Our Guns Were Burning Hot: The 14th Ohio Battery at Atlanta

     The 14th Ohio Battery had a long history of service with the Army of the Tennessee stretching back to its baptism of fire on the first day of Shiloh. By the time of the Atlanta campaign, the northeastern Ohio battery had become attached to the artillery battalion of the Fourth Division of the 16th Army Corps and fought in innumerable engagements during that campaign, but its tightest spot came on July 22nd, 1864, when it fought in the Battle of Atlanta. Rushed to reinforce the 17th Army Corps line near Bald Hill, the battery galloped into position just as the Confederate debouched from a ravine aiming to strike the flank of the Union army.

“Hardly had these dispositions been made when the detestable gray jackets came pouring up through the ravine, deploying to our left, when they were greeted with a shower of shells from our pieces; a moment later and they came rolling up in our front and to the right in three lines where they received a like reception,” one veteran recalled. “At this moment, a critical moment it was, our right being largely outnumbered and in danger of being turned back, General Fuller’s brigade appeared on our right and gallantly charged the enemy whose ranks had become broken from our shot and shell along with the withering fire of Fuller’s veterans,” he wrote.

          The following account of the July 22nd battle of Atlanta was penned by an unknown soldier of the 14th Ohio Battery writing under the nom-de-plume of “Typo.” It first appeared in the August 24, 1864, edition of the Western Reserve Chronicle published in Warren, Ohio.

 

Detail from the Kurz & Allison print depicting the Battle of Atlanta published around 1890. The Army of the Tennessee fought upon many battlefields but never was in as tight as spot as it found itself on July 22, 1864 outside Atlanta. 


In the field two miles in front of Atlanta, Georgia

August 18, 1864

          In giving you a sketch of the sanguinary conflict of the 22nd of July and the part taken by the 14th Battery, I will state the situation and position of the forces engaged. In closing upon the city by our forces, the 23rd Corps occupied a position which shortened the original line considerably and crowded our Fourth Division out connecting with the left of the 15th Corps which now held both sides of the railroad, the 17th Corps being to the left of the 15th Corps with the Fourth Division of that corps slightly retired to obviate a flank movement and protect its rear. The lines of these three corps were formed on an elevated ridge cut up in the rear by several ravines, dotted here and there with an open field or garden, the majority of the ground, however, being densely covered with second growth timber and thickets of scrub pine, oak, and hickory.

          Early in the morning the First Brigade of our division had been sent to the left of the 17th Corps accompanied by Battery F of the 2nd U.S. Artillery. Rumors were afloat that the enemy was evacuating the city as well as others to the effect that they were moving heavy bodies of troops to our left. It was evident that something was up as staff officers were seen flitting hither and thither in every direction. Skirmishing was brisk along the line while on the opposite side of the city could be heard General Thomas’ cannons thundering away. Ours were not idle at the front.

          It was 10 o’clock when orders came for the battery to report to General John Fuller on the left. Moving from our bivouac of the night before, we had made a short distance when the Second Division of our corps, which was now on its way to the left, crowded us from the road and we followed them, halting in the road for an hour when about one half the distance had been reached. This doubtless was a lucky circumstance for the battery as had it been allowed to proceed unmolested it would have shared the same fate as Battery F of the 2nd U.S. which was captured while in line of march an hour later along the road over which it was necessary for us to pass in reaching General Fuller’s position.

The 14th Ohio Battery was originally equipped with both 6- and 12-pdr Wiard rifles, all of which were captured at Shiloh. The battery was subsequently re-armed with two M1857 12-lb Napoleons and four 3" Ordnance Rifles such as the one depicted above. (Photo courtesy of Phil Spaugy)


          Possibly it was the intention of the authorities to cover this space with the Second Division, but at all events, Major General McPherson lost his valuable life in this same road while viewing the lines and situation from a force of the enemy who were concealed in the thick brush that lined the road within a few rods of the unfortunate Battery F. More or less confusion existed at this time, and the Second Division was hurried forward, taking position somewhat to the rear and left of the 17th Corps, the gap still existing. Our battery formed in line with the Second Division covering a ravine through which the enemy was expected to advance, into a strip of open ground of growing corn fronting to the south supported by the 81st Ohio on our right and the 7th Iowa on the left. Battery H of the 1st Missouri Light Artillery was to our left fronting east covering an open field.

 

“The day was intensely hot. We were in an open field without works of any kind and the sun poured down on us and seemed as if it would bake us. Our boys opened on the advancing Rebels with shells and caused large gaps in their ranks which in a moment would be filled up again. Our infantry poured volley after volley into them, but still they come. We piled their dead around them when they tried to charge our battery, but they were met with a shower of canister. Our boys fought like heroes, and some became exhausted with the heat. Our guns are burning hot, but still we pored the shell and canister into their ranks, every shot tells with awful effect.” ~ Corporal Henry E. Haynes, 14th Ohio Battery

 

          Hardly had these dispositions been made when the detestable gray jackets came pouring up through the ravine, deploying to our left, when they were greeted with a shower of shells from our pieces; a moment later and they came rolling up in our front and to the right in three lines where they received a like reception. At this moment, a critical moment it was, our right being largely outnumbered and in danger of being turned back, General Fuller’s brigade appeared on our right and gallantly charged the enemy whose ranks had become broken from our shot and shell along with the withering fire of Fuller’s veterans. The 27th Ohio, 39th Ohio, and 18th Missouri drove them hurriedly back into the woods. Meanwhile, our front and left were closely pressed, the Rebels charging furiously on our position and coming within 30 yards where canister was freely used from both of our batteries. This had the desired effect, and the Rebel mass went reeling back into the ravine and woods, leaving the ground strewn with their dead and wounded.

          They attempted to rally under cover of the woods and assault our position again, but the repulse had been so bloody to them it only added to their destruction, the artillery still sending them shells at a rapid rate. The battle lasted better than one hour and loss in the three brigades and two batteries reached nearly 700 in killed, wounded, and missing. I doubt if artillery was ever served to a better purpose than in this short but decisive struggle. It was warmly complimented by special orders from Brigadier General Barny, chief of artillery for the Military Division of the Mississippi of General Sherman’s staff.

General John W. Fuller

          Of the losses in the battery, I am sorry to announce the death of two of our brother soldiers, Corporal Jason M. Abbey and Private Joseph Richards who fell at their posts. Both were truly good and ever ready for duty. Abbey was a recruit in 1862 from Lake County and an excellent gunner; I doubt if there was a better shot in the entire army. Richards was a member of the 13th Ohio Battery and was assigned to us immediately after the battle of Shiloh. The wounded were Corporal Aaron P. Cox of Mesopotamia, severely in the foot. Private Seymour P. Jones of Ashtabula County, in the leg severe; Henry B. Lane of Ashtabula County leg amputated, Warren S. Reynolds of Mesopotamia severely wounded in the leg and side. Corporal McCord was scratched on the knee by a passing ball and Private Henry Everingham had a furious cut through his hair from the forehead to the crown which was certainly close enough.

          The enemy lost between 600-700 in killed which were buried by our men the next day besides caring for 300 of their severely wounded. We also captured about 200 prisoners. The force opposed to us were Walker’s, Cleburne’s, and Bate’s divisions of Hardee’s corps, the object of whom the prisoners state was to capture our transportation and turn the left of our army. Had it not been for the 16th Corps’ timely arrival and check of the Rebel column, I think they would have been successful, bringing untold advantages to the enemy and the capture of many of the 17th Corps who were desperately engaged in front as well as the 15th Corps. It was a bloody day with the Army of the Tennessee as the fighting of a desperate nature continued in front of the two latter-named corps after dark.

 

Sources:

Letter from Typo, 14th Ohio Battery, Western Reserve Chronicle (Ohio), August 24, 1864, pg. 1

Letter from Corporal Henry E. Haynes, 14th Ohio Battery, Western Reserve Chronicle (Ohio), August 17, 1864, pg. 2

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