers and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania
Volunteers, which were moved to the left. A deep ravine, thickly grown with brush and
trees, lay in our immediate front, down which from the right the fire of the enemy came
like a torrent, and in common with the other regiments my command broke as soon as it came
into the line of the enemy's fire. So steep and difficult was the ascent in front that it
was almost impossible to scale it, and to remain would have been suicidal; besides, the
command was not in a position to inflict much damage upon the enemy. As it was, 15 men
were killed and about 20 wounded almost in an instant. On the ground occupied by the
brigade before the attack we found Colonel Hammerstein, One hundred and second New York
Volunteers, who had reformed a part of his command, and we formed on his left. This line
temporarily checked the advance of the enemy, and enabled the balance of our troops to
form about 100 yards in our rear. As the enemy came upon us, this line fell back to the
rear line. At this time General Hooker rode along the line, and with stirring cheers, the
contest was renewed, and the enemy thoroughly repulsed. At about 6 p.m. the brigade
advanced to the ground it occupied in column before the attack, and threw up works on the
second line. In the brave effort to check the mad onslaught of the enemy Lieut. Col.
Charles B. Randall and Capt. David J. Lindsay were instantly killed, at about the same
time. July 21, the regiment was on picket. July 22, our forces advanced, following the
enemy, who had retreated during the night, the regiment preceding the advancing column as
skirmishers. At about 4 o'clock the regiment took position in works thrown up by Third
Division, about 1,000 yards from the enemy's interior line of defenses covering Atlanta,
and about 500 yards to the left of the Marietta road. Remained here till July 25; brigade
advanced about 200 yards and threw up strong works. July 26, brigade moved to left and
regiment occupied works at the left of Twentieth Corps and right of Fourth Corps, and
about 500 yards from Buck Head road. Remained here till August 4. Siege guns were placed
in our works and we moved about fifty yards to rear and remained in support till August
23. Guns removed from our front and regiment reoccupied the works. August 25, at 10 p.m.
regiment and division were withdrawn and marched to Pace's Ferry, where they arrived at
4.30 a.m. of the 26th. Placed in our old works north of the Atlanta road, about 600 yards
from the river, on the east side, engaged in picketing, erecting works, slashing timber,
&c., till September 2. The regiment had the proud satisfaction of bearing its glorious
banner in triumph through the streets of Atlanta and bivouacking within the boundaries of
the Gate City.
Casualties: Total killed and since died of wounds, 56; wounded, 114; taken prisoners,
10; total, 180; sent to rear sick, 105; aggregate, 285.
Of the conduct of the officers and men of the regiment throughout the campaign too much
cannot be said in praise. The fortitude with which they have endured the excessive
fatigues and hardships of the campaign, the bravery shown in resisting the maddened
assaults of the enemy, and the heroism displayed as they in turn have hurled themselves
upon his serried ranks are worthy the cause for which they fight, and justly entitle them
to the proud appellation of "Soldiers of the Grand Campaign." The ability and
intrepidity shown by Lieutenant Truair in his scouting on the 25th of May; the gallantry
displayed by Captain May, commanding the skirmish line in the advance of the 16th of June,
and, again, by Captains May, Grumbach, and
Burhans at the crossing of Peach Tree Creek,
July 19, are worthy of special mention. Each of the heroic dead who have given their lives
to their country in this campaign is worthy of a separate tribute, but it is impossible to
mention all within the proper limits of this report; but I cannot forbear to speak of the
two brave officers whose lives were freely offered as a sacrifice on the memorable 20th of
July. Captain Lindsay was a brave and competent officer, as courteous as brave, and as
devoted as he was able. His loss is deeply deplored by all. Lieutenant-Colonel Randall was
a devoted and thorough soldier. He entered the service in April, 1861, and although
eminently qualified for a higher command he served as a lieutenant and captain in the
Twelfth New York Volunteers till the expiration of the time of service of that regiment,
and was immediately thereafter commissioned as lieutenant-colonel of this regiment. He had
participated in a score of battles and was severely wounded at Gettysburg, and rejoined
his command with wounds yet unhealed and took part in the battle of Wauhatchie and the
crowning glories of Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga. Brave as the bravest and coolest
when danger was greatest, the chivalrous soldier and generous friend yielded up his young
life, as he has often said he should choose to do, in the front of battle and instantly.
Cheering his men to yet greater deeds of bravery, and with saber raised aloft, ere its
point touched the earth, his soul was with the God who gave it. His example commends
itself to us all.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. A. BARNUM,
Colonel, Commanding.
