HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,
Near Decatur, Ga., September 10, 1864.
CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders from division headquarters, I have
the honor to submit report of the operations and movements of the First
Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps--composed of the
Sixteenth Kentucky Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Maj. J. S. White; Eighth
Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, Capt. J. W. Berry; One hundredth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, Col. P.S. Slevin; One hundred and twelfth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, Lieut. Col. E. S. Bond, and One hundred and fourth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Lieut. Col. O. W. Sterl--since crossing the
Chattahoochee River on 8th of July:
July 9, brigade moved about half a mile into position on right of
division on crest of ridge facing east, intrenching the position.
Brigade remained until evening of 11th of July, when we were relieved by
Second Division and placed in rear of line in reserve. Continued in
reserve, with an occasional reconnaissance by single regiment, until,
morning of 17th, brigade moved with division in a northeasterly
direction to Sandy Springs Camp-Ground. After passing this point changed
direction to a southeasterly course on Cross Keys road, camping for the
night, on Nancy's Creek; slight skirmishing during latter part of march,
1 man only wounded. 18th moved to <ar73_705> Cross Keys, thence to
Decatur road near the Roswell and Atlanta railroad. 19th, marched in
southerly direction to north bank of Pea Vine Creek, on Atlanta road,
and camped for the night. 20th, moved in advance of division toward
Atlanta, continually skirmishing, sometimes heavily, until about three
miles from Atlanta, and were placed in position fronting enemy's works,
where brigade remained, having thrown up defenses, until the morning of
the 22d, when it was ascertained the enemy had evacuated their works in
our front. Brigade, with division and corps, moved to Howard's house,
about one mile distant from Atlanta. Remained here about two hours, when
brigade was ordered to proceed at once to rear of the corps trains and
hospital, to protect them from a threatened attack. In obedience to
orders, brigade moved to south bank of Pea Vine Creek, the Eighth
Tennessee Infantry and Sixteenth Kentucky Veteran Infantry moving to a
point near the Pace's Ferry and Decatur road to protect right flank of
Colonel Sprague's brigade, of the [Sixteenth] Corps, that had fallen
back from Decatur. No enemy was met by any part of brigade. Remained in
position until evening of 26th. Ordered to join division near Atlanta,
at or near Howard's house. Did so, and were put into position on left of
division in works thrown up by enemy, where brigade remained until
evening of 1st of August. On the 29th of July brigade made a
reconnaissance to the east of Atlanta and toward right of enemy's
position, crossing Sugar Creek at Terry's Mill, going about one mile
south of that point until within not to exceed 500 yards of an apparent
strong line of earth-works, with head-logs, &c., occupied in force by
enemy. There was continual skirmishing. Brigade returned to camp without
any loss.
August 1, brigade moved with the division some three miles toward the
right of army and bivouacked for the night. 2d, moved some seven miles
to the extreme right of army; placed in position on west bank of--Creek;
very slight skirmishing only in advance of our position. 3d, no move
made by brigade; Lieutenant King, of Sixteenth Kentucky, was wounded on
skirmish line in arm severely. 4th, moved in afternoon to the rear and
right of Second Division, and bivouacked for the night, losing some few
men by stray shots from the enemy. 5th, moved with division to right on
Lick Skillet road; massed in rear of Fourteenth Corps, where brigade
bivouacked for the night; Lieutenant Clarke, of One hundredth Ohio, was
mortally wounded by a musket-ball from enemy this morning, while his
regiment was moving out from position in rear of Second Division. 6th,
at 10 a.m. strengthened skirmish line of Third Brigade with 200 men of
brigade, all under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Mottley, of Eleventh
Kentucky Infantry, for purpose of carrying ridge occupied by enemy on
east side of Utoy Creek and immediately east of Sandtown road; the line,
supported by One hundred and fourth Ohio Infantry, placed in position on
west side of creek. The skirmish line thus re-enforced, formed and
charged, driving the enemy into their works, which were now ascertained
to be on crest of ridge. The One hundred and twelfth Illinois Infantry,
One hundredth Ohio Infantry, Eighth Tennessee Infantry, and five
companies of One hundred and fourth Ohio Infantry were ordered across
Utoy Creek; the One hundred and twelfth Illinois and One hundredth Ohio
were deployed, supported by the Eighth Tennessee, under command of Major
Jordan, and five companies of the One hundred and fourth Ohio, charged
to within «45 R R--VOL XXXVIII, PT II» <ar73_706> about twenty-five or
thirty yards of the enemy's works, but owing to the entanglement cut by
enemy in front of their works, rendering it almost impossible to advance
with any rapidity or regularity, and the heavy and destructive fire of
the enemy, protected by their works with head-logs, the line was forced
to halt, but did not yield one inch of ground. The Eighth Tennessee,
Major Jordan, was deployed as rapidly as possible, and one more effort
was made to carry the position, supported by five companies of One
hundred and fourth Ohio, Capt. J. F. Riddle. Notwithstanding every
officer and man in the command sprang forward bravely and 'gallantly,
the greater part of the command only succeeded in making a few yards in
advance, when the withering fire of the enemy, with difficulties before
stated, again forced a halt, holding the ground, however, under a
terrific fire, until ordered to withdraw. The Sixteenth Kentucky
Volunteer Veteran Infantry was placed on the right with orders to drive
a body of the enemy, who, with at least one piece of artillery I
supposed, were located on or near the Sandtown road, their fire
enfilading the line of brigade; this regiment fully obeyed their orders,
and rendered a very important service in protecting the main column from
the annoyance aforesaid. I regret to say that the brigade suffered
severely in killed and wounded in the efforts made to carry the
position. Col. P.S. Slevin, of the One hundredth Ohio Infantry, was
severely wounded while in front of his regiment, cheering and
encouraging his men forward; Lieut. Col. E. S. Bond, commanding One
hundred and twelfth Illinois Infantry, slightly, in leg; Lieut. Francis
C. Johnson, Eighth Tennessee Infantry, killed; Captains Sroufe, Gudgel,
and Colcord, of One hundred and twelfth Illinois Infantry, wounded, all
slightly; Lieuts. A. K. Tate and I. K. Cramer, One hundredth Ohio,
wounded; Capt. J. A. Bowers, Eighth Tennessee Infantry, wounded and
missing; Lieutenants Bible and Douglas, of the Eighth Tennessee
Infantry, wounded, the latter severely; Lieut. J. Walker, of the same
regiment, missing; Capt. H. Ford, of One hundred and fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, wounded slightly, Lieut. James B. Shane, Sixteenth
Kentucky Veteran Infantry, severely. (A detailed statement of casualties
is hereto appended, with a statement of all casualties occurring in
brigade during time covered by this report.) Where all behaved so
gallantly, it is very difficult to give especial mention to any, but I
cannot in justice neglect to bear official testimony to the gallant and
heroic conduct of the Eighth Tennessee Infantry officers and men,
without any distinction. The list of casualties, however, is their best
eulogy, when it is known that the regiment went into the charge with but
about 160 muskets. Colonel Slevin‘s known gallantry and Christian
bravery was fully sustained. Lieutenant-Colonel Mottley, of Eleventh
Kentucky Infantry; Lieutenant-Colonel Bond, One hundred and twelfth
Illinois Infantry; Lieutenant Shane, of Sixteenth Kentucky Veteran
Infantry (than whom no braver man lives), with every officer and private
engaged in the assault in my command, bravely and nobly did their whole
duty, and added, if possible, to their character for bravery and heroic
courage. My staff officers fully sustained my heretofore expressed
opinion of them. Lieutenant Tracy was slightly wounded some time after
assault. After brigade was ordered to retire from front of enemy's work,
it was placed in position in works occupied by Fourteenth Corps. 7th,
moved into position on ridge near house of Willis; <ar73_707>
intrenchments thrown up and occupied by brigade until 12th, when brigade
was relieved by portion of Fourteenth Corps, and, with balance of
division, marched to right of Second Division and to Campbellton road on
reconnaissance. At dusk brigade moved to Sandtown road and camped.
Remained in latter position until 16th August, when brigade was moved to
right of division on Campbellton road, and threw up strong
intrenchments. 17th, remained in position. 18th, brigade moved into
position on right and front of Second Division, skirmishing slightly,
losing 1 killed and 2 wounded; brigade intrenched themselves, and
remained, making occasional reconnaissances to front, until evening of
26th of August. The brigade, with division, moved with whole army on
march to near Lovejoy's Station, on Macon railroad, and back to Decatur,
its present position, arriving at the latter point on the 8th instant,
excepting a very slight skirmish on Western railroad, some five miles
south of East Point, on evening of 30th of August, and destroying about
one mile and a half of railroad south of Rough and Ready, on morning of
September 1, brigade participated in no fighting or duty other than
marching, and on two occasions throwing up temporary works. Not a single
casualty occurred in the command.
The One hundred and twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry was transferred
from the brigade on 12th of August; the Eleventh and Twelfth Kentucky
Volunteer Infantry were attached to brigade on the 11th of August.
I herewith forward reports of regimental commanders so far as received.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
 J. W. REILLY,
 Brigadier-General of Volunteers.
 Capt. THEODORE COX,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, 23d Army Corps.
List of casualties First Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army
Corps, August 6, 1864.
A       Commissioned officers.  C       Corporals.
B       Sergeants.      D       Privates.

        -------Killed.------    ------Wounded.----      -----Missing.------
Command.        A       B       C       D       A       B       C       D       A       B
C       D
8th Tennessee Infantry  1       4       3       18      3       2       4       44      2
2       1       11
112th Illinois Infantry ....    3       2       9       5       7       2       40      ....
....    ....    ....
16th Kentucky Infantry  ....    ....    1       1       1       ....    1       8       ....
....    ....    1
100th Ohio Infantry     ....    3       6       14      3       8       8       43      ....
2       3       9
104th Ohio Infantry     ....    ....    ....    10      2       2       1       14      ....
....    ....    ....
12th Kentucky Infantry  ....    ....    ....    1       ....    ....    ....    2       ....
....    ....
....
Total   1       10      12      53      14      19      15      151     2       4       4
21
[Actual total--Ed]                                                      16

Recapitulation: Killed--commissioned officer, 1; enlisted men, 75.
Wounded--commissioned officers, 14; enlisted men, 185.
Miss-ing--commissioned officers, 2; enlisted men, 29. Total killed,
wounded, and missing, 306.