Battling the Butternuts at Kolb's Farm

     By June of 1864, Captain Alfred E. Lee of the 82nd Ohio had seen his fill of Civil War combat- his initiation began at McDowell in May 1862, his education considerably deepened when his regiment was cut to pieces at Second Bull Run, his psyche scarred by the embarrassing defeat at Chancellorsville, and then his body perforated by a Confederate bullet that knocked him out at Gettysburg. Captured by the Confederates when they overran the town of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Captain Lee was reported to have died and when he arrived in Delaware, Ohio a few weeks after the battle, he found that a local pastor was already writing his eulogy.  

    The Ohio Wesleyan graduate recuperated from his hip wound slowly; in September 1863 he traveled back east to rejoin his regiment but was placed in a convalescent camp for a month. By then, the 82nd Ohio had transferred to the western theater and Captain Lee rejoined the regiment in time to take part in the Battle of Wauhatchie. The hip wound still hurt (Lee never fully recovered) but he was determined to do his duty; his devotion was noticed by his brigade commander Brigadier General G. Hector Tyndale who tapped Lee to join brigade staff, a position Lee filled the rest of the war. When Tyndale resigned his commission just before the Atlanta campaign, Colonel James S. Robinson of the 82nd Ohio became brigade commander; old comrades that had seen much service together, Lee and Robinson made an exceptionally well-oiled team.

    Nearly two months into the Atlanta campaign, the 20th Army Corps was closing in on the Confederate position at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. The Federals were working their way around the Confederate left but were attacked by two divisions of General John B. Hood's corps on the evening of June 22, 1864 as Captain Lee describes below. The frontal assault by the Confederates drove two Federal regiments back into Robinson's main line, but proved a bloody repulse to the Confederates who suffered heavily from Federal artillery. It also served to stop further Federal attempts to curl around the left and set the stage for the assault on Kennesaw Mountain a few days afterwards. 

    


A war weary Captain Alfred E. Lee in a CDV dating from 1864. Note the combined 11th-12th Corps badge on his coat that incorporated the crescent moon device of Lee's 11th Corps with the star shape of the 12th Corps; the two corps had been consolidated into the 20th Corps just before the beginning of the Atlanta campaign. (Photo courtesy of Larry Strayer)

Near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia

June 25, 1864

          The month of June has been, in a double sense, a month of storms in Georgia. While vast armies have been struggling for the mastery and destruction of each other, nature has seemed to catch the contagion of man’s ill humor and doffing her smiles has put on the most ungenial looks. Rain, rain, incessant rain has fallen day after day and night after night, drenching our soldiers, saturating their clothing and blankets, and making the trenches where they have to constantly confront the enemy beds of watery mire. On the 22nd however there were indications of better weather, the day dawning bright and clear and a light breeze sweeping the last shreds of humid vapor swiftly from before the smiling sun. Yet another storm was brewing- the dreadful and destructive storm of battle. At 9 a.m. General Hooker ordered his division commanders to hold their commands in readiness to advance.

A reconnaissance had developed the presence of the enemy in our front and the reconnoitering detachment had taken possession of and fortified a very important position overlooking almost his entire line. There had been the usual amount of skirmishing on the picket lines during the previous 36 hours, showing that the enemy was still looking out for us and as yet had no intention to retreat.

            At 10:30 a.m., General [Alpheus S.] Williams’ division was in motion. The respective positions of the brigades having been previously designated, they moved successively, each to a particular point to occupy in the line. Along the crest of a high wooded hill was placed Robinson’s Third Brigade, the left of which connected with the division of General [John] Geary. Robinson’s position overlooked an open space 1,200 yards in width and skirted on the farther side by a thick forest along the edge of which the Rebel skirmishers were arrayed, covered by well-built rail barricades. This point also commanded a fine view of the peaks of Kennesaw, three miles distant to the left and rear, and overlooked the country in the direction of Marietta a distance of five miles. It was in short a most excellent position for defense and within easy artillery range of the wooded plateau occupied by the enemy.

Colonel James S. Robinson
82nd O.V.I.

            On the right of the Third Brigade General Knipe’s brigade extended the line along the crest of a more unpretending hill considerably in advance of the one occupied by Robinson’s command. This disposition was rendered necessary by the conformation of the ground. It had its advantages also in giving it a converging fire upon the enemy’s position. On the right of General Knipe was formed Ruger’s brigade (the Second), thus completing an immense concave line half a mile in extent. Along this concave were ranged three batteries, one being in the center or most retired point of the line supported by the Third Brigade and the other two upon the wings. The extreme right covered the main road to Marietta and was entirely unsupported. Schofield’s Corps was hastening to join us on that flank but had not yet arrived. The vast importance of its coming quickly will appear in the sequel.

          The division being in position the skirmishers were pushed forward and established their line 200 yards from that of the enemy. The artillery raked the Rebel line from one end to the other, some of the shots being really splendid. But each Rebel skirmisher had a little fortification of his own, and by keeping well down in his pit could in most instances avoid the flying missiles.  Soon however the enemy attempted to relieve his line and boldly marched out a detachment for that purpose. The Johnnies are quickly descried by the artillery men and in a moment a half dozen shells are hustling through the air bearing with lightning speed General Williams’ (or ‘Old Pap’ Williams as he is more familiarly called) compliments to the traitors. White puffs of smoke instantly show where the shells have exploded close to the Rebel detachment. The enemy immediately scatters and breaks for the woods, and the Rebel picket is ‘relieved’ in double quick time.

General Alpheus S. Williams, Lee's divisional commander. Note that Williams is wearing a 20th Corps badge star on his hat and another between the buttons of his coat. Williams would temporarily rise to corps command after Joseph Hooker left the army in the wake of being passed over for command of the Army of the Tennessee after McPherson was killed. The crusty if competent Michigander's Civil War letters make delightful reading. 


Thus, the day wore away. During the afternoon several assaults were made on Knipe’s skirmishers, the enemy thus incontinently intimating his hostile intentions toward our right flank. Will Schofield come in time, thoughtfully meditated everyone. The enemy under cover of the woods was evidently massing his forces for some purpose. Could it be a defensive or offensive one? And if the latter, what if he should plunge into our thin unsupported line before Schofield would arrive? Such was the question for which we were anxiously seeking a satisfactory answer when the welcome news came that Schofield was in position and that the danger that our flank would be turned was past. But then our line was still very much extended, and being devoid of support, might not the enemy by a desperate dash break through it? Let us see.

Of all the words in the English language, the term butternut best describes the color of the dress worn by Johnston’s soldiers. Back in the distant recesses of the woods we could discover a butternut-colored column moving to our right. It is partially concealed by the foliage but enough is seen to show our artillerymen where to direct their aim. Again, General Williams sends his compliments to the butternuts and the Rodmans of Winegar’s Battery  speak more loudly and effectively for the Union than ever did windy politicians in the halls of Congress. The column disappears in the deep foliage and once more there is tolerable quiet along the line.

Map from Alfred E. Lee's Civil War showing the action at Kolb's Farm. The 123rd New York and the 14th Kentucky from the 23rd Corps were pushed back towards the main Federal line but as the Confederates approached, they were met by a hailstorm of lead from entrenched batteries and determined bluecoats. (Map by Hal Jespersen)



The evening comes on apace but in that there is no assurance that a battle will not occur. On the contrary it is proverbial that from 3-8 p.m. is the fighting portion of the day. The heaviest work of battle is almost invariably done during that period. Accordingly, at about 6 p.m. the firing on Knipe’s line suddenly began to grow more fierce and rapid. The enemy was advancing. He quickly drove the skirmishers back upon the main line and debouched from the timber in heavy and well sustained masses. Now the deep volleys begin to roll and Knipe’s men are enveloped in the battle smoke. The quick flashes leap from the deep-throated cannon and their bellowing thunder mingles savagely with the sharp cracking of musketry.

But our attention is suddenly called away from Knipe’s line of brave unyielding hearts by the developments in our own front. Quick as thought the Rebel skirmishers have leaped from their lurking places and are coming right down upon those of the Third Brigade. Winegar sees them and again his Rodmans speak with tongues of flame their words of iron. The missiles went hustling through the air nipping the huge branches from the trees like merest twigs, and bursting about the field or heaving up huge volumes of earth as they bound away over the yielding surface. But the enemy is deployed and has too many chances against them. Right on he comes and our skirmish line is compelled to withdraw. The Rebels pursue and soon their heavy columns debouch from the woods into the open field. General Williams, who has been puffing away at his pipe with as much complacency as an old salt would while giving orders in a moderate gale, now exclaiming, “There, Winegar, there, see them, see them, let them have it!” And Winegar did let them have it with a good will, making some magnificent shots. The shells exploded in the midst of the Rebel columns scattering them as a hurricane whirls in air freshly-built ricks of straw. The rebels broke and fled in utter confusion and soon disappeared behind bushes, fences, everything that could afford shelter or concealment. Nor did they venture to display their columns again before Winegar’s terrible Rodmans.

The firing on General Knipe’s line now slackened and the enemy withdrew completely repulsed at all points. Their skirmishers hastily sought their barricades again, bearing with them their wounded. At length the sputtering fire of the pickets and the heavy overhanging cloud of powder smoke remains the only tokens of the battle storm that encroach upon the quiet air of the evening. Thus ended the affair of the 22nd, one of the most brilliant of this campaign.

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