1864/05/22 Report of Col. J.Coburn

On the 9th day of May the brigade was encamped near Trickum, Ga., in Dogwood Valley, and on the right of the army at Buzzard Roost. Two regiments, the Nineteenth Michigan and Twentieth Connecticut, were ordered to march and occupy Boyd's Trail, over Rocky Face, or John's Mountain, south of Buzzard Roost. This was done after a slight skirmish, With the loss of 1 sergeant of the Nineteenth Michigan mortally wounded. These regiments remained there on the 10th, the remainder of the brigade still in their former camp. On the 11th the brigade moved with the division to Snake Creek Gap, some seventeen miles, and went into camp near the southern end, and at once began work on the road, making a double track for wagons and a by-way for troops. On the 12th the brigade continued at work on the road. At noon three regiments marched three miles in advance and encamped in the rear of a part of General McPherson's command. The Twentieth Connecticut and Thirty-third Indiana remained at work on the road during the day, and at night rejoined the brigade. May 13, the whole brigade marched at daylight, and at about 2 p.m. went into position on the left of the division, in rear of the Fifteenth Corps, in the neighborhood of Resaca, having been deployed in two lines. In the evening the brigade marched to the left and front about a mile and a half, and encamped for the night in the rear of a part of the Fourteenth Corps. May 14, the brigade was moved forward about 400 yards and relieved a part of the Fourteenth Corps, Carlin s brigade, in front and to the left. The formation was in two lines deployed. The brigade encamped here for the night, on the left of the division. The position of the enemy was in our front and beyond a narrow cleared valley upon a low wooded ridge covered by fortifications. The Fourteenth Corps was severely engaged with the enemy here during the day. May 15, the brigade moved in the morning with the division to the left some two miles, passing the Fourteenth, Fourth, and Twenty-third Corps, and here, having halted, received an order to advance in rear of the right of the First Brigade, in echelon in two lines, and in their support as an assaulting column on the works of the enemy. On coming to the position where this formation was to be made, it was found to be impracticable on account of the location of a part of the Fourth Corps on our right. The brigade was then formed in close column of battalions immediately in rear of the First Brigade. Soon after this order was changed and the brigade directed to be formed in two lines in the rear of the First Brigade, which was being done, but before the completion of the deployment orders were given to advance at once and as rapidly as possible to support the First Brigade, which was making an advance upon the enemy's works. The brigade was moved forward at once in the following order: First line, Eighty-fifth Indiana, Colonel Baird, on the right; Nineteenth Michigan, Colonel Gilbert, on the left. Second line, Twentieth Connecticut, Colonel Ross, on the right; Twenty-second Wisconsin, Colonel Utley, on the left. Third line, Thirty-third Indiana, Major Miller, in rear of the Twenty-second Wisconsin. The brigade was thus formed in a narrow ravine, very thickly wooded with low and bushy trees, with steep hill-sides, and out of view of the enemy and their works. The advance was difficult up this steep ascent. At the time of receiving this order to advance, and throughout the movement up the hill, the Second Division of the Twentieth Corps was moving by the left flank in from six to eight lines from right to left through my brigade, breaking and intercepting the lines, and preventing any regimental commander from seeing his own troops, or the possibility, for the time, of managing them. The brigade, notwithstanding, moved forward over the hill and onward, carrying some men of the Second Division with them, and losing others of its own men, who were swept with the heavier current to the left. The summit of the hill is covered with woods, but the slope beyond and the valley are cleared in front of a portion of the rebel works, which were situated on the hills beyond, and which here presented opposite our right a salient angle receding with a long sweep sharply to our left. The brigade advanced, a portion across the field to the works and the left along the woods to its left. This was done under a tremendous fire of artillery and musketry, which killed and wounded many of our men, but they bravely advanced and planted the colors of the Nineteenth Michigan and Twenty-second Wisconsin in a small fort of the enemy occupied by four of their field pieces. Such was the fury of the enemy's fire that the men could not advance farther, and here a portion of the First and Second Brigades remained during the day, holding this position under the very brow of the rebel earth-works. A portion retired to the left and rear. Soon after my arrival at the immediate vicinity of the rebel works General Ward was wounded and left the field. I took command of the forces there and made three efforts to charge and take the enemy's works, but such was the disorganized condition of the men of both brigades and the terrific force of their fire that each charge failed and nothing more could be done than hold the place up to the line of their breast-works. In one of these charges late in the day the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania, Colonel Cobham, gallantly participated. Remaining here till near sunset, I received an order to come to the rear with the men of my command then with me. I returned, leaving the men where I placed them, near the rebel works. This was approved. A portion of the brigade having been formed in the rear and to the left after the first charge, I took them, by order of General Butterfield, to the left still farther to meet and assist in repelling a charge then being made by the enemy upon the left of our position. The Thirty-third Indiana at once changed front forward and promptly met the attack. After a severe fight, in which the rebels suffered much, they were repulsed and retired. General Butterfield then directed me to send 200 men to re-enforce the men of my own brigade and relieve the men of the First Brigade still near the rebel earth-works. This was done under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Buckingham, of the Twentieth Connecticut. His force assisted in digging the side of the fort away and in dragging out four pieces of artillery at night. The losses of the brigade in this action are as follows: 1 officer killed and 7 wounded, 26 men killed and 191 wounded, and 1 man missing. I refer to the reports of the regimental commanders for the names of officers and men killed and wounded, and for acts of distinguished merit. Early in the action Col. Henry C. Gilbert, Nineteenth Michigan, was mortally wounded while leading his men up to the rebel works. His life has been gloriously sacrificed to his country in the front rank of her soldiers. Captain Calmer, of the same regiment, was killed on the top of their ramparts, and Captain Patton and Lieutenant Flint, of the Twenty-second Wisconsin, mortally wounded close beside him. The conduct of the brigade under the peculiarly trying circumstances was excellent. Their determined and gallant charge secured the position so boldly won by the First Brigade, and together they held it, under the very muzzles of the enemy's guns, five hours in daylight, and their prompt and vigorous action on the left late in the day contributed powerfully to repel the fierce assault of the enemy there. The brigade encamped on the battle-field, a detail making breast-works during the night. On the morning of the 16th of May the brigade marched with the division, passing the railroad near Resaca and crossing the Connesauga on a temporary bridge left standing by the enemy. At 11 o'clock at night the brigade arrived at the Coosawattee River at Field's Mill and began crossing soon after on a ferry-boat. This was accomplished at 2.30 on the morning of the 17th; here the command bivouacked till daylight. At 2 p.m. on the 17th the brigade marched, leaving a detail of 150 men to complete a bridge over the Coosawattee and 250 men as a train guard; marched till 10 p.m. and encamped with the division. On the morning of the 18th the brigade marched toward Cassville, and the division finding the enemy in front, the Twenty-second Wisconsin was left with the train as a guard. The brigade moved on, having made a march of some twenty-one miles; encamped on Gravelly Plateau, some four miles north of Cassville. Two regiments, the Thirty-third and Eighty-fifth Indiana, were sent back two miles and stationed as a guard upon a road intersecting the one to Cassville on the right. On the 19th a portion of the brigade was ordered to advance with the division to the right of the road to Cassville; the Nineteenth Michigan, Major Griffin, and Twentieth Connecticut, under Colonel Ross, were sent. The Thirty-third and Eighty-fifth Indiana having come up, were ordered to hold the Cassville road and fortify it. This they did until 2 p.m. The regiments of the brigade in advance occupied the right of the division and supported the artillery, driving the enemy before them with great promptness and bravery. At 2 p.m. the Thirty-third and Eighty-fifth Indiana were ordered forward from their position on the road, and at 4 p.m. joined the division, already formed and advancing upon the enemy; they were hurried up and placed in position to the right and rear of the division, which had then arrived to a point half a mile west of Cassville. Just at this time the Nineteenth Michigan and Twentieth Connecticut were ordered up to support Company C, First Michigan Artillery,(*) which took a position on an eminence to command the enemy's line on the opposite side of Cassville and to the east. The Thirty-third and Eighty-fifth Indiana were moved up and formed the second line in their immediate rear. At dusk the Nineteenth Michigan and Twentieth Connecticut, supported by the Thirty-third and Eighty-fifth Indiana, were advanced into the town, which, after a skirmish, they held and occupied during the night. The streets were then strongly barricaded and every preparation made for a strenuous resistance of any attempt to dislodge our force. The heights beyond the town were covered by the enemy in large numbers, who made extensive fortifications during the night but evacuated them at daylight. The brigade occupied the town until 10 a.m. of the 20th of May, when it moved to the west about a mile and a half and encamped with the division, the First Division, Twentieth Corps, relieving us in Cassville. The loss in the advance on and occupation of Cassville was 1 man killed and 5 wounded. I here take occasion to return thanks to all of my staff for their activity and ardor in obeying and executing all orders and meeting all emergencies. To Capt. A. G. Kellam, provost-marshal, Lieut. F. C. Crawford, acting assistant adjutant-general, and Lieutenants Booth and Reynolds, my aides, I accord the highest praise for bravery and coolness. The commanders of regiments did, I believe, their whole duty as soldiers and brave men.