Dog-Trotting into Atlanta with the 150th New York

     The joy is evident in the tone of Captain William R. Woodin's letter written after his 150th New York marched into the city of Atlanta in September 1864.

    "The oriental afternoon dreams, the romantic twilight musings, and the fascinating piscatorial pursuits, in which the 150th were indulging by the waters of the low murmuring Chattahoochee, were slightly interfered with yesterday, as the brigade had marching orders at 3 o'clock; and, in half an hour afterwards, the 3rd Wisconsin and the 150th N. Y. were approaching the defenses of Atlanta on a gentle dog-trot, "terrible as an army with banners," but as jolly as so many festive aldermen starting for a Long Island clam bake," he wrote. "We went, drums beating, colors flying, and the brigade band playing the Yankee Doodle, until the place was completely filled with Yankee Doodle, Star-Spangled Banner, Hail Columbia, and Abraham Lincoln! Taking possession in the name of the great flanker, General Sherman, and by the authority of a government which has not been recognized "to any considerable extent," for some time past in these parts, we gracefully received the welcomes of the citizens who swarmed to greet us."

    Sherman's army, after more than four months of unremitting effort, finally had the Gateway to the South in their possession, and Woodin appreciated the significance of the impact it would have on the coming Presidential election. Captain Woodin's account of entering Atlanta originally saw publication in the September 20, 1864 edition of the Poughkeepsie Eagle. During the campaign, the 150th New York served in the First Brigade of the First Division of the 20th Army Corps. 


This Hardee hat, decorated with the blue star badge of the Third Division of the 20th Army Corps, was worn by a soldier of the 28th Pennsylvania. The veterans of the 20th Corps had seen action everywhere from the Shenandoah Valley to Gettysburg before being transferred to fight in the western theater. Many of the regiments of the 20th Corps were easterners like the 150th New York whose spit and polish ways rubbed against the grain of the looser style of dress and command adopted by the western Federal armies. Regardless of the friction, the 20th Corps proved itself on the field repeatedly during the Atlanta campaign and when it came time to decide which corps to take with him on the march to the sea, Sherman selected the 20th Corps over the 4th Corps even though the 4th Corps had served from the outset of the war in the west.


Camp of the 150th N. Y., in Atlanta, Georgia,

September 3, 1864.

Editors Poughkeepsie Eagle:

Gentlemen:

The oriental afternoon dreams, the romantic twilight musings, and the fascinating piscatorial pursuits, in which the 150th were indulging by the waters of the low murmuring Chattahoochee, were slightly interfered with yesterday, as the brigade had marching orders at 3 o'clock; and, in half an hour afterwards, the 3rd Wisconsin and the 150th N. Y. were approaching the defenses of Atlanta on a gentle dog-trot, "terrible as an army with banners," but as jolly as so many festive aldermen starting for a Long Island clam bake. The day was terribly warm, and the dust, rising in regular clouds, whitened every capillary attraction, (I refer to heads) clouded every blue uniform an inch thick, and darkened every eagle eye. But the boys marched fast from the start, and kept steadily at it, over our old breastworks, beyond which no intruding foot had pressed, beyond the Rebel forts from which so many showers of merciless lead had fallen around patriotic breastworks, through seven lines of formidable earthworks comfortably supplied with strong abatis, into Atlanta, and through the town.

We went, drums beating, colors flying, and the brigade band playing the Yankee Doodle, until the place was completely filled with Yankee Doodle, Star-Spangled Banner, Hail Columbia, and Abraham Lincoln! Taking possession in the name of the great flanker, General Sherman, and by the authority of a government which has not been recognized "to any considerable extent," (as Colonel Maulsby an old friend of ours on the Gettysburg campaign would profoundly remark,) for some time past in these parts, we gracefully received the welcomes of the citizens who swarmed to greet us, (and very probably were just as fast to damn us two days before,) crossed the railroad wreck at the lower end of the town, and encamped in the earthworks crested by enthusiastic Johnnies, slaughter pens for "mudsills," but which, in the mutations of this changeable existence, have been turned into dirt monuments of secession failures, and clay warnings to all future traitors.

The devastation wrought by the long battle for Atlanta was evident in the shell-torn buildings throughout the city. "But very few houses have escaped and in Marietta Street, every house has been hit several times and nearly all the public buildings have a ragged hole to show where a solid shot had been traveling," Captain Woodin stated. 


The Richmond Examiner of August 21st contains an elaborate article upon Atlanta, in which it is clearly foreseen that if Sherman captures the place, he will not be able to hold it; it will ruin him by extending his communications; and if he does not succeed in capturing the place, Hood will so ruin his army, while peripatetic guerrillas cut into his rear, that nothing but a disastrous retreat will follow. In either case you notice the result is rather rough upon Mr. Sherman, and not at all hard upon Mr. Hood. The Southern Confederacy published in Atlanta, September 1st, copies these remarks from the Richmond paper, and makes the following comment: "The whole of the foregoing is the most arrant Fustian and boast. Who does not know that the capture of Atlanta would be the making of Sherman? His ruin, indeed! IT WOULD PROSTRATE THE PEACE MEN; it would counterbalance Grant's losses; and it would continue the war indefinitely. As to holding Atlanta, there is no doubt of it! Haven't they held Nashville with a long line of railway through Kentucky, and a river channel only in the winter? Haven't they held Chattanooga with a long line through Tennessee?  Haven't they held their position outside here two months? And yet this Richmond writer, (who doubtless has penned many an article headed "No Cause for despondency,") would cheer up the country by insulting the common sense, by whispering the fall of Atlanta down the wind as a trifling matter after all, the very worst luck which could befall Sherman: if this is really so General Hood had better give it up to him at once. Let us loose Atlanta, and the bottom falls from our hope, and we shall look for the re-election of Lincoln, and another four years of blood! Only, we don't expect to lose Atlanta! The soldiers out in the trenches assure us daily that they appreciate fully the heavy responsibility pressing upon them, and that they will stand by Hood to the death, in the defense of the city. We have Sherman confused. We have forced him to change front and alter his base. The next order he issues will be one involving a right about face, and a double-quick towards the classic boys of Dalton."

I have been thus lengthy in my quotation, to let you see how the Rebel eyes viewed the matter, and how liable they are to be mistaken. Before the ink on that paper of Thursday was dry, Sherman had cut Hood's army in two; the Rebels skedaddled out of the city, burning 80 carloads of ammunition, and an arsenal which is still smoking, and General Slocum's advance was within sight of the city. If this is the way the Johnnies intend "to confuse Sherman," and if this is the way he gives the order "to right-about-face for the classic boys of Dalton," I have only to remark that Sherman is a peculiarly "hunkey boy," and I trust he will keep up this style of doing things until Fall, and by that time the Confederacy will have him so completely "confused," and so ever-lastingly right-about-faced, that there will not be a single Rebel foot-hold in the Southwest, and we can return to the bosoms of our families because "there is nothing more to do!"

Colonel John H. Ketcham
150th New York

Atlanta is a very pleasant city, built upon two hills, with the railroad running between them, and from the appearance of the stores in the business portion of the place must have enjoyed a large trade before the war broke out. The outskirts are well supplied with cozy cottages, and imposing mansions generally of the approved north river style, and the drives about the town prove that the Atlantians were sound upon the horse question. Colonel Ketcham has his Headquarters in one of the coolest and neatest little houses we have seen upon the campaign. Brigade Headquarters are in a "corner house" with a stucco front—Division Headquarters are in a mansion that would do credit to Washington Heights, and General Slocum's flag waves in front of the most fashionable residence in the city. Where the former dwellers in these home-castles are now it is impossible to state, but the supposition is that they have skedaddled with the Rebel army, and in the deep bosom of the South are now agitatingly awaiting the next movement of the "confused" Yankees. One very pretty cottage, with a beautiful lawn in front, was evidently at one time the property of a government contractor, in as much as we find upon the walls the following remarks written with a lead pencil: "as yeu mad the muny with wich yew bilt this ere vent on the Guvernment, I am jest glad yew had tew leve it durn your ize," therefore you perceive that the great army of Government leeches at the north has a close parallel in the south, and the shoddy of New York have shoddy relations in Georgia.

Judging from the effect of the Rebel batteries upon us, we did not suppose that our cannonading had injured the city very much, but a ride through the place this morning tells a terrible story of life here since our guns opened. But very few houses have escaped, and in Marietta Street every house has been hit several times, and nearly all of the public buildings have a ragged hole to show where a solid shot had been traveling. Those citizens who remained constructed bombproofs in their yards, and even these in a few instances failed to protect them. Over 100 citizens have been wounded, and over 20 killed by our shells, and the city has been in a blaze a dozen times, but the well-organized Fire Department comprised of "Exempts" have managed to put the fire out after each accident.

Second Lieutenant Frank Mallory, Co. D, 150th New York 

We have heard but once from the main army since leaving the Chattahoochee, and this was good news. Hood was badly whipped near Jonesboro on the 2nd, and our forces were following up the victory as rapidly as possible. In view of the foregoing facts, it strikes us that matters in this department are succeeding as well as the most exacting patriot can ask, and we feel rather proud to be able to tell our friends at home that the 150th was with the first body of troops entering the stronghold which the Rebels swore should never be polluted by a Yankee foot. If Dutchess County appreciates our labors and is satisfied with the regiment, let her show it by sending on all the recruits possible. I do not wish to cast any reflections upon new regiments, but every military man will tell you that a recruit in an old regiment is worth three recruits in a new one, for the reason that in an old regiment the new man learns much sooner and much more easily how to provide for himself; he acquires the drill more rapidly, and he has right at his elbow the experience of old soldiers to assist him in every emergency. New regiments very often go into the field and behave splendidly, but before they learn the sanitary principles common among veterans, many a good man is lost and the service is so much the poorer. We have plenty of room for more representatives from old Dutchess, and if they will put in an appearance we promise to give them a hearty welcome, and as good fare as we can possibly procure. Recruits certainly cannot find a better corps than the twentieth or a better Commander than Major-General Slocum. Can they find a better regiment than the 150th N. Y.? I blush for a reply!

 Yours Modestly,

W.R.W.

Source:

Letter from Captain William R. Woodin, Co. D, 150th New York Volunteer Infantry, Poughkeepsie Eagle (New York), September 20, 1864, pg. 2

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