HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,
In Field, near Lost Mountain, Ga., June 13, 1864.
SIR: In compliance with orders, I herewith submit report of part taken
by First Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, in operations
of said army corps, from Saturday, May 7, to Sunday, May 15, 1864, both
days inclusive:
On morning of May 7 the brigade--composed of the Eighth Tennessee
Volunteer Infantry, Col. Felix A. Reeve; One hundredth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, Col. P.S. Slevin, and One hundred and fourth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, Lieut. Col. O. W. Sterl--moved from Red Clay, on Cleveland and
Dalton railroad, in rear of the Second Brigade of the division, on the
Catoosa Springs road to a point near Lee house, on the Varnell's Station
road, and formed line of battle on ridge east of Lee's house and north
of road. Continued in that position until evening, when two regiments,
the One hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Eighth Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry, were ordered to and did take position in gap on Varnell's
Station road, east of Lee's house, the One hundred and fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry occupying the first gap in ridge to the left and
north. The brigade remained in this position during the night. On May 8
the, Eighth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry was ordered to Kincannon’s
Cross-Roads to support battery attached to Brigadier-General McCook s
command that was in position on the left of said cross-roads. Later in
the day the One hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was advanced about
three-quarters of a mile on the Varnell's Station road, the command
resting as herein during the night. May 9, this morning the brigade
moved with the remainder of the division in a southerly direction some
three or four miles to the first ridge east of Rocky Face Ridge, where
the division was formed in line of battle, First Brigade on right of
division, connecting on right with Second Division of Twenty-third
Corps, the left of brigade resting upon crest of ridge and extending to
the right down in valley, each brigade covering its own front with a
heavy line of <ar73_698> skirmishers. As thus formed the brigade
advanced with the general line until a point some -- yards from the
enemy's works was reached, and until the left of the Second Division was
exposed to a fire of artillery. This position was held until about 5.30
p.m., when the skirmish line of the brigade advanced, supported by the
One hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, advancing upon the crest of ridge
until within -- yards of rebel works; in fact, drawing the fire of
artillery and musketry from their intrenchments. This movement was to
prevent a concentration of the enemy upon Second Division or troops on
our right. The One hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and our skirmishers
occupied the advanced position until 8 p.m., when by orders they retired
within a short distance in advance of the position occupied by them
before the advance. The brigade bivouacked in line during the night. In
the skirmishing and advance aforesaid the brigade lost 4 killed and 7
wounded. (See report of casualties hereto attached.) May 10, the brigade
occupied same position until 8.30 a.m., when we were ordered to retire;
the movement was made in good order, leisurely and regularly, to the
point where the line was first formed previous to advancing on May 9.
>From this point the brigade marched by the flank in rear of the division
some two miles, and were ordered into position on continuation or
prolongation of Rocky Face Ridge on the extreme left of the division and
corps, where brigade bivouacked for the night. May 11, occupied position
on continuation of Rocky Face Ridge. During the day the enemy make a
slight showing of an advance, by reason of which brigade was ordered
into line, but otherwise nothing resulted therefrom. The One hundred and
twelfth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. T. J. Henderson, and
Sixteenth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Veteran Infantry, Col. J. W.
Gault, reported to and joined the brigade. May 12. brigade marched with
division this morning at daylight through Tunnel Hill, and on road
toward Villanow, some twelve or thirteen miles, and bivouacked for the
night. May 13, brigade marched with division this morning at 1 a.m. on
road to and through Snake Creek Gap. That point was reached about 10
a.m. Brigade was halted here some two hours, when we were moved some two
miles in direction of railroad and placed in position on extreme left of
division, after which we advanced upon --- road, some mile or more, when
I was ordered to fall back a short distance to cover the road, it being
one of the main approaches to Snake Creek Gap from south and east. The
brigade bivouacked in line during the night at the point indicated by
orders to me. May 14, at about 8.30 a.m. brigade was ordered to and did
march some two and a half miles and join the balance of the division
about 9.30 a.m., near and at southwest side of Camp Creek, when the
division was formed in line of battle on left of Second Division, First
Brigade on the extreme left, skirmishers being thrown forward by First
Brigade covering its own front. The brigade and whole line as thus
formed advanced across and to the northeast side of Camp Creek, the
brigade and division in the advance changing direction to the right very
considerably, so much as to put our line almost if not quite at right
angles with course of Camp Creek. After crossing valley through which
Camp Creek runs, and after crossing ridge in timber land, the brigade
halted momentarily to dress the lines and again moved forward at
double-quick for ridge immediately in their front, which last-mentioned
ridge was occupied by the enemy, protected by rifle-pits, &c. The
<ar73_699> Sixteenth Kentucky Veteran Infantry, One hundred and twelfth
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and One hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
being in front line of the brigade, passed up the slope over the crest
and the rifle-pits without a perceivable halt in their lines more than
was unavoidable from the character of the ground. The front line of the
brigade moved to crest of ridge immediately in front of the enemy's
batteries, located in their second line of works. The brigade,
particularly the first line, was exposed to a very severe fire of
musketry and canister, after passing first line of enemy's pits, while
advancing to second crest and during the greater portion of the time
they held the position. The second line of brigade (the Eighth Tennessee
Volunteer Infantry and One hundred and fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry)
advancing to the first line of enemy's rifle-pits, the command was here
halted, the front and second line occupying the respective positions as
herein stated, which were held by the brigade until relieved by a
portion of the Fourth Army Corps a short time before dark, some of the
regiments not being relieved until the dark of the evening. After
brigade was halted the Eighth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry was moved
from second line into position on the left of brigade, to protect the
flank, which was exposed at that time. In the charge upon the first line
of pits, in moving up to second crest and while holding that position,
the brigade lost in killed and wounded as follows: Killed, enlisted men,
12; wounded, commissioned officers, 4; enlisted men, 129; missing, 9.
Among the many brave men wounded I regret to say is Col. Thomas J.
Henderson, of One hundred and twelfth Illinois Infantry, slightly;
Captain Wright, of said regiment,, severely; Captain Pumpelly, Sixteenth
Kentucky Veteran Infantry, severely, and Lieutenant Laurie, of said
regiment, mortally (since dead). Some 3 to 5 prisoners were taken in
first line of rebel rifle-pits and sent to rear. After being relieved
the brigade was moved with the balance of division some three-quarters
of a mile to rear and bivouacked for the night. May 15, the brigade,
with division, moved this morning to a position on left of army near
railroad, and in flank and rear of Twentieth Corps. No part of the
brigade was engaged during the day other than in constructing
protections for themselves in case of attack. The lines were constructed
during the day and evening.
The officers and men of the whole command, with two exceptions, reported
by Colonel Reeve, Eighth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, faithfully and
gallantly performed their duties during the time herein mentioned, more
particularly at the battle of Resaca, where all seemed to vie with each
other in pushing forward and encouraging their respective commands. 1
would respectfully call attention to the reports of regimental
commanders herewith submitted.
A statement of casualties in the brigade is hereto appended.(*) A
detailed statement was forwarded soon after the battle of Resaca.
I would be doing injustice should I neglect to honorably mention the
members of my staff--Lieut. James Coughlan, aide-de-camp; Lieut. E. E.
Tracy, inspector and aide-de-camp, and J. Walter McClymonds, acting
assistant adjutant-general--all of whom cheerfully performed their
duties efficiently and promptly, rendering all the assistance that could
be expected of any officers in their position, and at the battle of
Resaca exposing themselves at all times on the line in the performance
of their duty, where occasionally destruction seemed almost inevitable.
<ar73_700>
In conclusion, I would, as an excuse for the meagerness of this report,
state that it has been made up almost wholly while on active field duty,
and most of it while laboring under indisposition. If injustice has been
done to any one, it is certainly unintentional and the result of
forgetfulness, and will be cheerfully and promptly corrected when called
to my attention.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
 J. W. REILLY,
 Colonel, Commanding First Brigade.
 Maj. H. W. WELLS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
P. S.--The regimental reports have been sent in informal and will be
forwarded as soon as received.
Recapitulation
O       Officers.
M       Men.

                        -Killed.-       Wounded.
Regiment.               Date.   O       M       O       M
                1864.
16th Regiment Kentucky Veteran Volunteer Infantry               May 14  ....    2       2
27
112th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry              May 14  ....    8       3       39
104th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry  {{      May 9May 14     ........        ........
........        26
100th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry  {{      May 9May 14     ........        2....
........        220
8th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Infantry       {{      May 14May 9     ........        11
........        210
Total           ....    ....    14      5       108
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