2nd Massachusetts Infantry

The 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
& the Atlanta Campaign
1 May--8 September, 1864:
Battle Reports

HEADQUARTERS SECOND MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY
September 8, 1864

SIR: The Second Massachusetts Infantry left Tullahoma at 8 a.m. April 28, 1864, and, marching with its division by way of Stevenson and Bridgeport, Ala., joined its corps and the main Army of the Cumberland in Chattanooga Valley May 3, 1864. May 5, went into position at foot of Taylor's Ridge, 10 miles east of Ringgold, Ga. On the 7th, marching through Nickajack Trace, reached Trickum Post-Office; went into position in front of Buzzard Roost. May 10, at 12.20 a.m. marched to Snake Creek Gap and joined McPherson's army about 5 miles west of Resaca. May 13, marched about 3 miles in front of last position. May 14, marched to extreme left of whole army, where corps relieved the 4th Corps, which had been heavily engaged with the enemy. On the 15th the regiment was ordered to make a reconnaissance and ascertain the position of the enemy. About half a mile in front of the corps the enemy was found in force, and the regiment returned to its former position in the brigade, with a loss of 2 men wounded. At 2.30 p.m. of the same day the regiment, with its brigade, moved into position against the enemy, which resulted in driving him into his works, and afterward 3 attacks of the enemy were successfully repulsed, he leaving his dead and wounded behind. The regiment rested on its arms that night, and early in the morning the skirmishers found that the enemy had fled, abandoning the strong natural and artificial defenses around Resaca. In this engagement the regiment lost 1 killed, 21 wounded, and 1 mortally wounded. On the 17th crossed the Oostenaula. On the 19th the larger part of the day was employed in advancing upon the town of Cassville in line, preceded by skirmishers. The skirmishers of the regiment exchanged a few shots with the enemy. At dark the line was halted just on the northern edge of Cassville and threw up breast-works. On the 21st Col. Cogswell, commanding the 2nd MA Inf., was ordered to proceed to Massachusetts to expedite the forwarding of recruits to his regiment, which left Lieut. Col. C.F. Morse in command, whose report for the time of his command is herewith inclosed.

July 1, the regiment was lying in works in front of Marietta. July 3, Marietta being evacuated, the regiment, with its brigade, marched 3 miles south of that place. July 4, took up position in front of rebel works. The time from this to the 19th was taken up by advancing as the enemy fell back, remaining a week on the north bank of the Chattahoochee, crossing the river on the 17th, crossing Peach Tree Creek on the 19th, and on the 20th, just south of said creek, the regiment with other troops of the corps went into position to meet an attack of the enemy, which was made at 4.20 p.m. This regiment occupied the right of the second line, and was not actively engaged, losing 1 commissioned officer wounded. On the 22nd the enemy fell back to his inner built defenses of the city of Atlanta, and this regiment, with its brigade, moved up and built defenses in front of the enemy, the regiment occupying the right of the second line of the brigade, which was on the right of the corps and connected with the left of the 14th Corps. In this position it remained until the morning of the 30th, at 4 a.m., when Lieut-Col. Morse, 2nd MA Inf., commanding the picket of the brigade, having advanced upon and surprised and captured the enemy's pickets in his front, securing a commanding hill near one of the advanced posts of the enemy, the regiment was ordered to support the picket-line of the brigade and hold the hill. The regiment moved promptly to the hill, threw up breastworks under the severest fire of the enemy's infantry and artillery, at a range of about 400 yards. At 11 a.m. it returned to its old position, having been relieved by the 13th New Jersey Volunteers, Capt. Harris commanding. In that affair the regiment lost 3 men killed and 1 commissioned officer and 6 men wounded. The regiment remained in works before Atlanta 35 days, during all the time exposed to the enemy's artillery and his infantry sharpshooters, but fortunately suffered only 2 casualties in this position-1 man's leg broken by a 20-lb. shell, and 1 man shot through the arm severely by a rebel sharpshooter; also, a few casualties on the picket-line, mentioned below. On the 25th of August at 8.30 a.m. this regiment left its brigade and marched to the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee and commenced building works, felling timber and strengthening the position, which was occupied by its brigade that night. On the afternoon of September 2, Atlanta having been evacuated by the enemy, the regiment, with its brigade, marched into the city at 8 p.m., when the regiment was detailed by General Slocum for provost guard duty, where it has remained ever since, encamped in the park of the City Hall, under the command of Capt. R.B. Brown, Col. Cogswell and Lt.Col Morse having been appointed commander and provost-marshal of the post, respectively. Subjoined is a report of the casualties during the campaign, commencing on the 28th of April and ending September 2, 1864, a period of 126 days.

W. Cogswell
Colonel Second Massachusetts Infantry

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIV., 20TH ARMY CORPS Atlanta, Ga., September 11, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor herewith to forward a report of operations and of the part taken by the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, in the campaign for the capture of Atlanta.

This brigade, consisting of the 27th Indiana Vol. Inf., Col. Silas Colgrove; 13th New Jersey Vol. Inf., Col. Ezra Carman; 150th New York Vol. Inf., Col. John H. Ketcham; 3rd Wisconsin Veteran Vol. Inf., Col. William Hawley; 107th New York Vol. Inf., Col. Nirom M. Crane, and 2nd Massachusetts Veteran Vol. Inf., Col. William Cogswell, was, during the winter of 1863 and 1864 stationed for the protection of that portion of the railroad between Nashville and Chattanooga, from Christiana to Elk River bridge, inclusive. The brigade was concentrated at Tullahoma, Tenn., April 27, with the exception of the 3rd Wisconsin Vols., stationed at Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tenn., and the 107th NY Vols., which had been ordered to move to Shelbyville, Tenn., and escort from that place to the command a wagon train sent to Nashville for supplies. On the 28th day of April, 1864, the brigade took up its line of march for the main army and the enemy. April 28, it moved to Decherd, Tenn. April 29, from Decherd to University Place, Tenn. April 30, from University Place to Battle Creek (Sweeden's Cove), Tenn.

May 1, it marched from Battle Creek via Bridgeport, Ala., to Shellmound, Tenn., at which point the division concentrated. May 2, from Shellmound, moved with the division to Aetna, Tenn. May 3, from Aetna to east side of Lookout Mountain, and camped in the valley near Chattanooga. May 4, from near Chattanooga, via Rossville, to Lee and Gordon's Mills, Ga. May 5, from Lee and Gordon's Mills to Pleasant Grove Church. May 7, from Pleasant Groce Church, over Taylor's Ridge, to Anderson (Trickum) Post-Office, Ga. May 8, 3rd Wisconsin Vols. joined the brigade. May 9, 107th NY Vols. joined the brigade. May 10, marched from Anderson PO to and through Snake Creek Gap. On the 13th day of May the brigade, with the division to which it belongs, moved to the vicinity of Resaca and took position, covering the approach from the direction of Dalton and acted as supporting force during a reconnaissance made by the 14th Corps toward Resaca, from the left. On the 14th of May the division was massed in support of the 3rd Div. of the corps in line in front of the enemy at Resaca.

On the afternoon of the 14th day of May, about 4 o'clock, the brigade with the division moved to the extreme left of the main line to the support of the left of the 4th Corps, then pressed the enemy. The arrival of the division was opportune, as the enemy had succeeded in turning the left of the 4th Corps, throwing back its left brigade in considerable confusion, and were still advancing, and on the point of capturing a battery abandoned by its support when the division came up. The 3rd Brigade being in advance, quickly repulsed and drove back the force of the enemy which was making for the battery. The 2nd Brigade took position next, on the left of Stanley's division, 4th Corps, the 3rd Brigade on its left, the 1st Brigade in support.

On the 15th of May was fought the action commonly known as the battle of Resaca. The 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the 20th Corps moved to attack the enemy at a point in front on of the left of the position held by the 4th Corps. At this point an angle existed in the main line of the enemy's intrenchments, his line bearing therefrom to his right and rear. The 1st Div. was to support the 2nd and 3rd of the corps. The attack by the 2nd and 3rd Divs. was only a partial success. The 1st Div. was then ordered to a position on the left of the other two divs., covering their left flank. The 1st Brigade on the right of the division, the 2nd on its left. The brigade moved about 3 p.m. and was formed in two lines and in echelon to the 1st Brigade. As soon as the brigade was formed I received orders from BG Williams, commanding the division, to move forward across an open ground and occupy the woods beyond, which skirted the railroad near Green's Station and at some 250 yards distant from the enemy's breastworks. While executing this movement I received orders from MG Hooker, commanding the corps, by Lt-Col. Perkins, his ass't adjutant-general, to advance my left and, if possible, to swing round into position, threatening the enemy's right flank. Soon after takin position in the woods, and while the brigade was executing the movement, my skirmishers became sharply engaged with those of the enemy. It was at the same time reported to me that the enemy was massing on my left. Becoming satisfied that such was the case, I threw back the left of my line, placing two regiments in the second line, on the left of those of the first, extending to and covering a knoll forming the end of the ridge on which the line of my brigade was formed, which knoll was the key to that part of the line.

Reporting the state of things to BG Williams, commanding the division, he ordered the 3rd Brigade, Col. Robinson commanding, to take position on my left and cover the left flank. The line of the brigade was about 400 yards distant from the enemy's line of breastworks, and in the following order of regiments from right to left: [27th IN, 2nd MA, 3rd WS, 13 NJ, 150 NY, 107 NY--in reserve]. That portion of the line occupied by the 27th IN, 2nd MA, 3rd WS, and the right of the 13 NJ was covered with trees and underbrush in front and the ground slightly rising. In front of the center of the 13th NJ was a peach orchard, and beyond that, at some 50 to 75 yards, woods, the ground descending rapidly from the peach orchard. In front of the left of the 13 NJ, and the whole of the position about the knoll, the groung was open and descended rapidly to the plain. The railroad was some 200 or 300 yards in front of the position and afforded by the excavation at that point good cover to the enemy. To the left of the knoll the gorund was level and covered with thick woods. The knoll was occupied by a dwelling-house and out-building (Scales' House). Colonels Ketcham and Carman, on the left, were ordered to and constructed temporary breastworks of rails on that part of the line inclosing the knoll. This disposition had hardly been made when the enemy advanced along the whole front. His first line was easily repulsed, when he advance his second, which fought more obstinately than his first, but gained no advantage and was driven back with comparatively heavy loss. On the right, the 27th IN, Col. Cogrove, captured the flag and commander of the 38th Alabama, and some 30 prisoners.

The enemy's heaviest attack was directed against the left for the possession of the knoll, against which he directed three lines. The number of prisoners captured by the brigade was about 60. The enemy in his retreat was pursued by our skirmishers to his intrenchments. The attack was made by Stewart's div., of Hood's corps; and was maintained about one hour and a half. The loss of the brigade was comparatively small, owing in part to the protection offered by the breastworks on the left. The loss of the brigade was 13 killed, 135 wounded, 2 missing; total: 150...The precise loss of the ememy I do not know, as the brigade moved before his dead were collected. It must have been greater than ours, however, as there were a great many dead left in our front. The behavior of the brigade in this action was excellent. The 3rd Brigade on my left repulsed the attack of the enemy on their front with equal ease...

...About 12 o'clock at night considerable firing by the enemy occured on my right, but did not extend to my line. The enemy retreated during the night.

On the 16th day of May the briagde, with the division, moved in pursuit of the enemy to Bryant's Ford, on the Coosawattee River. On the 17th day of May moved from Bryant's Ford to near Calhoun, Ga. On the 18th day of May, from near Calhoun to near Adairsville, Ga. On the 19th day of May, from near Adairsville to a position in front of the enemy's position at Cassville, Ga., driving in the enemy's skirmishers near Cassville at dusk, and forming line within 400 yards of the enemy's line of breastworks. During the night slight breastworks of earth and rails were constructed by the brigade. The enemy retreated from our front during the night.

May 23, the brigade moved with the division, crossing the Etowah River to Euharlee. May 24, moved from Euharlee to Burnt Hickory. May 25, marched with the division from Burnt Hickory toward Dallas, crossing Pumkin Vine Creek. When within 2 miles of Dallas, countermarched, recrossed the Pumpkin Vine Creek, moved on the left bank to a bridge near Owen's Mill, recrossed the Pumkin Vine Creek at that point, moved about 2 miles to the position occupied by Gen. Geary's div., in front of which the enemy had been found in some force. Immediately upon the arrival of the division at that position, dispositions were made for attacking the enemy. The formation of the division for attack was 3 lines, a brigade front. The 3rd brigade in the first line, 2nd Brigade in second, and 1st Brigade in third line. The 13 NJ, Col. Carman, was deployed as skirmishers to cover the right flank of the division. The 2nd Massachusetts Vols. was left at the upper bridge across the Pumpkin Vine Creek as guard.