The Golden Moment was Gone: The Doomed Assault on the Dead Angle at Kennesaw

The buzz of activity on the morning of June 27, 1864, convinced Captain Aaron Robinson of the 121st Ohio “that work of more than usual importance was in prospect for us. Generals Thomas, Palmer, and Davis along with brigade commanders were observed consulting together and inspecting the ground in a significant manner. We had a vague idea that somewhere about a half mile in front concealed by a belt of woods was the Rebel line of fortifications, and we were expected to charge and carry those works. We did not then know of its strength nor of its strategic importance. The sequel shows how we succeeded.”

The regiment, part of Colonel John G. Mitchell’s brigade, soon advanced as the second line of an en echelon formation against what became known as the Dead Angle, an abrupt turn in the Confederate lines manned by Tennesseans from General Alfred Vaughan's and George Maney’s brigades. The Federals approached within 40 yards of the Confederate fortifications when a blizzard of lead struck their left flank. “which swept through our ranks and mowed the men down at an awful rate. My company was especially exposed to this fire and suffered heavily. It was now evidently impossible to carry the works in our front with the force we had,” Robinson wrote. The regiment lost more than 140 men in the doomed assault; Robinson's company losing 29 of the 56 men who went into the fight. 

During the Atlanta campaign, the 121st Ohio served in Colonel John G. Mitchell’s Second Brigade of the Second Division of the 14th Army Corps alongside the 34th Illinois, 78th Illinois, 98th Ohio, 108th Ohio, and 113th Ohio. Captain Robinson’s account of Kennesaw Mountain first saw publication in the July 20, 1864, edition of the Marysville Tribune.

 

This George Barnard image of log fortifications of the Confederate line at Kennesaw Mountain gives some idea of what Captain Robinson's regiment faced that fateful morning. The Confederates pummeled the approaching Federal lines, Samuel Robinson of the 1st/27th Tennessee commenting that "our gun barrels became so hot that we could scarcely hold them." Numbered among the dead spread out in front of the works was Major John Yager of the 121st Ohio and fellow Buckeye Colonel Daniel McCook commanding the neighboring brigade in the charge. 

Near Marietta, Georgia

July 4, 1864

          After so severe an engagement as our regiment had with the enemy on the 27th ultimo, I doubt not a letter giving some details of it will interest many of your readers. I am willing to contribute anything to alleviate the anxiety and gratify the wishes of the numerous friends of this regiment who watch its fortunes with deep interest.

          It has been over two months since this campaign began and yet it is incomplete. We have advanced about 100 miles into central Georgia through a country offering every facility for defensive warfare, every foot of which has been studied and adapted by a stubborn foe for defensive purposes and strengthened by all the appliances and skill of modern military art. No pains have been spared, no labor omitted to obstruct our progress, and in many places, we have pressed the enemy back step by step. Many a field has been crimsoned by the blood of friend and foe.

          Our loss up to the 27th of June did not exceed 15-20 killed and wounded. Frequently the storm cloud has gathered ominously around us; the war-cry shrieked in our ears, and the seething whirlpool of battle threatened to envelop us in its fiery flames, yet we escaped. Some visionary correspondents might have magnified many of our adventures into important affairs, and indeed many regiments that figure so largely in newspapers have less to boast of in the field of danger.

          On the 18th of June, we had advanced so closely upon the outer works of the Rebels in front of Kennesaw Mountain that they evacuated their strong works there and took up a new line on the summit of the mountain while their sharpshooters were lodged among the rocks on its side. Our regiment advanced to the base of the mountain on the front line and remained there until the 25th when we moved during the night three miles to the right and rested on the 26th. Rest with us is truly a luxury for much of the time all are required to lay upon their arms and are frequently called into line by alarms in front.

Colonel John G. Mitchell
Commanding Second Brigade

          On the morning of the 27th it became apparent that work of more than usual importance was in prospect for us. Generals Thomas, Palmer, and Davis along with brigade commanders were observed consulting together and inspecting the ground in a significant manner. We had a vague idea that somewhere about a half mile in front concealed by a belt of woods was the Rebel line of fortifications, and we were expected to charge and carry those works. We did not then know of its strength nor of its strategic importance. We afterwards learned through prisoners that the Rebels were determined to hold that position at all hazards. Had we succeeded, we would have penetrated the center of their lines and cut off a large portion of their army. The sequel shows how we succeeded.

          About 8 a.m. we commenced forming our lines preparatory to an advance and then laid down half an hour to rest waiting for the final order to charge. Then it was that men thought seriously and brave hearts whispered prayers for loved ones at home and for their own safety, committing themselves to the God of battles. Our brigade was formed in two lines with a regiment deployed as skirmishers, our regiment being in the second line. A little after 9 o’clock the ominous “forward” brought us to our feet and in a moment, we were pressing forward at a double quick over our front line of fortifications. Then across an open field into a belt of woods passing our skirmish line and also the Rebel skirmish line, capturing some of them, until we began to approach another field when the Rebel works came in full view and appeared truly formidable. They were angling in our front in such a manner as to expose us to a crossfire from right to left as well as a direct fire in front.

Captain (later Colonel) Aaron B. Robinson
Co. I, 121st O.V.I. 

          All this time we were exposed to a fire of shells and grape from two Rebel batteries and had not fired a gun, the charge being made with fixed bayonets and with orders not to fire until we had gained the works. Trusting to other forces on our right and left to protect our flanks, we still advanced in the face of a murderous fire to within 30-40 yards of the fortifications. We had passed the line in front [113th Ohio] who, having received a murderous fire and being thrown into some confusion, fell back and left us unsupported.

          At this moment, a most terrific crossfire from the left swept through our ranks and mowed the men down at an awful rate. My company was especially exposed to this fire and suffered heavily. Dillon, Scott, Spragne, Phillips, and Bonnet fell here, and many others were severely wounded but were able to get back. Someone mistaking the retrograde movement of the other regiment for an order to retreat gave the command and our regiment fell back about 20 paces and was again rallied in a splendid manner. Never did men respond with more promptness under more trying circumstances than they did to the call of the officers on this occasion.

          But the golden moment was gone. It was now evidently impossible to carry the works in our front with the force we had, but we must not lose what we had gained. The line was reestablished a little to the rear of our advanced position when the men were sheltered as much as possible by trees and by lying down. Here the men maintained themselves for hours. Some worked small holes in the ground with their bayonets and tin cups to screen themselves. All this time, however, they kept up a strong fire upon the Rebels. Whenever anyone showed himself our boys sent a bullet at him.

"Our ammunition being exhausted, we emptied the cartridge boxes of the killed and wounded and the men soon had but one round left," Captain Robinson reported. "This they were charged to reserve for a last resort." 

          It is doubtful whether the position could have been carried. It seems almost fortunate that the retreat was made as it was; had we not, the grape, canister, and musketry would soon have completely destroyed us. But our position was yet perilous. A wide gap on our right was wholly unoccupied. We were within a few yards of the Rebel works; our numbers were sadly reduced and every moment added to the list of disabled. Our ammunition was being exhausted as we emptied the cartridge boxes of the killed and wounded and the men soon had but one round left. This they were charged to reserve for a last resort.

          In anxious suspense, we held our position for three long, weary hours, hoping each moment that relief in some shape would come. The meridian sun poured its hot rays full in the face of our helpless wounded who had fallen so far in advance as to render it impossible to relieve them and their pitiful moans nerved our boys to a stern resolved never to leave until they brought them off. They encouraged the wounded, telling them to be patient until night and then we would surely carry them off.

          We had sent for relief and ammunition but it was 1 o’clock before we got the latter, and then we received instructions to hold our position at all hazards. Every moment was filled with anxiety for had an attack been made, we could have offered but feeble resistance. Men dropped down with heat and exhaustion as well as from the fire of the enemy. Many of the men stood by trees during all that day in advanced positions and punished the Rebels severely. They commanded my special admiration as they were exposed to great danger and at the same time performed a very valuable service in keeping the rebels down behind their works. Harlan Woods was at one of these posts when he was wounded and the last of my men wounded. There were quite a number of others in my company equally conspicuous in this valuable service. The new recruits deserve special notice not because they did better than the old veteran soldiers, but because they did equally well. Not a man of them faltered. Indeed, with perhaps one exception, every man in my company did his whole duty.

Hal Jespersen map depicting the Federal charge at Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864. Mitchell's brigade, the right flank of General Jefferson Davis's division, charged across a branch of Ward Creek before turning to the left to strike the Dead Angle. The men of the 121st Ohio reported getting as close of 40 yards before a deadly crossfire from their left riddled the regiment. A mistaken command to retreat caused the regiment to fall back but Captain Robinson offered that it was a lucky mistake. "Had we not retreated, the grape, canister, and musketry would soon have completely destroyed us."

Never did men hail the shadows of night with more gratitude than we did after the weary hours of that day wore away, and then with stealthy steps our men crawled up, gathering up the dead and wounded who had been left behind. With sad hearts we reviewed the works of the day. Out of the 56 in my company there were 29 killed and wounded. Many others had very narrow escapes. I was struck by a spent ball and my clothes cut by two others.

The wounded were all sent to the rear and I presume most of them will reach home on furlough. The Rebels evacuated their position at Kennesaw on the 29th during the night and we pursued them about eight miles south of Marietta where we now are. After the Rebels left, we had an opportunity to view the position of the two armies. The line in front of McCook’s brigade was nearer the Rebel works than ours, being at one place so near that the enemy threw stones in such a manner as to drop on and around our men. We had strongly fortified our position a little to rear of the grounds we fought upon.

I presume I need scarcely say that Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence exhibited on the day of the fight the same undisturbed deportment and indifference to danger for which he is so remarkable and yet escaped without a scratch. Colonel Banning was with us in the hottest of the fight and he, too, escaped. The major [John Yager] was killed in the front ranks within a short distance of the enemy’s works. Captain Henderson was always at his post and is safe. Lieutenant C.P. Cavis was wounded early in the morning by a piece of shell. Colonel Banning has been highly complimented on behalf of himself and his command for the services performed on that day and for the tenacity with which we held our position.

The boys are usually well and in good spirits, confident we will yet whip Johnston. His losses by desertion in his last retreat must be heavy.

 

Source:

Letter from Captain Aaron Black Robinson, Co. I, 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Marysville Tribune (Ohio), July 20, 1864, pg. 1

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