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Commander's Report: Savannah Campaign
HEADQUARTERS 149TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
Savannah, Ga., December 26, 1864.
CAPTAIN: The last report by the commander of this regiment was to the date of
September 2, 1864, the regiment on that night bivouacking in the streets of Atlanta, Ga.
September 3, the regiment and brigade marched to the fortifications on the southern
boundaries of the city and went into camp.
September 10, Col. H. A. Barnum, in consequence of the death of Colonel Ireland, was
ordered to the command of the Third Brigade, and the command of this regiment devolved
upon Maj. N. Grumbach.
September 12, the regiment and brigade moved about half a mile back from the works
toward the city and built winter quarters. The time from this date to October 11 was
occupied in working on the inner line of fortifications, reviews, parades, drills, and the
usual routine of duties appertaining to camp life.
October 11, the regiment and brigade went on a foraging expedition to Flat Rock and
returned on the 14th with train loaded with forage.
October 19 to 22, the regiment guarded railroad train and men engaged in tearing up
rails on East Point railroad to and from East Point.
October 26, the regiment, with other troops, went on a foraging expedition to Yellow
River, Ga, and returned the 29th, having met with good success and filling 500 wagons with
forage. The intermediate time, between October 29 and November 5, was passed in performing
the usual duties of camp.
November 5, regiment broke camp at 3 p.m., and, with brigade and division, moved out on
the McDonough road and bivouacked till November 6; the order to march having been
countermanded, the regiment returned to camp at Atlanta at 12 m.
November 9, at 6 a.m. a body of rebel cavalry, estimated at 1,200, attacked the works
in front of us with shell and were repulsed, leaving 3 men killed and 2 wounded.
Casualties on our side, none. The time from November 9 to the 15th was principally spent
in preparing for the grand campaign which was to follow.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
NICHOLAS GRUMBACH,
Major, Commanding Regiment.
Capt. O. T. MAY,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
HEADQUARTERS 149TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
Savannah, Ga., December 26, 1864.
CAPTAIN:
November 15, the regiment left their camp at
Atlanta at 7 a.m. with 16 officers, 244 musket-bearing men, 46 daily duty men, musicians,
and non-commissioned staff, being an aggregate of 306 men, and marched to near Stone
Mountain, and bivouacked at 4 a.m. of the 16th. November 16, marched at 7 a.m., crossed
Yellow River at 12.30 p.m., and bivouacked at 5.30 p.m. at Littlefield. November 17,
marched at 5 a.m.; bivouacked at 4.30 p.m. near Ulcofauhachee River on Circle road.
November 18, marched at 5.30 a.m. and crossed Ulcofauhachee River at 7 a.m.; passed
through Social Circle and halted for dinner at Ridge-way, fifty-seven miles from Atlanta;
regiment and brigade guarding train; bivouacked at 6 p.m. one mile from Madison. November
19, marched at 5 a.m. Regiment, brigade, and division left the corps and went on an
expedition by themselves. Our brigade was second in line and halted at 2 p.m. until the
Second Brigade, which was in the advance, destroyed a large section of the Augusta
railroad. Bivouacked at 3.30 p.m. on a large plantation at Blue Spring. Destroyed about 80
rods of the railroad. November 20, marched at 8 a.m., One hundred and forty-ninth in
advance of division. Reached Oconee River at 9 a.m.; halted for the night at Denham's
Mills, and regiment went on picket. The regimental headquarters were at the house of Mr.
Denham, owner of the mills and plantation. He had previously left with his family for
Secessia. November 21, marched at 9 a.m.; regiment rear guard. As we passed the mills of
Mr. Denham they were burning splendidly. Bivouacked at dark till November 22. Marched at 7
a.m. and rejoined the corps at 12 m; sighted Milledgeville at 4 p.m. and passed through
the capital city at 8 p.m., and crossed the Oconee River and bivouacked one mile east of
the river at 11 p.m.
November 23, remained in camp till 1 p.m., when regiment and brigade, with one brigade
of the First Division, went out three miles toward Gordon and destroyed railroad track.
Returned to camp at 7 p.m. November 24, 7 a.m. marched into the main road and halted until
the Fourteenth Corps passed. Resumed march and bivouacked at dark one mile southeast of
Town Creek. November 25, marched at 9 a.m. as far as Buffalo Creek Swamp; remained until
nine bridges destroyed by rebels were rebuilt across the swamp. At 8 p.m. moved across and
bivouacked at 9.30 p.m. November 26, marched at 7 a.m., the regiment guarding ammunition
train; passed through Sandersville at 1.30 p.m.; marched to Tennille Station, on the Macon
and Savannah Railroad, reaching that point at 3.30 p.m. Our division, with the First,
destroyed the depot and about two miles of railroad track. Bivouacked at 7 p.m. in a field
beside the railroad. November 27, our regiment moved onto the railroad again at 8 a.m. in
advance of the division and deployed Companies B and F as skirmishers. The balance of the
regiment was the advance guard. The rest of the division engaged in destroying the track.
Left the railroad at 3 p.m. and marched to Davisborough, and bivouacked at 9 p.m. November
28, the regiment marched at 8 a.m. back onto the railroad to the point at which they left
it on the 27th, and tore up and destroyed the track to the wagon road leading to
Davisborough. About 4 p.m. a small body of rebel cavalry made a dash at the Third Brigade,
where they were at work, but seeing our strength skedaddled on double-quick, only wounding
one man in the brigade. Returned to Davisborough and bivouacked at 8 p.m. November 29,
marched at 6 a.m. Bivouacked at 7 p.m. six miles east of Spiers Station. Regiment went on
picket. November 30, marched at 6.30 a.m. and crossed the Ogeechee River at 5 p.m.;
bivouacked at 6.30 p.m. two miles east of the river, one mile from Louisville, and near
the plantation of Herschel V. Johnson.
December 1, marched at 6.30 a.m.; brigade in advance; passed the Fourteenth Corps at 4
p.m. and bivouacked at 5 p.m. at Stone CrossRoads. December 2, marched at 7 a.m.; regiment
and brigade guarding division train. Crossed Buck Head Creek and bivouacked at Buck Head
Church, four miles from Millen, the junction of the railroads from Augusta and from Macon
for Savannah. December 3, marched at 12.30 p.m.; passed near the stockades, where
thousands of our men, prisoners, had been confined. Crossed the Augusta railroad and
continued our march until 4 a.m. of the 4th. December 4, marched at 8 a.m.; crossed Horse
Creek at 12 m., and halted until dark for a bridge to be built across a swamp. Resumed
march, crossed the swamp, and bivouacked at 7 p.m. December 5, marched at 9 a.m.; regiment
rear guard; crossed Little Horse Creek; marched until 9 p.m. and bivouacked in the field.
December 6, marched at 8.30 a.m.; found the roads much obstructed by trees fallen across
them--the work of rebels. Bivouacked in the field at 8 p.m. December 7, marched at 7 a.m.,
our brigade in advance of division; went into camp for the night near Springfield;
regiment on picket. December 8, pickets recalled at 7 a.m. and regiment in rear of
division. Marched to near Middleton's Mills and bivouacked at 4.30 p.m. December 9,
marched at 7.30 a.m. Cannonading heard most of the day. At 3 p.m. our regiment, brigade,
and division were formed in line of battle on the west side of a swamp, four miles from
Monteith. The road through the swamp was blockaded by the rebels and was commanded also by
a fort. The rebel force was flanked by two regiments crossing the swamp, one on each side
of the road, and the rebels were thereby forced to retreat. At 4 p.m. we advanced and
bivouacked in the swamp until December 10; marched at 8.30 a.m., regiment and brigade
guarding wagon train. Passed the fort and obstructions in the road, crossed the Charleston
and Savannah Railroad, and moved down on the main road between the railroad and Savannah
River to within five miles of Savannah and bivouacked.
December 11, at 8 a.m. advanced toward the city and drove the enemy into their works.
The siege of Savannah commenced. Our regiment occupied a ditch and formed breast-works of
it. Were ordered out at 1 o'clock in the night to charge the enemy's works, but the order
was countermanded and the troops returned to our own works. Regiment remained in the works
until the 15th without any casualties. On the 15th Ezra Hall, of Company H, was wounded by
a piece of shell. This was the first and only man wounded during the campaign. Regiment
remained in our works, picketing our own front and under an almost incessant fire of shell
from the rebel batteries, until the morning of December 21. At 2 a.m. it was discovered
that the rebels had evacuated their works and were retreating. Our division advanced at 3
a.m. toward the city, our regiment the advance guard. Companies B and F were sent forward
as skirmishers and entered the city at 5 a.m., closely followed by the rest of the
division, and the city was surrendered and at once taken possession of by our forces. In
the haste of the regiment to leave their works and enter the city the men left everything
behind except arms and accouterments, and the One hundred and forty-ninth had the proud
honor of first entering the city of Savannah.
Casualties: Wounded, 1; left on the march sick, 2; sent to hospital sick, 4; died from
disease on march, 1; fell out on march, whereabouts unknown, 2; total, 10.
The regiment left Atlanta in excellent spirits and health and full of confidence of the
successful termination of the campaign, and their conduct throughout the march and while
in the trenches before the city was worthy of the cause for which we are fighting, and was
such as commanded admiration from their commanders, and demonstrated that the utmost
confidence exists between our generals and the Union soldiers.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
NICHOLAS GRUMBACH,
Major, Commanding Regiment.
Capt. O. T. MAY,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
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